I posted a DIY daybed / mattress on my Instagram feed a few days ago and got many questions about it and some requests to share the tutorial. So here is how I made my Miss Daisy’s preferred daybed mattress:
Step by Step DIY Mattress Tutorial:
For this project, I used 2 1/2 yards of utility fabric [mattress ticking]. Any solid coton or twill-like fabric would work, as well as heavy linen.
Reverse your fabric, and with your sewing machine, sew a rectangle at the length and width of your desired mattress size, BUT leave one opening on each side, as well as one in the middle of the length of your rectangle [approximately 7″ opening].
Put your fabric back on the right side, using one of the openings you left unstitched. Process slowly and be careful not to rip the fabric [or stitching] apart when reversing it back.
Measure the entire length of your rectangle and divide it by 3. Sew 3 lines on the entire width of the fabric, equally distant from each other.
Fill in each “square” with the pillow filling of your choice. I got mine at JoAnn’s fabrics.
Close your openings by hand sewing the openings you used to fill each section of the mattress – one on each side, and one on the length.
Now, using some embroidery thread and a large embroidery needle, sew a few times through the depth of the mattress and secure closely your thread. Repeat with the desired pattern.
Voilà, you have a beautiful homemade and comfy mattress that can easily be transported in or out for the nice Spring and Summer evenings. The big bonus is that you can fold it for storage!
I’m inviting you to my holiday party, so paint your nails in your favorite shade of red, put some lipstick on and let’s mingle!
I love this time of the year, the magic of the holiday season, the crisp cold weather, the bare trees, and this feeling that the year is coming soon to an end and there are new beginnings ahead. And if there is one time of the year where we can go all glitter, it is now or never, right?
So when Pier 1 asked me to partner up again and share some holiday table inspiration, I said yes, excited about this new creative challenge. This time, I switched things up with a buffet table, because the holiday season for me is about gathering, mingling with the people I love and enjoy gathering with, in a chic, glamorous, but casual setting, instead of sitting at a formal dinner table. Are you in? Welcome to my glitter wonderland table!
Isn’t this faux fur wine scarf adorable? I just couldn’t resist getting it for my holiday table, and I used it as a Champagne bottle scarf. So chic and très Audrey Hepburn!
My buffet table may be all glittery, but as always, I want things to be chic yet simple. Understated elegance is the keyword here. Here is how I dressed up my holiday table with Pier 1:
I chose the beautiful champagne flutes from the Pier1 Schott Zwiesel collection. Then, I used some edible glitter as glass rimmers, to add a bit of ‘va-va-voum’ effect. On other glasses, I just added some miniature gold balloons – or white balloons on which I dip painted some glitter paint – attached to wooden skewers.
For the table ‘floral’ holiday touch, I cut out a branch from a dying tree in our backyard, and spray painted it for a white holiday feel. I put my “holiday” tree in a big glass vase, securing it with stones and small rocks inside. To cover my installation, I filled the vase with some white linen fabric and wrapped a set of Pier 1 glimmer string lights around the fabric, inside the vase. When lit, it’s truly magical!
The ornaments I chose from the Pier 1 collection are : the icicle glass ornaments, some beaded ball gold ornaments, a few luster drop ornaments – because I adore their simple and clean design – and some gold rattan star ornaments. Because my DIY branch holiday tree is so simple and white, these ornaments work well and add just enough glitter and magic to my buffet table, don’t you think?
I also used a Champagne beaded garland as a table runner to add more magic and glitter to my table.
For the menu, since it’s a buffet table, I prepared some fancy bite-sized dishes that are easy to prepare in big batches : salmon and dill toasts, mango salsa and grilled shrimp bites, and some brie and pomegranate crostinis. I also added some chocolate truffles for the sweet-tooth aficionados. For presentation, I chose some delicate but very simple pieces to present the food : the a gold charger, and some white porcelain spoons for my mango shrimp bites.
And because no party prep is complete without some music, I prepared a new mixtape to share with you. In fact, I am not a fan of traditional Christmas carols, so I prepared for those of you who like less-traditional holiday tunes a playlist, with some holiday remixes and funky lounge songs. Beware though, some of your guests may end up transforming your reception area into a dance floor!
GLITTER WONDERLAND || MIXTAPE NO.3 || Listen on Spotify
I hope you enjoyed my glitter wonderland holiday table and got some inspiration for an upcoming holiday event of yours. What’s your favorite element? Xo, Si-
• This post is a partnership with Pier 1. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make FrenchByDesign possible.
You know the love game we used to play as kids, where you take a flower, usually a daisy, and take out each of its petal and play the “he loves me, he loves me not” guess game? Well, in French, we have a much longer list of options to this game. We say, “Je t’aime, un peu, beaucoup, passionnément, à la folie, pas du tout.” [translated as “He loves me, a little, a lot, passionately, to madness, not at all.”]
So I used this simple French love game for a Valentines’ gift wrap. Except the “not at all”, because if you’re wrapping a Valentine’s gift, chances are he loves you and the feeling is mutual.
The idea here is the same as this DIY project I shared around Christmas time. On a white plain kraft type paper, I hand-wrote the text using some pink watercolor paint. I also used the basic XO, XO, XO repeat text as an alternative text option. But, I mean, saying ‘I love you’ in French with a handwritten love note… is there a more romantic way to celebrate Valentines Day and your lover?
Art direction and styling FrenchByDesign – Photography Radostina Bosseva
Hey guys! It’s time for me to take some time off and enjoy a holiday break with my loved ones. We’re heading to the Big Apple for a few days then enjoying a little stay cation here in beautiful San Francisco.
Thank you, to each and everyone of you, for a great year of inspiration, for your sweet encouraging comments and for inspiring me to share on this blog. This has been a truly wonderful year for the blog, and you are, without any doubt, a huge part of that. So merci, this blog wouldn’t mean a thing without you and your support. Merry Christmas! Xo, Si-
Art direction and styling FrenchByDesign – Photography Radostina Bosseva
Here is another easy DIY alternative Christmas tree project for those of you who want something a bit different from the the traditional Christmas tree.
You’ll need for this project some wood lattice moulding, some vinyl decal dot stickers – I got mine on Etsy – and some mounting tape. Be careful not to use too much of a strong double tape so that the wall doesn’t peel off when you try to remove the wood pieces from the wall after Christmas. Cut the wood in different lengths and arrange the pieces on the wall to create the shape of a tree. Then stick your wall dots and voilà! Oh-la-la effect guaranteed!
Art direction and styling FrenchByDesign – Photography Radostina Bosseva
Step by Step DIY Mattress Tutorial:
Put your fabric back on the right side, using one of the openings you left unstitched. Process slowly and be careful not to rip the fabric [or stitching] apart when reversing it back.
Fill in each “square” with the pillow filling of your choice. I got mine at JoAnn’s fabrics.
Close your openings by hand sewing the openings you used to fill each section of the mattress – one on each side, and one on the length.
Now, using some embroidery thread and a large embroidery needle, sew a few times through the depth of the mattress and secure closely your thread. Repeat with the desired pattern.
Voilà, you have a beautiful homemade and comfy mattress that can easily be transported in or out for the nice Spring and Summer evenings. The big bonus is that you can fold it for storage!
