Inspiration

Make It Friday – Boo!

10.18.13

Make It Friday DIY Roundup via Jade and Fern

I’m not a themey, seasonal kind of blogger.

Except, clearly, I am.

What can I say, Halloween fever has set in. My man Alan has been training me to watch some mild horror movies without screaming, we hung out with friends and carved pumpkins, and I feel like decorating. Which may not actually happen, because I’m crazy busy finishing up some weather-dependent projects before the cold starts, but I can at least admire all these adorable Halloween decorations around the web.

Boo doormat by Design Improvised

Fabric boo banner by A Beautiful Mess

Pom-pom boo garland by House of Earnest

Boo(tilicious) printable (the easiest kind of DIY!) by Design Eat Repeat

Wire boo sign by Cupcakes & Cutlery

No-carve boo pumpkin by The Sweetest Occasion

What do you think, readers? Are you seasonal decorators? Is there a holiday for which you go all out? Don’t you just love the pom-pom garland?

Also, this. Always always this.

Read Watch Listen

Playlist Volume 2

10.17.13

Tunes Volume 2 || Jade and Fern

[grooveshark width=”400″ height=”185″ type=”playlist” id=”90626814″ skin=”p=0&bbg=000000&bth=000000&pfg=000000&lfg=000000&bt=ffffff&pbg=ffffff&pfgh=ffffff&si=ffffff&lbg=ffffff&lfgh=ffffff&sb=ffffff&bfg=666666&pbgh=666666&lbgh=666666&sbh=666666″]Volume 2 by Marlene S. on Grooveshark[/grooveshark]

Project time requires lots and lots of music. I discovered the band “Class Actress” while listening to Rdio a few weeks ago, and built this little playlist around my favorite song by them. The mix is a bit mellow and a bit electronic. Mellowtronic. Good for busy fall days.

Have you uncovered any new artists recently? What kind of music gets you going when you need to work?

DIY

How To Make A Ribbon Bow — 3 Ways

10.14.13

How To Make a Ribbon Bow - 3 Ways || by Kittenhood via Jade and Fern

A guest blogger! On Jade and Fern! Somebody pinch me!

Daria of Kittenhood is a super talented, super stylish, super creative gal who blogs about fashion, personal style, and crafts. Her blog is in my “must read” section on Bloglovin’, and she never fails to share something beautiful and inspiring. Plus, she loves cats!! (One of my qualifications for being an awesome person. Cat people understand.)

Please welcome Daria to Jade and Fern as she shows us how to make a ribbon bow in three adorable ways:

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I’ve always loved bows – they seem to prettify everything! In time, I experimented with many ways of making bows, so I thought I’d bring some of them together in this post. Using ribbon is easy – especially since it comes in so many prints and widths – just remember to burn the ends with a lighter or a candle, so they don’t fray. I like using stitches for mine, but if you’re in a hurry or would just rather keep away from a needle, you can use glue instead. And now let’s get to work, shall we?

Bow Tie:

How To Make a Ribbon Bow - 3 Ways || by Kittenhood via Jade and Fern

Materials:

  • 10 cm (4″) of wide ribbon + 2 more cm (3/4″)
  • scissors
  • matching thread + needle

How To Make a Ribbon Bow - 3 Ways || by Kittenhood via Jade and Fern

Fold your ribbon in half, and stitch the ends on the wrong side of the fabric. When you’re done, turn it around. Make sure the stitch is on the back of your future bow, and bring it to the middle of the rectangle you now have. Pucker it together with a stitch.

Next, you will use the smaller piece of ribbon. Fold it in three, vertically, then use it to cover the previous stitch and form the middle of the bow. Stitch it together on the back of the bow, then stitch or glue it to a brooch pin, hair pin, or even a headband.

How To Make a Ribbon Bow - 3 Ways || by Kittenhood via Jade and Fern

Double Bow:

How To Make a Ribbon Bow - 3 Ways || by Kittenhood via Jade and Fern

Materials: 

  • two pieces of ribbon, one slightly longer (any length)
  • a 2 cm piece of ribbon (3/4″)
  • scissors
  • matching thread & needle

How To Make a Ribbon Bow - 3 Ways || by Kittenhood via Jade and Fern

Start by stitching each of the two long ribbons on the wrong side of the fabric. Turn them on the right side, and stitch them together at the middle, no puckering this time. The one at the bottom should be a little bigger than the one on top.

