April 2018 Your Handmade Home

April 2018 

DIY 

Wood Bead 

Chandelier 

The 

Before & 

After Issue 

Mother’s 

Day Gifts 

at home with 

Chelsea Zutavern

features 

departm ents 

At Home with 

Chelsea Zutavern 

Mother’s Day Gifts 

Guest House Renovation 

Party Invitations & Decor 

Your Handmade Home 

Magazine 

Christy Winfrey 

Founder, Editor In Chief 

Health & Beauty 

Hello Gorgeous! 

Design and Decor 

Shop the Look! 

Farmhouse Before & Afters 

Farmhouse Bathroom Reno 

Porch Decor and More! 

Family 

Littles’ Lifestyle 

In the Kitchen 

Kitchen Essentials 

Artisan Spotlight 

Lorenzen Farm Art 

DIY 

Faux Galvanized Watering Can 

Wood Bead Chandelier 

Laundry Room Sink Hack 

Fashion and Accessories 

Savvy Spring Fashion 

Creative Director/Editor 

Jane Makransky 

Special Projects Graphic Designer 

Vanessa Offerman 

Chelsea Zutavern 

Blessed Ranch 

Advertising Director 

Nicole Taylor 

Feature Writers 

Amy Eisele 

LeAnne Hodge 

Allie Lundeen 

Shannon Morscheck 

Sarah Wagner 

ON THE COVER 

Photo Courtesy of 

Blessed Ranch 

Farmhouse Bathroom Reno 

Farmhouse Wood Bead Chandelier

Letter From 

the Editor 

Spring is in the air!! Flowers 

are blooming, and the 

birds are singing! Spring 

is the time for rebirth and 

new life. As we approach 

this new, beautiful season, 

remember to take the time 

to enjoy the outdoors and 

all of its glory. 

SHOP WITH US! 

SHOP ON OUR WEBSITE 

This issue is all about Before 

and After transformations 

and making beautiful 

spaces! We also have our 

featured artisans pages for a lovely collection of handmade 

items just for you! 

Christy 

Christy Winfrey 

Editor in Chief 

Instagram @christylynwinfrey 

@yourhandmadehome

DESIGN & DECOR 

Farmhouse 

bathroom reno 

by LeAnn Hodge

I’m so excited to share this project with all of you. It’s my farmhouse-inspired 

bathroom reno, and it’s my largest, most detailed, and most challenging 

DIY project yet. So sit back, grab a cup of coffee (or wine- I’m sure 

it’s 5 o’clock somewhere), and enjoy! 

Now here’s the inspiration photo behind the reno. 

I really wanted to complete this reno on a small budget and short time 

frame, so I decided to keep my existing vanity, sink and shower faucets 

(even though I really wanted all black fixtures!). The brushed nickel complements 

the tile floors better anyway. At least that’s what ‘m telling myself. 

Here is the before picture.

When I first came across this picture, I instantly fell in love with the wood, 

white, and gray combo. Even though I pinned a hundred more pictures on 

Pinterest, I kept going back to this one. And so the journey began. 

I’m not great at taking step by step pictures, but I’m going to share the ones 

that I did take. I will also provide links to any accounts that I used to help 

me through the process. 

In the words of the great Chip Gaines, I started out with #demoday. 

As with most DIY projects, 

this one had its share 

of challenging moments. 

You can see in my demo 

pics that I ran into some 

drywall issues. The countertop 

tiles popped off 

easily, just as I had read 

in numerous blog posts. I 

used a chisel and hammer 

to first pop off the trim 

pieces along the front of 

the counter. Then, one by 

one, I used the same tools 

to remove the countertop 

tiles. The backsplash was a 

different story, however. It was plastered directly to the drywall and when I 

removed it, the results were the big holes you see above. That was the moment 

when I cried. 

Drywall wasn’t in the original reno plan, and it wasn’t anything I had ever 

worked with before. But I had enough knowledge to figure this out, probably 

from watching my grandpa and dad at some point. So I knew if I 

pulled myself together and quit crying, I could probably get this done. And 

I did! I cut out the edges of each hole to make a perfect rectangle. I went to 

Home Depot and bought a sheet of moisture resistant drywall. I measured 

the holes, and used a utility knife to cut the drywall. I’m not going to sugar 

coat this- it wasn’t as easy as it sounds. I had to trim edges, cut drywall, 

trim edges again, and re-cut drywall before it was “good enough”. I knew I 

was going to faux shiplap these walls, so I wasn’t worried about 

perfection.

I’m sure there is a right way and a 

wrong way to install moisture resistant 

drywall, and I’m fairly certain 

the purple moisture resistant 

material is supposed to be facing 

out. But the piece of drywall under 

the mirror fit perfectly as pictured, 

so I went with it. At this point in 

the project, I was actually pretty 

impressed with myself, and fairly 

convinced that if I could patch 

holes in drywall, I could do anything! 

