jane's apron

forcing spring

Do you know how you can "force" bulbs or branches to bloom inside your house long before they bloom outside?  Well, I kind of did a little of that this week.  I found this unbelievably cute "big golden book" last year and decided to make an altered book hanging (like the one I did for Cinderella).  I cut the cover from the book, slightly distressed its edges, added two large eyelets, and cute buttons to the flower centers.  I also added my new favorite ribbon...it's a really soft and small-ish twill ribbon in a cool olive color. 

And while I had the craft knife out, I went after another cute vintage book I had...

This little bunny got some cottontail fringe and a bit of glitter (around the bunny ovals on the pink book cover).  I also finished him on the back with cute paper and a few torn pieces of the book text.

I plan to list these in my etsy shop as soon as I get a chance. 

Think spring...think spring...think spring.

moonflower vine

We finished off last week with two snow days and, right now, I'm needing a few thoughts of spring.  I know growing flowers from seeds seems a little "too Martha" but it is a good way to have flowers that are not always available at most places.  I love green flowers and the only way I can get the "envy" zinnias is from seed.  My favorite flower for about 5 years running is a moonflower vine.  I first tried them on my front porch on a big trellis.  The vine grows like crazy in the hot sun and then blooms in huge, fragrant flowers in the evening.  Last year I tried to grow them on our porch swing supports but it didn't turn out...but I'm going to try it again this year.  I'm looking at the swing covered in snow but the thought of sitting on the swing on a summer night with the moonflowers in bloom is a good dream for today. 

And it really is just a dream...in reality, when I sit on the swing at night it pretty much sounds like this..."move over a little, your popsicle is dripping on me"..."stop hitting the baseball this way"..."go across the street if you want to hit the golf balls"..."put your popsicle sticks in the trash"...yelling now across the yard "shut the door!"...still yelling "if you get a lemonade don't spill it all over the kitchen floor"..."where is your Dad?".  Our neighbors love us.

swedish jam shortbread

I know there must be an art to photographing food.  I have tried several times now and the results are the same.  Like those pictures in vintage cookbooks, whatever I try to take a picture of looks ewww-y.  Instead, I've taken a picture of my new favorite (thrifted) baking dish.  It's a great 9x11 pyrex dish with a cute red pattern.   It's been used a lot lately and when it has a day or two off, I keep it on my counter filled with cookbooks and recipes. 

I got this recipe for Swedish Jam Shortbread from my cousin and it's a perfect 'easy bake' recipe.

Swedish Jam Shortbread

1 box butter recipe yellow cake mix

1/2 C finely chopped pecans

1/4 C butter; softened

1 egg

10 oz. jar preserves (strawberry, apricot...whatever you like)

Combine cake mix, nuts, butter, and egg and mix with a pasty blender until crumbly.  Press into a greased 9x13 pan.  Spread preserves over top of mix and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.  While still warm, drizzle with a glaze of 1/2 C powdered sugar, 2 1/2 tsp. water, and 1/2 tsp almond extract.  Cool completely and cut into 1 in. squares (small is good because these are really sweet).   

notions drawer

I organized one of the drawers in my craft cabinet last week...and couldn't resist the chance to take a picture of it.  I just love organized piles of stuff.  I also love thrifted storage and found the pretty green melamine tray last year.  It's perfect for holding little things so they don't roll all over the place when I pull out the drawer.  I think I like organizing my supplies as much as I like using them.  It's such a pretty little vignette...for probably a very short time before I dig in and make a big mess again. 

little girl wide-leg lounge pants

I got my sewing machine and buttonhole thing working and finished my entry in the vintage pillowcase challenge.  Inspired by the wide-leg lounge pants in Amy Butler's InStitches, I made a version for little girls.  I basically followed the directions in the book with a few exceptions.  The main difference is that I used the hemmed "opening" of the pillowcase as the bottom of the pants (at the time, I was thinking "less sewing").   Here are some guidelines and tips if anyone would like to try a pair:

• Cut the top and side seams of the pillowcase and fold the remaining piece in half ( the long way...you should have four pieces of sheeting stacked on top of each other).
• Figure out the inseam and total pants length.  For my daughter, the inseam was about 19" and the total was about 29" (from the bottom of the pants). Cut the crotch shape starting at the inseam length and then cut the top off at the total length.  You will be using almost the entire pillowcase.
• Stitch the pants together as directed in the Amy Butler instructions.  Because you are using the pillowcase hem as the bottom hem, be sure to line those pieces up before stitching.
• I used a pink grosgrain ribbon as the tie.

