Allyson Hill

It's been a while, I know

I'm sorry blog and any blog followers that I may have left, it has been a loooooong time since I have updated!  I am pleased to introduce my newest crafty inspiration:

Husqvarna Viking Huskylock 1003 lcd

It has the chainstitch feature, I have not tried it yet because I'm starting simple!  I got it used off ebay, like the other 4 out of 5 machines I have purchased.

and here is my first, not totally ridiculous-looking, project I have completed!

using elastic as the waistband, similar to this video tutorial (by traceybeauty) HERE, though I found this after I made the skirt.  The only difference seems to be that my fabric was so thin that I gathered it using my bernina ruffler foot before stitching it to the elastic to give it even more fullness.

I am wearing a belt over the elastic so it is hard to see, but next time I would like to find a wider elastic, 2 or 3 inches and also pick up a neutral background fabric so I can line it!  Overall, super lightweight and summery, wearing it to Church on Sunday!

Mom and Dad's old records

We found this record player for 5 bucks at a garage sale and swung by my parent's house to borrow their record collection from their high-school years, back before they were even dating.  They were friends in high-school though.  Mom was a cheerleader and Dad was a athlete.  They would sit on the bleechers and talk.  I love to imagine that they would go home at night and play the newest hit single, both living their own separate lives, not knowing that only years later they would bump into each other again and fall in love.

 

Real Simple Magazine, October 2011

 

 

 

I am so thrilled to announce that Real Simple Magazine contacted me over the summer to let me know that they would like to feature my Auto Trash Bag (car trash bag as they called it)  in their Fall issue.  They chose this dark blue "Tiny Beans" pattern, which is one of my basic guy-friendly choices. 

I finally got my hands on a copy yesterday at Barnes and Noble.  I have always thought my products would work well in their magazine and so it was such an honor that they found me on their own.  I sent them some samples and after lots and lots of patient waiting, they approved it for the solutions section called Problem Solvers of the Month.  They were so friendly and professional and even asked if I wanted my samples back (they asked for 6 all together), but of course I told them to keep them and to enjoy! 

Tracing Vintage Patterns

  
I love to trace vintage patterns, here is the original:

(traced digitally using wacom tablet and corel pinter)

I like the cans

I am drinking this espresso just to collect the cans : )

Joie Ad - Indie Fixx

I decided to place an ad in the Spring issue of Joie, an online magazine by Indie Fixx.  You can view all 4 scrumptious issues HERE

Stay tuned for her new issue coming out the first week of September 2011

 

Seating, check. Lighting, check.

BEFORE:

I wanted to find some really sturdy bar chairs, but wasn't finding anything in my price range.  Then I found these vintage barber chairs off Craigslist and thought they had great bones for re-purposing.  Although I would've loved to keep the original style similar, they were just too bulky to work with my table.  So I had to simplify them:

 

and then reupholster with an industrial metallic-looking vinyl:

AFTER

Best part, I don't have to worry about them breaking or tipping!

All that is left are the finishing touches - artwork

Babble's Top 50 Etsy Moms of 2011

View the Full list HERE

What the Hay?

What the Hay? 

Niagara Falls at Night

Niagara Falls at night, taken from the hurricane deck

Front Seat, Back Seat

OUT my window and AT my feet:

OUT his window and AT his feet:

Out and About

 
(the studio & blog will be quiet while I do some small trips here and there to enjoy the summer)

(vermont)

(calvin and hobbes)

(the turtle crossed ok)

(i love quirky lakeside cottages)

(be back soon)

around the house

around the house

A Splash of Color

I decided these bland old speakers could use a splash of color.  So I sanded off the lettering and roughed up the whole surface and gave it a try:

 

If computer speakers had been invented in the 70's, this is certainly what they would look like!  I probably should've spray painted them with a plastic fusion type of paint, but instead used what I had on hand and then added many coats of clear acrylic spraypaint on top.  It will work since the speakers never get handled besides to turn up the volume (and then turn it waaay back down again after my ears have been blasted out)

(Poor lighting in the photo above is washing out the green, but oh they are green)

   My printer station also needed upgrading.  Usually this desk is covered with papers because I'm constantly switching from regular printer paper to card stock to labels and it is very frustrating.  So I added some shelves to this crate, but first I painted it yellow and decoupaged some vintage patterns to the side:

and then added molding and thin shelves (probably could've used a little thicker of wood for the shelves, but I wanted to use what I had on hand)

(I got the crate at JoAnn's with a coupon, I think it was like 6.00 on sale)

My favorite part though, are the paper collages on the wall I got a while ago from an artist on Etsy, Prado-Marin

     



All together a much more cheerful space!

WIP update (work in progress)

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I found this hefty old bar off Craigslist for $25, painted it white and added this 3/4" plywood table top.  To cover the edges, I used this veneer edge-banding that simply irons on:

I almost didn't want to paint it because it turned out so nice, but it looks better overall as one solid color - almost like it was built as one piece.  The intention of this piece is to fill an awkward corner and to provide an area for Micah to do his homework and for us to draw and stuff like that, without messing up the dining table.  I thought all the cubby holes (originally intended to hold wine bottles) would be perfect for pencils and scissors and crafty supplies like that. 

Next Up: SEATING!