Carlee & Max Forever California Celebration

My lovely niece Carlee is marrying her forever love, Max, this summer in Texas.  They want a small, church wedding in Texas.  Then a few weeks later, they will come to California so that the rest of their family and friends can throw them a California Celebration in her grandmother's backyard. Carlee wants "rustic, lace, burlap, gray and pops of mustard yellow."

So here's my first draft of a table!  Let me know your thoughts, suggestions, etc.!

The runner down the middle is burlap from Home Depot.  The candle sticks are one's I had, or found in different places, then spray painted a flat white.  This vase is a vintage, metal pitcher that I have many in similar shapes. 

 I added baby's breath to the napkin rings. The baby's breath is real; the hydrangeas are silk artificial because florists tell me that they wilt outdoors.  Anyone have any experience with hydrangeas in outside arrangements?  Thoughts?

I forgot I had these chargers that brought more gray into the table. I will have to buy some more but they are easily available at craft stores like Hobby Lobby.

This is vase option #2, a vase I had spray painted flat white.  The lace surrounded the candle holders and vase is a large roll purchased in the Los Angeles garment district.  Notice this picture was before I added the chargers.

The china is Pope-Gossen Roses, silverplate Oneida (I have enough for 75 guests), and napkins from my closet (we'll rent napkins, table cloths, tables and chairs.)  Between my sister and I, we probably have enough different silver napkin rings to do all the tables, but mix and match like the candle holders.

Let me know your suggestions!

Happy Easter!

~CJ

I'm linking up with Tabletop Tuesday and Tablescape Thursday.

Resolution Embroidery Tutorial

I haven't posted for a while because I've been learning a new CRAFT!  Oh such fun and joy with learning something new, and get my craft on.  Machine Embroidery now obsesses me.  A couple of bags I made this weekend, and one tutorial on a bag made last week.  Enjoy!

I've learned much from cyber-world, and so here's my contribution:  Resolution Tote Bag

Step 1:  Purchase blank canvas tote.  I use Online Discount Clothing: The Deal Rack website to purchase a variety of weights and styles.  This bagis BAGedge 12 oz with contrasting handles BE010, on sale for $3.31 each.  I've also embroidered on the 10 oz bag (great value), and the heavy 16 0z boat tote (similar to Land's End big bag).

Made of 100 percent cotton canvas, the natural body comes in contrasting nylon webbing handles in 7 great colors. The bag measures 11.25"W x 14.5"H x 3"D.
Manufacturer Product ID: BAGedge BE010
Step 2:  Create Design
My go-to favorite site is Urban Threads
Their contemporary designs inspire, motivate, and obsess me!  Purchasing their designs is quick and easy (too easy).  My machine only stitches 4" x 4" designs in PES format, so I am limited to the smallest designs.  Cost: $3.00.

This design called Resolutions is perfect for a New Year's bag, reminding me to do the following:

Step 3:  Choose threads.  I line them up in front of the machine so I can see them together, and they are ready to go when I need them.  Designs will Download design into design software. I use Essentials Embrilliance.

This inexpensive (compared to others) software, $139, allows you to use your Mac or Windows PC to merge embroidery designs, resize, colorize, add lettering, group/ungroup, and save in your machine's format.  It took a while to figure out, but was worth the time spent. More on this program in future tutorial.

Step 4:  Save on flash drive and upload to machine and transfer to machine.  BTW, I'm using a Brother Innovis 950 D Embroidery and Sewing Machine (entry level machine). I will upgrade to a machine with larger hoops as soon as possible!  Perhaps another resolution!

Step 5:  Hoop Garment
I use 505 adhesive spray to attach a tear away stabilizer sheet that will also be hooped.

 Hoop stabilizer and fabric as tightly as you can. Tighten with screw on end of the hoop.

Step 6:  Attach hoop to machine. Lock in place.  If you need to change bobbins while embroidering, no problem. You unhoop from machine, but the embroidery unit stays in place so after changing the bobbin, you can easily rehoop the garmet to the unit and you're still in the exact same place!

Step 7:  Choose design.

Ready.  Stitch. Change colors as indicted when machine stops.  Don't walk away from the machine. You need to be watching for a variety of issues.   Tutorial to follow, but stuff happens, and you need to be there to trouble shoot. I've had the needle break, fall out, catch the garmet, thread break and the bobbin jam up.  Sometimes the machine will tell you what to do and sometimes, you have to figure it out on your own.  I've learned a lot.

Cut threads as you sew/embroider because the threads are harder to cut later after they have been stitched over while completing the design.

 Step 8:  Finished stitching!  Unhoop from embroidery unit.

Step 9:  Tear Away Stabalizer (or cut away).

Step 10:  Trim threads from front and back.

Step 11:  Iron. A good steam iron is essential to remove the hoop marks and to give a professional finish to the project.

And that's it.  This project took apx. 1.5 hours to complete.  It follows one of the resolutions, "Be Creative Every Day."

Some of the other bags I made for gifts this year:

I'm posting on Metamorphosis Monday!  Join me and check out all the innovative DIY's!

