Outdoor Fire Pit

In laying out my outdoor zen garden (as my mil likes to call it),  I included a spot for a fire pit.  We had a number of bricks stacked haphazardly behind our shed, but for a long time I was secretly holding out on using them for anything, hoping that those bricks would be some day be used in a kitchen add-on.  However, when neighbors added on to their similarly shaped home without the use of extra bricks, I realized that I was holding out for naught.  So, with a little premixed mortar and some planning help from my brilliant son, I went to work.

These bricks have been stacked behind our shed since we bought the house, over 10 years ago!  And who knows how long they were there before that.  I didn't encounter any snakes, but there were TONS of spiders and lizards!

My biggest issue in building the pit was the inability to cut my bricks. I had to plan around full bricks.  I had seen a youtube video describing how to make a rocket stove, which leaves space at the bottom between the bricks to feed the fire.  I thought maybe I could do something similar.

A few weeks before "the build" my son was visiting.  I  described what I wanted and between the two if us we came up with a design.

As you can see, he gave some serious thought to the project.  :)

 Everything I needed I already had:  the brick, the tools and even the mortar.

I've had this premixed mortar around for a while, and it's come in quite handy for quick tile projects. Even though this one was planned out before hand, it was carried out "spur of the moment" (as in, I woke up one day and decided it was the day to make a fire pit).

I had placed a squarish piece of cement to mark the spot for the pit, and I decided to 

just build around it.   First I laid the bricks in a square around the piece of cement, which will become the base of pit. 

The second row, however, would allow for an opening the size of a half of a brick.  It will be used later to feed the fire, or I can block the space with a broken piece of brick.

The mortar was real easy to put on, sorta like icing a cake.  Unfortunately, my cakes turn out a little messy, as did this project!

The next row was laid out the same as the first, as well as the third and fourth ones.  I was concerned about the stability of the walls, since I didn't stagger the bricks, but they seem fine.

Just for good measure, I slapped on spread some extra mortar on the inside corners.

The last row was not really a row at all.  I just placed two bricks at each of the corners.  This will hold up a grate for fires, or the wooden top I plan on making to cover it during the summer.

The mortar shows quite a bit in the photos, but with weathering and use, it will blend in nicely with the brick.  (At least that's what I keep telling myself, lol.)

At dusk, it's the perfect spot for a glass of wine.

With the sun almost all the way down, it's ready for some marshmallows on a stick!

First Set of Pillows

I ended up making several pillows (did I say several?  I meant a b** load) and here are the first--a knock off of popular pillows I've seen around Pinterest, and specifically, at Boldloft.com.   Making my own not only saved me money, but also allowed me to make mine more personalized for the couple I was making them for.

Obviously the couple are teachers, and met at school.  If you can't tell, he's trying to shoot arrows through her heart, and she finally takes pity on him and draws the arrow in herself.

I started with a large piece of butcher block paper and drew out the design.  Lucky for me it was stick figures! 

I transferred the design to fabric using carbon paper.

Okay, I don't have a picture of me sewing and trimming thread and sewing and trimming thread, but I did that umpteen gazillion times (it seemed like) until I had sewn over each tiny arrow, the chalkboard frame, the stick figures, and finally, the heart in red.

I love how the finished product turned out!

This was my inspiration.




Until next time,
Go Get Crafty!
~Sister #1

Pillowcase Inspiration

I snagged a bunch of nice pillows at a great price on Black Friday, thinking they'd make good budget-friendly gifts.  I've got plenty of fabric, so now I'm on the lookout for inspiration.  I mean, anyone can sew a few straight seams and a hem, right?  Well, maybe not anyone, but I was looking for something a little more creative.  So I turned to the internet.


And of course, I wasn't disappointed.  Here are just a few of the beauties I found:

Here's a super-cute pillowcase from The Cottage Home blog that uses different fabrics and treatments for the edges.  I love the girly-girl look of this and I could totally see making a few of these for the girls on my list! 

