Thank you........!

Hello.

I want to say 'thank you' to You All for giving me such a sweet comments on my blog posts lately. I have been joining blog parties for the past 2-1/2 months and I must say that  I have been having a wonderful time so far. It is such a joy  to have met you from  across the globe and I wanted you to know that there is nothing like receiving a sweet and lovely comment from you over a hard working project. And from the bottom of my heart 'thank you so much!' I can honestly say that I am happy to be your friend and my  wish is to continue to support you as well.

Last Sunday I  watched my husband 'Steven' playing a tennis match. And he won! He was so thrilled about this. And as we drove out from the tennis complex to go home I asked Steven to stop the car and take  a bunch of these flowers that grows a long side of the street. I know very well the fact that people does not like you pick flowers anywhere. I have been begging Steven to stop and just pick a stem or two. And so he did this time. These shrub/trees are all over the side of the street in Long Island New York right now. I am sure they are also growing around your area. I love these shrubs spring flowers very much. They are a tree with hard branches and tiny little white or pink petals sometime yellow color too. I wish I had a garden where I could plant these shrubs. And just grab some to decor our home.

I was  worry in the car when saw the flowers were starting to get soft and droopy.  So I immediately put them in a bulbous vase and put some  food flower powder in it. Oh I was so happy to see them starting to get fresh again. Then I took these pictures for you. And in fact they are still fresh in my living room right now.

This is a short post to say 'Thank you' to You All {I am sorry it turned out to be a long one}. And I am thinking about you  and wishing you a 'happy spring time!'

This afternoon I went out around our home  and took a few pictures of trees that are blooming right now. This is the happiest time of the year. The weather is starting to get warmer; cool nice spring weather. Flowers are blooming; I hear birds chirping. People are smiling. Steven and I starting to make plan about what to do for the next 3 months like sports, traveling, party, etc. And what most happiest for me is that my son is here in Seattle right now. And will be coming here and spend some time with us.  I miss him very much! Can't wait to hug him again.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

And happy spring time Everyone!

Mother's Day Chalk Board Card {DIY}

What is the best present to give to a mother for a mother who lives far a way on the other side of the globe like my mother?

I know this would be a perfect gift for her because it would reminds her of when she thought me on how to do embroidery stitches when I was a little girl. My mother was a good seamstress and very good in sewing and in embroidery. In fact she is very good in anything; cooking, gardening, crafting, anything that has to do of creating things  with her two hands. And I think I got these traits from her. I knew she would be thrilled opening the envelope to find this pretty card from her daughter tucked inside upon arriving.

I am going to send this card away tomorrow. So here are the images of this lovely mother's day chalk board card.

 

I am so in love with this skeleton key tied with a pink velvet ribbon. Got it from Ebay.  I styled and put this key on my inspiration board too. Last seen here.

I also love this sugar bowl I got at Goodwill in Delray Florida for USD 1.50. I am crazy for a small pretty thing like this one. Although it is the only one and missing the lid and  the creamer; it is always useful to put flower on and display it somewhere in your living room.  And also pretty as  a background for photo styling like these images.

If you are interested in making this card {of course you can make it for any other occasions too} you will find the step by step tutorial here.

I do hope You had a fantastic week end.

And thank you so much for stopping by!

Linked to;

Lolly Jane
Green Willow Pond 
Savvy Southern Style 

How to Make Mother's Day Chalk Board Card {DIY}

What you need;

~ A piece of fabric; paper or trimming or ribbon

~ One color of embroidery skein.

~ Embroidery sewing needle with an eye large enough for embroidery threads to pass through.

~  Fabric Glue {Fabri-Tac}

~ Craft black acrylic paint.

~ Brush.

~ Smallest embroidery hoop.

~ Strathmore {or other brand} Water color paper. Available at Michaels or any art store.

~ A piece of muslin fabric. 

~ Pencil marking for fabric.

~ Non sanded grout. (picture is not here!) Non sanded grout is a powder like and can be purchased at Home Depot. It comes in a small plastic jar and cost about USD 5.00. Do not buy the big bag of this; it is way too much for this project unless you are using if for your home. The smallest size is the one that cost about USD 5.00. (Still it is way too much for this project but I have no choice)

~ Chalks.

(note; I saw a chalk board spray paint at Michaels. I never tried this so I can't say much about this.)

How to make the 'heart embellishment.'

1. Using pencil marking, draw a small heart  1-3/4" x 2-1/4" in  size.

Start stitch french knot all the way on top of the  line first. To learn on how to do the french knot stitch; please check it out here.

