big sale this week!

Tuesday is my 42nd birthday (YIKES!) and it's a tradition around here to celebrate with a sale! So all week long I've got online classes marked way down. You can view my entire collection of unlimited access online classes HERE 

happy weekend!

around these parts

You can see more of life around these parts over on Instagram where I document and share a more personal look into our life. You can follow me HERE for a peek into our daily happenings.

a peek inside my art journal- finger painted pages

flat screen tv cover

Today I wanted to share a quick way to cover up a flat screen television. While I don't mind a t.v. mounted to the wall, sometimes (like when it's time to entertain), it's nice to have a way to cover it up with something that feels a little more like art! Recently we upgraded to a larger t.v. which meant it was time to make a new cover.

Start by painting either canvas or fabric that is a little larger than your television. I prefer to use fabric because once painted, it is thinner than canvas and easier to sew with. Your painting can be anything! I typically make my t.v. covers simple with messy color. 

The concept for this cover is basically like a fitted sheet. To be honest, I don't follow a pattern when I'm making a t.v. cover and I eyeball a lot of the process but below is the basic design. 

Begin by measuring your t.v.- ours measures 56" x 33". I am super visual so I measured and taped off the section of painted fabric to represent the area that would cover the front of the t.v. I actually added a couple more inches to my rectangle so it measured about 58"x 35" and then an additional 1/2" around the sides.

Next you will need to cut notches from the corners. Since our flat screen t.v. is really thin, I left about 1/2 inch of fabric on each side.

Next, sew the corners together. 

Then fold, press edges and sew casing for the elastic.

Cut elastic to size (this will all depend on the size of your t.v.). I used about 90" of elastic.

Attach a safety pin to each end of the elastic and guide one of those ends through the casing. 

Sew the ends of the elastic together and sew up the gap in the casing.

The cover should fit tightly over your t.v. like a fitted sheet over a mattress.

The result is a fun and colorful way to cover up that t.v.!

happy weekend!

unexpected snow day

It rarely snows here on the Oregon Coast but last week we were surprised to wake up to a dusting of snow and a backyard filled with deer. While it only lasted for a few hours, it was magic!

creating with jules- pom pom necklace

I’m excited to show you this pom pom necklace, as I think it’s one of those easy projects you can do but yet the finished product has big impact.

You will need:

wire
scrap fabric
pom pom ric rac
tasselextra beads and/or pom poms (optional)
seed beads (or your beads of choice)
tiger tail (beading wire)
crimps
4 small split rings (1/4” diameter) - clasp
Tools needed:
- jewelry pliers, pliers, needle and thread, scissors

Take your wire and fold into three then twist it all together. My finished wire length once twisted was 2 1/2”.

Take a small piece of scrap of fabric, wind it around the wire and then stitch it all over to secure it down.

Take your pom pom ric rac and sew to one end of the wire length then wrap it all around. You can wrap lots of times or a few depending on how clustered with pom poms you want your pendant to be. 

Sew it all down catching the pom pom strand in a few places so it stays together. You can now sew on some more beads and/or pom poms and your tassel in the places you think need filling, or that look pleasing to you.

Play around with the placement of these decorative items to get the pendant how you like.

Sew two split rings on either side of your pom pom pendant.

Take two lengths of tiger tail a couple of inches longer than you want each side of the necklace to be. Place a crimp onto one end then through one of the rings, then back through the crimp. Press closed tightly with pliers and trim the excess away. Repeat on the other side.

Thread your colored beads onto the tiger tail, to the length you desire. My finished beaded tiger tail lengths were 14” on both sides, with 3” of pink beads before I switched to yellow.

Once you reach the end, place another crimp on, then a split ring, then back through the crimp and press closed making sure it’s all nice and tight. Again, trim the excess tiger tail. Before you crimp the other side, thread your clasp onto the split ring first.

Then, you’re all done! I think this is a really fun necklace and I hope you try one out for yourself. My two young girls think they’re fabulous! And I think the options for different color/ bead/ pom pom combinations are endless, so experiment away. 

Jules :)

To see more of my work or to get in touch, visit me at http:// julesmadden.blogspot.com.au