How to Make a Cornice

Windows look very plain with just blinds, so I decided to make a cornice for this little window. It will be the first of a few changes to this bathroom. It involves two main steps--making the cornice box, and upholstering it:

First, go to your local lumber store, or to a construction site where you can beg for some scraps of 1/2" plywood. My friend Betsy actually found the wood for me--and talked the construction worker into cutting the wood the right sizes for me! Of course, Betsy could talk the hind leg off a mule, so I am sure this was no major feat for her. Of course, if you need to have all the measurements calculated before hand. Remember to include the 1/2" thickness in your calculations.

The sides were 4" x 12" and the front piece was 12" x 28," so the top was 4 1/2" x 28". I used Liquid Nails in my calking gun to adhere the sides to the front piece before I used finish nails to secure it. I did the same with the top piece. (I tried screws, but they started to split the plywood, so I opted for the nails instead.)

The next step will be to pad the box. I used Fairfield's wonderful Tru-Foam to pad the outside. I used 

a heavy-duty stapler to attach the foam--I thought about hot glue, but thought staples would be better. 

Once the outside is covered with Tru-Foam, it is then covered with a thin batting--I used Fairfield's bamboo batting. 

The fabric will be applied in the same way as the batting--but make sure you press the fabric to remove all the wrinkles! 

Center the cornice box onto the fabric, then start in the center at the bottom, overlap the fabric over the batting, and staple. 

Stretch the fabric slightly over the top of the box and staple. Go back and forth, working out from the center until the fabric is almost to the corners. 

Wrap the corners like you would a package, staple inside the cornice box. 

Prepare the lining by pressing under 1" of one long edge. This will go along the lower edge of the inside of the cornice. Put in place, and pin the fold on the lining to the main fabric and batting. Fold back and staple inside the folded edge.

Fold the lining upward, use your finger to crease the fabric at the top so you can trim it. 

Trim sides so you can fold under 1" and staple in place. Staple along top as well.

Just need to get a small L-bracket to attach to each side of the window. Hold the finished cornice up and have someone help you pencil the wall at the desired height. That will help you place the L-brackets. 

Hang the cornice on the brackets, and use a small screw on each side to secure the cornice to the L-bracket on the inside of the cornice.

Le Boudoir

I have collected fabrics for several years, hoping that when I had a permanent place to live, I could make the master bedroom into one I really loved. I started by painting the walls a pale robin-egg blue, and decided I would add taupe, cream, and cranberry red accents. As you can see, I got a pretty good start last week.

The 24" box-edge pillows are at the back of the bed, and are nice for reading in bed! I finished them with a very narrow piping, from a taupe/cream check. I decided to make two new sets of pillow cases, as well. First thing you need to do for pillowcase fabric is to wash and dry it! You don't want those finished cases shrinking after you wash them for the first time!

I found some beautiful batik fabric and used that for the front sets, trimmed with taupe/cream and a little folded edge of the red print. The second set are a brown/cream print, trimmed with a small brown/cream print, and a folded edge of red print.

Since the batik has a taupe flower design, I chose some wonderful pin-tucked taupe fabric, and covered medium-size cording with red fabric to trim the outside edge.

Now, I'm not really finished with the pillows, but will add more later. Of course you will get to see those, too!

I have a wonderful antique cupboard. I removed the glass door, and decided to store extra quilts and linens inside!

The beautiful lace and embroidered doilies that hang over the edge of the containers inside were made by my mother. There are a few other treasures, as well, including a little doll made in Poland, which was given to me back in the 1950's by my Aunt Emily. The antique quilt on the bottom was pieced by my paternal grandmother, and lovingly hand-quilted by my sister and mother, given to me as a wedding present. The little picture is a pen-and-ink drawing by my mother, depicting our childhood home. The little box on top belonged to my maternal grandmother.

I decided to add a pleat in the center of each side of the dust ruffle. I trimmed the bottom edge with a taupe/cream polka dot, for a little whimsy. The red buttons are covered and stitched to hold the bottom of the pleat open.

I love the little wrought-iron table, and thought it a perfect place to showcase my painting of Adam and Eve. This is the moment Eve has consumed the apple and is letting Adam finish his nap before she tells him what she has done. Every woman knows what she is thinking at this moment!!!

