A Haven for Vee

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Anyone Need a Giant Pillowcase?

Not many of you think the way I do. Now this is a very, very good thing; otherwise, you might have spent an entire week of your precious life thinking about ways to create a giant pillowcase. And then you might have spent an entire afternoon actually sewing up said giant pillowcase. Uh huh, a giant pillowcase that would cover mini-blinds making them invisible...a sort of stealth mini-blind, if you will. Why? Because I don't like the look of mini-blinds, but find them a necessary evil.

giant pillowcase gone horribly awry

I really don't know where I went wrong, but perhaps it was by not measuring accurately. Then, too, I. can. still. see. the. mini-blind. The giant pillowcase is being shipped to the North Pole. I'm sure that Santa can use it come Christmas.

All is not for naught, though, because I can show you the pillowcase I made "properly." I'm really working on getting the Irish linen stash whittled down.


Even though I didn't follow the directions as carefully as I might have, this pillow case worked out fine and it truly was kind of magical, just like that cornbread recipe from yesterday. (Have any of you tried that trick yet?) Elizabeth at Home is Where the Heart Is first told me about these magical pillowcases made in such a simple, fascinating way right *here.* You might like to give it a try! You might want to have an audience to impress. Just sayin.'


The Last of the Perennial Garden Posies

Rainy today. I keep hoping that John will find the time to trim out my kitchen window. He thinks that there are more important things to do. I don't know, looking at that mess much longer is going to drive me bonkers, but then I'm easily driven bonkers.

Anything driving you bonkers today? Anything you'd like to talk over at all?

A delightful Thursday to you..

35 comments:

  1. Loving your pillow case with the pretty trimmed sides....

    I am taking a break from the studio today to go shopping with a friend...need to find some more vintage plates to break :-)

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  2. My list of things is too long, but thanks for asking! I'm peri-menopausal (sp?) so you can just imagine! I do though like to hear that others have things that bother them also. And by the way, love your pillowcase! Have a delightful day!

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  3. You are just way to much fun, Vee! I am impressed with your giant pillow case, The border material looks so vintage which I like very much. I will visit Elizabeth.

    Goodness knows, I need to impress someone today, as I am finding myself very boring lately, doing the same thing over and over.~smiling~

    Here is what is driving bonkers today, Blogger is changing things around again, and now I have to learn something new. Though the changes look like fun. I hope you will check it out and let me know what you think !!
    Enjoy your day.
    Sue

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  4. Hey Vee, I like that nice linen pillow case with the pretty edge. What's driving me bonkers today? Not much. I took the car to the garage and walked back (it's not far at all!) so am carless on this sunny morning and would like to go to town and get some groceries. I guess I'll have to go later. When the showers come. :/ I can't complain really as we've had some really gorgeous weather and little rain for almost 2 weeks. I hope you have a great day - rain and all! Oh, I like the vignette in the last picture! Pretty dishes and flowers. Hugs, Pam

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  5. I love your pillowcase, and the trim. I have often thought of a pillowcase with a pocket, to tuck wishes and dreams before you go to sleep.

    I think what is driving me bonkers today is that I have been feeling a bit ill this week and I know I should be cleaning. I think the dustballs rolling around like tumbleweed might be a clue. Yet, I just feel too off my feet.

    Hope you have a wonderful day.

    Karen

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  6. I will be thinking of your giant pillowcases next time I clean my blinds. Imagine just throwing the cover in the wash once in a while and having spotless blinds beneath. I a guessing you are using giant pillowcases in a room where light is not required.
    Last night I was going bonkers over my lighting in my kitchen. I have one of those florescent sunshine ceiling light fixtures that was all the rage years ago. Come winter, I can never decide what to do since our dining area is attached and it is too bright with it. .and too dim without it. Yes. .that is something I'd like fixed. .it's driving me bonkers.

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  7. I adore that pillowcase and the tutorial is easy peasy! I make pillowcases but I am now going to do them like this!

    Lots of things making me bonkers here - bickering kids, rain, driving people to work.....sigh. Just a few more days and I will have a break!

    Deanna

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  8. Great pillowcase...and tutorial. I'll have to return for a refresher once I'm in pillowcase-sewing mode.

    I'm glad the corn-bread recipe link is now working. I plan to try it!

    Funny...I guess I'm up to early to remember what is driving me bonkers. No thoughts on that this morning!

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  9. My bonkers is like yours: Final details on home improvement projects that just won't wrap up. Plus a new furnace was installed yesterday which meant my laundry room AND craft room got pulled apart for access space while installation was in process. Shelves were moved into the family room and hat room, and of course the downstairs bath is in process (read: a mess) so every room downstairs is in disarray.