Happy Monday to all.

~CJ

Montana Prairie Gold

Prairie Gold table, thanks to Montana.

This summer we visited family in the treasure state of Montana, land of big skies, rivers, glacier parks, Rimrocks, rainbows, geysers, hailstorms, prairie lands and wheat fields.  You feel arrested by beauty at every turn, so much so that you have to stop, be still, and breathe it into your soul. And of course, amongst the blazing beauty, I fell in love with dishes aptly named, Prairie Gold, treasure indeed.

We visited cousins on the Hoagland Ranch, still worked by family, cattle ranchers and farmers. Riding on the back of their flatbed pick-up, we toured the wheat fields during harvest, watching our cousins drive the combines harvesting the wheat.  Such beauty in those fields. Hard work, but gloriously beautiful.

Back at the ranch (always wanted to say that), it was love at first sight. There in her china cabinet were the most glorious plates and glasses (why didn't I take a picture?) She told me she found them in the basement, nobody else wanted them, and she loved them.  Her mom said they were given away in detergent boxes, and if you bought a tractor, you got a whole set. I was hooked. When I returned home I found out more about them, as well as purchasing plates and glasses on eBay. Got to love eBay.

There are lots of glasses available, but I'm starting with these petite wine/juice glasses.  Love the wheat stalks on each side.

I didn't know what I wanted for the centerpiece, but something wheaty, earthy, wildflowerishy, so found various dried stalks at Michael's that reminded me of Montana, golds, sage greens, and purples.  The short stemmed glasses called for something low, unobstructed, like the prairie itself (I may be over thinking this...)  Nixed the vase, arranging them along the table in a free flowing manner.

Needs movement, like wind blowing through the golden prairie filds.  Gold mesh ribbon seemed to work...to flow/blow across the table. Candles for golden glow...like the sun going down on the fields, time to dust off the road and go to supper...(definitely over thinking this but this is my thinking.)

Found out that Lifetime China Co. did produce china as promotions for many companies, but I never found an ad for a tractor!  I'm so on it looking. If you have stories or leads, please send to me!

Silverplate, Oneida Community Baronet circa 1923, because of the simple design and detail at the bottom of each piece reminding me of a wheat stalk.

Wrapped the napkins in silver rings then covered with ribbon.

It may be because school starts this week, but I'm so in the mood for Fall, harvest golds, warm colors,  and the season of thanksgiving. We are blessed to live in this country, to feel God's greatness in the mountains, prairies, oceans, rivers, and around our tables.  Blessings and treasures indeed.

Sharing this post with Tabletop Thursday. 

Plates - Lifetime China Co. Prairie Gold, eBay
Chargers - Garage Sale, Malibu, CA
Glasses - Homer Laughlin Prairie Gold wine glasses, eBay
Flatware - Community Silver Plate Baronet, Goodwill ($15)
Napkins - Starched damisk, Estate sale, Woodland Hills, CA (6 for $8)
Napkin rings, Goodwill (8 for $5)
Flowers - dried and artificial stalks from Michael's
Candle holders - Home Goods, last year ($5)
Ribbon - Michael's
Tablecloth - Ventura Flea Market, last Fall ($3)

Daisy Maisy Sister Sue

My sister retired, and moved to La Quinta, California, resolved to start this phase of her life with the freshest of outlooks, including all NEW dishes!  I can't imagine such a thing, so of course I took her 1974 Noritake Daisy china (officially called Donegal),  Can't you picture her digging these groovy dishes with daisies encircling each piece, much as she loved her equally groovy high school boyfriend, and now husband of 36 years.  Our beloved Grannie Annie called my sister, "Daisy Maisy" so when she used daisies in her wedding, and choose this china, it also paid homage to our past.  And what's not to love about another ridiculous set of china? 

So here is my ode to sisterhood, daisies, and "Summer Loving" (effort to include vintage songs....)

The white daisies, gray shadows, and platinum trim encircle each piece, so sweet, so seventies.  Thinking John Denver, "Sunshine on my Shoulder."

Vintage damask napkins, stiffly starched with a butterfly napkin ring, and my wedding Reed & Barton Renaissance silver. Is it "Just My Imagination" or does that butterfly look like it belongs in this garden?  I know, ridiculous, but groovy.

Vintage champagne bucket with daisies, tall white candles for additional height and sparkle. Knowing that I was going to do this table soon, I purchased faux daisies at Jo-Ann's, then added real greenery from the yard.  Daisies are so hard to keep fresh.  Very not cool to have anything fake in the seventies, but as Bob Dylan said, "The Times They Are A-Changin'"

 Love these champagne flutes from Amazon. They look vintage, but they are not.  See link to purchase Crystal Cut Luster, 4 flutes for $25.

 Love that Sue had the vegetable dish, and chop plate.

So, now dear Donegal #2179 "I Gotcha" and we will always be "Evergreen."

I'm joining Susan at her wonderful porch party, Tablescape Thursday.  Join me there!

Leave me a comment, and have a Daisy Mazy sunny week!
~CJ