Indigo Shibori Super Tote

I have really been enjoying taking a bunch of fabric dyeing classes this year. Recently I dyed a linen table runner with (pre-reduced) indigo using shibori. It became the main fabric used in my new Super Tote by Anna Graham (whom I met at Quilt Market in Minneapolis in May!). Until now I had only made her Open Wide Zippered Pouch (see here and here), but I always wanted to use more of her patterns... have you seen her new book yet?

I love how my Super Tote turned out!

The straps are chambray otherwise all of the fabrics I dyed in classes that I took this year.

The linen table runner was approximately 17 inches by 63 inches and it was just enough for the main pieces of the tote. Only a couple of narrow strips of fabric remain from it. At the class I also dyed a couple of skirts, here you can see the result of a white Oliver + S Lazy Days Skirt that I wrapped with six rubber bands.

This light blue chambray skirt is an Oliver + S Lazy Days Skirt with hem tucks that I sewed over the summer. I think it was only the second time my daughter was wearing it that she got red popsicle stains on it.

So I threw the skirt into the indigo vat and this is how it turned out!

I loved how the skirts came out, so much so that I decided to take them apart and use the fabrics for my tote. I can always sew more skirts for my girl. I love the effect of the hem tucks and decided they would make great visual interest for the sides of the tote.

Here is the before of the white Lazy Days Skirt. I made it over a year ago, one of those last minute projects. It was for an angel costume and got worn a few times, but it served it's purpose and I found it to be quite boring. So into the indigo vat it went to add some pizzazz.

Once the white skirt was wrapped with six rubber bands and dyed, this is how it looked after I disassembled it. Most of the lining of my tote came from this fabric.

So there you have it! A tote full of memories of my sewing and fabric dyeing adventures.

Project details
Pattern: Super Tote
Fabrics: A bunch of fabrics (linen, cotton, chambray) I had fun dyeing in classes I took this year, the straps are chambray

I also recently made the Liesl + Co. Woodland Stroll Cape that I'm wearing, you can read more about it on the Oliver + S blog.

Holiday 15 Ideas House

{This is not my house}

Well, the holiday season is already upon us. A couple of weeks ago I went to visit Bachman’s Holiday Ideas House. Welcome to a little photo tour of it! A warning in advance that this is a very photo heavy post.

If you are interested in 'visiting' some of the previous Ideas Houses, they are just a click away: Spring 15, Holiday 14, Fall 14, Spring 14, Holiday 13, Fall 13, Spring 13, Holiday 12, Fall 12, Spring 12, Holiday 11, Summer 11, Spring 11 (the most popular one), Holiday 10 (the second most popular one), Summer 10, and Spring 10. 

 

In the dining room, a toboggan on the buffet table.

 Wall decor with bed spring, birch branches, and ornaments.

 In the living room, vintage drawer unit repurposed as sofa table.

 Here is the Christmas tree in the living room.

 Vintage wood rolling rack repurposed for wall shelving unit.

 Red decorative boxes and ornaments create Christmas tree above mantel.

 In the kitchen, wall stencil, ornaments, and wall mount houses create decorative wall storage. Antique drawer repurposed for kitchen storage.

 Vintage metal rolling unit serves as kitchen island.

 In the lower bathroom, decorative sled repurposed as toilet paper holder.

 Here is the Christmas tree in the guest bedroom.

 I loved all of the use of birch trees used throughout the house, here in the upper bathroom in the window "faith, hope, love."

 Here is the Christmas tree in the office.

 Here is the Christmas tree in the den.

 And here is the 'Christmas tree' in the master bedroom.

 In the master bedroom, antique ballroom mirror to create headboard.

 Outside decorations.

What was your favorite part?

PS I hope you get a chance to visit this Holiday 2015 Ideas House (there are so many more ideas to see than are in these photos) it is open November 5 - December 13, 2015.

Spring 15 Ideas House

{This is not my house}  

Ah, spring is here, my favorite season and that means a trip to the Spring 15 Ideas House. Welcome to a little photo tour of it!

If you are interested in 'visiting' some of the previous Ideas Houses, they are just a click away: Holiday 14, Fall 14, Spring 14, Holiday 13, Fall 13, Spring 13, Holiday 12, Fall 12, Spring 12, Holiday 11, Summer 11, Spring 11, Holiday 10, Summer 10, and Spring 10.

 

In the dining room... a watercolor wonderland with this raspberry and green... layered art over decorative wall panel, moss balls set on top of candleholder.

 

 Pink and green napkins turned into a flower with twine wrap. I love the bird and nest salt and pepper shakers!

 In the living room... salvaged door as wall art.

 Fountain and lanterns in fireplace.

 Mantel wrapped in sheet moss.

 Terrarium stand turned into a bar.

 In the sun room...

 Salvaged watering bowl for pigs turned into a side table and filled with a decorative miniature garden.

 In the kitchen... decorative birdhouse table as kitchen island, living wall planter trays used for fresh herbs, salvaged wood and metal tacks as wall clock.

 Salvaged picket fence and metal buckets as decorative wall art and kitchen utensil storage.

 In the entry... hanging bar shelf turned into a mail organizer.

 In the lounge room... maps as wallpaper.

 In the yoga room... self-watering Living Wall as inspiration wall art.

 In the guest bedroom... decorative bicycle planter as wall art.

 Salvaged bike wheel turned message board with decorative clothespins garland and lace.

 Outdoors... rain boots spray painted and turned into vases.

What was your favorite part?

PS I hope you get a chance to visit this Spring 2015 Ideas House (there are so many more ideas to see than are in these photos) it is open for March 19 - April 19, 2015. And the Fall dates are September 10 - October 4 and Holiday dates are November 5 - December 13, 2015.