Cleaning Vintage Lace

A couple of weeks ago I went to an Estate Sale and found the most delightful bag full of vintage lace.  I still have not decided what I want to make with these beautiful pieces, pillows, dresses, skirts, or perhaps  wedding garders, but I know it will be lovely with these gorgeous handmade lace! 

The only problem was this lace was in terrible condition!  It was stinky and brown from years of neglect, so before it can tranform my next project, I needed to clean it. 

I have used several methods to clean vintage fabrics and lace in the past, but the method I want to share with you today is simple and works every time. 

CLEANING VINTAGE TEXTILES

1. Use a large canning pot.  (If you don't have a canning pot, use your largest pot.

2. Fill the pot half full with water

3. Place 1/2 cup of OxiClean powder into the water, stir

4. Add fabric/lace (water needs to cover all fabric)

5. Bring water to a boil and turn off heat

6.  Let fabric sit in water stir occassionally, until water cools

7. Pour off dirty water

8. Repeat process until water pours off clean

9. Rinse fabric under facet to remove all OxiClean

10. Line dry in the sun

I use this same process for all of my vintage finds...tablecloths, pillowcases, tablerunners, napkins....

 

Thanks for joining us today.  I am sorry our post have been a  little spread out.  Kandi and I both have little ones, so summer is usy, going on picnics, the pool, beach, vacationing...and lets face it just making sure our kiddos are not sitting in front of a tv!  We ask that you hang in there with us through this season.  Fall will be here before we know it, and we will be back to our regular posting schedule!

Thanks!

Rebekah

Ice Cream Party: Free Printables

Harper Kate's party was this weekend and I think it went great.  Very low key but the kids had a blast!  In years past I've tended to blow the budget on birthday parties for Gray and Harper.  I've just realized that it is really not necessary.  The kids could really and truly care, and as long as they are having fun what more could matter?  So this year I took the fun more seriously and the decorating less seriously.  Entirely out of my nature if you know me but people evolve you know :-)

I scoured the web, well, actually Pinterest, for free printables and the magnitude of things that came up were amazing!  I narrowed it down to just 3 different projects because that would be SIMPLE!   

Project 1: Happy Birthday Harper Pennant Banner
Cost: Free

This was the easiest banner ever, but I'll give a quick tutorial tomorrow. I cut all of my pennants out of scrapbook paper that I had on hand and found this perfect letter printables on Martha Stewart. She had some other adorable ways to use them on her website (duh) but I needed a little more color.  It was just the pop I needed over the desert table.  Just enough without being over the top.

Project 2: Harper's Birthday Ice Cream Labels
Cost: $7 for the sticky labels

I went with the little cups of ice cream to save on time and fuss but wanted to dress them up a bit.  This project could potentially cost you $7 unless you have these labels on hand.  I used the two inch circles from Avery's new line of Customizable Market Solutions  and I thought there were absolutely perfect! The website is full of free templates and a super easy to use platform for designing your labels.  You can import pictures and logos and they are 100% fully customizable.  I designed these from a blank template in about 5 minutes but the possibilities were truly endless!

Project 3: Ice Cream Toppings Labels
Cost: Free

These Ice Cream Tags are by Amy Moss at Eat Drink Chic.  To save time I hand wrote the toppings onto the tags and glued them to card stock so they could stand up on their own.

The rest of the decorating came from bright linens I already had on hand, flowers from my yard, and about 20 brightly colored balloons.  

You know you have an awesome friend when she brings you a set of 12 monogrammed brightly colored napkins.  YOU ARE THE BEST REBEKAH!!  I pulled out all the colors that worked with the party for extra pops of color.  Worked perfect since our last name and Harpers first name are both H's.  The printable on the right I've had a around for a while and its a freebie from Eighteen25.  They happen to have the best collection of subway art ever!

I also reused pennants from my sisters baby shower on the lower patio. 

More on the party to come this week!

