To repair a hole you’ll need a piece of cute material to make the patch out of, some fusible interfacing, scissors, a pen, a piece of paper, a needle and thread.

Draw your desired patch shape onto your piece of paper. I chose a simple heart but the possibilities are endless – stars, flowers, clouds – use whatever design your little heart desires!

Cut out your paper patch template.

Iron the fusible interfacing to the back of your patch fabric. This will help prevent the patch from fraying.

Use your pen (or some dressmaking chalk) to trace around your paper template, onto the patch fabric. It’s best to do this on the interfacing side so that once the patch has been sewn on, the markings will not be visible.

Cut the patch out. You might also like to pin it to the item you are repairing, to make the patch more secure while you stitch it on.

Sew the patch on! I did this by hand, using backstitch. If the hole you are repairing is quite large, it is best to darn the hole before you sew the patch on. There are lots of simple darning tutorials on Youtube.

Tie the thread off and you’re done!

Wear your pretty patch with pride! Here’s a sweet cardigan I repaired this way:

Thrifty and cute! What could be better than that?

I hope you’ve found this little tutorial helpful. It’s been so much fun sharing it with you!

Katie x

Katie, thanks so much for sharing this super cut DIY! You can find more of Katie’s adventures and creations on the lovely blog she shares with her boy, House of Humble.

Lately, I’ve been consumed by DIY magazines and blogs.. literature that gives tips on baking, at home crafts like crocheting and embroidery, re-purposing vintage clothing and furniture, and especially sewing. So for this Valentine’s Day, I decided to craft a dress for the occasion!

The dress was pretty simple and lovely to make – darts in the back and front of the bodice with a zipper at the back and a short little gathered skirt. I crafted it out of crushed cranberry velvet and used a 1960s drop waist mini dress pattern. I hemmed the skirt, gathered the waistline and attached it to the bottom of the bodice.. I also sewed facings for the neck and arms.

I struggled over which trim to use.. should I pick crocheted lace for the hem, cream trim for the bodice or little floral buds at the neckline for a simpler effect? In the end, I chose to attach ribbon flowers to give it just a touch of girlishness. Once the flowers were attached, I ironed the dress out and it was ready to wear!

Sewing a dress, skirt, or any piece for a holiday makes it a little more personal, so as long as you have the time and patience to craft a Valentine’s Day outfit (or even tweak a vintage garment to make it more your style!), I highly recommend it. I plan on wearing mine out with cream colored tights and lace up oxfords.. my husband Neil and I will be hitting up Margot, our favorite East Nashville restaurant.

Lauren's 2010 and 2011 Valentine's Day dresses

Thanks for reading about my twist on the day, and have a lovely Valentine’s celebration with those you love!

Lauren blogs over at Blooming Leopold and curates a lovely, vintage shop!

I want to make tons of them! Add a few candles and coasters and you’d have a lovely housewarming or hostess gift.

And if you’re looking for something to serve on your pretty new trays, Little Brown Pen’s Coconut Mango Fizz Cocktail looks so delicious! I might need to make some today:

Here’s the recipe:

1 ounce coconut rum
4 ounces mango juice
2 ounces (or as much as you want, really) seltzer

Pour into glasses and enjoy!

You might remember me talking about making curtains a few months ago in this post. I just haven’t found the perfect fabric yet. I keep seeing patterns at  Ikea that I like but I couldn’t really picture most of them on my walls. I think this print and this pattern might be so perfect!

click photo for project directions

I saw this project on Design*Sponge and thought, “that’s it!” So now I think I need to plan a little Ikea trip! I hope some of these projects inspire you! Happy weekend!

via Smitten Kitchen

Adorable felt pillow how-to from Purl Bee

I was so excited when I saw a tutroial from Louche Lab on the Etsy Blog.  She makes the most beautiful ceramics and I just love her shop!

There!  That should chase away some of those raindrops!

Erin and Finnigan

Q. Could you tell us a little about yourself?
A. My name is Erin. I was born & raised in good ol’ Ontari-ari-ari-o & have been spending time in the state of New York with my boy & two kittens. On weekdays I walk a pup named Finnigan & on weekends I sift through old stuff at antique stores & estate sales.

love

Q. How did you become interested in cross stitching?
A. I started cross stitching while I was in school back home. I got interested in old women’s crafts because it was impressive to me how young girls would work so long & hard on intricate samplers. I wanted to be like them, so here I am!

Q. Every item in your shop is so intricate and beautiful! What is your creative process like?
A. Thank you! I take my time flipping through old books about cross stitching & collecting images that I can appropriate & simplify. A lot of my inspiration comes from samplers of the 1800s. I like to keep my colour choices basic & my patterns simple while adding a bit of a clean, modern touch.

a cross stitch crown and cross stitch rose earrings

Q. Your Etsy anniversary is coming up on September 1st. What has your first year on Etsy been like?
A. Eee! Yes! It’s been quite successful! I was very nervous about starting up & didn’t expect to make any sales. I think my Cross Stitch Monogram Badges have been my biggest hit. My boy & I wear our letters on our bags every day! I’ve met so many e-friends with similar interests since I started & I’m super thankful for that. I plan on keeping up with it for years to come!

I love all the unique monograms!

Q. What inspires you most of all?
A. I’m always checking out what other people online are up to. It’s really helped me find myself & my aesthetic. Going to estate sales & antique places also inspires me to keep the old world alive. I love finding ideas from vintage photos of people & their homes as well. Thinking of what people long gone would like, mix that with my personal taste & create.

The Giveaway: Adorable Cross Stitch Earrings

Cross Stitch Heart Earrings

To enter simply visit Erin’s shop and leave a comment here about your favorite Atlantic Tree Fox item.

The giveaway will be open until September 4th. Good luck!

Skinny Jeans by BrooklynTailors

Love!

moi

Watching… Pride and Prejudice (the good one!).

Reading… my newest Nylon and The Girl with No Shadow. 

Listening… to The Faces Down and Vampire Weekend (fab summer album and it certainly feels like summer here). 

Drinking… delicious coffee in the morning and, sometimes, tasty blood-orange Italian soda in the afternoons.

Wanting… a bit of time and energy to finish up projects around the house (we are so close to the end of the renovation stage and the beginning of the decoration phase!), a few more veggie plants for our garden, and time to sew.

Trying… to remember to do my yoga each morning…

I snagged the idea for this update from this post from my new favorite blog.  It is so gorgeous you should really to go visit right now!

Rosette Fascinator - The Swan by Giantdwarf

This lovely photo (and gorgeous fascinator) suit my mood perfectly!  I’m working on the prettiest bridal order, moss green cozies with creme flowers.  Love!  I’m hoping to fit some time in for some sewing (in between all the knitting) this weekend.   Maybe I can snatch a wee bit of time to make this clutch and I’m dreaming of making this dress:

Gray Sky Dress from Burda

What are your weekend hopes and plans?

I think they turned out quite nicely.

We used this recipe and added a good bit of cinnamon and a wee bit of nutmeg.  We also mixed in some milk chocolate and white chocolate morsels and some super cute white snowflake sprinkles.  The little marshmallows are the final touch.

I’m still working away on the painting I have been making for my mom.  Its nearly done

I hope I have time to make a few of these lovely little bedside journals for friends

You can get the tutorial here.

Tomorrow my plan is to the clean the house, pack our clothes, and wash Cors.  Cors is a pleasant car companion, especially if he has been washed recently.

On a literary note, I have been reading Love In the Time of Cholera.  What are you reading?