This feeling came and went 

multiple times before the end of 

the reno! 

Next on the reno’s to-do list was to 

paint the vanity. In my inspiration picture, the base of the vanity was white 

with a butcher block countertop. I knew I didn’t want to use chalk paint for 

this bathroom reno, so I did quite a bit of research and asked some DIY 

friends what they had used to paint cabinets. 

Next up was the DIY butcher block countertop. I used four 1”x 6” pine 

boards that I purchased at Home Depot. ( I always lay my boards out in the 

aisle at Home Depot to find the least warped ones and make sure they will 

fit together. I even number them before I pick them up. This way, when I 

get home, I know exactly how to fit them together). I cut each board to 48” 

lengths and used wood glue to attach the boards to one another. My sweet 

friend Jenn of Pretend Farm Girl was a huge help through this process. 

She’s a DIY pro! 

While waiting for the cabinet paint to dry and the wood glue for the countertop 

to cure, I moved on for the time being to the faux shiplap walls. I 

used plywood underlayment from Lowe’s on the recommendation of my 

talented and sweet friend April of Sweet Kentucky Holler. The kind employee 

at Lowe’s ripped the underlayment into 6” strips for me. I 

installed the shiplap backsplash (see below for more installation details), 

and then was ready to move back to the countertop. As you can see, this 

reno had a lot of zigging and zagging so I could use my time efficiently! 

Once the faux shiplap backsplash was in place, it was time to make the sink 

cutout on the countertop. 

Ultimately I decided on the Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations Light 

Color Kit from Home Depot. This kit has EVERYTHING you need, down 

to the stir sticks. It’s super user friendly, and I think my cabinet turned out 

beautifully. I will say, however, that you need to REALLY scrub your cabinet 

well, and make sure you completely remove the deglosser. I had a couple 

of areas where the old yellowish-brown color came through. My guess is 

that I either left behind some grime or deglosser. In the big picture though, 

that was a minor mistake. I had my paint tinted Pure White. I used four 

coats on the cabinet doors and painted the inside of the doors as well. The 

kit even came with a top coat! I would definitely use this product again.

I was able to use the existing plywood 

countertop base as a guide. I just sat 

the butcher block on it, slid under the 

counter, and took a sharpie to trace the 

cutout. Next, I took it in the garage, 

drilled a hole for starting point, and 

used my jigsaw to make the cut. 

Once I got to this point in the reno, I was exhausted and ready to be done. 

I know all my DIY friends can relate! But there was still finish work to 

do, so I trudged along. I framed the mirror, made a built-in to replace the 

medicine cabinet, and made pipe shelving. Whew! 

Here are some pics of the final look. 

Then it was time to stain the countertop. 

I used Minwax Special Walnut 

Wood Finish — my absolute favorite, 

go-to stain. The stain needed to dry for 

24 hours before I could apply the 

protective top coat (Minwax Satin Water-Based 

32-fl oz Polyurethane), so 

while it was drying I painted the top half of the walls white, in Sherwin 

Williams Pure White. More zigging and zagging! 

The next day I was able to install the countertop using Liquid Nails and 

brad nails which I attached from underneath. I used 1”x 2” pine boards to 

frame the countertop around the front edge and the backsplash. I applied 

four coats of the Polyurethane (be sure to follow the instructions on the 

can), then installed the sink using a clear silicone sealant. 

Back to the shiplap walls. To install the shiplap, I measured and cut each 

piece. Pieces that were going to be installed behind the toilet, I painted 

first. (I chose Sherwin Williams Tinman as the paint color for the shiplap). 

All of the other pieces of shiplap, I installed first, then painted. I think it’s 

easier to paint the shiplap once it’s up on the wall, but I know others who 

think it is easier to paint them first. I used a brad nailer to attach them to 

the studs, and used a nickel for spacing. Personally I like the rustic feel the 

exposed nails give, so I left them exposed.

Overall I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of this reno! It was A LOT 

of work, and the biggest challenge I’ve ever tackled, but I learned so much! 

And being a lover of DIY, of course I can’t wait to take on the next project! 

LeAnn Hodges is a follower of Christ, a wife, a mom to 3, a teacher to many, and a lover of 

fitness! She lives in a builder basic home with her family, that she is slowly transitioning into 

her dream home one budget-friendly DIY project at a time. You can follow her on her blog, 

Gaschen Ave.

HEALTH & BEAUTY 

Hello Gorgeous! 

Our monthly collection 

of health and beauty must-haves! 

Lavender Spice soap from Willowberry 

Farmhouse is vegan-friendly and full of 

skin-loving ingredients. A relaxing treat 

for a warm soak in the tub with a copious 

amount of bubbles for a decadent bath for 

you to enjoy! Wash your cares away and 

feel like a million bubbles! 

