I like to wear earrings and for some reason or another most of my earrings happen to be dangly and heavy. My mom keeps telling me that one day my ear hole will split all the way down the edge. While, that has not happened, I do however have a few earrings that I don’t wear because they are simply too heavy.

I bought once such earring a few years back. It was too heavy to wear for more than a couple hours .. so guess what, it sat in my jewelry collection. And oh do I have a collection… mostly earrings.

One day, as I was either washing the dishes, or cooking, or trying to fall asleep, or even driving {My mind works overtime when I’m doing non-brain intensive jobs} I got this idea that I can fix the earring by removing some of the dangly things. {really descriptive, huh? well why don’t I just show you a picture!}

Now take a closer look. You see those dangly loops. {Yup, what the arrow is pointing too.} I started removing them one by one with a wire cutter. I have one that came with my jewelry making kit but any old wire cutter would do the trick.

I cut and I cut and I cut some more. I cut the same amount on either side of the “bell” to make it even and then try it on every once in awhile. And I cut some more … until I ended up with this! 

Let us take a look at the before and after side by side. Earrings that I can wear for an entire day and not feel the weight! Yaay for happy endings.

So, tell me have you taken something you’ve had for awhile and “fixed it up” so that you can actually use it?

- ASH

Neither my husband nor I are tablecloth people. We like seeing the beautiful wood on our table.

Isn’t it pretty? I like the fact that there is some red in the wood, it goes very well with our cherry cabinets. However, since we are using our table more often now, we are starting to see marks and dents.

Do you see it? Right now it is still like playing where is waldo but we didn’t want it to get worse. So we decided to get it covered. We talked about plexiglas or glass but decided against both of those due to the pain of getting it custom cut, not to mention the price associated with it.

Instead, we drove off to Jo-Ann Fabrics to look for something we’d like. You may ask, why didn’t we buy tablecloths from Target or BB&B. In fact we did look at those stores as well as many others online and didn’t like any of the “tableclothy” looking options available. Besides, sewing a tablecloth wouldn’t be too hard.

The fabric we picked is canvas fabric, used for outdoor furniture. It is 100% cotton which was good, because the vinyl stuff ends up getting nasty and doesn’t feel good. Because it was for outdoor use, it was aterproof, an added bonus. The pattern we picked was a bit of risk we took. Again, we aren’t pattern people and tended to pull to the neutral colors, however after much debate we decided on an almost jungle/tropical pattern.

To sew the edges, I just found the size I wanted it to be and ironed the ends down. I used this tutorial to make mitered corners which was a bit more difficult than I thought. But it just too more pinning down then I was used to.

Isn’t the pattern wild?

Now for the before and after picture.

- ASH

Ever saw something on the internet and said, “Why didn’t I think of that?!” That is what I said when I saw this pouch for your camera lens cap on Pintrest. I got around to make it finally and while I was at it, made a camera strap cover as well.

Side note, do you reconize that fabric? Yup it is the same one I used in the wristlet and bookmare found here and here. I love the pattern and the right shade of yellow. I’m also in to grey/yellow combinations so that may have something to do with it. I should go get some more, since I used the last bit up in this project.

The tutorial for the lens cap pouch was really easy to follow. It even has a downloadable pattern. I did make a modification, though. {I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t modify instructions/recipes that I read. }

I added a pocket to the inside to hold an extra SD card as well. I think it will come in handy.  

The pouch slides right on to the strap. I was a bit afraid that it wouldn’t work with the strap cover I made but it glides right over it. For the strap cover I just measured out the width of my strap and doubled it to get the base fabric down. I added the yellow fabric, ruffled, to give a bit of texture. It ties well with the pouch too. The pouch sits pretty nicely when the camera is on my neck. If it bothers me I can just slide it down a bit. {Do you like my nice long nails in the picture below? It was perfect, and then I had to go and rip one half way off the nail. Ouch! *sigh* Such is life.}

Since I was using my new sewing machine {more on that later} I was able to add a bit of personalization to the strap cover.

Have you said, “Why didn’t I think of that?” lately while perusing the interwebs? If so, what did you find?

