Category Archives: Likes

Sparkle Button Cardigan

15 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Likes, Projects, Shop, Vintage

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

I love this cardigan.  It is based off a Debbie Bliss pattern in her Essential Baby book.  I’ve made a lot of projects from the book, and all are well-loved and much-used.  The original pattern is a button down, but I wanted to use these big vintage rhinestones so I omitted the button holes.  Similar buttons can be found here.  I hid chunky snaps under the buttons for easy on and off.  The yarn is a simple Patons Classic Wool.

I love a good balance of utility and fancy.

Sales!

13 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in Likes, Organizing, Shop

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Hooray for End of Season Sales!  We recently got our Crewcuts order.  These red shoes are making me smile.  Both the former girl and shoe designer in me are in love with them.  This order won’t fit Ada for another year, but I love to stock up when the prices are good.  We store clothes in clear plastic bins, organized and labeled by size.  It is like having a full pantry.  Very satisfying.

Cross My Heart Garland

10 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by in Likes, Projects, Shop, Vintage

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

I started working on this flag garland for Josie’s upcoming birthday and realized it would make a great Valentine project.  I promise it is easy and you still have a weekend to make it.  These flags are small enough that we used only scraps from other projects and didn’t have to buy any new fabric.  There is a mix of vintage and some Liberty prints here.  (Oh Liberty of London, how I love you!)

You will need:

*Various fabric pieces.  Hearts show up better on contrasting squares.

*Scalloped Scissors (or pinking or straight will work as well).

*Ribbon.  We used satin 1/4″.

*Card stock to make pattern.

*Sewing Machine and/or needle and thread.  I machine sewed the hearts through the centers, but you could also hand stitch.

1. Cut 4″ x 31/2″ rectangle from card stock. These will become 31/2″ squares as the back is folded over ribbon.  (Any size you choose will work, just remember to leave 1/2″ to fold over).

2. Fold another piece of card stock in half.  Trace half a heart to fit on the size rectangle you choose.  Open and you will have an even heart pattern.  Our heart was 3″ across widest point when open.

3.Trace desired number of rectangles and hearts and cut out.  We had 20 of each.

4. Stitch center of hearts down on rectangles.  Be sure to line up the bottom of the heart with the bottom of the rectangle.  We alternated up and down hearts.  Machine or hand stitching will work.

5. Fold the half inch at the top of rectangles back over ribbon and hand stitch down. Be sure to use tiny stitches on the front side.  We spaced ours out about half an inch between rectangles.

6. Hang.  Hooray Valentines Day!

Valentine Necklaces

10 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by in Likes, Projects, Vintage

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Ada and I made these simple, sugar-free valentines for her classmates.  I cut and she directed, strung and decorated.  You will need:

*Fabric.  We used vintage and Liberty scraps.

*Scalloped scissors (or pinking or straight will work)

*Hole punch

*Yarn or ribbon

*Glitter glue, sparkles, etc.

*Card stock for pattern

1. Fold card stock in half.  Trace half a heart and cut out.  Unfold and you will have an even heart.

2. Trace pattern onto fabric.  We used chalk to trace.

3. Punch hole in corner of heart.

4. Let the kids decorate away.  Let the decorations dry and string onto yarn.

We stuck our valentines inside envelopes and wrote a little message on each.

Happy Valentines Day! XOXO

Organize

09 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in Likes, Organizing, Projects, Shop

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

The supplies in the art room were getting out of hand, so we made a trip to Ikea.  Lucky for me, we took a wrong turn into the kitchen section and discovered these wooden silverware caddies.

I like that two small trays can stack the width of the large tray.  Supplies for a specific project can be grouped and carried to another room.  They would also be perfect for small tools and house projects.  Ikea’s site is notorious for not allowing you to buy directly, so you will need to make a trip.  (You can also find them here, but they are more expensive).  Clear zippered pouches keep small supplies visible but contained.

