Bella Notte inspired pillow shams 'Part Deux' ~ With a crocheted edge...

Oh, you really didn't think I would stop with just (lets see...) three sets this month, did you???

Bella Notte Inspired Pillow Covers

Crocheted Edge Curtain Panels to Throw Pillows

Crazy Quilt Pillows

It's a 'pillow makin' marathon' going on around here ~~~!

Quick, someone take the sewing machine away......

(If you try, I'll bite your arm...!)

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Well, since I was digging through my curtains, I came across this gorgeous panel. It's one of the old, vintage ones with the rubber back. I don't even think they make this kind of quality anymore. At least, not around where I live... And - it was only $1...

As I kept digging through my stash, I came across a bag that had a Ralph Lauren "Charlotte" bed skirt, a set of shams and a flat sheet... Oh, yummy - these would go perfect with the vintage curtain panel to destruct me a couple more 'Belle Notte' (part deux) inspired big, ruffly, pillow cases... The Ralph Lauren bedding came from the thrift store and I think it cost me $5...?

(We're up to $6 so far and I only needed some thread & time...)

Where the damask panel is rubber backed, I lined the inside with pieces of the Ralph Lauren sheet. I can't even image how I would have got a pillow into it without this brain thought?

Lets face it... 

I am DESTRUCTIVE with textiles (I don't know why?) ...

It starts out one thing and a couple whacks & a bit of thread later and it's another. 

My lighting 'sucks' at night when I'm sewing and I was just way too busy to turn on the light~!

I cut the ruffle off the bed skirt and sewed it onto the pillow edge for the pillow ruffle because I'm just way too lazy to pull out the ruffler attachment for my sewing machine... <Yes, I'm smiling big> I love 'already made' ruffles. It just saves me lots of time...

The inside of the sham is "Ralph Lauren Charlotte" lined...

The exterior is the vintage, damask, curtain panel, with a Ralph Lauren 'Charlotte' ruffle...

I've had a few inquirer's email me and request patterns. Sorry ladies - I don't use patterns. I just grab the material, grab the scissors and a measuring device and start whacking. It's all just in my head and you don't want me to go in there after it.

Trust me...

It's scary in there~!

Honestly, I've never had a formal sewing lesson. I don't know how to use a pattern. I've never owned a pattern. I just "Wing It" and wingi'ng  it (is that a word?) works for me...

I didn't stop here though... It was plain - it needed some pizzazz... Something to finish it off...

It needed a crocheted edge...

So, I grabbed my little 'SkipStitch' rotary cutter attachment. 

You can order one here: Skpstitch Blade

I ran it along the edge of my ruffle. And, I started my stitches. Again, I just 'wing-ed' the pattern. I start with no 'rhyme, nor reason.' I just start...

And, I ended up with beautiful, 'Belle Notte' inspired pillow shams for $6...

(Waaaaaayyyyyy cheaper than the real thing!)

It is so easy to take pieces of stuff and create beautiful bedding~!

In my next life (God forbid I have to do this again, I've really learned my lesson about living!)

I would wish to be a bedding designer... 

Or, a dog...

Just look at this mess~! 

Something happens when he lays down. These little white 'puff balls' politely referred to as "Mooch Balls." Jump off him and start roaming around the house... !

~And, of course... the human walks around all day and picks them all up~

Back to the blog post Jen... 

hm, hm... sorry for the interruption~!

A rundown of the cost of the bedding currently on my bed...

The newly destructed Belle Notte (part deux) shams = $3

The ruffled Ralph Lauren shams in the back = $2

The little throw pillows in front = $0.50 (2 linen napkins and some edging)

The 'Poodle" bed spread = $15 (from Domestications)

The bottom crocheted edge blanket (white) = $2

The sand pink, fringed edge blanket at the foot of the bed = $1

And... There are 2 quilted shams on the bed I got from J.C. Penney's clearance for $4.99 each = $10

Total Cost for your bed to look like this if your a thrifty treasure hunter & a pack rat who has no fear of scissors~

  $34.00 

(Not counting the sheets...)

