Moss Lined Flower Basket ~ A Garden How-To

I was able to get my hanging baskets planted this week, so I thought I would share a gardening How-To. I love the naturalized look of moss lined flower baskets. They are so much prettier than a plastic pot and surprisingly easy to do.


What you will need:

* Wire basket (mine is an 18 inch)

* long fiber sphagnum moss

* rubber gloves

* potting soil

* small plastic garbage bag

* bucket of water (for soaking moss)

*pretty flowers and trailing plants



Step 1 - Wearing rubber gloves (and a mask if you're sensitive to dust), soak the long fiber sphagnum moss in the bucket of water. Squeeze out the excess water and begin lining your basket.
Step 2 - Once your basket is lined with about 1 - 1 1/2 inches of moss, place a small circle of plastic with holes punched in it, in the bottom of the basket. This will help retain soil and moisture. (BTW, at the end of the season, keep your plastic piece with your basket and reuse it next year. I've been using this same circle of plastic for 7 or 8 years now)
Step 3 - Fill with potting soil and press in up the sides. I use a soil with a slow release fertilizer.Step 4 - Now start putting in your plants. I start with my larger anchor plants. This year I used Chartreuse sweet potato vine and a pink and green coleus. Step 5 - Fill in with smaller plants and flowers. My baskets are in filtered sun all day, so I chose bright multi-colored impatiens. Step 6 - Hang your basket, water, and enjoy!
Some people like to trim the the moss close to basket, but I prefer the look of the little hanging pieces. :)
Enjoy the weekend, everyone and Happy gardening!

Guess Who's on Apartment Therapy!!!

ME! (well, my bedroom, anyways) I know, I can't believe it. Go and see it here and then come back. :)

Beth just emailed me last night and I had no idea the post would go up so soon. They've been doing a series on bedrooms and they have included my little Mantel Headboard pictures and step by step instructions from the Easy Weekend Project post.

AT tends to lean more towards the modern/contempory side of decorating, so I'm hoping that the comments won't be too critical of my vintage style bedroom. Oh, if only I had more notice, I would have recovered it in the bold Aqua 1960's geometric fabric I've been dying to use. :)

Snap Wallets ~ A Very Easy Project

I thought I would end the year with a very easy project...Simple snap wallets or card holders.

If you don't sew or if you want one of the fun vintage prints above, they are available here on the website or on etsy.

I'm sure there are a dozen or more tutorials out there for these in one form or another, but just in case you needed one more to prove how easy they are, here it is. :)

First you'll need :

* 2 pieces of fabric (main fabric and lining) approx. 5"x10".

* 2 pieces of light weight fusible interfacing approx. 5"x10".

*No-sew snaps (I used pearl, but plain metal are fine, too)

*Snap set tool (Not necessary, but I recommend it for the pearl head snaps as they can crack if hit too hard)

Step 1 - Apply interfacing to your fabrics according to manufacturers directions.

Step 2 - Sew your main fabric to your lining, right sides together. Leave a small opening at one of the short ends. Clip corners. Careful not to snip your stitching!

Step 3 - Turn right side out through the small opening. Press and stitch along the one short end to close up the hole. Step 4 - Fold up about 3.5 inches and press. Make a centered mark where the bottom half of your snap will go.
Step 5 - Attach bottom snap according to directions on package. Then fold down the top flap, press, and then feel for the nub of the bottom snap. Place the prongs of the pearl head over that and set the top snap (use your set tool). This was the easiest way I found to have the snaps align perfectly.Step 6 - Starting at one of the folded ends, stitch along the edge. Backstitch when you reach the wallet opening for added strength. Continue up and around to the other side and your done.
Step 7 - Add your cash and cards. :) They're also nice for giving gift cards...adds a personal touch. Happy sewing!

Easy Weekend Project - Summer Tote bag

(not sure why, but blogger wouldn't let me add a title)

Oh boy, I've only been at this a few months and already I'm deralict in my blogging duties. I can't believe 2 weeks has gone by without a new post. Well, at least the linens were pretty to look at. LOL :)

I haven't had a lot of time for big projects, but I did make myself a new summer bag. It went together very quickly so, I thought it would make a nice Easy Weekend Project. Plus, its Bag Month at the Sew Mama Sew blog. Pop over and you can read details about entering the contest.

I made this bag with a combination of fabrics from Amy Butler, Jennifer Paganelli, and a wonderful vintage 1960's "chain link" fabric purportedly from the warehouse of designer Ferdinando Sarmi.
I love the result! It feels fresh and summery with all of its sea glass tones. Two large outside pockets, exposed handles, and a roomy interior make this functional as well as pretty.

I also made this pink and gray one for a friend. This one is made with all new fabrics, but I did embellish with a couple of vintage fabric covered buttons.

Do you need a new flea market tote or beach bag? If so, steal a few hours for yourself this weekend and sew one up!!! :)

Easy Weekend Project - Mantel Headboard

Ok, so its not quite as easy as the chalkboard...but still very do-able in a weekend.

This mantle headboard is something I did about a year ago. At the suggestion of Heather of Pretty Petals , I've decided to make this the next weekend project.

First, find your mantel (or is it mantle ?). Mine was only 40.00 at a local flea market and was already stripped of most of its peeling paint.

After applying a fresh coat of cottage white paint we were ready to secure it to the wall. We drilled screws into the studs along the outside edge and the upper lip of the opening. It was raised off of the floor about 6 inches to a comfortable height when sitting in bed. (ours is small, but , if your mantle is large or very heavy, its best to use supports under the posts.

Next, a piece of 1/2 inch plywood was cut to fit the opening. I used a spray adhesive to attach a piece of 2" foam and covered that with a piece of muslin and batting.

Now the fun part...picking out your fabric. Mine was originally done in a cabbage rose barkcloth, but, I was ready for a change. So, I recovered it today in another lovely vintage piece from my stash.

Center your design, fold over edges (so you are stapling through a double layer of fabric) and staple to the back. (start in the center of opposite sides and work toward the corners)
To avoid having to screw through the fabric, we simply "wedged" the fabric panel into the mantel opening. We did this by partially inserting 2 screws in the top and 2 directly beneath the panel.

This also makes it much easier to change out the fabric whenever you like.