Tara Miller Designs

Big Girl Bed

We just moved and alot has changed since then. Highest on my priority list has been getting Devon's Big Bed ready for her. Can you believe it wasn't until she was 3 that she tried to climb out of her crib. Pretty nice for us but she wasn't too pleased with the results. She was always so content with her books and jumping that I guess she didn't see the point. When she did climb (err... fall out) we rushed out and got her mattress. However, we could only put it on the floor which I have since been told is the best place to start the transition since they don't have far to fall. In the meantime, I procured from my parents our an heirloom bed that I had earmarked for Devon since she was born and I found it in the basement. It was my bed and my dad's bed before. It is solid wood and beautifully made. However, having gone through 2 kids one of them my dad who rough housed with his 2 brother's daily on that bed, it needed work. 

On a really nice day last week, Devon and I got to work sanding and painting. Well, I sanded, Devon rode her bike, helped me sand a bit, colored the garage door with chalk and then colored her un-sanded foot board with chalk. I believe she also picked some flowers. Then we took a trip to pick out spray paint and Devon choose from the 3 I offered (turquoise, kelly green, and cherry red) the red. It was a great choice and she never wavered. When we got home, we set to work. Devon's job was to not get on the paint tarp and to hold the paint lid. She took both jobs serious but whenever I took a break to stretch my back, she was jumping around all the pieces. I gave the bed a full 24 hours to dry and cure before they travelled up to her room and set up. Once the bed was complete, she fell in love all over again. She has not gone back to her crib once, though it is still in her room just in case. She loves her big bed.

I was unable to get out all the ding and dents created from 50+ years of wear and tear, so I left most and love the look it created. The charater is still intact but the overall appearance is classic and beautiful.  

2011 Loose Ends

So I have a tendancy to say I am going to do things on the blog and then do them but forget to write about the turn out later. This post (a a few to follow) is an effort to tie up these loose ends from projects in 2011.

Tea dying (also coffee dying) This did not turn out well. I even left it to sit overnight and the color is only slightly different. I don't recommend it since it is messy with minimal results. I am going to work on bleaching in 2012 so stay tuned. 

Christmas projects round up:

From Mom!

For my SIL

For my mom, Devon's Lovey!

For my Brother

Camera Strap Covers for my Brother

For my Devon!

 

Cozy new friend

Remember that busted up blanket in my last post? Well, once I brushed her off and added the new bias trim the family is fighting over her. She is shining bright and loving the attention. Plus she really goes well with my new christmas pillow cover. Now I need to look around and see what else needs some bias trim...

Touching up an old friend

I purchased this good old blanket many years ago at a Home Good store and it has been through many a movie, sickness, quick runs out to get the paper and even a few diaper changes. I love this blanket since it is the perfect size. But it was starting to show it's age so I decided some TLC in the form of bias tape would do some wonders since the wear was concetrated on the edges. I opt for a red and white polka dot in 2 in. bias tape and within 30 minutes there was new life! keep your eyes open of oldies but goodies at your local thift stores and suit them up for yourself or a local charity!

Dyeing Fabric with Tea

 

During nap today, I dyed some muslin with tea. It was the least messy fabric dyeing I have ever dealt with and it smelled wonderful! I based it on some instructions I googled but in the end I eyeballed it all since I didn't have tea bags and I was working with 2 + yds of lightweight muslin. Teac dying will give your fabric an aged, vintage, antique look. I am planning on using the dyed fabric to make cafe curtains with a Greek Key trim as seen in Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts (love this book!)

I started by filling my sink with roughly a gallon of hot water and to that I added 9 tbsps of loose leaf tea (Mine of Ceylon Cherry which I hoped would add a bit of red but no dice). I then waited 5-7 min for the water to darken. I added the fabric to the tea and carfeully swished my fabric around until it was wet through. I let it soak for 30 min and then came back and swish and stired some more. I left the fabric for the rest of the afternoon until it was a good dark, antique color and then drained the water. I rinsed the tea leaves off a little and placed the wet fabric in the dryer (you can hang it outside as well) to dry.  As I type my fabric is still drying and I want to wait for the light of day to see the finished resulting color. Can't wait!

GrueneTree Giveaway!

** Comments are now open but my Navigation bar needs retool. Sorry for the mess!

 

I am proud to share that my husband has recently opened his open Motorcycle Shop: Gas-Head Motorsports, Inc. Which he hopes will be the badest place to get your bike worked on and hang out and talk shop. Unfortunately, the location is close to 1 hour away from home. BUT it is very close to my parents home. So after a long talk, we have decided to move closer to his work and my parents so that  1) Devon can enjoy more time with Daddy 2) Mommy (me) can get more work done while Devon bakes cookies with Grandma 3) we save on gas money 4) Take a general load off financially and time wise. That said, I have some packing to do. We are planning to rent our house on this side of town while renting on the other side until the market picks up. While we are fixing little things here and there getting the house into show fashion, it is my job to de clutter and pack our lives into boxes until we can settle permanently again. We don't know the size of the new house because we haven't started to look yet. With Garrett's 12- 14 hour days (We are so glad that after 4 mo his biz is a success but he is too busy to do anything else) so I am packing the none essentials away. But some items are too pretty to pack away for who-knows how long so I want to find better homes for my samples that I have created recently. Thus GrueneTree Giveaway is born. I am hoping to have 2 a month but let's take it one step at a time. 

