Vintage Interior Design –The Perfect Nostalgic Look for the Modern World

Article by Charlotte Sneddon

Vintage interior design is a really popular look – and rightly so – it is a really relaxed, traditional style – warm and comfortable in feel, and very easy to achieve – and to live with!

In the loosest sense, a vintage interior design scheme is just a look that is old – traditional, classic styling.

In a stricter sense, ‘vintage’ refers to the 1940′s and 1950′s – an era of hope and new beginnings!

In many ways, the 1940′s and 1950′s were a safer, simpler time – a slower, more relaxed pace of life … you could leave your back door unlocked, while you popped down to the shops! Family and the home were a very important focus to life – and this led to a very comforting and welcoming feel to vintage home decor and interior design.

The vintage era is a period that most people can actually remember – either from their own childhood (or even adult life) or at least from the home of their grandparents. This is a very nostalgic look and feel. It will recreate comforting memories and emotions from childhood – feelings of comfort and safety.

This is an easy, relaxed feel – there are no strict rules to getting your vintage interior design look – only a few simple guidelines to follow:

After the War, people did have to ‘make-do and mend’. They used old furniture, from all different eras – fine antiques and family heirlooms, handed down through the generations, and simpler pieces, that were made over and repaired. So, feel free to mix and match all kinds of traditional furniture pieces in your vintage decorating scheme.

Look out for loads of hand-made goodies too – such as patchwork quilts, made from pretty scraps and fabric remnants.

A vintage interior design style is definitely not an expensive look to try in your home. Scour antique stalls and flea markets for solid, quality items – the slightly worn look will enhance the ‘pre-loved’ charm of the unique pieces.

If you find furniture in different styles and different types of wood, why not try painting all your furniture pieces in white, or a colored paint. Try going for a deliberately distressed look, by applying wax to edges and corners that would wear naturally. Paint over the top, then rub down these areas, and create your own ‘genuine,’ distressed and worn look.

Choose muted and pastel tones for walls and fabric – any color will go, so long as you don’t choose something that is too fresh, modern and bright. Add a little interest with accents of patterned wallpaper, and pretty fabrics for upholstery, slip-covers, throws, cushions and curtains. Look out for pretty, floral designs – particularly those typical 1940′s and 1950′s attractive rose patterns.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match patterns and fabrics – and pile on all the pretty layers – slip-covers, throws, patchwork quilts, crochets and lace will all give you that really warm and comforting, nostalgic feel.

Display period accessories and collections on open shelves, or in glass-fronted display cabinets – look out for pretty ornaments, porcelain figurines, and all types of pretty ceramics and pottery.

This is a really good style for anyone who loves knick-knacks and collections – indulge and display your hobby collection – or start one right now…!

I am sure that you will find vintage interior design really comforting and comfortable look – as well as really easy to live with, and really easy to achieve. Don’t worry about any rules, and just include all your favourite bits and pieces and styles – regardless of era…

Create a home and style that is uniquely yours – stamp your personality on your space, and relax into a comforting, safe space – that makes you feel really good!

More information, and pictures to inspire your vintage interior design scheme.

Check out my website http://www.interior-design-it-yourself.com, designed to show you how you can use professional interior design tricks and techniques, to bring that wow factor into your home.










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Handmade Quilts Design and its Variation

Article by Merlina Naldo

Merlina’s Arts is a name that is uttered simultaneously with handmade quilts. Merlina introduces art skills and expertise exclusively in her quilts and shows the artistic excellence to modern quilts with latest motifs to allure your eyes.










Handmade Quilts – the Joy and Purpose of

Article by Faye Smallwood

The word quilt comes from the Latin word (culcita), which meansa tied and padded mattress that’s similar to a Japanese futon. Quilting is a needlework technique that uses two or more layers of fabric. A middle layer is usually used for padding and warmth. The middle layer is usually a batting made from either cotton or polyester. In the earlier days some household budgets were very limited and worn out blankets were sometimes used, in handmade quilts, for the middle layer.

Up until modern times the handmade quilt was a very necessary household item. Its’ main purpose was to provide warmth. As homes and the way they are heated became more modern, quilting became more of a decorative art form.

