and the secret ingredient is...

This sounds interesting!!





Of course, given that my interest in the actual "Iron Chef" show lasts only until the "secret ingredient" is revealed...and then pretty much peters out and I flip stations...hmmm...

Maybe it's not the best challenge for me?

I don't know. The first project isn't due until May 31st. So I have some time to think on it.

What about you?

Fabric Hanging Wall Files Tutorial

Here it is~~a tutorial for the hanging wall pockets/files I made for the hallway to help organize my kids' schoolwork.

To see the whole hallway redo post, click HERE!





Fortunately I have 4 children, because it took me all four times to figure out the best way of making these!





They aren't difficult once you get the hang of it, I was able to whip up the last one in about 15 minutes (not counting cutting the fabric)


I tried to make this as easy to follow as possible (including my awesome drawings and arrows on the photos). But if you have any questions, just ask! I'm happy to help.


Here we go...


First, your supplies:





Fabric dimensions: (in case you hate my drawings)
(2) backer pieces 11"x14"
(2) pocket body pieces 9"x12"
(2) pocket bottom pieces 2"x12"
(4) pocket side pieces: cut them 9" long, 3" wide at the top and 2" wide at the bottom and draw an angle line to match those two short sides (see my mad awesome drawing above)
ribbon or bias tape
(3) pieces of cardboard approximately the same sizes as your backer piece, pocket body and bottom piece

You'll also need a disappearing or water soluble fabric pen.

Note: ***I used a 1/4" seam allowance on all pieces***


Sewing Instructions:


1. Take two of your side pieces and sew them on either end of one of the bottom pieces, creating one long section like so:





Do the same with the other 2 side pieces and bottom piece so you have two long pieces.


2. Take both those long pieces, match up the seams and sew them wrong sides together down the straight edge:





Turn right side out and press.


3. Take your smallest piece of cardboard and fit it in the center (bottom opening). Make sure the cardboard fits tightly end to end, but leave room to sew a seam on the long edge.


Sew along the long edge to lock the cardboard in place.





4. Now you are going to sew this one long piece you've created to the pocket body. Take both pocket body pieces (you don't have to attach them to each other first unless you want to) and match it to the raw edges of your long side/bottom/side piece (not the side you already sewed closed). Line up the top edges, corners to corner seams, and sew right sides together.


Sewn:







And flipped right side out:




I didn't do anything to the inside seams to finish them off because I'm lazy like that :0) You could serge them or zigzag stitch them if you're more motivated than me...

5. Now we're going to attach the pocket we've made to the backer piece. You could measure this...again, I'm lazy so I basically just eyeballed it.

I came up about 1 1/4 inches from the bottom, layed (laid? laying?) the pocket on one of the backer pieces and traced all the way around.

Lay the pocket piece right sides together with the backer and stitch along the bottom like so:



6. Flip the pocket up and top stitch the sides down along the lines you drew.



7. Take your second backer piece and lay it on top, making a little sandwich with the pocket piece in the center. Sew down one side, across the bottom and up the other side (leave the top open). Turn it right side out (it may take a little maneuvering because of the cardboard piece in the bottom--just try not to make any creases in it)



8. Now you need to fit your cardboard pieces in the pocket front and backer. The tighter you can fit the cardboard, the more professional and nice looking your end product will be.


Start with the pocket piece. Put the cardboard in and run a line of stitches across the top to hold it in place. Then you're going to apply the ribbon or bias tape to cover the opening.


Here's how I did it: sew the ribbon to the top edge, right sides together. Then fold the ribbon over, enclosing your raw edges and top stitch.








Then do the same thing on the backer piece: fit the cardboard in nice and snug, and close the opening with ribbon or bias tape.






PHEWWW!!! We made it! Really, it's not nearly as difficult as it seems from this tutorial. I confused myself I think! But once you get the idea, you can crank these babies out no problem!


If you have one of those punches to put grommets in I think that would look cute on top. I simply screwed through the top to attach them to the wall--I plan on hot gluing some buttons on to cover the screws.



Also, you can leave the front cardboard out if you want. It makes it a little easier to sew up. The wall pocket to the far right in the above picture has no cardboard in the front.


That's it! If you make any of these please let me know--I'd love to see them! And again, if you have any questions please ask and I'll do my best to help out.

Linking up here:










and Frugalicious Friday @ Decor Momma

the one in which i paint a rooster...

I browse other blogs (surprise) and am constantly amazed when I read things other ladies write about their husbands. Things like: "I brought this home, and my hubby was like 'why would you buy that trash!?!?!?" or "DH said 'I hope you didn't pay money for that!'"


Because in the googie house it's a little different.


When I mentioned to googiedaddy that I had seen a hideously tacky rooster lamp at the thrift shop and didn't buy it, his reaction was more along the lines of: "Are you crazy??? Kids, get in the car now--we have to get to the thrift shop before someone buys our rooster lamp!!!"


(those of you who know us know this to be the absolute unvarnished truth)


So I kicked myself for not grabbing it the first time, and back we went.


Prepare to be insanely jealous, but for the children's sake try to not let it show:








Seriously, how could I pass this up the first time around???


And wait until you see the price tag:





Yup, $4.99.
Granted, it doesn't work (notice the lack of a cord~~looks like someone cut it off at the base), but that is easily remedied (I think...I have vague recollections of replacing the insides of a lamp in 9th grade Industrial Arts Class. I figure a little google-ing and a trip to Home Depot should fix me right up)


Of course, once I embarked on my Rooster Transformation Project, I forgot all about taking pictures. So you get a wordy explanation, followed by end result pics.

First off, two nice coats of gray primer. Then, three-ish coats of Ocean Breeze spraypaint.


Then I let that stew a bit whilst I contemplated the shade. I really wanted to try something like the pleated lampshade done by burlap + blue. But you know how those roosters are~~they're a proud lot. My blue rooster just wasn't feeling a lampshade that might try to edge in on his glory.


So I went with something simpler~just covered the shade in the same fabric that's been making an appearance through my entire home because I have so stinkin' much of it :0) Because it's that typical 'smaller on the top' shade, I folded some deep box pleats into it to take up the extra fabric. It was all done with hot glue (shocking, I know)


And here he is:











You love him, don't ya? You want him, don't ya? TOO BAD! He's MINE!!!!

He's sitting on a table from Ikea that was black with silver legs, which I sprayed white. And he's next to my framed nest project. But I'll probably move that, cause it's a little to "theme-y" for me. I think my rooster can stand on his own. hehehe

Linking up here:




















and Frugalicious Friday at http://decormamma.blogspot.com/