IKEA Snapshots- A Few Of My Favorite Things

Nearly ten years ago I first stepped into an IKEA store and immediately fell in love.  I adore the clean lines and contemporary design.  It really doesn't fit my design aesthetic entirely but I can always find pieces to incorporate and I love the look of mixed styles. 



When we built our home I bought multiple light fixtures (had some problems with a few and ended up only using one, but that's another story) and my sons have a few of their bedside tables.  An occasional window panel and some bedding and that's been my only personal experiences with their products.  Except for the light fixture issue I've been happy and everything has been what I expected it to be. 

I bought three of their paper lantern lights and
had them hardwired for my entryway light.  I
just love them!

I've done a few projects for others where we've used their products and the results have been wonderful. 

 

This past week while visiting mom we headed to IKEA to explore, we spent hours wandering around looking at all the fun stuff they carry.  Wow!  What a fun day.

 

Here's a peek into the wonderful world of IKEA:

 

Three stories of awesomeness!  The large banners are pieces of fabric that they sell in their fabric section.  They have some great graphic stuff at extremely reasonable prices.

 

 

Our first trip here my sons were completely awestruck by the escalators for the carts.  Wow!

 

I love their lighting section.  They have some beautiful, unique lighting for great prices.  Just be sure you get everything you need to make it work.  Notice my son and the big yawn, he's bored. 

 

This color is so great. 

 

Fabric, great selection of bold colors, large graphic prints and unique patterns.  LOVE!

 

Lots of black and white, grey prints.

 

One of my favorites.

 

I only bought two fabrics.  This was one of them.  It's two moose walking through the trees (which are pink, orange and a bright magenta type color.  I am completely in love with this fabric!  It's completely over the top and so ME!  Can't wait to figure out exactly how I want to use it.

 

What a great idea, you personalize these with your choice of fabrics.  Lovely.

 

Tons and tons of wall decals.  Cute stuff.

 

 One of their decals.  Cute idea!

 

Didn't see these chairs for sale, love them.  They have bar stools and regular table height chairs in this same design in the food court area. 

 

Love these!

 

If you're looking for storage at a reasonable price this is the place to be.  The selection is awesome.  These would be wonderful for closet organization.

 

 

Oh my, I'm in love with this check rug.  It would fit into my house so easily.  I might NEED that!

 

I bought a little bit, things I couldn't resist.  Two fabrics, gorgeous napkins for decoupage projects, placemats for next Christmas that are just adorable, I can't remember what else.  As soon as I can get some pictures I'll get them up.  Such a great place to shop.  I definitely need to visit more often!

 

 

How To Make A Christmas Tree Pillow

While making memory pillows for gifts this year I got to thinking, "this fringe would make a really cute Christmas tree", so another pillow idea was born.  I still have a couple people that I don't know what to do for and this is a perfect gift that is relatively quick and easy to put together. 

You'll need a few supplies; felt for the tree, trunk and star at the top, a base fabric for the front and back and sewing supplies. 

I chose a solid green felt and a green swirl flannel that I fell in love with.  I plan to alternate the two materials for the tree and use the swirl for the back.  I also grabbed a small square of brown and yellow felt.  I always use sheet material for the backing fabric (it's readily available and inexpensive, perfect for projects such as these). 

So, to get you started, draw the size of tree you want on a piece of paper and cut out your pattern.  I am alternating so I cut one tree from the solid green and one from the swirly fabric.

I stacked them on top of one another and marked them in 1" increments.  Cut them out into strips as shown.  If you're alternating like I am you'll get two trees from this.

 Here it is just laid out on the table. 

Note:  The second tree will start and end with the lighter fabric, your pillows will not be exact matches.

You will need a 15" piece of backing fabric for the front of the pillow.  (a 14" pillow form plus 1/2" seam allowances).  Center your pieces on the backing fabric, slightly overlapping and pin in place.

 I used different thread colors to stitch these on so sew a straight stitch attaching all swirly fabric pieces then switch out your thread and sew the dark green pieces, removing pins as you go.

Here is what you should have at this point, after clipping all your threads and cleaning it up.

Cut a small trunk out of brown felt and tack it on at the base of your tree.  I did a simple running stitch and matched the thread as close as I could.  You could do all kinds of cute things with this.

  

 Then I cut out the star for the top.  Same thing, stitch it on at the top of your tree.

You will need a 15" square piece of fabric for the back of your pillow (I used the green swirly, I love that fabric).  Lay it face-up on the table.  Take the front piece and lay it face-down on top, pinning the two together leaving an opening at the bottom for the pillow form.

Sew together using a 1/2" seam allowance, remember to leave your opening.  Sometimes I stitch it a second time around for good measure, back-stitching at start and finish.

I fringed the tree at this point.  Make sure you've got a nice pair of sharp scissors and just start cutting each row up to the stitch line, being careful not to knick it. 

Insert pillow form and pin opening closed.

 I always use a doubled piece of thread and slip stitch the opening closed.  Here's a great tutorial in case you need one for this, http://www.instructables.com/id/Hand-Sewing-Basic-Slip-Stitch-Blind-Stitch/

I finish with a quilter's knot, after you've closed up your pillow send your thread out the back close to the seam.  Wrap your thread around your need 3-4 times,

 keeping your thread tight stick your needle back into the hole that your thread came out of in the pillow back.  As you pull your needle through the fabric a tight little knot forms.

