Make an Heirloom While Preserving the Vintage Photograph

Every once in a while I make a little piece of art - this is a fabric pillow displaying a photograph of my maternal grandmother as a child.  Love the hair bow!  

The best part about this project is that I can scan the original image and then print it on a special printer fabric sheet (8.5 x 11) by June Tailor.  This creates something "new" for me to work with and leaves the vintage photo completely unharmed.

For this project, I machine stitch the photograph to a piece of coordinating calico fabric, then place another piece of fabric (the same size) against it. The two "right sides" of the pillow face each other.  Machine stitch along all four sides, leaving a 2-inch space to allow for stuffing.  Turn the pillow right side out.  Lightly press the fabric and photo to smooth out any wrinkles that happened from turning the fabric.  Stuff the pillow.  Hand stitch the 2 inch gap closed.  Hand sew a short cord onto the top (or trap it into the seam as you stitch the 4 sides closed), to hang the pillow.  Use Fabri-Tac to glue a decorative trim along the photo to create a frame. 

I have this hanging in my dining room on my china cabinet.  I love this sentimental touch in an unexpected place.

Shell Frame with Vintage Photograph

So sweet!  I couldn't be happier with how my shell-covered frame turned out.  I had seen some "diamond" encrusted frames with real shell accents once when I was in Florida and I wanted to try my hand at this kind of embellishing.

I bought a simple antiqued frame at Homegoods and used a strong clear-drying glue (that works with metal) to glue an edge of clear round plastic rhinestone trim (available by the yard at Joann Fabric). 

Then I arranged different shells and pearls (you can buy a bag of small shells at Michaels craft store, as well as Joann Fabric) along the bottom of the glass on the frame, overlapping them until I liked the effect.  Then I glued them in place.  A puffy sand dollar, a pink gem and a pearl finished the look in the upper right corner. 

Doesn't this make the perfect frame for a vintage wedding photo?  I think that this would make a great anniversary present.  A few simple steps adds a touch of delight.

Family Tree Ornaments

My tradition of filling a "family tree" with Christmas ornaments that I've made from family photographs was mentioned in the Detroit Free Press newspaper today.  You can see the article here. 

The Family Tree has fabric photo ornaments that are printed on June Tailor Inkjet Fabric Sheets. Then I sew them to a coordinating fabric, "pink" the edges (create zigzag with scissors) and glitter the wedding bouquet or hair bow in the photo. I tuck them into the branches, or they can be hung from ribbon. I also hang old family photos framed in small glass picture frames.  I created labels for the back of each ornament to identify the person and their connection to us.

As for the article, I love having a photo credit in a major newspaper (front page, above the fold, no less!) as well as being mentioned in the same breath as Katie Brown, another lifestyle expert and Michigan-native.  I have long-admired her collection of housewares and the natural aesthetic in her designs.

Want to see the entire Family Tree?  I thought so...

Family Tree

This is my maternal grandmother as a little girl. Oh, to wear big hair bows! In those days a photograph was so precious - she must have been thrilled to have hers taken.

I was named Anne after her and we spent hours and hours together at her cottage in Leland each Summer. She had an enormous garden (with delphinium and foxglove spikes taller than me!) and we would eat egg salad sandwiches on a metal table & chairs out by the garden.

I think she would like that each year I make a "family tree" for Christmas. Handmade ornaments made with vintage photographs (reproduced on fabric), sweet calico and a little pink glitter.

Vintage Ornaments

A few days ago I mentioned that I make ornaments out of old family photographs. I have had so many people ask me about them, that it's time for their blog debut. I think that they are simply charming. The best part is that the photographs are scanned and printed on printer fabric, so I can make multiples without harming the original. This is my husband's grandparents on their wedding day in upstate New York in August 1930. A bit of pink glitter in her bouquet and on his boutonniere coordinates with the border and adds just the right amount of sparkle. Here comes the bride!