Sunday, January 31, 2010

new blog design and a few of my faves

Posted by Head Fly at 4:05 AM 0 comments

fresh-header

it took me all day but i’ve finally gotten my blog to look like i want it to.  html code is not the easiest thing to learn, and i by no means learned all there is to know.  i did learn enough to give my blog a complete design overhaul though.  i also updated my website thanks to some tips from my friend lindsay.  i wish i could have edited my actual company website to look more like my blog but i’m limited to the webs.com templates.  at least the colors and backgrounds are similar.  i feel like the new blog and website definitely reflect my personal style a lot more than the old designs. 

i have a really large handful of blogs that i read every day.  i’m so drawn to the blogs with a great designs.  here are just a few of my favorites.  if any of these are new to you please go check them out.  not only do these blogs have a funky and fun design but they are also great reads.

Little Green Notebook

Capture

High-Heeled Foot in the Door

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urban grace

Capture4

coco+kelley

Capture6

Making it Lovely

Capture5

Holly Mathis Interiors

Capture9

design*sponge

Capture3

The Lettered Cottage

Capture2

Design Esquire

Capture7

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Saturday, January 30, 2010

Embellished Sweater Headband Tutorial

Posted by Head Fly at 11:13 AM 0 comments

Have you noticed that headbands seem to be coming back in-style?  I have always loved headbands and I think they are super cute way to enhance an outfit! 

As you have read in my previous posts, I love repurposing items.  Several weeks ago I repurposed a woman's sweater and turned it into a little girl's cardigan (remember this post?)  Well, when I was transforming the sweater into one that would fit my daughter, I cut off the bottom 2-3 inches of the sweater to make it the right length for her.

I kept seeing that strip of felted sweater laying around my craft area and finally decided to do something with it.  In the most recent issue of "Altered Couture" magazine a woman took many different tops and turned them into really neat embellished headbands, so I decided to do the same.  Here is my tutorial on how to make an embellished sweater headband:

Embellished Sweater Headband Tutorial

Supplies:
1 plastic headband
3 scraps of fabric
Embroidery Floss
Fusible Interfacing (I used Wonder Under)
Scissors
13" - 15" long strip of sweater material (2"-3" wide)
Pencil
Hand Sewing Needle
Sewing Machine

Directions:
Cut 3 different sized circles.  You will need 2-small sized, 2-medium sized, and 1-large sized.  You will also need a front and back of each circle.  For example if you need 2-small sized, then you will need to cut 4 circles.  You will also cut fusible interfacing for each circle set - 2-small sized, 2-medium sized, and 1-large sized.

I just used some different objects around my house to make these circles (i.e. a cup, the lid to a jar).  The exact sizes are as follows; small - 2 inch, medium - 3 inch, large - 3.25 inch.  But just make them whatever size you like.

Use fusible interfacing for each circle set to bond the front and the back together.  This will give each circle some stability and structure.  Follow the instructions for whatever brand of interfacing you are using.

After you have fused all of the circles together, fray-check around the edges so that your circles stay neat.  If you like the frayed look, then feel free to skip this step.

Now, onto making the actually sweater headband.

Fold your sweater strip in half and pin.

Sew your fabric strip so that you form a tube.

This is what your sweater tube will look like after you sew it together.

Now you need to turn your sweater tube right-side out so that your seam is on the inside.

Now slide your plastic headband inside of the sweater tube.

Sew your sweater tube closed around the headband.  Cut off excess sweater material.

Now hand-sew your circles onto your sweater headband.  You can do this however you like - I chose to layer the circles and added decorative stitching around the exterior of each circle with embroidery floss.
PS:  Sorry, the picture above is not the best - it was my best effort at taking a picture of myself wearing the headband.

Cottage Mama's Note:  If you are making this for a child, then reduce the size of your circles.  Also, if you prefer a more subtle headband, then you can simply do the sweater portion and omit the circles - that looks cute too!!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

loving…

Posted by Head Fly at 9:03 PM 0 comments

1.  this very cool wall that was featured on design*sponge.  i can’t imagine the time it took to create this.  see the whole story here.

moss1moss4

moss2

2.  beautiful tile.  i saw it here on this blog.

cary ed tx ct for web monty medium rb ct

coco ct nm marlene ce tx for web

3.  this very cool tutorial on how to make your own industrial chandelier.  i saw it on d*s.

lindsey

4.  lisa fontanarosa pillows.  pillows don’t get much prettier than this.

artichoke-jade-grn-red-apl chinoiserie-red-hazel

OMBRE%20TISCHCA%20pumpkin%20orange tulipa-grey-happy-yllw

5.  this darling alphabet wall.  saw it here.