Kandi

Entry Closet Makeover Part 3: Building The Bench

Entry Closet Makeover Part 3: Building The Bench

If you would have asked me 8 years ago when I married my husband (or even 3 weeks ago...) if he would be building things I would have laughed at you.  And I think he would have laughed too.  It is truly amazing how much more "handy" he has become.  I LOVE it!  As much as I would like the credit for talking him into doing this I truly think the motivation behind him starting this project came from a couple nay saying friends if we are being honest... those friends will remain nameless but your check is in the mail :-)

Amazingly this was finished in exactly one week and was worked on only at night after kids were in the bed. After going thru my Entryway Pinterest Board he set off to Lowe's. Lets be honest... I was worried.

1. Initial Frame

2. Power tools, at night... and yes.. he is wearing a headlamp... (if any of our college friends are reading this that headlamp should bring back memories)!

3. I am now aware that he could build a pretty awesome stage.  Next project maybe?

4. The framing is done and has lots of extra reinforcement including metal brackets in the corners.  Will says this makes it "fat ass certified".  His words... not mine!

Next came beadboard.  Hung horizontally, inspired by House of Smiths.  The drawers proved to be the hardest part.  It was a tight squeeze for a 6'5" man to get in and drill them down, in hind sight, don't attach the seat top until you have the drawer hardware installed! 

Last came trim work, paint and installing the hardware. 

He added the trim around the drawers to give a little more detail and I am in love with cup pulls right now.  I really wanted the big tall "coat and hat" hooks but they just wouldn't fit.  I think these lovelies will work just fine. 

If you really really want a full tutorial leave a comment and let me know.  I can probably talk Will into it.  From the outside looking in it appears to go like this, " measure, cut board, bring board in house, plethora of curse words, re-measure, re-cut, install, praise yourself and comment to everyone who will listen that you are the most talented person on the planet, repeat."  He is pretty talented and I am very proud.  He did prove me wrong!  This project has made all the difference in the world when you enter our house.   First impressions, you know! 

Big reveal next week!

Part 1: The Inspiration
Part 2: The Soft Stuff

Kandi

Porch Transformation

I am so sorry I have been away for over a week! We have had family in town, and lets just say it has been crazy around here. Today I am finally getting a chance to sit down, and show you a space I updated last week.   We have dinner outside on the deck most summer nights, and it really needed a little updating.  As always I was on a really tight budget.  I had about $250 to make over my entire space.   I had the table, and chairs, but I needed new cushions, pillows, table placemats & napkins.  Here is my new tablescape....

My starting point was the orange cushions on my outdoor lounge chairs...

Goodness, look at that sun!  These chairs sit in full sun all day long, and I am thrilled the fabric is sunbrella!  It holds up beautifully to sun and storms.  Anyway, they are orange, so that was my jumping off point.

I found closeout Sunbrella seat cushions at my local Tuesday Morning for $19.99.  I was lucky, they only had four matching chair cushions, and one bench cushion.  Truth be told I am not crazy about the pattern, but the price had me...besides, I knew I would be adding pillows.

I had the orange pillows (they came with my orange Sam's Club chairs.  At TJ Maxx my cousin and I stumbled upon the great floral pattern pillows. (Can you see them peaking from behind the table?) These were a real bargain at $16.99.  I was only going to buy 2, but Krista talked me into buying all 4. If you knew us, you would know that that was not much of a challenge!  My poor husband he does not stand a chance against the two of us! I put two on the bench, and two on my lounge chairs (pictured a couple pictures above).

With all this color, I needed a little bit of neutral...so the placemats and napkins were a perfect find.  TJ Maxx $4.99 for a set of four napkins...same price for four placemats.

I thought the napkins needed a little personality.  So of course I added my family's monogram with my embroidery machine.

I love using flowers from my garden to create informal arrangements.  Pictured above is just a simple arrangement of Crape Myrtle and Honeysuckle.

My favorite part of this entire transformation are the monogrammed pillows at the heads of the table. 

My Hubby's

Mine

These were simple sunbrella pillows I bought at TJ Maxx for $19.99. 

Before...

