Handmade Bedroom Set

Update!!

When the show Fixer Upper first came out, we never really watched it. I'm not sure why, but we started binge watching it recently, and we've been inspired to do some updates to our house! Since we had this new beautiful bedroom set and quilt, we decided to start there. We updated the color to make everything pop! The white vases (filled with branches from the trees in our backyard), are from Chip and Jo's Magnolia collection from Target. We just had to incorporate something from Fixer Upper! The candle holder on top of the headboard was designed and created by Heather at Cork and Barrel Designs. It is made out of a wine barrel from Napa Valley. We also added the beautiful handmade sign from a local shop above our bed, which I just love! I love incorporating handmade things. I think that really makes a house a home.

This is the view looking from our bed toward the bathroom. We have some beautiful custom arches that we highlighted in white. We also made some cool updates to our bathroom that I will highlight in another post. I'm on the lookout for some big, white chunky candlesticks to go on either side of our wedding picture.

Below is my original post, and you can see our room before the paint. We decided to take a risk and go dark with a paint called pencil point, from Home Depot.  I think the dramatic paint job really makes the room feel calm and soothing. We are loving it!

Now that the holidays are over, I had to share some amazing handmade gifts that I got from my husband and my mom! To be honest, these were gifts from last year, but they are incredible! We finally decided to upgrade our mattress from a queen to a king, so it was time for a new bedspread and bedroom set!

This amazing quilt was made by my mother, Marilyn Gillis, from Fork in the Road Concepts. This is something that we will keep AND use forever! I can't tell you how special it is to me. Not only is this handmade gift a cherished keepsake, but it's practical too! This beautiful king sized quilt is both warm (without making us too hot) and it fits in the washing machine. Yes!

The quilt pattern is called Rippling Star from Calico Carriage Quilt Designs, and Debby Maddy is the designer. We got the quilt pattern and the fabric from a local quilt shop called High Prairie Quilts.  I came in armed with some paint samples of our bedroom colors, and they spent hours helping me pick just the right fabric combinations. If you have ever tried picking out fabric for a quilt, you know how overwhelming it can be! It was really hard for me to imagine how these fabric patterns that were completely different could "match" or come together looking like a beautiful quilt. But they did! Those ladies really know their stuff!

Once we had the new bed and the quilt, my husband and I searched for exactly what we wanted in a bedroom set for months! We needed light, something that would charge all of our technology without a lot of cord clutter, and a lot of storage space. Each bedroom set that we looked at had an aspect that we really liked, but none of them had everything we wanted. If we just settled for something, chances are we would end up buying something else in a few years trying to get exactly what we did want. Since we couldn't afford to do that, my husband finally agreed to build exactly what we were looking for. He didn't work from a plan (he created it as he went), but I'll share the special features with you in case you decide to try your own bedroom set. 

In the pictures above, you can see the lights that are built into the headboard. My side of the bed has a set of lights that can be turned on separately, and so does his. We each have a switch on the side of the headboard that controls our lights. I LOVE this! To incorporate these built-in lights, we used 4 LED countertop lights from IKEA (2 on each side of the bed). If you don't have an IKEA near you, Amazon has something that I think is similar.

This is an affiliate link, which means that I do receive a small commission if you use this link to buy, but at no cost to you.

This side view of the headboard shows you the light switch that controls the built-in lights and the cubbies in the side of the headboard. There are 2 hidden cubbies on each side of the headboard that are big enough to hold my laptop, books, phone, or an iPad. Behind the headboard there is a power strip with USB ports attached, and the power cords are strung from the power strip through holes in the back of the headboard. I pulled the cords out in the picture so you can see them, but cords are hidden inside the cubby as our technology is charged. 

These night stands are really impressive! Not only do they look like they were bought in a high-end store, but they have some amazing features. First, I love the space under the top of the night stand. I always had clutter all over the top of my nightstand, so I asked for that space underneath that could be a permanent place to keep things like my laptop.  I can store my phone and laptop in the headboard too, so I have lots of options. There is also a power strip with USB ports attached to the back of the night stand, so the cords stay pretty hidden. I just string them through that space under the top of the night stand, and I use cable clip organizers to keep the cords from falling on the ground when I unplug them. The drawer is really big, and it has soft close drawer slides so you can't accidentally slam it shut! We added some baskets under the drawer because sometimes I want to pull the whole basket out. I stay more organized when my storage is a little more flexible. We got the baskets from Amazon, but we took out the rope handle and added a handle that matched the drawer to give it a more cohesive look.

