Make it Yours Day {35}

I hope you are all having a fabulous Wednesday!  Unfortunately, I have to report for Jury Duty today.  I’m hoping that I don’t get picked for any long, disturbing or gross trials.  I will be bringing along my new Kindle that I bought with Swagbucks, and a knitting project, so at least I’ll have something to do while I wait.   So make me feel better with some of your amazing creative projects please!

Last week’s most popular post was from Stephanie at My Frugal Lifestyle.   Stephanie shared some tips on making flavored coffee.  Just perfect for the upcoming Fall weather!

<center><a href="http://www.mybackyardeden.com/"><img border="0" alt="Make it Yours @ My Backyard Eden" src="http://i46.tinypic.com/28jck5l.jpg" /></a></center>

Easy Peasy Rules:
♦ Link to your specific post, not the main page of your blog.
♦ Put my button or link somewhere on your blog.  I’m not picky, but if I can’t find a link back here, I can’t feature you!
♦ Visit the the person who linked up before you, check out their project, and leave a nice comment.   Thanks for playing nice.

Don’t forget to come by and check out the giveaway links at Sunday Sweepstakes this week.   If you have a giveaway, come on over and link it up, or just stop by and enter to win some way cool stuff!

How'd you Make it Yours this week?

(Submissions start September 28, 2010, 6:00 pm)

Link tool by inlinkz.com

Ten Sewing Must Have Accessories

I get emails from time to time asking me exactly what must have items I have in my sewing box.   Here is a short list of items I’ve collected over the years that I simply could. not. live. without!

1.   Sharp Scissors: 

I have a nice pair of Gingher Shears.  They were a bit expensive, but they can be sharpened over and over so they should last for a lifetime of sewing.  Before I bought these, I had a series of cheap scissors that worked great when they were sharp, were miserable when they got dull, and really couldn’t be sharpened.  Sewing is no fun with dull scissors. 

2.  Seam Ripper:

This item probably should be #1 on my list!  Thank goodness these are cheap because I’ve gone through a bunch of these in my lifetime.  I’ve even dropped them down the heater vent, only to have them roll somewhere deep into the inaccessible reaches of the duct work under my house.  Of course, you won’t need one of these if you’re a  perfect seamstress.   The rest of us however, use these all the time.

3.  Magnetic Pin Cushion:

I started using my Magnetic Pin Cushion when my kids were crawling babies.   Just drop the pins over the magnetic surface, and they jump right on.  If you drop pins on the floor or any other surface, just wave this little baby over the top of them and it picks up all the stray pins.  This is so much easier to use than a regular pin cushion.

4.  Good Light:



I love my OTT-LITE Task Lamp.  It’s portable and really makes working on detailed projects easier.  It also doesn’t get hot, so it’s easy to work with.   I got mine at Michael’s with a 40% off coupon.

5.  Rotary Cutter, Mat and Clear Ruler:

I love these tools!  I use them to cut both fabric and paper.   They are indispensible if you want to make straight even cuts.  I upgraded to an OLFA Self Healing Mat last year.  I  use it all the time for so many different types of crafts.

6.  Seam Gauge:

A seam gauge is basically a ruler. It features a special slider which can be used to mark a desired measurement. When using a seam gauge, you can set the marker to a specific measurement and use it as a quick visual point of reference while pressing, pinning, or sewing a seam.   Definitely a time saver.

7.  Fabric Markers or Tailor’s Chalk:

I use a number of different items to mark with depending on my project.  If my fabric’s dark, I usually use white tailor’s chalk.  It’s easy to use, easy to see, and easy to remove.  On light colored fabrics, I use a Mark-B-Gone pen.  I always test first to make sure the ink will come out of the fabric I’m using.  If I’m marking long lines or darts, I use a tracing wheel and tracing paper. 

8.  Iron and Ironing Board:

When I first started sewing, I neglected this important step.  It really makes a difference in your finished project if you press between steps!   Now, I iron every single project that has anything to do with fabric. 

9.  Tape Measure:

You need one of these soft, flexible tapes designed to wrap around yourself, your kids or anything else you measure that’s not flat and straight.

10.  Muslin:

I always have several yards of muslin, or other inexpensive, clearance fabric around.  It’s a cheap way to test out your ideas and patterns before you commit your nice fabric.  You can buy muslin wherever they sell fabric. 

That’s my top ten.  What’s on your list?

It’s A Monday Giveaway

My friends over at CSN Stores have offered another giveaway to my readers!  Yea!  I’ve recently rearranged the furniture in my living room, and now I need a couple of new end tables.   I wish I could win, because I know I could find something great at any of CSN stores 200+ stores.   

Or maybe I’d pick something for my kitchen.  I’ve been on the hunt for some mini loaf pans for my favorite banana bread.  CSN stores has these:

 
If you win, you’ll receive a $65 gift certificate that can be used at any of CSN’s 200+ stores.  (You must be a resident of the US or Canada to win.  Sorry international readers!)