- ASH

I have a tutorial for you today, to make a laptop sleeve. The sleeve can be customized to your liking by giving it handles or buttons or zippers. However, I went with a handless sleeve and used Velcro for the closure.

Download PDF file.
Download Flap Pattern.

1. Measure your laptop. Make sure to measure all around from point a to b, see diagram.

a. Divide both height and width in half to get measurement for your fabric pieces.
b. Add 1" to both measurements for seam allowance.

2. Materials you will need:

• 2 pieces of inner fabric (size: measurements form step 1a.)
• 2 pieces of outer fabric (same size as inner fabric)
• 2pieces of batting (same size as inner fabric)
• Velcro–4.5" long
• coordinating thread
• 1 piece of inner fabric for the flap (size: your laptop width x 5")
• 1 piece of outer fabric for the flap (size: your laptop width x 5")

3. Place the right sides together of the outer fabric and sew along three sides.

4. Place the right sides together of the inner fabric and sew along three sides, leaving a 4" opening on the side that will be the bottom. (Don’t forget to leave the opening otherwise you won’t be able to flip the bag inside back in.)

5. Place the right sides together of the batting fabric and sew along three sides.

6. To add width to the inside, sew the corners of each piece layer of the sleeve.

a. To determine the amount to sew, you will need the height of the laptop from top to bottom.

Let’s say the height is ‘h’ and this is one of the three pieces of fabric.

For example: if my laptop is 1" high then my sides will be 0.7"

b. Sew the corners where you determined from (a)
c. Cut off extra fabric, see picture below.

d. Repeat for outer and batting fabrics.

7. Sew the flap.
a. Using the pattern found at the end of this tutorial cut out your fabric. You may need to elongate the pattern to fit the width of your laptop.
b. Place right sides together and sew the curve, leaving the long straight end unstitched.
c. Cut slits along the curve, making sure to not cut the stitching. This will help to get a clean curve.
d. Turn right side out and press.

8. Sandwich all the pieces according to the below diagram.

Note: This is a sliced open view to illustrate directions.

a. Line up top edges of each layer and pin all the way around
b. Sew along the top opening.
c. Cut the excess fabric off with pinking shears, and pull the bag through the opening in the inner lining. Be patient with this step if you used harder fabric like vinyl.

9. Sew the lining closed and top stitch around the top to create a flat and finished edge.

10. Iron on the Velcro to the flap and front of the sleeve, and you are done!

Download PDF file.
Download Flap Pattern.

** This tutorial is copyright of ASH Designs, by Anjori Halder, August 2011

- ASH

Drilling through anything {especially drywall} creates a mess all over. Here is a trick that can save you clean up time. Take two strips of painters tape and create a shelf like surface and put it under the space you are drilling. The “shelf” will collect the dust and it will stick because .. well it is tape.

- ASH

My absolutely, wonderful, and creative friend, Jenn Walters, and I get together for crafts night once in awhile. The last time we hung out we decided to try out something new .. glass etching.

I had bottles leftover from sparkling cider that I wanted to convert in to oil bottles for my kitchen counter tops. I wanted two: one for olive oil and one for canola. {I use olive oil for everything except for deep frying.} Since the bottles were green I needed a way to tell them apart. That is where the etching came in.

I had some stencils {I got it from Michaels’} that I wanted to use on the bottles. But I wanted to make sure the etching cream didn’t go out of the stencils and not create a crisp line. To fix that, I used painters tape.

First I taped painters tape to the bottle. Then taped the stencils on top of the tape. I used an exacto knife to cut out the shapes on the painters tape. {I didn’t care that if the glass got scratched because..well they were going to be etched away.} Then applied Armour Etch Etching cream and left it on for about 10 minutes. The directions said wait 3-5 minutes but I just wanted to be sure. Finally I washed off the cream to reveal a pretty stencil. 

I thought it was too simple with “oil” and “olive” on one side of the bottle so I repeated the steps on the other side of the bottle too.

Pretty and sophisticated, right?