I ripped the pillows apart, monogrammed each, and then added brush trim.  Voila!

Thanks for joining me today!  As always I love to read your comments!  And as always, I went a little over budget...

Rebekah

I linked up to these amazing blog parties.

Motivate Me Monday The Cure for the Common Monday Just Something I Whipped Up Polly Want a Crafter Sew Can Do Boogieboard Cottage DIY Home Sweet Home Brassy Apple Polish the Stars Serendipity and Spice Destination CraftMrs Happy Homemaker Made for You Monday Make it Yourself Monday Ask AnnaC.R.A.F.T.The Southern Institute The DIY ShowoffCraftomaniacRaising 4 Princesses Between Naps on the Porch Bedazzle Me Monday The Life of a Not So Ordinary Wife Make Something Monday * A Diamond in the Stuff Stringtown HomeOrganizing Home Life Tuesday Tutorials Giggles Glitz and Glam Be Inspired Tuesday Time OutA to Zebra Celebrations My Favorite FindsEye HeartOur Delightful Home The Inspiration Board Frugal Treasures Tuesday Too Cute TuesdaySugar and DotsTopsy Turvy Tuesdays Trick or Treat Tuesday Chef in TrainingSugar Bee CraftsHope Studios Tell it to me Tuesday Your Cozy Home Party Turquoise Lovin’Tuesday To Do Party Cherished BlissAnti-Procrastination Tuesdays Type A Adventures of a DIY Mom Show Me What Ya Got Get Your Craft OnNifty Thrifty Tuesday Tuesday Confessional Teagan Travels How to Nest for Less A Bowl Full of Lemons Tuesday Trade OffTip JunkieT2T TuesdayTuesday TreasuresLadybug BlessingsCreative ItchToot your Horn Tuesday Jillify It Tutorial Tuesday Pin Cushion Creations Junk in their Trunk Polkadots on Parade * Laugh Love and Craft Rock N ShareClean & Scentsible The Trendy Treehouse Beyond the Picket Fence School House Scraps The Thrifty Home Sew Woodsy Savvy Southern Style Your Whims Wednesday Wow me Wednesday A Little TipsyWomen Living WellPrimp your Stuff Wednesday Show and Share Mrs. Fox’s Sweet Party Whatever goes Wednesday Live.Laugh.RoweAdventures in Dinner Easy Digital Scrapbooking Mom on Timeout The CSI Project Share Your Cup Thursday Fabulously FlawedIt’s Sew Stinking Cute The Shabby Creek Cottage The Crafty Blog Stalker Christina’s Adventures Crafty Scrappy Happy Embracing Change52 Mantels Bear Rabbit Bear The Vintage Farmhouse Bloom DesignsA Turtles Life for Me The Taylor House Rhinestone BeagleSchoolhouse Scraps The Brambleberry Cottage * The Shabby NestTidy MomJoyful StamperMy Simple Home Life RemodelaholicDelicate Construction Happy Hour Projects Chic on a Shoestring Decorating 504 Main Hating Martha The Creative Paige Here Comes the Sun Cookie Nut Creations Bacon TimeJoy in the JumbleThe Grant LifeDotted Line Crafts Love Notes by Lauren Raising OrangesMaking LemonadeRedoux InteriorsSassy SitesOne Artsy MommaMy Romantic HomePetals to PicotsPandoras Craft Box My Repurposed Life French Country Cottage At the Picket Fence Just Us FourMommas Kinda Crafty CraftionaryKitchen Fun With My 3 Sons Just Us 4Sweet Tooth Friday 30 Handmade Days Lovely Crafty Home Mama Mias Heart to Heart Homemaker in Heels Family Ever After Lady Bird LaneSerenity You The Gingerbread Blog Cherished Treasures Re-made Just Right Under the Table & Dreaming The Sweet talk Shop Sassafrass Salvation Simple as That My 1929 Charmer Heatherly Loves The Sasse Life Joy 2 Journey The Foley

