Today is a great day, as we kick off  the Holiday Home Parties, and today Layla is hosting table decor.  I hosted a tablescape contest last week (announcing the winners soon!) so I thought I’d create something for the host or hostess you can make and give that they’d be proud to place on their  table!  The best news is these wine bags can be made with scraps of fabric you have leftover from other projects. They’re easy to make and a great way to personalize a gift of wine or bubbly.   

For this project, I used Waverly fabrics (see sources below) as one of the 12 Waverly Bloggers of Christmas. If you’d like to create some of these on your own, here’s what you’ll need: scrap of fabric (see measurements below); ribbon, thread & scissors.  Optional tassels or cards to embellish. 

Here are the rough measurements I used for the strips of fabric for both the wine and champagne bottle.  Remember to double the length measurement when you cut (40” for wine; 36” for champagne).

Turn your fabric inside out and sew the length of the bottle stopping short at 5 inches to create the collar. 

Keeping the bag inside out, fold back the collar and sew across the width of the bag (tuck the rough edge under for a cleaner look) stopping ½” before the edge of the bag. 

Turn bag right side out to reveal the unsewn edge of the collar and sew it closed to create a clean hem for when you fold it over. 

Finally, hand stitch the corners of the bottom together to hide the pointy edges ~ they’ll be buried inside the dimple inside the bottom of the bottle so it sits up straight. 

Tie it up with some extra ribbon and add some decorative tassels, a tag, or an ornament.  It’s like an elegant coat for your bottle on a cold winter’s night! 

A wine bottle stopper would look great tied to the front of a bottle of wine as an additional gift for after the vino is gone.   

Thank you to Waverly for including me in the Twelve Bloggers of Christmas! 

Waverly fabrics used for this project:  Snow Leopard and Mica Coconut.  I’d also like to thank my friend and neighbor Kathleen who rescued me in a pinch! My sewing machine started acting up after I sewed the first bag and no matter what I tried I couldn’t figure out what was wrong so I called her up and she helped me sew the champagne bag at her house on Saturday night, thanks so much Kathleen!! 

Styled a pretty table or created something for your holiday tabletop?  Link up to Layla’s Table Decor party!  

Thank you Layla for hosting! 

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I’ve owned a Silhouette for over a year and it’s such great crafting tool. Last year, I made a seasonal noel pillow and here is this year’s version made with the very same Silhouette cutting tool.  I found a simple red velvet pillow at World Market for $10 and used the white heat transfer material to make this modern wish pillow.   

For the Black Friday discount, enter the promo code CENTSATIONAL at the Black Friday page for a discount on the Cameo starting at midnight and continuing through the 28th. If you use the code CENTSATIONAL, you’ll get a 40% discount off everything else in the Silhouette online store for crafting (excluding the Cameo, subscriptions, download cards, and gift cards). 

The Silhouette is easy to use, once you install the software on your home computer.  You pick whatever font or shape you want from your library, choose your material and then make your cut!  I cut the heat transfer material and then ironed it on to my red velvet pillow (I removed the pillow insert from the zippered cover first).

I continue to use my older Silhouette model, but now there’s the even better Silhouette Cameo which is both PC and Mac compatible.  It cuts paper, cardstock, vinyl, and fabric up to 12 inches wide and 10 feet long. 

The Black Friday Sale begins at 12:01 (MST) on Friday, November 25th. Codes will be valid through November 28th. All shapes will be half off (50¢ each!) at the Silhouette online store.  It’s a great gift (for you) for all your crafting needs!  

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I was asked by several readers this month to recommend some gifts for a host or hostess that don’t cost a fortune.  Most of us will be invited to a soirée or two this holiday season, whether a big Christmas party or smaller get together with friends. It’s a gracious gesture to bring your host or hostess something special they’ll use or appreciate but I don’t think you need to spend a lot of money. 