- ASH

I can’t believe I forgot to share this with you all! I was so proud of the final product and it has been hidden away?!

I took a jewelry box and painted it to give it a new look.

Sanding of course is the worst part of any wood working job.

I got the paint in the oops section of Home Depot.
50 cents for for a paint sample that no one wanted.. score!

I painted the flower and swirls using craft paint. I didn’t really have a plan, I kind of just went along with how it looked and what it needed more of. I think it turned out nice.

I also mod-podged some scrapbook paper to the insides, but I forgot to take a picture of that… of course! I also painted the handles white (another oops paint score for 50 cents).

- ASH

I bought a wood burner. And I used it to make a clock.

I first tried out the burning procedures on something small and easy. The back of the clock has a small merry Christmas note for my niece.

Then the hard task of transferring my design began. I realized I could burn through the paper with the design right to the wood. It wasn’t dark enough at that point but it would be easier to go over the design once the outline was made.

Once the design was done, I drilled a hole in the middle to add the clock piece. Only to realize that the clock piece was not meant for such thick wood. Looking back at the clock packaging, it said, for 1/4 inch thickness. Great, mine was 1/2 an inch too thick!!!

I tried drilling holes to no avail and ended up having to chisel a 2×2 inch wide and 1/2 inch deep hole in the back of the clock. Yea.. the back doesn’t look so pretty anymore.

Once all chiseled and done, I gave it a good stain and then sealed it which makes it look shiny. I’m not sure I like it that shiny but everything seems to stay in place {like that piece of wood that looks to be chipping off}.

In the end, I was very happy with my endeavors of wood burning and will be doing more of it!

- ASH

I bought a metallic light blue sunglass case a while back. I’m sure it was pretty for someone, but not my taste. It was however, my price. But with the help of a little Mod-Podge, it is something I can carry around all the time.

The fabric was something I had around the house. I love the colors. Just the right touch of pink to make it girly.

You can see it is not exactly perfect. I tried to cut open the hinge area and cut a bit too deep. I’m not too worried, but if I get anal in the future I’m sure a bit of brown paint will do the trick.

I left the insides as it was so you can see the color of the case before.

- ASH

Here’s a sneak peek of what my sofa is going to look like. Yes, It is almost done! And you all (especially my dear, dear husband) are probably like FINALLY!!!!!

Isn’t it pretty? I just love the feeling, so soft and velvety!

- ASH

That’s how old I am today! Happy Birthday to me!!

In other news.. I made a necklace. I had made the purple fabric flower for a while, but never got around to making the necklace. I had a crafts night recently with my friend and so I finally put it all together. Isn’t it pretty? I love wearing it!

- ASH

Today is all about springs. There are two types of springs:

Coil seat springs

Serpentine/sinuous/zig zag springs.

It is best that you replace the springs with the same kind the furniture being upholstered originally came with. Mine sofa came with the serpentine springs. And I was actually relieved to find that out because the coil seat springs are much more complicated to install.

To install the serpentine springs, you remove the old and nail in the new. It is really that simple. It just takes a lot more man power than I could handle.. so I didn’t do this part alone.

Before getting started in replacing, you’ll need to buy new springs, spring clips, and twine. The spring clips are what holds the springs to the wood. The twine goes across the multiple springs to balance the weight out on to more than a few springs. If these are broken, it can cause your springs to deform.

Okay, so first was to remove the springs. That was easy enough. The spring clips were metal pieces pierced in to the wood frame. It’s a bit hard to see in the picture but it is the thing pointing at you.

Next was to add the new clips. The Hubster nailed these in, I apparently lack in the muscels needed hold down a spring and hammer in a nail. We learned the easies way to do this was to go from the bottom (near the seat) to the top of the sofa. Here is a picture of a clip without the spring.

The bottom spring was attached so that part of it was pushing back on the wood frame. We replicated the original way the springs were attached. Here’s the bottom spring.

And then the spring at the top is attached on the first zig zag, like so.

We got two of them installed and took a break! It is hard work!!  

