Sewing: Rickrack Place Mats and Napkins (Tutorial)

It's that time of year: the Spring tease. Real or not, the warmer weather and bright sunlight have me excited about parties! In our family there are usually a bunch of them between Spring and early Fall. In case you are experiencing a similar warm weather excitement, I thought I'd share a tutorial from a party a few years ago (this first appeared on Kirtsy). (You can check out Audrey's Vintage Zoo Birthday Party here.) These rickrack napkins and place mats would be a fun Spring update or a great detail for your first outdoor event.

Rick rack, or “ric rac” if you prefer, is so simple: up-down-up-down-up-down. Yet whatever it adorns is suddenly transformed with vintage pop and lightheartedness. I think it’s the perfect way to add a smile of color to otherwise plain place mats and napkins whether you are going for modern and bold or sweet and old-fashioned. And, not only does the addition of rick rack make a big impact, it makes one without too much effort. What could be better? If you can find a couple hours you can have a whole set of new place mats and napkins just in time for dinner.

I think I have to order some fabric to make some more of these! We need something fun for weeknights.

Click through to see how to do it:

Room Design: Bleached Tablescape for Thanksgiving (Tutorial)

 

Last year I decided on a "bleached" tablescape for Thanksgiving: I gathered fallen branches, pinecones and acorns from my backyard, dusted them with white paint, and arranged them in different glass containers for a monochrome effect.

 

 

I varied the scale by mixing in some similarly whitewashed pumkins and gourds and grounded it all on a crisp white tablecloth. What I love about this look is that everything else pops--the bit of gold on the china, and especially whatever food will be served on those plates.

 

 

I shared the steps for this DIY in a Kirtsy slideshow last year and now I'm bringing the tutorial home. Click to read about bleaching your own tablescape.

 

Sewing: Quick Mitered Table Runner (Tutorial)

Another party, another table runner... At least that seems to be how it goes around here. This striped one is for one more gathering before it's truly Fall. I suppose it's an improvement over sewing a new tablecloth, or placemats and napkins for every party. I have done that certainly, but then I settled on my white pleated tablecloths for everything and add something on top. Usually: a table runner.

They are so easy, so why not? I love that a few yards of fabric and about thirty minutes produces a new look and the perfect way to set the theme for a gathering. I used a chevron table runner for Tess's Chevron Dot party and a green oversized gingham one for Scarlett's Modern Farm birthday, and a red gingham one for Scarlett's Woodland Picnic party, and I'm sure there will be more!

I always make them the same way, single-layered (though it would be nice if they were reversible or lined, but that's more fabric, cutting, etc.) with mitered corners. It's pretty simple sewing, but I thought I'd share a quick tutorial in case you haven't tried it before.

For the tutorial, click to read more.

Sewing: Polka Dot Felt Garland (Tutorial)

While planning the "Oh baby! Oh boy!" baby shower for my sister-in-law I wanted to honor her aesthetic, which is modern, a bit restrained, and yet a little earthy with plenty of organic. So I wanted to lean more towards fibers than papers. I was thinking about making large felt mobiles (similar to these from Martha Stewart) to hang over the tables, which would be fun to do sometime, but I didn't want to suggest I was trying to decorate the nursery!

I'm not sure how I landed on the idea but I decided on a stitched polka dot motif for the invitation, and the swaddling blanket gift, and wanted to pull that through the party decor too. I have made these stitched fabric garlands, perhaps one could call them "buntings" too, in the past for the July holidays (see my star garland here), and there are many great examples online, including this recent one Dana MADE. I decided on felt for this one. So tactile and simple, and so many great colors available these days! I bought some from this Etsy shop and some from Joann.

I've got a little how-to here if you'd like. So simple and so many possibilities: you can hang them vertically from the ceiling, drape them over furniture, use them as table runners. I think they'd be cute arcing over a crib in a nursery too.

Sewing: Calico Napkins and Pom-Pom Napkin Rings (Tutorial)

Though I haven't yet shared all the details of Audrey's birthday party, I am on to Tess's! It's just how it's working out this year. I will catch up on Audrey's (but I've had some file mishaps slowing me down, as in I lost the file...) and then it's going to be party-party-party for the next few months, and that can't be all bad. It's hard to find something more fun than planning and throwing a birthday party!