Of course, there’s always the lovely gift of a bottle of wine or bubbly (forever welcome at my house!) or the thoughtful presentation of a homemade treat if time permits. Here are eight more ideas for less predictable stylish gifts for your entertainer: 

1.  Bowl Her (or Him) Over.  Little sets of bowls are perfect for smaller amounts of sauces or condiments.  Bright colors or rustic wood bowls will blend well with so many table settings, stack them up and tie them with a big bow, they’re sure to be a hit. 

Lacquerware bowls, $17 each, Branch Home; Acacia Bowls; $6-$11, One Sydney Road

2.  Shake Shake Shake.  Salt and pepper shakers or mills are such a great gift, they’re one of those necessary items required for any dinner or buffet but something one rarely buys for oneself. Find a rustic, nostalgic, quirky, or colorful version to give to your host or hostess and you’ll be thought of fondly every time he or she seasons the food!    King + Queen salt and pepper, $40 Perpetual Kid; Mason Jar salt and pepper; $16 Terrain; Turquoise Pepper Mill, $42 Target

3.  Spread the Love.   Cheese spreaders are universally appreciated and so useful for all those dips, spreads, and appetizers.  I know I could certainly use a new set, and these are two of my recently found favorites.  

Vintage Cheese Knives, $29 Williams Sonoma;  Wine Cork Spreaders, $15, Z Gallerie

4.  Wood is Good.  Wood cutting boards are always always always useful, and the unique versions work so well for food presentation.  You can pick up several one-of-a kind versions at online shops, or you could get jiggy with your jig saw and make your own cutting boards.  Either way, they’ll be well received! This puzzle board is very fun, and I love both of these too:       

Ash Cutting Board, $32 Terrain; State Cutting Boards; $40 A Heirloom on Etsy

5.  Coast!   I think coasters can be a very cool gift, and the prettier or more unique the better (and more likely they’ll end up on display!)  For a simple personalized DIY version, check out these snowflake coasters and these chevron coasters as well.  

Granite coasters, $42, Uncommon Goods; Trina Turk coasters $31, Inglenook Decor 

6.  Light it Up.   You can’t go wrong with elegant candles, from sophisticated to casual, especially ones in pretty packages.  Tie a bow around them for a simple but always appreciated gift.

Esque Candles, $19 – $34, Z Gallerie; Linnea Candles, $29 Inglenook Decor

7.  Grow Baby Grow.  A contained garden is a fabulous gift that allows your host or hostess to grow a garden on their own time. They’ll remember you when they bloom!

  Flowers in a Can, $15 FredFlare; Basil in a bag, $9 Branch Home

8.  Bake and Take.  Nothing is more personal than a homemade treat, whether it’s your summer preserves, your best holiday cookies, or your famous pie.  Wrap up your treats in a stylish container your host or hostess will use long after the morsels are gone, or take it one step further and present them with a personalized dish, how very sweet of you! 

Tapestry Food Storage; $32 Seltzer Studios; Personalized Pie Dish; $40 Red Envelope

In the past I’ve also given homemade baked bread wrapped in pretty dish towels (like these) tied up with ribbon, lavender linen water wrapped up in velvet wine bags, or shea butter soaps wrapped in brown paper and tied up with string.  Finding the perfect host or hostess gift just depends on taking a moment to think about what he or she would really love, then keeping it simple and personal.  What’s most important is the time spent together so give it a little thought but then make it fun! 

What’s your favorite gift to give to a host or hostess?

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I’m really picky when it comes to children’s books, they have to well written and wonderfully illustrated. Great pictures are a must for me, if I don’t love the illustrations I won’t buy the book! Quite a few new books caught my eye while I was at the bookstore, so I thought I’d compile a list with my quick synopsis of the tales within. 

All of these children’s books include either a heartwarming story or a fun adventure combined with great illustrations. I’ve read and love them all, and even bought a few to tuck under the Christmas tree. If you’re looking for a charming gift for boys and girls this holiday season, I highly recommend these for children ages 4 to 9.  Listed in no order of preference.