Now for the very coolest feature of these night stands . . . the hidden cubby holes! This is so amazing! They have drawer slides on the top with a very shallow cubby hole underneath. As you can see, I like to keep the remotes in my cubby hole. I always loose them! My husband (a former police officer) likes to keep a gun in his. I love these secret compartments! There is a lot of room for storage. 

I have also been working on adding a few special handmade touches to my amazing bedroom refresh! 

 

I made these coasters to go on our nightstands. The nightstands and headboard are covered with a thick coat of polyethylene, but we want to use coasters too to take good care of it! To make these coasters, I used tiles from Home Depot, and I printed the sayings on tissue paper. Just spray a light coat of Repositionable Adhesive Glue on some card stock and put the tissue paper on top. Run it through the printer, and you can peel the tissue paper off. Then Mod Podge the tissue paper onto the tile, add cork on the back of the coaster with adhesive spray (NOT repositionable this time), and you have a very beautiful and durable coaster!

I also made this pen holder using a modified version of the pattern Jute and Cotton Stacking Baskets by JaKiGu.

I hope you had a wonderful holidays season too. I would love to hear what your favorite handmade gifts were in the comments below!

Black Hat and Tie Bottle Topper

It's almost New Year's Eve! Are you looking for a host/hostess gift? Here is a cute and easy way to personalize a bottle of wine. It's also great for a wedding or bridal shower. You can also download the pdf of this pattern on Ravelry here.

Black Hat and Tie Bottle Topper

Materials

Size H hook

100% cotton yarn, black

Abbreviations in US terms:

Ch - chain

St - stitch

SlSt - slip stitch

SC - single crochet

HDC - half double crochet

DC - double crochet

BLO - back loop only

SC2tgr - single crochet 2 together

Black Tie Pattern

Ch 16 and SlSt to beginning Ch to make a circle.

Row 1: CH 1. SC in the same St and the next St. HDC in each of the next 5 Sts. SC in the next 2 Sts. HDC in each of the next 5 Sts. SC in the next 2 Sts and SL ST to beginning St. (16)

Row 2: Repeat round 1.

Row 3: CH 1. SC in the same St and the next St. HDC in the next 3 Sts. HDC in BLO of the next 2 Sts. SC in BLO of the next 2 Sts. HDC in BLO of the next 2 Sts. HDC in each of the next 3 Sts. SC in the next 2 Sts and SlSt to the beginning St. Cut off. Weave in ends. (16)

Row 4: CH 30. SL ST to first Ch to form a circle. SlSt in each Ch around and to the beginning SlSt. Cut off. Weave in ends.

Finishing:

Put the circle from row 4 around the bowtie. Slip one end of the circle through the other end of the circle and pull it tight. It will form the middle of the bowtie and create a loop that will go over the top of the bottle.

Black Hat Pattern

Magic circle CH 1, 8 SC in magic circle. SlSt to first SC. (8)

Row 1: Ch1. 2 HDC in each St around. SlSt to first Ch 1. (16)

Row 2: Ch 1. HDC in BLO of each St around. SlSt to first Ch 1. (16)

Row 3: Ch 1. SC2tgr, HDC in each of the next 6 Sts. SC2tgr. HDC in each of the next 6 Sts. SlSt to first Ch 1. (14)

Row 4: Ch 1. HDC in each St around. SlSt to first SC. (14)

Row 5: Ch 1. SC2tgr, HDC in each of the next 5 Sts. SC2tgr. HDC in each of the next 5 Sts. SlSt to first Ch 1. (12)

Row 6: Ch 1. 2 HDC in BLO of each St around. SlSt to first Ch 1. (24) Cut off. Weave in ends.

Happy New Year! Enjoy!

