sewn

I finished sewing the handiest little pincushion. The pattern comes from Anna Maria Horner's Seams to Me book. If you decide to tackle this project make sure you read the corrections for the project on her website.  I had to make some adjustments, meaning I had to exercise the math part of my brain (scary) figuring out circumference and I even used Pi. What's really weird is that I enjoyed it, most likely because there were some really cute results at the end of all that math.  

And another project completed. The only math needed for the sewing machine cover was measuring-easier math and more cute results!  This was a Home Ec. class project. There's my handy little pincushion in the background.  Both of these projects were well worth the effort, the process was just as enjoyable as the finished results.  You can sign up for the Sewing class here.  And find Seams to Me here.

A quick note:  I am an Amazon Associate.  The links to books in my posts will take you to Amazon and where you can purchase them. We receive a small percent for each purchase made from my links and that small percent is a huge help to our family while Jeremy is in school! Thanks for your support!

May Day Baskets

For as long as I can remember I've wanted to make May Day baskets, but I never followed through with it.  This year I decided to make it happen by keeping things simple and starting out small.  The May Day basket tradition is to leave baskets of flowers at your neighbors door.  This year I left a basket of flowers at our door, waiting for each of the girls when they got home from school. I think this got the girls excited about the tradition and next year we can all work together to deliver baskets. 

I found the little pots in the dollar spot at Target, 8 for a dollar, they are small and super cute. I only used two of the pots, leaving six for us to give to our neighbors next year (planning ahead!).   

I didn't have any fresh flowers on hand, so I decided to make a flower garland and tie it up to look like a colorful bouquet of flowers.  The garland was so easy to make, tutorial found here.  The yellow yarn came from Anthropologie at Christmas time.

Next year, we may purchase fresh flowers or make our own again...that all depends on the status of our bank account.   Last year, I had high hopes of delivering Christmas cookies to our neighbors but with Jeremy's finals and traveling, it was hard to make it happen and this Christmas will probably be the same.  A May basket might be a nice alternative for our family.  Plus, making our own flowers would allow me to plan ahead and have things ready to go months ahead of time.  Will someone please hold me accountable to this?  

Happy May!

Stella's Unicorn Party

Way back in September, Stella turned 5, we waited to celebrate with a friend party until after we moved into our current apartment.  The new place was mostly settled and the birthday girl was happy to invite her friends into her new home.

The party was right after school on the day that I nannied away from home, so everything had to be set up the night before and the morning of the party. It was a little bit crazy that day, but I like to think it added to the excitement.

Stella is a girl who knows what she wants and she had some very specific requests and plans for the party.

-go on a hunt for something, unicorn-ish, like our last party

-snap a group photo of her and her friends: both smiling and silly photos

-play a game

-serve cupcakes in a jar with pink frosting

-include colored pictures (made by her) for all of her guests in the favors

-display her hand drawn unicorns as decorations on the day of the party

For the hunt, I made little Unicorn hair clips for all the girls, inspired by these.

The girls played "Pin the Horn on the Unicorn" (or "Pin the Corn on the Uni" as Jeremy liked to call it. "Shouldn't it be called a Unihorn?  I mean, that thing on its head isn't a corn, right? Pretty sure it's a horn" he says.).  I painted the unicorn and then cut horns out of felt.

It was simple. I wish I had snapped a photo of the table, but I'll blame that on the party being right after school and my being away from home before hand. That photo wasn't one of the birthday girl's requests anyways. ;)

We keep our parties pretty simple and try to pull off something memorable and special for the kids while keeping things under a very small budget, Jeremy is in school after all, so our whole life is under a very small budget.  Sometimes having such a small budget can be frustrating, but other times it stretches my creativity and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

One more thing:  the banner in the first photo above has become a part of all the parties we throw. That project and the finished bag I shared in my post yesterday are projects from this sewing e-course. The bag and the banner along with this are some of my favorite things I've sewed and I can't wait to start my next project, a sewing machine cover, maybe I can start that one this afternoon.

If you need me, I'll be in the studio,
Diane 

Our Room

I've been snapping photos around our place before it all gets packed away into boxes.

Here is a peak into our room:

Thanks for peaking!  

Crafting on the fly with Emma and Stella

This summer I made a loose schedule for me and the kids.  I say loose because I  am not the best at sticking with a schedule, so I need some flexibility.  Part of our routine each week includes a craft time with Emma and Stella, after lunch, while Lincoln is napping.  Sometimes, actually most of the time,  I have no idea what we are going to make until moments before craft time officially begins.  So I quickly look through our stash of supplies hoping for an idea, using things we already have for a craft on the fly.

