a red ribbon wreath~

I saw this ribbon wreath in my December 2011 issue of Woman's Day magazine and right away knew I would make one. {Honestly, my pics do not do this wreath justice.} There's just something about the color and texture of this wreath that I find so appealing. It took 8 spools (30 yards) of 1 1/2 " red ribbon - purchased at HL, half price. One round 12" white styrofoam wreath, sharp scissors, and I was good to go. Total cost - right around $20.00. The ribbon pieces were all cut 15" long. Once your ribbon is ready, all you do is tie each piece around the wreath and knot. Scrunch them up so that no white from the wreath shows through. I think one done with green ribbon would be beautiful too.

Hope your holiday week-end was happy. Ours was wonderful. Both boys were home! Son Matthew had to work - he is a new manager at a Sam's Club up north...but he managed to get to grandma's for Thanksgiving dinner. Son Thomas left last night (and texted me at 12:30 AM that he was back "safe & sound") for his college house that he shares w/4 roommates. He'll be home again for Christmas. :)

I'm linking up to chic on a shoestring.

Thanks for stopping by today!

hugs, patti

wall art inspired by grandma.

This past summer, my mother gave me some pins (my grandma called them brooches) that had belonged to my paternal grandmother and also a couple that were my mother's.

Last year, I bought a shadow box from Marshall's. I had no immediate plans for it...until I painted my bedroom. I'm now putting my bedroom back together. For my wall art project, I simply pinned the brooches onto the fabric covered interior of the shadow box. Done! The easiest project ever! Using a measuring tape, pencil, and level, I hung the box on the wall next to my dresser. It is so pretty. And meaningful. It reminds me of my beautiful grandmother. I love it.

I'm linking up to chic on a shoestring budget.

What have you made lately that you love? Link me up 'cause I want to come see. :)

Thanks for stopping by!!

hugs, patti

A simple roman shade.

A delivery delay with our bathroom floor tile - special order coming from Toronto - has nixed our plans to work in the bathroom this week-end. We're replacing the floor, toilet, vanity and some wall tiles. Everything's on hold 'til the floor tile arrives. That didn't stop me from making a new window treatment for this little bathroom though. :)

Browsing some awesome blogs a couple of weeks ago, I came upon Angela's 365 days 2 simplicity blog. She has an excellent tutorial for making your own no sew roman shades. Big shout out of thanks to Angela...since your directions that I printed were never out of an arm's reach while I was making my shade. :)

Anegla's directions are for a no sew version of a roman shade. I chose to stitch up the side seams of my fabric because for me, stitching is easier than using heat & bond.
A second change that I made was to use spray adhesive on my shade's slats. I very carefully sprayed the slat and immediately pressed it firmly to my fabric. Worked like a charm.

My fabric was purchased at Jo-Ann's - 50% off, $4.99 yard. It was called an outdoor fabric on the label. It's a machine washable, duck weight cotton, so it has some nice body to it. My shade was $2.97 and was purchased at Walmart.

When I finished this first shade...honestly, I was wishing I needed to make another one!

It was an easy project w/Angela's directions. My window looks out onto our private backyard. I checked outside today to see how the shade looks from there and it's cute out there too!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Hope you're having a nice week-end!

hugs, patti