DIY Play Kitchen

Here is the butcher block top play kitchen I made for my two girls' birthdays:

I had fun making this.  I wanted a smaller cabinet, but this is the best one that I found.  The tall cabinet door is the fridge.  Other than paint and two knobs, I reused or thrifted most things for the kitchen.  I did buy the dish set off etsy.  The plates and bowls are mini (maybe they were a dessert set?).  I've seen way too many cute princess dish sets turn bad once kids get them wet and rip the stickers off. 

My old kitchen cart had seen better days (and the drawer was falling to pieces), so I took the butcher block top, hardware, and scraps to help put this together.  I borrowed a jig saw from a friend to cut the sink and oven.

I love the oven.

I may steal these salt and pepper shakers from them.  They are hard, so if they don't play soft with them I will snatch them back happily!

Having their birthdays so close has it's perks.  I think every few years I may find a fun present to make them to share.

P.S. If you were at a loss when Google Reader announced it was going away like I was check out Bloglovin.  It's pretty similar to Reader. Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Old News

Eons ago (or perhaps last spring) I made a skirt for my sister's wedding.  I didn't have anything on hand that went with her color scheme, so I decided to have fun with a bright yellow skirt.  I made it while I was still pregnant so I had to guess the size--consequently I have it pinned in the back until I redo the waistband as I was a little off.  It's a bit crazy to some probably, but I love it. 

Also, I ran across another mid-century enameled bowl.  I love the bold heart pattern.  Maybe someday I'll sell it (I sold the blue crockpot--which I now somewhat regret), but for now it's happily displayed in my kitchen.

Deja Vu

Whilst on a thrift trip a few months ago I spotted this yellow striped shirt.  Bold stripes, yellow... looked like a nice summer t-shirt (it actually had sleeves but I chopped them off).  After I brought it home something seemed familiar about it... what was it?  Oh!  I had made a dish towel that looked EXACTLY like it.  

I was actually going to make it gingham print but after painting the horizontal stripes I ran out of paint and decided I would just leave it as is.  The color and width of stripes is as close as you can get.  Freaky.  And somewhat embarrassing that I have a shirt that matches my towel.

Postpartum Refashion

I've done a tiny bit of sewing and thrifting since my newest little cutie was born.  Sewing and thrifting are therapeutic to me I think, they help me de-stress if I've had a long day (or week).

Anywho, during some needed breather time one evening I stumbled upon a beauty.  Just kidding.  It was pretty bad but I liked that the top half unbuttoned (convenient for a nursing mom), the print was kinda cute, and it had pockets.   The skinny: I took the waist up about six inches, removed shoulder pads, took in the shoulder width, and chopped the sleeves...and I love it!  A casual (and comfortable) dress that is also functional.

In other news I am dangerously close to actually finishing that quilt I started eons ago.  Seriously I probably have like two feet of binding to finish...lets get on that.

Vintage Kitchen

Some pretty things joined my kitchen family recently.

I have been admiring Cathrine Holm (or is it Cathrineholm?) enamelware for a while.  It seems collectible so I was admiring at a distance (translation, high etsy prices).  

Whilst browsing the odds and ends at Bookmans I stumbled upon these two.  The price was higher than I'd pay thrifting--but we had some instore credit from a recent media purge.  So I didn't actually pay anything for them, nice!  The green bowl is my favorite.

Small Refashion

I serendipitous ran across this post yesterday.  I had just bought a similar shirt (thrifted, maybe $4?) last week!  I thought it was pretty sweet.  Corey thought not.  I've been trying to tell him that old school stuff is cool.  Think, what would my grandma wear?  I think he thought this shirt was too grandma.

Basically doing the same steps as the original post, here's my tiny refashion:

Taking a step back perhaps I should have lowered the neckline a little more.  Even so, I like the simple adjustment.  Freshens up the shirt a bit.  Amazingly I'm still able to button the shirt despite my 6 1/2 month bump!  

Thrift Gems

Occasionally while looking around thrift stores I find some gems.

This particular day I convinced Corey to go with me (he hates thrift stores) after we got a slushie.  I love slushies.  Anyway, back to the point I found a bag of what most people thought was junk (Corey may contend that it was junk, but never you mind).  It was full of vintage notions (seam binding, buttons in a Sucrets tin, etc)!  It was a pretty large bag and only a few dollars so I snatched it up.

The lady who collected all this must have had some fun projects!  There was loads of pretty lace seam binding:

Fun sewing gadgets (most still in the package):

As well it looks like she may have made some of her own jewelry, there were many beading needles and necklace thread (I love the packaging):

I've already used some buttons and zippers in a project and have plans for more.  Also, to whom it may concern if I am to pass away before using all my pretty sewing things I have let Corey know he is not allowed to dump it at the thrift store, it is officially bequeathed to my sisters.  I would be so bummed if I never got to use these fun things!

Thrifting

In recent years I have become a fan of thrifting.  I have always loved old things, it's fun to see the imperfections collected over time.  I find it fun to look through what people have left behind and occasionally I find something fun to take home.  One of my favorite shows (besides Project Runway--which just started again) is Antiques Roadshow.  I love seeing what everyone has picked up over the years.  

I thought this tray was so cool (and only a buck).  I love the minty green color and the patriotic image--all hand panted.  It's chippy in spots, which just adds to the character.  Some day I'd love to have an office that's full of patriotic things.  I have big plans for my 50 state quarters that I dutifully collected all those years.

Some fun belts that I think I will add to my "Christmas" pile (as I didn't necessarily need them right now), they were cute and only $1 each.

I also love picking up things for the kitchen.  Here's two things I picked up in the last few months. A carved rolling pin (probably not very useful, but pretty!), $1, and some old school beaters, which was pricey at $3.

I picked up this toy for Ellie to play with on an upcoming trip, it was $2.  I'm a math nerd (Statistics major in college) and loved that is was sort of an abacus.  Maybe I'll teach her to count with it when she starts learning numbers.

Children's Books

I love children's books.  I also very much love vintage children's books.

Whilst thrifting if I come across something that looks cute I usually snag it.  I love that the books are cheap come with character build in so I don't feel as bad if Ellie (my daughter) bends a page or rips something.

I just got this book today, it's a pop up Mother Goose book from the 70's or so.  I'm amazed that it's fully intact.  I'm debating whether to wait to introduce it to Ellie as it is in such good condition!

Here is Humpty Dumpty's crash, complete with yolk spilling out.  Poor Humpty!

Skirt Refashions

I have been having fun refashioning skirts recently.  It's such a quick project!  This time I don't have before pictures (drat).  Both skirts were mid-calf extra large skirts.  You know, the kind that are in abundance at any thrift store.

To start both skirts I cut away the original waistline.  For the red skirt ,below, I took some extra wide elastic and encased it.  Then I sewed a number of rows over the waistband to create a foe shirred look. 

I loved the colors of this skirt.  Reminded me of a Monet painting or something.  I decided to go with another wide elastic band, this time exposed.  

I love both new skirts.  Both skirts worn high on my waist hit about knee length, which I think is perfect (bonus--no new hem required).  I am now critically eyeing many of my old skirts...they seem so drab compared to my newly refashioned skirts!