sisters – Sweet Southern Grace

Decor

Some of Life’s Greatest Treasures

July 22, 2019July 22, 2019by sweetsoutherngraces10 Comments

I think when a Grandparent gives you something they value, it is one of the most greatest treasures in life! The picture above is my husband’s Paw-Paw & Big Grandma. I believe they were dating in this pic, soon to be married! Aren’t they a stunning couple! I think back on the time that I knew Big Grandma (never met his Paw-Paw because he passed before we married) and I think she had a good life with lots of family surrounding her. That was one thing about her is that she loved her family and she loved helping anyone when they needed help! Right around mine and my husband’s first anniversary, we had our first daughter and anytime Big Grandma came to visit, she would always bring diapers! She knew how expensive those things were and babies are expensive! It was like she just knew when we always needed something and that’s just how she was! I remember the first time she had a stroke and I really thought we would loose her. I was so scared that when I spoke with her on the phone, I started crying and told her how much I loved her. We had her for many more years before she passed. I will never forget telling her that we would be naming our 4th daughter after her….her eyes just sparkled and she said “Really?” I told her “Yes!” and boy was she proud! It wasn’t long after that, just two months, before she passed away. She never got to meet our little Jewell but I know she is looking down and smiling at our rainbow baby!

This antique milking stool was my husband’s Big Grandma’s. He said she didn’t have many possessions as a child, but I wonder if this stool served as many purpose’s, in her childhood and as she grew up. I have explained in my last blog that we acquired a antique key from her home, when we were cleaning it out, as we were getting ready to renovate it. The stool was also an item that we picked out that day because Big Grandma wanted us to have it. Our oldest two daughter’s were small at the time so we decided the stool would make a great “time out” stool or we could use it to stand on, when we couldn’t reach things in the pantry! We’ve had it in our home for at least 15 years now and I love thinking back to that day, when we came home with all of our treasure’s from Big G’s house.

Here’s a little throw back pic of our two youngest daughter’s on their first trip to Disney World!

Please check out my blogging friends to see what they have found on their thrift store, estate sale, yard sale or family heirloom searches!

Love~Shae

https://decorateandmorewithtip.com/my-thrift-store-louver-door/

Thrifted Treasure ~ July

https://throughavintagedoor.com/2019:07/10/July-thrift-store-find/

https://decorateandmorewithtip.com/my-thrift-store-louver-door/

Vintage Washboard – July Thrift Challenge

Decor, DIY

Farmhouse Word Stacked Books

July 3, 2019July 3, 2019by sweetsoutherngraces11 Comments

When my friend Terrie from Decorate & More with Tip asked me if I would like to join a blog challenge for word stacked books, of course I would agree!! My first thought was that I would love to make a set of these books for my sister-in-love, who just built a new home with her husband, last year. We had not given them a house warming gift, so I thought this would be perfect!

A little bit of family history with this key. This key was found by our oldest two daughter’s when they were little in their Grandmother’s home. She is my husband’s Grandmother, whom we called Big Grandma & who is our youngest daughter’s namesake. We were cleaning out her home, getting ready to renovate it and we were allowed to take things from her home that we thought we would like to have. One of the girls found this key and I’ve had it in my jewelry box now for around 14 or 15 years.. not knowing really what to do with it, but I knew one day an idea would come and I could have a way to honor this key, per say. I am not sure what this key went to or any significance behind it. I am thinking it went to…maybe an armoire or hope chest.

I headed to our local Dollar Tree for the books. When I make a set of these books, I like to tear off the front and back covers of each book, along with several pages as well.

I used my homemade DIY chalk paint recipe that you can find on our youtube channel. I did a light layer of paint on the spine of each book. I did not saturate my paint brush with paint, but I didn’t dry brush it either. I wanted some of the spine to show through. I did a heavier paint layer in between each book, to help adhere to each other, acting as “glue”. On the top and bottom of the book set, I painted a light layer so that some of the wording would show through.