Finish by using the small piece of ribbon to cover the stitches, by stitching its ends together on the side that won’t be visible. You can use this on a hair pin, headband or brooch, but it would also look nice on a gift box!

How To Make a Ribbon Bow - 3 Ways || by Kittenhood via Jade and Fern

Classic Bow:

How To Make a Ribbon Bow - 3 Ways || by Kittenhood via Jade and Fern

Materials:

  • thin ribbon (any length) + 2 more cm (3/4″)
  • scissors
  • matching thread + needle

How To Make a Ribbon Bow - 3 Ways || by Kittenhood via Jade and Fern

Fold one part of the ribbon towards the middle of the whole piece, forming a loop. Do the same with the other part of the ribbon, and make a stitch at the middle.

To cover the stitch, use the smaller piece of ribbon, and make sure no thread is visible on the front. Use this type of bow to embellish a pair of socks, to make shoe clips or a classic hair pin.

How To Make a Ribbon Bow - 3 Ways || by Kittenhood via Jade and Fern

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Thank you so much, Daria, for this wonderful DIY trio! Readers, don’t forget to swing by Kittenhood blog and show her some love. Which bow is your favorite? How awesome is Daria’s gorgeous photography?

Inspiration

Make It Friday: I Was Too Busy But Maybe You’re Not?

10.11.13

Make It Friday || DIY Roundup via Jade and Fern

ERMAGERD, how is it Friday already? Again?! Where did this week go? What happened to my blog posts??

WELL, thank you for letting me get that off my chest. Clearly I had a busy week. I made stuff, but life prevented me finishing any of it. And I figured you guys deserved better than more progress pics.

But that’s ok! I can show you awesome finished projects by other bloggers! That’s what the internet is for!

» How fabulous is Ladyface Blog’s super easy, super cheery wall hanging? A perfect antidote to the bleak winter months ahead.

» Nerd alert: nerdtastic 8-bit fire for the non-working fireplace. Über-nerd alert: it’s the fire from Legend of Zelda. By Our Nerd Home. Nerd out.

» I want to eat this brass swing-arm lamp by Hello Lidy right. UP. So deliciously brassy.

» Who can resist the gorgeous crystal bracelet project on Henry Happened? Not this girl.

» These spray painted gold rock bookends by Design Love Fest are the bomb.

» If our house had more outlets, I would make this lovely gem nightlight over at Almost Makes Perfect. So that when I go to the bathroom in the middle of a scary movie and am convinced that the old lady from The Shining is lurking in the bathtub and I can’t find the damned ceiling pull cord, I’ll at least have a pretty back-up light to beam in her eyes. Yeah, I’m a wuss.

Now, wasn’t that satisfying? Feeling inspired? What great projects have you seen/planned/made lately?

Inspiration

Make It Friday: Nesting and Organizing

10.04.13

Make It Friday || DIY Roundup via Jade and Fern

Fall makes me want to nest, folks! Gather some acorns and twigs and leaves and prep for the winter hibernation. (If only I were a chipmunk.)

For those of you who feel the same urge this time of year, enjoy this DIY roundup featuring projects to organize and beautify your own nests.

» This iPad case made of painted canvas from Say Yes to Hoboken is just gorgeous.

» Katy of The Clever Bunny hacked an Ikea table runner into a lovely striped pillow. (Two sewing projects in a row? My subconscious is telling me it’s time to finally learn to use my sewing machine.)

» I am in LOVE with this copper and wood trivet on Weekday Carnival. You know now I’m just a little obsessed with copper. The tutorial is in Finnish, but if your browser doesn’t translate, the pictures make everything clear.

» How cool is the cement cheeseboard by Rebecca of A Daily Something? The how-to is on BuzzFeed, along with several other wicked cheeseboard projects.

» I Spy DIY created this amazing spiked phone case with just glue and spikes. A simple way to punk up your accessories.

» I am all about adding more plants to my nest for winter, and personalizing plant pots I own. The matte-meets-glossy look on this color-block planter from Wit & Whistle would make a huge impact on my living room mantle.

What nesting/organizing projects do you like to tackle before winter rolls around? Any fun plans for the weekend?