Our Hopeful Home: August 2013

Hand-Stamped Drop Cloth Ribbon Tutorial

August 28, 2013

I'm calling it

Royal Ribbon.

Wanna know how I made it?

Start with one handy-dandy canvas drop cloth from any one of your favorite big-box hardware stores. I already had one from Home Depot. Just prewash it, throw it in the dryer, and you're ready to go.

Iron it, then make a small cut with scissors at whatever width you're interested in making your ribbon. Initially I made the small cut at the one and a half inches wide mark. (You'll see why in a minute.) Cut the slit with your scissors about an inch in length from the edge of the cloth, then let her rip! Just pull the fabric apart at the ripped area, all the way up the fabric till you get to the other end. And voila, you end up with this.

Well, you do have to stamp it, of course. And stamp it I did, with these.

And these.

All you need are an ink stamping pad, gel stamps and a stamping block to secure your stamps on.

I just love the French-y twist of the stamp pack I found at Michael's for a song. Really, it was on clearance for $2.39. Oh, and don't worry about the strings (there'll be a lot). Just gently pull them off and the fabric should automatically stop unravelling. I love the fringe you're left with.

Since I'll be selling this at my show next weekend {Festival of the Vine in Geneva, IL Sept. 7th-8th, be there or be square} I decided to wrap the ribbon around some vintage thread spools I picked up for a quarter a piece in a great junkin' store in Des Moines, Iowa a few weeks ago. (Hence the one and a half inch width, it fits the spool perfectly.)

I even tried my hand at making some faux grainsack ribbon after reading about it on Homeroad.

I made this one three inches in width, and then used two paint pens (regular and thin) to draw the lines. I can't say that I'm in love with how it turned out. Maybe it's because I really wanted to make one with maroon lines but Hobby Lobby did not have a paint pen anywhere near that color. And I don't trust myself to freehand it. So I bought blue instead. It's another traditional grainsack color, just not what I decorate with personally. So I ended up liking Susan's better. What do you think?

Overall I'm thrilled with the outcome on the narrower stamped ribbon, and can't wait to use it for gift-wrapping as well as for home decor projects.

Any questions? You can leave them in the comments or e-mail me directly. I'd love to know if you've ever tried your hand at this and how it turned out. For now, I'm happy with my little Royal Ribbon project!

Thanks for stopping by! I do hope you'll stay connected and follow me via Google Friends Connect, Bloglovin' or e-mail subscription (all in my sidebar) if you haven't done so already.

And I'd love to see you on Charm Bracelet Diva {at Home}'s Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter pages, too! Just click on those really pretty-colored icons above:)

Don't miss another thrifty DIY home decor post!

xoxo

I'll be partying here:

The Shabby Creek Cottage

French Country Cottage

Sneak Peek at My First Show!

August 27, 2013

I am zipping this post off in haste, as I'm madly preparing for the Festival of the Vine in Geneva, IL on Saturday and Sunday, September 7th and 8th, 2013. Just a picture or two to let you know that I'm alive and kicking.

Don't you just love her?

I haven't figured out exactly how she'll be posing, but I know she'll be my favorite display piece of the show!

Mr. CBD set up my pretty white tent in our garage so I can practice and stage things just the way I want for the show.

I'm in the midst of trying things out right now.

These are just a sampling of the pillows I'll be selling.

It's exciting, yet exhausting. And two of my kids start school this week, so there's been a flurry of activity in that department. Chickadee number three starts school next week and I'm homeschooling him! Give me strength.

As you can imagine, I'll be in overdrive with the show prep. If you're anywhere near, please stop by the show and say hello, I'd love to meet you!

Historic Downtown Geneva, Illinois

Saturday September 7th 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday September 8th 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

I hope to share another sneak peek of what I'm up to sometime soon. Until then, enjoy what's left of the summer and try to stay cool!

xoxo

Dunham Castle Tour in My Own Home Town

August 21, 2013

Not many of us can say that we've been in a real castle. I can, since my husband and I honeymooned in Ireland where we stayed in manor houses and castles. But right in your own home town? I'd say that's pretty unusual. Unless you live in my hometown of Wayne, Illinois. If you're a follower of Charm Bracelet Diva {at Home} you might remember reading about the quaint village I live in here.

In the village, a few miles from our home, is a "castle" built by a local family more than 130 years ago. As you can see from the photo, it was fashioned after a French chateau. Over the years it's fallen into disrepair and, sadly, the last family to own it had to give it up. I was always curious about what it looked like inside, so I was happy to receive an invitation to an open house there recently. Sit back, relax, and take the tour with me, won't you?

Let's start with some outside shots.

I l-o-v-e ivy-clad walls!

Growing up, I always wished I lived in a house with a turret. Still do.

The windows are just beautiful.

Unfortunately this one's gone.

There were large pieces of the original architecture lying on the ground, waiting to be restored back to their original spots on the roof of the building.

And now for the inside. We were only allowed to walk around the main floor, as the place is in such disrepair that it wasn't safe to walk anywhere else in the house.

The work on the ceilings and the moldings throughout were spectacular.

Some of the walls are still covered in tapestry, which you can see here.

Other walls are just plain crumbling. It was neat to see past "lives" of the walls through the different layers.

The first room we saw when we entered has this beautiful parquet floor. The work is exquisite.

I counted 4 fireplaces. This is fireplace number one.

Fireplace number two.

Fireplace number three. There were some really interesting painted tiles or inlays on this one.

I THINK this used to be a fireplace?

We weren't allowed to go upstairs, but you can see how this stairwell needs work.

And this was the only piece of furniture. Notice the "CAUTION" tape to your right. The place really is a hazard in its current state.

That's not to say that we didn't have a lovely visit, which ended with some sweet treats and iced tea, all underneath a pretty white tent.

A local developer wants to turn it into an events destination, for weddings and the like. Word on the street is that it will take 7 million dollars to achieve his goal, renovations and additions included. Wow. The immediate neighbors aren't happy one bit, since the land is in no way zoned for commercial. But I do think he'll keep things tasteful, and restore it to it's former glory to boot. If you're interested, you can read all about it here. Then let me know, what do YOU think? Should the developer be allowed to go through with the renovations? If he's not allowed to go forward with them we're not really sure about the fate of the castle.

I must say it's pretty neat to be able to drive by a "castle" almost every day, and feel a part of the history that goes along with it. It's one of the reasons why we love living here.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the tour!

I also hope you'll stay connected and follow me via Google Friends Connect, Bloglovin' or e-mail subscription (all in my sidebar) if you haven't done so already.

And I'd love to see you on Charm Bracelet Diva {at Home}'s Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter pages, too! Just click on those really pretty-colored icons above:)

Don't miss another thrifty DIY home decor post (and you never know what else)!

I'll be partying here:

No Minimalist Here
Ivy and Elephants
Ella Claire Inspired
Savvy Southern Style
French Country Cottage
Shabby Art Boutique
Twigg Studios

Michigan's Longest Garage Sale

August 15, 2013

Today I'm sharing my fabulous vintage haul from Michigan's Longest Garage Sale.

Reader's Digest Condensed Books blue mason jar vintage bird cage

CLICK TO READ MORE

Myrtle Topiaries and Kitchen Counters

August 9, 2013

I've been in love with myrtle topiaries for like, forever. You see them in all those yummy photo shoots of farmhouse kitchens. And I wanted one for myself. A real one.

But they were always too expensive. Recently I was lucky enough to find one for a reasonable price at, of all places, an antique mall.

And here she is.