Craft on the fly: Sticker books

Emma and Stella love stickers and needed a cute place to put them.  First, we cut rectangles for the pages and the cover.  Then I helped the girls bind their books on my sewing machine. They sat in my lap and I showed them which buttons to press, then we pushed the paper through while sewing down the middle of the rectangle.  After the pages were sewn in they decorated the covers.

Then they filled their pages up with stickers.  They LOVE stickers! 

 Craft on the fly: Paper Chains

 I found leftover paper strips from Emma's party in our stash so we made paper chains.

The paper was already cut so that was easy.  We didn't have any scotch tape and rather than messing with a gluestick I found some double-sided adhesive tabs in my scrapbooking stash.

I think part of the excitement with this craft was the presentation. It took me about 5 minutes to set it up, but I think it made the craft time feel more official for Emma and Stella.  I put some strips of paper and a strip of the adhesive tabs in an empty cigar box and set it on the table in front of their chair.  Then I did a little demonstration of how to make the chains and was ready to assist if they needed me. 

What crafts have you made with your kids this summer? I would love some more ideas!

Valentine's Day DIY

We have spent the past few days gearing up for Snowpocalypse here in St. Louis.

Our fridge and pantry are stocked and everyone has clean sheets, towels and clothes.

I made some healthy and delicious cookies and some yummy homemade granola.

I also went to Joann's to buy polyfill and a plate hanger-so I can finally finish my plate wall

AND

make a tooth fairy pillow if need be.

(please see tone disclaimer)

Yesterday cabin fever took hold over our place and I needed to come up with something to pass the time.

So the girls and I made some hearts.

I found some cardboard in our recycle bin (cereal boxes) and we went to work.

Step 1: trace a heart onto your cardboard

Step 2: draw squiggles and loops all over your heart



Step 3: pick some pretty paint colors and fill in all those little spots
you made with your squiggles

There was no pressure about staying in the lines.

Aren't they pretty?

If you make these at your house, let me know, I would love to see them!

thrifted canvas DIY/ Project Restyle

I am super excited to participate in Rachel and Elsie's Project Restyle this year. My first project was super quick and easy.

I purchased a framed painting a couple of weeks ago at a local thrift store. I intended to keep the frame and toss the painting. Then I remembered one of my favorite house tours on design*sponge and chelsea's clever update to one of their paintings.

We are big Avett Brothers fans around here and play their albums enough that painting some of their song lyrics on the painting seemed like the perfect choice for this project.

First, I wrote out the words on the canvas with a white sharpie.  Make you double check your spelling and punctuation before you write on your painting. ;)

Then I painted over the sharpie with some white craft paint.  You will want to pick a paint color that will showcase the words you choose and that will compliment the colors in your canvas.

and here is the after!

I always stop by the frame and art sections when I am in thrift store. It is always exciting to find a fabulous frame or piece of artwork that won't take you over in the home decor category of your budget.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pretty, Pretty Balloons

One of St. Louis' yearly traditions in September is a Hot Air Balloon Glow on Friday night and a Balloon Race on Saturday afternoon.  This year we officially participated in the Balloon Glow, by picnicking in Forest Park with some friends, and we unofficially participated in watching the race on Saturday, by cruising around in the van with the kids watching for balloons racing through the sky. We plan on making this event a yearly tradition for our family during our time here. The kids loved it, we loved it and I think the whole experience deserves some recognition on our Christmas tree this year and for years to come.  

Christmas tree?  Yes, especially after I saw these ornaments; they seem like the perfect way to remember don't you think?

 

Since the cost of three ornaments (one per kid) is way out of our Christmas budget I plan on making my own version this year and I will let you know how it goes.

Have you seen all the holiday trim for yourself?  Don't even get me started on the gift wrap section.

Our Halloween was Happy!

I want to say a heartfelt thank you for your kind and encouraging comments on my last post. I feel ready to start the quilt and I feel so much support from all of you, thank you! I want you to know that I appreciate each one of you that stops by my blog when you have a spare moment in your day.

On Friday, we were pretty focused on making Halloween costumes for the kids.  Making things can be so therapeutic.   It was our first time to make costumes and let's just say that Fabri-Tac is my new best friend.

We trick or treated with a bunch of seminary families.

The kids were super excited!

And it was cold!

For this Texas girl, it made me so so happy!

The girls costume requests were Susan, Lucy and Aslan, from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.  We thrifted both of the dresses and the bear costume from Goodwill. I had planned on making a lion costume with a hoodie and pants, but Jeremy found this and we couldn't pass it up.  I just added a felt mane and a little lion tail and he was good to go!

