This Vintage Chica

New Growth

I feel like I am growing in every direction right now...from the top of my head straight down through my finger tips.  This morning, when everything was quiet, I thought I might even FEEL the stretch in my muscles and I can't help but think of the old Plasticman cartoons.  

There was a time a few months ago that I wasn't sure if this day would come.  Things were looking a little dark...ok, a lot dark...and I really didn't know if we could get ourselves out of it. 

But today feels good.  It feels different.  Brighter.  Lighter.  Like maybe I have learned something about myself...and us...that will carry all of us into the next few years.

We are all growing, stretching, reaching for the people we are becoming.  Im glad I am not the only one.  So glad that they are all in it with me.  I hate being alone.

I feel myself relaxing, breathing again.  Trying not to let my mind think about the next time I will be stretched.  Not yet.  Just enjoying the morning.

Good things are happening.

It is Friday!

The sun is shining.

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Today is my first post over at {Simple Organic}.  Take a peak.

There's lots to look at.

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Beginning tomorrow and continuing through March, I'll be in the amazing company of the HABIT folks.  Be sure to visit that beautiful space often over the coming weeks if you don't already.  There really is a lot of beauty to be seen if only you make a habit of looking for it.

Where are you seeing beauty in the simpleness of things?

Happy Weekend!

Here, There and Everywhere

Hello Monday...nice to see you again.

(OK, I know it is late Monday, but I starting this post early, early this morning.  And didn't get it posted until 9:30 tonight.  So, that tells you how crazy today has been.)

Sick husband at home...

on the couch...

all day...

need I say more?

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It seems that everyone in this house "is not feeling well" on Mondays.  It is a strange virus that so far gone undiagnosed, but when I search through the web, it seems to exhibit many of the same symptoms of Spring Fever.  Have you heard of it?

Are you feeling the same way?

We had a glorious weekend, sunny, in the mid 40s-50s.  We worked in the garden.  Nothing pretty to photograph.  We just raked and cleaned up a bit.  We trimmed the blackberries way back and I planted a few sweet peas.  

While S and I were trimming the blackberries and raking pine cones, the boys tried their best to catch the pile on fire with their magnifying glass.  We showed them how to do this last summer.  

But when they go inside on their own and come out with the magnifying glass and start focusing that little pin point of light...while you are distracted by prickly blackberries...well, let's just say, I questioned their parent's judgement.  

Who in the heck teaches their kids these things?

Ummm, anyways..

The boys are completely hooked on playing Mancala.  Even the 4 year old has got the hang of it and eagerly takes my stones with a grin on his face.  Little bugger.

Ohdeedoh, my most favorite kids design blog ever, picked up on our Wordle Valentine idea and gave us a little shout out.  In the comments there are some good ideas for other uses of wordle.  We may revisit the idea for Wyatt's 5th birthday party invitations.  Which is coming up much faster than this mama is ready for.

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Remember our little origami yoda valentines?  The boys were so excited to see the photo of their creations on the "real life" Origami Yoda site.  Tom Angelberger emailed us and asked if we would mind, and of course, feeling as if they had just met Yoda himself, we agreed.  Thank you Mr. Angelberger.

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Several months ago I created a little doll pattern for an upcoming book called Craft Hope (due out in August).  You might have heard of Craft Hope.  I have donated the original sample of the sweet little doll to the Craft Hope Etsy Shop.  So, please drop by and take a peek.  Many of the people who contributed to the book have contributed their samples as well, so there has been some really good stuff added in the last week or so.  And as before, all proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders to aid the victims of Haiti's earthquake.

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And lastly, have you seen {Simple Mom} or {Simple Kids}?  They are both two of my favorite sites to visit because...well...of that one word.  Simple.  This is why I am so excited to tell you that I have been invited to contribute to the newest addition to the Simple Media family called [Simple Organic].  The description below is taken directly from their about page:

"Simple Organic is about sustainable and healthy living for mainstream people. We’ll cover green tips and trends, provide tutorials on repurposing items you already own, frugal crafts that celebrate nature and responsible living, and ways to improve your health and lifestyle with natural remedies."