How I love toile! I have been saving this piece to cover the pad on this little wrought-iron bench. It was pretty easy. I stitched a zipper into the back side piece, then made some tiny piping (tan/cream check again), and stitched it together! The bench used to be cream--I made a bad mistake in painting it black--now I'm going to have to make it cream again! It will have pillows soon, as well! Something left to do another time!

I found this wonderful little towel hanger a few years ago. I loved the look of the old spigots and thought this would be perfect in my bathroom. The print was a purchase I made when I visited London many years ago.

And here is the towel holder in the soaking-tub room. I do love that shabby chic look! I'll give you a peek at the tub soon....I have some hand-painting I am doing above the tub.

I hope you have enjoyed this peek into 'la boudoir.' It's one of my favorite places in the house!

The Card-Table Cottage Collection: la Boulangerie

This is the first of a collaboration with Lella Boutique patterns--and of course, those who know me well, know that Lella Boutique was conceived by Vanessa Goertzen--my daughter. Her beautiful patterns will be featured on my web site: http://www.fabricfolk.com, but you can check out her blog, too! It is http://www.lellaboutique.blogspot.com and is AWESOME!!!! The best news is that we are working on new projects together!

So, here's the first of our collection! It is called "La Boulangerie" which is translated from French into "The Bakery." This little cottage fits over an ordinary card table. The back is left open, so your favorite little baker will be able to get in and out easily. The inside will have a pocket caddy, stitched just behind the front door, to stash little kitchen utensils or dollies, or whatever she wants to put in her house. If you put a little quilt and pillow inside, she (or he) can also take a nap in her own house!

This is the third side of the house--the one you won't see on the pattern cover--and it is our 'flower garden.'

Don't worry! We are working on some boys' versions, and think you'll like what we come up with! So, all you have to do is buy the pattern, and follow our tutorial! It is easier than you think, but will take a little time to put together!

To make this delightful little cottage, you first need to measure your card table. Our table top is 33 1/2" square and 27 3/4" high. You will need to allow for 1/2" seam allowances, and a 1 1/2" bottom hem, so you need to add that when you calculate your panel measurements.

Cut out your top, three sides, and back panel, per pattern instructions. The first thing you need to do is to zig zag the edges, because they can fray while you are embellishing the sides!

The trick to successful fusing is to use a product that will hold in place, and I have found that Steam-a-Seam 2 is very good! It has paper on both sides of the fusible web, and is slightly sticky, so it will adhere to the fabric while you are cutting--but I am getting ahead of myself! When you are working with Steam-a-Seam, you will trace the shapes of windows, etc. right onto the paper, then remove the paper on the other side and place the Steam-a-Seam on the wrong side of the fabric. If the Steam-a-Seam doesn't stick properly, use your iron to heat up the fabric (never iron the paper to the fabric--it will become permanent), and place the web side directly onto the wrong side. Cut out the shapes, remove the paper from the traced side, and place the pieces onto the side of the house. When you have all the pieces where you want them, iron them in place. Check the instructions on the Steam-a-Seam if you have any questions!

NOTE: Make sure you don't fuse the designs into the seam allowance (1/2" from the top of each side). If you do, you will find that your sewing machine needle will gum up a little, and may mess up your stitching quality, plus having to either clean the needle or replace it!

When you fuse the windows in place, check to see if they have a valance in the window (see Flower Garden side). You will need to place the valance under the window panes when you place it on the fabric.

You can use the 'pie' fabric or another print for the tablecloth--but I liked using it to bring more of the 'bakery' element to that side. When you put the pies in the window, you will need to apply a piece of Steam-a-Seam to some fabric to be used for the 1/4" strips in the window and to trim the door. You will need about 130" of the fabric, so you can cut a 6" x 18" piece of Steam-a-Seam, cut about nine 1/4" strips with your rotary cutter to use. You will need to put a row in the window, about 1" above the bottom frame. This will go under the window sashes, and act as an inside window shelf for the pies. Fuse the pies into the bottom of the window, cutting some of them in half to go on both sides of the window sash.

When you have all the embellishments fused in place, you can cut out the windows, so the children will be able to look outside. Cut carefully, so you don't cut through the window sashes (if you do, you can always fuse a patch over that area.