Enjoy the powerful touch of nature in 

this cleansing and detoxifying pink Himalayan 

bath salt set. Add to warm water 

and relax-inhaling the aroma of grapefruit 

will create a joyful atmosphere in the tub. 

Available from The Remedy of Life.

This exfoliating loofah soap 

from Naturalle Solutions helps 

your body get rid of dead skin 

cells and reveal softer, smoother 

skin! Perfect for spring! 

It’s nice to have all of your brushes, 

eyeliners, tubes of highlighters, etc laid 

out nice and flat in this adorable brush 

roll bag for you to see exactly where 

they are, instead of digging through 

your makeup bag looking for them. 

And it is machine washable too! Available 

from Serendipity Sewn. 

White on the outside, with a 

mystery color inside that only 

reveals itself once it’s in the water. 

Each bath bomb is scented 

with sweet spa waters for a 

unique, fresh experience. From 

Practical Magic Beauty. 

Vitamin C helps boost the production of collagen 

in our bodies. Collagen gives our skin 

elasticity and and lessens pesky wrinkles. 

Vitamin C is also a great tool for combating 

those annoying age spots. This Vitamin C 

Serum from Charming Shoppes is your go-to 

serum for great skin!


DIY 

Shop this Look 

It’s time to go outdoors! 

We’ll help you shop this look from Target 

Standish 5-pc Patio Fire Conversation Set 

Metal Outdoor Solar Lantern with Candle 

FAUX 

Galvanized 

Watering Can 

by Amy Eisele

I picked up this pair of metal watering cans at a yard sale last summer. 

I love old watering cans, but the finish on these didn’t match my style. I 

wanted them to have an old galvanized finish, so I got to work on making 

that happen! 

Next I put a few different colors of paint on a paper plate: A metallic silver, 

a creamy white, and black. (I had Annie Sloan chalk paints in Old White 

and Graphite, so I used those for the white and black paints, but you can 

easily use inexpensive bottles of white and black acrylic paint instead). I 

also put a light gray paint on my plate (which you can see in the photo below), 

but I didn’t end up using it. 

I started by painting the watering 

cans with matte gray spray paint to 

create a plain gray base. 

I used an old chip brush, and started with 

the metallic silver paint. I barely dipped 

my brush into the paint and then dabbed 

it onto the paper plate to remove the excess. 

You can see in the picture above that 

there was very little paint on the brush. 

I pounced the metallic paint all over the 

cans. Sometimes just pouncing, sometimes 

smearing it around a bit with my 

brush, and sometimes using a paper towel 

to remove a little. 

Here’s what it looked like as I began this 

step.

Once I had covered the watering 

cans in the silver metallic 

paint using that technique, I 

used the same method to add 

some of the white and black 

paints. I used those colors a 

little more sparingly than the 

metallic silver paint. I just 

dabbed and smeared the paint 

wherever I wanted to add accents.The 

black and white 

paints gave the finish highlights 

and lowlights. As you 

can see in the photo below, the 

finish really began to look like 

galvanized metal. 

I then added another light layer of metallic silver on top, lightly feathering 

it over the other layers of paint. At this point I liked the way finish looked, 

but I decided that it would look even more authentic if I made it look a bit 

more rusted and aged. To do this, I lightly brushed a gel stain over the cans, 

concentrating on the areas where I felt they would naturally rust over time 

( It’s easy to go overboard with this, so go slowly). I just barely dipped my 

brush in the gel stain then immediately wiped almost all of it off on the 

plate before painting it onto the watering cans. After the gel stain was dry, 

I sprayed the cans with a light coat of Krylon Matte Finishing Spray to protect 

the paint. 

As a finishing touch, I decided to paint a little center square with chalkboard 

paint that I had in my stash. 

What do you 

think? It really 

does look like 

galvanized metal! 

I was honestly 

surprised 

at how easy this 

process was, especially 

since 

this was the first 

time I had ever 

tried to get this 

kind of finish. 

But be careful if 

you try this - it’s 

addicting! It’s so 

fun and easy you 

may want to add 

a faux galvanized 

metal finish to 

just about anything! 

Amy Eisele and her mom Vicki, are the mother/daughter team behind 

Canary Street Crafts. You can follow them on their blog, Canary Street 

Crafts where you will find furniture makeovers, DIY projects, thrift store 

up cycles and crafts.

Spring Fashion 

FASHION 

This gorgeous turquoise choker is 

the perfect accessory for a denim 

jacket, or to add flair to anything in 

your spring wardrobe! Exclusively 

from Mack and Jane, 

These stunning Van Gogh inspired 

earrings are a true statement 

piece! Designed and handcrafted 

by Jenny Pat. 

When the evening cools down, it’s always fun to pull out your favorite denim 

jacket and knee high boots. But wwho says you can’t wear your favorite denim 

jacket all year long? We’ve matched this jacket with some great accessories too! 