What an honor! The list of contributing teams on each of the blogs is just full of wonderfully talented women.  My focus will mainly be on repurposing and crafts...right up my alley! I am so happy to be apart of this movement to be more mindful in our daily life and to reconnect with the natural world in simple, easy ways.  Please join us in this new space and let us know of the simple ways you are moving toward more responsible living.

Have a great week!

February Home Projects: Paint and Pretty Dishes

On Tuesday, I had another little man home, sick with the dreaded stomach bug.  Which means we were stuck at home for the day.  So he and I watched old episodes of Flipper on hulu.  While he laid on the couch, I painted the dining room trim and this little corner cabinet. (It used to be red.)

My mother's good friend Linda originally purchased the cabinet out of the old Presbyterian parsonage in Weatherford, Texas.  Linda had it in her dining room for a long time.  Then my mother bought it from her, painted it and used it in my room when I was a little girl.  When I moved into my first little house in Oklahoma, it came with me.  And I have used it in the boys rooms.  Before Ian and Zane were born my husband and my Dad painted the front of it red and it added starfish knobs on the bottom doors.  But Tuesday it got a fresh coat of white paint to show off the treasures inside...like my ever growing collection of Stetson Marcrest Swiss Alpine Chalet dishes.

Before you read any further, raise your right hand and repeat after me...

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"As a fellow thrifter and bargain hunter"

"I realize that some husbands"

"do not appreciate the thrill of finding"

"a diamond in the rough."

"I will therefore"

"be willing to keep secrets and even lie"

"to defend the purchases made"

"by my fellow junkers and thrifters"

"Until the day I die."

"Amen."

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Fast forward to today...A good friend and I, who shall remain nameless to protect her purchases (which were to die for), have been trying to get together for a little thrifting adventure for months now.  The stars and moon aligned perfectly this morning and we were able to hit the Habitat for Humanity story over off of Providence.  And low and behold, look what I found.

These pretty little pieces of fabric are three chair covers.  Love the print and that yellow makes me happy.

And this piece of pretty fabric is a huge tablecloth.  New curtains, maybe?

And then the big find of the day...Mikasa Cerestone Blue Point dishes.  I really don't need any more dishes.  (Like anyone really ever NEEDS more dishes.)  But at 49 cents apiece, I couldn't help it. Really, could you?

Doesn't the Marcrest and the Mikasa look pretty together?  Like peas and carrots I think.  So what patterns are you collecting these days?  Do tell.

February Home Projects: How to Rewire a Thrifted Lamp

I was reminded by one faithful reader (hello Jennifer in Colorado) that I hadn't shared many of my vintage thrifty finds lately.  So sorry about that.  So here you go Jenn.

My mom and I picked up this sweet little lamp at a thrift store in Norfolk a few months back.  The base looks like a piece of McCoy pottery (although there are no markings) and it is the most perfect shade of turquoise-y blue.  Mom and I were both so exicited about it, we plugged it in as soon as we got home. However, instead of a nice soft light...well, my mother almost got the shock of her life. Apparently there was a reason this little lamp went to the swap shop.  The wiring must have been bad, or old, or both.

No need to fear.  

Re-wiring a lamp is not as hard as I thought it would be.  Here's what you do:

HOW TO REWIRE A THRIFTED LAMP

• Purchase a new lamp kit at your home improvement store.
• Unplug the lamp (very important) and remove the lightbulb.
  
• Cut off the old cord a couple of inches below the bottom of the lamp. With a small piece of electrical or duct tape, attach the new cord to the old one.
  
• Loosen the threaded piece just above the lamp (called the lamp nipple) and unthread the cap from the lamp nipple.
  
• Pull the new cord up through the stem of the lamp. This is an important step as some lamps can be difficult to feed the new cord through.
• Un-tape the old and new wires and get rid of the old wiring.
• Slip the new socket cap over the new cord, thread the cap onto the lamp nipple, and tighten it all to hold all of the lamp pieces into place.
  
• At the end of the new wire are two segments. Pull them apart for 6 - 8 inches and make the ends hook shaped to hold onto the screws on either side of the socket screws.
  
