idea notebook Clever crafts, climbing roses, and a cheery (and cheap!) sunroom
Get Crafty!
photograph by Polly Wreford. Decorating with Flowers, by Paula Pryke (Rizzoli; 2010)
Six simple do-it-yourself projects
1. String together a stunning centerpiece.
Floral foam and glass marbles aren’t the only ways to hold flowers aloft. Instead, a bunch of vintage milk bottles gives this arrangement—featured in Decorating with Flowers ($24.95; Rizzoli)—its structure. Simply line up nine same-size vessels in three rows of three. Then wrap gardener’s twine around the grouping twice and tie the ends. Finish the blooming display by placing two to three stems in each container.
Continued on next page > Written by Jourdan Crouch
m ay 20 10
. c ou n try l iv i n g.c o m . 51
idea notebook 4–6. Three unexpected uses for vintage handkerchiefs Inspired by Amy Barickman’s latest book, Hankie Style ($24.99; Indygo Junction), these crafts breathe new life into old-fashioned linens. To make a TABLE RUNNER, measure the length of your table (plus overhang) to determine how many hankies you’ll need (we used ten 12-inch squares for an 82-inch-long table). To connect the first two, flip them pattern side down, overlapping the edges by about 3/8 inch; pin, then stitch together. Continue attaching handkerchiefs in this manner until the runner is complete.
To embellish a tank top, use our templates (at countryliving.com/tank) as a guide for cutting a 14-inch-square, scalloped-edged hankie into two pieces. Fold under the cut sides and hem, as directed by the templates. Place the shorter piece atop the longer one so the top edges align; stitch together, leaving a ¼-inch allowance. Finally, fold under the unfinished top edge, then center it below the tank’s neck seam (as shown) and sew into place.
Look no further than the nearest pasture for inspiration to dress up plain dishware. To duplicate these mugs, print our templates by artist Jennifer Rizzo (at countryliving.com/mugs) and cut out the animal shapes as directed. Place each shape atop a small piece of contact paper and outline it in pencil. Cut out with a craft knife; then discard the paper inside the outline. Peel away the backing and affix the stencil to a clean, dry mug, making sure to center the image. Following the package directions, use a soft brush to fill in the outline with dishwashersafe PermEnamel paint ($3.49 for two ounces, joann.com); let set for a few minutes. Carefully remove the contact paper, clean up any edges with a damp cotton swab, and allow the paint to cure for 10 days.
52 . c ou ntrylivi ng.co m . may 2 01 0
3. Turn an outdated telephone bench into functional foyer furniture.
Create the perfect spot for pulling off boots and before sorting letters by rescuing a relic from the rotary-dial days. To begin, pop off the cushion, remove any existing upholstery and padding, and measure the remaining seat base. Cut a piece of three-inch-thick memory foam to those dimensions. Enlarge dimensions by five inches on all four sides and cut fabric (red hounds tooth, $9.99 per yard; premierprintsfabric.com) and cotton batting to this size. Next, place foam atop the seat base and wrap tightly with batting, using a staple gun to secure the batting to the base’s bottom; repeat with fabric. Finally, lightly sand the wood surfaces and wipe clean with a damp rag. After priming, apply two coats of glossy white paint, allowing time to dry in between. To finish, reattach the new seat.
photographs by artistnametk photographs by (table and tank) k ate mathis; (sachets) k ana ok ada, styling by alistair turnbull; (opposite) KAte mathis, styling by christina lane
2. Farm to table
To make a sachet, cut a four-inch square from a hankie. With the pattern side up, fold three corners toward the square’s center. Hand-stitch the sides together. Turn the sachet inside out, press, and sew a decorative button atop the flap. Fill the pouch with dried lavender, then secure the flap with some hidden hand-sewn stitches.
go to countryliving.com/hankie
to learn how to prolong the life of vintage handkerchiefs.
53