Although I try to keep the kitchen gadgets to a minimum around here, when I came across this apple peeler at the thrift store I knew we had to give it a try. It's given a whole new life to having an apple for a snack, I tell you.
Gwenyth has it all figured out - let's hope she's as eager when we harvest our apples this fall!
I've been delving into crochet in the last few weeks, and whipped up a pair of these little booties in no time flat. I had forgotten how very fast crochet can be next to knitting (although I still prefer the look of knitted fabric).
I found the pattern here, and used some Mission Falls 1824 cotton I had floating around, along with some buttons from the good ol' thrift store.
I leave tomorrow for our Epic Adventure, so things will be quiet here over the next few weeks. I grumbled about the timing of this trip, wishing we were traveling in August rather than now, but am so grateful for the way things have worked out. My aunt passed away on Tuesday, after a long and painful illness, and I will be able to be with my mom and other distant family members for the funeral, which is such a blessing.
Please keep us in your thoughts as we travel, separately and together, and I will pop in with updates if I am able along the way.
I did up these shirts for the boys the other night - super fast and easy. Using plain white t-shirts, and a thifted men's shirt for the tie fabric, I followed this tutorial. It worked wonderfully, and we've had lots of nice compliments when the boys wore them out (although I'm reminded, already, why I don't usually buy my children white shirts - messy, messy, messy).
Liam, however, was clearly uninterested in a photo shoot yesterday morning - truly, he's uninterested in doing almost anything I suggest or ask these days... See that sweet grumpy face? Kissing Liam's face off when he's in a mood clearly is not the response he's looking for - isn't a 2 year old fun?
This post is nothing more than photographic evidence that at least one of my children will drink milk. After three who had zero desire to consume any of the good white stuff (Katie will drink it now, but it took a good long time), this one actually asks for it! (This might be helped by having a special "milk cup" given to him by the nice ladies at our little thrift store, but still.)
I became taken a while ago with the idea of sewing Gwenyth a skirt out of a pillowcase. Last year, I made her a pillowcase dress (which I somehow missed blogging about - how did that happen?), but she's gotten tall, and I wasn't sure I could pull it off again.
We took a trip to the thrift store, and Gwen fell in love with this pillowcase. After paying the 50 cents herself, we took it home and got busy. I cut it off, sewed a casing, inserted elastic and Hey Presto! Because a skirt on it's own is not nearly as good as An Outfit, Gwenyth rummaged in her dresser until she came across this t-shirt. I cut a few flowers from the leftover bits of pillowcase and appliqued them onto the front. (The leggings were a recent thrifty find. Isn't it so great when things come together like that?)
There was only one little problem - she wouldn't wear it. At first, the skirt was too long. Naturally, I had made it a tad longer on purpose, hoping for more use. Silly mummy. I hemmed up the skirt, imagining that I had found the solution. Ah, no. The shirt was... TOO ORANGE! Let's forget the fact that Gwenyth likes orange. Put aside the idea that it was her shirt to start with. Don't even mention that she's worn this exact shirt around 8 million times. Too orange. Nope. Can't do it.
Oooooh, internal struggle! Do I force her to wear the outfit she chose? I wanted to, I really, really did. Instead, I told her (hopefully) calmly that if she wasn't going to wear the outfit I made her, that was okay. But not to expect me to make her any other things, if this is how she was going to behave when they were done. (Was that mean? I'm not sure. It was far less mean than the yelling I would have like to have done, the forcing a tearful 4 year old to wear the outfit I used my precious crafting time on.)
The other day (a whole 'nother story, I tell you), we decided to head off to the lake for the morning. Gwenyth couldn't decide what to wear, and so I handed her an outfit from her dresser. No - she didn't want to wear that. Thinking I would short-circuit this conversation, I picked up this skirt & t-shirt. "Well," I said (calmly?), "you could wear the clothes mummy made you, instead."
"Okay," she answered, and that was the end of the issue. Fickle Four, anyone?
Edited to Add: Joining in the fun Link Party at Tea Rose Home - check it out!
Katie has taken a real interest in creating her own look of late, which brings me joy in so many ways. When I came across this video tutorial I knew it was just the kind of thing she would like, and could do all on her own.
A quick trip to the thrift store for a couple of $1 t-shirts, and she was off into the wonderful world of repurposing.
It's really rewarding and exciting (and a little scary) to watch my girl begin to change into a young woman - to develop her own sense of style, to express herself in her own way. To see her incorporate some of my values into her own, to know that I haven't been talking to a brick wall all this time, is even better (even if she still thinks I'm pretty strange most of the time).
I really love swaps. I don't join in very often (usually because I miss the boat!), but when I do, I'm always so glad. A new reader of Our Yellow House, when I read her idea for a February Cheer swap, especially one full of handmade/thrifted type goodies, I knew I was in. Above is the wonderful basket that arrived from my (blogless) buddy - a knit cloth, a homemade CD of lovely, peaceful piano music, a book to read, lotion & soap to enjoy... such pampering. It was lovely, and a great day brightener for a tired, sick mama.
This is the package that I sent to my buddy:
A thrifted book, some yarn in her favourite colours, a packet of soothing teas, and my own little experiment in sewing. I have put together something like this a few times now, and I've quite enjoyed making these little sets up - a tissue holder, key chain, coffee cup sleeve, and a little bag. Not everyone, I know, has the same need for things to match as I do, but still - what a nice, organized feeling to open your purse and see these bits!
We're all (relatively) healthy now, which is good because I've been working almost non-stop! I'm starting to feel a bit burnt out, but I've been sneaking in some crafting at every available minute, and look forward to showing you... soon. Really soon.
I've been planning this project for awhile now - I found this fabulous little square tablecloth at a thrift store in the fall, and immediately decided it would be a great little apron. I've slowly been building up my sewing skills, and after looking through a couple of apron books from the library, I decided I was ready to give it a try.
I purchased 1/2 a yard of the beige fabric, and new beige thread, but the bulk of the apron is cut from the tablecloth itself. The button is a thrifted vintage one found at the same place as the tablecloth (but on a different day, of course). I cut the tablecloth across, just a bit south of half, for the skirt, and the cut the bodice from the opposite edge. There's still a bit left over, and I'm thinking Gwenyth definitely needs a matching half apron - don't you agree?
The nasty cold spell has broken, and I managed to sneak in a thrift store visit yesterday morning. When one can finally leave the house, what better place to head for? After the essential trip to the library, of course.
I'm always so very happy to come across craft supplies, especially ribbon. I love ribbon. I love ribbon so much, I have a hard time using it. Which is silly, I know. I also found some binding & twill tape, which I am less reluctant to use, and so always glad to find.
I did manage to use some ribbon, the very same day I found it, a feat almost unheard of in these here parts. I will show you, but I have to take a picture first... Tomorrow, perhaps?
Are you a thrifter? What kind of treasures do you hunt for?
Lots of good fall things going on around here these days:
What are you up to?
PS - Miss Gwenyth has a request - she is in desperate need of some postcards to brighten her day when we bring in the mail. If anyone is willing to send her a little piece of snail mail happiness, please let me know - she will be very, very grateful.