Otomi Indecision

How was your weekend, lovebugs? We celebrated our anniversary all weekend...any excuse to eat dessert with every meal, right?! Friday night we had a family date night, so the kids could be a part of the milestone. I think it's so important for them to know we take our marriage seriously, and creating a good relationship is something we're always working towards. We're not only raising them to be good people, but good spouses...cause lawdy it's not always easy being married!<br /><br />But enough of all that...remember I showed you guys the amazing new <a href="http://bit.ly/1wueAQr" target="_blank">Otomi Duvet</a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/TXP7Aw" target="_blank">Shams</a> from Urban Outfitters in <a href="http://hisugarplum.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-friday-five_30.html" target="_blank">this Friday Five</a>? I have a thing for otomi...a serious thing. So I instantly started searching for the perfect place to use it in our house, when my daughter saw it and begged me to put it in her room. She has a thing for horses...a serious thing. And to her, otomi looks like horses.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Hi Sugarplum | Otomi Bedding" height="765" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3896/14460097854_5b035455ef_b.jpg" width="550" /></div><br />Her bedding was all that remained of her <a href="http://hisugarplum.blogspot.com/2011/06/babygirls-room-reveal.html" target="_blank">previous Paris decor</a>, and I had no intention of replacing it any time soon. But I had to agree the colors of the <a href="http://bit.ly/TXP7Aw" target="_blank">otomi shams</a> were perfect for her room, so I caved and ordered it. Problem is, decisiveness isn't our strong-suit, and we couldn't settle on which color <a href="http://bit.ly/1wueAQr" target="_blank">duvet </a>we liked best...pink or gray. So I thought I'd open it up to your opinion....her room is a little messy, and the duvet is just folded on her bed...but you'll get the idea. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Hi Sugarplum | Otomi Bedding" height="628" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5539/14460099074_d0cd0c4512_z.jpg" width="550" /></div>  <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Hi Sugarplum | Otomi Bedding" height="628" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3865/14438113246_855d51a215_z.jpg" width="550" /> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Hi Sugarplum | Otomi Bedding" height="700" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3907/14274768167_356faa4d21_b.jpg" width="550" /></div>  <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Hi Sugarplum | Otomi Bedding" height="662" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3914/14460098494_34eddcd545_b.jpg" width="550" /> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Hi Sugarplum | Otomi Bedding" height="752" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2919/14274768067_57e1e1ae73_b.jpg" width="550" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Hi Sugarplum | Otomi Bedding" height="643" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5570/14461214265_4764abb3a6_b.jpg" width="550" /> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Hi Sugarplum | Otomi Bedding" height="670" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2918/14481377263_84c5046c39_b.jpg" width="550" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Hi Sugarplum | Otomi Bedding" height="666" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2931/14459850752_554db6f500_b.jpg" width="550" /></div><br />The shams look amazing, right? And here's a close-up of the duvet pattern...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Hi Sugarplum | Otomi Bedding" height="745" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3840/14274624658_3542ae3e44_b.jpg" width="550" /> </div><br />I've never considered otomi a juvenile pattern, but the colors and animal shapes make it a great fit for a kid's room. One more, side by side...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Hi Sugarplum | Otomi Bedding" height="391" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2898/14274582859_a951abfb70_z.jpg" width="550" /></div><br />You guys always come through with great opinions and advice...so what say you?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A. Pink, baby, pink</div><div style="text-align: center;">B. Gray all the way</div><div style="text-align: center;">C. Girl you crazy, that print is whack <i>(in which case, we can't be friends #ikid)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">D. I love the duvet, just not in this room. Stick with the shams only.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Pssst....everything in her room is a DIY project, and you can find them all, including the full makeover, in <a href="http://hisugarplum.blogspot.com/2011/06/babygirls-room-reveal.html" target="_blank">this post</a>. Except the 'Girl on Fire' print, which I made <a href="http://hisugarplum.blogspot.com/2014/06/diy-felt-word-art.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</i> <i>And you can shop the Otomi bedding for yourself <a href="http://bit.ly/1wueAQr" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></div>

Otomi Indecision

How was your weekend, lovebugs? We celebrated our anniversary all weekend...any excuse to eat dessert with every meal, right?! Friday night ...

