• Artist Jackie Little Miller
  • Vivid Imaginations Studio

Vivid Imaginations Studio

~ "Peoples Lives are changed by things we say and do; and they'll be worse or better because they once knew you" Butch Little

Vivid Imaginations Studio

Monthly Archives: March 2010

Learn to Sew and Save!

22 Monday Mar 2010

Posted by Jackie Little Miller in THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

bed spread, Do it Yourself, learn to sew, life, Measuring, Outside the Box, piecing a quilt, quilting, saving money by sewing, sewing, sewing and saving money

You wouldn’t believe how much money you can save by learning to sew. Yes, it takes more of your time, but the satisfaction of making
something unique and special for your home and family is priceless.

I have sewn for years and I can tell you that people enjoy and treasure hand made gifts! It is economical and fun. You get to have lovely things around your home and as gifts for friends and it doesn’t put you into bankruptcy to do it!

This bed spread and dust ruffle only cost me $50.00. It is hand
quilted and I made up the pattern myself, so there is not another just  like it anywhere. I took the traditional wedding ring quilt pattern
and gave it a Celtic knot feel, by transitioning from dark colors to  light.

But I also had enough fabric left over to make another quilt front. That’s 2 queen size quilts for $50.00.

The key is to get fabrics when they are at a good sale price. Clip coupons and check out clearance sales. Buy colors you love and that go together well. Then, when you have enough, start your quilt. You can find quilt patterns at the library. There are quilting shops where you can have it machine quilted for a fee.

I don’t expect you to start sewing with a wedding ring quilt. Remember to start simple. I usually start my students out with a pair of pajamas. Simple straight line sewing is easy and gives a sense of achievement. Not everyone has to see it, if it’s not perfect!  When you are ready to try a quilt, look for some really good books called “Quilt in a day” with great time-saving ideas.

Check the paper, or Craigslist.com want ads in your local area to find out where you might get a few sewing lessons. They are well worth your time and money. It will save you a bundle in the end!

Find my work on these fine sites…Happy Shopping!

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Add Curb Appeal (Stage Two)

15 Monday Mar 2010

Posted by Jackie Little Miller in REMODELING

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

build a trellis, curb appeal, Do it Yourself, front porch, how to add curb appeal, how to build porch, life, Measuring, Outside the Box, painted trellis, painting, planters, remodel front porch, trelis, trellis

In the second photo a trellis area was added  to the porch and a lovely purple wisteria vine planted.The porch window will be shaded with a cascade of beautiful  blooms next spring. Our entry  is now alive and very welcoming.

The color of  house paint was also changed to a warm medium sandy beige; with a creamy off-white trim. The front door is a deep forest green. Painting the Front door an accent color is a wonderful way to draw attention to it. Another way would be to paint it a coordinating yet altogether different color than the rest of the home.

Notice how the door has been framed with two planters , one on either side of the porch, in front of the pillars. Adding yard lighting is also a great idea to make your home safer.  Walkways that are lit make the home more approachable.


Hanging plants to bloom all summer long are always a welcome sight. An attractive pendulum lamp and a cozy porch swing are added to make the home bright, fun and friendly. These are just a few beautiful final touches and inexpensive ways to add a boost to the “Curb appeal” of your home.

 

 

 

 

Find my work on these fine sites…Happy Shopping!

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Add Curb Appeal (Stage One)

08 Monday Mar 2010

Posted by Jackie Little Miller in REMODELING

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

brick facing, cement porch, curb appeal, porch, privacy screen, ranch style house, remodeling front porch, strictly functional, welcoming front door

So many houses today are built to look just like every other house on the block. Here we have a great example of a typical ranch style house. This original porch is strictly functional.

A privacy screen was added but  the lattice now catches your eye instead of the front door. Notice how it makes the house feel closed off and uninviting to family and guests.

 

The old porch had a cement base with an unattractive brick facing running parallel with the front of the house. A single stairway was the only approach to the house from the driveway. Removing the entire porch from roof to base we started all over.We then placed footing blocks for a deck style platform along the same footprint of the old porch. Another stairway was  added facing the street and we rebuilt stairs to the driveway. Building the steps centered in front of the door and changing the roof line of the porch was essential to redirecting the eye.  The center of  focus is now where it needs to be- to give a very welcome feeling.

Find my work on these fine sites…Happy Shopping!

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Put Color in Your Home!

01 Monday Mar 2010

Posted by Jackie Little Miller in THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

claustrophobic, color, color wheel, cool colors, decorate, Do it Yourself, emotions and color, helpful ideas, painting with color, tips, tricks, wainscoting, wall color, warm colors

Color is so important to your space. It dictates a mood. It makes you feel warm, happy, maybe even sad. It can make a room feel closed in, or opened up. Here is a perfect example of what color can do for a room.

I love the rich deep color of plum on these walls, yet with the dark wainscoting it feels warm, but closed in. Some times you want to make a room look more cozy and warm, but for this dinning area it was a little too claustrophobic.

Look at the difference once the walls are painted medium shade sage green. We keep the warmth but now it feels more open. Then by painting the wainscoting an off white the room just seems to open up wide. Notice how the darker plum color absorbed the light, while the lighter colors reflect it.The  room now feels sunny and warm even though the lighting is the same.

When choosing color for your home, pick the colors that you repeatedly are drawn to and tend to purchase. For instance I found myself buying wall art with the same color of mat. Four different times I made my choice because of the mat more then the art. I finally took the mat to the paint store and had a match made for my walls.I was drawn to it  because the brown/green color of the mat made the red that I love, just pop! Once I painted my walls this color the room became intimate, warm and elegant looking. It is a room I love being in. This is the key to having your home be an extension of you and a place you love to spend time.

Once I painted my bedroom a beautiful steal gray with white trim because my sister had done it to one of her rooms and I thought it was beautiful. You see my sister had put these colors in one of the warmest rooms in her home. These were colors that helped the room feel more comfortable by aiding in the allusion that the room was cooler then it actually was. Plus these were colors that my sister surrounded herself in and that she felt at home in. They were an extension of her.

I attempted the same thing, But once it was done in my home, it felt cold, and icy. Why? Because I had made the mistake of painting it in the coldest room in the house. Which also happened to be my bedroom. Bad combination! Neither my husband nor I felt comfortable in the room. Because of the cold feeling, and because it was not a representation of us. We only left it that color for about a year. Then we went with a warm, darker color, and both fell in love with it! The coldest room in our home now felt warm, cozy. and intimate; because the color was warm and it was a color we both loved.

You will see colors in others homes that are beautiful and make you feel good. Remember that there are many things to consider when picking a color for your living space. But I believe the most important one is to chose colors that you surround yourself with already! Make a conscious effort to look at the things you love to be around, the clothes that you love to wear, the things that you are drawn to pick up in stores. Finds the commonality in them and make a color pallet of you. This may sound harder then it really is. Most fabrics are already in a color pallet that work together.

Find my work on these fine sites…Happy Shopping!

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