Quilting appears to have originated in Asia sometime before the first century C.E. A quilted linen carpet dating from that time was found in a Siberian cave tomb and is believed to be the first ever known quilted object.

When we think of handmade quilts a lot of different images may come to mind. We may imagine the patchwork quilts the pioneer housewives would quilt for their families, the scrap handmade quilts made by the loving housewives during the great Depression era, the quilting bees of the early nineteen hundreds, and the more modern and beautiful pieces of art quilted by some of the best Artisans of our time.

Most of us have a passion for handmade quilts. From the simple to the most elaborate, from the patchwork quilt to the applique, from the old handmade quilts to the new handmade quilts. The art of quilting will never cease.

Written by Faye Smallwood: I hope you have enjoyed this article. If you would like to know more about handmade quilts please visit us at: http://www.quiltfaze.com.

My name is Faye Smallwood. I was born the seventh of eight children to a Baptist Preacher. My Mother was a very loving Christian Lady. My Husband is a poultry farmer. We have two children and three grandchildren. I have an online shop, http://www.quiltfaze.com, where I sell quilts and bedding products.










Theme from ‘How to Make an American Quilt’

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Make Handmade Pillows for Kids

Want to make a kid’s pillow to dazzle up their room? What about kid’s games with small pillows, like a bean bag toss? This article will teach to make pillows for kids. This a great project for beginners!

Things you’ll need

Sewing machine

Fabric

Complimentary thread

Step 1

This pattern will allow you to make any size square pillow for kids, as you will need two squares of fabric the size you want, plus 1/2 inch seam allowance on all sides. Next, gather your fabric and any embellishments you may want to use, like lace and rickrack for girls. These pillows are a wonderful way to add a splash of color, without spending allot of money. In addition, this is a perfect place to use your favorite leftover quilt blocks and adjust borders to fit the pillow size you desire. Remember, the embellishments must be age appropriate. For example, I would not use buttons for a small child’s pillow because of a choking hazard.

Step 2

Next you will decide if you want to select your pillow’s filling. And decide whether you will be making a removable cover for easy washing or the ease of changing out pillow colors. If so, purchase a pillow form in the size you desire. However, most decorative pillows are stuffed with polyester fiber filling or chopped foam. For my personal use, I make my own pillow forms, stuff them, and then sew my outside covers. My boys are a little rough and I need double layers so the pillow stuffing doesn’t go everywhere should the pillow fights get out of control!

Step 3

Next, cut your fabrics. Pin along the sides with right sides together. Sew your pillow on three sides (just the two sides if you folded your fabric and your bottom is already finished). I use a 1/2 inch seam allowance. On the fourth side, do not sew all the way closed. Leave enough room to turn your pillow form inside out. Backstitch over the end of your seam so it won’t ravel while you are stuffing.

Turn the liner inside out. Fill with fiberfill and pin the opening closed. Stitch closed, either by hand, or with a sewing machine. Your pillow form is done

Step 4

For the outside of your pillow, it is made just like the liner in Step 3, except you must leave the fourth side completely un-sewn to fit in your pillow form inside. If you are adding embellishments, you need to sew them on before sewing the edges. I like to fold my fabric in half and iron a crease in my fabric so I can see the size of the front of the pillow. Then I lay out then embellishments in the pattern I like and pin them down. I usually hand sew everything down. This is a great project than can be carried with you or done in front of the TV.

Step 5

Now the front of the pillow is decorated. Sew the three sides and clip the corners to reduce the bulk. Turn inside out and insert your pillow form, carefully fluffing into place. Turn in the last seam and pin in place. Hand sew using a blanket stitch or sew with a machine and completely resew the other three seams on the outside to get a uniform look around your pillow. Or as an alternative, you can use Velcro or snaps on the fourth edge to easily remove for washing. However, you will need to finish off the unsewn edges with a whip stitch or stitched with the sewing machine before adding snaps. Voila! You are done!

I hope this requested article has helped you to make pillows for kids.

Have a great day and don’t forget to rate and comment please!

Tips

If you are using a single layer of fabric and then stuffing it, shorten your stitch on your sewing machine so the stuffing can’t work its way through.