After the books are dry, I grabbed my stamps and black ink that I purchased from Hobby Lobby. Don’t forget to purchase when they have those for 50% off or use your 40% coupon.

I decided I wanted to stamp the words, “Home Sweet Home”, onto the spine of the books. I thought it was a fitting saying for a house warming gift.

After my stamped letters where dried, I headed to my ribbon stash and I used this light khaki colored ribbon from Hobby Lobby and added the twine.

I decided to tie the ribbon, a little off centered and incorporate the key with the ribbon. After I tied the ribbon, I made sure to heat seal the edges of the ribbon.

I can’t wait to give this set of stacked books to my sister-in-love. I hope she can find a place in her home for it and every time she looks at it, she thinks of their Big Grandma.

Please check out all of my friend’s and how they made their own diy stacked books! We are a diverse group with many talents! I know you will not be disappointed!

Love, Shae

Terrie over at Decorate and More with Tip

How to Decorate with Books in Your Home Decor

DIY

May Thrift Store Challenge

May 27, 2019May 27, 2019by sweetsoutherngraces13 Comments

Teaming up with a few of my favorite friends for our monthly Thrift Store Challenge! The rules are to find an item thrifted and show how you can use it in our home! This month I fell in love with a couple of matching vintage pillow cases from an estate sale and you will never guess what I paid for them?! I paid a grand ole .25 cents each! I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them! When my oldest two daughters were little, pillow case dresses were popular. I had made both of them a vintage pillow case dress and I wanted to do the same for my youngest two.

I headed to my local Wal-Mart and picked up a roll of 3/8 inch offray satin pink ribbon . It was only $1.99 for one roll.

The first thing you want to do is measure the child you are making the dress for and your going to measure from the top of the shoulder to where you want the hem to be. In this case, I want the end of the hem to be at the end of the knee. It is a little longer than I want it to be, but I know I will be able to get two years of wear from this dress. After the dress is to short, it can then become a tunic to wear with leggings! You can actually get about 3 years wear from this dress! After you get that measurement, you will add 7/8th’s of an inch to that. My measurement at the top of the knee was 25.5 and 7/8th’s, so mine will be approximately 26 and a 1/4 inch.

Take your measurement and begin at the opening of the pillow case and measure at the opening of the pillow case, mine is 26 and 1/4, cut at that measurement. The next step is to fold your pillow case in half, vertically. You will be cutting arm holes in the pillow case. By folding it in half, you will be creating two identical arm holes.

The shape of the arm holes should be like a letter J. For an older child, I measured out 2 inches wide by 4 inches deep. I marked the measurements with chalk. Go ahead and cut between those lines and remember your pillow case is folded in half, vertical. Once you cut, you will have two arm holes that are exactly the same.

Open up your pillow case dress and fold over the edge on the arm holes and pin. Sew down the edge. Once you have sewn down the edge, turn down for a second time, pin and sew again.

The next step is to open your pillow case and lay it out flat. Sew 1/4 inch at the top of the dress. Fold down and measure 5/8th’s of an inch, pin and sew. This will be your casing for your ribbon ties.

The last step is to grab your ribbon and heat seal the end. Add a safety pin to the end of the ribbon and thread through the casing until you reach the other end.

Make sure to heat seal or you can use ribbon fray check for the ends of your ribbon so that they don’t fray. I also tie very small knots at the end of my ribbons. You have officially made a pillow case dress! Easy, right! You could even add a monogram or an applique! Check out my my highlights section on IG for a full video tutorial, under “pillow case dress” .

Such a simple, budget friendly way to make a beautiful keepsake for under $3.00 for both dresses! Please check out my friends to see what they have found for our May Thrift Store Challenge. I am sure you will enjoy their finds as well!

From our family to yours, Happy Memorial Day!

Love, Shae

Tara, Stilettos and Shiplap