Entry Closet Makeover Part 2: The Soft Stuff

ENTRY CLOSET MAKEOVER

PART 2: THE SOFT STUFF

 

Our finished built in entry bench obviously has a cushion and loads of pillows (duh!). And if Will is figuring out how to make it as he goes without enlisting help then so am I (competative much?) Guess what... I'm not an expert sewer!  That is Rebekah!  I sew pillows and the occassional curtain panel.  Squares and rectanges... very straight forward, and both of those need not be perfect to look perfect.  A cushion cover on the other hand must be perfect to look perfect.  Your measurements and cuts must be exact in size and exactly square.  YIKES!  Hard for a self proclaimed "non-perfectionist". 

So, I set out for the perfect tutorial in blogland.  I read tons of great ones but there was one AMAZING tutorial out there.  Pictures of every single step and very detailed.  Since I was completely clueless this is what I needed. 

Perfectly Portable Cushion Tutorial

The only step I modified was not adding the handles since I didnt need my cushion to be portable.  I honestly can't say enough good things not only about this tutorial but also about the entire Sew, Mama, Sew! empire.  Have you ever ordered fabric from them?  Great customer service, prices and turn around time.  Sign up for their emails and coupons come through frequently.  I'm a fan (can ya tell?)

For my foam insert I went to the Foam and Fabric Outlet in Fletcher, NC.  They cut me a perfect 53" x 22" x 3" insert and it only cost $22 which I thought was great!

So, just yesterday I said I would reveal tomorrow but, imagine this, we've had a change of plans.  I simply cannot find baskets I like so I am heading down to visit my sister in Charlotte tomorrow and we are going to hit the Pottery Barn Outlet, Ikea, the worlds largest TJ Maxx, and the bar.  If I can't find what I need between all those places then I just need to give up.  I will find them though!

Here is a sneak peak of how it's coming along.  I ADORE it!!!

Check out the piping!  I did that!

My lovely "gusset".  I learned that word in her awesome tutorial as well as how to do that perfectly hidden zipper.

View ENTRY CLOSET MAKEOVER PART 1: THE INSPRIATION here. 

 

Kandi

Hydrangeas: How to Make Cut Blooms Last

I am super thankful that the person who owned this house before me loved hydrangeas as much as I do.  She planted about 15 different bushes with at least 4 different varieties.  They line my driveway and make my heart happy every time I pull in.  Along with that goes threats from me every time someone is backing out of my driveway..."you hit my hydrangeas and I may literally kill you!!"  I'm only partially kidding :-)

The best part for me is having more to cut than I know what to do with!  Back before the days of Pinterest I actually pulled an article out of Southern Living written by the Grumpy Gardener on how to make your hydrangea blooms last.  It is old and wrinkly and I still refer to it to refresh my memory at the beginning of every season. 

1.  Plunge stems in cool water immediately after cutting
2. Pour about 1 inch of boiling water into a container and let it cool for a few minutes.
3. Cut the stems at an angle at the length you want for your arrangement.
4.Hold the bottom 1 inch of the stems in the hot water for about 30 seconds.
5. Transfer the stems to cool water for your arrangement.

Do not ask me the reason behind this method because I can honestly say I do not know why... but it works!

I love these blue hydrangeas in a simple white pitcher.

The arrangement on the left is in my dining room.  It has been on this table with only one water change and stem trim for over two weeks now and is still looking amazing!  The one on the right I cut and brought in yesterday without going through the above steps and as you can see it is already more wilted than the other.  It is worth the extra time to have your arrangement last literally weeks longer!  These little arrangements are my go to hostess gift all summer.  You can pick up a cute vase at a thrift store, add hydrangeas and have a gift most anyone would love. 

Here are a couple other varieties from my yard.

Nightingale Lace Cap Hydrangea

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

For all other cut flowers refer to Rebekah's post from last week.
For tips on drying hydrangeas refer to this post on our dried hydrangea wreath.

