Southern Lady Freshstyle Summer 2013

I LOVE AN ADVENTURE, and the wonderful world of DIY provides plenty of opportunities for one. I never know what kind of trea sure I may find while digging through salvage yards or perusing flea markets, but certainly, the thrill of the hunt is part of the fun. The discovery typically leads to a different kind of adventure—cleaning, fixing, repurposing, and refinishing, which, in turn, leads to implementing or installing in a design plan. As I consider how many ups and downs we had trying to pull the projects in this issue together, I can’t help but laugh. We loved the end results, but I’m pretty sure not even one thing turned out as originally planned. Life is often like that, isn’t it? As I continue along this journey, I find…

1 Seaside Accessory Turn your beachcombing finds into jewelry to take a bit of your vacation with you when you go back to class or the office. Arrange shells on your work surface in a desired pattern. Use a drill fitted with a 1⁄16-inch bit to make a hole at each attachment point. Paint a pattern on your shells, and join them with jewelry findings and chain. Visit freshstylemag.com for another clever way to decorate a shell pendant. 2 Shell Games Instead of hanging vacation photos on your wall, turn your mementos into artwork. Paint an assortment of shells in cheerful colors. (Our palette was inspired by sunset at the shore.) Use hot glue to attach a small D-ring hanger to the back of each shell. Arrange your shells on the wall, interspersing…

Washi Wow With a blank wall for a canvas and rolls of washi tape for “paint,” your mini Matisse can create masterpieces to her heart’s content. The tape easily peels offso she’s free to indulge every artistic whim. Flower-Go-Round Turn nature-walk findings into permanent art by sandwiching wildflowers between layers of wax paper and pressing in a book for a few days. Cover flowers—front and back—with clear contact paper, and trim into free-form circles. Attach flowers to a ribbon-wrapped embroidery hoop, using fishing twine in various lengths, and then hang from a ceiling hook or curtain rod. Flower Power Who can resist these fluffy, puffy tissue-paper posies—especially when they are so easy to make? Cut 8 (4 x 7-inch) strips of tissue paper (use red, pink, and white for this tie-dye look), and trim the…

Floral Fun Maybe it has a stain, is too short, or doesn’t fit anymore, but you just can’t bear to throw away that skirt stuffed in the back of your closet. Make it useful again by turning it into a chic bib apron. See page 109 for detailed instructions. Handy Towel Keep a towel close for quick cleanup. Sew a button onto the waistband of your apron where you can easily reach it while wearing the apron. Sew a loop of ribbon to the corner of a small towel. Loop the ribbon over the button. Painter’s Pockets You can conveniently keep all your supplies close at hand by creating additional pretty pockets for your apron. Select a few vintage doilies and linens, and arrange them on the apron. Sew three sides of each piece, leaving…

Floral Fun Repurpose vintage tin cans as unique and unexpected containers for seasonal flower arrangements. Simply seal the inside of the can, using a rust-resistant spray paint like Rust-Oleum. For a more modern look, apply spray paint to both the outside and the inside of the tin. Handy Utensils This one’s perfect for neighborhood picnics and outdoor barbecues. Simply place napkin-wrapped flatware upright in a tin can for your guests to grab as they walk through the buffet line. Bathroom Beauty From a lidded tin, make a pretty place to store your toothbrushes. Wearing protective gloves and eyewear, drill holes in the lid, using a ½-inch drill bit. Use a small metal file to smooth down any rough or sharp edges. Lighten Up Give your kitchen some vintage charm with pendant lamps created from old tin food…

Pillow Talk Transform fanciful napkins into artsy accent pillows—no cutting necessary. Single napkins make lovely rectangular pillows, while two napkins stitched together create a bold square cushion. For fun, consider adhering designs or words with iron-on lettering or fusing paper before adding stuffing! Turn to page 113 for an example of this idea, and see page 110 for instructions. On-the-Go Gear Make a jewelry and toiletries organizer that you can roll up and take with you on out of town trips. Use a large napkin, folded in half, as the base of your organizer, and stitch on pockets created from napkins in a coordinating color. A length of cording at the top acts as a tie to secure your wrapped organizer while traveling as well as a hanger when you reach your destination.…