    And you are fussing about a window frame moulding? Tsk. Buck up girl!

    You must also suffer from fung shui disorder where every detail counts towards phycological well being or agony. Somebody please help raise funds to cure this sad disorder!

    Would French shades make you happier than mini blinds?

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  10. You had a good idea! And blinds are not my favorite either but we HAVE to have them here in Florida! Let's see...maybe the fact that I have 3 unfinished projects next to my sewing machine but I want to make a Witch hat instead! heehee! Maybe I can just put all of my sewing projects in a giant pillowcase and make a craft project instead! Sound good? lol

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  11. Mmmmmm, why don't you simply get/make some simple drapes/curtains, to pull across the *dreaded* mini-blinds, when they are in use?

    Or did I miss something...?

    Ho! for the leaves that eddy down, Crumpled yellow and withered brown, Hither and yonder and up the street And trampled under the passing feet; Swirling, billowing, drifting by, With a whisper soft and a rustling sigh, Starting aloft to windy ways, Telling the coming of bonfire days.
    ~~Grace Strickler Dawson

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  12. You missed something, M-N, because I didn't make it clear at all. ☺ This is the molding that was so terrible that I spent days getting the holes filled from many years of various curtain rod styles. I am not putting up any fixtures...unless I have no choice. I still have some ideas circling about...we'll see. Thanks for asking!

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  13. Thank you Dear One!

    And thank you for being so sweet, as to blame yourself for my 'miss.' :-)

    And now I understand! Ugh to making more holes-to-hang-curtains-by.

    Ho! for the leaves that eddy down, Crumpled yellow and withered brown, Hither and yonder and up the street And trampled under the passing feet; Swirling, billowing, drifting by, With a whisper soft and a rustling sigh, Starting aloft to windy ways, Telling the coming of bonfire days.
    ~~Grace Strickler Dawson

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  14. Annnnnd, thank you sooooooo much for your link, to the blog with the precious pillow case tutorial link. All this is really making me kind of *itchy* to try simple sewing again. After alllllll these years!

    And of course, I left a comment on her blog, thanking her and telling her, that Vee sent me over. Of course. :-)

    Rainy here too. -sigh- Wouldn't it be lovely to have everything on hand, to start sewing? Yes, it would be lovely, but I have some *getting* to do, before I can proceed with that. :-)

    Oh but I HAVE already done nice clearing out, of the room I can use, for sewing! Ahhhhh this extra time. -giggles-

    Ho! for the leaves that eddy down, Crumpled yellow and withered brown, Hither and yonder and up the street And trampled under the passing feet; Swirling, billowing, drifting by, With a whisper soft and a rustling sigh, Starting aloft to windy ways, Telling the coming of bonfire days.
    ~~Grace Strickler Dawson

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  15. Hi Vee, I'm trying to get a bit caught up reading blogs and will probably start posting again on Monday.
    Nothing driving me bonkers today.
    Ken is back to work today and I'm just enjoying being home. : )

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  16. Oh pillowcases....my mother has made tons for my kids...not me, but you did inspire me to get my bottom back to the sewing machine.

    Oh rain...send it this way! Cornbread and rain..what a comforting combination

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  17. Thanks so much Vee, for the link to the pillowcase tutorial. i have a giant box of scraps i'm determined to use up this fall and that great tutorial led me to another and another and now I can't wait to get started but I have to go help move an auger into a steel grainery so the farmer can unload his barley this morning...later on today I hope to start a disappearing nine patch...fingers crossed! Hope so - otherwise I'll be going bonkers!

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  18. If I talked about all the things that make me bonkers, you would absolutely run for the hills (or tell me to shut up). I am wondering what kinds of flowers are in your perennial garden? I would love to plant flowers that come up on their own each season, and I can make bouquets. All I plant are begonias (boring) and impatiens (less boring). xo,

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  19. What's driving me bonkers just now is the worrisome voice in the back of my head saying, "you have a lot to do today - quit reading blogs." But I'm almost through.

    Pillowcases are such satisfying things to make. They look pretty and aren't too difficult to sew. I like your linen one with the two contrasts.

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  20. The only thing driving me bonkers now is of a political nature, so I won't go any further...

    Lovely pillowcase! You're getting me in the mood to drag my sewing machine out of storage and make something. I used to sew, but never really loved it. But I do miss creating something with my own hands. And I have quite a bit of fabric still lurking around. And...we'll see!

    Have a lovely weekend!