5 Days of Stocking Stuffers: Large Gift Card Holders

Here is the last idea I have to share with you in this series: 5 Days of Stocking Stuffers! We're getting close to the big day now, but there is still time to crochet these gift card holders. I bought gift cards from the grocery store on those stands that have gift cards from several restaurants, stores, and more. They are packaged differently than your typical gift card, and so they are much bigger. The gift cards for Xbox points that I bought are 3.5 inches x 5.5 inches in size. I first used this really cute pattern by Cindy Kromminga to make the Crochet Reindeer Gift Card Holder. I had to adjust the size to fit a bigger gift card, so it doesn't look exactly like hers, but it's still cute. I had more than one gift card to give, so I decided to design my own crochet pattern for a snowman. That is the pattern I am going to share with you today. You can also download the free pdf for this pattern on Ravelry by clicking here.

Large Snowman Gift Card Holder

Materials:

White yarn 100% cotton, medium weight 4

Black yarn 100% cotton, medium weight 4

Size H hook

Tapestry needle

2 Black wooden beads (eyes)

1 carrot button

Abbreviations  

Ch - chain

SlSt - slip stitch

St - stitch

SC - single crochet

*Note: This pattern is for a gift card that is 3.5 inches by 5.5 inches, which is bigger than a typical gift card. This holder is for the variety of gift cards that can be purchased at a grocery store. You can easily adjust the pattern for any size by adjusting the size of the beginning chain to fit your gift card.

Pattern

With white, Ch 28. SlSt to beginning Ch to make a circle. Ch 1. (The Ch 1 will be the fold on the side of the gift card holder.)

*Note: Check to see if your gift card will slide inside this circle. If you have a regular sized gift card, this circle will be too big. Adjust the number of Ch to fit your gift card.

Row 2-14: Working in continuous rounds, SC in each St around.  At the end of round 14, Ch 1, skip a stitch, SlSt to next stitch. Cut the white yarn and weave in ends.

*Note: If making a smaller gift card, SC in white about ¾ the size of the gift card.

Rows 15: With black yarn, SC onto the side of the gift card holder where it folds. Ch 4. Turn. SC in second Ch from hook and in each Ch across (3). This forms the brim of the hat on the right side. Continue to SC in the next 14 Sts that are part of the circle. Ch 4. Turn. SC in second Ch from hook and in each Ch across (3). This forms the brim of the hat on the left side. Continue to SC in next 14 Sts that are part of the circle. (The 14th St is on top of the first SC made in black yarn.)

Rows 16: SC in the 3 Sts that make the brim of the hat on the right side. Ch 1. Turn. SC in the 3 Sts that make the brim of the hat and the next 14 Sts that are part of the circle. SC in each of the 3 Sts that make the brim of the hat on the left side. Ch 1. Turn. SC in the 3 Sts that make the brim of the hat and the next 13 Sts that are part of the circle.

Rows 16 - 18: SC in each St that is part of the circle only (28 in each round). DO NOT include the brim of the hat. At the end of row 18, Ch 1, skip the next St, and SlSt into the next St. Cut off. Weave in ends.

Finishing: Using white yarn, SlSt the bottom of the gift card holder together. Cut off. Weave in ends. Attach the wooden bead eyes and the carrot button nose with black yarn. Stitch a smile with black yarn and a tapestry needle.

I hope you enjoyed 5 Days of Stocking Stuffers! Have a Merry Christmas!

5 Days of Stocking Stuffers: Doggy Poo Bag Holder

I have been sharing practical, handmade stocking stuffer ideas you can easily make yourself for the holidays! Here is the fourth idea in this series, 5 days of stocking stuffers. Try crocheting something that every dog owner needs–a Doggy Poo Bag Holder! These little holders have doggy poo bags inside, and they clip onto your dog's collar. Now you can have a poo bag right at your fingertips while taking your dog on a walk! I've seen patterns for these, but they have been very big and bulky which seems inconvenient. I decided to try my own pattern using these small, compact poo bags from Amazon and 2 inch carabiners.

These are affiliate links, which means I do get a small commission if you use these links to buy, but at no cost to you. These are the same products I used to make it myself.

You can also download a pdf of this pattern on Ravelry by clicking here. 

Doggy Poo Bag Holder

Materials

Size H hook

100% cotton yarn medium weight

OUT! Dog Waste Pickup Bags

2 inch Carabiner

Charm/Bead (optional)

Abbreviations in US terms:

Ch - chain

St - stitch

SlSt - slip stitch

SC - single crochet

DC - double crochet

BLO - back loop only

Pattern

Ch 10 and SlSt to beginning Ch to make a circle.

