Simple Simon & Company

THe Art of Homemaking: Let Every Room Fulfill It's Function

2012-06-02T04:30:00.000-06:00

"Remember, a wonderful aid to orderliness is a function for every room!"

-Daryl V. Hoole

So this week I've been thinking about what the function of each room should be and then how to make them the most functional.

For example:

The room I spent the most time on this week was the family room. This is where we spend the bulk of our time. It's where I sew and cut patterns, where my husband relaxes on the couch, where Simon reads, where Gracie colors, and where Ruth plays on the rug. It is also where we watch movies, have camp outs, play games and read stories. When I asked my husband what the function of the family room is he said "fun". I agree and our room reflects that.

Our house isn't for everyone---you can tell that we are...um...always doing something.

Our walls are lined with shelves that are filled with blocks and books and fabric and paint and markers and colored pencils and the like instead of with cool vases and interesting knick knacks.

I used to fret because my house isn't cool like other peoples homes and worried that people would think I was crazy for doing things like setting up a sewing machine in our family room...but I don't worry so much anymore. I think I finally get something I read in a book a long time ago. It said to be grateful for the home you have right now, knowing that at this moment it's all you need.

I think sometimes it's easy to get caught in I can't really organize this room until we are out of the baby stage or I can't really make this room usable until I can afford new furniture or I can't keep this out here because it's not stylish.

But I finally get it---all I have is all I need. So let's live the life we have. (Sure we can hope for more, better, or different...but until those changes happen let's make the most of what we have.) And right now my life consists of hand me down couches (worn but clean), toys on the shelves, and a cutting matt tucked behind the TV hutch.

All I have is all I need...and all I need is within reach in our family room.

I worked this week to organize this family room area---toys were resorted into bins---books re shelved by age level---the kids supply hut (stored in the closed shelving portion of the TV hutch) gone through and cleaned---and sewing table area purged.

I got rid of the magazines clogging up the storage shelf under a table to make way for the lap top and my sketch book. Then I even added a few of the games we play most to one of the shelves so that they will always be handy.

I also have reminded the family about some of the family room rules---no bringing food or drinks into the family room---get dressed in your bedroom, not in front of the TV while your watching cartoons---before you can start a new project you need to clean up the one you were working on before---take your shoes off---and so on...I think these rules will help the family room to fulfill it's purpose as a place to play, create, relax, and have fun.

This week I'll be attacking the bedrooms---I think I want to get all of the toys out of them and make bedrooms just a place for keeping our clothing, getting dressed, reading, and sleeping. Am I going crazy? Maybe. But I think I'm going to try it. At least for the summer.

Do you have any feelings or ideas on the function of a particular room in your home or how you help a room to fulfill it's function? I always love hearing your thoughts.

-liZ

Easy Swimsuit Cover-Up Tutorial for $5 Friday

2012-06-01T04:30:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was the last day of school. Which means that today is the first day of summer vacation!

Hooray!!!

I'm so excited. I LOVE summer vacation.

All of it---the kids, the heat, the snow cones, the sun, and especially all the water.

SO back HERE when I made The Endora Top and Elizabeth said that maybe I could change it into a cover-up for this summer I was all about it.

I think I actually went that afternoon and bought everything I needed to get started. And then all I did was follow the exact same steps I used for the shirt except that instead of making it out of vintage fabric rectangles I made it out of some super soft microfiber dish towels that I bought at the dollar store.

The cover up was actually easier than making the shirt because it is made out of 2 dishtowels sewn together so there was no need to finish edges or anything. It was one of those honest to goodness 30 minute projects (and that includes sewing the rick rack Grace picked out onto the bottom).

In fact, it was so fast and easy that I even made one for baby Ruth that afternoon as well.

Except hers is made out of the bar length towels (they were shorter and wider than the dish towels which was perfect) and we made a little fish to put on hers instead of the trim.

So if you want a fast project that only costs $2, whip up one of these cover-ups.

And then the only thing you'll have left to worry about is whether or not you have the courage to take the plunge!