I won't lie--cutting out these tiny letters are TRICKY! However, if you have a sophisticated sewing machine (I'm a Bernina girl--so really, I could have hopped on the 580 and embroidered this before I cut it out and fused it in place! Something to think about!) However, tracing and cutting it out is certainly possible, if you have some good, sharp scissors with a good pointed end!

To create a caddy for toys, you will start with a long rectangle and pockets (from contrasting fabric--the funkier the better)!

You will cut trim for the top of each pocket, then pin the strip to the top of the pocket, with the right side of the trim on the wrong side of the pocket:

Press the seam allowance toward the trim, then press under 1/4" of the trim edge.

Fold the trim over to cover the seam, and stitch close to the folded edge.

Place one of the large pockets on the bottom, matching raw edges. Baste across.

Now, press under 1/4" along the bottom edge of the three remaining pockets, pin the next pocket 1/2" from the top edge of the bottom pocket, and stitch in place! Repeat for the remaining two pockets, but make sure you put the smallest pocket at the top end!

When all the pockets are stitched in place, you will need to divide the pockets into thirds and stitch from top to bottom. 

Place the caddy and lining right sides together and stitch sides and bottom, leaving top open.

Clip the corners, turn right side out, and press! 

Zig zag across the top, through both layers.

Pin finished caddy to the wrong side of the front panel, just behind the door, and baste together at the top. 

Now, to assemble this! Place the top and one of the sides right sides together, and stitch together, starting and ending 1/2" from each corner. The seam allowance is 1/2", and press it toward the side of the cottage. Repeat for the other side!

Stitch the front (with caddy basted in place) and back pieces to the top in the same way! Notice that I used a print for the back panel. Afterwards, I thought, "Now why didn't I use that for the top, too?" So I changed the fabric requirements to you can have a cute roof on your house! 

You may wonder why I used such a little piece for the back. That's because I knew that it would be easier for kids to come in and out of their little cottage without having to deal with a door. The short panel helps keep the cottage on your card table, so it won't slip off easily! 

Now, all you have to do is stitch the sides together and hem the bottom edge! Place right sides together, and stitch each corner--press the seam open!

Finally, put on the card table and fold up bottom edge to hem.  Remove from the table, press up the hem edge (mine was about 1 1/2"), cut strips of Steam-a-Seam just a little less than 1 1/2" to fit inside the hem, and press in place. You can use your machine to stitch the hem, but it will gum up your needle a little bit! 

Here's another version, with different fabrics, for you to enjoy!

The boy's version will be forthcoming!

Welcome to My Studio

This is where it all happens! I finally have a space in which to create all those wonderful things yet un-made! My table is extra long, and has already proved itself invaluable, for throwing the quilts around as I quilt them on the machine! The weight of a quilt can really drag you down, because it takes a lot of effort to keep it moving smoothly as you do free-hand quilting. Of course I like to surround myself with things that mean something, so I have a giant magnet board to hold pictures of kids, grand-kids, and things to inspire me! Vanessa's doll, 'Samatha,' stands guard until she goes to live with Vanessa, Kevin and Olive! The old soda pop case was from our granary in Colorado--back on the ranch! And I love sunflowers, so I have a lot of them in this room.

I have an old loom, given to me by my parents' good friends, Rhoda and Lester. It used to belong to Rhoda's sister, Eunice. I am keeping my buttons in the apothecary jar, and behind it is my sunflower quilt, which I made for myself. I have made very few quilts that get to stay in my house, and this reminds me of the sunflowers that used to decorate the lane that we used to walk when we drove the cows back to the house to be milked, each evening!

This paper parasol hides an ugly fan that had pink foam hearts glued to the blades.... so I removed the blades and wired the parasol to the light fixture until I can afford a new fan....although I like the looks so much, I may leave it for quite a while!

And here is one set of the wooden shelves that house my fabric, felt, sewing supplies, and treasures!

I put stuff everywhere.... even by the closet, one of elinor peace bailey's dolls stands guard...

And another quilt, hung above my drawers full of thread!

So happy you could come for a visit! I hope you all have places that inspire you! Women have always been able to find ways to build nests; it's part of what we do!