Sweater Pillows

Since I have not been doing much crafting lately, today's post is brought to you by mom from Red Maple Cottage.
She used sweaters found at a Thrift store to recover pillows for the front porch at Red Maple Cottage.

This a great idea for sweaters that are to small that you don't want to get rid of. These sweaters cost about $2.50 each. 

First, mom cut off the sleeves and collars, forming a square that would fit over the pillows. 

The pillows were ordinary throw pillows that mom had outside already. 

After mom cut the sweaters to fit the pillows, she placed the sweater on the pillow (as if it was wearing the sweater) and sewed up all the openings. 

Add in a matching blanket...

And Ta da....nice place for Miss Lilly to curl up. 

The snow flake that was on the pillow in the first picture and on the table in this picture is just a felt ornament from the dollar store. 

The 12 Months Before Christmas- January

Hello Folks,
It's a new year at Red Maple Cottage.
Mom is calling it The 12 months before Christmas. 
She has picked themes for each month and has tons of sewing, crafting, decorating and party ideas. 
So let's get started!


January ( A Partridge in a Pear Tree)

The theme of this month is Winter. 

Painted Tables

It has been crazy around here. I have been working lots of late nights last week. Which is awesome! Woohoo need the money for craft supplies. I also don't have working internet at my house, which means I need to post from Red Maple Cottage.

Today I want to share with you some painted tables. These are all mom painted. I don't have before picture because mom starts painting as soon as she has her hands on the piece of furniture. I don't have time to get there with my camera.

This moose one, and the next two lodge themed tables were painted on  ordinary folding t.v. tray tables that were purchased at Good Will for $3.

 This one is my favorite.

Mom likes the bear one the best.

Ok maybe I like this one the best. The Scottie dog was painted on an old end table we found at a thrift store for $6. I think it is perfect for Christmas time with the plaid background, but its too cute, I wouldn't want to put anything on it.


Today is craft day! Mom and I are making Christmas tree pins out of felt. Check back tomorrow to see our creations. I am linking up here:

Red Maple Cottage Kitchen

Yay! for power. We got our power back this morning!!!! I was sooo excited, but unfortunately the internet is still down. :(

So, I am back at Red Maple Cottage to check in with you all. How is every one? I hope everyone is having a sparkling day!!

Today, let's take a tour of the kitchen at RMC. It is right off the living room. come on'.

There are so many mom painted pieces in here. This is were I learned to cook. I have been cooking since I was 8 years old. I love trying new recipes. I started baking (from scratch) at age 10. Enough about me, back to the kitchen. Lets talk about that island.

It's really a dresser! Yup, mom made it. Take ordinary dresser, paint it white. Buy multi-layered plywood at Home Depot (measured to fit dresser and hang about 3/4 of a foot off the back.) Screw plywood to dresser. Paint plywood black for base coat. Sponge on browns and beige colors until desired marble look.

Finish it off with a bar top finish ( available at Home Depot or most paint stores).









Add hooks for potholders.

And a magazine rack for cook books. I know you noticed the stools in last picture.

These were plain wooden stools. Mom painted them. Aren't they pretty?

She used the same marble technique on the beverage bar.

The microwave cart is different though.

She painted a rooster on the side and tiled the top.

These are the same tiles as the back splash.

The Garbage can on the right, was on outdoor garbage. Picasso the puggle used to get into the garbage and knock it over. He can't knock this wooden one over.

So she painted it red with a topiary tree. I am really surprised the isn't a rooster on this, but there is on the bread box.

If you couldn't tell, mom likes roosters, and sunflowers, and red maple trees.

This is the hand painted border mom did on one wall of her kitchen. Near the window that looks out over the red maples.

This window used to look out at the red maple trees. I say used to because the storm split both of them. :(
So let's just close the shudders and not look at the damage.

Yes, she painted these too.

That the kitchen at RMC. Thank you for stopping by. You can head out the back door, near the beverage bar.

What? You expected a plain wooden door?

One thing mom taught me : if you can jazz it up, go for it!

Red Maple Cottage Living Room

Day 3 without power! This roughing it thing is getting old. I need dinner ideas! Help!

Since Red Maple Cottage has power and internet and I was told to stay home from work today unless they really needed me (still checking the phone), I decide to come to Red Maple Cottage to do some laundry and cook dinner (I will need to reheat it on the grill at home tho).

While I am at RMC I can post here, Facebook and Twitter and keep in touch with all of you. I really do appreciate all the sweet thoughts and comments.

So....since I am at RMC, lets show you around. Today, we have the living room......Walk in the front door and we have the small entry way.

I love the stain glass look on the door. It is a special paint that my mom used on the regular door window .

Now lets enter the living room.

If you turn to the left, there is the wall with the red maple.

Again the letter were cut out using my cricut and the pillow was found at Savers with the house already on it. Mom added the maple tree and the words. Next to the couch you see a red lamp shade.




It used to be white; mom painted it Red.









Ok..Now turn right again. Don't trip over the coffee table.

This is another one of mom's works of art. It was a plain wooden coffee table. She painted it white and stenciled the red boarder on. She also painted the "M" on the the wooden box. ( "M" is the initial of my maiden name, but I'm sure you figured that out). The coffee table matches the window valences. You can see those if you turn around. 

These were also painted and stenciled by mom. That lamp shade was crochet by my grandfather (mom's dad..aka my wild Irish Rose).

 There is Picasso, the watch dog. Next to him is another table painted by mom.

All hand painted. (FYI  you will soon see some of her stuff available on my new Etsy shop... and there will be a grand opening of my Etsy shop with a giveaway..soon)

Now turn to the right, near the front door.

That cabinet is another of mom's painted pieces.
ok now turn around..back toward the stairs.

Head toward the stairs. Can you spot the other mom paint furniture piece?

Yup the video cabinet. Painted with red maple leaves. She has painted this one many many times. But this look is definitely my favorite. OOOhh I almost forgot, turn to the left.

See the brick wall. Yea its paint with another mom painting of a topiary tree. The runner on the stairs is painted as well.

The wood on the stairs was wood but not nice hard word flooring. That is easily changed with some paint.

Hope you had a nice tour of the living room. See you tomorrow, maybe we will take a look at the kitchen.

Linking up here:
http://todayscreativeblog.net/