Nautical Boys Room LismanStudios7-17thumb121

i’ve been out of town the last few weekends so i’m looking forward to a weekend in town with my hubby.  hope you all have a fab weekend.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

fit for a princess

Posted by Head Fly at 6:31 PM 0 comments

i saw this pet “tent” in the new march issue of traditional home.  how cute is it!  this tent is surely fit for a princess with four teeny tiny paws.  it’s from boutique tents.

scan0012

speaking of princesses here’s a picture of my four-pawed princess.  she also posed for the traditional home photo but they said she was too pretty to make the magazine.  they were looking for a more “dog-next-door” look.  sweetie tent ok, ok, so i got a little carried away with photoshop.

Spicy Chorizo Sausage Fajitas

Posted by Head Fly at 6:41 AM 0 comments


I am a big fan of fajitas.  Typically I make chicken, shrimp or veggie fajitas here at The Cottage Home, but this week I decided to try something new - Spicy Chorizo Sausage Fajitas!  If you've never tried chorizo, you can find it in most local grocery stores these days.  It sort of has the consistency of ground beef, but is a little drier due to the fact that there are many herbs and spices mixed in (especially chili powder).  If you are looking to add something new to your cooking repertoire - give these a try!!

Spicy Chorizo Sausage Fajitas


Ingredients:
1lb. Mexican Chorizo Sausage
Flour Tortillas
1 Poblano Pepper
1 Red Bell Pepper
1 Yellow Onion
Salsa
Cilantro
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/2 tsp. Fajita Seasoning

Directions:

Cook chorizo over medium heat until cooked through.


Meanwhile, slice peppers and onions.


Once chorizo is cooked, removed from saute pan.  Add peppers and onions and saute in the oil that was left from the sausage - this adds tons of flavor!  Also, add fajita seasoning.


While onions and peppers are cooking, slice your cooked chorizo sausage.


Add sliced chorizo to the cooked onions and peppers.  Saute for 1-2 minutes.


Now it is time to assemble your fajitas.  Place a spoon-full of sausage, peppers, & onions onto each tortilla.  Top with cheddar cheese, fresh salsa, sour cream, green onions, and fresh cilantro.


And there you have it - Spicy Chorizo Sausage Fajitas!  Serve with tortilla chips, salsa and sour cream.  Garnish with fresh cilantro.

Cottage Mama's Note:  When I sliced into my red bell pepper for this recipe, it had gone to the dark side, so that is why you don't see the red bell pepper.  Mexican rice and beans would also be delicious with this meal.
*PS: To keep your herbs fresher longer, try placing them in a glass of water and then storing them in the fridge - kind of like fresh flowers.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

70’s rancher turned vintage cottage

Posted by Head Fly at 5:20 PM 0 comments

for the last few weeks i have been working on a design plan for a new client and have also been working on a few other small jobs.  in the meantime i’ve had little extra time to write some fun blog posts or respond to emails/comments.  i tried my best but still can’t get to some of them.  so, if you’ve sent me an email i’ll try to get back to you soon.  it’s becoming harder and harder to write a blog and have a design company.  don’t worry though, i love blogging way too much to ever give it up!

my new client is a man from huntsville who is wanting to renovate basically half of his 70’s ranch-style home.  he started off trying to do everything himself then realized that he needed help designing it.  he’s already demo’d most of the area.  for the last three weeks i’ve been putting the plan together for the finishes in his main living areas: the family room, living room, dining room, kitchen, bath, laundry, fitness center and office.  it was a lot of rooms so planning it took a lot of time. 

i met with my client to go over everything yesterday evening, and thought i would share the design boards with you since he has seen everything now.  he really loved all the finishes and i was excited about that because i really loved them too.  now he’s trying to figure out which floor plan to go with (he can either have a 1/2 bath and a fitness center or a 3/4 bath and no fitness center) as well as deciding if he’s ready to put that much money into his home.   

the first phase of the plan(the one i’ve been working on for the last few weeks) is mainly finishes and lighting.  once the first phase is underway then i’ll be selecting furniture, window treatments and accessories.  the new style of the home will be a vintage cottage look and the furniture i will select will have a masculine flair.

Paint-Colors

**the 3 grays in the middle showed up much more green on the scans than they really are.

Kitchen

Guest-Bath

Addional-Elements

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