Get this wardrobe staple from Karen Faye & Company. 

Complete your look with this 

wire wrapped ring from Chenko 

Jewelry! This artisan made ring 

boasts a beautiful blue Swarovski 

crystal that glistens in the sun!

What is more fun than spring leggings? These comfy floral leggings from 

Stitched Stars & More are soft, stretchy and handmade so you know the quality 

is amazing! We’ve paired these with some great accessories to give you a complete 

spring look! 

Show off your trendsetting style 

with this boho necklace! Bright 

blue acrylic beads are highlighted 

by maroon and beige glass pearl 

beads for a fun look. Available 

from Boho Gypsy Gal. 

Copper jewelry is all the rage, 

and this fabulous copper bangle 

from Calluna Moss is no exception! 

Worn alone or stacked, 

this bracelet is sure to make a 

statement!

These silver boho arrow earrings 

are so cute and trendy, 

and are sure to become part 

your favorite everyday jewelry. 

From CLS Heavenly Jewelry. 

A soft 

No boho outfit is complete with 

out a bag! This darling casual 

unique bag has been handmade 

from repurposed jeans! 

Eco-friendly and functional 

too! wFrom Tumbletree Lane. 

A soft ruffled crochet vest is great way to stay warm with the spring chill in the 

air! Bright and colorful, this handmade vest is available from Lisa’s Sew Hooked. 

Complete your outfit with these great accessories!

A long tassel necklace in fun 

spring colors adds a pop to any 

outfit! Get yours from Yarn, 

Beads, String Oh My! 

This gorgeous patchwork crossbody 

bag is made from recycled fabrics 

and will look great with so many 

spring and summer outfits! Handmade 

by Bellesa by Bethany. 

This beautiful crochet vest from Handmade By Hannah A is made with a thick 

high quality wool (lightweight wool option also available!) that will keep you 

warm during these cool spring days! Accessorize this look with these great pieces 

and you are ready for anything! 

This butterfly wrap bracelet will 

flutter its way into your heart and 

may just become your favorite 

piece of jewelry this summer. Get 

yours from Pure Lisa Jewelry.

Give your outfit a little sizzle with 

these blingy druzy necklaces 

from Bella Marie! Small and simple 

enough to wear everyday and 

you can choose from a myriad of 

colors! 

A gorgeous set of lapis lazuli 

stacking bracelets from Mulka 

Arts is the special something 

you have been looking for! 

Worn together or separate, they 

are sure to show your great 

taste in jewelry! 

Luxuriously soft, this darling crochet top from I Need It Crochet is made from 

bamboo and acrylic, features dolman sleeves and a striking diamond pattern. The 

lacy design hangs just right and hugs your curves without feeling constricting. 

Dress it up with these amazing finds!

CREATE A MEMORY, CELEBRATE A MOMENT, 

OR REMEMBER A LOVED ONE. 

Handmade Accessories and Custom Gifts. 

DISCOVER WHAT'S NEW ON OUR SHELF 

thecraftyshelf.etsy.com 

at home 

with Chelsea Zutavern

I live on a ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills with my husband and our four 

children. It’s a fifth generation family ranch where we raise Angus cattle. 

My husband grew up on the ranch and we’re excited to raise our children 

here. The kids love to ride horses and help their dad with chores. We feel 

very blessed to ranch this beautiful land. 

I’m a stay at home mom and decorating is a great creative outlet for me. I 

love to design beautiful spaces for my family to enjoy. I have always loved 

to decorate. I was the type of kid who was always rearranging and decorating 

my room The entire decorating process just speaks to my soul. 

My style can best be described as “rustic glam” - kind of a mix of old and 

new. I’m inspired by all things modern farmhouse. My love for farmhouse 

style grew as I fell in love with the TV show “Fixer Upper”. I was instantly 

hooked. I find that I’m always thinking of new ways to change a 

room and new DIY projects to try.

Although the most used room in our home is definitely the kitchen and it’s 

clearly the heart of our home (full of family and good food!), my favorite 

spaces to decorate are actually our bathrooms. I love to stage and organize 

the open shelving. I also just stenciled the floor in our guest bathroom and 

I absolutely love how it turned out. You can see the finished product on 

my Instagram account blessed_ranch.

I usually work on my DIY and decorating projects during my kids’ nap 

time or after the kids go to bed. It is a balance. This is my hobby and something 

I enjoy doing, but of course my family comes first. I do love to involve 

my daughters in my projects when I can. They enjoy helping and 

take pride in our completed projects. A fun project we recently did together 

was decorating their bedrooms. I allowed them to create their own 

spaces based on their likes and personalities, and the results were wonderful! 

I’m grateful that I have been able to incorporate my love for decorating 

in my life on the ranch. I’m one happy decorating rancher mom! 

