Colors!

COLORS!

New colors for summer. 

Visit HomeGoodsAlaCarte on Etsy for all your dining and table top decor. 

Weddings, special events and custom orders welcome. 

Thank you for stopping by.

All the best! 

Pretty little pom poms! 

Custom colors. Burlap "pom-pom" flowers. Home Goods Ala Carte.

Fat Quarter Bag

How to cut a fat quarter.

Fat quarter is the term given to a quarter of a yard of fabric that is cut as half of half a yard, to produce a "fatter" more square block of fabric rather than cutting the full width of fabric from the bolt. Dimensions are usually around 18" x 22" rather than 9" x 44". Many prefer this fat quarter cut, as the squarer piece of fabric provides more options for its use.

I designed a pattern over the weekend to make a handbag out of a fat quarter cut of fabric. Only the exterior body of the bag is made out of the fat quarter, you would need a contrasting fabric for the lining and strap. I can't wait to try it out with some of my Spoonflower fabric. Custom designs, OOAK (one of a kind), scanned art, endless possibilities.

This is just a prototype. It needs a little tweaking. Don't pay attention to the wonky fabric, it was just something from my scrap stash.

Now I just need to figure out how to convert my instructions to a PDF file. I would like to start offering PDF pattern sales in my Etsy shop.

Weekend Work

I think I will play with weekend. I want to make some new stuff. How about cosmetic bags, purse organizers etc... items to enhance your handbag? What do you think?

I made these test bags today. You like?

Happy Weekend!

Make it a creative one.

UPDATE: Handmade Handbags

UPDATE TO PREVIOUS POST BELOW!

I can't help myself, I made a smaller version of the messenger bag below and I had to share with you. Here is the new one.



...taking a crack at something new...


...been makin' some handbags...


...messenger bags to be exact... or book bags...


...or just a nice size purse...

Any thoughts? Like? No? Ideas?

Handmade Holiday Decorations

I love this! I may even throw in a few on my tree.
Easy to make. Learn how here.

DIY Holiday Gifts

A couple DIY gift ideas for the holidays.

For your favorite Star Wars geek. A light saber cozy. Pretty funny, very creative.


For your favorite fashionista (or yourself) a cute bag pattern and tutorial. Easily customized for all tastes.

Made with love for all the wonderful people in your life. Have fun!

Have a wonderful weekend!

I will be enjoying the weekend with my BFF before she leaves for Davis to battle, I mean enjoy her 2nd year of veterinarian school.

So here is to Michelle, just remember next time you have your hand up a cow's butt or are playing with some stinky goat, there will be cold beer and a rare steak waiting for you here.

See you next spring (maybe Christmas?).

I will make these:

I mean these!

I know it's only the 2nd of September, but in just a few short weeks it will officially be Fall.
I needed a little motivation to get in the mood. I thought you might too.

Here are some really quick and easy projects to get you started.

Before you know it, it will be Halloween, Thanksgiving and then, well you know..... but that's another "season".



You can purchase the plastic version of these urns at most dollar stores. Fill them with whatnot in fall colors.



An easy one item wreath, for your door or above your mantle.



Cute little corn husk votive covers for your table, and...


also for your table, pine cone place cards.

Have fun!


All courtesy of Martha Stewart

Have a great holiday weekend!

Frontgate Elitre Sunlounger



Frontgate Elipse Relaxer

Let's Organize

This appeals to be because I have kids that leave everything by the door. There are always shoes, gear bags, back packs, book bags etc... sitting by the door. I imagine everyone having a nice organized space, very neat and tidy, just grab your stuff on the way out. Yes, I said, "I imagine" yes, like a dream.



Look at the "headboard" lots of storage there.




This is my favorite. I love the print on the curtain and the stacking storage. I wish my sewing area was this neat. I have way to much junk to be this tidy.

All images courtesy of Easy Living Magazine.

This is our weather forecast for the next four days. We have had a week already of about the same (hotter if you ask me).

Today: Sunny, with a high near 95
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

It continues with pretty much the same forecast through Labor Day.

Enough with the heat!!!
I am going here.

The Ice Hotel

I want to sleep here.

An ice bed!

Anyone want to join me. Meet you in the village Jukkasjärvi, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden. I bet I beat you there.

See you. I am off to find a fan.

Hey, my people are talented!

I found this book while browsing about the other day. I believe I will have to add this to my collection.

My grandparents were born in the Azores, the islands off of the coast of Portugal. I started looking around at some of the hand painted tile work and mosaics that the people of Portugal produce. There is a vast inventory of beautiful pictures and websites showing the work of these talented people. Here are just a few;



Azulejos Portugal








Domas Heating

I hope some of that talent is just dormant in my DNA. Maybe some day it will spring into action. Here's hoping!

New rugs from West Elm ! Really nice graphic patterns.

Numbers rug; I love the color.

Loop rug; nice color combo.

Stacked Circles; very warm and bold.


Seagrass border rugs are on sale, if you are so inclined.

Get a new rug, purge the old stuff hanging around, throw in a couple of new accessories and you'll have a new look, just in time for back to school.

Kids at school = tidy home.

You say Gazebo...

Morgan says "Gazobee"! She couldn't say gazebo when she was younger. She still screws it up once in awhile. Just a little side note there.

Anyway, my husband suggested that I look into buying some plans to build a gazebo for around the pool. I Googled "gazebo" and came up with some interesting images. Everything from thatched huts to aluminum pop ups. Weird!

This one is too fancy, just it's name is a no go; Hearts and Diamonds

Too grand, but really is this functional?

We call this a high wind/fire hazard in Southern California

Needless to say, my search for a gazebo continues.

I am in dire need of new dinnerware. Everyday dinnerware, not fancy stuff.

My everyday tableware consists of 1980's Corelle, 1990's Target stoneware (two different sets) and some random dollar store, hand me downs and thrift store soup bowls.

I can't decide whether I want;

Fiesta Ware

I would love to mix three different solid color sets.

Good ole Corelle,

Or the Target standby,

I know there are many other choices out there. Kate Spade has some beautiful dinnerware, Ralph Lauren likewise, but if I chose to purchase either one, I would have to make everyone eat off paper plates so as not to break or chip any of my beautiful dinnerware.

Hey, maybe that's not a bad idea, no dish washing, but not very green of me.

Versace Home


I stumbled across this last night, actually Morgan found it and we went crazy. I knew about the apparel, but home furnishings, OMG!
So out of reach, but everything is just beautiful, cuz you know, it's Italian and all.

Everything is just perfectly gorgeous. These are a couple of my favorites, but not together of course.





I love the silver with the solid white pillows, and the green is just the right shade, the pattern on the fabric..... aaaaahhhh.


...and sweet baby jesus, what do you think happened when I saw this?



Can you f#$%ing believe this? It is perfect!!

There will never be another black and white chair in my life. Unless I win the lottery or rob a bank (a large bank) this will never be in my home. How can any other compare?

I am sure it would all look wonderful in my circa. 1980's Southern California tract home! Ha!

Versace taste and an Ikea budget. A girl can dream.

Cost Plus World Market has the cutest chair pads. You could change the look of your whole dining set with theses, or make a custom cozy corner for reading, or remake your desk area.



For the price, $12.99 you could buy some of each and change them out peiodically, to suit your mood.



Any how, have fun! Change things up today.