Framing a Rug

One of the alphabets we got for the nursery is this beautiful hieroglyphic rug from our friends Scott and Erika.  The only problem... I have no idea how to hang a rug.

Internetz to the rescue!

After reading a few different posts about options, I decided on the following process:

Step 1: Velcro the fringe
I bought some sticky velcro and stuck it to the back of the top of the rug fringe. (I also read about options of sewing this top section, but velcro seemed the easiest and least likely to end up with me in tears or the rug in tatters.)

Step 2: Pin the Rug
I also got a shadow box, which came with backing and pins.  I would note, I also stuck the sticky side of the velcro tape to the backing of the shadow box as well.

Step 3: Frame
When the shadow box was all assembled, only moments later, I was quite pleased with the results.

And that is the very last thing we needed to do in the nursery.  (Cough cough, hint hint, baby.)

Yup, she's nesting

4 weeks and some change til my due date and I can't seem to help but nest.

My latest project: these throw pillows.

When we first got married our bedding set was rust colored and we had a few throw pillows. When the comforter fell apart at the seams, we kept the pillows, which I always intended to cover.

Now with a baby coming, who will not sit on a couch by himself for years and will never notice that I have beautiful throw pillows, I decided that the pillows MUST be covered now.

The first pattern I made up myself and it resembles and envelope on the back... one I had to hand stitch so that the pillow inside is preserved.

For the second pillowcase though, I looked online (mostly pinterest) and found a better design. I had to modify the sizes based on my pillow and the pieces of scraps I had, but the basic design is here:
http://cleverbetty.blogspot.com/2013/03/beginner-sewing-tutorial-simple-pillow.html

Like last time, I'm relearning the importance of ironing and pinning. And also, my messy first pillow and awesome second pillow look exactly the same from the front.