Chelsea

Party Invitations 

and Decor 

Throwing a fabulous party calls for fabulous 

invitations! La Design Boutique 

will customize them for you, and send 

them to you to print and mail! How 

easy is that! 

Welcome guests to your shower with 

this classic welcome sign from Bash 

Paper Boutique! Personalized just for 

you, this printable sign with be the 

talk of the shower! 

Give a glamorous glow to that party 

with these glittery gold centerpieces 

from Step Free Designs! 

What’s a party without poms? 

Lightweight, colorful and oh so fun, 

these decorations bring those perfect 

pops of color to your event. 

Available from Pom Party Fun. 

Help your guests keep track of their 

drinks with these fun wine glass 

tags from The 2911 Plan! Personalized 

to your specifications! 

Is it a centerpiece or a gift? it’s both! 

This unique shower bouquet is made 

from all the baby essentials, from bodysuits 

to bibs. From Tosh Creations.

DIY 

Laundry 

Room 

Sink Hack 

by Sarah Wagner

Do you ever have big dreams for a room in your house, but your budget 

wouldn’t allow you to do exactly what you wanted? When we designed our 

laundry area, I wanted a nice farmhouse sink. But we were over budget and 

had to do what we could to make the space pretty as well as functional. So 

we purchased a simple laundry sink and set out to work some DIY magic 

on it. Here is the sink before: 

Now some may love it just as is, but in our house we are all about function 

and storage... and we love going to Costco - so where do we fit it all?? 

So we did a little curtain DIY, and here is the result:

The curtain not only dresses up the space, but it also allows for hidden 

storage under the sink! 

Here is what you will need : 

1. A tension rod ( You will need to see what fits your space and if this is an 

option) 

2. Fabric ( You can use a drop cloth, or fabric you have at home or buy at 

the craft store). 

3. Fabric glue, or iron on fabric tape. 

Want to Advertise in 

Your Handmade Home? 

Directions: 

Measure the tension rod and cut the fabric to a width either one and a half 

or twice of the length of the rod, depending upon how much gathering you 

want in the curtain. If you want to hem the sides of the curtain, add an extra 

inch on each side. 

2. Measure the distance from the rod to the floor and add two inches for a 

rod pocket at the top of the curtain, and one inch for a hem along the bottom 

of the curtain. 

3. Cut the fabric to the dimensions measured and either sew the rod pocket 

and hems, or use iron on fabric tape or fabric glue. 

That’s it! You’re done! You now have a pretty laundry sink that matches 

your style, and hidden storage as well! 

Sarah is a stay at home mom of four littles. She has a love for decor and party planning. Follow 

her on her blog, Dreaming of Homemaking. 

Email Nicole Taylor 

sales@yourhandmadehome.com 

and request a Media Kit

IN THE KITCHEN 

Kitchen Essentials 

5 

1. This hardwood beer bottle 

opener that is just as unique as it 

is functional and features the state 

of Oregon. From Axtell Rogue 

2. Store your olive oil in style and 

keep it handy with this handthrown 

olive oil bottle from 

Woodshop Pottery. 

1 3 

6 

3. This utensil holder wraps up 

nicely and is easy to carry. Just 

pop it in your lunch bag, tote or 

purse. From Krause Kreation. 

4. This gorgeous thick ceramic 

trivet from Lorenzen Farm Art 

adds elegance to any space! 

2 

4 

75 

5. This rustic sign will give your 

living space that farmhouse charm 

with the rustic and distressed look 

of old barnwood of days past. 

From The Chocolate Chicken 2. 

6. You’ll love this eco friendly 

bag set, perfect for the grocery 

store or farmers market. From 

Jula Custom Creations. 

7. This gorgeous handmade sign 

makes your country kitchen a 

perfect place for delicious meals 

and memorable gatherings. From 

Love To Redo.

ARTISAN SPOTLIGHT 

farmhouse and scripture wood signs 

Photo courtesy of Lorenzen Farm Art

It’s 9 pm and I’m waiting to help my husband hook up the plow. I love the 

smell of fresh turned fields and hay waiting to be bailed. Farming is just 

in me. I’ve been up before dawn to tend fields. I’ve spent nights watching 

cows to make sure they didn’t have trouble calving. I’ve rocked babies on 

truck beds while my husband cut hay. And I’ve raised my kids in tractors. 

Once we were in a big eight wheel tractor pulling a 32 foot chisel and my 

six year old daughter looked right at me and said, “Get out, I’m gonna 

finish this field.” (No I did not let her). We’re farmers. 

Farming has been my life since I was a kid. I grew up thirty miles from 

Nana and Poppy’s farm, and every day after school we would pack our 

school bag with homework, change clothes, inhale a snack, then ride out 

to the farm with Dad and Mom. My brother and I were allowed to play on 

the quarter section, or on the 160 acres, that was the home place outside 

of Lawton, Oklahoma. We mud skated in the ponds, fixed an old chicken 

coop for a club house, played hide and seek in the machinery and 

barn, and played tag around hay bales five feet around. 

