jane's apron

dramatic pause

I didn't mean to make a dramatic post...and then disappear for so long. 

Three of us took a Saturday morning to take a room from pink to green.   She picked the color but I've talked her in to using bright colors to go with it.  

We said goodbye to our dog Chubby on a snowy, crazy morning and welcomed a new puppy exactly two weeks later.  More crazyiness.

We started on a major project to turn our attached garage into a studio apartment for my mother-in-law. 

I was home sick today for the first time since I started teaching.  It is a completely weird experience to think of a substitute in my class.

And while I'm going through the list, I also owe a thanks for help with the necklace "how to"...with links and everything.  Thank you guys!

 

 

handmade marketplace

I love handmade.  I love making, I love giving, I love getting.  I hate selling.  

It has taken me a while to figure this out...all the way back to when I was selling my simple handmade cards.  They were unique at the time but the regular market place caught up.

When you make something by hand, it simply takes thought, time, effort, an eye for balance and color...all the stuff that is hard to put a reasonable price on or attempt to sell.   And it makes me completely and totally uncomfortable.  

My blog started as a place to support my small handmade business.  Of course it has changed over the last six years but I guess I'm saying that it will change even more now that I'm not so much "in the market".   More sewing I hope.  More house projects for sure.  More teaching and less showing.  More room for other crafty thoughts.  

Am I making any sense?  

pinterest made {two}

I know I still need to get to my blog to-do list but, in the mean time, I have another pinterest "made" item to share. I also have a question.

I've got a bunch of vintage "cover your own" buttons and I covered a few of them in cute fabrics.  The big one is really big...about 2 or so inches across.  I love it.

So here's the question.  

How do you put them on a necklace?  The link on pinterest wasn't helpful.  I'm a good googler but still didn't find anything.  Is it because it's obvious how to do it?  Do you just thread the necklace to the thing on the back of the button?  

new

Almost everything seems new on January 1.  Thanks to my strong urge to clean out closets and get rid of stuff, even my house seems a little new.   And, to me, there is nothing better than a new calendar, a new notebook, a new place to plan.  

I was lucky to win a Dreaming of Junking 2012 calendar from Colleen at FreshVintage via Sue at VintageRescueSquad.  And while I'm sending you to lots of links...

...you should check out Colleen's new blog...genius (and truly funny).

jigsaw heart

I hope your Christmas was a good one...seems like it is farther away than a few days ago doesn't it?  Ross got a new jigsaw and came up from the basement with this cute, rough, wooden heart.  I have no idea where he got the wood...hoping it didn't come from somewhere important.

I'm not always good about following through on blog lists but am making one anyway.  I've got a new calendar to share, a giveaway for you, thoughts on the handmade marketplace, a few recipes to post, and a very big house project that could be interesting to chronicle here.  Back soon.

solstice

I'm doing pretty much the same thing as you.  Baking, making shopping lists, stressing over packages getting delivered, eating too many sweets, loving the snowflakes the kids made...

...enjoying the first day of winter...

...and wishing each and every reader that visits me here a Happy Christmas.

 

 

prepared

I read an article recently that has been sticking with me.  It talked about the competitive nature of being "done" with Christmas tasks.  I know I'm a participant in the race but I'm choosing to look at everything in a different way this year...so instead of seeing everything as getting done, I'm looking at it more as being prepared.  Prepared to enjoy the change of pace of the next few weeks, prepared to host a few house guests and looking forward to cooking and eating, prepared to end the year in our clean (ish) and cozy house.  

The picture is me and my Mom in 1963.  I'm loving the blue velvet capri pants.

happy apron

The aprons I like to sew are vintage-mix.  I like to use rough muslin and ticking with vintage linens, vintage seam binding ties (that go all the way around and then tie in front), vintage buttons, etc. 

This apron makes me happy.  Happy because I got to use the cute panel print I bought this summer and finally got to cut the "happy" from a vintage dresser scarf.  And the green...the green seam binding and vintage plastic button...total happiness.

Some close-ups of more...

 

 

train case x two

I finally added the finishing touches to my "material girl" train case.

and decided to part with my mint condition navy case.  I am preaching to the choir but I will go ahead and tell you that these cases are soooo cool as sewing/crafting cases.  Every girl needs one...and I've got mine so I hope these find a good crafty home.  

I have one more shop update with a few vintage mix aprons.  And then I swear no more shop posts.   And because you have all been so patient with me, I'll put together a giveaway next week.

handmade journals

I made a pretty group of handmade journals (8.5 x 11 papers folded in half and sewn with baker's twine).  I especially love to use the edges of the scrapbook papers. This one says "Stella and Rose"  

and this one says "Emma Jane's Dress and Curio Shop"