The Inspiration Board: link party 35

Welcome to the Inspiration Board link party. If you’ve linked up before, if you’re new or even if you’re just here to visit, I’m so appreciative that I’m on your party list. I’ll be going through the projects and featuring some in the spotlight on Friday.

A few rules:

• Link up your own projects – something you created. 
• Link to a specific post, not your blog home page (No Etsy shops or giveaways). 
• Grab a “homework” button and include it somewhere on the post you’re linking, on your home page or a page of link parties. Or, if you prefer, add a text link. 
• Follow homework. You’ll find the “Follow via Google Friend Connect” gadget on the right sidebar. 
• Please visit the other links that intrigue you and make someone smile with a comment or two. 

I’m ready to be inspired and can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on. Don’t forget to add my button somewhere on your blog. Spreading the word helps bring more visitors to your linked project.

<a href=" http://carolynshomework.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="homework" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjSbbA0SOqesA5DHID0I2xl7oOAjtbIFcAeh3DMql6FzRborOFgbaGtPfC36n4P2XimbCewe-uE_YrJzA0JxCjQ_6ifYvJlKf9fw8nFunAdoeuAn-d1hP8_XVPE4ohV3whBUTItFY8TJy/s1600/Homework+Blog+Logo+Square+outline+2-1.jpg" height="125" width="125"/></a>

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Upcycling: lace water bottle

I was inspired to make this lace vase after seeing Decoupaging with Lace on Urban Comfort. For my version, I used a very tall bottle that some fancy water came in. This is actually a double upcycle project because the lace I used was an old curtain valance.

To make a lace bottle you can wrap the entire bottle in the lace or use strips of the lace depending on how you want your finished product to look. Apply Mod Podge to your bottle and wrap the fabric around the bottle. 

The length of the valance fit the bottle almost perfectly and I was able to use the lacy edge at the top of the bottle. Since the neck of the bottle is narrower, I cut the slits in the fabric and layered the slits around the neck.

Once the fabric is completely dry, add another coat of Mod Podge over the fabric. 

Add flowers and enjoy your delicate lace vase.

I think these would work perfectly as budget-friendly wedding centerpieces. So if you’re planning a wedding, start saving glass bottles and be on the hunt for lace remnants.

Thanks for visiting.

Carolyn

I happily link at the parties listed here and 

     

The Inspiration Board: link party spotlight ~34~

This week’s Inspiration Board was filled with dreamy and lovely projects. Thank you to everyone who linked up a project and to everyone who came to visit. 

Here are a few in the spotlight this week.

Beautiful photography of snowberries by Nifty Thrifty Things. I’ve never seen snowberries before but I’m now obsessed with them. Vanessa of Nifty Thrifty Things has a regular Friday Floral post and the photography is always stunning. 

Faux Bois (false wood) is really in style now and I love this faux bois jar project by Max and Me. This technique has been on my to-do list and I’m going to dig out my fluffy paint and make one asap.

That’s My Letter repurposed a loaf pan into a cute pincushion complete with heart pins. A sweet Valentine gift for someone who sews. 

Beat the winter blues with these pretty winter blue bath salts by Homespun with Love. A beautiful intense blue bath salt scented with grapefruit essential oil – how could you not be cheered up. 

Little Lovelies created these ombre cross stitched hearts that are so sweet. The original pattern is available on her post. 

 

Cranberry Almond Pumpkin Bread by Will Cook for Smiles. Nothing says cozy like a piece of homemade bread.

  

This rag doll by Farm Wife Journal is precious. I love the blue pony tails and matching doll quilt. A wonderful homemade gift. 

Sweetheart Glitter Cottage by Sew Can Do. Such pretty pink details on this cottage. I would love a whole village of these little houses as a centerpiece. 

 

Beautiful, dreamy organza flower by One Perfect Day. The flower looks lighter than air and I love the contrast of the bold leaf stitches.

  

Simply stunning! Craftberry Bush always has wonderful projects and this wire wrapped heart is one of my favorites. Perfection!

  

……………………………………………………………………………………

This week on the Inspiration Pinboard

{hugs and kisses}

{left} X’s - Painted Cross Stitch by Craftberry Bush

{right} O’s – Felt Necklace by My Life in Namibia

 

 

If you were in the spotlight, please feel free to grab a button.

<a href=" http://carolynshomework.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="homework" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXKM4yQr9oUN7GwFux5BITknFYg1so-bdRvyvaBjWBTFrjlH943I7g401-x4gi3eWzlMzyZJjiZUszNBy3GpPcUkBQg_zNqqFY7fpE7ASpwP3nnNI250E6lTch-PcLFuJQzEqyDRYK4Yg/s1600/Featured+Button.jpg" height="125" width="125"/></a>

Thank you again to everyone who linked a project and to everyone who came to visit. I loved looking at all the projects and visiting your sites.

Please come back next week for another link party.

Link parties are held every Tuesday.

Carolyn

Sew & Tell: vintage lace

My mom has been cleaning out closets and she recently found a bag of my grandmother’s crocheted lace, doilies and other goodies that she gave to me. 

I can’t imagine the hours and hours of work that went into each piece. The crocheting was done with very fine thread and we estimate that some of the pieces are 75 years old.

These were the threads that were in the bag. The small ball of off white thread is marked 12 cents.

This order postcard for name tape was also in the bag. 

I’m sure this piece was intended to be a table cloth or table runner. It’s the largest piece and like so many, it’s unfinished. Some things never change, I know I have tons of unfinished projects in my stash.

This lace edging has darkened with age. I’m going to try to gently hand wash the pieces and store them safely to pass down.

I believe this lace was done with a method called tatting. I added a regular sewing pin to the picture so you could see how small the knots and loops are. 

Another large unfinished piece.

Beautiful round granny squares.

More lace edging. The little vintage iron is a miniature doll or play iron. It measures approximately 2.5” in length.

I imagine evenings spent without television and computers making these beautiful lace creations. But even without all those distractions, I’m not sure I could master this type of handiwork. It’s really amazing!

Thank you for visiting.

Carolyn

Celebrations: valentine fabric tags

I finally had a chance to make good use of some fun Valentine rubber stamps that I have.

I used the stamps on fabric to make some tags or labels for Valentine gifts. Rather than use an ink pad, I used craft paint. For the heart stamp, I used Plaid Folkart in Deep Tomato Red. To apply the paint to the rubber stamp, I used a Martha Stewart foam pouncer and dabbed the paint directly on to the rubber stamp. When using this method, do a few tests on scrap fabric until you’re sure of the right amount of paint to apply.

 

This pretty red box gets a custom label with a rubber stamped piece of muslin, corrugated cardboard and twine. Now I just need to fill it with homemade fudge, toffee bark or some other yummy treat.

An old mason jar is ready to be filled with “confectionary candy”. This label was created using Martha Stewart Craft Paint in Pink Dahlia.

A bright red composition book is turned into a fun journal or idea book. These would make great teacher or classmate Valentine gifts. 

This plain vase is now Valentine ready. Wouldn’t short red roses look pretty in this vase? Maybe I’ll get some for Valentine’s Day.

I love how these turned out and to me, using craft paints is easier than an ink pad.

Thank you for visiting.

Carolyn

Plaid Enterprises supplied some of the products used in this project but I was not compensated in any other way. The opinions expressed in this post are mine.

I happily link at the parties listed here and