DIY Button Clock

I found a tutorial online at Epheriell Designs for making a button clock with a embroidery hoop, and I worked on it yesterday.  I like the way it came out, and I think it fits in perfectly in the sewing room.  I used a khaki linen color, which I was a little unsure about at first on the grey walls, but as I studied the room, I have a lot of khaki and taupe in the room, so it actually fits in well. 
First, I folded my fabric into a square and marked the center and the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions.  I laid out the buttons and marked a dot where each one would go.

The dot for the clock mechanism doesn't look quite in the middle,
but don't worry--it is!!

Then I sewed all the buttons on.  I coordinated the threads to the buttons, which meant I threaded the needle about 10 different times!! (And that's when I'm feeling old...it's hard to see that little eye!!)

All the buttons are sewn on and I'm ready to work on the back.

First, I traced the circle on the inside with a pencil:

This way, I'd be sure to get the placement correct after I take it apart to iron it.  Then I took the fabric out and traced a circle on a lightweight piece of chipboard.  This gives stability to the clock mechanism and, I found out, also keeps the fabric from sagging in the embroidery hoop. 

I used spray adhesive to fix the cardboard onto the fabric, and then I put it back into the hoop.

I have learned to use a tarp or piece of scrap fabric as a backing on whatever I'm gluing.  That spray adhesive goes everywhere!!

So here it is--I pressed the fabric, glued the cardboard onto the back, and reset it into the hoop.  I cut the fabric to about 1 1/2 inches around and just stuck the unfinished edge onto the cardboard. 

The fabric was still sticky enough on the edge in most spots to just adhere it to the cardboard, but in a couple of places, I used a little more adhesive so it would stay put.  Then I used an awl to make the hole in the center, and I assembled the clock mechanism.





As we say, "Ta Dah!!" I'm pretty happy with how this turned out, and as soon as I decide where to hang it, it'll be all finished!

Finishing Touches in the Sewing Room

Summer is winding down--only a week and a day to go before I'm back at school again.  I've accomplished more this summer than past summers, so I feel pretty good about everything.  I'd really like to finish up the sewing room, and my good friend Jenny is coming over on Sunday to help with a few little bits (she doesn't know exactly what yet, but she has such a good eye that she's the only one I trust to help me). 
Today, I started two button projects: a little wall hanging and a clock.  All I did was lay out the buttons that I want on the clock today.  I'm not thrilled with the fabric I picked; it's a little too khaki.  It doesn't look great against the grey walls, so I'm still in the planning stages of that.

But the wall hanging was so cute and easy. The original idea came from the Freckled Nest blog back on May 3rd--Spring Button Flowers.  I know it's August and I should be thinking about fall! Ooh, I did see a fabulous applique tree/leaves pillow...but that's for another day! Oh, well.  I followed her directions with just one change--I started stitching the stem at the bottom, where the 'invisible line' is.  That way, I finished it up at the top where the button was, and I could tie off my threads up there.  I felt like I had a more precise point at the line when it was the beginning of my stiching instead of the end.  But other than that, I just followed her guidelines and here's the project:

First, I planned where the buttons would go and stitched them on with
yellow thread, then I drew the horizon line and stem lines lightly with a
marker that would wash off.

I started by going in and out of the fabric but then switched to
this method of doing three or four stitches at once.

I'll wash it tonight to get out the sewing ink, then cut off the
extra fabric (I just tucked it under here), and then hang it
in the sewing room.

DIY Bottlecaps

This was a fun, quick project.  Here's all you need to create the bottlecap magnets or pushpins: bottlecaps, stickers, clear epoxy stickers, 1-inch punch, magnets, thumbtacks, rubber mallet, hot glue gun. 
After doing a little research, I bought bottle caps that had never been used.  They're bright and shiny, and they're not dented, either.  The first step is to use a rubber mallet and pound the edges until they're rounded.  I did this on the basement floor--you definitely don't want to do it on any surface that you don't want marred.

The caps on the left haven't yet been pounded--just a few gentle taps with the mallet (keeping the inside of the bottle cap facing up) turns those sharp edges downward.

See how easily they turn under into perfect little circles?

Then I moved over to the craft table for the next part.  I bought some cute stickers that were in a circle shape, but they were a little too big to go inside the bottlecap, so I used my 1-inch punch to make them the perfect size. 

I set the sticker inside each bottlecap and then put the epoxy sticker on top of that.  I press the epoxy sticker down--you can see I have a little more adhering to do around the edges.

Here are the ones I made today:

I wanted to try these as magnets, and I used a sheet-type magnet (like for a business card), but the bottlecaps are a little too heavy.  I'll need to get the button-type magnet that will hold something a little heavier, but I love the way they look on the black fridge.  I made a set of these into pushpins by hot-gluing a flat-top thumbtack onto the back.  I'm going to give these a try on my bulletin board before making any more--I want to be sure the hot glue really holds the bottlecap on. I could try one of the craft adhesives I have, too.

This is another set of stickers I used. I like these colors, too. Kind of muted.

 

Sewing Room Before/After

It is finished!! It took an entire week from start to end, but the sewing room makeover is done.  (Well, almost...I have a few things to hang up, but I haven't decided where to put them yet.) Last Monday, I started by moving everything out of the room and painting the walls grey.  After breaking the sewing table and spilling a gallon of paint on the floor, which put me behind by a day, I finished painting.