The premiere Gruenetree Giveaway is the lovely Pearl Clutch. I knit this from Berroco Lustra, which is a deliciously shiny and slightly fluffy yarn in a cluster pattern (Free Pattern Here to knit your own) with a Turquoise Dupioni Silk Lining. Just add your comment to the bottom or tweet this tag me so I will know and you are entered to win! Good Luck!

A Mounted Deerhead

Over at Fabric.com's blog, I mentioned that I was making up some more kid tents and I have. I made 2 for a good friend's kids and her sister's little boy. I used Obsessively Stitching's tutorial but with some modifications. First, I made the grey tent with only 4 panels instead of 5. Mostly this was because one panel fell to the floor and I didn't realize it was missing until the tent was finished. Secondly, and I think key, was that I didn't turn the tent right side out went finishing the tent pole pockets. I simply left the seams on the outside and exposed. I did this because in the previous 2 tents I have made I have found that pressing all those seams open takes a LONG time and even with the seams pressed open it is really hard to line up 5, 6 ft long 1 1/2 in. pockets. I was always ripping and frustrated. But since I pinked the edges when I originally cut the pieces out I decided to just leave the seams exposed and save myself a lot of trouble. And you know what, it looks great and I am very happy with it. Before, I swore off making these due to that step but with my modification, I think I will get back into the tent making business (figuratively, of course). Both tents are made from $4 Walmart twin flat sheets but my daughter's will be a recycled bed sheet that is just the perfect color and laying unused in our linen closet. 

Lastly, I created 2 appliques with Heat n Bond and mounted them right above the door flap. One is a Deerhead (the dad is a big bow hunter) and the other is a moose hanging out in the woods. Both were created from free coloring sheets that I googled "hunting coloring pages). I am very relieved to have these gifts finished. They are bound for Australia for a dear friend. She has 2 boys and a girl. The girl was easy to make for the boys were a challenge. I knew the tents would be a big hit but I dreaded making them. Now, I have one scheduled for my little girl and another for an upcoming birthday party. Oh and I would show finished picture with the tents assembled but I am only sending the tent shells to Australia, not the poles. Hopefully, pictures will follow. 

Christmas Presents to me!

I received many hand made and wonderful presents for christmas this year and wanted to share them. Mom made me this kick-ass laptop case. I picked the fabric months ago and then forgot about it. It is a turquoise and orange combo. She made the handles long enough for me to carry the bag over my shoulder and added a double zipper. I love it and it fits my laptop and cord perfectly with a little extra room for notebooks and what not. 

My sister-in-law, Gretchen, was a hand made mad woman this year. She made everything she gifted and it was incredible. To name a few: lip balm, soap, snowflake oranments, AWESOME Toffee Coffee mix (my afternoon indulgance) and this beautiful plate. it is simply perfect for my sewing room and I will add a shot once it finds a home on the wall. 


 

Also, here is a sneak peak at my latest in-process sewing pattern. It is going to be big!

"Holly" Pillow Tutorial and pattern making links

I have been doing more research on pattern making using illustrator (I figure this is where I should start then move on to printing). I have a handful of promising links but I have been dedicating all of my free time to collecting links and very little to actually checking them out. 

I found a great video tute by Ralph Pink on making sewing patterns in illustrator but from the few minutes I have spent watching it, I think I need to familiarize myself with his previous videos and terms. I think he hails from the UK so the measurements and terms are different. Perhaps just jumping in and watching the video and then going back over the parts that are tricky should be my plan. I will let you know how it goes. I found Ralph Pink via the Sewing Princess, after googleing heavily on pattern making with illustrator.  

On the home front, I didn't make much time to decorate for Xmas last year and I really wanted to make more decorations this year. Unfortunatley I just got started. Today, I have a velvet pillow cover that I embroidered with i-cord for Fabric.com's blog. It is so easy and really fun too. If you are not inclined to stitch your i-cord in place, you can use fabric glue. I plan to make more but given my full plate at the moment I don't see it happening. My Fri project is a super cute knitted cupcake ornament. My twist: a little fair isle icing!

Project Complete!

You may remember this project back from 2008. I should have known better than to teach myself upholstery and attempt my first project when I was 4 mo pregnant but c'est le vie. Not only did my energy die around the thirdtrimester, it took some time after the wee one was born before I could muster up my old vigor to get back to it. Well, I am happy to announce that 2 years and 3 fabrics later, my beloved is finished. Completed with Joel Dewberry fabric and the perfect addition to our living room. Once I had the right tools and notions (I had to wait on tacking stripes, double welt and ply grip). I was able to work during naptimes and some after bed. I loved every minute. The hammering of tacks was therapy. Each piece of fabric placed gave instant satisfaction. I could not have done it without Complete Step by Step Upholstery by David Sowle. I am very excited to have the chair complete but I feel a pull to buy more unfortunate furniture and refurbish it. Onto Craigslist.

 

Tips on Upholstery can be found in my article for Fabric.com