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  21. You made me laugh with your giant pillowcase story and the images of Santa receiving this package is precious :).
    The other pillowcase is very pretty.
    I'm happy to report that I am not going bonkers about anything at the moment. Yesterday my pantry was making me bonkers, but I spent a good portion of the day cleaning it and now I am enjoying the satisfaction of a clean and well-organized pantry. Just wish it would stay this way forever.

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  22. I was truly head over heel bonkers the other day when I was tryin' to post pictures. It literally took the whole blessed day!

    I'm sure Santa will adore your giant pillowcase girl. The charmin' ones you made are just delightful.

    Have a terrifically blessed Thursday sweetie!!!

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  23. A giant pillowcase could be used for so many things! Santa would love it as a toy sack...lol I also have mini blinds on all but two windows. They are a necessary evil.

    It was an "on and off rainy" day here today, so I stayed in and tried to catch up on paperwork and bill paying. I can't believe how fast this week went!

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  24. Barbara~

    In the bouquet, I have knockout roses (love them...they are so easy to grow), spearmint, phlox, and rudbeckia (black-eyed susans). I also grow spiderwort, astilbe, a variety of day lilies, columbine, mallow, lavendar, and bee balm. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

    Sheila~

    I made some disappearing nine-patches yesterday, too. What fun they were. I know that you'll enjoy working on them if you can get to your sewing machine.

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  25. I'm intrigued with that idea to cover mini blinds...
    The only thing that is causing me to go bonkers is how easy it is to gain weight and how hard it is to lose weight! Have a great rest of the week!!

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  26. Vee...you are so cute, and creative (in a fun way)....you made me laugh...
    I'm going bonkers being homebound too much....but....I'm glad I have a home.

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  27. Vee
    If you ever get that giant shade 'pillowcase' mastered you should patent it! No joke-imagine how many women have blinds out there that hate them!! And if I were giving out a make-do award you'd definitely win for this one.
    I think your flowers are lovely too, but what really made my eyes pop where the beautiful coffee?pot and teapot. Did you inherit them by any chance? I just love the splashes of green on the large pot.
    This was a bonker free day today. And no, there were no tablets involved!
    Have a great weekend Vee.

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  28. I'll give it to you, you'll try anything once - no fear!! The Irish linen pillowcase is lovely, you are so gifted. The rain is driving me bonkers, two weeks of it here in Virginia, enough already! Whoever is rain dancing, cut it out!

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  29. I giggled so hard..a giant pillowcase to cover blinds....haaahhhaa, you silly thing, you. How 'bout curtains??

    I don't like the really tiny mini blinds, either and still have one back bedroom that have them. I do, however, LOVE the plantation blinds..I have them all over the house. I am not much for curtains and love the look of the blinds.
    That back bedroom has 4 windows so it will cost some to buy plantation blinds for it but I aim to get it done sometime this year...no...not THIS year..too close to Christmas...ok...NEXT year..Or, I may make ...GIANT PILLOWCASES. :))) gotta tease ya a little bit cause i love ya. :)

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  30. No wonky pillowcases here, but I have made a few other wonky things in my day. LOVE the pretty fabric edged ones you made! I do think that we learn from our flub ups. You are so cute!

    Miss Elizabeth has been showing us sewing skills, and believe me - she can sew! Been to her house and have seen her impeccable talent.


    xxoo
    Becky

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  31. guess you will have to tell me the secret about this cornbread...watching this slow cook on the video is driving me nuts..can't stand Utube and etc because it takes too long to load...

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  32. BJ~ Let the video load in your tray without paying it any mind. Then watch the last half. It's the METHOD you're watching for more than the recipe. Use your own recipe or even use a mix. You're good at that. Gotta tease you a little, too. ☺

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  33. A pillowcase over blinds is quite creative! I do love the trim on it. How come we get all of these great ideas that work out perfectly in our minds, but just don't work in reality?
    Unfinished seems to be the story of my life right now. We had been doing so much renovating before this move came up and now I am left with 1/2 dozen unfinished projects that must be finished for a renter to enjoy. Instead of fighting the market to sell the house, we are going to rent it out. I see catastrophe in my future.
    Oh well!

    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Jen

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  34. Cool on the pillow cases!--Driving me bonkers--let's see--I have asthma and seasonal allergies, that is driving me nuts the past 2 weeks. Yep, that will do it. lol

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  35. Linda~

    Where is your blog? Didn't I used to be able to get there via your profile? Sorry about the seasonal allergies. I have them, too, if I don't take local honey. Local honey is a very good thing.

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