Sewing is the New Scrolling

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I've been searching for a hobby for quite some time - something that didn't involve a screen. I came very close to buying a loom, but that felt too trendy. I landed on sewing! My in-laws bought me a machine for the holidays and I immediately signed up for lessons. I'm six weeks in and I've already made a skirt, a zipper pouch (click here for the tutorial I used) and today, I finished this dress! As someone who constantly app hops from Facebook to Snapchat to Instagram and back with a few email refreshers in between, I needed to step away from the phone, and sewing has been lovely. 

My next project is a tank top and pants - something kind of Ace and Jig-ish for the spring. I'm hoping that I'm advanced enough to make a pattern from the Merchant & Mills Workbook, so we'll see. I'll tell ya, this hobby is not cheap, but it is pretty satisfying to complete a project and say "I made this." It's also made me reconsider where I buy my clothes and what to buy. I have a feeling I'll be shopping less and making more. The big question now is - do I purchase an embroidery machine?!

If you want to follow along on my sewing journey (because I know that's what you're all dying to do), I'll be posting more projects on my Instagram. And if you live in Pittsburgh, come to sewing class with me! 

Until next time, ciao!

Call me Macramé James

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CMJ_Macrame_1.jpg

I’ve always been an arts and crafts kind of girl. We all know that I used to decoupage my notebooks in middle school. I painted a nighttime scene on my bedroom shade just like Punky Brewster. And like all kids in the early 90s, I was a lanyard-making machine. So it’s no surprise that I became  obsessed with macramé after my mother-in-law gave me a few of her old books on the craft. It’s super fun and therapeutic. Here’s an easy DIY how-to for a two-tier plant hanger. It’s easier than it looks - trust me!

What You’ll Need

  1. Cut eight cords, each 18 ft long.
  2. Loop the eight lengths through your key hole, so you are doubling the thickness and halving the length.
  3. Next, make a gathering wrap with a 20 inch cord. To do this, fold your cord so that one end is slightly longer than the other end (see above.) Place this folded cord on top of the bundled cords. Pull end A (the long end) to the right side of the bundle. 
  4. Begin wrapping end A around end C and your bundle 10 times then thread end A through loop B. Gently pull end C until end A and loop B disappear. Trim your C cord, cutting close to the wrap, and take a lighter to melt the frayed ends for a more finished look. 
  5. Divide your cords into groups of four. Take one grouping and move five inches from the bottom of your wrap. Following the graphic above, repeat steps 1-4 four times to make a square-knot chain. Once done, move on to the remaining three groupings, remembering that each chain should start five inches from the wrap. 
  6. Move down another five inches and make four more square-knot chains, again repeating steps 1-4 four times. 
  7. Next, pair two cords of one grouping with two cords from the grouping to the right and create one square knot (steps 1-4.) Follow this step three more times with your other pairings. 
  8. Move down five more inches and pull all cords together. Take another 20 inch cord to form a simple gathering wrap like you did at the start of the project. 
  9. Repeat steps 5-8 listed above.
  10. Take your lighter and melt the ends of your cords for a clean, finished look. 

To see how I incorporated this 70s craft at my wedding, click here.

A DIY Project Worth DIY'ing

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I’ve always loved wallpaper, but since I rent I’ve never been able to act on these feelings. But this is all about to change thanks to Clare Bosanquet, founder ofThe Painted House. Clare has recreated the old Eastern European art of painted rollers, used for hundreds of years as an alternative to wallpaper, and revamped to fit the aesthetics of today. Genius! 

The patterned paint rollers come in a range of designs and can be used on walls, fabrics and wooden furniture. You can even use them to create your own reams of wrapping paper! Each design roller is reusable and interchangeable.

I can’t wait to start painting my walls, making pillow covers and maybe painting my small kitchen table (a stoop sale find that could use a little makeover).

To learn more about The Painted House, check out their website and their adorable Esty shop!