Home
I got home about 1:30 this morning. I’ve spent the last few days in Houston and I had an unbelievably wonderful time. But I missed these two like crazy. And I am so happy to be home.
I’ll post some pictures of the amazing things I saw, and some of the great things I brought home (and didn’t bring home) over the next few days. But today all I am going to do is kiss those sweet little cheeks, and the scruffy big ones. Be back soon.
Going Home
You’d never know it, but I’ve been gone since Wednesday. And I’ve had a wonderful time.
But I miss my two best friends. And I’m ready to go home. See you tomorrow.
[ image source ]
Love.
OK, this little bow ring might be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. I LOVE it. Coach also makes a bracelet version. This is going on my wishlist. I’ts adorable, right? Of course right. Duh.
Make me a Mix Tape
A few weeks ago I saw this giant sized tshirt on clearance at Old Navy. It was $2 and as soon as I saw it I knew that it would make a perfect purse. I found the turquise polkadot lining on clearance for I think $3.50 at the end of the summer. And after I washed the polkadots with a load of darks (they were incredibly white next to that black shirt!) to gray them up a bit I started cutting things apart.
I added gussets in the bottom to help give it a little shape. And there are two interior polka dotted pockets, and one big pocket on the back made from the cut up sleeves of the tshirt.
I found a strip of velcro in my sewing box that was exactly the right length to keep it closed. And then I started to wonder when I had purchased black velcro. Well, I never have. When we got married I took over Scotts mini sewing kit. That little strip of velcro was leftover from a highschool sewing project of his. When he was 17 years old he made a full on ski jacket complete with zippers and velcro hood and drawstrings and goretex lining and everything. And this week, 13 years later, I used up the last of his velcro.
On this purse I tried my hand at exposed and raw edge seams… I don’t think I much like it. On this 80’s inspired grunge looking project I actually really like how the end product looks. But getting to that point created all sorts of internal drama. I don’t know why, but it was so hard for me to turn my sewing mind inside out as I made up the pattern for this purse. In my mind I kept sewing the raw edges inside, and then I’d get all confused with my self. I’ll blame it on sewing at midnight. I lined the bag with a thick fusible fleece, so it almost feels like it’s made of a sweatshirt instead of a tshirt. And I think that make it more winterlike. (Smiles to self.) It’s large enough to fit my very biggest art journal inside, or any number of my notebooks from my ever growing stack.
[ Mixtape pouch from Brave Moonman. OK, Seriously? His stuff is to die for adorable. ]
And now I kind of think I need one of these mixtape coinpurses to go inside… It only seems fitting. I’m adding this project to Sew+Tell at Amy’s. Happy Weekend!
Cinnamon Chips and Pumpkin Dip
Cinnamon Chips and Pumpkin Dip is one of my very favorite fall snacks. It is so easy to make and I almost always have everything I need on hand. Enjoy!
Pumpkin Dip
Beat together:
- 4 oz soft cream cheese (I always use Neufatchel Cheese)
- 1 cup (Half of a 15 oz can) pumpkin puree
- 1.5 tea pumpkin pie spice (or your favorite combo of cinnamon/ginger/nutmeg/allspice)
- .5 tea ground ginger
- .5 tea vanilla
Gradually add 3/4 cup powdered sugar and beat until smooth. You can keep this in the fridge for about a week, covered tightly.
Cinnamon Chips
Cut flour tortilla’s into pieces and spread out on a rimmed cookie sheet lightly sprayed with non-stick spray. Spray the tops lightly and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (1/4 cup sugar, 1 tea cinnamon). Spraying the tops helps the cinnamon sugar to stick after they are done baking. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes, or until they are golden brown around the edges. But watch them closely, don’t let them burn. I used four tortilla’s to fill up one cookie sheet.
Now, doesn’t that sound like the perfect treat to brighten up your Thursday?
Dear Dad…
Creamie loves trucks. Like a lot. The freeway near our house is under major construction, they are adding two lanes each way (Yay!) and building a whole lot of new bridges over it. As a result, the traffic is always slow. (Lame.) But, due to all the slow traffic Creamie has learned to spot her favorite large construction machines. She can tell the difference between front loaders and trackhoes, she knows which one’s are dumptrucks and which are sidumpers. Her favorites are the hoppers, and she never confuses them for a tanker truck. She never fails to point out a crane, or a semi or flatbed. The recent addition of the graders, rollers and pavers was not lost on her little mind. (She’s not even two.)
Anyway, with all that being said, I’m pretty sure this would be the perfect Christmas present for her. Go watch the video (only 20 seconds) and then tell me that isn’t the coolest thing you’ve ever seen. Dad, that’s a hint.
Brought to you by the Color Orange
Falling for Fall
I am so glad that fall is here for real. Here are a few things that I am in love with lately.
[ This yellow coat from OldNavy ]
[ Actually, I’ll take the yellow one, and then these four from L.L.Bean. Love the ruffles! ]
[ This cute acorn garland by Rachel Denbow posted over at A Beautiful Mess ]
[ These pretty boots at Zappos. ]
I tried to buy boots last year. It was a total disaster. I guess I will need to find a boots consultant (ahem, Heidikins) and then work up to trying it again.
So instead of boots I got these. It’s my fourth pair of pink slippers in a row. But I think that these might be my favorites yet. Now, if only I could find some really great plaid tights (to wear with my make-believe boots) I think I’ll have fall taken care of. Just in time for winter. Ah winter, I’ve missed you.
Fall Leaf Accent Pillows
A few weeks ago I was talking to my cousin Deni and she showed me this great idea of hers. She had bought a few placemats at Walmart and had turned them into fall throw pillows for the couch. Yesterday during Creamie’s naptime I made a few for myself. And here is a super easy mini tutorial for Deni’s idea.
Supplies Needed
- Leaf Shaped Placemats
- Matching Thread
- Stuffing
- Needle, Seam Ripper, Scissors
The placemats I used are from Better Homes & Gardens for Walmart. They are embroidered faux suede on one side and lined on the back, they were $3 each. Because my placemats are lined, I just needed to give them a little stuffing to turn them into pillows.
I started by unpicking a few inches of the top stitching around the perimeter of the leaf.
Then unpick the next line of stitching that is holding the two sides together and open up your placemat. You’ll need between 4 and 6 inches to add the stuffing.
I recycled the stuffing from my old living room pillows. You don’t need a lot of fluff, just enough to give your leaf a little cushiness. (I used the guts from one old pillow to make these four.)
Then sew up your opening with a needle (or you could use your machine) and you’ve got a brand new fall accent pillow that cost just a few dollars and took 10 minutes to make. Bingo!
I wish all my projects were that easy. Thanks for the great idea Deni. Oh, and it’s November!
Happy Halloween
Since we had so much rain last night we improvised our Halloween festivities. It included building a fort in the living room and turning off all the lights. I gave Creamie a little flashlight and let her “scare” us as many times as she wanted. She was laughing hysterically. Finally about 7:30 we got our one and only trick-or-treater. And since it had stopped raining we put the costume back on and went to visit a few of the single grandma’s in our neighborhood. They were thrilled to see Creamie and she was thrilled beyond belief that they were all giving her candy.
[ This is an original fruit crate label from the 1960’s. It would have been plastered on the side of a box of pumpkins (The brand was “Halloween” ) before it was shipped. I kind of have a soft spot in my life for vintage fruit crate labels. Pears in particular. But that’s another post. ]
I’m really going to try hard to get caught up on emails this week. That’s the plan. And I’m hoping to finish up a super easy fall tutorial for tomorrow. Happy Halloween everyone!
pinksuedeshoe 