Let’s make this the easiest giveaway ever.  Simply leave me a comment.   I’ll draw a winner randomly next Monday.

Happy Monday!

Sunday Sweepstakes Linkup

Hope you’re all enjoying your weekend!  It’s time for another Sunday Sweepstakes Linkup!  Do you have a giveaway going on?  Please link up to one of the categories below!  Feeling lucky?  Don’t forget to enter any giveaways that look exciting! 

What’s your Tag Line?

I just started Darren Rowse’s series 31 Days to Build a Better Blog  (fyi:  that’s an affiliate link.)  The Day 1 assignment is to write a Tag Line and elevator pitch for your blog.  This task really got me thinking about what my blog is, and what I want it to be.  Like a lot of people, I started my blog on a whim.  I didn’t really know what I’d do with it, if anything.  I love to garden, so I originally thought it would be a gardening blog, hence the name, My Backyard Eden.   But what I’ve discovered is that I’m blogging about more than just gardening.

When I took a look at all my past posts and all the things I’m interested in, they all came down to creating and homemaking.   Pretty much everything I’ve blogged about has to do with crafting, cooking, sewing, baking, gardening, decorating, organizing, and making my house into a home. 

I’m trying to come up with a tag line that would make it obvious to a new reader what this blog is about.   My old tag line was “Surviving the Wilds of Suburbia”.  I thought it was clever at the time, but it really doesn’t describe what you’ll find here.  I would love to get your opinion on my new tag line.  It’s up there in my header.  I’m not 100% satisfied with it yet.  The word “homemaking” just doesn’t seem right to me, even though it is pretty descriptive of what I’ve got going on here. 

My Backyard Eden:  Where Creativity, Homemaking and Real Life Collide. 

Please let me know what you think!  I would really appreciate some constructive criticism.  If you have a blog, I’d also love to know what your Tag Line and elevator pitch is.   If you’re feeling really brave, link up and let’s help each other out!

What’s your Tag Line?

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Master Bedroom Plate Wall

I just finished installing some decorative plates above the bed in my master bedroom. 

I’ve been looking for something understated and pretty for this spot for a long time.

I love the way they add a nice but subtle touch of color.

   Want to see how I did it?

First, I collected a bunch of mismatched plates from Goodwill.  I was looking for a variety of sizes, shapes and textures. 

Then, using Americana Gloss Enamel paint, I  painted them all out in a pale blue color.  I applied two thin coats.   On the glass plates I painted on the back side because the pattern was more pronounced on the back.   

Goodbye ugly palm tree!

When the plates were all done and dry, they go into a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes to cure the paint.   Until I read Madigan Made’s  post on DIY cream ware, I had no idea that there was such a thing as bake on paint!

Do you see a face here?  I’m going to add a couple more plates because now that I can see the face, the face is all I can see.  It reminds me of  a clown, and I think clowns are scary.

What do you have hanging above your bed?  Nothing scary I hope! 

I’ll be linking this post up to a couple of my favorite blogs:
The Shabby Nest,
Under the Table and Dreaming,
Between Naps on the Porch,
Domestically Speaking.

Pretty Plate Walls

For a while, I’ve been enamored with all the unique plate walls I’ve seen on the internet.

Traditional wall by Courtney Giles.  

Funky, colorful wall in Lisa Congdon’s home via Apartment Therapy.

Ambitious stair wall by Reese Dixon.

Whimsical fish wall via Design Scouting. 

Calm, serene arrangement by Nesting Place. 

I really love this monochromatic wall via The City Sage.

Until recently I always thought of plate walls as something my Grandma might have in her dining room.   But not any more.  I’m working on a plate wall for my Master Bedroom.   I’ll have pics in a couple of days!

Plate walls are not just for Grandmas anymore.  What do you think?

Make it Yours Day {34}

Happy Wednesday!  176 great projects were linked up last week!  I can really tell Fall is on its way by all the wonderful festive Fall projects you have going on!  Keep the great ideas coming!
Last week’s most popular link was Little Big Nest’s Kitchen Update.  Very pretty!

<center><a href="http://www.mybackyardeden.com/"><img border="0" alt="Make it Yours @ My Backyard Eden" src="http://i46.tinypic.com/28jck5l.jpg" /></a></center>

Easy Peasy Rules:

Link to your specific post, not the main page of your blog.
Put my button or link somewhere on your blog.  I’m not picky, but if I can’t find a link back here, I can’t feature you!
Visit the the person who linked up before you, check out their project, and leave a nice comment.   Thanks for playing nice.

Don’t forget to come by and check out the giveaway links at Sunday Sweepstakes this week.   If you have a giveaway, come on over and link it up, or just stop by and enter to win some way cool stuff!