So here's a little peek at the progress for Tess's first birthday party. I'm using a collection of vintage-looking fabrics for napkins, which I made by cutting 18" squares and sewing with a tight mitered corner hem.  It was so much fun to pick these fabrics, all of which coordinate with the gorgeous Liberty of London "Tana Lawn Nancy Ann" print shown in the first and last photos in this post (such a great story! Audrey received a Papo d'Anjo dress made of this fabric when she was a baby and I just found the same print here to order!). The other fabrics are Michael Miller "Honey Bee Honey Swirl Honey," Feedsack VI "Tulips Blue," and Antique Treasures "Tulips Red."

I decided I wanted pom-pom napkin rings. So youthful, so little girl. So I made some and will share how. Super easy project.

Click to read the quick tutorial. More party things on the way!

Sewing: Rickrack Napkins and Placemats (Tutorial at Kirtsy)

I have been belated in posting about Audrey's birthday party this year. I shared her "Come to the Zoo" birthday invitations, and her Vintage Zoo Dress, but I've been holding back on some of the other details because of some fun things in the works.

Well today I am able to share the Rickrack Napkins and Placemats I made for the party. The tutorial for these is part of a new collection called "10 Simple (and Special) Sunday Afternoon Crafts from 10 of Our Favorite Design Bloggers," curated by BlogStar for Kirtsy (have you seen their fabulous new site?!). I am more than thrilled to be one of their "10 Favorite Design Bloggers." "Really?!!?" Wait until you see the beautiful and simple crafts that are part of this collection. It's amazing what creative minds can do in an afternoon. And such variety!

The collection of ten tutorials is free. Plus, Giggle is sponsoring it with a deal for $10 off your purchase when you sign up for their Giggle Daily Deals exclusive sales (I love flash sale sites, don't you?).

So about the placemats and napkins!

Rick rack, or “ric rac,” if you prefer, is so simple: up-down-up-down-up-down. Yet whatever it adorns is suddenly transformed with a vintage pop and lightheartedness. I think it’s the perfect way to add a smile of color to otherwise plain placemats and napkins whether you are going for modern and bold or sweet and old-fashioned. I was hoping for a little sweet and nostalgic for Audrey's birthday. Just a touch of rose, but not too much because, as I know you've heard before, Audrey is not a pink girl. So I used grey rick rack too--so pretty and modern. These are the same fabrics I used in her dress--love them!

And, not only does the addition of rick rack make a big impact, it makes one without too much effort. What could be better? If you can find a couple hours on a Sunday afternoon you can have a whole set of new placemats and napkins just in time for dinner.

Check out the tutorial collection: "10 Simple (and Special) Sunday Afternoon Crafts from 10 of Our Favorite Design Bloggers," and then stay tuned for more about Audrey's Zoo party.

Craft: Bat Placemats

My mother went all out on holidays. She decorated generously for all of them. She was a more-is-more kind of woman, and I loved her for it! I certainly inherited some of that, but not so much for holidays. My decorating is sparse by comparison, and probably by most standards. Now that we have children (hooray for three!) it's much more fun to make a deal over Halloween. I am not quite to the point of sewing hours on costumes (but admire those who do); maybe that will come. But, it is fun to put out carved pumpkins and a few other things in October. Audrey helped me do it this year.

The tabletop seems like an easy, reasonable, and high-impact way to do up the current season. I have always loved linens, plates, serving pieces, etc.. So for Halloween we have bat placemats! They are eat-and-wipe-it-down vinyl (have to be honest here about all the issues surrounding PVC--these aren't food safe, so don't forget the plate, and some would argue not kid safe either...). My mother made these identical placemats when I was a child, and some for other holidays--you can probably imagine the possibilities. Such a simple and clever way to make mealtime fun.

A few years ago when my siblings and I were going through her holiday things we found the bats and made a template. Now I think we all have bat mats at Halloween. If you would like to make some for your table you can download the free template here: 

Bat Placemat Template_AestheticNest.com_Oct 2010

They aren't bad for playing with either...

Sewing: Modern Farm Tablecloth (and Mitered Band Tutorial)

More Modern Farm party prep... I don't know how I got the idea but I couldn't resist doing a large size of these cute farm silhouettes as appliques on a tablecloth. Animals "grazing" along the sides, and...