-liZ

PS---I made these cover-ups a month or two ago but yesterday Grace got to try her's out at a neighborhood water party. It was a big hit. We just pulled it on after she was tired of playing in the water and it warmed her right up!

PS---To make one of these cover-ups all you really have to do is follow THIS TUTORIAL and just omit the steps like measuring for length (I just used the entire dish towel) and finishing the edges and hemming (the dishtowel already has finished edges that are safe for the washing machine). It's crazy easy, I promise.

Linked Here, Here, and Here

Thrifted Thursday: Fiesta Ware

2012-05-31T05:00:00.000-06:00

My sister is again responsible for today's thrifted Thursday. She called me in a panic from an estate sale asking if I wanted any Fiesta Ware.

Did I want any Fiesta Ware? Seriously....ummmm......YES!!!!!

I absolutely ADORE the colors of Fiesta Ware. They are amazing.

And since I can't show you it all at once (I have to leave you in suspense somehow, don't I?) I am just showing you the greens today.

In all honesty, I am not sure that all of it is actually Fiesta Ware. The teapot is marked Fiesta as well as the larger bowl on the left. But the cups are not marked and neither are the saucers. And one other green plate (not shown) is marked "Pacific 205 Made in the USA" on the bottom.

Any experts?

~Elizabeth

An Updated Units Style Jumper

2012-05-30T04:30:00.000-06:00

I warned you I'd be posting another Units project today...

and I really like this one.

A lot.

Back in the day when I wore "Units" I had a particular favorite. It was a one piece, grey and white striped, sleeveless, boat neck jumper. I LOVED it and wore it all the time with either a white or hot pink waistband.

So when I decided to revisit Units in my drafting class I knew I wanted to remake that outfit into a modern one for Gracie.

So I started with the jumper idea and made Gracie's outfit a one piece jumper that buttons up the back. I made it out of knit true to the Units style but instead of making it out of a striped print like mine was I color blocked Gracie's instead. Then I gave her the sleeveless top with a rounded neckline instead of a boat neck.

Now, my jumpers were from back in the day so they were kind of bunchy at the waist and tapered down to the ankle. However, I wanted to give Gracie a flared leg and a fitted waist.

The fitted waist allows the top portion of the jumper to blouse over and omits the need for the wide waist bands.

I like it.

It reminds me of my old jumper without being an exact copy.

It was a fun outfit to draft and sew.

But I was so excited when Gracie tried it on that I took these pictures before I even finished hemming the pants.

(Can you see the hem hanging down in some of the photos?)

Oh well, they're finished now and I love to see her wearing it.

And I have big plans for similar style jumpers for the fall...but until then I'll try to control myself and avoid any more Units posts for awhile....

I linked this project HERE and Here

An Updated Peasant Dress

2012-05-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

Because I was updating The Pillowcase Dress a couple weeks ago, I thought it also time to do a bit of an update to the Peasant Dress too. And since Liz and I have both had maxi dresses on the brain....it was a logical choice ;)

Sorry no tutorial for this one.....mostly because I was using a self-drafted pattern that I made specifically for Hannie. But if you have a peasant dress pattern you love (this one, or this one are good, or here is a tutorial that is good too) I can tell you what I did.

For the fabric I used a cotton-silk blend (with maybe some rayon in it? It wasn't expensive enough to be full cotton and silk) print from Joann's. I love the fabric, especially as a maxi dress...but be forewarned it is a bit see-through. She has a slip and a cami on for this picture (and definitely needed it!)

Here is what I did if you want to make one too.....

If you are making a maxi dress out of a cotton print....you are going to need a kick pleat in the back. Otherwise a little girl will not be able to run or walk well for that matter. (And that is a necessity.)

Measure the length you want your dress. Add 1 inch for a hem at the bottom. Cut out the front in one piece, BUT for the back you are going to need 2 separate piece. Instead of cutting the back on the fold cut two pieces and leave 1 inch for the back seam.

Sew up the back seam leaving 10 inches at the bottom. Then I finished the kick pleat the exact same way I finished the back of this dress (sans the button closure of course).

The only other adjustment is some elastic thread around the middle to cinch in a bubble waist. And that's it!