Not a diy, but I could see this mustache pillow from Urban Outfitters being an easy knock-off.

These beautiful fleece pillowcases from Flax and Twine look so snuggly and cute! 
Simple monograms and appliques would make them easy to personalize.

These next two I spotted on Etsy: 

I just love how using different fabrics and fonts can transform the theme of a pillow!

These pocket pillows by Suzanne at Just Another Hangup would be a fabulous way to give a small gift--just tuck a book or a small stuffed animal in the pocket. 

These adorable pillowcases from A Beautiful Mess would make sweet gifts for a wedding shower, or even a house-warming.

Isn't this pillowcase from over at Instructables.com a great idea for a toddler pillowcase? 
Just let them go with some washable markers, then pop it in the washer.

These "pillows" have been floating around Pinterest in one form or another. 
An easy knock-off using just a couple of lengths of fabric with strategically placed seams. 

And finally, a knock-off idea for the kids, or the kid in you.  Simple white pillowcases and fabric markers!

Until next time,

(when, hopefully I will have a few pillowcases completed)

Go Get Crafty, Sister!
~Sister #1

Turkey Tutu

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Sweet little girl with Turkey Onesie and tutu.  From start to finish, two hours, tops!

A few weeks before Thanksgiving, right about the time I discovered Pinterest, I stumbled across the photo below and knew I had to make one (the outfit, not the baby, lol)! I love how it turned out.

How To:

Supplies:

1. Turkey Pattern (see below)
2. Onesie
3. 1 yard each of orange, yellow and ivory tulle
4. Ribbon and fabric scraps
5. Wonder Under
6. Optional:  Fabric paint, needle and thread or sewing machine
7. The following tutorial:  How to Make a Tutu No Sew 

Steps:

1. Enlarge or reduce the pattern to fit the onesie
2. Cut one body, one beak and six wings out of your chosen fabric.
3. Follow the directions on the Wonder Under to apply the turkey to the onesie.
4. Optional:  Use fabric paint to outline the turkey, or sew a zigzag stitch around the edges of each pattern piece.
5. Watch and follow along with the video on making the tutu, using the tulle and ribbon
6. Dress a cute baby in the outfit and bring on the smiles!

There are all kinds of tutus on Pinterest; many are on my mental "to do" list.
Here are some of my favorites:

Christmas Snowman

Ladybug!

Easter

Rodeo

Just for fun!

Matching Easter basket?

Snowbaby

Princess

Until next time,

~Sister #2

Garden Table

 While dumpster diving one day I came across this broken outdoor table.  There's a little spot in my garden that's crying for attention, and I thought I might be able to fix the table--it was only broken in one place!  However, when I got it home I realized that that "one place" was a pretty important place--so I needed to rethink my idea.  It sat in my garage waiting for my inspiration.

That inspiration came in the form of an old stool I had finally decided to send to the curb.  It was a  VERY old stool.  In fact, when I turned it over I found that the stool had originally belonged to my daughter back when she thought she had to label everything as her own.  (Maybe 12-13ish?)

She is now married with a daughter of her own! 

Anyway, here is how the project went:

First I lowered the legs to give the table stability, and to fit the size I had in mind.

Next I gave both the chair and the table a couple of coats of this textured paint I already had on hand. 
I'm not in love with the color, but it will have to do for now.

Next, I plopped the top onto the stool and drilled holes here and there through the stool. 
I fed a strand of strong wire through the holes from the top.

Then I turned it over and gave the wire a few strong twists and cut off the ends. 
(I'm kinda bummed I didn't think to leave my daughter's name.)

I turned it back over and gave the whole thing another coat of paint.

And here it is in its new home, ready to show off a few plants or, with a couple of chairs,
serve as a child's table at an outdoor dinner.

 I'm loving that I have a table just the right size I was looking for, and it was free to boot!

Until next time,

Go Get Crafty, Sister!

 ~Sister #2