A Few Finished Projects...

This has been our last week at home before we head off to Bible school.

Are we excited yet?

Well, saying goodbye to church family and friends makes us feel a bit like this.

Weston (a little frind of ours): "Do you really have to go?"

Becca: "We already gave them our money."

Weston: "Well, lucky for them!"

Although, once we have everything packed in my little car and hit the road, I'm sure we'll feel more like this.

Besides packing, Becca and I have also been busy finishing up some projects. 

For a year or so, we've had a side chair stored in our bedroom wanting reupholstering. When I found it, I actually didn't mind the color, but the velvet was quite worn, and had an unpleasant tendancy to shed. :P 

It has such a cute little shape, and while I was ordering some things for my last upholstery job, I came across some clearance fabric that looked lovely.

Its simple shape made it pretty quick to do, but I stained the legs first, as they were a bit rough looking. Freezing weather kept me out of the garage, but it was nearly as cold working in the ventilated basement.

Dad: "Who left the basement window open?"
Bethany: "Oops!"

I used the leftover stain from my desk, which turned out a little lighter on the legs of the chair.

A friend came over while I was just about finished with it, and decided she wanted it.
 It's neat to see it go off to a home so soon!

The other thing I wanted to get done was to redo my work basket.

We probably picked it up at a garage sale or thrift store, and it has seen numerous crochet projects and a few knitting ones lately. 

As it slowly falls apart, I've restitched seams and reattached the lining in places, but what if I gave it an entirely new look?

Taking it apart was fun, and its clever design really amazed me.

Both the lining and the outside consisted of only two pieces of fabric each, and the inside pocket was made with a simple fold.

I found my new fabrics in the jumble of the sewing room; a pale blue swiss dot and a fun floral corduroy I'd been saving for something.

Sewing it on the wood frame proved to be a bit tricky, but with a little persistence, I got the hang of it.

 As for what project it will contain next, I'm thinking of starting this while at school.

A Beatles blanket! Isn't it darling? Those little granny squares will be easy to make in the free time I might have.

Becca's turn!
Hmmmm.... Where should I start?
Ever since I learned about the languge of flowers, I was enchanted. Although a boquet of flowers can't convey a very specific message, like:
'The rebel leader is dead. Come to the docks at 8 p.m., bring lighter fluid and a large tomato."
(I remembered this from something I saw on Pinterest, but I couldn't find the actual pin)
It would be a fancinating means of communication for a story world.....

It's still a sweet and romantic practice I think should be brought back.
I fell in love with the meaning of yellow tulips, though I read the meaning has evolved over time.
The current meaning is: There is sunshine in your smile.
Isn't that the sweetest thing?

It was a while before I settled on the right medium for this idea, but embroidery seemed perfect.
I started it sometime in September, and I finished it this week... talk about procrastination.  :)

I designed it on my favorite site; PicMonky, painted in the color blocks and the tulips with acrylic paint mixed with fabric medium, then embroidered the lettering, outlined the flowers, and finally it became a pillow.

Now for some close-ups :)

 

Also, I have been trying my hand at some watercolors. I loved watercolors when I was little, using all the colors and painting huge dripping rainbows.  :)

I pulled out an old set of paints last weekend and just played around.

Mom and Dad got me a new set of paints and some other supplies to take to school, it will be fun to experiment and practice this new hobby.
I'd love to be able paint like this:

via Pinterest

And illustrate my stories someday.

Well, our next post should be from school. 

Maybe we could do a tour of our little dorm room. :)

Allons-y!