Hopefully that makes sense. If not...email me and I will help as much as I can.

~Elizabeth

P.S. I linked this up here and here.

Whatever Happened to Units?

2012-05-28T04:30:00.000-06:00

Am I the only one who wore Units growing up?

I can't remember wearing hardly anything else other than Units in 6th grade.

(The skirts, the dresses, the stretchy pants....and those totally awesome knit belts!!!!)

Although I have to admit that even though I wore Units almost daily they weren't the actual "Units" brand. See, I grew up here in Utah (which I believe is the knock-off capital of the world) so of course in town there was a little shop open where you could go and pick your knit, have your measurements taken, and then a group of women sewed you up whatever units you would like...and they had bins and bins FULL of the band belts in all of the coolest colors...it was heaven. (I recently was thinking about those women...I bet they made a killing in the late 80's.)

Anyways...those were the days, and the clothes. So remembering all of this I decided to try out a "Units' outfit for Grace as my first official outfit for my drafting class.

Sure there are some issues...I don't like the neckline or the sleeves...but I learned how to draft a pattern like this in just one piece, and some great tips on using knits so it wasn't a total fail.

Plus...I got to do an entire post about "Units".

(Even if it was like 3 months after I actually made the dress.)

Wednesday, I'm going to post the Units jumper I made Grace next---I kind of love it, even if it doesn't have the band. So I'm warning you...there will be at least one more Units love post.

Consider yourself warned.

liZ

PS---Happy Memorial Day

The Art of Homemaking: It All Started When My Husband Lit the Wok on Fire

2012-05-26T11:35:00.001-06:00

"Order helps a home to run smoothly...much frustration and time are saved...order sets the stage for power and accomplishment, and when a home reflects tender loving care, everyone benefits."

---Daryl Hoole (The Art of Homemaking)

I'm trying...heaven help me I'm trying but somedays (or weeks) it seems that the universe is conspiring against me.

I've been working on Facet No.4 "A Place for Everything" and making my home a sanctuary . But somehow, this week, instead of our home increasing in order it exploded...I think it all started the night my husband lit the wok on fire (right now he's currently banned from the kitchen) and then that incident seemed to spark a chain of events that spiraled out of control until one fateful afternoon when we had a troop of police officers surround our house.

Yes. You read that right. A troop of police officers both surrounded and searched my house this week.

No. I'm not kidding.

The morning had been stressful. I needed to get everyone off for the day and then the girls packed up and with me for another doctors appointment. We rushed out of the house without even moving the breakfast remnants off of the table.

However...the kitchen table was the least of my housekeeping worries...the day before I had sorted all the laundry in the ENTIRE house into GIANT heaps on my bathroom floor, on my bedroom floor were mounds of clothing from my husband and I trying to clean out our closet, then the rest of the house (give me strength) was literally a stew of boxes and bins of everything from clothing to toys to knick knacks as I had been trying to go through things for a yard sale...and the basement was the worst part---the kids have been playing down there while I've been sorting and I think every toy we own was out. It was bad. Real bad. No order in this house. What happened to my sanctuary?

But I wasn't worried either...I knew that after I got these doctors appointments over with I would have time to keep plowing through these projects and my house would soon be awesome.

However...

After being gone all morning I turn in the driveway to find my front door WIDE open.

And instead of being worried about robbers the only thing I can think about is that everyone in the neighborhood can look right straight into my home and see the 6 loads of laundry piled on the couch and surrounded by the Mega Blocks and Strawberry Shortcake mixture on the floor. I was horrified. (Again by the thoughts of people seeing my messy house and not the serial killer waiting inside.)

I was talking to Elizabeth when I pulled into the driveway. She said "Liz, you have to call the police."

But I hung up the phone and called my husband.

He said "Liz you have to call the police." And I said "Are you crazy? Have you seen our house??? They can't come in!!!"

But he said if I didn't call then he would. (Husbands, they don't understand anything!)
So I called, and they came...and while I stood there on the sidewalk 3 officers searched my home for bad guys while I explained to an officer waiting with me that while they may think my house was ransacked it really wasn't---we are apparently just live in shambles. "It's the newest trend," I said. "Extreme Shabby Chic. I invented it."