• Wrap the neutral wire (textured) in a clockwise direction around the silver screw, then wrap the "hot" copper wire (smooth) around the brass screw.
• Slip the sleeve back in place, then slide on the outer shell and secure all pieces.
  
• Your lamp is now repaired. Replace the bulb and plug it in!

**(Instructions adapted from the back of the new lamp kit box).** 

Apartment Therapy has a great tutorial with helpful diagrams on their site as well.

To finish it off, the shade needed a little work.  I stripped off the fake, plastic leaving the plain paper shade.  I used a thumb tack to poke holes in the lamp in a swirly line pattern.  I've had these vintage paper coasters for a long time...just staring at them.  So, I decoupaged them onto the shade.  I love that pop of orange with the turquoise.  Yum!

And now my kitchen is a bit cheerier in these cold, sometimes dark, days of winter.

A Whole Lotta Love

I have a little one home sick from school today.  Damned stomach bug...I thought we had eluded it.

So, just a few shots from around the house today...and a poem for you...

Love comes quietly,

finally, drops

about me, around me,

in the old ways.

What did I know

thinking myself

able to go alone

all the way.

-Robert Creeley

I've been thinking a lot about marriage lately.  How it is so hard...and wonderful...and amazing...and life changing.  Especially if you choose to stay and stick it out.  Luckily my mother told me that it would be the toughest job I ever had.  Im thankful for that.  And I am thankful for all of the roller coaster days that come with that little ol' word l-o-v-e.

OK, and I'll share a few links 'Im loving this morning.

-- Leslie's heart rocks all lined up in her windowsill

-- Jennifer's dream big quilt

-- The Wonder Book, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

-- This little freebie from another Jennifer...Jennifers are cool like that.

Wishing you a little love this weekend.

xxooxxoo,

E

valentine's day: the green and snowy edition

Hello friends...it is going to be a busy day around our house today.  We are preparing for some good friends to arrive this evening.  And we're quickly trying to finish up our Valentine's Day gifts.  Three different kinds of valentines for three different classrooms of kids  That's 68 handmade valentines folks!

* Did you know green is the new color of love?  At least that is what this M&Ms package told us.  Im guessing there is a story behind this marketing idea...like the factory made too many green m&ms from Christmas so some brilliant intern came up with the idea to push them for Valentine's Day by claiming "Green is the new color of love".  The green concept seems to be tacked onto everything, so why not chocolate?

* Zane spotted this video tutorial on how to make an origami yoda a few weeks back and has been dying to make some.  So he thought they would make good gifts for his friends at school.  We had fun coming up with "yoda" sayings. 

"Yoda best."

"Yoda man."  

"Yoda prettiest girl in school."  This one was submitted by Daddy and didn't actually make it onto a valentine.

* Ian chose to make these owls from the Family Fun website.  If you are down to the wire and need to make valentines tonight, they have some great quick and easy ideas.  Last year we made paper airplanes and those were a hit...especially with the boys.

  

*We got more snow yesterday!  What a winter!  When the boys and I changed our nature table for winter back in early December, S gave me a had time because we had "snow" underneath our pine tree and other collections.   And all I have to say to that is nah, nah, nah, nee, boo, boo!  We have had snow four times now!  People things like this just don't happen here at the beach.  And we have been enjoying every minute of it.

*Its still freezing.  The draft dodgers are working well.  And I've been putting our three "warmie, warmies"  (aka flax filled heating pads) in the microwave and then in the boys beds before they climb in for the night.  I think I need to make a few more for our bed.  Cratster has lots of other great diy ideas for staying warm.

Hope everyone is well.  Off to make home made macaroni and cheese for tonight.  That ought to warm us up!  Happy Thursday.

good gifts and natural knits

 

One good thing about being "off blog" for a good amount of time is that I have so many things I want to share with you...like the Christmas present my mom gave me while we were with my family in Texas.

Do you know what it is?

How about this shot?

 

Yes, it is a vintage knitting needle caddy originally from England.  Neither my mother or I have ever seen one like this and my internet search has not turned up much either.  So I can't tell you anything about it.

