jane's apron

thrifty august

It's hard to justify much thrifting this month with all of the clutter control I've been doing since the kids started school...but that doesn't stop me completely.   My mother-in-law's church had their annual tag sale and I bought a set of 8 of these cute cups and saucers.  I already had two of these but I LOVE the design and color of this pattern.

...and do I need a set of toaster and mixer cozies?   No...not at all but, oh the soft texture and color of their material was just too good (and it just gives me more incentive to paint my kitchen that new color I've been thinking of for a long time).

The last item is not exactly a thrift score but close enough.  These cute Cath Kidston look-a-like dishes are on clearance at Target right now.   Have you ever wished you could find something just like what you see in a great thrifty blog post?...well, now you can if you've got $2.98 and a Target near you.

nature or nurture

I made a few "mom" cards earlier this year and, while I didn't make them for my Mom, I did make them with her in mind.  Today I pulled one out to give her for her birthday.   My Mom has been crafting one thing another her whole life...probably working on her latest quilt as I'm writing this.  I remember her making lots of our clothes (especially dresses) when we were all little.   She paints, crochets....and quilts like an addict...really beautiful quilts with pretty color combinations and precise handiwork. 

So, it makes me wonder...can you have "crafty" genes?  Or do you just become crafty from a life long exposure to daily creative activity?  My daughter is always making something for me and it always has a "mom" on it somewhere...just like what I made.  What do you think...nature or nurture...or some combination?

fudgy brownies

I have not used a single boxed brownie mix since finding this recipe for fudgy brownies in Everyday Food a few years ago.  They are simple to make and simply the best.  I have adapted the recipe just a little to make the steps easier.

fudgy brownies

• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1 c semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/4 c sugar
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 c flour

Melt butter and chocolate in microwave (about 1 to 2 minutes).  Stir until smooth and then whisk in sugar and salt.  Whisk in eggs.  Whisk in flour.  Pour into an 8x8 pan lined with buttered foil and bake at 350 for 45 - 50 minutes. 

When the brownies are completely cool, lift them out of the pan with the foil, remove the foil, and cut the brownies into squares.  For what looks like a fancy dessert, I cut them into perfect 1 inch squares and drizzle them with chocolate glaze...seriously impressive.  Of course, when it's just us at home, my kids (and husband) just pull off pieces before I get a chance to cut them.

The photo is from Everyday Food...and you can find the original recipe here.

dog days

I've shared plenty of cat love here (like here and here...and that's not even counting our cat Nancy).  But, since we are in the "dog days", I'd like to share a little about our dog Chubbie.

We've had Chubbie for about 5 years.  He came to live with us when an elderly neighbor couple could no longer take care of him and...yada, yada, yada...he joined our family.  I wasn't really wild about his name and tried to get the kids to change it.  "How about Charlie or Cubbie?".  It didn't matter what name I suggested...the result was always the same.  A blank stare...a blink...and a "...but his name is Chubbie".  So Chubbie he stayed and then chubby he became...changing from 45 lbs. when we got him to 65 lbs. the following year.   With the three kids, he pretty much gets all of the food and treats he can steal from them.

I've had the little dog figures way longer than we've had Chubbie.  The one is a little vase that even I can arrange a few little flowers in.

lots of clipboards

I had such a great response to this clipboard that I made my own "to do" list to make some more for my etsy shop.  For this group, I used sturdy memo-sized clipboards from the office supply store.   I painted some like I originally did but then just had to try making some covered in paper.   I love how the "shop" clipboards turned out...check out the cool handbag. 

Now, the other thing on my list is to go through my kids rooms and closets and purge, purge, purge.  I'm usually pretty relentless at getting rid of stuff but this time I'm extra motivated...they'll be lucky if they have a mattress when they get home today. 

old school

...no, seriously, it's an old school.  But, what it lacks in fancy new facilities it more than compensates for in other areas.  I love the start of new school year...it's all still fresh in my mind and I love to see it in my kids eyes...the nervousness, the masked smiles.   I have a 7th, 5th, and 1st grader...and this year I am a new member of the school board.   

So, how is summer so long...and so short at the same time?

apronista & jane's apron giveaway

Today is the last day to enter the giveaway at the apronista.  Deanna and Eren are treating three of their readers to a set of my apron postcards.  Take a minute to check it out...the rules are easy and the chances of winning a pretty good!   I have the original artwork for the postcards and I still framed the postcards for my kitchen...perfect kitchen or sewing room art (or, you know, they can also be used for handwritten coorespondence).

I received a "nice matters" award from Robin at thrifty miss priss (love that name!).  Thank you for thinking of me Robin.   I have to say that I truly believe that every blog I read is written by someone nice...always sharing ideas, leaving nice comments, offering great advice, sharing their homes, etc.  So,  if  you are in my "stop by" list or I've found your blog and left a comment, you are on my "nice matters" list.   

tiny patterns

I was sorting through my vintage patterns this weekend (all part of continuous cleanup).  While looking at some size 2 pattern pieces, I thought it might be cute to use the entire pattern piece...like this little "blouse front".  I layered the pattern tissue over a patterned paper and then cut them out together...just like you would do with a piece of fabric.   I then used the pattern piece as a background on this 12x12 canvas collage.   This collage is a tiny bit more 3D than I usually do because I added a stitched ribbon and little buckle.   A sweet collage for a girl...of any age. 

In other news, I'm surprised and happy to say that my etsy shop is featured at Vintage Indie today...looks like a great place for etsy addicts like me.   

little apron

My kids wear uniforms to school...makes lots of things easy.  My daughter has three jumpers and each eventually needed repair by the end of the school year...in the last few weeks we were down to one jumper that I continuously taped to repair a section of the hem...I'm quite the homemaker huh?   Since school is starting next week, I forced myself to learn to use my sewing machine.  It was a sweat inducing process...me with a sewing manual on my lap and yelling  every 30 seconds for the kids to GET OUTSIDE.  A few phone calls to my Mom and I had the uniform repairs done. 

While I could still remember how to work the sewing machine, I made this little apron.  I remember seeing little girl aprons at Anthropolgie with cotton twill ribbon so I just sewed ribbon on a cute embroidered kitchen towel from the thrift store.  It's hard to see the details but the towel  has a rolling pin and a tea ball (I guess?).  The scale of the items is way off so it seems that whoever embroidered the towel must have made her own design...so sweet.

back on track

Well, it wasn't 100 degrees when we rode the trail...it was 104.   Not the greatest idea but, really, when all is said and done, we had a good time.  We took a small trip to Hannibal to see all of the Mark Twain-ness and went to Central Dairy in Jefferson City (the cutest, coldest, real-vintage ice cream place I've ever been). 

I've got a few things to catch up on here...

• Charlotte at House Wren Studio picked me as a thinking blogger.  Charlotte is one of my first and best blog "finds"...just love her art and how her calm and fun voice comes through in her blog posts.   Now, I'm not really sure where the thinking blogger thing comes from or what the rules are so...I'm just going to list 3 here so you can go check them out (if you haven't already)...knitty pants, the inspired room, and art and ghosts.
• The bike in my previous post is from electra bikes...it really is my dream bike.
• I had such a nice response to my clipboard and wanted to let everyone know that I'll be making more in the next few weeks and putting them in my etsy shop.
• The giveaway at the apronista is happening this week (really!).