I love old red tractors, and trucks with dirty windows, and the wind blowing 

across the field as the young calves play. And so that’s what I paint. I’m 

capturing the life that’s in my blood and in my heart and passing it on to 

the next generation. I learned to paint in school, and I teach ceramics at 

the high school, but it always goes back to the farm and the cows; the hay 

bales and old trucks; the dirty boots and overalls. 

These are the stories I want to tell. These are the joys of farm life. From the 

flowers and bugs in Grandma’s garden to the animals in the pasture or the 

tractors that get the work done. This is my life, my passion, and my drive. 

So, come have a look around the farm and see what speaks to you. 

I’m so happy to share it with you. 

Nichole 

Nichole’s art is 

available for purchase at 

Lorenzen Farm Art

Mother’s Day 

Gifts

Mom’s are like buttons - they 

hold everything together. And 

this unique one of a kind handmade 

and handwritten button 

art, framed in a black shadow box 

is sure to be treasured for many 

years to come! Available from 

Button Farm Designs 

The bird’s nest is a symbol of 

home. It speaks of the love and 

nurturing that we give to our 

“chicks”. It reminds us to always 

spread warmth on our children, 

and how soon the nest becomes 

empty. Order this beautiful birds’ 

nest pendant, woven in copper, 

from Karen M Smith Designs. 

This personalized family story 

is a wonderful keepsake! Hand 

drawn by the artist from your 

pictures, it tells all about your 

family’s special moments. Available 

from Carmen CC Design. 

Llamas are trending and this 

adorable mama Llama shirt is so 

fun to wear! Available in many 

colors and sizes too! Get yours 

from Sparkle Design Prints.

Cherish those you love, especially 

your mom, with this personalized 

birthstone necklace. 

You choose the birthstones and 

this gorgeous piece of jewelry 

will be made just for you (or 

mom!) From Nicole Crystal 

Designs. 

Everyone is welcome in the 

kitchen! Order a personalized 

wood sign for your 

mom or grandmom from 

Stick With Me Vinyl. 

Toddler tantrums aside, we all 

know that Mom life is the best 

life, and this mug from Smith 3 

Designs is a great reminder! Your 

choice of colors, to fit your style! 

Show her how much she means 

to you, by giving her a beautiful 

and thoughtful card. All of the 

cards at Tex Cajuns Creations are 

printable, so you can choose the 

sentiment you want without even 

leaving your couch.


Farmhouse 

before & 

after 

Photo Courtesy of @simplysoutherncottage

Photos Courtesy of @hh_style_

Photo Courtesy of @cutertudor

DIY 

Pottery Barn Inspired 

Wood Bead Chandelier 

by Shannon Morscheck

I’ve wanted a new chandelier for our bedroom for about four years now, 

but couldn’t find anything I really loved. So, I was willing to wait until the 

perfect chandelier caught my eye. And about a month ago, I came across 

THIS chandelier from Pottery Barn and I knew I had found it! 

But the $800 price tag (not including tax or shipping) wasway too steep. 

But I wasn’t completely discouraged. The more I studied it, the more I 

thought to myself… “I could make that!” 

So, I set out to check Pinterest to see if anyone had already taken on this 

feat, and to my surprise and total luck, someone had! And thank goodness, 

because figuring out the beading pattern would have taken forever, so extra 

high-fives to The House That Lars Built for taking the time to do that! 

So, first and foremost, you need to go to The House That Lars Built HERE 

to see the original tutorial on how to make this chandelier. Below is how 

I did it with the help of my husband. I have included little tricks I learned 

along the way to make things easier, as well as the few things I needed to 

alter the pattern to make it work for me. 

Materials 

10 mm wooden beads 12 packages of 300 





Sewing needle with large eye (so the twine can go through the hole) 

Baker’s twine or cotton yarn in at least 400 feet 

Scissors 

Two 18″ quilting hoops 

Two 23″ quilting hoops 

Oscillating saw or small saw (to cut the embroidery hoops with) 

Wood glue 

Clamps (4-6 per hoop- you can always do one at a time, too.) 

Two 1/4″ metal rods (I found these at Home Depot in the dowel section) 

Black chain – I used about 18 inches, but take into account how much you 

will need. 

If you want to add light 

Lighting Kit 

Ceiling Plate Hook 

Lightbulbs 

Okay, let’s get to it! 

Directions for Stringing the Beads 

String the beads with your needle according to the diagram created in The 

House that Lars Built, also pictured below. Leave about 6” of excess twine 

on each end so you can tie around the hoop. 

Terms to know: 

*One string of beads is called a Strand 

. 

Every U-shaped section of five strands 

(one in each size) is called a Swag 

I found that putting the beads in separate 

bowls was the easiest way to 

contain them. I also put them in the 

order that I would be stringing them 

to make it easier to keep track of.