Now, you've got your knot and you need to hide it.  I take my needle and stick it through the fabric between the knot and my protruding thread for stability and then pull on the thread.  Your knot will get sucked inside of the pillow and disappear.

See, no knot (if you look close you can see where the hole was).  Clip your thread and you're done. 

You've got a nice, closed seam and an adorable Christmas Pillow.

My Christmas Tour ..... Better Late Than Never

Last fall my husband made one of these orbs for the front yard, they are meant to be "party lights" but work out great for Christmas lights.  We have never, ever had outdoor lights so this year is a special treat!

This is the view from the front of the driveway.  There is still one more orb off to the right of the picture (near the weeping cherry).  You can find a little more information on the light orbs here.

  

This is my newest little tree.  I've never had a white tree but I found this one cheap and figured I'd give it a try.  This sits in the entryway at the front door.  My grandma gave me the toy truck and I used cookie tins (leftover from the cookie bake) as "presents".

I made the garland with straws and an old beaded necklace, found some ornaments buy1/get2 Free at Michaels and added some ribbon bows, I love using them for ornaments. 

This is the view from the front door.  My little white tree sits in the corner in the bottom right just out of the picture.

My entry table.  I used an old Silver Plated Ice Bucket for the floral with candy canes, found the little wood sled at an estate sale and the snowmen are Home Interiors from the 90's.  One of them holds a sign saying, "Let it Snow".  My sentiments exactly.

This three-tier basket normally sits in the dining room year round.  I change out what it holds depending on the season.  I recently decoupaged my coffee table, I am not meant to own glass top tables! 

I don't own a skirt large enough for this tree and didn't have time (or motivation) to make one this year so I used an old chenille blanket.  The dog LOVES it, as witnessed by her toy underneath, waiting for her return, she spends a lot of time here.

This little Santa Cookie Jar was my grandma's.

For fall I made these paper, book page wreaths to hang from sconces in my living room.  I made "Boo" signs that hung from the center.  To change them out for Christmas I simply took down the "Boo" sign and added a large red bow.  Love stuff that can be used for multiple holidays.

I used ribbon for my mantle, really easy.  I found little star ornaments at the dollar store that I've used throughout the house.  My grandmother made the Santa Pitcher.

My little Santa lost his head the first time we had a fire in the fireplace.  I pinned him back together.  My ribbon stringers were leftover from last year.  I've also hung them from the chandelier.

This is the view from the Living Room back towards the front door and Dining Room.

The Dining Room with a view of one of the light orbs out front.  I made the placemats from some leftover fabric my grandmother gave me, the little grapevine tree in the back corner sits out year round, sometimes I add things to it for the holiday but more often than not it sits with a little garland on it and some lights all the time.

I saw the book tree somewhere on the internet and fell in love.  I always have books laying around.  The "candlesticks" are old spools that I've simply put a candle on with a decorative piece of garland.  Took me five minutes to do the table.

I love the little book tree.  One of the books (second from the bottom) was made by my mom.  I'll be showing more detail about it in the near future.  She does lots of artsy fartsy things and this is one of them.

 Vintage spools for candlesticks.  All they need is a little ribbon and they can be used year round.

I leave the wreath in the chandelier year round as well.  I love how it looks.  For holidays I simply add a little detail.  This year I hung some snowflake ornaments.  Easy Peasy!  The paper ball garland on the hutch is a recent addition as well.  I made it from leftover magazines and added some ribbon ties for dimension.

These are Dollar Tree ornaments that I've used throughout the house. 

 I have a little green tree on my kitchen table, for some reason this year I'm loving little birds.  Added some ribbon garland and sprigs out the top and called it done.

 For the base I used a glass bowl with candy canes.  The filler is junk jewelry that I've got laying around.  If I had white beans I would of used them instead but alas, I did not, so junk jewelry it is!

I couldn't leave the loft area alone this year.  I'm up there quite a bit now so it had to have a tree or two as well.  My poor little tree skirt in the background has seen better days.  It usually goes with another tree but Ms. Pepper (the new puppy) had other ideas this year.

My tabletop tree is stacked cookie tins with some tree branches coming out the top.  So many more things I could of done to jazz it up but I'm decorated out.  Next year!

This table sitting area is located right at the top of the stairs.  We use the little tree on the ledge for a night light.  Works great.  I love the red with the atlas accent wall, I'm thinking I need new curtains up here!

 I have another tree decorated with ornaments my grandmother made in the corner.  Growing up mom used these ornaments quite often so they bring back great memories.

 Some of Grammies ornaments.

 The view from upstairs into the living room.  I do not do garland up the staircase, do you?  I am nervous to try because I clean up enough needles, fake or real, the thought of adding to that is more than I can take.  Instead, I throw a Santa hat on every other post.  Done!  Looks cute and couldn't be easier.

Have you gotten your Christmas decorating done?  I have thought of many more things I'd like to do but you've got to stop sometime, right!  I'm calling it quits and moving on to other things.  Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!