If you need to entertain kids, just make small pillows and fill them with beans or rice and have a bean bag toss!

Website Resources

All Free Crafts

http://www.allfreecrafts.com/sewing/pillow.shtml

About.com – Sewing

http://sewing.about.com/od/freeprojects/ss/envelopepillow.htm

Written by MrsCrafty

Learn how to safely mix water and lye as part of the soap making process in this free video on homemade soap making. Expert: Sheryl Andrews Bio: Sheryl Andrews is an enthusiastic advocate of the home arts. This award-winning quilter and crafter has spent a lifetime exploring the depths of traditional home skills. Filmmaker: Christina Knickerbocker
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Home Organization Tip – Less Is More

Article by Jill Seader

Getting your home organized can seem like a daunting task. Every room filled with clutter and more things than you know what to do with. So let me share with you a tip I have learned along the way in my home organization journey. Less is more. Now this tip has three different meanings.

Meaning #1Less is more when it comes to tackling your home organization project. What do I mean by this? I mean don’t try to do it all at once. Take it in small, bite-sized pieces. Ten minutes here and there is better than throwing up your hands in defeat and not even bothering to start. Like many things in life, home organization is a journey. And to quote an old saying “every journey begins with a single step.” Decide on a single step that you will do each day or each week and then do it. Consistent, persistent action in the direction of your home organization goals will get you where you want to go.

Meaning #2Less is more when it comes to stuff in your home. Ask yourself how much you really value some of the things that you have in your home. We often collect things that we sometimes don’t even want because someone gave it to us, it was free, or we “inherited” it from somewhere along the way. Now I’m not suggesting that you get rid of grandma’s handmade quilt. However, I am suggesting you really think about how much you like and value having in your life that vase Aunt Ida gave you that you never use because you can’t stand to look at it. Evaluate the stuff you have in your home. If you ever hope to get your home organized, you’re going to have to get rid of some of it. And that will mean making some hard decisions about what stays and what goes. A home organization prioritization system (1, 2, 3 or A, B, C) can help you decide what you want to keep and what you don’t. Important stuff would be A, maybes would be B, and call a charity to come pick it up would be C. Just remember to go back through your B category and make a final call on whether it is an A or a C.

Meaning #3Less is more when it comes to being hard on yourself when you didn’t get done what you wanted to get done. We have a tendency to beat ourselves up when we set a goal and then don’t accomplish it. Stop it. Your home organization journey is just that, a journey. You will have setbacks, things may take longer than you anticipated. Learn the home organization lessons that you need to learn from it and move on. Are you underestimating the amount of time it takes you to do things? Are you getting distracted? Are you too tired when you start? Figure out why you are having setbacks and then re-evaluate your goals. It is okay to change and adjust your home organization goals along the way. Be gentle with yourself.

For more home organization tips, visit Jill Seader’s home organization website at http://www.YourHomeIsOrganized.com. An ebook she offers, 5 Simple Steps For Organizing Every Room In Your Home, will help you shortcut your home organization journey down the quickest path possible.

A Quilt I made representing the sun shining on water. Called Sun & Ocean.
Video Rating: 3 / 5

The Baby Shower Gift Dilemma – Create a Handmade Quilt

Have you been searching for just the right baby shower gift for your best friend, your sister, or maybe even a colleague from the office? No matter where you have looked, the idea of finding another outfit that the new baby will outgrow in weeks, or another pile of odds-and -ends from diapers to rattles is just not what you had in mind for a useful and meaningful baby shower gift, then this article is for you. Create a handmade baby crib quilt that will amaze the new mother-to-be and all of the guests at the baby shower.

You don’t have to be an expert quilter to make a special handmade baby crib quilt. First, you need to choose the perfect fabric for the baby crib quilt. If you’re unsure of what design you might prefer, either take a trip to your local fabric store, or go on line to the one of the many retail dealers for their collections of ideas and baby crib quilt patterns.

If this is your first attempt at the art of quilting, it is best to keep your pattern simple. Choose colors that are appropriate for the baby’s gender, unless you do not know that, than yellow or white is a safe choice. Be sure you wash and lightly iron all fabrics before you start to cut.

