jane's apron

down time

I really wasn't planning a blog post today but I was just cleaning up pictures on the computer (and listening to a very loud selection of Guitar Hero music coming from the basement) and found a few things to share.  The top photo is a new postcard....tried adding a little digital stitching and a button to the design.

Next up, I tried prints of two of my 5x7 collages.  I printed them on my own printer using a cotton "art" paper and they turned out really, really well...perfect on these A2 size cards. 

And, finally, a sneak peek at a project I've been working on...more details later.

I hope everyone is enjoying a little "down time" to finish off the year!

holiday wishes

I took the kids to see Santa yesterday.  I have mellowed considerably on that whole thing...just take them "as is" after school one day very near Christmas.  They just wear their school uniforms and I snap a few candid pics...we waited maybe 2 minutes in line.  Add some eggnog lattes and a few trips on the escalator acting like Buddy the Elf and we are officially ready for Christmas. 

This is a simple holiday card that I sent to our friends and family this year and I also want to share the same "warmest holiday wishes" with all of you.  I hope everyone has a safe, happy, and relaxing holiday!

thrifty christmas

When it comes to thrifting, I think the easiest things to find are Christmas items.  Since they were used only occasionally, even the oldest holiday goodies are well cared for and in excellent condition.  I found an entire bag of Shiny Brites yesterday for $1.21...I'm not that discriminating when it comes to vintage ornaments but you can tell Shiny Brites because their name is stamped on the top of the ornaments.   And I'm loving my new platter (the bells are the cutest).

I wouldn't normally used the words "plastic" and "good" in the same sentence but the plastic wreath is a really good old one and is now hanging on my front door.  There's a box of Shiny Brites (see the $0.60 price?)...all sitting on three cool table runners.

...and a cute house from a local ceramic artist.  It's really well made and painted very carefully.  My favorite part... the tire tracks in the snow in front of the garage. 

...and my very, very, most favorite item is a perfect vintage tablecloth.  It's one of those great heavy and soft linen tablecloths that I love and rarely find.  This is a close-up of the design...there are 8 ribbons like this running across it.  I found it at the "pink" thrift store...carefully pressed and hung on a hanger and labeled with a yarn-tied tag...$2. 

my first

My husband and I were engaged in the fall of 1988 and that Christmas my mother-in-law-to-be gave me this handmade holiday apron.   The look on John's face was pretty much "omg, my mom just gave Julie an apron...this is going to turn out badly".  He tried to explain later that his mom was old and didn't know any better.  All I really thought was "Cool...I'll wear this when I make cookies this year".  I saw it as a completely practical thing. It never even crossed my mind that an apron had any negative connotations. It wasn't long after getting this first apron that I started finding aprons at estate sales and then at my favorite thrift store. 

Now, nearly 20 years later, you would think that my apron collection is ginormous.  But it's not.  I think I have about 30 or so.  I don't really feel like my aprons are a "collection" but rather I still look at them as practical...really, really cute...but useful.

If you have an apron lover on your Christmas list or would like to treat yourself, The Apron Book by EllynAnne Geisel would make someone very happy.  I finally have my own copy (I learned from Genevieve on Trading Spaces to always remove the dust covers from your books...doesn't The Apron Book have the cutest cover?).  One of my favorite ideas from the book is to create a patchwork apron from a child's old dresses...might just try that one.   

teachers' favorite brownie mix

When my kids were really young, they were all in some combination of daycare, preschool, and regular school...sometimes with several "teachers" each.  To make holiday gift giving a little easier, I started making brownie mixes as teacher gifts.  I just get some big ziplock bags and make an assembly line of brownie mix ingredients.  I think I am on my 10th year of these goodie bags and they have become quite famous at school.   I like to try different packaging and this year I'm going to use an idea from "Martha Stewart Holiday Handmade Gifts" idea book from last year...I'll use lunch bags and some of my favorite scrapbook papers. 

Teachers' Favorite Brownie Mix

1 C + 2 T flour

3/4 t salt

1/3 C cocoa powder

2/3 C packed brown sugar

2/3 C granulated sugar

1/2 C semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 C white chocolate chips

Add the following directions with the mix:

Combine brownie mix with 1 t vanilla, 2/3 C oil, and 3 eggs. Stir until combined and pour into a greased 8x8 pan.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes (or 35 minutes for a 7x11 pan).

