Hoop There It Is

The planets aligned yesterday and I had a happy baby, a few spare minutes, and an idea for a craft project all at the same time. So before anybody pooped on themselves I seized the moment and gathered my supplies: an embroidery hoop, some bright yellow fabric, and my collection of vintage doilies.

What? You don’t have a pile of doilies lying around? That’s so weird. Well, if you want to recreate this project but are sans doily, I suggest checking out good ‘ol eBay or Etsy, although all of mine are from thrift stores and estate sales.

Step one: put your fabric into your embroidery hoop. This is when I realized my fabric needed to be ironed, which was really annoying because I was hoping to knock this one out without leaving the baby unsupervised.

I placed a doily over the most wrinkled area and bam, no more need to iron. To attach it to the fabric, I just ran outside real quick and sprayed the back of the doily with spray adhesive, then ran back in and stuck it on there. You could also use hot glue, fabric glue, iron on fusible web, or good old fashioned needle and thread. Spray adhesive is definitely not the most permanent solution, but it was the fastest and easiest.

I trimmed the extra fabric and hung it on an already existing nail in this little nook at the top of our stairs (left empty when I took the photos that were hanging there down to add to our wall of family pictures…which I still haven’t hung!). And there ya go. Wall art.

It’s definitely my new favorite thing. I’m thinking of making some to sell, but then of course I’d have to do things the right way, like ironing the fabric and finding a more durable way to attach the doily. It’s hard for me to not take shortcuts.

I tried to get a picture to show how fun the pop of yellow is at the top of the stairs, but it was hard. The stairs are not really this dark.

I always feel so great after little projects like this. I walk around the rest of the day telling myself I’m basically a creative genius. If only I could come up with quick and easy ideas like this every week! I’m totes loving this shade of yellow these days, and it was only this morning that I realized that’s fitting since it’s pretty much LSU gold. The Tigers are taking on Alabama at home this weekend and let me just tell you, Baton Rouge is in a tizzy. If we were going to be home tomorrow night we’d probably be able to hear the roar of the crowd from our house! But actually, we’ll be in Slidell because my youngest cousin is getting married! I feel positively ancient because she is my only cousin young enough that I remember when she was born. How is it possible that we’re all grown-ups now???

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11 Responses to “Hoop There It Is”

  1. Lauren November 2, 2012 at 11:38 am #

    Love this. Lots. Will you mind terribly if I completely copy you? Haha

    • Charlotte@Living Well on the Cheap November 2, 2012 at 12:02 pm #

      I won’t mind at all! Go for it!

  2. Janet (Country Mouse) November 2, 2012 at 10:19 pm #

    I love this, especially the color. I have done this with embroidery. I just hung them hoop and all, but I like the simplicity of the lace.

    • Charlotte@Living Well on the Cheap November 3, 2012 at 7:37 am #

      I have always wanted to try embroidery!

  3. Tracie @ MiddleClassModern November 3, 2012 at 4:28 pm #

    Just found your blog, and love it. Your style, your projects, your house (and your baby!) is all adorable. This is a project I’ll be stealing. Love.

    • Charlotte@Living Well on the Cheap November 3, 2012 at 4:35 pm #

      Awwww, thanks Tracie! I’m flattered!

  4. Katie November 7, 2012 at 3:29 pm #

    I love this!!!!

    • Charlotte@Living Well on the Cheap November 7, 2012 at 5:50 pm #

      Haha, thanks Katie!

  5. LinhC December 22, 2012 at 8:55 am #

    Hello, I found your blog a couple of days ago and have been reading the posts. Really enjoy the projects and decided to subscribe when I read this post about how you’re an LSU fan and you live in Baton Rouge. Geaux Tigers!

    • Charlotte@Living Well on the Cheap December 22, 2012 at 9:12 am #

      Thanks for subscribing! My husband and I both went to LSU and now we live in the Garden District. We love it here!

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  1. For Once, a Chalkboard I Didn’t Make | Living Well on the Cheap - November 16, 2012

    [...] up for sale. I even bought supplies yesterday to craft a few more upcycled creations (including doily hoops-I’m going to try affixing it with fusible interfacing). My goal was to have it all done [...]

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