I learned that I could save some time 

if I put 2-3 of the smaller beads on the 

needle at a time before pulling them 

down. 

Pattern for the 23” Hoop 

*For easy storing and transporting, I 

recommend using hangers to tie the 

strands on until you are ready to tie on 

the hoops. 

Pattern for 18”Hoop: 

*TIP- For my chandelier, I found 25 of the 10mm beads to be too many on 

the shortest strand, so I used 24. If I were to do it again, I would use 23 as 

this strand still turned out slightly long for me .

Directions for Tying the Strands 

1. Separate your quilting hoops so that you have one closed hoop that does 

not open, and one open hoop that is adjustable (and has the clamp on the 

outside.) So in total, you should have four hoops in each size once you take 

them apart. Set aside one adjustable 18” hoop and one adjustable 23” hoop 

(the one with the clamp) as you will not need these. You will only be using 

two closed hoops and one open hoop for each size (18” and 23”). 

3. Tie the strands of beads to one of the closed 23” hoops with double 

knots, (use the photo below for reference) and tie them one swag at a time. 

(Again, a swag is 5 strands of beads, one in each size.) Make sure the knots 

are sitting on the top edge of the hoop (so that once you glue the hoops 

together, they glue flush to each other.) Start tying the strands for the next 

Swag close to the middle of the U-shape of your previous swag to form a 

crossover pattern until you have gone all the way around the hoop using all 

of your 12 Swags . 

2. Put your hangers of strands of beads close to you in the order you will be 

using them as it will make this step go faster. (Look below to see where I 

hung mine .) 

4 . Repeat this process on one of the closed 18” hoops with the longer 

strands of beads. This hoop will have 10 Swags total . 

Directions for Gluing the Hoops Together 

1. Take the tightening device off of the open, adjustable hoop. You should 

now be able to fit this open hoop 

around the outside of the beaded hoop 

(with a little gap since it will be slightly 

bigger). Essentially, you are sandwiching 

your hoop with the beads in the 

middle with the two other hoops in 

the same size.

2. Use wood glue to secure this open hoop to the outside of the beaded 

hoop. 

3. Use a small saw (or some kind of electric cutting device like an oscillator) 

to cut the extra closed hoop. Place it inside the beaded hoop and mark 

where the hoop overlaps (which is how much you will cut off.) Remove that 

little piece of wood so that the two cut ends line up, and glue that hoop inside 

of the beaded hoop. 

4. Once you have the open hoop glued to the outside, and the closed hoop 

glued to the inside, place clamps around it to hold tightly for drying. We let 

it dry overnight. 

5. Once completely dry, cut off the excess 

twine . 

TIP- We put a little more of the wood glue 

along the strings on top of the hoops to help 

secure the strings from falling through . 

Directions for Hanging the Chandelier and Installing the Light 

First, my husband removed the current light fixture and discarded the glass 

portion of it while keeping the part with the light bulbs and wires. He then 

took the pendant lighting kit and cut off the bottom portion where the single 

bulb was and replaced it with our old lighting fixture which holds three 

bulbs (We wanted more light). Next, we took 18 inches of black chain and 

connected one end to the center of the rods, and then threaded the black 

wire up the black chain toward the ceiling. We connected the chandelier to 

the ceiling by using a Ceiling Switch Plate and hung the other end of the 

chain from the hook on the ceiling plate. Because it wouldn’t hang perfectly 

straight, my husband used a black zip tie to cinch it up straight, which can’t 

be seen . 

Here’s a picture of the chandelier when it was done. I LOVE IT! 

Directions for Installing the Rods 

1. Place your rods across the hoops in the 

shape of an X and measure to make sure they 

line up evenly and mark the spots where you 

will need to drill. Drill 4 holes that go all the 

way through the inner hoop, but only drill about halfway through the outer 

hoop . 

2. Cut the rods down to size (about 1/4” shy of the diameter of the biggest 

hoop) 

3. Once the holes are all drilled, put the rods through the smaller hoop and 

fit it tightly into the larger hoop. The rods will overlap each other and since 

they are so thin, they will bend slightly so that you are able to maneuver 

them how you would like to in order to get them in the holes .

And here it is with the light on: 

Porch 

Decor & 

More 

And that is IT! I don’t say that lightly, because truly this thing is a lot of 

work. BUT, I did complete it in about five days. I was so determined to bust 

this thing out and I did. Get yourself a Netflix show and whenever you can, 

string away. I saved about $800 by making this chandelier myself. The total 

cost of the Pottery Barn Chandelier is $956.24. The total cost in making this 

one was under $200, and I was able to use a $100 gift card on the parts. So, I 

really paid about $100 for it! 

