Fairy Garden: My Newest Addition

This fairy garden was created in a basket.  

The iron holder for the basket is an old Pier One endtable base turned upside down. 

This year I am growing my lettuce in pots since the rabbits in the area don't seem to bother them as much.

Smiles, 

Deborah

P.S.  My other fairy gardens are growing too.

The drawbridge it done and I  see the fairy has come out to play.

 

Childs Table and Chairs with Raccon Chair Covers

Sewing for your children is not always tops, bottoms, and dresses. 

 

Creating these raccoon covered chair pads for a child's sized
 table and chairs was a sewing project "Labor of Love."  

Here's how the chair pads were created:

Since children can be messy, a separate chair pad was sewn out of 2 layers of fleece that fits under the raccoon cover.  So, when the project is messy, you can remove the top chair pad (raccoon) and simply use the
 2 layer fleece chair pad. 

Wonder Under and Zig-zag satin stitches

 outline all the facial features.

A smaller stitch width was used around the 

inner eye, nose,  and smile.

On this raccoon, I went over the satin stitches twice, to really make the stitching stand out.  

Smiles,
Deborah

Upholstered Ottoman: My First Project

I've always wanted to learn to upholster, but I can't find a teacher.  So, with the help of a new friend, I recovered this ottoman.

I bought the original ottoman at an estate sale because the wood frame was so solid and well made.  

Hours and hours were invested, but I think the finished product turned out well... and a new electric staple gun promises more projects in the future.

I know this photo looks very one tone, but the walls are 2 different shades of greyed green, and the carpet is a greyed green too.When we moved into this house the walls were painted a much more vibrant green, and I wanted to rip up perfectly fine wool carpeting because I didn't like the color.

Now I like the soothing feeling of the room. 

Smiles,

Deborah

Memorial Day, 4th of July and Summer Pillows

I made some outdoor pillows for the benches at the front of my house to celebrate Memorial Day, 4th of July, and the glory of summer!

I was feeling so good about having planted my flowers already... until the frost warning happened last week.

All these flower containers had to be carried  into the garage, and I was running around covering plants in the ground with sheets.

It just seems that the dates of the season changes

 are not the same anymore.  Next year I'll wait a little longer. 

My granddaughter surprised me with a display of her own.

I think she was having a little fun with me... and it worked. 

It brought smiles to my face and the thought, 

"Ain't life wonderful!" 

Smiles,

Deborah

Aunt Laurie's "Home From the Beach" Fairy House

Aunt Laurie lives in North Carolina.

She loves the ocean and the beach.

So when she sent my granddaughters these beachy fairy furniture pieces, we decided to create a 

"Home From the Beach" Fairy House

and dedicate it to her and all the Aunts that 

send thoughtful gifts to their nieces and nephews. 

(and Grand-Nieces too.)

This fairy doesn't sleep in an ordinary Midwest twig bed.....

Her house isn't created to keep out the Midwest snow, but to let in the summer breezes and show off beautiful 

starfish and shells.

Starfish on 3 sides of the house.  Each one is different.

This fairy loves the water and needs a pool and fountain to remind her about the wonderful ocean.

I plan to glue the shiny blue beads into the shell fountain.

Beach glass pebbles form her patio.

Solar powered lights light up the house at night for 

nighttime fairy parties.

( Yes, we know that our Aunt Laurie is quite the hostess and everyone wants to go to her parties!)

Adding solar powered lights to the wooden birdhouse.

Night-time photo, with the lights outlining the fairy house.

We think these Dragon Wing Begonias will be spectacular as 

they grow into beautiful, flowery plants. 
 

So, thanks Aunt Laurie, for sending us a bit of the beach

here in the Midwest.

You are so kind and this fairy house is dedicated to 

YOU.

Smiles,

Deborah and the Girls 

Fairy Book House

Creating my Fairy Garden was so much fun.

First, I started with this wooden storage container that looks like 4 books standing together.

I purchased it at a garage sale for three dollars. 

 It also had a book drawer under the four books, but I separated them into two pieces.

Next, I used contractors glue and glued the container shut.

Before gluing it though, I did cut a hole out of the side of one of the books and glued in a window.

Where did I get the window?  

I bought this Fisher Price toy castle and pulled apart the windows and the WORKING  drawbridge!

I love how the drawbridge cranks up and down, but I didn't like the bright blue color. So I painted it.

I roughed up the plastic surface, but I don't know if the paint will flake later.  If it flakes, I plan to buy outdoor paint and repaint it.

Notice how I painted a black rectangle to simulate 

the "dark opening."

I cranked the drawbridge closed.

  My granddaughters love this feature.

 Here is the finished Fairy Book House, 

with the little twig chair I made. 

 Personally, I think the fairy that decided to live in this house,  likes to read her fairy tales outside while sitting in that chair.

Smiles,

Deborah

Fairy Garden Chair with Acorn Top Armrest

I made a little twig chair for my fairy garden. 

I like the acorn top armrests.

Smiles,

Deborah