Row 1: CH 2. 18 DC in the circle. SlSt to beginning Ch 1. (18)

Row 2: Ch 1. SC in BLO in each St around. SlSt to beginning Ch 1. (18)

Row 3 - 11: Begin working in continuous rounds. Do not join. SC in each St around.

Row 12: SC in BLO of each St around. (18)

Row 13: (I usually put the roll of bags in and pull a bag out of the bottom before doing this row. It’s not necessary, but I think it’s easier.) SlSt in each St around. Cut off. Weave in ends.

Finishing: Cut a piece of string about 8 - 10 inches long. Weave it through row 12 and tie in a bow. This can be tightened as the bags are used so the roll does not fall out as the roll gets smaller. You can also add a fun bead or charm on the front. Slide the carabiner through 3 rows in the back near the top. To use your Doggy Poo Bag Holder, clip the carabiner onto your dog’s leash at the handle or down near your dog’s head. When on a walk, you now have a poo bag right at your fingertips! Enjoy!

If you liked this stocking stuffer idea, check out the other ideas in this series: 5 Days of stocking stuffers.

Santa Hat for Lotion Bottle

 Earbud/Cord Organizers

 Ice Scraper Mitt

5 Days of Stocking Stuffers: Ice Scraper Mitt

It's time for the third stocking stuffer idea! I'm sharing 5 ideas in this series that you can easily make yourself to add a special, handmade touch to those smaller gifts for neighbors, teachers, or a last minute thoughtful and practical stocking stuffer. This pattern is not mine, but it's a great idea! The Ice Scraper Mitt pattern comes from Stitches N Scraps. An ice scraper with a warm mitt to keep your hand warm as you scrape is a thoughtful, practical gift for a man or a woman. They work up quickly, and it's easy to fit them to any ice scraper. I used different yarn than the pattern calls for in black, white, and gray, and it turned out really well. Here is the yarn and the scraper I used:
These are affiliate links, which means I do get a small commission if you use these links to buy, but at no cost to you. These are the same products I used to make it myself.

I also made these gift tags to go with it! You can download a free copy by subscribing to my blog.

Good luck finishing up your handmade gifts! If you liked this stocking stuffer idea, check out the pattern for the Santa Hat for Lotion Bottle, and Earbud/Cord Organizers. Don't forget to check back for more new stocking stuffer ideas!

5 days of Stocking Stuffers: Earbud/Cord Organizer

Are you ready for another practical, handmade stocking stuffer that makes a great gift for neighbors, teachers, or a last minute thoughtful stocking stuffer? I'm sharing 5 ideas you can easily make yourself to add a special handmade touch to those smaller gifts. Try crocheting the second stocking stuffer idea in this 5 part series: Earbud/cord organizers! I've seen these around lately, and I decided to try making my own, and now I'm happy to share the pattern with you! You can also download the pdf pattern on Ravelry by clicking here.

If you own a smart phone, then you have a lot of cords. Whether you are traveling or just throwing the cords in your purse or backpack so you don't run out of battery before the day is over, these little cord organizers are perfect! I had a craft show recently, and they were snapped up like hot cakes! They're fairly easy to make, and you can make them for a boy or girl. That's a handy gift for teenagers!

Earbud/Cord Organizer

Materials:

Size H hook

100% cotton yarn

Button

Abbreviations in US terms:

Ch - chain

St - stitch

SC - single crochet

SlSt - slip stitch

Pattern:

Ch 7. Turn.

Row 1: SC in 2nd Ch from hook and each Ch across (6).

Rows 2 - 8: Ch 1, Turn. SC in each St across (6).

Row 9: Ch 5. SlSt to the 6th SC on the opposite side forming the button hole. SC down the side of your work and all the way around, including the 6 Ch stitches on the button hole. SlSt back in the first SlSt. Cut off. Weave in ends.

Finishing:

Attach a button in the middle according to the picture, approximately the 2nd or 3rd row from the bottom. The button is the fun part that makes these little gifts unique, so look for one that fits the personality of the person to whom you're giving the gift. Enjoy!

If you liked this gift idea, check out the pattern for the Santa Hat for Lotion Bottle; the first handmade gift idea in: 5 Days of Stocking Stuffers! Be sure to check back for more handmade stocking stuffer ideas!