I was so embarrassed...so much for creating order.

Since then things have calmed down. (Oh and no worries---no bad guys were found and nothing was missing. I don't know what happened. If I didn't shut the door, or if I left it unlocked and some neighbor kids came in---which wouldn't be the first time.)

So this week the topic is still under "A Place for Everything" and the focus is"Let Each Room Fulfill It's Function".

I plan to work specifically on our family room and our bedrooms but since this post is already a mile long...I'll just report next week on how and what I did.

(I just pray it won't involve any fires, the police, or ransacked houses.)

Enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend!

liZ

$5 Friday-- Bowtie Flip Flops

2012-05-25T05:00:00.000-06:00

We are a flip flop family in the summer. My kids have been counting down the days until they can wear flip flops (their school dress code doesn't allow them...and even though I have heard for weeks about how everyone else is doing it....we are trying to follow the rules.)

But, summer is almost here!!!! YIPEEE!!! And that means it is flip flop time! I found flip flops recently for 98 cents (now that is a deal) and so I bought three pairs of pink for Hannah. And since I have a pink girl, I am in business because pink was all they had left.

Now just to girly them up a bit for summer. So the first pair became some bowtie flip flops.

I made the simple bowties (my rectangles were 4 1/2 by 2 1/2 for the bigger size and 3 1/2 by 2 1/2 for the smaller size) like so.....

and then glued them onto the flip flops. I used Gorilla Glue because it specifically says it holds foam on the label, but just make sure it is a quality glue that will hold tight.

And you are done!

And can I just tell you that these are even cuter on? Really, they are. Although I can't show you a picture right now....because they are currently running around the backyard enjoying the sunshine on some very happy feet ;)

~Elizabeth

P.S. Are you happy school is getting out or lamenting? At our house everyone (and most especially mom) is ecstatic!

P.P.S Remember the Target Card $150 Giveaway? If you haven't entered it's not too late. Go HERE!

Linked here.

Gracie's Must Have Summer Maxi Dress Tutorial (For Thrifted Thursday)

2012-05-24T04:00:00.000-06:00

I made this dress for Gracie the other night and she wore it all day yesterday...it's a new favorite.

When I had the idea I wasn't sure how it would turn out so we used some crazy supplies but now that I've made one I want to make like 10 more and this time use nicer T-shirts and some of the "good" polyester from my secret hoard.

If you want to make one it is seriously the easiest project ever and I promise your little girls will love it (Gracie loves the long, cool, silky fabric.) Here's what to do:

(Complete with the pictures taken as I was just trying this idea out)

Step #1.

(Like I said I wasn't sure how this would turn out so I used Gracie's Old Bacon Shirt on this prototype...it was getting on the short side and the bacon had seen better days so we picked off the letters and chopped it up.)

Step #2.

For the width: I cut my fabric 3 times the width of the shirt (so if it was 10 inches wide I'd cut it 30 inches wide).

For the length: I had Grace put on the chopped shirt and measured from the bottom of the shirt to the floor and added about an inch and a half for seam allowances and hemming.

Step #3.

Step #4.

To do this run a loose stitch around the top of your skirt and pull it (rearranging the gathers as you go) until the skirt is roughly the same width as your shirt.

Step #5

You may have to rearrange the gathers as you go---pulling the skirt tighter or making it looser so that it will fit onto your shirt. (Also this is how I pinned mine together. In this photo the shirt is upside down and inside the skirt.)

Step #6.

I tried the dress on Gracie and then pinned it to the length that I wanted before I sewed a stitch.

And your done!

So very easy...and so very awesome...

(At least it is to Gracie---all day she walked around like an old school Hollywood movie star on vacation.)

Since the T-shirt was something about to hit the yard sale bin it cost me nothing and the fabric for the bottom was part of a 3 yard piece that I bought at a thrift store for $1. So this dress was a super deal and...

Yes, I really am going to make some more.

And I'm thinking a shorter version paired with leggings and a skinny belt would be stinking cute (I'll put that on the list for my weekend sewing and let you know how it goes.)

