Disney Powless’s blog, Ruffles and Stuff, really resonated with our ruffle-loving staff. There’s not much that this creative, resourceful designer won’t pretty up with her signature frills—slippers, shirts, you name it! We all went crazy over her fabulous headbands and necklaces. (That’s her cutie-pie daughter modeling the giant peach-colored rose on page 110 of our fresh style Summer 2011 issue.) “When I want or need something,” says Disney, “I always try to think of how I can make it first.” For inspiration for your own projects, check out Disney’s blog at rufflesandstuff.com. For step-by-step instructions on making the headbands, turn to page 30 of our fresh style Summer 2011 issue.

Known for her vibrant, modern renditions of vintage crafts, Arizona artist Heather Bailey believes creativity should be pursued as more than a mere outlet. She sees it as nourishment for the soul. We are excited to feature her and her various creative enterprises in this issue of Fresh Style, and we are especially thrilled to share her tuxedo clutch how-to, a project she designed especially for us (and you!). Read more about Heather at heatherbailey.com.

 Frame the window with easy-to-make tab-top no-sew curtains from Pate-Meadows Designs. For an encore, hang the pretty panels from decorative finial posts. Click here to download the template and the instructions. 

 Put Fluffy and Fido in their proper places with this easy silhouette project. You’ll need a picture of your pet, cardstock, a pencil, a paintbrush, and acrylic or craft paint. Begin by cutting out the shape of your pet’s silhouette. Place it on the cardstock, and trace the outline. Apply a coat of paint around the tracing so that the outline becomes a white silhouette. Allow the paint to dry completely, and then apply a second coat. To finish our versions, we added mats and encased the portraits in refurbished thrift store frames. For a different take on the same idea, experiment with watercolor paints, or cut the silhouette out of patterned scrapbook paper and affix to solid cardstock.   

Project Designed by Katherine Tucker 

Follow this step-by-step to make your own version of our pretty napkin pillow cover.

Supplies:
3 (22” x 22”) napkins
Matching thread
18-inch square pillow form

Overview: One napkin becomes the front of the pillow.
The remaining two napkins form the pocket of the back.

1. Trim 2 napkins for the back so that they are 22 inches wide by 14 inches long.
2. Lay the 2 back pieces on the front napkin, right sides facing, overlapping the 2 back pieces so that they align with the front napkin on all four sides. Be sure the cut edges of the back pieces are on the outside seam, not on the overlapping edges.
3. Pin in place on all four sides.
4. Sew all four sides using a ½-inch allowance. It’s not necessary to finish off the edges; they will be encased in the flange.
5. Turn pillow cover right side out. Push out the corners all the way to form clean points. Press seams flat.
6. To make the flange, stitch a seam along the outside of the pillow—all the way around and through all layers—about 1½ inches from the outside seam.
7. Insert pillow form into the overlap opening in the back

Special thanks to Leré Harper and King Cotton Decorator Fabrics (205-322-5878). Napkins provided by Dransfield & Ross (dransfieldandross.biz).

To make a personalized cutting garden, spray-paint a large container with a base color. (Remember to tape off the handles and rim if they are to be left as is.) Next, tape a stencil in place, and spray over it with a contrast color, repeating if necessary. Once dry, remove the stencil, and affix garden shears to the handles with twine so they are always nearby for snipping fresh herbs, vinca, Gomphrena, and Echinacea.