And, when the man-child comes home and just plops his construction worker, dirty truck driver self all over my Belle Notte inspired bed... I can just roll my eyes and say, "Whatever..."

Instead of screaming ~ 

"Get off the Belle Notte Bedding~!!!"

And, I'll never have to hear...

"Isn't a bed suppose to be layed on?"

Ever again...

Watch those yard sales and thift stores for those old, vintage, curtains...

They can be turned into "Beautiful Bedding" for a pittance of the cost of "Designer Bedding."

Your man will thank you~!!!

And, if the man-child does something to anything on the bed, 

it will give me a great excuse to make some more~!!!

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Linking Up At:

Share your Cup

Feathered Nest Friday
Open House Party Thursdays
Home{Work} Wendesday

Swayzee's Carseat Cover & a Crocheted Edge Blanket are done~!

First, I have to share this...
Meet my 2 year old little Granddaughter Saige -
Today is her 2nd Birthday~!
(Swayzee is her 'soon to be born' little sister)

She's all dressed (dressed herself of course, complete with her shoes on the wrong feet) and she's ready for her birthday party. She even went and got her daddy's deodorant and "sniffed" her armpits to make sure'~ lol

She is a character!

If her soon-to-be-here little Swayzee sister is anything like Saige,

~life will never be boring~

But, momma will have her hands full~!!!

The good news is, I'm ready for Ms. Swayzee to arrive...

I spent all day yesterday working on little "Swayzee's" carseat cover. I can't believe it took me longer than the quilt~!

Alot of interference going on, on the side too, with the construction company, but I did it~

Not only that, I somehow found the time to make one final, flannel blanket with a crocheted edge. I was in my rocking recliner just crocheting as fast as my little fingers would manuever trying to complete.

I set a goal of being done with the layette by Monday, but I was on such a good vibe, I upped my deadline and completed 3 days early. Besides, Saige's Birthday party is tonight and I needed to get her gift wrapped and  perfect.

These two sisters 'Saige' & 'Swayzee's' birthdays will be less than 7 days apart as they grow up together...!

Again, my house is so dark it doesn't show the beauty in the pics and without a 'car seat/carrier' to stage it on, you'll just have to use your imaginations as to what it will look like on the carseat, but it was a joy to make...

I use this pattern for simplicity on measurements - I've tried a few and always revert back to this one, as it seems to fit any carseat/carrier for a newborn for some reason...
http://www.make-it-do.com/tag/car-seat-cover-pattern/

Thank You Calli @ "Make It Do Blogspot" ~ !

I've used your pattern for about 20 covers now and there have been no failures~!

Of course, it's a 'rag' type carseat cover, to match the quilt~!

Up close shot of the little velcro handles that attach to the handle of the carrier/carseat, to form the tent.

Up close shot of the fabric flower on the top of the velcro handle...

And, for these little fabric flowers I just LOVE to add to different sewing projects, I use this pattern...

http://sewritzytitzy.blogspot.com/2008/11/from-annas-gardenfabric-flower-tutorial.html

Thank you Dawn from "Sweet Simple Things, So Ritzy Titzy Blogspot" ~ !

Your fabric flowers are "ADORABLE," I've made dozens to add to my creations, over the last few years~!

And, here is the cute, flannel, crocheted edge blanket

to add to the layette I finished like a speed deamon last night.

And, to make it so, so easy to crochet an edge around something, I discovered this little nifty blade last year. It attaches to my rotary cutter and I just zip it along and it puts the holes in the fabric for me.

No more trying to shove a small crochet needle through thick fabric.

This little neat blade is one of my greatest finds~!

http://www.skipstitch.com/



My daughter can now have the baby ~!

But, probably best to get Saige's Birthday party done,

so try to hold off at least 1 more day...

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