ms. domestic

Handmade Gifts

My niece has been asking me to make her an apron lately.  So, I did, and I made it in the style that she requested--the smock apron.  It's all cotton fabric, so it's soft and easy to wash and wear.  I gave it to her last night at her party, and she loved it--so, I'm very pleased!

 

These are the skirts that I made for her to go along with that smock apron.  They are a pattern by Oliver + S company, and it is called the Lazy Days skirt.  I first saw this pattern on one of my favorite blogs, then I searched it on flickr, and then finally decided to give the pattern a whirl.  I love how A) it was so easy, and B) it's so cute!!!  They're like little twirly skirts...  I'm thinking I might need to make one for myself ;)

 

Now, these were surprises for my other niece--the baby sister of the birthday niece.  I just had to make her a matching little sister skirt set :)  You know???  I have to say, the skirts are even cuter the smaller they are!  The dark blue skirts are a lightweight denim and the lighter skirts are a medium weight 100% linen (my absolute favorite fabric in the whole wide world)...just in case you're wondering...

 

And, finally, this is the adorable little half apron I made for the little sister of the birthday girl.  Even though I don't think she'll be wearing it to cook or bake in, she loves to play house;  and for that, this will be perfect!  (She's 3 1/2 ;) ).

Thanks, as always, for stopping by my little corner of the 'net!  Please stop by again soon :-)!

Take care,
Melanie

Aprons

I was recently forwarded this email about aprons and all of their many wonderful uses around the home.  I would like to share it with you...

The
History of 'APRONS'

I don't
Think some kids know what an apron
Is.

The
Principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect
The dress underneath,because she only had a
Few,it was easier to wash aprons than dresses
And they used less material, but along with
That, it served as a potholder for removing
Hot pans from the oven.

It was
Wonderful for drying children's tears, and on
Occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty
Ears.

From the
Chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying
Eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched
Eggs to be finished in the warming
Oven.

When
Company came, those aprons were ideal hiding
Places for shy kids.

And when
The weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around
Her arms.

Those big
Old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent
Over the hot wood stove.

Chips and
Kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in
That apron.

From the
Garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.
After the peas had been shelled, it carried out
The hulls.

In the
Fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that
Had fallen from the trees.

When
Unexpected company drove up the road, it was
Surprising how much furniture that old apron
Could dust in a matter of seconds.

When
Dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the
Porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was
Time to come in from the fields to
Dinner.

It will be
A long time before someone invents something
That will replace that 'old-time apron' that
Served so many purposes..

Send this
To those who would know (and love) the story
About Grandma's aprons.

REMEMBER:

Grandma
Used to set her hot baked apple pies on the
Window sill to cool..

Her
Granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to Thaw.

They would
Go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs
Were on that apron.

*   I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron. *

Mom's new digs

I just realized that I never got around to posting pictures of Momma's new digs.  You'll have to excuse me, we have had a busy last few weeks (and months).  She actually moved in several months ago, but we are not entirely "finished" with her place.  We still need to put our finishing touches on it.  I want to hang things on the walls that we both really like, instead of throwing stuff up there just to "fill up" the blank spaces.  I know that's ideal, but I am hoping we can do it that way.  We'll see...  Anyhow, here's some pictures of how it all turned out.

 This is the view looking into the kitchen from the living area.  Where the plant and dining table are, there was a floor to ceiling wall there.  We went through quite the process to actually have that torn down--safely, that is (according to the structural engineers).  It has made such a huge aesthetic difference.  It's so much more inviting and liveable this way.

The cabinets were custom built by our contractor on site to my exact specifications.  I just love the way they turned out.  Mom does, too, of course!  The granite  was chosen by both Mom and I and then I picked out the coordinating porcelain tile with the granite sample in hand.

 

Love it, love it, LOVE IT!!!!

Another view--the sink area...

 

The fridge/pantry area...

 

Looking into the kitchen/entry hall from another location.  The floor tile was a 20"x20" porcelain tile.

