jane's apron

pretty piles

I just can't get enough of pretty scrapbook papers...I think it's similar to fabric addiction.  Recent paper purchases and other stray items always end up in a pile in my dining room...and sometimes the pile makes a pretty collage.  The paper and stickers are from a trip to Archiver's  (still can't believe I found those cool tape measure stickers) and the ribboned set of sewing patterns are from Amanda at every little thing from her recent thrift score (thanks Amanda!).

Sometimes the pattern girls are small enough (and their shoes are cute enough!) that I use the entire illustration.  Two of the girls made their way to this set of cards.  I LOVE the black and white dress...it's very current with the empire waist...if I could sew I'd make a dress like that.

birthday week

I know this happens to a lot of families...we have two kids with birthdays just three days apart.  It will be a busy week of "dress out" days at school, treats for the classroom,  bringing in a fast food lunch for each of them and, as requested, a trip to Chuck E. Cheese tonight.  Our boys each had a "big" birthday party when they turned 6 and Ellen had hers yesterday...lots of squealing girls for two hours of fun.

I had to share a picture of a tablecloth I found at the thrift store last week.  It is the brightest pink, yellow, orange, green combo...and check out the ball fringe...it's ginormous!   It's a perfect over-the-top tablecloth for a birthday party...and I spent less than I would have on a plastic one.   I also have a vintage pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey game that we played at Ellen's request.  That's me and the party girl...rare to have a picture of me because I'm usually the one behind the camera.

look what i made

Remember being little and making something you thought was really great...how you couldn't wait to show your Mom or teacher?  That's how I feel today...I'm running to show you what I made!

Altering metal lunch pails is popular in the scrapbooking world.   I've been wanting to try it for a while now...but in my own way.  Usually when I try something new, I can make a pretty big mess of it but this time, like the story goes, it turned out "just right". 

I used a vintage "Three Bears" Little Golden Book with great 60's colors and illustrations.  Check out the pink bedroom with the mod pendant light...I LOVE that!

I'm getting ready to stock my new etsy shop and this lunch box will be there...soon.

jadite

My current favorite apron has a cute olive/yellow paisley pattern, is nicely handmade, and is softly worn...and, best of all, is trimmed in the coolest shade of jadite.   The jadite color doesn't really "go" with the green in the pattern but that's what lets you know that the apron was made at home...probably with whatever was on hand.

Lots of pieces of jadite dishes have made their way to my kitchen.   I'm really not a serious jadite collector...most of my stuff came from Target and Sears clearance shelves.   I had a chance to go the the Homer Laughlin Factory Store a few years ago.  It is a real factory store...a warehouse of bins stacked with dusty pieces of Fiesta dishes.  I bought all of the nice "sea mist" color I could find.  Yep...like a kid in a candy store.  

Take a look in my kitchen corner cabinet and you can see some of my jadite and new Fiesta mixed with a few pieces of my grandma's original Fiesta...among lots of other stuff.

purse books

I make lots of lists and can't resist a really cute notebook...the smaller the better.  Little composition books are the perfect size to carry in a purse and they are fun to "alter".

This little book is covered with two different patterned papers (one in front and one on the back).  I then lined the insides of the flaps with the back papers of a vintage sewing pattern and added a patterned cotton twill tape along the inside edges.  I added a the "model" from the sewing pattern to the front.  Because this is a book that will be handled, I added a thin layer of matte mod podge to seal all of the layers.

Although it doesn't have the "cute" factor, I also made a notebook from a larger composition book.  I lined the flaps of the larger one in  four different (but coordinating) papers and also used the cotton twill tape on its inside edges.   

journals, sketches, ideas....grocery lists...

tagged

The Rules: Each player of this game starts with "6 weird things about you". Each person who gets tagged needs to write a blog post of their own 6 weird things as well as clearly state this rule. After you state your 6 weird things, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you're tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog for information as to what it means.

I was tagged by charlotte yesterday so here are "6 weird things about me" that I came up with while running around yesterday...