The next part is adding the metal twine to the springs to make sure the weight on the spring is balanced among the springs. They have special tools to clip the clips to the twine and spring in one step, however they cost about $45! My cheap self just used regular pliers to push together the clips. {blisters were included in the not so expensive option} 

Before adding the clip to the spring and twine, gently squeeze the clip a little to prevent it from falling.

Bend the three sides in to each other to form a tube clip and continue down the row. I added 4 rows of twine each to the seat and back springs to give it more support. {previously, it had only 3 each}

The springs part of the process had frightened me because I was worried that the springs wouldn’t get installed the right way or they would just pop right off. .. Luckily none of that has happened. Thanks of course to the Hubster for his muscles.

Things still left to do:

• Finish removing the fabric/padding.
• Inspect the springs and check if they need replacing  (The seating springs need to be replaced.)
• Decide if webbing is needed to hold shape between the spaces in the frame. (The original piece used cardboard..) (Webbing will go over the armrests and some on the back.)
• Pick fabric and order
• Get foam for backing and seating; batting and foam for springs and sides
• Start fixing the frame
• Apply webbing
• Replace springs
• Attach all padding on to the sofa
• Attach the fabric

Check out the journey up until here:
Part 1 – Starting the upholstery process
Part 2 – Ripping the sofa to the bare bones
Part 3 – Shopping for supplies

Sorry for the lack up posts in the past couple of weeks. Life happens sometimes and you have to just deal with it.

- ASH

[Photos from here and here]

This post is all about spending the money. If you missed my previous posts about removing the junk from a sofa then check them out: Part 1 and Part 2.

I found this neat website DIYUpholsterySupply.com. I was able to buy some serpentine springs that I needed to replace. As I mentioned in Part 2, the backing springs were crooked and out of shape. Also the spring wires are all broken so I invested in some of those as well. And I needed clips to hold the springs and the spring wires down so I bought some of those. But the biggest thing I bought were the foam cushions. I am getting the seating cushion custom cut to 6x24x48 (Thickness X Width X Length). And I bought two precut foams for the backing cushions, 4x24x28.

Memorial day weekend came and went. It was not too good for me as I was planning on working on my sofa for three days. Instead, I spent most of it on a bed being sick. However, I wouldn’t say it was bad for me either.

Friday of the weekend, I headed to JoAnn Fabrics for the webbing I needed to fix the armrests on the sofa. I took a quick detour around the store {always a bad idea when you have nothing in particular you’re looking for}. I noticed signs everywhere saying “Memorial Day Sale 50% off”!! When I went to the cutting area to get my webbing cut, I asked if the special order upholstery fabric was also included in the 50% off Memorial Day Sale. To my delight, they said YES! It was like finding a four leaf clover or winning the lottery. {Okay, I’m being a bit dramatic; but still can you believe it!}

The weekend before, the Hubster and I had gone to a JoAnn store near our house to get webbing. It wasn’t there, but I took the opportunity to ask his opinion on the fabrics to reupholster with. To my surprise he looked around and found some he liked. When I went to see the price on these fabrics I was slapped on the face. It read $59.99. {I’m serious, I never expected the fabric to cost more than $20/yard} So finding these same fabrics on 50% off was a goldmine.

I told the Hubster about it and he was excited to {just not AS excited as me}. We went to the store the next day and found fabric we liked. In the process of looking for the perfect one, you get overwhelmed by the amount of options to choose from. Some were pretty but not practical. We reminded ourselves that the sofa was going to be used daily so the nice, pretty, shiny fabrics were out of question. They are usually for sofas or chairs that are hardly used.