 

Looking into the living area from kitchen.  There's that yellow lamp that I blogged about several months ago.  My husband rewired it for me because the switch was bad on it.  We bought most of her furnishings by scouring our favorite thrift shops over the months that she was waiting to get back into her home.  I am so thrilled with the way all of her pieces fit together.  The table and chairs in the foreground were also thrift finds.  Antiques, too--almost, anyway ;)  The sofa was a Macy's warehouse clearance piece at 50% off original price.  That cute walnut side table was thrifted, too.  I made her the pillows on the sofa, and my husband refurbished and recovered the dining chairs. 

 

This is the paint combination in the living room and the two bedrooms.  Her condo is only about 950 square feet, so, we wanted to keep a consistent flow throughout.

 

We used frieze multi-toned carpet, porcelain tile, and 9" thick baseboards throughout.

 

Mom's bedroom. It needs wall decor... I know.

 

Empire style "antique" (almost) dresser.  We got it for an absolute steal at one of our favorite thrift shops.  It's been refinished, which can diminish the value, but Mom's not worried about it's monetary value.  It looks and works beautifully in her room.

 

Mom's bathroom.  It was hard to get a good picture of this.  It's small, but very efficient.

 

Looking up higher and to the right... (in her bathroom)

 

Her second bedroom.  I have plans to make some great colorful "tropical-esque" pillows for the bed to add a little pop of color.  Coming soon.

So, there you have it.  The grand tour of Momma's new digs.  I'm happy with it, she's happy with it, so it's all good ;-)

Thanks for stopping by and taking an interest in what I'm up to!

Take care.

It's about time

Ok, now I'm starting to get my sewing groove back.  I was in a no sewing funk there for a while and I couldn't figure out why I was so glum.  Now I know why.  I wasn't doing something--one of my favorite things to do, of course--sewing.  Doesn't it just make you happy?  It makes me quite happy, content, and gives me the feeling of anything's possible, right?!  I must say, though, that I am not a huge fan of all the "prep" work that goes into a sewing project.  You know, the laying out of the fabric, the pinning of and cutting out of a pattern part.  I do love the sitting at the machine and stitching and pressing part, though.  What about you?  What part is your favorite?

Here's my newest machine.  It's an old Janome "Vogue Stitch" that I bought at one of my local Sew and Vac shops in the area.  I still haven't figured out how old this machine really is and I have tried researching it on the internet numerous times.  I LOVE this machine.  It's got the smoothest stitch and it will stitch through just about any fabric I put through the feed dogs.

Here's a little closer look.

 

As I was saying, I am finally getting my sewing groove back...  And, this is the project that helped me do it.  Hallelujah!

I know it's probably hard to see, but I ended up making the one on the second row, second over.  It's option F, and as you can see, it's Simplicity 3893.  Fabulous!  I highly recommend it!

Ta-da!!!  Here it is completed.  It fits me AND is very comfortable.  It fits, it's comfortable AND it's cute.  What more could I ask for?  I'm so very happy.

Here's hoping you're getting in the groove, too!  :-)

What season is it anyway?

So, it was 83 degrees here a day and a half ago, and now it's in the 40s.  Blah!  I was just getting used to the idea of warm weather again.  That's how it usually goes in Houston.  Just wait a minute, and the weather will change ;)  My husband and I have been doing our annual "Spring yard clean up" over the past two weeks or so--off and on--and I was loving the idea of being out in the yard on a regular basis, and then... BAM!, it's chilly outside again.  I guess I shouldn't complain.  I know it's snowing and whatnot in the northern parts of the country, so, I guess in the grand scheme of things I'm doing alright weatherwise.

Anyways... next week is supposed to be beautiful, and it's Spring Break for my kiddos.  Whoo-hoo :)  I don't know if anyone remembers this friendship (pot) tower from a post that I did last Spring, but here it is again.  With fresh, new plants in it!

My Camelia is in full bloom right now.  It is quite the sight with all that hot pink color.  I love it and highly recommend it to anyone!