2. Then stitch all of the inside as well. When finished and with pink color embroidery threads stitch a back stitch or basting on the outer heart shape. 

3. Cut the fabric giving a 1/4" from the edge of the heart shape.

4. Cut 1/4" embellishment paper or fabric (preferably with patters) of your choice.

How to prepare the background {card}

1. In a small plastic cup; using a brush mix 2 or 3 tablespoon black acrylic paint and 1/2 teaspoon non sanded grout. {I looked for the smallest jar of the non sanded grout in Home Depot but they did not have any. I told her that I only need the smallest size because I only need 2 or 4 tablespoon the most for my project. She was kind enough to open a big bag of non sanded grout and pour some on a plastic wrap for me for free as shown on below image.}

2. Brush the entire paper and let it dry for about 15 minutes.  To speed up the drying process you can put it in the oven for the lowest temp. Then cut to the size you want. Mine is 12 width and 7 height. You want to fold it in the middle. So it will becoming a  6" x 7" size card. I drew a dot line in the middle where the card to be folded; you can paint only the front side only and not the back side. It is up to you.

3. Take a chalk and rub the side of the chalk lightly and randomly onto the surface of the card on the front side. Then wipe it off with soft cotton cloth. This is to give a used chalk board look. Tie a ribbon on the folded part of the card.

 Glue the embroidered heart onto the paper heart or onto the fabric heart. Then glue it onto the card. Using chalk; write any words wishes you like to put on the card. Voila, you are done!

Another example on how to embellish the card. You can use what ever material and any shape of object you want. If any of you knows on how to seal the chalk in place so it is not easily rubbed off; please let me know. I tried hair spray but it did not work.

More images of this card {here}.

All materials are available at Michaels or Jo Ann Fabrics.

~~~oo00oo~~~

Good luck Everyone! And have a nice Monday!

How to make Beaded Push Pins/Pin Board - Inspired by Anthropologie {DIY}

What you need;

~ Cotton fabrics. The thin one is better. Mine are fabric quilts bought at Jo Ann Fabrics.

~ Sewing needle and thread

~ Scissor

~ Various color of seed beads

~ Various sizes of flat buttons

~ Thumbtacks

~ Loctite glue

{more pictures of the actual board with it's beaded push pins; here}

1. Cut a square shape of fabric larger than the button.

2. Cut fabrics on the four angles and cut it into a circular shape.

3. Fold approx. 2/8" and do the basting stitches around it. End where you started.

4. Put button in the middle and slowly pull the thread to create  scrunch wrap around the button. 

(Continued below)

5. Do not cut the thread.

6. Insert three beads and sewn in to secure. 

7. Repeat process no. 6 until beads sewn in all around.

(Note; you can sew some beads in the middle as well if you want.)

8. To get variety of push pins repeat the entire process with different pattern and different color of beads. After all, you need many push pins for your board.

Do you see how pretty they are with different color of fabrics, beads and sizes?

Last, take the beaded piece and squirt a generous amount of Loctite glue on the back and put one thumbtack on the glue and in the middle. It will dry fast for about 3 minutes.

I love how these 'home made beaded push pins' inspired by Anthropologie looks. They are pretty on the inspiration board too! {here}

~~~oo00oo~~~

Have a nice week-end Everyone!

Home Made BEADED PUSH PINS Inspired by Anthropologie {DIY}

A while a go I spotted these cutest pin boards I ever seen on the internet at Anthropologie {here}. I immediately drawn to it and inspired by it. Right away when saw it on my computer monitor for the first time; I just knew  the step by step on how to create them in my head. 

I never really thought much about it until a few days a go. I had all the materials with me so why not give it a try. And I went back to Anthropologie website {here} I could not find  the pin boards anymore. I think they were sold out. I was thrilled on how fast and easy creating these little pretty things were. And they are very pretty too.

At the same time I brought over to New York an antique frame I bought in Delray Florida. I took the old picture out {because I wanted only the frame for my inspiration board}. I covered a foam board with muslin fabric and inserted onto the frame. Now I have a beautiful inspiration board! 

I knew exactly what to pin on the board and with these little pretty beaded pin boards I made; my inspiration board will looks stunning.

Inspired by the new Great Gatsby movie; I gathered these tear sheets pictures from Vogue magazine to create 'a mix of vintage and modern flapper fashion.' And I love the look of this board so much that I display it in my living room.

Here they are and please tell me what do you think! Tutorial of these beaded pin boards {here}

Do you see how pretty those beaded push pins are? I think so. I think they are much better to display for a pretty board like this one rather than using regular office push pins.

