jane's apron

white slipcovers

Everybody in our house said something along the lines of"White? Really? Did they have other colors?".  Even the dogs and cats seemed to question the wisdom of it.  

But I don't care.  Something had to be done and I made the leap to white.  Word on the internet is that they clean easily and can be bleached.  And in case of total disaster, I can order more from IKEA (the white Ektorp covers are way cheaper than the other options and the shipping was actually reasonable for us living in an IKEA-free zone). 

I've banned everybody from trompsing directly into the room from the yard.  I've issued various warnings.  Any advice?

quilting

I've had "quilt something" on my crafty list for a long time now.  I'm sure it's on every list I ever made on this blog (hate it when I leave evidence of my fruitless crafty ambitions).  Anyway...

Inspired by these words (I know her), these pictures (I don't know her), and a ridiculous snow storm, I made a run at quilting something.  It's just a patchwork panel but more importantly it is:

• random scraps that I sewed together
• without a plan
• without any directions to follow
• without the need for a seam ripper 
• that magically transformed when I ironed them
• that proved to me that I can quilt something more
• that I added a few embellishments to because I didn't know what else to do with it
• that includes a daisy from some embroidery trim that I've kept since I was about 12
• that makes me so happy that I have Barbara and Pam with their inspiring words and pictures (thank you!)

 

 

not too sweet chocolate chip bars

There's a record snowfall going on in St. Louis today.  It's gorgeous...really.  Deep, white, heavy snow, giant snow flakes, and massive sheets of it thundering off of our roof every thirty minutes or so.  

So...I'm baking.  I got the recipe for the not too sweet chocolate chip bars that one of my students gave me at Christmas (that I said I would share).  It turns out that they do not have eggs or butter which is a little strange...but the results are sooooo good.  And, even better, everything gets mixed together with a spoon (for when you are just too lazy and ticked off about the weather to get out a hand-mixer)

Chocolate Chip Bars

2/3 Cup vegetable oil

1 Cup unsweetened applesauce

3 1/2 Cups unbleached flour

2 Cups sugar

3 tsps baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

2 cups chocolate chips

Combine the oil and applesauce.  In another bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients and add them to the applesauce mixture.  Mix well with a spoon and then stir in the chocolate chips.  Bake at 350 in a 15x10 pan for about 30 minutes.  

 

thrift store {one more time}

This is the last time I say "OMG my thrift store is back"...promise.  But it is so nice to get my thrifty groove back...like a long-lost friend.  This handmade patchwork potholder (and three others like it)?  Love.  The green and yellow potholder (a set)?  Color happiness.  

And just a few more goodies...

So, it's an established point that I won't belabor.  But am certainly happy to share.  

creator, producer, or both {a question}

I'm more of a straight-edges kind of girl.  But polka dots?  That's a different story...I love them.  I thrifted these dotty tumblers last week and they add instant happiness wherever I set them down.  

So...my question...

Yesterday I had the calling to cut and paste and turned that energy into two new train cases.  These are the last of my stash and that's OK with me.  I've been feeling the pull of a different crafty direction and clearing out the old makes room for new ideas...whatever that might be.  

I am a creator; my inspiration comes from things I have in front of me and I always start a project by gathering a pile of supplies.  Everything comes from that pile and the final design is always a surprise to me.  I love that process.

Occasionally, I am a producer.  I make 'more' versions of an original idea.  I don't love that process...at least not for very long.  This makes for bad business and disappointed friends (ack...so sorry...I haven't felt like making "insert item here"...guilty feeling).  

Are you a creator that sometimes becomes a producer?  Are you good at it or do you struggle?  Do you move on to the next thing without looking back or...not?  

fly over Target

"If I could fly, I would fly over target and it would become mine."  Evil genius?  

(artwork snapped at the FIGGE Museum in Davenport last weekend)

pickers

Ellen and I spent a quick weekend visit in Davenport, Iowa...a short ride along the river from the home base of American Pickers (we stopped, it was cute, didn't see Mike).

I haven't watched the show very much but of course I can relate...driving a cute truck, hitting the best thrift stores and estate sales (my version of picking), and putting it all into a shop?  Dream job.  

she is me

Student questions...

"Where did you get these?"  I made them.

"Are those lunch bags?" Yes.

"Where did you get the paper?"  I have some at home and found some at school.

"You have a hole punch that makes a fork?"  Yes, yes I do.

I have written something about desperate or hurried crafting at least 30 times on this blog.  It is how i get almost everything done.  When I suddenly needed cards to thank our lunch helpers and room mothers at school...well, you know...tag books with a binder clip and cards made from lunch bags suddenly happened.  The glue was still wet when I snapped this picture.  

Have you seen this commercial?  She is me. Is she you too?

 

american history

My thrift store change is for real.  The old manager is definitely back and that store is organized...skirts sorted by length and color (scored two for my teacher wardrobe).  

Even better, I added a new plate to my classroom collection.  American history at its prettiest.

better now

A nice stack of linens, a glossy red "e" for Ellen's room, and my new favorite panel-print apron.  I was wondering why I saw the old manager at my thrift store a couple of weeks ago.  Sarahtold me last week that the other Value Village near us recently closed.  

Hmmm...is it possible that my bad thrifting can be reversed?  I speculated that the manager at my store was throwing away anything made before 1970.  Is is possible that the old manager is back for good?  Do I have my old thrift store back?  Fingers crossed.