Rainy Day Craft - Easy Crochet Scarf

Embrace the gray rainy days

and pull out the 8mm crochet hook and a ball of

Red Heart, Chateau yarn.

Now, find a comfy spot and snuggle by

a warm fire.

This is a very easy and fun scarf to make.

You only need to know how 

to do a slip stitch.

Stretch some of this yarn out several inches.

Leave about 2 inches hanging.

You will be working into the top part

of the mesh and leaving the tassels

hanging on the bottom.

Place your 8mm crochet hook though the back of the mesh.

Place one hole on your needle.

Skip about three inches or three holes

then pick up another hole.

Pull this stitch through the first hole.

This is called a slip stitch.

Continue making slip stitches until you are three inches 

from the end of your yarn.

Remove your last stitch from your

hook and pull the end of your 

yarn through this hole.

Pull lightly until tightened.

You may want to take a matching color of thread

and sew the edges of your scarf to secure the ends.

The only blues here

are in the yarn.

Loving those cozy rainy days!

Floridian Cottage - Shabby Chic Tropical Bedroom

Three weeks ago a friend offered Jay and I 

this wonderful Shabby Chic bed.

We were so excited when it arrived.

We both love it and it has spurred us 

on to finally redo our guest bedroom.

 First we changed the wall color to a sunset peach.

Then we found these tropical linens

that work well with our bathroom wallpaper. 

While we shopped for bedroom

accessories Jay and I came across two 

shabby chic bedside tables.

The size of these tables are
perfect for our guest bedroom.

Although I love the color it is not going

to work with our decor.

I mixed up some acrylic paint I had on hand

and started painting our new bedside tables.

(I think Jay was a little nervus when he 

first saw the bright green color 

and to be honest so was I.)

Once they were painted and sanded a little, Jay warmed 

 up to the color and even pitched in and helped
by putting the sealer on

one of the side tables.

Our sidetables are finished.

The dresser below is in the same room

across from the bed that was gifted to us.

Welcome to

Floridian Cottage's

 Shabby Chic Tropical Bedroom.

DYI - Dresser Redo

This dresser has been in our garage

( open to the elements)

 for the past three years.

So you can just imagine how

dirty and nasty it was.

First step, vacuum every nook

and cranny.

Second step, wash with mild soap and water.

I had to even use the garden hose on this one.

Yes!!!!! It was that bad!

CAUTION THIS COULD RUIN YOUR PIECE.

( I was very lucky the water did not ruin this dresser.

I cleaned each piece, one piece at a time. I was very

careful not to saturate the pieces or leave any water

standing on them.) 

Third step, a little sanding.

Forth step, clean every piece with a tack cloth.

Step five, Whitewash with some off white acrylic paint.

Use a lint free cloth, wipe your paint on.

 Then wipe some of your paint off.

Let your paint dry.

Step six, seal your paint.

I used a minwax product

that can be wiped on and rubbed off.

Let your sealer dry.

That's it!

Our dresser is nice and clean

with a little face lift.

Ready for company.

DIY - Traveling Pin Cushion

This tiny traveling pincushion

is perfect for the traveling fiber artist.

 I made one of these for myself and it works 

wonderfully while I am sewing and traveling. 

It is only 2 1/14 x 1 1/2 inches. 

Would you like to make I of these? 

It is easy, you can use what you have on hand

 and it would be a great gift.

 You will need a small tin, scrap material,

glue, mod podge, cotton or some kind of stuffing,

needles, paint and what ever 

you want to use to decorate your tin.

Start by painting your tin inside and out.

Let it dry.

Then use mod podge to stick on your decorations.

Paint over your decoration with the mod podge.

Let dry.

Wrap your material around your cotton.

Sew a few stitches in the back

 of your material to form a cushion.

Glue your little cushion to the 

inside bottom of your tin.

No more needle worries while your traveling!

Your new traveling pin cushion

will keep you needles safe and handy.