1.  I like green flowers.

2.  I like to name my pets with "people" names...like our cats Nancy and Brenda.  It can lead to confusing phone conversations with the vet's office..."And who is the appointment for?"...."Brenda Thompson"...."No, I need the pet's name"...."That is the pet's name".

3.  Every time I'm cutting paper with scissors, I can hear my Mom telling me "turn the paper, not the scissors". 

4.  I hardly ever carry my purse and always keep my debit card (with my picture) in my back pocket.   It is always getting broken in half and has a way of disappearing in the house somewhere..but I've learned to stop asking my husband "umm...have you seen my debit card?".

5.  I won an unusually large number of coloring contests as a kid...it's like I was a professional "colorer".

6.  I get chills when I hear these three singers....Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker...and George Michael (huh??).

So that's it...a snapshot of my weirdness.  Now, since I'm a rule follower, I'm tagging 6 more...catherine, jen, kim,  erin, colleen, kim. 

restaurant china

Another question I always get is "How do you find time to make your stuff?".  My first answer is always "coffee".  It's a fine line from getting motivated...to being too shaky to safely use scissors.   I've found that two cups in my favorite restaurant china coffee cup is the right amount. 

I first became a fan of restaurant china when I bought the cutest Howard Johnson coffee cup.    It was a truly sad day when I broke it but it was quickly replaced by these cool diamond pattern cups from my local thrift store.   I was in thrift heaven when I found matching dishes this summer....12 complete place settings and serving dishes.  The old coffee jar is from our church garage sale...filled with a nice strong Starbuck's House Blend.  OK, I've finished my two cups...time to get to work.

photo collage

One of my ideas for the new year was to find a good photo editor so I could try some new things with my pictures.  I decided on Adobe Photoshop Editor, installed it last night, played around a little and made this photo collage. 

All of the windows in our house are leaded glass of some kind...either clear or stained glass and they are everywhere...it's rare to find a wall without a window.  I got the damask blanket on the chair at my thrift store (on half-off day!)...it's a Bates cotton tablecloth with a cool olive green/blue combo.  Sometimes I splurge on something from a "real" store and the bird girl statue is one of those.  For all of you paint chip fans...the wall color is Martha Stewart's Everyday Green (the best green ever!)   Finally, there's our little black cat.  I picked him up for "free" one night last summer...he was no bigger than my hand and walking way too close to a busy street.  The kids named him Rooney after their favorite soccer player.

"...but I don't want to be a (digital) pirate". I think my use of the digital scrapbook elements in my picture follows all of the rules.  The elements I used are from Shabby Princess...aren't they cute??

i love red

I give full credit to Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion for introducing me to artists and designers long before I hear of them anywhere else.   Cath Kidston is one of  those designers (feb/mar 2003 issue if you are looking for it).  Imagine me paging through the magazine and stopping cold...mouth open...eyes wide.  I love red and her use of red (right down to her cool label) is perfect. 

I just got this cute paper from basic grey and the red/turquoise combo reminded me of Cath Kidston...so, I went through my vintage sewing patterns to find a girl that matched...and I found this one...she was made for this paper!

On the subject of red, I have to introduce a new shop I found (thru flickr?) this week.  It's called Red Shoes...very cute shop...very cute pictures.

julie's apron

So where did I get the name "Jane's Apron"?...I get that question a lot but, like the creative process, I really can't explain it completely.   I'm really not a girly-girl but have always loved aprons.  The apron pictured is the first one I bought at an estate sale...probably 15 years ago (yikes!).  I think it is the only apron I have that is not handmade...this one has a "Nona Lou" label. 

When I hosted a bridal shower for my sister Jennifer a couple of years ago, I made the invitations...inviting everyone to join us and wear their favorite apron.   Well...my house was full of women wearing aprons...it was so fun!

When I started selling my paper goods, I wanted their name to be a thing rather than a name.  My cards and collages are always very clean and simple...kind of like the name Jane.  So...Jane's Apron.