#1  Kiki & Coco in Paris, Stephanie Rausser and Nina Gruener

Hot of the presses, and perfect for fans of the famous city of Paris.  Kiki is a girl, Coco is her handmade cloth doll, and the two are inseparable. Together they travel to the City of Lights but Coco gets lost!  This tale of friendship will delight, and is filled with gorgeous photography of Paris seen through the eyes of Kiki & Coco.

       #2  Fandango Stew, David Davis

Two penniless and famished cowboys ride in to Skinflint and try to convince the stingy townsfolk to help them cook up some fandango stew. Cooperation leads to a tasty concoction everyone loves in this humorous take on the folktale Stone Soup.  It’s as fun to look at as it is to read out loud, filled with all the best of the Old West slang.  

#3  E-mergency!  Tom Lichtenheld & Ezra Fields Meyer

The alphabet all lives together in harmony until one day the letter E takes a tumble down the stairs.  Chaos ensues!  How will the world function without the letter E?  While E recovers, the letter O fills in, and the jokes and puns keep readers laughing throughout.  

#4  Mustache!  by Mac Barnett

King Duncan is incredibly vain and cares about nothing but himself. One day his subjects rebel and place King Duncan in a hairy situation. The illustrations by Kevin Cornell are brilliant and not to miss!

#5  Up and Down, Oliver Jeffers

The continuing story of friendship between a boy and his penguin.  Penguin wants so badly to fly and the boy supports him in his unrealistic ambitions.  Lovely watercolor illustrations in this sequel to Lost and Found.

#6  Miss Smith: Under the Ocean, Michael Garland

Miss Smith is the best teacher ever, when she opens a storybook, it comes alive!  This author’s series continues when historic nautical characters come to life in this aquarium field trip. The adventure quickly turns into a seafaring tale with special appearances from characters in Moby Dick, Treasure Island, Gulliver’s Travels and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. 

#7  The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes, Mark Pett & Gary Rubenstein

Everyone knows that Beatrice is perfect in every way.  She never forgets her homework and her socks always match.  One day, she actually makes a mistake in front of a large audience of people, gasp!  Beatrice learns through laughter that life is much more fun when you’re perfectly imperfect.     

#8  The Boy Who Cried Ninja, Alex Latimer

Tim keeps getting in trouble due to some strange visitors around his house. Do Tim’s explanations for mysterious occurrences have a grain of truth?  Find out by reading this clever twist on The Boy Who Cried Wolf.  Charming artwork by both author and illustrator.

#9   What Animals Really Like, Fiona Robinson

Conductor Timberteeth gets quite upset when the animals change the lyrics of his latest song.  Read all about the mayhem that ensues when the animals tell Timberteeth their unpredictable preferences in this story celebrating nonconformity. 

#10   The Day Dirk Yeller Came to Town, Mary Cassanova

One western town’s people are shaking in their boots when they hear Dirk Yeller is coming to town. Young Sam observes Dirk’s itchin’ and twitchin’ and reasons correctly that he just might have the solution to tame the outlaw.  

   #11  Press Here, Hervet Tullet

Readers interact with colorful dots in this clever adventure where children are invited to press, shake, tilt, and blow on the dots to see what magic occurs when they do. The narrator acts as coach and encourages and congratulates along the way.  Children are guaranteed to beg for a repeat performance. 

#12  Perfect Square, Michael Hall

One perfectly formed square is oh so content until it finds itself transformed into something else.  Perfect square discovers a whole new world when it’s torn, shredded, or cut, then made into something more beautiful.  The message to be creative and think outside the box!

#13  Bailey, Harry Bliss

Bailey is not your average pup.  He’s equally as smart as children so naturally he goes to school with them.  Bailey takes children on a fun adventure from from art class to math class to the playground but manages to unintentionally stir up trouble simply because of his instincts to dig and wag.  Written and illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss. 

   #14   PaperToy Monsters, Brian Castleforte

Part book, part playmate, this book is sure to delight your young monster loving lad.  Complete with 50 perforated mutants and space monsters that pop out and come together to form a perfect boy’s world (ages 5 to 9) with characters such as Scorpion Robot and Yucky Chucky.  25 designers from around the world contribute. 

