Free Ebooks for Crafters

I haven't jumped completely on board with the ebook trend, but I'm slowly seeing the value of this new technology.  I don't own a kindle- in fact, I read the ebooks on my iPhone, which is not ideal, I know.

If you don't own a Kindle and would like to read ebooks, you can go here to download an application to read ebooks on your computer, or you can download the Kindle app for iPhone or iPod Touch.

Recently, I learned of some ebooks that may spark the interest of crafters, sewers and/or Etsy shop owners.  Please note that the price of these books is currently $0.00, but may fluctuate.  Check the price before clicking "Buy".

Pinterest- Build Your Brand, Your Tribe, Your Sales.  This is free for Amazon Prime and non-Prime members!  

Craft Business Heroes - I especially enjoyed the sewing chapter in this short read.  This book is free for Amazon Prime memberships.

How to Create Effective Facebook Pages for Businesses.  Free for Amazon Prime members only.

Are you an ebook reader?  On what device do you read ebooks?  What are your favorite ebooks?

Pom Pom Trim Round Up and a Great Deal from Pick Your Plum

I absolutely adore pom-pom trim.  Maybe it's because I was a cheerleader, or maybe because I love things with a vintage flair.  Or perhaps its because my grandmother gave me a huge stash of it a few months ago and I've been sprinkling pom-poms all over my home.

If you love pom-pom trim like me, or if you've been waiting for a chance to try it, today is your lucky day!  Pick Your Plum has an outstanding sale today only.  

Get three yards of three different colors for less than $5.  As someone who has dug through clearance bins for this treasure, you can trust me when I say, "This is a GOOD deal".

Never ordered from Pick Your Plum?  You won't be disappointed.  Their orders ship quickly, are well packaged, and always include a piece of candy.  The customer service team is awesome, and they will personally contact you with any questions about your order.  

Wondering how to use this new-found gem?  My favorite use is in pillows, and I shared a simple tutorial with you here about how to make a pom-pom trim pillow.  

But if that's not for you, I encourage you to add trim to curtains, use it in gift wrapping, or as home decor.  

I was recently at an estate sale and saw this decorative closet with vintage contact paper and pom pom trim. I think it's awesome, and would love to do something similar in my own closet, but my husband wouldn't agree.

I adore this lampshade!  (Found via Pinterest.)

This necklace (also found on Pinterest) is screaming my name....  it just may be my next project.  

I also recently added some cream colored pom-poms to our master bedroom curtains and made a matching throw pillow. (Blog post on that project coming soon.)

So there's a good mix of projects for both sewers and non-sewers.  What will you do with the pom-pom trim that Pick Your Plum sends your way?

Foyer Bench from Twin Headboard

Remember when my husband built me a pantry?  He set the bar pretty high on that project, but this particular project may have even raised the standard.

I saw an idea on Pinterest, and tried to re-create it, and failed miserably.

I came home from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore with these two chairs ($5 each!) with hopes that my sweetie could make them into an amazing bench.  He got to work, and I went to JoAnn's to buy foam.

After the initial sticker shock of this high-density foam, I came home to a husband who had tried his best to make two horrible chairs sturdy again.  He really did give it his best shot, but in the end, the chairs won the battle and were awarded a spot right beside our trash cans, which are currently at the curb.  :(

I was so disappointed, not only that my $10 chairs didn't work, but that I had also spent $40 on a piece of foam that I couldn't return.

Enter husband to the rescue!

He measured the foam and the board (which was actually a board that my father had cut years ago for our dining room table) and a huge light bulb went off!  Our seat cushion was the exact width of a twin size headboard.

So, back to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore we went, and although it wasn't $10 (more like $30), we found this beauty!

I loved the sports theme painted on, but it didn't fit with my living room/foyer decor, so sadly, it was gone.

I fell in love with the curvature of the headboard and knew it would look amazing in the space.

The love of my life sanded, primed and painted this headboard and then attached two legs to make an amazing piece of furniture for me.

At this point I left to go to work.

I came home and found this in my foyer.

I was so excited I squealed with joy, which is really a bad idea because I get home around midnight and my kiddos are asleep, and sometimes my husband is too (although this particular night, he waited on me to see the finished product).

I love how it looks!!!!

I love the openness of the tile floor, the colors, the curves on the headboard and the legs, I love it all!

With a closer look, you can see how he used 1x3 boards to make the bench secure and sturdy.  It really is solid, folks.  He and I both sat on it and there wasn't a wobble or wiggle in the room.

He also used some L-brackets to secure the 1x3 to the bottom of the seat, which makes it even more solid.

I did a quick interview with him prior to this post and asked for any advice he'd share.  His only words were, "Find out what your wife wants, and make it work.".

Job well done, Sweetie.  I love the new bench.  And I love you.

These fun ruffle and tie-front pillows emerged from my sewing room within the next day or so.  I really didn't have a tutorial for them; I just found a few images that inspired me and tried to re-create the style.

It was such a fun project that ended completely different than I originally planned, but I love the finished product!  It adds seating to my formal living room, which is where we often host Growth Group through our church, so we can always use an extra space.  It also gives a pop of color to my bland foyer and adds architectural interest to the small space.

by the way, the fabric is Alexander Henry's Mocca.

How have you dressed up your space this summer?