apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

There's so many things you can do with a yard a fabric. Change the cover of your dining room cushions. Make a French Bulletin Board (http://jdorganizer.blogspot.com/2008/12/bulletin-board-alternative-french.html) cover a corner table; make a fancy pillow case; make no sew cushions covers (http://www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/how-to-make-a-no-sew-pillow-cover); cover a flowerpot (think LOTS of Elmer's Glue). If it doesn't move (and it's not a cat) you can cover it with fabric.

quilting seems the obvious choice - you can share your life story on your quilt!

LaureE: " If it doesn't move (and it's not a cat) you can cover it with fabric." I laughed my heart out at this one. My cat's pretty ornemental too !

I collect fabrics too, and realized I just HAD to learn sewing. With the most basic of sewing machines, and somes classes with my grandma, I learned how to sew stuffs for newborns and toddlers. I'm pregnant with my first child, and he/she already has three hand-embroidered and home-sewn bibs, a pyjama (the special one for newborns, I don't know the name in English), bed-bumpers, and a huge quilt (though I may finish that one by the birth of my 45th child, it's enormous). I sew myself a sling and some bedsheet.

I stuff things made with remnants with other remnants. At least until I'm ready to use them. By then I'll have more remnants.

i too am a fabric addict except that i have more ideas than actual finished projects. some of them:

1. make a clock - cover a scrap surface like plyboard and attach clock mechanism behind it.
2. cover an old picture frame with fabric.
3. make simple drapes - hem the fabric and attach to clip rings.
4. clothes hook - cover rectangular plyboard with fabric and screw in round cabinet knobs.
5. line a table with fabric and put glass over it. you can even make a "scrapbook" table top by including photographs and what-have-yous.
6. slipcover anything - baskets that the cat has ruined, ironing board, an old chair, etc.

i am a fabric addict and it doesnt help that i constantly get to bring home tons of textiles from work.

there are some i use and some that i keep in a vintage suitcase just for looking purposes. i would never cut certain pieces. they are just to beautiful.

i have issues. hahahahh

I did this ...

http://davidanddaisy.com/?p=123

It looked great to frame fabric. Very easy to make too.

Thank you!! I need all the ideas I can get for my new apartment.

Emily

I found some great fabric that I stretched over a set of four canvasses and hung in a group over my bed. I wanted something that would cover a large portion of the wall, instead of using on large canvas frame, I just used four. I think it is actually more visually interesting as well. I love it.

i like to cover shoe boxes with fabric to store craft supplies, small holiday decorations, or my many unpaid bills in (lol).

i also get to take home textiles from work, many of them discontinued but still lovely.

besides the shoe boxes, i use them to cover cardboard magazine files, and use them as book jackets to cover those small 3-ring recipe books.

speaking of which, why are most recipe books so country? all the ones i find are like, covered in ducks and gingham, or have pictures of steaming cappucinos on them.

off topic, but, anyone know where to get cool graphic patterned 3-ring recipe books?

off topic, but, anyone know where to get cool graphic patterned 3-ring recipe books? ---> Ck out etsy.com

@ Kpaige13, it may not be exactly what you're looking for, but TasteBook will let you create your own cookbook:

http://www.tastebook.com/

I don't know anything about it, nor do I have any investment in it!

Here's another similar website:

http://createmycookbook.com/home

I am a fabric addict too - I make paintings with my fabric stash. Here's a link to my paintings

Kpaige13--if you want interesting cookbook covers, you can make covers for the books you have and take them to an office supply store (OfficeMax, etc) and have them bound. They can drill for 3 ring binders, do comb or spiral binding, etc. I've had great luck taking in traditionally bound books, having them cut the spines off and then spiral binding them. It is especially useful for cook books and other books that you need to stay open while you are looking at them.

Question--I've heard more than once the recommendation to use starch to hang fabric on the wall. I live in a rental and want to try it, but I was wondering if anyone had instructions. Also, is the process different if you are working with plaster instead of drywall, or vice-versa?