My Mdme. Isaac Periere antique rose is blooming again, too.  This rose smells SO good!  It is exactly what a rose should smell like--sweet tea-like!



This is another Mdme. Isaac Periere flower beginning to unfurl on the same bush.  Love it!

Well, I am so looking forward to more gardening once this weather down here straightens out.  I hope everyone else is enjoying a little gardening, too--if possible :)  Have a happy weekend, wherever you are!

Take care,
Melanie

Let the remodel begin!!!

In case anyone was wondering--yes, I am still here :) 

Gosh, I really don't know where January or February 2009 has gone.  I guess you could say I've been  busy playing phone and email tag with the city building permit office for the past 6 to 8 weeks or so--ugh!  You see, we've been trying to get a permit to tear down a wall in the hurricane ravaged condo that my mother has been displaced from for over six months now.  We've jumped through every hoop imaginable, and we finally were issued  the ever-so-golden pink permit tag !TODAY!, so that we could begin the remodel of my mother's little condo on the lake.  She is so very excited!  I am too, of course, because remodels are every interior designer's dream... A BLANK SLATE!!!

So, we've got all of our contractors lined up and we're ready to go!  Yay!!!  I can't wait to show pictures of the progress.  Stay tuned.

At our house, though, we're itching to get outdoors to do some major plant reassigning and editing.  We've got way too many rose bushes in our yard, and about half of them are looking down right pitiful!  I need to decide which ones to keep, which ones to toss, and which ones to give away or donate.  Then, I'd like to add some fresh plantings to kick the yard up a notch or two.  I can't wait!  So, again I say, stay tuned...

And, did I mention that I would really like to sew my daughter and I a new Spring wardrobe?  Let's add that to the list, shall we?

Wishing you an almost Happy Spring :)

Take care.

Melanie

Decorations are up, and the countdown begins...

We did it!  We did get decorated this past weekend.  Yay!  Nothing like a little Christmas music to get you decorating... even if the decorating is a little close to Christmas Day.  Oh, well...

It's amazing how a little collecting can go a long way.  These were mostly thrift store and clearance item finds.  I love the variety of shapes and sizes of the nutcrackers.  The one on the far left is my husband's from his childhood.  It's a German hand-carved one from about 20 something years ago.

I was given this cookie jar a couple of years ago--as a Christmas present--and I just love it!  It's so sweet and charming with the little bluebird on its shoulder and the squirrel at its side.

I did a very simple garland on top of our tv armoire.  It gives it just enough "sparkle".

This is my Santa stocking that my mother made for me when I was little and the furry "Santa" stocking is my husband's.  I feel bad that I still have not made him one myself.  Its so fitting for him, though, you think?  One of these days, I will make him a super duper fancy one...

...And, these are the kids' stockings.  I got them from Crate and Barrel when they were babies;  before I got into sewing things myself.  I love them, though--partly because I am fond of Crate and Barrel (because I used to work there while I was in college), and partly because I love wool felt so much and these are simple without being too boring ;) !

We have placed our Christmas tree in our front living area/sitting room/office for the past several years, and it seems to be the best place for it.  Not only does it allow for it to be seen at night through the front window, but it also allows for it to be seen from several different rooms of the house--the kitchen, the den, the entry hall, and the sitting room. 

Plus, Chloe the Christmas dog seems to approve :)

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!!!

Take care,

Melanie

Christmases past

 

Ok, so here's the deal.  We haven't decorated for Christmas at our house, yet, this year.  I am hoping, however, that we'll be decorated by the end of this week--hopefully.  There's a good reason for this.  We, my husband and I, have been consumed with helping my mother, who lost everything due to Hurricane Ike.  We have been trying to be "project managers", if you will, for her and all her condo-related business.  Her condo is finally in the sheetrock phase, and we are now trying to get a permit to tear down a wall in her unit so that it will be more open and airy for her.  Getting a permit is like jumping through a series of hoops.  Fun, I tell ya.  So, as far as the holiday decorating goes, priorities must come first.