And I am telling you, it was WORTH it! It’s been hung for about a two 

weeks now and I am still so obsessed with it. If you want to make this yourself 

and have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask! I will do my best ito help 

you out . 

Shannon Morscheck is a wife and stay at home mom of three adorable children. She has a passion 

for home decor, baking and crafting. You can follow her on her blog Lady’s Little Loves.

This fantastic telephone lamp is the 

perfect addition to your office decor. 

A fabulous gift for vintage and retro 

decor lovers. From Ladybird Lane 

Decor. 

This gorgeous fabric wreath would make 

such a cute addition to your spring decor 

and would be a lovely, welcoming 

sight for your guests. Available from 

Elegant Wreaths for You. 

Share this verse from Corinthians, personalized 

with your family name. A 

beautiful addition to your decor, or a 

thoughtful wedding gift! From Oak 

Ridge Prims. 

Hey Sweetly Designed has the most 

beautiful wooden barn quilts! Hang 

them indoors or out for a pop of 

color and a beautiful, traditional 

look.

Wooden arrows are on everyone’s 

gallery walls. Do you have yours? 

these are made from 100% recycled 

pallet wood. Get them today from 

Porch Swing Home Decor. 

You will adore this set of cement succulent 

planters from Le Ciment Bleu. 

Painted in rose gold, they are elegant 

and functional! 

Yes, a jewelry organizer can also be 

beautiful! Keep all of your necklaces 

from becoming twisted knots, and keep 

your pins and earrings handy with this 

piece from Unique Jewelry Decor. 

Show your outdoor furniture some 

love with this exquisite throw pillow 

from Margot Carrera. Designed for 

outdoor use, these durable pillows 

will last for years,


Guest House 

Before & After 

by Allie Lundeen 

We love this sweet front porch sign 

from Signs by Rhonda! Handpainted 

and sealed to protect it from the 

weather, this sign says it all! 

This beautiful moss covered basket 

filled with white roses and 

orchids is the perfect spring door 

décor for your home. Available 

from Studio Whimsy by Babs.

We had a cute little garage on our property that wasn’t functional. The ceiling was too low and we couldn’t park any of our vehicles in it. Somehow (God have 

mercy) I talked my husband into turning it into a small guest house! It’s been a fun project and a great space to use for company! 

Here’s the before… 

and after...

We love our guest house and so do all of our family and friends who visit. 

It’s cozy and comfortable and private -- and just adorable! 

Allie Lundeen is a wife and a mother to four beautiful children. She loves 

power tools, Chipotle, all things DIY, a thrifty budget and living a life set 

apart for the One who created her. Follow her at Proverbs 31 Girl.

FAMILY 

Littles’ Lifestyle

Whether it’s for a cloth diaper, 

dirty clothes, or a wet 

bathing suit, a wet bag has 

so many uses, especially 

for baby! Machine washable, 

and handmade by 

Berry Bug Shop. 

This little elephant is the cutest!! 

A simply adorable headband for 

any little girl. Get yours today at 

Creations by Corrina.. 

This personalized kids’ chef 

apron is embroidered to your 

specifications with a name, a 

short phrase and/or a design. 

Just the gift for the little chef 

in your family! From Breast 

Friends Connect. 

Horses and babies, what’s 

not to love? This adorable, 

gender-neutral bodysuit is 

also available as a toddler 

tee. Available from Elle Eh 

Design Shoppe.

Your kids will LOVE these glittery 

unicorn tumblers! Keep their drinks 

cold with no spills! Available from 

Inspired by Jenn. 

This adorable narwhal pillow from 

Lumisa Design adds a touch of 

whimsy to any kids room! This 

soft, fluffy pillow will be at home 

on the bed, chair or window seat. 

This playsuit is wonderfully 

versatile! With its short sleeves 

and legs it is perfect for spring 

and summer! Add a cardigan 

and leggings for cool evenings. 

From Simply 2 Cute 4 Kids. 

This beautiful French toile 

print dress is made from 100% 

cotton fabric. This romper 

dress has built in shorts with 

elastic legs. It also features a 

pretty ruffle detail on sleeves 

and hem, and a gorgeous bow. 

Available exclusively from Millybelle’s 

Boutique.

Style is the name of the game for 

this sweet floral dress from Sew 

Wee Design! cThis swingy gathered-waist 

dress comes complete 

with a little side bow. 

A farmhouse style growth chart 

ruler will match your decor and 

keep track of your childs’ height. 

A perfect keepsake! From 

Ivolves Designs. 

The hottest new shoes in town! 

These crocheted baby booties 

mimic the trendy Vans style 

shoes for baby! An adorable 

baby shower gift idea from 

Whispering Dreams. 

This precious ruffled outfit from 

Three Little Lovebugs is a show 

stopper! This two piece set features 

a sweetheart neckline for 

the top, and more adorable ruffles 

on the pants.

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April 2018 Your Handmade Home

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