Coming up Wednesday will be the Entry Closet Makeover reveal! I just have to find a few baskets I like and do some touch up painting.  See here for the inspiration and before pictures.  Also, and recap of the greatest weekend ever with the Hendricks and Moody's including lots of pictures of muddy husbands and kids from the Mad Mountain Mud Run. 

Last but not least Rebekah and I are planning a series on getting balance is all aspects of our (your) life because we have decided we both are in serious need.  We are going to figure out how to get our bodies, parenting, homes, and work lives more balanced, organized and healthy.  Stay tuned.  We have a lot of work to do in a lot of areas and we want you to follow along, help us out, and join in with us!

Kandi

Partying at some of these awesome places!

Motivate Me Monday  Polly Want a Crafter Sew Can Do Boogieboard Cottage DIY Home Sweet Home Brassy Apple Serendipity and Spice Destination Craft Mrs Happy Homemaker Make it Yourself Monday Ask Anna C.R.A.F.T. The Southern Institute The DIY Showoff Craftomaniac Raising 4 Princesses Between Naps on the Porch Bedazzle Me Monday The Life of a Not So Ordinary Wife Make Something Monday

A Diamond in the Stuff Stringtown Home Organizing Home Life Tuesday Tutorials  Be Inspired Tuesday Time Out A to Zebra Celebrations My Favorite Finds Eye Heart Our Delightful Home The Inspiration Board Too Cute Tuesday Trick or Treat Tuesday Chef in Training Sugar Bee Crafts Hope Studios Tell it to me Tuesday Your Cozy Home Party Turquoise Lovin’ Tuesday To Do Party Cherished Bliss Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays Type A Adventures of a DIY Mom Show Me What Ya Got Get Your Craft On Nifty Thrifty Tuesday Tuesday Confessional Teagan Travels How to Nest for Less A Bowl Full of Lemons Tuesday Trade Off Tip Junkie T2T Tuesday Tuesday Treasures Ladybug Blessings Creative Itch Toot your Horn Tuesday Jillify It Tutorial Tuesday Pin Cushion Creations Spicy Link Up

Junk in their Trunk  Polkadots on Parade Sugar and Dots Rock N Share Clean & Scentsible The Trendy Treehouse Beyond the Picket Fence School House Scraps The Thrifty Home Sew Woodsy Savvy Southern Style Your Whims Wednesday Wow me Wednesday A Little Tipsy Women Living Well Primp your Stuff Wednesday Show and Share Mrs. Fox’s Sweet Party Whatever goes Wednesday

  Live.Laugh.Rowe Adventures in Dinner Mom on Timeout The CSI Project Share Your Cup Thursday Fabulously Flawed It’s Sew Stinking Cute The Shabby Creek Cottage The Crafty Blog Stalker Christina’s Adventures Crafty Scrappy Happy Embracing Change 52 Mantels Bear Rabbit Bear The Vintage Farmhouse Bloom Designs A Turtles Life for Me The Taylor House Rhinestone Beagle The Brambleberry Cottage

 The Shabby Nest Tidy Mom Joyful Stamper My Simple Home Life Remodelaholic Delicate Construction Happy Hour Projects Chic on a Shoestring Decorating 504 Main Hating Martha The Creative Paige Here Comes the Sun Cookie Nut Creations Bacon Time Joy in the Jumble The Grant Life Dotted Line Crafts Love Notes by Lauren Raising Oranges Making Lemonade Redoux Interiors Sassy Sites One Artsy Momma My Romantic Home Petals to Picots Pandoras Craft Box My Repurposed Life French Country Cottage At the Picket Fence Just Us Four Mommas Kinda Crafty Craftionary Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons Just Us 4 Sweet Tooth Friday 30 Handmade Days Lovely Crafty Home

Mama Mias Heart to Heart Homemaker in Heels Family Ever After Lady Bird Lane Serenity You The Gingerbread Blog

Cherished Treasures Re-made Just Right Under the Table & Dreaming The Sweet talk Shop Sassafrass Salvation Simple as That My 1929 Charmer Heatherly Loves The Sasse Life Joy 2 Journey The Foley