And we also had to keep each other away from the silly ones we found. Like this one with puppies all over it. {The image is linked to the fabric page, just in case you find it cute and attractive. I’m not judging. }

It came down to two fabrics that we liked. One that was deep brown with textured florals on it and another that had somewhat of a burlap base with black fuzzy paisleys. The black/burlap one seemed a bit too much and we both agreed that we’d need a contrasting color to go around the back and side of the sofa. Also the paisleys seemed to be stuck on to the burlap fabric. I was a bit skeptical that it would stay in the same condition over the years of wear and tear. The brown fabric had a nice thickness and it was soft to touch. So in the end the brown won. I needed 10 yards of it, that’s being on the safe side. Of course, when we got to the cutting counter, there was only 8.3 yards on the bolt. *sigh* We had to special order it, which meant paying $11 in shipping {which we both thought was a rip off because it is being shipped to the store}. However, we saved a ton because the fabric was *drum roll, please* $13.99/yard! Oh and to top it off this store had just opened and I had a coupon for 20% off an entire purchase, including items on sale! {I was jumping all the way to the car!} Hmm, in my excitement I forgot to mention, I also got foam for the armrests and front facing wood and decking fabric to put where the cushions go. The decking fabric is used so you don’t spend more money on the upholstery fabric for a place of the sofa no one will see but you.

Things still left to do:

• Finish removing the fabric/padding.
• Inspect the springs and check if they need replacing  (The seating springs need to be replaced.)
• Decide if webbing is needed to hold shape between the spaces in the frame. (The original piece used cardboard..) (Webbing will go over the armrests and some on the back.)
• Pick fabric and order
• Get foam for backing and seating; batting and foam for springs and sides
• Start fixing the frame
• Apply webbing
• Replace springs
• Attach all padding on to the sofa
• Attach the fabric

Have you happened upon a great deal like we did? What are some of your guidelines of keeping on task when shopping for something particular? Stay tuned to see how it all comes together.

- ASH

It is the end of day 4. I have been delayed a bit with other things so even though it is day 4 I’ve only spent a few hours each day working on the sofa.

I’ve confirmed that I still have dust allergies. I’ve sneezed up a storm with all the dust. I finally gave in on the third day and went out and bought some Claritin. Boy was that a relief!

Day 2 I started removing the back fabric and the sides. It was an interesting and sometimes dangerous task; lots of staples and weird surprise.

Yeah, those spikes were used to keep the back fabric in along with the screw.

I also in the process discovered why the armrests were so uncomfortable. They were supported by CARDBOARD!!! And the cardboard broke over the years to make a very uncomfortable sofa. You couldn’t lie down or lean against the armrests for long periods of time. Don’t believe me .. see for yourself! Oh and over the cardboard was cotton stuffing .. not very supportive when going down a hole.

Wanna see the final nekid sofa? It looks so sad and cold. I put the cushions there to test out how I wanted the new cushions to be placed. I am getting one large cushion for the seating and two for the backing. They will be placed just like this.

I have some touch ups to do before going forth and putting everything back together. Notice the springs on the backing in the picture above. Yeah they are out of shape. Luckily the seating springs are in great shape so I won’t be replacing those. However, I will have to replace the twine that holds them all in place. I’ll also be filling in some holes with wood glue.

Things still left to do:

• Finish removing the fabric/padding.
• Inspect the springs and check if they need replacing  (The seating springs need to be replaced.)
• Decide if webbing is needed to hold shape between the spaces in the frame. (The original piece used cardboard..) (Webbing will go over the armrests and some on the back.)
• Pick fabric and order
• Get foam for backing and seating; batting and foam for springs and sides
• Start fixing the frame
• Apply webbing
• Replace springs
• Attach all padding on to the sofa
• Attach the fabric

I’m getting closer. Next step, shopping! Do you think you’d do a project like this? Stay tuned to see how it all comes together.

- ASH

I am working on an upholstery project. My first one!! I’ve gone to the library to get text on how to work this project. I’ve never done something like this and am oddly confident that I’ll be okay through it.

The sofa .. my parents gave it to me. Its about 20 years old and in need of some new padding. It also needs some new fabric coverings, as the ones on it is understandably old. Of course, slip covers sold look really pathetic and they bunch up and are just plain bleh.

  Sofa with slip cover on.

My mom a few years back had actually tried doing a reupholster too. I’m sure there was a good reason, but it never got quite done.

Sofa with half of a reupholster job.

The fabric she was using is beautiful and I’ll be able to use it for other things, but it’s just not something I want on a sofa. I like dark basic colors like brown. I haven’t picked out the fabric just yet. It is advised that you take apart the sofa or any other furniture that you would reupholster prior to buying the materials for it.