#15  Cars Galore, Peter Stein

Here’s a nonstop parade of cars in all shapes, sizes, and personalities brought to you in rhythmic verse.  Illustrations are both whimsical and modern.

#16  King Hugo’s Huge Ego, Chris Van Dusen

King Hugo’s foolishness is on display in this rhythmic and rhyming tale of a self absorbed King who eventually learns modesty.  Great facial expressions throughout.

#17  Mirror Mirror, Marilyn Singer

This book was released in 2010 and has since received a lot of accolades. It proves there are two sides to every story with its recitation of poetry with the lines reversed from so many classic fairy tales and fables.  Amazingly clever and beautifully illustrated.

#18  Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band, Kwame Alexander

For the younger crowd (ages 3-5), this jazz loving rooster is out to form the best barnyard band, and partners with other talented musical critters such as Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald for a rockin’ good time.

#19  Carmine, A Little More Red, Melissa Sweet

Debuted a few years ago, but I just discovered it so it made my list.  Carmine is a painter on her way to Granny’s house in this clever retelling of the classic Little Red Riding Hood.  The author highlights sophisticated words like “lurking” and “surreal” for her young readers to learn in this modern adventure.

#20  Sea of Dreams, Dennis Nolan

A young girl’s sandcastle is overtaken by the incoming tide and the inhabitants are forced to sail the open seas to save themselves in this dreamlike wordless adventure that allows the reader to make up the words as he or she goes along.

All of the above links are (non affiliate) Amazon links but please also shop for these wonderful books at your local bookstore to support your local merchants!

Hope you enjoy this collection of wonderful new children’s books. What say you Moms and Dads?  What are the best children’s books you’re enjoying with your little ones these days? 

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I first found out about an embossing powder called Amazing Glaze that hardens to a resin from my friend Cathe, she had used it to to make a memory pet tag and decal penny pendant in the past and I really wanted to try it out!  I ordered the powder, some pendant bases and earwires, then came up with several versions of DIY wine glass charms. The first are these blingy sparklers which will work for just about any occasion.

With the right supplies, these are so easy to make!  Find some earwires, pendant bases, and some Amazing Glaze, and you’re in business (my sources below).

The sparkling gem versions were made with simple colorful glitter from my stash that was layered along the bottom of the pendant base, then topped with a small amount of the powder glaze (seen below). 

Using aluminum foil beneath, I simply baked the first layer of powder inside the pendants in a 350 degree oven for two minutes and allowed it to cool for 5 minutes. Then I applied two more thin layers following the same technique, 2 minutes in a 350 degree oven until the powder melts and turns clear.

It hardens into a resin to make these little gems for your wineglass!

Next, I experimented with some round numbered stickers from the scrapbook section of my local craft store to create these numbered versions. I noticed anything using paper tends to get a little muddied, and I suspect if you used a home printer to create a design on paper, the ink may bleed.  But these raised numbered stickers turned out to look pretty good with two layers of the Amazing Glaze powder turned resin on top.

Before:

After:

I had some fun making a set of holiday charms too since we always throw a big Christmas party every year.  Fine white glitter mixed with the Amazing Glaze powder forms the base. They’re topped with more vellum ornament and gift stickers and given another thick coat of the Glaze, kinda cute.  

You can even skip the charms and use beads or vintage buttons or whatever you want.  For the monogram charms below, I used some leftover metal button cover kits and paired them with some clear letter stickers. I made a small hole in the top with a nail, then melted a few thin coats of the Amazing Glaze powder over them in the oven.  

Hey, a tag for all my favorite drinkers! 

*hiccup*

No need to use this method for just wine glass tags, it works just as well for making charms for necklaces or bracelets too. 

Yes it’s true, the blingy glitter versions are my most fave, and I think they’d be really fab in vivid colors.  I found the pendant bases at Rubber Nation and the wine glass earwires at FeatherBoutique on Etsy.  Amazing Glaze is available on Amazon, $10 for 2 ounces but I have well over an ounce left over after making all these wine glass charms. I imagine you could make several dozen with one 2 ounce jar. 