The softness of a vintage pillowcase is perfect for a pair of pajama pants and the wide leg on these is really cute.  I had Ellen model these in a stance very similar to the picture in InStitches...cute, huh?

If anyone tries these, please send me a picture...I'd love to see different versions and think these would be really cute from a pillowcase with details or embroidery at the hem.   

Here are a few links...cute, cute cute...

fort and field

native texan stitching abroad 

creating amy

Last year, I altered a sewing pattern model by adding a paper apron on top of her dress.  I wanted to do something similar but maybe a bit more obvious with the alteration.  When one of the designers on Project Runway recently styled his model in a very Amy Winehouse way (and won the design challenge),  I knew what I wanted to do.

I found a few pattern images that would work and used some tracing paper to scribble a few hair designs. I picked the model I wanted to use and cut her cute "flip" hairdo and replaced it with an over-the-top Amy style that I drew with a few colored pencils.  I also added a little cat-eye makeup. I didn't plan to put any tattoos on the model but chose tattoo-ish papers as the background of the collage.  Once I was basically done, I decided that she really did need some tattoos (looked a little too Priscilla), so I stamped a pretty design on tracing paper and cut it out to fit on her neck and arm.  I am in LOVE with the idea of adding tattoos to the models (I think it is so unexpected but still cute) and can't wait to try a few more.       

craig's list

I made my first Craig's List purchase this week.  A dining room set...for my living room.  My idea was that a dining room buffet would make a cool place for a TV.   I found a nice buffet....and matching china cabinet, and table, and chairs...all for less than I'd pay for an average end table.  My challenge now is to make the china cabinet fit into the living room and not be too "old lady" or too "knick-knacky"...we'll see.   

For the table that came with it, I remembered this idea from my favorite Martha Stewart book.

The table is the extending kind, so it can easily be made into two pieces.  I have talked my husband into cutting each piece and putting them on each side of our fireplace as two matching console tables.  My husband is pretty handy but a bit of a goofball carpenter.  Still, I really don't think he can mess this one up...will share pictures soon (I hope!).   

apron winner

One of my ideas for the new year was to start showing my thrifted stuff "in use".  Well, I filled my new chip & dip bowl with apron comments...how's that for using a thrifted find?  I discovered a new thrift store last week across the street from Michaels (that's a dangerous combination) and found the cutest party ware ever.  We used it last night for Super Bowl snacks (no party...just us). 

I can't believe I had enough comments from the apron giveaway to nearly fill this bowl!  Thanks to everyone for the nice comments...I visited lots of new blogs this weekend and that's the best part of a giveaway.  I did have a few kit purchases on etsy (thank you!) so I couldn't do a random number generator...did this drawing the old-fashioned way.  And the winner is...

Stephanie (CharityGrace) at simple crafts. As I re-read her comment it is just so cute...thanks!   

valentine apron giveaway

I really didn't have any plans for a giveaway anytime soon but when I found these cute aprons at my thrift store on Wednesday (it was half-off-day...so I bought them for $1 each) I just wanted to share.  The red gingham apron on top doesn't have a "handmade by Margie" tag but I'm pretty sure this one is from Margie because the material and stitching on the ric-rak are very similar to these.

I have to admit that giveaways kind of stress me out so I'm going to make this a short one...I'll draw a name on Monday morning so just leave a comment before then and the little red apron will be on its way.   No guidelines for the comments but if you have an idea on how to photograph aprons, I'd love to hear it.  I used to put an apron on my daughter and take a picture of her ( like this ) but after the first 2 or 3 times she decided she had enough of that.

If your are shopping for a special valentine, I have cute kits to make this heart...right here (shipping is free!)  Purchase the heart kit before Monday and I'll put your name in the hat for the valentine apron giveaway...twice.

Today is my son Ross's birthday and he has received the ultimate kid birthday gift...a snow day!

Have a good weekend everyone and I'll be mailing one of you an apron on Monday.