PINTEREST 502

Pinterest and I have a love/hate relationship.

I always try to find the original pinner for items I want to repin...however 99% of the time I get this....

So yesterday I made this...

It's my little embroidered homage to the Pinterest 502 error.  Too much time on my hands?  Perhaps.  But I can't help myself.  I like whimsical things.

INSTAGRAM WEEKDAY WRAP-UP

It has been a crazy couple of weeks!  Here's a little summary...

Embroidery / thrifting  /  tiny surprises  /  baby cucumbers  /  crazy Texas storms  /  work  /  more embroidery  /  lounging pups  /  nail-polish funtimes  /  DYI pop-up cards / wine + Morris cat mugs  /  handmade tamales  /  pooch passengers  /  cat butts  /  homegrown squash  /  more embroidery  /  coffee shop work days  /  dinner made by friends  /  spiders (ugh)  /  and super cheap beers.

It's summer, y'all!  Let's party!

P.S. You can find me on Instagram under the username KendallKendall.

LET'S RIDE

Just finished this for-fun, freehand embroidery.

I miss riding my bike.  Last summer Joey and I would ride our bikes to Grapevine Lake every afternoon to swim.  But alas, the roads in East Tex are not great for bike riding.  The country roads are unsafe and the drivers make me nervous (even more nervous than Grapevine drivers, who I though were the worst).

Go ride your bike today and think of me!

DIY KEY DESIGNS

My name is Kendall.  And I hoard keys.  My key ring is always a mess because I lose track of which keys I actually need.  I don't want to throw any of them away because surely it was important at one point or another.  

So I decided to make it a little easier to keep track of all of them.

I realize that decorative keys are readily available everywhere, but where's the fun in just buying one?  Plus, I love Mickey Mouse just as much as the next person, but do I really need a jumbo picture of him imprinted on my house key?  The answer...is no.

TOTAL COST : $5 - $10 for tons of keys

SUPPLIES NEEDED : Spray paint in a variety of colors (make sure the paint is specific for metal), masking tape, and some small stickers.

1.  SPRAY YOUR KEYS : Cover both sides of your keys with a thin layer of spray paint.  The paint will chip too quickly if it's too thick.  Let the keys dry really well before the next step.

2.  TAPE AND STICKER : Use masking tape and/or little stickers to create a design of your choice.  Pinking sheers would be great for this as well!

3.  SPRAY AGAIN : Use a different color paint and spray another layer on both sides of your taped keys.  Remove the tape and/or stickers before the paint is fully dry to avoid peeling.

HOORAY!  You're finished!  Be sure to let your keys dry super well before using them.

Your snazzy new keys will help you remember which keys go where.  They will likely chip over time (just like the store bought ones), but just tape and paint again!

Happy crafting!

SCREEN PRINTED BUSINESS CARDS

I finally got around to making some business cards for Yeah Vintage.  I love the way screen printed business cards look and feel.  This was my first go at a front & back print on something this small.  I have an extremely minimal screen printing setup, so this was a bit of a challenge for me.  

I used a typewriter font for the contact info on the back of the cards and used my own handwritten "Yeah!" for the design on the front.

I wanted to make something that people could potentially put on their desk, hang on their fridge, etc. that was more like a tiny poster print instead of a business card.

I'm pretty happy with how they came out.  They all look a little different, which I love.  I want to make the pinstripes thinner for my next batch.

Now I just need some more business!  Spread the word, friends!  Also, if you snail mail me...I will snail mail you back.

GRANNY STYLIN'

As previously mentioned, this is my first quilt attempt...don't judge me.

It's a work in progress (still need to add boarders and do the actual quilting) but I'm pretty stoked that the pieces are together.

Tip for beginner quilters : find yourself a Nonnie that has been quilting her entire life.  Quilting patterns look like hieroglyphics and cutting a bazillion strips of fabric is way easier with two sets of hands.  

I think I deserve a new granny badge for all my hard work.  Don't ya think?

DIY CUSTOM STEPPING STONES

We have been getting a lot of rain lately and our yard turns into a soggy mess.  I love cute step stones, but they're so dang expensive!  Here's a super simple and inexpensive project for all you yard lovers on a budget.

TOTAL COST : About $25 for 20 stepping stones!