They’re a fun and useful holiday gift idea for your friends and family so get together with your pals and make a whole bunch of them, just make sure you invite me to your craft party cause I’ll bring the wine.

xo,

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DIYer that I am, I determined bottle cutting was definitely on my ‘learn to do this’ list ASAP.  The kit I bought (seen below) ended up on a shelf in my office shortly after it arrived months ago, but last weekend as I was cleaning and sorting I noticed it again, and decided to give it a try. I spent a fall morning experimenting with the kit with mixed results, but in the end arrived at two decent cut glass vases made from a wine bottle and a champagne bottle. 

Take a peek:

Here’s the kit I used to cut my bottles and turn them into vases:

I must caution you, in my limited experience, this kit was a hit and a miss.  The miss may be attributed to my lack of skills in this craft, but I did not end up with perfect edges.  Read on!

The kit comes with a scoring tool, instructions, and other supplies. Quite frankly, the value is in the green scoring tool alone.

The method isn’t very complicated.  First, you start with a glass bottle. Wine bottles are plentiful around here so I used one I had recently emptied *hiccup* cause I’m really good at that.

You align your bottle, then with a steady hand etch a single line all around with the scoring tool. 

Then you add fire.  Men, did you hear that?  Etch glass, add fire.  Right up your alley!

Next, you cool with ice cubes and wait for the break. The basic science is this: the score line directs the cut and the quick change in temperature causes the break.  It may take a few repetitions (heat then ice, heat then ice) but eventually the glass breaks.  With my first bottle, I ended up with a lot of soot and an slightly uneven break. 

Exhibit A:

Did that imperfection stop me from making it into a vase?  Heck no. 

Of course you’re wondering about sharp edges, that was my biggest fear too.  It’s true, the edges of my bottle were sharp but not like shards, more of a clean edge.  I polished them up with the strip in the kit and that seemed to even them out just fine.  Next I taped it off with painter’s tape and thin stickers and gave it a coat of gold spray paint to create some stripes. 

Final result – a pretty decent vase for stems or blooms. 

Feeling bold with my second try I went with a thicker champagne bottle (seen above).  With patience and a few repetitions of the heat then ice technique, this bottle top came off with a cleaner cut. You an actually see the bottle begin to crack when you apply the ice. For me, this experiment was a like a throwback to science class . . .

I ended up with a much cleaner cut but this one also had slight imperfections.

As cool as this kit is, I have two bones to pick.  First, it’s just a little pricey at $45, but I suppose if you’re planning to make a bunch it might be worth it.  There are other ways to score a bottle I’ve read about online, one is a tile saw, the other is a Dremel, so if you have one of those, investigate those options. 

Second, I do have to disagree with the ‘creative craft for the entire family’ notion . . .

Those are tiny shards of glass that came off my etched bottle, see?  Perhaps I scored too deep, but those make this project off limits to any youngster if you ask me.

Here’s a final precautionary note: as with any DIY project working with glass and fire, use goggles, wear gloves, and have an extinguisher handy.  There are plenty of crazy videos about glass bottle cutting out there – just go look on You Tube. I found this one to be the most helpful source for tricks for getting a successful straight even cut.

I’ll definitely use the kit again, hopefully with smoother edges in the future. Meanwhile, I’ve got vases that turned out pretty nice even if the tops aren’t 100% perfect. 

Oh, and if anyone wants to know about those outrageously cool stems in the wine bottle vase, they are a pumpkin tree plant. Teeny tiny little pumpkins on a stem just make my day – I picked them up a few days ago at my local Trader Joes, awesome right?

Anyone else ever had any adventures in bottle cutting?  What were your results?

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I had this vision in my head of a thick slab of wood with a lot of character that could become a focal point on a table.  Over the weekend I created a few of my own wood cutting boards out of a slab found at a local salvage yard. 