I made the capes with felt, ribbon and Fabri-Tac (did I say I love Fabri-Tac?).

We made Susan's bow and arrows from a tree limb, shoe string, an oatmeal box, some scraps of felt, sticks and a thrifted belt.

We made Lucy's knife from a stick, felt, cardboard and a another thrifted belt.

Once we joined all of the other families for trick or treating, it was a little overwhelming to the girls; notice the sad, unsure looks on their faces :(  They did have fun, I promise, and based on the number of times they have dumped out, sorted and resorted their candy bags, they are very pleased with their haul!

We also made the fabric pumpkins I mentioned in a previous post; the girls had fun stuffing and painting  them.  After stuffing, I think they had had their fill, so we collaborated on the pumpkin embellishments.

Any pumpkin parades or costume parties in your neighborhood?

DIY Guest Post with Maegan from SimplyBeautiful

Good morning!  I am so excited to introduce you to my first guest poster, my friend Maegan, from the blog, Simply Beautiful. We are now long distance friends that originally met at our church when we both lived in Waco. She, too, is the wife of a seminary student, spends her days caring for her three little ones and never ceases to amaze me with her sewing and crafting skills.

Today, she is sharing this amazing DIY lamp that is not only friendly on the budget, it also helps us all add a certain sophisticated and vintage ambience to our homes.   

Welcome Meagan!

First off, I want to thank Diane for taking my crafting somewhat seriously and letting me guest post on her blog. It's quite an honor! And one that I was so excited about I wanted to present the perfect project. When she first ask me to guest post, I had in mind several ideas for projects. However, since I could only pick one I chose a DIY lamp. You see we have moved six times in our five years of marriage. Out of the six places we've lived, four of them have had NO light in the living area. I know! Can you believe it!? Needless to say, we have had a lot of lamps over the years. I've done my share of painting old ones- which I still enjoy, but today I want to share a special technique for making a one-of-a-kind lamp. You can find electrical lamp kits and Hobby Lobby or a hardware store (they're $10 at HL; which means $6 with a 40% off coupon!). With these lamp kits, the possibilities are really endless. Today I will show you how to make an antique mirrored lamp. 

Supplies:

Lamp kit (found at Hobby Lobby or Home Depot)

any shape glass vase or container

Krylon Looking Glass Mirror-Like Paint (also found at Hobby Lobby)

Dark gray or black spray paint (optional)

spray bottle with water

paper towel roll

scrap piece of acrylic (could also use cardboard or chipboard and piece of foil)

hot glue gun

any lampshade you desire!

Step 1: 

Wrap and tape paper around the outside of your vase.

Step 2:

Spray the inside of your vase with water.

Step 3:

While the water is still wet, spray the inside of the vase with the Mirror spray paint. Reach your hand as close to the bottom of the vase and spray from the bottom up. You may want to wear a glove for this part. 

Step 4: 

Let dry. 

Step 5: 

Repeat steps 2 and 3. This is to ensure a good coat on the mirror paint.

Step 6: 

Let dry again. Mine only took about 15 minutes to dry.

Step 7(optional):

Spray the inside of the vase with your dark colored spray paint. It doesn't matter exactly what color you use. I just used what I had. It's just to give a dark base for the Mirror paint to work off of. I'll show you a picture of the subtle difference.

Step 8:

While you let it dry, assemble your lamp kit. 

Step 9: 

Take your painted vase, put the paper towel roll inside the vase and mark around the rim of the vase. Cut the paper towel roll down to this mark.

Step 10:

Hot glue the bottom of the paper towel roll (I added a little cardboard base to mine) and stick it inside the vase. 

Step 11:

I used craft acrylic (found in the scrapbooking section of Hobby Lobby) to cut a circle the size of my vase top. I then cut a circle in the middle of the circle (making a doughnut) in which the lamp kit base could fit into. I then applied some Mirror paint and black paint in the same manner in which I added it to the vase. I used acrylic because it was simply what I had. I think plexiglass would work better; it would just be harder to cut. You could also use cardboard or chipboard to cut a circle, cover it with the matte side of aluminum foil, and the brush on some black paint with a dry brush. **Pictures shown using the cardboard and foil method.

Step 12: 

Using hot glue, glue your circle to the top of your vase and to the paper towel holder (it adds support).

Step 13: 

Add a lightbulb and a lampshade. Plug in and enjoy!

Thanks Maegan!  I LOVE this project and just added a clear vase to my look-for-while-thrifting list so I can make my own.

Check back later for my giveaway!

-diane