I did, however, want to share a few holiday photos with you.  For the sake of something fun and festive to look at, anyway.

Here's Bubba (Jake) with his still beloved Webkinz reindeer Comet.  He sleeps with it every night.  Christmas or not, he loves that reindeer.  He is such a lovable boy!

This is looking from our front "parlor/office" into our entry hall.  I love the sunlight that pours into this room in the afternoon!  That's my husband at the computer.

 

This is a (an unedited) picture of the kiddos taken a few years ago, that I love.  Their Daddy was making them laugh, instead of smile for the pictures :)

 

This was my kiddos' first Christmas picture together.  Love this one.

 

And, this picture was taken a few weeks ago for this year's Christmas photo card.  It's so hard to get them to cooperate these days, but, somehow, after about 110 shots, we got this one.  Yay!!!

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a prosperous new year!

Thank you for stopping by!

Merry Christmas!!!

Our Halloween experience

 

So, I guess you could say we're going through a Star Wars phase.  My kids are obsessed with anything and everything Star Wars and Lego related--esp. Star Wars Lego.  Thus, the Princess Leia and Anakin Skywalker costumes that I was so lucky to find at the very last minute at good ol' Target... and in their size!!!  Phew!  I was orginally planning on sewing up my own versions of these two characters, but, as I began to search for the sewing patterns online, I quickly realized that there were no fabric store "on sale" patterns available.  I then searched ebay and the like, and I was horrified when I saw that these patterns were going for like 60 plus dollars a piece--YIKES!!!  I'm all about a bargain, especially for Halloween.  I don't know why, but I have never really been a big fan of Halloween.  I even tried DVR-ing Martha Stewart's Halloween special and then watching it, but, that really didn't work for me.  My husband, on the other hand, is a big kid.  He loves anything holiday-related.  So, I guess we balance each other out that way.

 

So, as you can see, we carried out our theme through our pumpkin carvings as well.  The left one is supposed to be a Clone and the right one is Princess Leia.  The kiddos loved them.  That's all that matters, right?!

   

Since my son's birthday is the day before Halloween, we ended up having a little party for him on Halloween Eve right after we trick-or-treated.  My husband baked and decorated his cake.  I loved it.

 

I especially liked his little ghost sprinkles on the edge and on the sides.  He's so crafty like that ;)

 

I can't believe my sweet little boy is already 7.  Where does the time go?

I LOVE these lamps I found for my mom

 

Don't you just love when you go out shopping--thrift shopping, that is--and you find pretty much what you were looking for?  I was so ecstatic when I found two perfectly good lamps at one of my all time favorite resale shops in Houston--The Blue Bird Circle Shop.  We have found so many very good things at this shop over the past 12 years or so.  This particular day, I was on a mission to find my mother some *new* things for her soon-to-be newly renovated condo post-hurricane Ike.  My mom lost pretty much everything in the storm, so, I am determined to get her place back to normal, or maybe even better, as soon as humanly possible.  I know these are just lamps, but it sort of represents the start of a new beginning for her.  We are all very excited for her and all the possibilities of what it can and will be.  This lamp above was a steal at $7.50!  What's awesome is that it so goes with her condo's theme and her love for all things tropical.  It's pretty much in mint condition.  I have no idea what year it may be from, but who cares!  I love it!

 

Fabulous, right?  It's also marked up near the light socket--Paul Hanson.  I did a little research on the internet, and some of this guy's stuff can go for a pretty penny on Ebay.  Cool, huh?

 

This one is very cool as well.  It came with what looks like a textured silk mini-pleated lamp shade, but I did not photograph it, because I need to clean it up a little bit.  This lamp was put on final markdown for $10.00.  The original thrift shop listing price was $65.00, so, I am guessing that it originally sold for a good amount of money.  Once again, though, who cares?!  It's awesome, and it goes with my Mom's tropical theme!!!  Yipee!

  

Look how nicely done the bamboo detail is...  I am so pleased with my resale finds :) !!!  And, best of all, Mom likes them, too!