Here’s a look at the trio of wood cutting boards I designed:

This project began last week when I dropped in on my local salvage yard in search of the perfect piece of wood.  I talked to the people who ran the place and told them I was looking for a harder wood like maple or hickory, but wanted to avoid any grainy or porous woods like oak.

Ordinarily, I stay away from pine because of its knots, but as I browsed all the selections, I happened to fall in love with a piece of Norfolk Pine.  I learned this tree originates in Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean and was first brought to America by Captain Cook.  Apparently, it was planted all along the coastlines and near ports because of how straight it grew despite winds that contort or bend other trees.  Sailors would use it to replace their ship masts. 

This particular piece came from Hawaii and had a very cool pink vein down the middle.  It was also thicker than most of the other planks, so I brought it home as the perfect candidate to make my trio of cutting boards.  They wanted $5 bucks a foot which was more than I wanted to pay, but they gave me a deal at $30 for 8 feet so in the end I didn’t think it wasn’t too much to pay for a thick piece of untreated wood with a lot of character that would yield three separate cutting boards. 

I cut and traced a template and aligned it along my board to avoid the big knots and also so that the pink vein ran down the middle, then traced three separate patterns. 

My jigsaw blades were beyond dull, so I took a trip to my local True Value to grab some new ones. 

If you’re tackling this project yourself, simply trace your pattern then cut your individual cutting boards out with a jig saw, pretty simple. 

Sand the top and the edges smooth with an orbital sander, first with medium 80 grit then followed up by 220 extra fine grit.

Wipe down all boards to remove any remaining sawdust, then condition with food safe mineral oil to bring out the beauty of the wood.  Mineral oil is a digestive aid and can be found at most drugstores or pharmacies.  Many specialty food and kitchen stores also carry mineral oil for use on butcher block counter tops so look for it there too. 

That’s really all you need to do to create your own custom cutting boards . . .

I’ve named them Papa Board, Mama Board, and Baby Board. 

Naturally, Papa is the life of the party cause he can hold an entire baguette!

Like with all cutting boards, knife marks will appear as you continue to use it, but I think that adds to the appeal. 

Nothing’s better than a big ol’ slab of good looking wood for serving anything from simple cheese and bread to appetizers to desserts.  Good looking cutting boards always deliver a great presentation, and add a casual rustic touch to any table top.

Clean your board with hot water and sanitize with white vinegar, then every few months condition your board with food safe mineral oil.  Your cutting board should continue to look great for years to come.  

Anyone else in the mood to craft some cutting boards?  All you need is a few tools and the right piece of wood !   

True Value Blog Squad legalese: “I was one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program as well as my writing about my experience. I have also been compensated for the materials needed for my DIY project. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.”

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“The room that I would love to get some direction and insight on is my bedroom.  The space is great with large windows and great views, but my current decorating is lacking in everything.  I would love the opportunity to get some professional help”  Congrats Larissa, can’t wait to see the full room design! 

Today, because it’s spring, and because Mother’s Day is five weeks away and you best be thinking about Mom!!!  I’m thinking about you too, so I’m bringing you a timely giveaway from my longtime sponsor The Vintage Pearl.  Last year, I bought my own mom the Circle of Love bracelet and she loves it!  It’s the only keepsake she has with her four children’s names on it, what Mom doesn’t want one of those? 

The Vintage Pearl is a great source for the prettiest hand stamped sterling silver jewelry and keepsakes.  In fact, VP has the PW seal of approval, how cool is that?  Take a peek at this small sampling of the pieces available for babies, teachers, grandmothers, sisters, friends, and even dudes. 

The last day to order for Mother’s Day delivery is April 20th, so get shopping!

This time, two winners will receive a $75 store credit to shop The Vintage Pearl.

Eligibility to win one of two $75 dollar store credits:

1)  Hop on over to The Vintage Pearl and pick a favorite among the collection.  Come on back and leave a comment telling which piece(s) you’d choose if you won.

2) For additional chances to win, link to this giveaway on Twitter, and/or link to this giveaway on Facebook, then come back and mention in additional comment(s) where you linked (FB or Twitter).