I love flapper fashion. Particularly these dresses and  the accessories. The color is muted greyish, silvery pink and purple. I love these color very much. The kind that aged and dusty over period of time. I think I would love to have an interior color based on this inspiration board and all colors on it. Right now I can only imagine and dream until whenever it is we are moving into our new home.

This is the board final resting. I really do not have  space or wall for this board. So I put it on top of our 'hope chest' with other vignettes. Although I do not like the painting I did { a long time a go}  behind it {well not together with this pretty board} I think she is okay sitting pretty over there for now.

Thank you so much for stopping by, and

have a lovely week-end Everyone!

Linked to;
Lolly Jane
Green Willow Pond 
Savvy Southern Style 

2 20" Decorative Pillow Cases + Glam Rock Chain Bracelet {GIVEAWAY} - CLOSED

Here are 'two 20" Decorative Pillow Cases' plus 'a Glam Rock Chain Bracelet' Giveaway!

These pillow cases sewn and made by me. I took a class at Jo Ann fabrics on how to sew a pillow case about a month a go.

These pillow cases materials are from Calico Corners. They were a sample fabrics at the store that were discontinued and sold per pieces inside a basket. {these were not remnants when bought them}. I bought about 30 beautiful of these pieces fabrics. I thought it would be useful for  craft projects and photo props.

These pillows has different motifs on each pillows and on both sides; but they are within the same color theme.

These materials are made out of exclusive strong fabrics with beautiful pattern on it. Please go to Calico Corners and look a round {here}.

The bracelet were made by me also. They were vintage chain that I have been keeping for a long time. This bracelet is fun and it is a piece of fashion statement. 

 {+}

the deet:

1. 1 point for following on Facebook, or

2. 1 point for following on Twitter, or

3. 2 points for signing in Google Friend 

4. 1 point for following on Pinterest

5. This is a  must ! Leave in a comment in the bottom of this post mentioning about which of the 4 above  you followed. This is because there is no way I will know what you have done unless you mentioned it. And it will make it easy for me. I am very sorry if I am taking much of your time and from the bottom of my heart, "thank you, thank you and thank you!" I did this in the past and you can check it out comments post here.

(Note: You can do all of those four for the total point of 5 although I do not see the point of doing this but in all fairness you can do this too. Points means the number of name appear on the list. If you followed all three that means the number of your name will appear is, 5 times.)

5. 2 points for putting a comments on the last 4 posts if you already a follower on the above, such as Facebook, Twitter and Google Friends Connect or Pinterest.

 

6. Please be 18 years or older!

7. For US & Canada and European Union residents only !

Giveaway will start April 23rd, 2013 at 0:30 am EST and will end May. 2nd, 2013 at 0:30 am EST.

1 winner will be chosen. A real email address  required and will not be made public or used for other purposes.

 The winner will be contacted the same day through email and must reply with home address within 4 days. Failure to reply after 4 days; we will draw another winner.

{note; my apologize if this method of participating this giveaway is taking much of your time; but in the past this is the best method and is working for me.}

Best of luck !

A Big Bow Thrifted Cardigan {DIY}

Hello, 

I hope you had a wonderful week-end. My week-end was pretty hectic. We arrived from Florida Friday midnight and early Saturday afternoon we had a Bar-Mitzvah party. Oh boy, have you been in a Bar-Mitzvah party? The music was pounding so loud and playing non-stop for 4 hours. And Sunday morning at 10.00 am we left for another friend's little daughter's Birthday party. Let me tell you; I did not want to get up from bed to get ready to go to the party this morning.

~~~~~~

 

It was one of those beautiful soft breezy afternoon when I took a walk around our condo in Florida. I decided to wear this DIY big bow cardigan that I created not long a go but never get to wear it until that afternoon. 

There is a tree standing right in front of our porch and by the small lake that has purplish flowers. The ground under neath the tree blanket by these fallen flowers. I gathered a few flowers to create the letter 'E' {my initial} and 'a heart shape.' I was playing around try to capture  a few pretty shots with these flowers but the wind kept on blowing off the flower that it was hard to shoot a perfect letter 'E'. I tried to fix and put the flower back to it's position; I finally got these pictures.

Tutorial.

Take an old sweater. Cut a slit in along the shoulder down to the sleeve about 7". Fold over raw edge and sew in place. Sew a piece of ribbon about 15" long to one side of neckline and another ribbon to the other side of the neckline. Tie together! Just a tip; it would be prettier if you could find a sweater that has a wide neckline. Raglan sleeve would be perfect for this style.

~~~oo00oo~~~

Thank you for stopping by!