The mom and daughter on this recipe clipboard are ready to mix some brownies...the wooden spoon says it all.  I'm sending this cute clipboard to a fellow baker...stop by the apronista for details. 

all's fine

There have been lots of life lessons learned here this week...and one of them is to not post to your blog in the middle of a wtf?! moment (insert an oopsie face here).  So sorry for the bit of drama yesterday.  Like a small child, I threw my fit, went to the thrift store for some retail therapy, and got over it instantly.  Thanks for the nice comments yesterday...sigh.

So, I'm going to put my train case in my etsy shop tonight at about 9:00 pm (central time).  The price will be  $125 but the shipping is on me (I'll refund your shipping)...and I'll mail it tomorrow to get it to you before Christmas. 

Tomorrow, I'm going to "access my non-crazy side" and get back to some fun holiday posts (including a tiny little giveaway with the apronista).

happiness & disappointment

I got an email yesterday letting me know that the Rock and Roll Craft Show had some leftover inventory that was not available at the usual vendor pickup time after the show.  Huh?  I just found out this morning that the leftover inventory includes my altered train case...for some reason, it was never put on the sales floor (I have talked to the show organizer and it was simply a mistake).  I don't mind at all that I did not sell it but what I do mind is that I told (gloated?) everyone here that I did sell it...and now I feel like a complete and total idiot.  I don't get upset that easily but this has truly upset me.  The thing is, I craft for the pure joy of it...if I wanted to make money, I'd go back to work as an engineer.  So...once I get over the disappointment  and embarrassment I feel, I may list the case in my etsy shop.   

On to some calming pictures from my house...

I think these pretty little vintage ornaments look like lemons.  I put them a robin's egg blue planter that I thrifted and placed them on my favorite piece of hammered aluminum that sits on my dining room table.  The tray is my favorite because it has a "j" engraved in the middle of it. 

I have no idea if these guys are the three wise men but at the time I bought them (at our church garage sale), I thought they were and put them on top of the cabinet in our computer room last Christmas.  Like an annoying neighbor that never takes their Christmas lights down, I have kept these guys out all year.  They seem like they fit into the painting placed behind them.

Deep breath...OK, I'm starting to calm down a little. 

handmade st. louis

By all measures, my first time at the Rock & Roll Craft Show was a success.  The group of girls that put on the show are an organized bunch...love to see that.  The venue was the coolest...sitting in the shadows of the historical Anheuser-Busch Brewery buildings.  The crafters were top notch...we even bought a handmade drum for my son for Christmas.  I sold lots of my stuff...so happy when people "get" what I make.

Remember my altered train case? When my husband and I went to the preview sale and party on Friday night, it was already sold...seriously.  I am so glad that someone liked it and bought it but my "show" piece never had the chance to be seen.  Absolutely not complaining here...I'm just sayin'...wow!.  I promise that if I find another beautiful case and alter it, I will offer it here on my blog. 

I'll be updating my etsy shop a little at a time this week.  There is still lots of time to shop for the holidays on etsy and if you find anything you like in my shop, I'll ship it out pronto.

Ok, that's enough about me (look what I made, blah-blah-blah)...I'm even sick of myself yammering on and on.  Lots of good holiday stuff to share coming up and a giveaway that I hope everybody likes.   

this weekend

All of the cool kids will be there...and I'll be there too...

wishlist and recipe clipboards

I'm sneaking in an extra post this week because I wanted to get these "wish" clipboards into my etsy shop before time gets away from me.  I only made two of these because they are the last of my chipboard clipboard supplies.  The little girl and boy are from a vintage pajama pattern (the little boy is even holding a gift) and the background paper is some of my favorite scrapbook paper from daisyds.  The clipboards make a cute "wishlist" or photo holder.

I also made one of these for myself as a recipe holder...the mom & daughter in their aprons are so stinkin' cute.  I made a few more for anyone preparing for some major holiday cookie baking.