Giveaway ends Monday April 4th at 8 p.m. PST.  Two winners chosen by Random.org.

Good luck and happy weekend!

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I’ve always wanted a patchwork picnic blanket, and last weekend I finally got around to making this one.  I absolutely love the bright colors, the mix of blues and pinks with orange and turquoise.  The patchwork nature also has that quilted nostalgic feel. 

There is one final bonus beyond the handmade appeal.  This version is water resistant due to the vinyl tablecloth sewn to the underside.  It makes for one blanket I can throw down on any lawn, moist or dry.  It also means it still multitasks as a tablecloth !!

How to Make a Water Resistant Patchwork Picnic Blanket:

Supplies You Will Need:  complementary fabrics cut into squares; vinyl tablecloth (or other water resistant fabric)*; light quilt batting; measuring tape; pins; thread; scissors; needle; sewing machine.   *I found my white vinyl table pad at Kmart for $8, and my cotton fabrics at Joann’s Fabrics. 

There’s no real magic formula to choosing fabrics, just look for patterns that appeal to you that share similar colors, whether it’s classic stripes or ginghams, or modern geometrics or florals. 

Prewash all of your cottons before you start, then cut your fabric swatches into squares.  Since I used a 60” wide x 82” long vinyl tablecloth as my base, I wanted three 20” squares across and four 20” squares in length, so my 12 fabric squares were all cut to 21”, allowing ½” seam allowance on all sides.   

Faux croc silver mini measuring tape, how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.  1 inch, 2 inches, 3 inches . . .

Once they’re cut, lay all of your squares down on a large surface and decide where they should fit in your final pattern.  

Obviously, the next step is sewing your squares together, so I just started pinning. 

Don’t do that cause it ain’t that simple.

I ended up with this puckered ridiculous mess.

Enter seam ripper. 

Cue frustration.  

Then I thought, well obviously someone else has figured out how to get the perfect seams and how to get your points to match.  Quilters must have the secret I reasoned.  So I went online.  Don’t you just love the internet?  When I was young, it was “Hey kid, go look it up in an encyclopedia.”  Now we have Google.  Amen. 

I found a helpful video on how to nest patchwork quilt seams and learned a very useful technique on how to get your points to match.   Sound completely intimidating right?  “Nest. Patchwork. Quilt. Seams.”   Aaaaahhh!  I admit, I was afraid.  Very afraid.  But I watched, and listened, and learned.  You quilters sure know what you’re talking about. 

Looky loo at my crisp points! 

Never thought I’d hear myself say that.  Crispy points!  Crispy points!!! 

OK, I’m done. 

No I’m not. 

Here’s how to get those coveted oh-so-crisp points:

Work with four squares at a time and decide your fabric placement.

Flip them upside down, and pin squares 1 and 4, and then 2 and 3 together, then sew those sections on sewing machine. 

Match up your new seams to each other, then (like in the video) pin them together, and hem for the perfect matching points.  Seeeew easy.  Hardy har.

Work your way around, adding two more sections at a time, following the nesting corners method.  Then pat yourself on the back and have a glass of wine.

Next, flip your completed patchwork cotton patchwork pattern upside down, add the batting on top of that, and then your vinyl tablecloth (also flipped inside out).  No pic, sorry, it was late at night.  Sew it all together all around, but leave one square open to flip it right side out. 

To hold it together if and when it goes through the wash, either sew along the seams between the patchwork pieces, or tack together with a few stitches by hand (like I did) where your fabric meets in each corner.

The last step is those charming colorful ties, it’s the easiest part, you’re almost done!  With your fabric scraps, make a long tie (approximately 30” long) by flipping a 3” strip inside out and sewing one long seam.  Work a safety pin through to flip the fabric right side out, then seam both edges so it will remain flat after it goes through the wash.

Seam the edges, then attach both ties to that final unfinished edge of your last square.  Close up that last square of your picnic blanket after those ties are attached. 

The nicest thing about those charming colorful ties you make? 

The perfect package they make at the end of your picnic. 

