Archive for the ‘DIY’ Category

A lot of folks walk into the shop asking our advice on how to make two very basic home decor items: curtains and duvet covers. Both are wonderful beginner projects since they are simple shapes, and fairly quick to execute. Since we’d need to know the measurements of their windows and duvets to give them specific guidance, I usually end up referring them to Design Sponge, the great design/home blog that has been running a series of “Sewing 101″ posts by Brett Bara. These particular posts on sewing curtains and duvet covers are great jumping-off point for anyone wanting to expand their sewing repertoire and gussy up the joint at the same time. Check them out!

Whether it feels like it or not (I just saw a girl in Wayfarers and short-shorts) it really is Fall here in Los Angeles, so I decided to decorate our window to reflect the season. I simply took some wallpaper and origami paper scraps and cut them into leaf shapes, stitched them into long garlands on the sewing machine and then tacked them into the ceiling above the window. It makes me smile every time I look at it, especially when they flutter in the breeze.

I’m not sure what’s up with the gal from Staindrop these days– her last blog entry was in May 2008– and it bums me out because she makes truly beautiful plush artwork. Just look at this gorgeous piece I bought from her back in 2007! Anyway, I was nosing around her blog and came across this great little PDF pattern download. Visit her Freebies page to get the instructions for making these fuzzy hedgehog friends, complete with a stuffed rainbow. So inspiring!

The fabulous folks from Meet Me at Mike’s recently posted about the blog Flutterby Patch, which is full of fun knitting patterns like these beautiful colored pencils. The knitted owl, toadstool, and acorn projects are lots of fun as well.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen work as charming as the dolls of Barcelona-based Mosako Mimoko (aka illustrator Eva Monleón). She has even offered a super-sweet free embroidery pattern on her blog, which she shows stitched up on a vintage-style potholder. Download the pattern here.

Embroidery is one of our favorite crafts here at Home Ec., it’s just so versatile. I love the simple beauty of this embroidered alphabet mini-quilt from Orange Flower: Sketchbook. Visit their blog for a step-by-step tutorial showing how you can make your own. Wouldn’t this be a great decoration for a nursery or kid’s room?