How'd you Make it Yours this week?

(Submissions start September 21, 2010, 8:00 pm)

Link tool by inlinkz.com

Fall Wreath…Courtesy the Dollar Store

Last week I bought a few packages of these realistic looking crepe-paper-like fall leaves at the dollar store.  I had planned to use them make a new wreath for my front door.  When I saw Thrifty Decor Chick’s Square Wreath, my ideas for a traditional round wreath went right out the window.  Thanks for the idea Sarah!
I cut out a rectangular shape from an old piece of foam poster board and then gave it a quick coat of black spray paint.    After crumpling up the leaves a bit, I snipped off the stems and hot glued them to the board.   Start to finish, this project only took about 20 minutes, and the result is really pretty.
I wanted the wreath to hang a bit lower on my door, so I made a loop out of some dollar store ribbon and added a few extra leaves. 
Because it was made of super light leaves and poster board, I used some Command Adhesive double stick tape on the back of the wreath to keep it from flying around when I open or close the door. 
I love it!  I am SO ready for Fall!

What have you found at the dollar store lately?

Linking up to:
Between Naps on the Porch,
Today’s Creative Blog,
Blue Cricket Design,
The Inspired Room
and Centsational Girl.

Sunday Sweepstakes Linkup

Thank you to everyone who linked up last week! 


Do you have a giveaway going on?  Please link up to one of the categories below!  Feeling lucky?  Don’t forget to enter any giveaways that look exciting! 

Spooky Halloween Pillows

It’s finally feeling like Fall!  With Halloween about a month away, I decided it was time to make some Halloween Pillows.  

Using heavyweight muslin, I made pillow covers for throw pillows I already had.  That way, when the  Halloween holidays have passed, I’ll just fold the covers up and store them with the rest of our decorations until next year.

  
Here’s what I did.  I searched the internet and I found a couple of cool Halloween graphics.    
After printing out the images, I used the same freezer paper stenciling technique I used on my Pottery Barn Knockoff Christmas pillows from last year.  

It’s really an easy and fun project!


 
Have you started decorating for Fall?

Don’t forget to link up your giveaway or enter other great giveaways at my new weekly feature:  Sunday Sweepstakes Linkup! 

Linking up with:
Somewhat Simple,
Fall Frenzy at Craftaholics Anonymous,
Finding Fabulous,
Funky Junk Interiors,
Tatertots and Jello.

Make it Yours Day {33}

Happy Wednesday!  Can you believe that we had 171 projects linked up last week?  That’s a new record.  You all continue to amaze me with your varied and creative ideas!
Last week’s most popular link was from Julie at Less than Perfect Life of Bliss with her really striking wall of framed ‘doors’.

<center><a href="http://www.mybackyardeden.com/"><img border="0" alt="Make it Yours @ My Backyard Eden" src="http://i46.tinypic.com/28jck5l.jpg" /></a></center>
Easy Peasy Rules:

Link to your specific post, not the main page of your blog.
Put my button or link somewhere on your blog.  I’m not picky, but if I can’t find a link back here, I can’t feature you!
Visit the the person who linked up before you, check out their project, and leave a nice comment.   Thanks for playing nice.

Don’t forget to come by and check out the giveaway links at Sunday Sweepstakes this week.   If you have a giveaway, come on over and link it up, or just stop by and enter to win some way cool stuff!

Bread and Butter Pickles

My grandma Erma was an amazing woman.  She was a master of all things kitchen related.  She grew her own fruits and vegetables and canned like a mad woman when things were in season.  She made all her own bread.   She loved making desserts.  Dinner wasn’t complete unless she’d made a cake, pie or Jell-O mold.  She was strong as a horse and she could easily arm wrestle me under the table. 
My Grandma passed away a few years ago, but I’m lucky enough to have inherited her recipes.  This weekend, I decided to try making one of her specialties:  Bread and Butter Pickles.  The recipe is from this 1950’s Kerr Home Canning Book. 

I love that the book is all splattered from years of use.  She’d written notes to herself in the margins.  I feel happy just seeing her handwriting.

I sliced the cucumbers, onions and peppers, salted them and let them stand for several hours. 

After rinsing and draining, I added the veggies to the boiling mixture of vinegar, sugar and spices. 

Then I processed them for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath. 

They turned out great!  I think my Grandma would be proud.  I felt like she was with me in the kitchen when I was making these.  Finally, Bread and Butter Pickles, just like Grandma used to make!

Do you have any treasured recipes that have been handed down to you? 

Love giveaways?  Link up your giveaway or enter other great giveaways at my new weekly feature:  Sunday Sweepstakes Linkup!

Linking to:
Skip to My Lou
A Beautiful Mess
Beauty and Bedlam
New Nostalgia
Sew Much Ado
Harrigan Howdy