This was a time consuming project, considering my learning curve.  It took me 6 hours over two days from start to finish, but it was completely worth it for this new keepsake. 

This classic picnic basket was a fun find from an antique store, and we pack it with plates, napkins and goodies on our local adventures, even those as near as our own backyard.  

Now let those warm weather outings begin!

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All of a sudden I had an idea.  What if I didn’t want to stick with the manufactured  colored chalkboard paints I was working with?  What about a DIY version in any color I could possibly imagine?  I remembered that Martha Stewart had published a recipe years ago for homemade chalkboard paint, but I had never tried it.  When I went to find it online I couldn’t.  That dark and stormy night had killed my internet connection.  I recalled it was some combination of non-sanded grout and paint, so I started experimenting, mixing up batches of my own, wondering if this would really work. 

Pay no attention to that Cabernet.  I swear it had nothing to do with it! 

OK, maybe it did.

At first, I came up with 2 tablespoons of grout to 3 tablespoons of paint ~ a combo that was way too thick.  So I kept at it, adding more paint each time, eventually ending up at a formula that was made up of 3/4 cup of latex paint and 2 tablespoons of non-sanded grout. 

With the blue paint left over from my boy’s room, I created this little toothbrush holder, with my very own homemade chalkboard paint.  Love it!

(If you want to recreate something similar, read this article about applying water based chalkboard paints to ceramics.)

By the end of the night, I discovered that Martha was correct.  A combination of non-sanded grout and latex paint truly does create a working chalkboard surface in any color you wish. 

So I made some spring planters too, in more custom colors I mixed myself.

They’re great just in case you want to leave messages to amuse yourself. . .

. . . or welcoming ones too.

My final experiment was with a piece of paneling leftover from our recent board and batten project.  I was able to make a wall mounted chalkboard in the kid’s playspace with the same exact wall color from this room.  Awesome.

A few things I learned in my experiments.

1.  Your concoction should look like runny oatmeal once mixed.  Mmmm, tasty!  You will question your sanity and whether this will ever really work, as I did many times.

2.  When you first apply your homemade chalkboard paint, there are a ton of granules that convince you this will indeed never work. 

3.  As you apply the paint to the surface, 95% of the granules dissolve leaving a mostly smooth surface.  You’ll have to pick out a few of the larger remaining clumps, but for the most part, I was shocked how the grout seemed to ‘melt’ into the paint.  Cool.

4.  Chalk ink pens are not friendly to your homemade concoction. 

So unfriendly, it required that I repaint over the entire section with my homemade colored chalkboard paint.  Grrrr. 

**update: one reader suggested the use of nail polish remover for chalk ink pens.

5.  If you want to use chalk ink pens, stick with the manufactured colored chalkboard paints.  Those surfaces will not discolor like the homemade version does when using the specialty chalk pens. 

6.  The good news is, traditional chalk works perfectly!  In fact, a simple damp rag allows you to erase any white chalk and start over with a clean chalkboard background.   

7.  Refrigerating your paint between coats helps prevent your homemade paint from getting too clumpy. 

8.  Unlike the manufactured colors by Hudson and RustOleum, your surface will not be as smooth.  The nice thing about the manufactured paint colors is they go on perfectly smooth like ordinary acrylic or latex paints.  The homemade version, at least in my experience, required that I pick out some of the granules as I went along.  Light sanding might help alleviate this problem with the first coat, but then you have the same issue with the second coat.  I’d still do recommend the homemade version for smaller projects. 

9.  A final lesson learned.  Kids will always take over your fancy chalkboard for themselves no matter what you say. 

But at least I have my planters!

Those outdoor pillows I found last year at OSH, I wish they still had them but I checked, they don’t. 

My final colored chalkboard paint recipe was 3/4 cup of latex paint for every 2 tablespoons of non-sanded grout.  Martha’s chalkboard paint recipe calls for 1 full cup of latex paint for every 2 tablespoons of non-sanded grout.  I’m thinking anywhere in between, you really can’t go wrong.

Anyone else experiment with your own formula?  What were your results? 

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