Then I painted the lamp and bookshelf.  I reassembled the bookshelf with fabric on the back wall.  I put together the Ikea chaise longue, and created a pressing table out of a TV tray.  Then I used the big drill and fixed that sewing table good! 

The before--looking into the room from the doorway.

The after

The before--looking from the back corner.

The after.

The fixed-up sewing table and pressing table.

The pressing table, chaise longue, and bookshelf.

I think that the bookshelf was the most dramatic part of the project--from a cherry-colored particle board boring bookshelf to something exciting and fun to look at! I found the fabric at Hancock Fabrics where all the home decor fabrics were 50% off--yea!!

The last thing I did, which was the first part of the project started, was to finish the fabric valences.  I just adore them, right down to their little white pom-pom trim!

DIY Disaster

I was so excited to start working in the sewing room on Monday.  Got the paint at Home Depot and emptied the room out.  About half way around the room, I needed to move the sewing table so I could work on that side of the room.  I picked up one end to slide it into the middle of the room and heard a CRACK!!! And the legs on the opposite end of the table came off the table and the whole table collapsed.

It was like slow motion.  I watched everything slide off the table and tip over--the paint tray, the open gallon of paint, a bunch of nails, screws, the phone, my coffee, and other tools.  I just stood there for a second taking it all in.  I didn't even know what to rescue first!!

Here's the damage:

I scraped up as much as I could.

It ran down the wall and onto the moulding and onto the carpet.  I used the paintstick to scrape it back into the gallon.  There was dust and fuzz mixed in, a bunch of nails, too.  Ugh, it was ugly.  And here's the worst part--my poor table!

I love this table. It has huge sentimental value, so I am going to try to fix it.

 Luckily, we have a carpet steamer here, so I put it right to work and got the job started.  It wasn't strong enough, though, to get everything up, so I rented a commercial version from the grocery store.  That did the trick and the stain is hardly noticable.  I'll post the "after" pics later.  Time to paint the trim!

The Before

I am getting ready to start the sewing room makeover.  It was never "made" in the first place, so I'm not sure this is even considered a makeOVER.  It's just a room that's finally getting done!
I remembered to take some before photos, so I can document the progress made.  Here's what it looks like now:

Lots to clean out before I get started.

The sewing table sticks out into the middle of the room.  I like to have the TV or ipod on while I work, so that will pretty much stay that way.  I am not totally in love with the chrome shelving unit, but I do like that it's open, so I guess it's staying.  The denim curtains will stay, but I'll add those valences I made above them.  I'm going to paint the walls a medium gray and paint the trim white.  I think it will look very smart. You can see the paint chip on the wall in the photo below.  It'll be the bottom color.

The sewing table and big, blank wall behind it.

 I am not exactly sure what to do with that big, blank wall behind the sewing table.  I used to have a bulletin board on it, but that got moved downstairs when the scrapbooking area moved into the basement.  I am considering getting several empty frames, painting them white, and using them to highlight different things.  Still working on this idea...we'll see.

The closet--not exactly sure if there will be any makeover here.

Yeah, I don't really see anything much happening here.  I like having the fabric in the closet where it won't get faded, and my winter clothes are now stored in there, too.  And since this is another spare bedroom (#3, in fact!!), there are linens for the blow-up mattress here as well.  I might just close those doors and not think about any changes there.

The windows and bookshelf before.

The bookshelf in the middle of the photo is just a little particle board shelf, but I have big plans for it.  I'm going to adhere fabric onto the back surface and paint the actual case and shelves gray.  I think it will look awesome with a bright yellow/orange background.  I may move it to the opposite side of the room where the new chaise lounge from Ikea will go.  That's sitting in the garage ready to be moved in after the painting is finished.  Then it will be a nice little reading nook, and I think I'll paint the floor lamp that's in there, too, so it will match. 

So the big question is, how long will this take?  I'm giving myself until Saturday to get it put together.  Tuesday and Wednesday are full of non-house obligations, so that gives me Monday, 1/2 day Tuesday, 1/2 day Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  Totally do-able, right?

Getting so excited!!

Updates on Projects

I have been having so much fun working around the house--it's about 100 degrees outside, so inside projects are definitely the way to go these days.
First, here's the laundry room.  I painted it a soft yellow, hung a valence that I made, and mod-podged the switchplates.  Heres are some pictures:

I don't love the way these turned out--
they don't quite fit flush anymore because of the bulk of the fabric.

In the sewing room, I have been planning the new space.  I picked out the paint color, and my sister and I got a chaise longue from Ikea that we'll put up there once the space is done.  There's a lot to do in there, but this is one of my favorite additions--the bottle lamp.  My sister gave it to me in probably 1987 or so, and this lamp has been up and down the east coast and is still in one piece.  Amazing, really.  I found some fabulous trim at Hobby Lobby for $11.99 a yard.  While I would've loved to trim the valences in it, that's just a little too pricey for me.  So I bought a yard and a half (with a 40% off coupon!) to trim the lamp. Check it out:

I had a smidge extra trim, so I cut the buttons off and decorated the lampshade.

Isn't it just the cutest trim ever?!?! Perfect for a sewing room!

The lamp is currently on an old tomato box, now filled with yarn.

When we get back from the beach, I'll be painting the sewing room a light grey, the trim white, hanging the valences, setting up the new chaise, and getting some blank frames to hang on the bare wall.  Still thinking about that last idea, but I'll work something out. I'll try to remember to post before and after pictures, not just after pictures!!