We keep a square of floral oil cloth under Ada’s easel.  It wipes off with a sponge and the retro patterns are always so cheery.  Now I don’t spend so much of my precious time in the studio cleaning up after the kids.

Alphabet Book

08 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Likes, Organizing, Projects, Shop

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

This alphabet book is one of my favorite projects for preschoolers.  We started about a year ago and add to it as we get catalogs or magazines to cut up.  Each letter has a page or two where we paste in different fonts as well as pictures of things that start with the letter.  (P for Peanut, Popsicle, Parrot).  You will need:

*Big notebook.  We used this one by Art Alternatives,  but any large blank book will work.  I like the spiral because it makes room for bulky pages.

*Gluestick

*Scissors.  (I initially cut out the pictures, but now Ada likes to use the scissors).

*Recycled magazines, catalogs, grocery circulars, stickers, etc.  We LOVE these Eyelike sticker books because smaller kids can help without the use of glue or scissors.  The Eyelike images are amazingly detailed and the stickers are reusable.

This book is a great way to make learning letters and the initial concepts of reading more like a treasure hunt.  I love the collage aesthetic and that one of  the books Ada likes to look at on her shelf was made by her.

Dye

07 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Likes, Projects, Shop

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

I cannot bear throwing out special baby clothes that have been stained with sweet potatoes.  So I started dyeing Ada’s clothes as an experiment to see if I could cover stains and brighten colors.  I used to use Rit black dye and pull it out early so it made a lovely dark purple.  But Chris made fun of the Goth baby clothing and it eventually faded to a sad gray color.  Then I discovered Idye and I am kind of in love.

Idye’s colors are bright and beautiful.  It is super easy to use and the colors stay.  The clothes will need to be washed with like colors for a bit, and you cannot use a dye pan for cooking,  but the results are worth the separating.  It is also easy to do the whole process in your washing machine.  I especially like playing around with this alchemy on dreary winter days.

Washi Tape Wrap

06 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in Likes, Party!, Projects

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

My latest favorite way to wrap gifts is with Japanese Washi Tape and brown craft paper.  We used the tape here to label the card as well.  Happy Birthday Asher!

There are so many beautiful tape options…I could spend days looking.  Here are some great Washi tape choices from Etsy.  (Oh Etsy, how I love you!)

Window Hearts

03 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by in Likes, Organizing, Projects

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , ,

We made these wax paper and melted crayon hearts last year and have been waiting to hang them back up. The original project is Martha Stewart’s, (Oh Martha how I love you).  Ours came out a bit differently because we only had washable crayons at the time and Ada insisted on working the crayon sharpener.  They packed away beautifully and we were happy to see them brighten the windows of our new house!

Heart Felt Valentine

02 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in Likes, Party!, Projects, Shop

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

These wool felt hearts are really reversible magnets for the fridge.  They are flat enough to put through the mail and make perfect valentines or invitations to a Valentine’s Day party.  You will need:

*Felt.  We used two colors of wool felt from Woolfeltcentral.com

*Embroidery Floss in contrasting color

*Stuffing

*Two small, strong Magnets.  (You only need one if you don’t want the heart to be reversible).  We used Tiny Mighties

*Glue

*Cardstock, or paper to make the pattern

1. Fold cardstock in half, draw half a heart along the fold. Unfold and you will have an even pattern.  Trace onto felt and cut.

2. Glue magnets on inside top of each heart cutout.  You don’t need much glue because the magnets will end up safely inside of the heart and won’t fall off.

3. Place a little stuffing on one side of the heart.  You can adjust stuffing position as you sew, and the stuffing will help prevent the strong magnets from sticking to each other.

4. Blanket stitch the hearts together.  Stuffing and magnets will be inside.  Push any stray stuffing inside as you sew.

5. Allow glue to dry.  If you are putting the heart through the mail you may want to fold it inside a note before putting it in the envelope.  We used vellum envelopes from Envelopemall.com

XOXOX!