1.  SUPPLIES NEEDED : Spray paint in a color of your choice, painters or masking tape, and inexpensive concrete blocks (I purchased mine at Walmart for $1/each).

2.  TAPE OFF YOUR BLOCKS : I'm a minimalist and went with a simple square pattern.  Stripes or a chevron pattern would be super cute too!

3.  SPRAY PAINT YOUR SQUARES : Spray a thin coat of spray paint evenly across the entire surface.

4.  REMOVE YOUR TAPE : And you're done!  Let the paint dry for a few hours before stepping on them.

Send me a photo if you give this a try.  I'd love to see how yours turn out!

GRAND OPENING DAY!

Today is grand opening day!  Yeah Vintage has officially been born!  Hooray!

I've been working my little tail off getting all of these vintage lovelies ready for your eyeballs and am over-the-moon excited to share it with everyone!

I have tons of new items coming, so come on back soon now, ya hear!

I LEARNED

I finally figured out how to properly thread the serger machine that Joey gave me a few years back.  The machine came with an instruction manual....on VHS.  I have no idea where the video went.  Oh, and I no longer own a VHS player.  

Thanks to the interwebs, and about an hour of pulling my hair out, I have a functional serger.  Now I just need a project that requires serged seams...

HANDMADE HOLIDAY GOODIES

I acquired a few scrap pieces of vintage wallpaper a few years ago and decided to turn them into a few non-traditional holiday postcards to send to some of my vendors at work.

I love the way sewn paper looks.  It adds texture and works well on any mid-weight paper or card stock.  It's easier than sewing fabric, in my opinion, so all you weary machine-sewers should get it a try.    

I hand-cut the trees out of a seasonal-ish wallpaper, sewed them to a neutral card stock to add some stability and glued them to the postcards.

Cute and simple.

TIS THE SEASON

These A. Heirloom cutting boards would make such a great gift.  Most of them are only $40 and you can even customize where the heart (or star) is placed!  Useful and thoughtful.

(via Cup of Jo)

END YEARS RESOLUTIONS

I am the queen of unfinished projects.  I get a little too excited about starting new ones and neglect to finish everything else that's pending.  I do this with books as well.  I'm currently reading 4 different books but cannot remember the last time I finished one.  I am ashamed.

I took a knitting class about two years ago and my only fished project was the entry level one that everyone must do...a dish rag.  Who uses knit dish rags?  Anyway, I started a scarf and it has been sitting in a box with various sewing supplies for the last two year.  I happened upon it whilst cleaning out our storage unit this weekend.  So sad...

I started this needle point a handful of weeks ago as part of a Christmas gift.  It's so close to being finished, yet I can't seem to get motivated to actually finish it.  Le sigh...

I typically do not make new years resolutions, but thought I'd go ahead and do one for 2011 since it's almost over.  These two bad boys are going to be finished and gifted by the years end.  I have a ways to go on the scarf...

Wish me luck.

DIY FRAMED VINTAGE MAPS TUTORIAL

SUPPLIES NEEDED : 

1.  THRIFTED FRAMES : I purchased these for $0.10 each at our local Goodwill.
2.  MOD PODGE : About $6 - $8.  A crafters must.  I'm a fan of the matte finish.
3.  SPRAY PAINT : This is to paint your frames and is optional if you dig the color of your thrifted frames.
4.  PAINT BRUSH : You totally have one somewhere in your house.
5.  VINTAGE MAP : Purchased for $1 at an antique shop.  Look for ones that are torn, they are always cheaper.

PAINT YOUR FRAMES : 

1.  Remove the glass and clean your frames with a damp rag.  You want to make sure the frame is free from dust so the paint adheres well.

2.  Spray-paint both sides of your frame with the color of your choice.

PREP YOUR MAPS AND MOD PODGE :

3.  While your frames are drying you can start cutting out your maps.  Lay your frame-glass on your map and trace around the edges.

4.  Cut out your map pieces and set them aside.

PAINT YOUR MAPS :   

5.  I wanted each of my map cutouts to look a little different, so I mixed in a drop of food coloring with my Mod Podge.

6.  Use your paintbrush and Mod Podge each of your map pieces to each of your glass pieces.  A thin layer will do.  Be sure to clean each of your glass pieces before Mod Podging!

 

FRAME YOUR MAPS : 

7.  Once your maps are dry you can frame and hang!

Happy mapping!