Drop Cloth Valentines

I've got two chairs in my living room that I really love and that desperately need to be reupholstered and as I don't know the first thing about upholstery and being that I don't have the dollars for the high price of having it done professionally, I got the bright idea to make up some slip covers for them using painters drop cloths. There are tutorials out there for the process, and you don't need to be an incredible sewer to make one; you do, however, need to possess the patience of Job! After much pinning and trimming, cutting and ripping, fitting and refitting; mine ended up in the trash, sent off in irritated silence. I was only happy that I hadn't spent lots of money on some gorgeous material for the job.

Needless to say, I still had about 3/4 of a yard of the drop cloth left over which I've held onto for crafting of some sort and it really came in handy for these little Valentines Day conversation hearts. Wanna make some? Here's what you'll need:

scrap fabric
paints (doesn't need to be specifically for fabric; I used acrylic)
stamps
dried lavender
essential oil (I used sweet orange)
embroidery floss
heart cookie cutter or other template
small funnel or demitasse spoon












Aren't they cute? And they smell wonderful! I mixed several drops of sweet orange essential oil into the lavender before I spooned it into the hearts. Be sure to pack it in pretty tight before you stitch the heart closed. I put one in my purse to keep it smelling sweet and they'd be a perfect little gift for your special valentine! Or....you could get crazy and make something a little bigger like the ones I made below also using up my left over drop cloth.



Get crazy girl....homemade valentines are the best!


Pin It

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String

As I get closer to opening up an online storefront, I'm thinking more and more about how I'm going to send out my products. I'm a firm believer of, "it's all in the packaging" and since i've been known to make a purchase based on how it's packaged and because I've been totally thrilled with receiving a gift that's wrapped in some clever way, this is kind of a big deal. I do have a few ideas rolling around in my head and I've been totally inspired by what I've seen on Pinterest; even created a board for it. Just take a look...

little glassine bags from oh, hello friend

magazine page turned gift bag from zakka life



brown kraft paper and doilies from callaloo soup



printed linen from design sponge

Aren't these super cute ideas? My head starts swimming when I think about how to put it all together. Have you ever been thrilled by the packaging of something you've received? Kind of like a cake that so pretty you don't want to cut into it, ya know?

New Year...New Projects...New Possibilities...

It seems like the older I get, the faster the years go by. I think it's because I pretty much hit the ground running each morning and before I know it, the day is done, it's time for bed and on to the next day. So it's no surprise that, kitchen calendar notwithstanding, the new year is upon me and I'm faced with looking ahead at new projects and new possibilities.

First things first, I've updated the look of my blog ~ it was time for a change and one of the things I really want to do this year is open an online store so this was kind of in preparation for that and I'm thinking of changing the name of my blog which is driving me crazy because it has to be just right you know?

I'm excited though! Excited about working on all the projects swirling around in my head, about finally listening to ~ and doing something about ~ the many dear family and friends who've encouraged me to sell my work. Excited about making a space for myself and discovering more about Annalea this year; of letting go...letting in...going deeper. And sometimes, for me, it's easier to do that when I've got a new little pretty to wear.

Hello jewelry and fabric stash. Hello Pinterest inspiration. Hello new necklace!






I had the chain, the fabric, the burlap (don't toss those scraps yet) and the cool button. I actually stitched the chain to the back of the fabric flower which I sandwiched together by sewing the button on first. Each circle is two layers with the one on top being slightly smaller than the one underneath. The last circle was put on with fabri-tac after I attached the chain to hide the stitches and give it a clean look. A toggle clasp in the back finishes it off.



Love love love it! Quick to make, pretty to look at and the perfect "just because" gift for a friend.