There are many sewing tips that quilting experts would pass on to a novice, who may just be starting out, possibly making their first quilt. Here are some important quilting tips: Sew seams carefully, so that you match each corner and every triangle tip is pointy. You can save time and increase accuracy by chain sewing your pieces together. Your piecing will improve if you take the time to press your quilt blocks as you make them. Pressing is an extra step in the quilt making process , but one that will payoff when your block fit together, nest, just like they should.

Make sure that you are sewing an accurate quarter inch seam allowance for your quilt blocks. If this allowance is not precise, when it is time to sew the blocks together, they will not align properly.

Set your sewing machine to the standard seam allowance used for quilts, which is an exact quarter inch seam. One way to improve a block that is either too large or too small is to use the freezer paper method and square up the block before sewing it together. Gridded freezer paper makes the job easier, but the plain freezer paper will work to help make the block more even.

At this point you are ready to either hand quilt or machine quilt your baby shower gift. Place the backing fabric right side down on the floor or large clean area. Put the batting down next. Place the pieced quilt on top of the batting right side up. Pin the fabrics and batting together starting from the center and working out. I recommend that you stretch all three layers before pinning. Using an old table and some large butterfly clamps, stretch your blanket securely in place to the table before you pin the layers together. Also there are curved quilting pins available at the quilt shops that will make the pinning task easier to complete, due to the shape of the pin. They are rounded at the bottom and perfect for the task.

You can either hand quilt or machine quilt your baby shower gift. Following the perimeter of the shape or you can choose to use a quilter’s pencil and template and draw a design and quilt the design. Either way, you will be stitching through all three layers, which not only fasten the layers together, but create a design, as you quilt.

Your baby shower gift will be complete when the edges are finished and the binding is sewn in place. Of the two types of bindings, crosswise grain and bias, the former is a good choice because there is less risk that a split would damage the entire side of the quilt. Crosswise strips also stretch well enough to curve when needed along the outer edge of the quilt.

Your search and dilemma is now over. You have the perfect shower gift, a handmade baby crib quilt, which is the perfect baby shower gift for that new mother-to-be, created by you.

Take time to quilt.

Don’t have the time to create your own masterpiece, come and choose one of our handmade children’s quilts, a lasting keepsake, a unique birthday gift, or Christening gift, for that special “little one.”
Visit my website: http://www.uniquebabyquiltboutique.com and chose of one unique handmade children’s quilt from my collection for your child’s birthday or other special event.
Sharon Camp has been quilting for over 30 years

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A DIY Guide To Updating Your Home Decor

Article by Francesco Pratt

Home furnishing can be difficult without the help of an expensive interior designer. Choosing a style is hard enough, but knowing how to create that style can be even harder! Use these tips to create whichever look you want, furnishing your home in the style that best suits you.

Step #1: Choose a StyleHere are some ideas of different styles you can use to decorate your whole house or just one room.

* Cottage: This home furnishing style calls to mind a cozy cottage tucked away in the country or by the lake. Cottage style means white couches and chairs, or white wicker furniture with floral printed cushions. Pastel colors, soft lighting, and gauzy curtains create the cottage look, as do antique accessories and patchwork quilts. Complete the look with landscaping: nothing says country cottage like a stone walkway and a garden full of flowers and herbs. * Mediterranean: This home decorative style conjures the Italian and French seaside. Think warm yellows and earth tones, as well as simple patterns set off by blue and gold accents. Chunky, natural wood tables fit right in, as do patterns of sunflowers or ships. * Oriental: As the name implies, this style invokes the simple and sleek lines of the Orient. Less is more with this look, so choose pieces like teak and lacquered tables, armoires and coffee tables sparingly. Accessorize with Oriental rugs, silk prints and pictures of dragons or Japanese seascapes. * Traditional: This classic home furnishing style is elegant but not extravagant. Floral patterns look great on your couches, chairs, curtains and pillows for the traditional look, as do plaids and damasks. Heavy drapes and mahogany dining room tables also work well with this look. Put the final touch on your traditional home with accents like china, crystal and framed landscapes. * Victorian: This style will make your house look as beautiful and stately as the mansions of Victorian England. Choose small but elegant couches and wooden armchairs with silk covered cushions in striped or simple floral patterns. Do not be shy with velvet and rich brocades. Porcelain and dried flowers will also help you get this look across nicely.