 

...tractor, barn and silo on the ends.

I have made tablecloths before, the easy way, by simply hemming the edges, but this time I took white twill fabric (part of the Sew Classics canvas line at Joann) and added a contrast band of green (quilting cotton in "Bamboo" from Joann) with mitered corners. It was such a mind-bender to figure out so I created a tutorial for anyone else interested (crazy enough?) and so that I don't have to figure it out if I ever want to attempt it again. Click on the link below for the details.

I used HeatN'Bond and contrasting stitching to add the appliques to the tablecloth. I think these Modern Farm appliques would be so fun on a sweatshirt, place mat or even tote. The Modern Farm appliques in this large size are available in my Etsy shop here. 

Click below to view the tutorial for adding a mitered contrast band to a tablecloth. The first step for me was putting the baby in the Baby Bjorn (yes, it is possible to sew that way) and getting my toddler to take a nap!

Sewing: Four Last Minute Things for the Fourth of July

 

While I was ahead of the game a bit with the girls' dresses for the Fourth, I didn't manage to finish a few decorating items until last night! Always something! I'll fill the time if I have it I guess. In fact I was going to do a couple other things but ran out of time... But here they are, my Four Last Minute Things for the Fourth of July:

1. Red and White Striped Tablecloth


 
(These red lanterns were purchased at IKEA last year before Christmas and I thought they'd do great double-duty for patriotic and other summer celebrations.  I bought the little red metal pails (for $1 a piece!!) at Target and dropped in some candles.) 
 
2. Star Garland/Runner  

I love hanging (tossing really) this in our apple tree above our back patio but it would look even better over a doorway or serving table.  

 
And I like it running down the center of my striped tablecloth. 
 
3. Star Napkin Holders 

I just tied these around folded napkins, but they'd work well around silverware bundles too. I love how they turned out so I think I'll make a bunch more for next year. I should do it this week so it's not another last minute thing next year!
4. Red, White and Blue Hot Dog Trays

 

Hot dogs are a pretty basic main course for a big celebration, but what's more American? And, it leaves more room for all the yummy side dishes!  I thought it would be fun to dress them up a bit for the event with these red, white and blue hot dog trays made from scrap booking card stock.

 

Don't know why I've been so excited about the Fourth of July this year, but it's been fun! Happy Independence Day!

View the tutorials and access the templates after the jump (by clicking on "Read More" below)...

Craft: "Flirty Fiesta" Flower Bouquets

I can't remember when I last made paper flowers, but I had forgotten how much fun it is! Seriously. I fold, fold, fold, fold, cut, pull apart and the beauty it produces is such a joy. Such simple materials and yet aren't they beautiful? Now I understand the tissue pom-pom craze.

I am making these paper bouquets for my upcoming "Flirty Fiesta" party.  They are the centerpieces for the guest tables, so they'll be sitting on top of the oilcloth tablecloths I just made. I am loving these bright colors. I was contemplating filling the glass vases (which I'm reusing from my wedding!) with some brightly wrapped candy but decided it would be too much. There will be plenty of good color with the tablecloths, bouquets and garden setting--at least I hope!

I was inspired to use napkins for these flowers by a recent "wall flower" tutorial I saw on MADE. I used six cocktail-sized napkins for each flower in a bouquet. Total supply list per flower included 6 napkins, one bamboo skewer, and one twist-tie. After making a flower (full pom-pom, rather than wallflower style) I skewered it and used the twist-tie to secure it to the bamboo.

I used five flowers per arrangement:

• One "full sized" yellow flower with curved petals
• One "full sized" orange flower with pointed petals
• One "cut down" green flower with curved petals (I cut about 3/4" off two sides of the stack of napkins to reduce the diameter before folding)
• One "cut down" turquoise flower with pointed petals
• One "cut down" fuschia flower with pointed petals 

These vases are made for easy arrangements--the holes in the metal top make for good spacing.  I put the two largest flowers in opposite corners and then filled in with the smaller.

Fun! And pretty. I think paper flowers are perfect for the "Flirty Fiesta." And I have to come up with a another use for them, or someone needs to throw a party like this and use them because they are too pretty to throw away.