Category Archives: Vintage

Toy Kitchen Jars

28 Tuesday Feb 2012

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These play food jars are easy to make and the contents look and sound like real spices and dry goods, without the mess.  They are one of Ada’s favorite additions to her play kitchen.  You will need:

*Small recycled jars

*Dry popcorn, beans, beads, pompoms, etc.  (We used glass beads and pearls from an old necklace for good sound effects and pompoms for fun color).

*Glue (Craft or hot glue will work).

*Fabric scraps to cover the tops

1. Fill jars.

2. Trace lid onto fabric and cut out.

3. Put a line of glue along the threading inside the jar lid and screw on tightly.  Wipe off any excess glue.  Be careful not to shake the jar until the glue is dry or your beads will stick to any drips inside the lid.

4. Glue the fabric on top of the lids and allow to dry.

5. Hand over to your Julia or Jacques and wait for your souffle.

Sparkle Button Cardigan

15 Wednesday Feb 2012

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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.

Cross My Heart Garland

10 Friday Feb 2012

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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

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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

Mitten Bowl

30 Monday Jan 2012

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A bowl near the front door helps keep mittens, hats and scarves organized.  The kids can help take care of their own things when they come in from outside, and you will always know where mittens are on your rush out the door.

We found this vintage Pyrex bowl at a stoop sale, but they abound on Ebay.  The scarf pattern is adapted from one by Pat Feeley for High Country Knit Wear.  You can also find super cute animal scarves at Acorn Toys in Brooklyn if you are more of a shopper than a DIYer.

Cabinet

25 Wednesday Jan 2012

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Vintage bowls, cups, flower pots and glasses are great organizers for the medicine cabinet.  I like to group things by when and how they are used: jewelry in one , nail polish and makeup in others.  It is easy to pull out each group as you need,  and the pretty containers make me happy when I open the door.

A Little Help

05 Thursday Jan 2012

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Our paperwhites are blooming! The leaves are getting a bit floppy so we helped hold  them up with some string and our pink plastic chopsticks from Pearl River Mart. The pink makes Ada happy, and everyone needs a little help sometimes right?

We love Pearl River! It is the best resource for colorful and cheap party supplies, lanterns, slippers, chopsticks, paper parasols…Sometimes we just walk around on a winter day for inspiration. There are dragons and lanterns are on the ceiling, so look up.

Ada’s Mantel

04 Wednesday Jan 2012

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We stripped off 100 years of paint before we moved in, and there is still cleaning to do.  Why would anyone paint over marble?  Ada’s group of three metal statues.  Aunt Sandy told us it is good feng shui for a horse to be running out of a room.  We aren’t sure about whales.

New year, new fridge art

02 Monday Jan 2012

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The fridge our house came with is dotted with rust and missing a handle.  Ada’s art, on large paper makes it so much better.  We are searching for the perfect vintage refrigerator and stove for the kitchen.  But the search is on a long list of home projects, so we will happily update the gallery for the time being.  The magnets are felt letters we made- more on that project to come.

New Year Wish: Potential

02 Monday Jan 2012

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Paperwhites and amaryllis planted in our vintage pots, some strange seeds Ada found at the playground and our ‘Happy cat’.  I love these pots, and the green growth in the middle of winter brings me an insane amount of happiness.  Ada always helps me plant and then checks the progress every morning.  Our saved morning glory seeds will take the place of paperwhites in the spring.