Step #2: Enhance Your HomeWhatever style you choose, use these elements wisely to achieve the maximum from your decorative style.

* Lighting: Stay away from halogen and overhead lighting, both of which can create harsh light and therefore harsh shadows. Instead, choose lamps with bases that fit your style and taste. Track lighting and sconces also provide nice lighting solutions. * Color: Color is one of the most basic and most effective ways to create any style. When choosing paint, think about practicality as well as décor; bright colors energize and light colors soothe. Creams, beiges and pastels create the illusion of more space, whereas dark, rich reds and blues make a statement. * Texture: Texture is an often overlooked element, yet it is crucial when creating the style of your choice. Textured walls evoke a natural, native, earthy feel. Smooth walls are more elegant, traditional, and will reflect more light, creating a brighter room. Be careful, though, because if a floor is textured with tiles, stone, or wood flooring, it can make the room look small. With a large enough room, however, texturing your floor with tile, wood or stone is an excellent way to instantly create a “look”.

Choose the style and décor that feels right for you. Even if your budget doesn’t allow you to renovate your entire house, choose a few important furniture pieces (couches, tables) that will set the tone for the whole room. Finally, accessorize along the lines of the decorative style you have chosen, and your look with be complete.

Learn about how to kill maggots, turning 30 years old and other information at the Knowledge Galaxy site.

History Of Patchwork Quilts

The article title inspires images of a gaggle of ladies companionably gathered around a patchwork quilt exchanging tidbits of gossip, usually called a quilting bee. Or maybe a housewife all alone, late at night in her pioneer home, laboring over clothing that has long been worn to pieces, sewing the different parts together with love into something that will keep the family warm during those cold winter nights by the fire. Conjured images like this are heartwarming, but the patchwork quilt is really not as old as you may think, in relative terms.

Records of estates reveal few patchwork quilts made before the 1800s, but those that are recorded are valued much more highly than other coverlets. Those made during the 1700s were made with leftover odds and ends.
Because of cheaper materials and fabrics, the Industrial Revolution largely used to promote quilting, playing a large role in promoting their creation.

Patchwork quilting was revolutionized in the mid 1800s when the first sewing machine came into existence, exploding into virtually every home.

Pieced and appliquéd patchwork quilts were a focal point at social events, such as county fairs. Vines, flowers, stars and feathers of every conceivable design were lovingly shown, and prizes were hotly fought over during for quilting contests. The winners were highly revered in social circles.

The Comeback Quilt

Unfortunately handmade items were less popular in the late 1900s as many ladies were more impressed with the ease and convenience of manufactured quilts. However, they are experiencing a huge resurgence during the last few decades. At last, people are attending craft events and festivals, and magazines are dedicated to quilting patterns. Patchwork quilting blogs are all the rage while once again friends are joining to stitch and sew and gossip.

The Care of Your Patchwork Quilt

If you are one of the fortunate few that have had a patchwork quilt handed down to you, take care on storage and care. Never, ever place it in a plastic bag as the material will sweat and ruin. Instead, place tissue free (acid free) paper in between the folds, wrapping it with a cotton pillowcase or sheet. At least every other month take it out and refold it to keep it from getting permanent creases or coming apart, and always store your patchwork quilt away from sunlight in consideration of the dyes.

Award winning online patchwork and quilting shop featuring quilts, patterns, fabrics, jelly rolls, layer cakes, charm packs products and materials.