Read more »

{Christmas} No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt

Do you guys realize Christmas is two weeks from yesterday!? Ack! So much for being ahead of the game around here! I still have more projects to complete and show you! They are mainly just fun ideas for this time of year, I'm trying to slow down and really savor these days.<br /><br />Yesterday I showed you <a href="http://hisugarplum.blogspot.com/2012/12/oh-christmas-tree.html" target="_blank">our cheerful tree</a>, and today I'm going to show you how to make the cute Pom Pom Skirt!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50491685@N04/8263950923/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt by hi sugarplum!, on Flickr"><img alt="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt" height="614" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8199/8263950923_6bc137751d_o.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br />I've yet to find a tree skirt I loved, or was willing to shell out the bucks for, so I've always improvised with blankets or sheepskin throws. But this year, it was especially important for us to have a skirt covering our tree's underpinnings.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50491685@N04/8263951227/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt by hi sugarplum!, on Flickr"><img alt="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt" height="577" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8223/8263951227_4007a7cd62_o.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br />Since our tree <a href="http://hisugarplum.blogspot.com/2012/12/oh-christmas-tree.html" target="_blank">moved to the Living Room</a>, next to the <a href="http://hisugarplum.blogspot.com/2011/08/living-room-blue-beauty.html" target="_blank">big blue armoire</a>, it needed a little boost to appear taller....so I rigged it up like any good blogger would....with paint cans. The plan was to use my new-found <a href="http://hisugarplum.blogspot.com/2012/11/i-sew-did.html" target="_blank">sewing skills</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>*snort*</b></span>, for our new tree skirt. All you need is a round tablecloth <i>(this one is 70-inches, and was $10 at Target)</i>, several yards of trim, and sew-on snaps.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50491685@N04/8263951675/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt by hi sugarplum!, on Flickr"><img alt="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt" height="462" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8482/8263951675_44cd8f03e4_o.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br />But by the name of this post, you know the sewing part didn't work out so well. The machine jammed <i>12 times</i>, forcing me to cut the fabric out, so the machine and I broke up. Ikea was gracious about the return, even though the problem was likely me! I've since ordered a Brother <i>(on <a href="http://thoughtfuldesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Courtney's</a> recommendation)</i>, so we'll blame her if something goes wrong again. <i>(You're screwed, C!)</i><br /><br />But fortunately, this project can carry on with a trusty glue gun, fabric glue or hem tape...so <strike>even better</strike> a No-Sew Tree Skirt was born! For the center circle, fold the skirt in quarters with the center at the point, then use a bowl to draw, then cut, your arch.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50491685@N04/8263951537/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt by hi sugarplum!, on Flickr"><img alt="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt" height="632" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8202/8263951537_d237152c37_o.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br />Spread the cloth out and wait for your "helper" to move on.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50491685@N04/8265020794/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt by hi sugarplum!, on Flickr"><img alt="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt" height="468" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8070/8265020794_daf889b31c_o.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br />Cut a single line from the outside edge to the center circle. I goofed and made my circle much too big, so decide where you want the skirt to sit on your tree base before cutting the center circle.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50491685@N04/8265020608/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt by hi sugarplum!, on Flickr"><img alt="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt" height="627" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8342/8265020608_5cd0e31dd2_o.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br />Fold and iron the raw edges of your cut...then sew or glue them down. You can add snaps or velcro to both edges, or take the easy road and safety pin it together once on the tree. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50491685@N04/8263951375/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt by hi sugarplum!, on Flickr"><img alt="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt" height="552" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8263951375_6c57583757_o.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br />All that's left is adding your trim. I'm a sucker for pom-pom, so that was an easy choice for me. And since the table cloth is already hemmed, you can attach it to the front or back side. Using hot glue, I just worked my way around the edge. You'll need six yards of trim for a 70-inch round. Or if you goof <strike>again</strike> and don't get enough, just glue the trim to the front of the skirt and cover the back with presents. I'm told that works fine.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50491685@N04/8265020470/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt by hi sugarplum!, on Flickr"><img alt="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt" height="628" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8265020470_e5dc3889cb_o.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br />Arrange your skirt around the base of your tree, and close the seam in the back. I had to cinch it in the center quite a bit since I cut the hole too big, so it doesn't spread as wide as I'd like.<br /><u><br /></u><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50491685@N04/8265020274/" title="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt by hi sugarplum!, on Flickr"><img alt="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8061/8265020274_3e3fc2d594_o.jpg" width="550" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Even though this thing gave me some grief, it's an easy and inexpensive project, and adds so much to the tree. Fabric stores have tons of trim options, so you can easily customize your skirt to your decor.</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50491685@N04/8263951023/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt by hi sugarplum!, on Flickr"><img alt="No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt" height="623" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8358/8263951023_3b3c70a004_o.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br />I'm fairly obsessed with the pom pom peeking out.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50491685@N04/8261384783/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Christmas Tree by hi sugarplum!, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas Tree" height="702" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8477/8261384783_9e72a3bbf0_o.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br />I hope to climb back in the sewing saddle, but for now, I'm pretty pleased with this No-Sew Pom Pom Skirt!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50491685@N04/8261385015/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Christmas Tree by hi sugarplum!, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas Tree" height="440" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8353/8261385015_9670b20df5_o.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br />What about you....are you a sewer or a gluer?

{Christmas} No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt

Do you guys realize Christmas is two weeks from yesterday!? Ack! So much for being ahead of the game around here! I still have more projects...

Read more »