"EAT" Sign, Made From Old Cheese Graters!!

This project was very simple. I already had the graters on hand, ive collected them from thrift stores for a while now. I used colors in my kitchen and stenciled on the letters. They look pretty fabulous sitting above my sink :)

Tobacco Stick Flag

While searching in my Dad's barn, I found a pile of century-old tobacco sticks, gnarled from weather and use...and perfect. I quickly shimmied up the rickety old latter up to the hay loft and threw a bunch out the loft window, onto my truck bed below. A flag seemed the perfect project for these old warhorses, perfectly sturdy, perfectly southern, perfectly American. 

Ok, now for the how-to. Very simple, really. I started with 9 sticks, painted 5 red, 4 white. The red ones started out as blue (oops), but then quickly got a coat of red on top. I LOVE the way it looks, the blue peeking out, highlighting the grooves, bends, gnarles in the wood. The white, I brushed a coat of Americana craft paint over with a foam brush, leaving some wood to show underneath. I blocked off a square and spray painted that blue. For stars, I tore white rags and tied them on, in an alternating fashion, three on each stick. I took another stick and sawed it in two pieces, arranged the painted sticks on top, drilled pilot holes and screwed in the screws. I made sure to use mismatched screws for that eclectic feel. That's it people! SO SIMPLE and CUTE! 

Embroidery Hoop Clock DIY

I was so inspired by clock ideas while Pinteresting last night, I just had to make one of my own. I had several embroidery hoops laying around, so I decided on my biggest (go big or go home, right?) I had just bought this Paris fabric from Hobby Lobby and it was just the look I wanted to go for. I had a piece of scrap lace also I liked paired with it. I spread out the fabric and lace the way I wanted it on top of the inner piece of the hoop, and placed the outer hoop around it, pulling the fabric taught. I snipped away the extra fabric and hot glued it to the inside of the hoop. My stepmother had just given me these beads and jewelry parts and I just loved the way the silver looked against the colors. Really vintage-y. I sewed them on equal distance apart around in a random fashion. I marked the center and made a small hole with a knitting needle. I got a clock kit from Hobby Lobby and followed the instructions for installing it. I put an old CD between the clock motor and the fabric for extra stability. Last, I tied a piece of string from the hanger to the tightening knob so it would stay up straight and not swing around.

I think it looks quite handsome, don't you?

Belt Backed Chair DIY

I found this chair in my neighbor's trash (yes, I checked for bedbugs!) They were moving and didn't want to take it. I absolutely loved the arms and knew I had to save it from the trash pile. It is actually a Thomasville Chair Company chair, so it was excellently made and very sturdy.

I took off the seat and ripped off the fabric.

I had some grey primer in my basement from another project, so I gave it two coats of that.

I immediately knew it would look awesome orange, so I went to Meijer and bought some pumpkin orange spray paint, and gave it two more coats.

I had some tan wool fabric in my stash and I covered the seat, stapling it to the underside of the wood base.

It was missing the back, so I decided to use some belts instead. I went to Goodwill and purchased three for $1.50 each. I strapped them around and drilled a screw in the side so they would stay in place.

The ends of the belt were long and were dangling, so I dabbed on some Amazing Goop glue (what I had on hand), clipped some binder clips on and let it dry. I then had my hubby clip off those screw ends with a big clippy tool (do you like my technical lingo?)

(And yes, I am going to paint that ugly pink filing cabinet!)