Author: Bess Paper Goods & Gifts

Sweater pillow

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 1 Comment

chair+pillow

Accidentally put your favorite wool sweater in the dryer? Don’t shed a tear—you may not be able to wear it anymore, but your living room will be better for it! I made this funky argyle pillow cover from one that used to fit the fiancé (oops).

Supplies:
•sweater
•pillow form that’s the same width as sweater
•straight pins
•sewing machine (a serger would be better, but if you sew over your seams twice you should be good to go!)

Step 1: Turn the sweater inside out. Lay flat and pin the sweater’s front and back together at the shoulders and neck.

Step 2: Break out the sewing machine and continue the existing side seams up to the top of the shoulders.

Step 3: Measure the height of your pillow form and mark that length from the bottom of the sweater. Sew straight across (perpendicular to your other seams) at the mark. Cut off extra material above the seam and on either side (the sleeves).

Step 4: Sew about 1/3 of the way in from each side along the bottom of the sweater.

Step 5: Turn the square inside out, stuff pillow form inside.

Step 6: Hand sew the remaining opening and viola! There’s a snappy new pillow in your home!

P.S. That’s my new chair from Iconi Interiors!

This is me:

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

award

Ahhhh . . . yeah sorry guys. What can I say? I’ve been busy:

DSCF0022

Fiance and I bought a house. We then proceeded to completely rip it apart, and we’re just starting to get things back together again. (Lots more on this to come! Hope you like before and afters!)

BRAVA_cover_0909

Second issue is on stands now and we’re working hard on the October issue!

Oh, and my mom keeps telling me I’m supposed to be planning a wedding? So, anyway, have patience, check back every once in a while, and I promise to give you a little something now and then!

The SOLD Project

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

The SOLD Project is a grassroots organization dedicated to inspiring and empowering individuals to stop child prostitution before it begins. The organization twofold: They’ve just finished filming a documentary in Thailand for four months to help raise awareness about human trafficking and have in place a growing prevention program. The Prevention Program is made up of 1) Scholarships 2) Mentorship for every child that is sponsored 3) After School Programs including sports, art, English, and tutoring 4) Human Trafficking Awareness Programs at the school starting in every 6-grade classroom to teach the children about the realities of human trafficking and prostitution.

It’s sad that in this world, the prevention of children being forced into prostitution is a cause that needs fighting for, but it does. To that end, illustrators, photographers, painters, collage and other artists have donated their creations to help fund this project. The artists’ statement: “We believe in the power of art to communicate, to touch, and to transform the world we live in. We also believe in affordable, accessible art, and giving back our profit of sold art to a cause that we find to be worthwhile.” Visit The SOLD Project’s etsy shop, buy a beautiful piece of art and help make this world a better place.