So as I went along plucking off staples, I came across dust. Lots of it. The sofa is 20 some years old so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Just that I am allergic to dust so the whole rest of the night, I sniffled and sneezed my way through the work.

Lets talk springs. Usually you see coil springs in sofas. When I looked (I’m sure I’ve seen them before but never really understood that there are different types of springs) I found tension springs instead. The books I have say that tensions springs are used in “modern” furniture. I guess my sofa is “modern”! So because I was all ready for the coil spring installs, there is a slight set back as I have to go through my books again and learn about the tension springs before I start taking them off to replace, if they need replacing.

At the end of the night, roughly 4.5 hours later my sofa has made some progress; and I’m happy about it!

Things still left to do:

• Finish removing the fabric/padding.
• Inspect the springs and check if they need replacing
• Decide if webbing is needed to hold shape between the spaces in the frame. (The original piece used cardboard..)
• Pick fabric and order
• Get foam for backing and seating; batting and foam for springs and sides
• Start fixing the frame
• Apply webbing
• Replace springs
• Attach all padding on to the sofa
• Attach the fabric

What kind of projects have you undertaken that are big risks? Have you done an upholstery project? What issues did you run in to if any? Share in the comments with links to pictures of your projects.

- ASH

Happy tax day! I hope you all got everything in on time. We did well this year, the Hubster and I finished up ten days before! Last year I was in the long line at the post office getting the 4/15 date stamp on my envelopes.

Umm .. I digressed early this time. Back to my chalkboard.

I had this black, framed, plastic thingy that my sister and I had since our college days. It was used as a white board, except you had to have it over something light to see the writing. It was cool, but after the years, the markers don’t erase as well as they used to. It had been hanging around on the kitchen floor. Yea, I know what you are thinking. I have no explanation for it. I promise, my house is not as messy as it sounds .. okay just a little messy. Hehe

Annywhoo.. a few weeks ago, I was cleaning up and I finally got fed up with it hanging around the kitchen floor and I came up with an idea of changing it up to a chalkboard. I already had the paint from one of my incomplete/failed DIY wedding projects last year. So that’s what I did!

The front and back of the chalkboard.

Of course, my impatience got the worst of me as I didn’t bother to spray primer on before hand. But I jorified (jorified: my word for when I come up with a weird way of fixing something ) the process. I painted one thin coat and used a blow dryer to dry it as a base coat. Then with each coat I kept using the blow dryer to dry it until I got a nice smooth surface. It worked out well; except I didn’t get in the cracks so I have to go back.

See that slit of white/cream color, that’s the crack that I missed. 

It looked nice but it needed something more, like designs around the frame. I got this nice template of floral border designs, sorry I don’t have the link for it but you can google “floral border designs”. I couldn’t figure out a way to trace on to the frame so I free handed, while looking at it.

Isn’t the design pretty? I free handed with a pencil first.

Then painted using the paint you get at the craft store.

 Here it is half way done, with just the vines painted in.

I just used what I had on hand. I think it turned out pretty nice. I still need to gloss the frame so that it looks a bit different than the middle chalkboard.

I think it turned out quite nice!! Do you like it? I was thinking of selling it, anyone interested?

- ASH

My mom was going to India and she needed a watch to make sure she took her medicine on time (by EST time). She has never owned a watch before. So the night before, I took a look at my old watches and found this one. It had one of those spring bracelets. But the spring was broken on one end. So i decided to take the watch and add new straps to it. Here’s the watch head.

 Isn’t it pretty!?

And here’s what I did to it. I added straps made from black ribbon that I was using for my slip and attached the hooky thing to it.

Then I sewed the other side slim enough to make it through the hooky thing. I then burned holes into the ribbon by heating up a broken sewing machine needle (there’s a purpose for everything)!

I attached both to the watch head using fishing wire.

I need to find more secure measures of attaching the straps though. Because the “hole” side of the strap ripped off somehow during the trip.

What do you think of it?

-ASH