Inspired at Costco, who knew?

Have you seen the latest issue of Where Women Create?   I picked it up Monday night at Costco of all places (love that it's 30% off the cover price there). I knew I couldn't pass it up when I saw the FABULOUS studio of mixed media artist Gail Rieke.

But it was when I opened the magazine and saw the entire wall that I was truly amazed and inspired.  My first thought, "I want that".   The wall is like a giant mixed media piece of art.
I was so inspired by the photo that I just couldn't stop looking at it, thinking about it, dreaming about it.  How can I do something like that in my house?  Where could I put it?  How many suitcases do I already have?  Can I talk my husband into building it? All valid questions when one is so inspired, right?

If you go to Gail Rieke's website you can click on 'studio' and see the full picture or better yet, buy the magazine so you can see at it, as well as more of the space.

So, I emailed Deb and said, "have I got an idea for Wednesday's blog post...suitcases!" 

After that conversation, Deb went on a hunt to find ideas using suitcases in decor (this is really only half of what she found) to share with you today.  So, now I am sending you over to Deb so she can show you what she found. 

Between Paula and I we have probably close to 45 vintage suitcases, so apparently we like the way they look and all the fun things we can do with them.  They serve double duty not only looking good in our houses but they also are a great place to store all our good junk.  Here are a few ideas we found that we hope will inspire.

Suitcase painted with chalkboard paint-

via A Beach Cottage

appropriate start, right?

Paint the table and suitcase the same color - 

via Songbird

via Indenfor & Udenfor

A table that uses luggage as a pedestal, genius.

Via Syd & Harper

Love this trunk from Restoration Hardware

 also from Restoration Hardware

via Rossana Orlandi

I have always love this idea found in a long ago issue of Country Home magazine.

Stacks, stacks and more stacks....

via Pinterest

via Creamy Life

via Lucyina Moodie

via Prize

via Apartment Therapy

via Anthropologie 

via Apartment Therapy

So do you have suitcases in your decor?  I am sure we are not the only ones!  On Friday we continue our quest for suitcases by showing you how we use them in our own homes in episode  No. 2 of Good Junk. See you then!

label by Chelsea Parsons via Jessica Sprague

Month of Love

In honor of Valentines Day... some favorite items from Etsy, just the right colors for the month of Love.

Enjoy! 

 Love is in the air from mysweetsavannah.

Says it all from AMradio

Strawberry Heart Marshmallows from OhYum

No need for words from Pillowhappy.

Beautiful print from an original drawing...loving the postcard background, from holli

From one of my all time favorite stores swanandshears a lovely set of boxes, labels and fabric bags to wrap the perfect gift.  You can also find them at here.

Get carried away from rococcoCo

Red and White Harlequin Cupcake liners from HeyYoYo

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Lucky day if there ever was one...

Thanks to our friend Tim (he understands our need for good junk) for sending all his followers over to One Lucky Day.  I told Tim we feel like the most poplar girls at the prom!

Congratulations! 

To the winner of a set of the fabulous new Distress Stains.

Now all you have to do is pop back over to Tim's blog for your prize.  Thanks everyone for playing along!

It's your Lucky day...khjune64 

I'm Lovin it! 7 Gypsy's and Tim Holtz, does it get any better, I think not!  February 12, 2011 7:29 AM 

Valentine Gift

I wanted to create a valentine for someone special but I didn’t have much time today so it needed to be something quick and easy...and as always, made from what I already have on hand.  This is where a good stash comes in handy! I think I always say that, don't I?
I chose a 7gypsies Ruban book cover for the base (you only need the front cover).  This one is embossed so it adds a bit of dimension.  I cut the book cover so that it is about 5” wide but you can leave as is, if you like.  I used the Binderie Punch to quickly make two holes at the top of the book cover.  Set aside for now.

At CHA last week, our friend Tim gave Deb and I a set of the new Distress Stains which are fluid, water-based dyes for paper and other porous surfaces, FABULOUS STUFF I might say.  In fact, we love them so much will be using them in at least one of the classes we will be teaching this year.

 

I decided to use Spun Sugar (you might notice the color names match up with Distress Inks), since it's for Valentines Day, to dye some vintage crepe paper.  I cut about 20” of crepe paper and laid it out on a craft mat.  A word of caution here...these WILL stain your fingers so I just made sure not to touch the crepe paper too much when I was working with it.  Pink is an easy color to start with, it’s when you move on to blue and green that your finger tips start changing colors.  Good stuff!

The nylon dabber top has a built-in spring valve. This allows for controlling the release of Distress Stains from the bottle.  By pressing the dabber top down onto surface, the valve opens and fluid releases.  Lift dabber away from surface to stop fluid flow.  It's that easy.  So, since I am working on stretchy surface I kinda 'pounced' my way down the crepe paper.

I moved the bottle down the center of the crepe paper strip so I could leave the edges natural.   The crepe paper will stretch and bubble when it becomes wet from the stain but not to worry, it will all work out in the end.

Dry with a heat gun to save time.  Love this one from Ranger.

This is what it looks like when it's dry

 

Once dry, cut the edges with some kind of decorative scissor.

Now move to the sewing machine to run a basting stitch for gathering.

Gathered crepe paper (can’t tell it ever bubbled up, can you?).  Tie a knot at one end to stop the paper from unraveling.  Set aside for a moment.

Now back to the book cover.  Add a strip of ThermOweb Super Tape across the front.

Add gathered crepe paper starting with the edge you tied the knot.  When you get to the other end, cut 1/4 longer than the cover and tuck end under.

Use an X-Acto knife to cut a notch in the book cover (I cut all the way through).  It does not have to be perfect (mine's not) because it will be covered up in the next step.

I added a rubbing to an optical lens.

Then wedged the rings on the lens into the hole I just cut.  No glue needed!

I just want to say here that I can find more ways to use optical lenses in projects than I ever thought possible.  Now, I just can't get enough of them! 

 I added some grey seam binding (because I can't make something without it) and a brass charm that I found in my junk drawer.  The letter M is from an old 7gypsies rubbing and is the initial of the person I am making this for.

 Add some Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive along the crepe paper for a piece of vintage crocheted lace.

 Now to add some ribbon for hanging...cut about 18" of seam binding.  I used the grey again but you could change it up and use another color.  Thread the ribbon through one hole so that it is even.  Then thread both ribbons through the second hole and tie a knot.  Trim ends.  Easy!

 Almost done...but I think she needs just a little something more.  Maybe a bit of vintage flowers and my "go to"clear stamp, Avignon.  If you don't own this one, you should.   So, one large stamp at the bottom and one small stamp at the top above the optical lens.

Done.
I love it.

I admit took me longer to write this blog post than to make the project!