Linen Lace and Patchwork, Jean Gibson demonstrating how to dress an antique bed. For more idea’s and a huge range of stunning patchwork quilts, bedspreads and bedlinen go to her website: www.llph.co.uk
Video Rating: 0 / 5

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Unique Patchwork Quilts

Home textiles that best matches with the complete color scheme and theme of home interiors lend an elegant appeal. These are available in different retail stores at reasonable rates. Adorning the living room with stylish and chic décor accessories creates an aura of luxury and elegance. These are manufactured using state-of-the-art techniques and bears trendy designs and prints. Pillow shams reflecting pleasing designs and prints are available in various sizes and shapes. The collection also bears alluring patchwork patterns and is best in quality and style. Widely used in homes, hotels and resorts, these add a visual appeal to the bed. The entire range in alluring designs and soothing shades enhances the look of pillows and gels up with other fabrics and bed linen. Portraying the creativity of skilled designers and craftsmen, patchwork quilts showcase beautiful patchwork designs in geometrical patterns.

Being an essential bedding ensemble, quilts in variety of sizes are perfect for both single and double beds. Offering a cozy and soft feel, these are available in latest designs and styles with unique classiness. Besides duvet covers in attractive textures, designs, prints, patterns and vibrant color combinations, are perfect for daily use. These are easy to wash and maintain and efficiently accentuates the overall look and feel of bedrooms. These add beautiful accents to the bedroom décor. Portraying one’s aesthetic taste, the wide range is offered in contemporary designs. Ideal for decorative or functional purpose, such duvet covers carry royal sheen and rich embroidery works. The attractive gamut with a trendy look brightens the entire living room milieu. The entire collection of bedding turns the living room into an abode of relaxation and coziness. Enriching living style, these assortment bearing appliqué and block prints in colorful prints and patterns bears a classy look. These are perfect for refurbishing the home décor.

For more information about patchwork quilts and duvet covers. Please visit our website: http://www.pondicherrionline.com/

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Ideas Behind Theme Based Handmade Quilts

Handmade quilts themed on folk tales are bought and kept as artwork in many homes. Folk tales are always close to heart and harbor special feelings within everyone. Proper depiction of fables and folk stories on paper, canvas, clothing or quilts is a popular art form. Artists paint them on canvas or paper, sculptors carve them out of stone or plaster, and weavers create them in quilts and cloth.

Quilt weaving is not only a profession but an art form going back centuries. Quilt making is a tradition among communities across the world where it is passed from one generation to the next. There are well defined areas across nations that are dominated by weavers. They are usually found in agriculture based countries that have a distinctive cold season. Quilts are used during winter months or in areas dominated by low temperatures. It is natural that handmade quilts as an industry or economic activity are concentrated in habitable cold geographical regions.

Handmade quilts are woven from both natural and artificial fibers. Cotton, silk, rayon, and wool are the natural fibers used in weaving quilts, while nylon and polyester are man made types. Weavers now use both types of yarns for a quilt to last longer. Natural fibers though rich in appearance and feel do not last as long as polyester or nylon. As both fiber types are easily available, quilt makers mix and match both kinds to create the perfect product. A mix of both fibers is justifiable in view of cost and quality factors.

Richness is an important feature of hand woven quilts. This could only be achieved by using natural fibers only. However natural fibers being expensive and weaker as compared to artificial yarn, the finished product would be costly and non-durable. To make handmade quilts affordable and longer lasting, man made fibers are used.

Quilt made by hand is a dexterous task and might take several days depending on its pattern and size. Often more than one weaver works on a quilt to complete it faster. This labor intensive process makes these quilts exclusive. Hand woven quilts can be of geometrical patterns, floral designs, or representations of folklore. Customization is possible for handmade quilts. Color preference might also be provided by you.

Customized quilts depicting folk tales of your land could be created with care. These quilts could either be used in home or given away as gifts to some special person. For gifting to someone staying abroad there could not be a better gift than a handmade quilt showing local folk tale. It not only would be appreciated because of its concept but also because of its extraordinary craftsmanship.

Custom made quilts might take a little longer time to finish because of its intricacies. Sufficient leverage is to be given for finishing handmade quilts in proper time. It must be remembered that since human effort is involved allowances for sickness and ill health must always be considered. After a quilt is completed preserve it for as long as possible because of its exquisite appeal.

Merlina’s Arts is a name that is uttered simultaneously with handmade quilts. Merlina introduces art skills and expertise exclusively in her quilt designs and shows the artistic excellence to modern quilts with latest motifs to allure your eyes.