When it comes to decorating styles, my mother loves the French Country style. Mine is more 'eclectic'. Which is a nice way of saying "cast-off and garage sale chic". Any of you who have more than one Y Chromosome running around in your house, probably have the same decorating style. Boys can make any area resemble a war zone in mere minutes. One day, I may develop a style, but only on that day when the last one turns 18 and I change the alarm code for the last time, will I be able to figure it out.
Today's inspiration challenge is 'Country Curtains' and I genuinely like the website. I loved the seaside lines and toile, but I wanted to push myself out of those comfort zones and work with patterns I didn't really care for. I picked up this 6x6 paper pad at Hobby Lobby a year ago. It was half-price and, comfort zone notwithstanding, I ain't turning down half-price!! It's the only one of its kind in my craftroom, and has never been used til today. I saw this quilt pattern on the website http://www.countrycurtains.com/categ...+collection.do and it became my inspiration. Not only was this a first in color and style for me, it's the FIRST time I used the sewing machine I purchased a year ago and JUST FIGURED OUT HOW TO USE!!! Sort of. I managed to keep it sort of straight around the edges and did NOT injure myself!! That's SUCCESS in my book, people! After the fact, I realized I should've used a navy thread but I let it go...I'd had ALL the success I needed for one day.
The paper I sewed to the mat was so pretty, I couldn't think of anything I could do that would make it worth covering up. So, I took a second sheet and fussy cut several balloons, which I attached over each one's mate with mounting tape. Then I set 2 eyelets, punched out 5 banners with letters spelling "Merci" and glued them to the twine I strung through the eyelets. I feel like I totally cheated but DANG!! That was GREAT paper!!! I totally blame the paper company for making such spectacular paper. Feel free to do that as well.
Loved the challenge, as always!! TY!
Date: Saturday, July 19, 2014 GMT Views: 1685
Favorited:5
Registered: September 3, 2007 Location: native Texan living in extreme N. GA Posts: 73393
Sun, Jul 20, 2014 @ 9:52 AM
Love this, Carmen! I adore hot air balloons and yours are fabulous. I'm ashamed at how much pretty paper I have but never use. Well, not ashamed enough to actually use it. It's almost painful for me to cut into it. For awhile I was buying 2 of the ones I really liked, hoping I would be able to use it. Now I just have a lot of doubles. I do visit it regularly, so there's that.
Your sewing looks wonderful! That's another thing I hardly ever do. It would involve actually digging out the machine, setting it up, blah blah blah. So unless I really have some mending to do, it's probably not gonna happen. But I sure like the way it looks on cards.