Inside were the most wonderful old  knitting needles.  Most were metal, but a few are bakelite and two that are made of wood.

Leave it to my mother to find the most wonderful gift...she always does.  (Love you mom!)

 

I have had Natural Nursery Knits on my sewing table for quite some time.  The photos in this book are absolutely gorgeous and the projects are simple and classic.

So to be worthy of such a possession, while it has been snowing so much, I decided that I should actually knit something with these gorgeous needles.  Remember, I am a new knitter and have only done dishcloths at this point. Luckily the book has lots of beginner projects as well as more advanced ones.  Friday I cast on a baby hat for a good friend who is having a little girl in the next few weeks.  Girls are so fun to make things for!  Maybe I'll actually finish it before the baby gets here.  Or maybe not.  At least my needles are looking good while they wait for me to get to them.

Warming Up the House

This time of the year, I just can't seem to stay warm.  I walk around all day holding a warm cup of coffee or tea...a habit I brought back from living in Wisconsin.  Before bed I sit in a hot bath and then get my pj's on as quickly as I can and cover up under our down duvet.  

Our house is not old, but it still has the builder's grade (read that really, really cheap) windows which are not very energy efficient.  New windows are on our list of house updates now that we have a new roof.  I was sitting in my favorite chair a few nights ago and could just feel the drafts of cold air coming in around one of our big picture windows.  Just crazy amounts of air coming in.

So, some draft dodgers were in order for sure...especially after seeing the cute one Blair made here.

Yesterday the older two were on a 2 hour delay getting to school, which meant no school for Wyatt.  So he and I made 6 of them.  Martha's tutorial calls for using recycled cat litter for stuffing, but we used sand and when we ran out of sand, we used rice.  This makes them heavier, but I think it also makes a tighter "seal" not to mention much cheaper.

Scout loves them.  She seems to think we were thoughtful enough to make her pillows to rest her chin while she points out the new birds visiting our feeders.

As much as I love color, I am trying to use more neutral colors lately for things that I want to be around for a long time.  So, I used leftovers from the linen drop cloth projects and then hand drew a faux bois pattern or hand tacked cream colored doilies.

Wyatt made one for the window next to his bed.  He spent at least 20 minutes drawing the pattern on the snake's back...red spot in the center, black circle, green circle.  It was an easy, fast fun project that I could do with one monkey attached to my leg.  Exactly what I'm looking for in a sewing project these days.

Oh, and after I finished ours, I found this one by Danielle Smeets using Lotta fabric might just send me back to the sewing machine for more.

Here's to staying a bit warmer.  Off to go warm my cup of tea up for the third time.

snow inside : snow outside

We've had these painted snowflakes taped to our front windows now for several months.  Just a few weeks ago Zane commented at how funny it was that we had snow inside our house when there was none outside.  The fact is that we don't get much snow here at the beach.  Something about the water staying warmer than the air above it, so it is unusual that we would get much snow.

But there is always an exception year...when the weather just doesn't go the way its expected to.

Remember our no snow snow day last year?

Last Thursday rumors started around that school might be closed on Monday...Monday?  Really?

And then it started to snow late, late Friday night

We woke up to snow on Saturday morning!  And it snowed, and snowed, and snowed all day.  8 inches of snow total!  Needless to say we were all pleasantly (read that extatically!) surprised.  Yes, I know extatically might not be a word.  At least typepad it telling me its not, but it fits.  There just isn't another word that describes three little boys waking up to snow...a lot of snow for these parts...and hustling to get their gear on before even eating the homemade waffles their mama made for breakfast.  Extatically!

   

We have now been out of school Monday and today and quite possibly tomorrow as well.  I know you Northern folks are laughing your heads off about now, but Southern people just freak out a bit when it snows.  They just do.  Like growing tomatoes and eating grits, its just a fact about Southern people.

We are feeling pretty spoiled in the snow department after having the opportunity to build snowmen twice in one year.  Pigs really can fly.

Gotta make some draft dodgers today.  Our house if freezing and I can feel the air coming in around the windows.