Below is my first video blog…  I hope to do a few more of these in the future.  This one is an update on my wool braided rug.  In my pregnant state I didn’t have the energy to put myself together before the shoot, so you’ll just have to enjoy a very “natural” looking pregnant woman!

Wool Rug Braiding from Ingrid Barlow on Vimeo.

Here’s a fun little project that doesn’t take long–Needle Felting! This involves taking little bits of raw wool, the colored balls you see, and pounding them into a piece of felted wool. You pound on a piece of foam with long needles…you can see these on the left side of the picture. You can create all sorts of images just by shaping the raw wool. If you are a knitter, it is fun to try this with some of your wool yarns. Just unwind the yarn and break it into shorter strands–punch away.

How can I be making a snowman you ask…well Christmas in July of course! This will be a cute little gift topper come wrapping time in December!

I got this as a kit at Willow Wood Market in Bemidji MN.

This morning I woke up at 6 to work on some pillows for my mom’s birthday.  I made her and my dad a duvet cover a couple months ago, and I’ve been thinking it’s high time they had some accent pillows to go with it.  The pillow in the background was very easy and I added a little balled fringe to the sides for a little something special for the eye.  The pillow in the front was made with scraps from the fabric in the duvet cover.  I added beaded fringe on this one.  It was a smidge harder to work with since you have to watch the foot of your sewing machine and make sure your needle doesn’t hit any of the beads.  I made it through with only one broken needle.   

So after making my mom’s birthday pillows, I decided to make some matching pillowcases for the quilt on my bed.  They were rather fun to make and I used the scraps from the quilt so they were very cheap as well.  Basically to make a pillow case you use 24 inches of regular 42″ wide fabric (WOF), a 2 1/2 inch accent strip WOF, and a 6 inch WOF for the top of the pillow case.  There are patterns that allow you to have no raw seams so your finished pillowcase looks very professional. 

Tony and I also ripped out the shag carpet in our bathroom today.  I know, carpet in a bathroom!  Ugh!!  We were planning on taking it out when we redo the entire bathroom, but with the humidity it was grossing us out.  It came up very easy and I don’t know why we didn’t do it before.  I’m excited for even more home improvements!

I woke up at 5:45 this morning–that’s what happens when I know I have the whole day to myself!  I would never wake up that early on a Monday morning, but today was a wonderful day off for the 4th of July.  I was so excited about my new clothesline I could hardly stand myself.  So today my clothesline was completely broken in–6 loads of laundry later.  (For other “green” ideas check out Sara Snow)

My grandparents-in-law had asked me a couple weeks ago if I could make slipcovers for some of their old outdoor seating, so today I dove into the project.  I was surprised at how fast and easy the whole thing was.  I made an overlap in the back so the cushions just slipped inside, very slick!  You never know what you can do until you try it! 

The original cushions were an obnoxious lime green floral.  They picked out this new fabric and I think it went very well with their house and other deck chairs.   

I’m thinking this holiday night might call for curling up in bed with my sun dried sheets, sprinkled with linen powder, and a good book.  (Oh, I heard of a highly recommended book today–The Shack by William Young)  Good Night!!

Getting pattern orders out today!  Sending patterns to quilt shops and individuals is definitely a big job, but such a good feeling when you get orders on their way.  The process includes receiving orders via phone and email, checking inventory, getting the patterns put together, preparing invoices, and packaging for shipment.  It’s so much fun as a designer to imagine what everyone is doing with the patterns they purchase…what fabric are they using…will the finished quilt be a gift for someone…what will the quilts purpose be…

Tonight Tony put up my new clothesline!!  I am so excited!  I think it is somewhat a waste of energy to run my dryer on hot days when hanging them outside would work just as well.  Not to mention the smell of air dried sheets and towels!  So tomorrow morning, the plan is to get up and get the laundry started.  I have a small mountain of bedding waiting to be done, since I was stalling for my clothesline.  One thing I can promise, with the use of my new energy efficient “dryer,” you won’t ever see undies swinging on my line!!   Using a clothesline is one small way I can be a little greener and that alone makes me smile. 

Here’s something that I couldn’t resist picking up at a shop.  Not sure what I’m going to do with it yet.  It’s a wide burlap trim with red woven in it.  I’m sure I’ll think of something life-shattering to do with it…  I really did have to have it…