Shabby No Sew Liner for Antique Wire Laundry Basket

So I scored this lovely old fashion laundry basket for $12 bucks (that's right) at a second hand store and I love it!   Of course, you've seen  this one they sell for $149 at Pottery Barn (Go buy it.  I've considered it often. I won't judge you)

I love my AUTHENTIC antique basket!  However, it does not look pretty with a bunch of clothes just thrown in and no liner.  I contacted a lady on etsy who makes them....for $65 plus shipping.  Now, I OWN a sewing machine and often have great intentions of sewing lovely things, but I don't really have the patience for it. I even found a pattern for this liner on MODA:  http://quiltbarn.blogspot.com/2012/03/moda-laundry-basket.html.  Pretty, but scary.....so I came up with this shabby idea that took me about an hour!

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Take two old sheets, they should have complementary patterns.  These vintage sheets are both twin,  These both happen to be fitted but you could do this with flat sheets.  I don't think they even have to be sheets.  If you love a print, go with it!  As long as it's big enough to drape into the basket and over the sides.  The idea is SHABBY.

Lay the together, pretty side outward....or "back to back"

Lay them over the basket.  Arrange them so they drape into the basket and over the sides. You want them arranged pretty much where you want them to stay.

See how it's bunchy and imperfect....that is okay.

You can trim off the excess to work it easier.  I did a big trim up at the end, but you can do some here, just make sure you leave enough for the shabby ties.

Now cut strips all around.  I grabbed both sheets and cut at the same time so I would have even amounts.  I was not technical about it and they were def. not all even widths.

See....

Many strips, all around....they match up....kinda (lol)

See.....

Here's a pic of the long side.  I trimmed some of these before tying

Now start tying those babies together over the edge of the wire basket.  One on each side of the wire....

Try to space them evenly amongst the webbing of the basket.

Isn't this looking cute?

After I had all the "matches" tied I trimmed them all because I thought it looked cuter w/ the shorties....

Inside view.....(I'm thinking CUTER than Pottery Barn!)

I just tied everything in knots. You can maybe get fancy if you like.

Much better than the bare wire!  And I didn't have to pay much, OR wait for shipping....I love instant gratification.

I aged some paper (see Books Enchanted) and made a "clean" sign.  I tied it with a ribbon and voila!

Greek Salad Recipe

Here's a lovely low cal "Greek" veggie salad recipe you are sure to love.  You can add olives and feta to it too.  I'm not a fan of olives and I left off the feta because I didn't have any.   Would also be good with chicken, cucumber, or cherry tomato added in!

The "sauce" is easy.  Whisk together 2 T of olive oil and the juice of half a lemon.  YES, it has to be fresh lemon which adds a "bright" flavor.  The junk in the bottle only adds "sour" flavor!  Don't you ever watch the Food Network? Use more or less lemon depending on taste.  Half a lemon is pretty tart, you may want to start with less.

Now for your veggies:  throw in some green string beans, 2 peppers, and sliced onion--I used sweet onion but purple onion would be pretty in this dish.  Chop it all up to the sizes you like and use amounts to taste.








Drain your artichoke hearts and throw those in.


Chop up one clove of fresh garlic and throw it in there.



I also added fresh Italian Parsley and basil, because I had it.  Salt and pepper to taste and let it sit in the fridge for a bit.  Enjoy!

Other add ins:  Oregano, Cukes, Grape Tomatoes, Beets, Pine Nuts, Chicken

Fairy Garden Class!

Really excited to be teaching a fairy gardening class on Saturday, January 26th from 10am to 12pm at Paw Paw Upholstery/Your Home in downtown Kalamazoo!  Click on the smilebox for more information!

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Shabby book banner tutorial

I love the look of vintage, shabby banners and I wanted to try one with pages from old children's books.  This is an easy and fun tutorial that makes for a lovely accent with your Christmas decorations.  Depending on the book you use, you could leave it up year round. 

Here's what you'll need:
ribbon or twine, glitter, mod podge, hole punch, paint brush, paper cutter and/or scissors, pretty scrapbooking paper, an old children's book.  If you don't have all of these supplies, look around your house and make do!  This is a shabby project after all and does not have to be perfect.  A banner made from a regular book would be pretty also!

Use your paper cutter or scissors to cut flags.  Mine are definitley NOT all the exact same size, so don't worry about perfection.    Punch a hole at the top of the flag. 

Now do the same thing with your scrapbook paper.  Mine came pre-punched.  Lucky me.


Brush the paper lightly with Mod Podge.  Dont' go to heavy or the paper will curl.  You may also want to decide which side you like best if your banner will be hanging against a wall. 


Sprinkle liberally with glitter (as always)!

Do the same thing with your scrapbook paper flags.  If your banner will be hanging in the middle of the room, do this to both sides.  Let one side dry, then move on to the other.   If you don't have the mod podge and the glitter, skip this part honey!  Another variation would be to age the paper instead via coffee and the oven--this would be very pretty with pages from a regular book.  You can look at this past post for details on aging paper from old books:  http://booksenchantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/make-your-own-business-cards-using-old.html

Now you should have a big mess of flags.  If you are a planner, you can decide the order you'd like them to hang.  I counted out my Rudolph pages and I had 12, my scrapbook pages were around twice that so I alternated one Rudolph with two scrapbook flags.  You can space them evenly or just throw them up there any ol way.  Either way it will look lovely, I promise. 

I tied a ribbon from the back of a chair to a drawer knob so it would be an easy height to work with.

Then I tied the flags onto the ribbon.  I've done a couple of these, and the organza ribbon tends to slip around less than twine, but either looks pretty.

Now you have a pretty flag banner to hang wherever you like!  Whimsical and shabby!

Super easy jar full of fairies tutorial

Here's a fun and easy tutorial that takes pretty much zero creativity but has lots of wow!

I use these battery powered wire mini lights for my fairy gardens and shows but they come in handy for just about everything.  I get mine on amazon (search battery operated string lights). 

I'm using vintage ball jars with lids but you could use regular jars. 

I coiled the lights and stuffed them in the jar.  I hide the battery pack behind whatever else I'm using to decorate.  Here' I've hung them by the windows with ribbons and placed the battery pack on the windowsill behind the curtain. 

It makes for a very pretty effect!  Lovely year round!

Fairy Wishes

Here's the story of a recent project I completed.  This lovely fairy garden is called "Fairy Wishes." 

I found this cute old wooden wishing well planter that was looking for a new home and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it!.  I added the moss, florals and bark houses. 

For an extra touch I added the light string.  It gives the whole thing a warm glow.

This fairy garden is for sale at  Vineyards Gourmet Chocolates in Coloma, MI or you can purchase it by contacting me via this blog.