And then because it looks so comfortable I kind of want to try one for myself...I like the idea but am wondering how it would translate into a mom dress...hum...I've got to think about this....

What do you think? Would it be worth the polyester sacrifice?

Until next time...Happy Thrifted Thursday!

liZ

(Oh and if you haven't entered our 3M Projector $150 Target Gift Card Giveaway yet, go do it!)

Today......

2012-05-23T05:30:00.000-06:00

We are over at Mama Says Sew for

and we are pretty excited about it!
Here is a sneak peek....

See you THERE!!! PS---If you haven't entered our 3M Mobile Projector $150 Target Card Giveaway then go and do it!

A Melon Blocked Skirt

2012-05-22T04:30:00.000-06:00

Ok, today I've got another skirt...

Right now solids are my favorite fabrics---more than prints...more than stripes...more than polka dots (and that is saying something because I really love stripes and polka dots) and this skirt I can make out of any combination of solids I choose.

It's a new favorite of mine and it's really easy to make (one of those nap time projects).

Here's how to make one:

First measure your little one's waist.

Now take the waist measurement and double it. (Gracie's waist is 18 inches...so I double that number making it 36 inches). Easy.

Now take that number and divide it by 3. (36 divided by 3 is 12)

This number will be how wide the vertical stripe of color in your skirt will be.

Then you take that number and minus it from your doubled waist measurement. (36 minus 12 is 24)

This number is how wide the main color of your skirt will be.

You now know how wide to make each piece. As for how long to make each piece just measure your little one from the waist to the knee (or however long you'd like the skirt to be) and add 2 inches (for the casing and hem).

Finally for the horizontal stripe, cut a strip 2 inches wide and at least as long as your waist measurement doubled is (36 inches) plus an extra inch or two just to be safe.

Ok...now that you have all of that...

(All that measuring sounds confusing but it is really easy, I promise.)

Once you have those three pieces cut:

(This photo only shows the two pieces sewn together but after I took this picture I folded the green around ontop of the coral, right sides together, and sewed it up so then I had the basic skirt tube.)

(Ok, I did it again...I KNOW you shouldn't hem in the middle of making a skirt but when I make most of my little girls skirts this is when I do it...I know it wrong but so is watching "Dog the Bounty Hunter", covering everything in blue cheese, and listening to Neil Diamond and I do those things all the time as well. And none of it is going to change anytime soon.)

Now you are ready to:

(All you do is lay your fabric strip out and fold each side into the middle and iron. It's easy...but if you are like me you'll burn your fingers and say bad words anyways.)

(I stitched mine about 2 and a half inches up from the bottom hem of the skirt.)

Now:

Then sew your elastic together and stitch the hole to your casing closed.

Now you are ready for the last step which is my favorite part of the hole skirt...finally you can:

(I took all the photos to make the tutorial for how to make these bows but then felt a little silly knowing there are approximately 8 million of these bow tutorials out there. However, if you haven't run across one of them I can post the tutorial later if you would like. Just let me know.)

So that's that. Another take on an elastic waisted skirt....and I really like this one...almost as much as I like blue cheese. Ummmmm blue cheese.....

liZ

PS---About the name, the boys named it...they said the skirt reminds them of cantaloupe....

PPS---I got to use some more of Riley Blake's fun solids when making this skirt.

PPSS---This afternoon my house got surrounded by police officers...true story...I'll tell you all about it Saturday, it might be funny to me by then...after the neighbors quit coming over to check on me.

Oh!!! And one last thing if you haven't entered our 3M Mobile Projector $150 Target Card Giveaway scroll on down and enter---this giveaway is a good one!!!

Today I linked this skirt over here:

and Here and Here

Movie Nights, A Projector, and $150 Target Gift Card Giveaway

2012-05-21T05:00:00.000-06:00

Movie Nights are a big deal around these parts in both of our families.They are usually reserved for Friday nights and are filled with popcorn, licorice (black for some and red for others) and lots of pillows, stuffed friends and blankets. And, as moms, they just happen to be some of our favorite nights. There is nothing better than cuddles, unmistakable kid laughter and the general craziness that comes when five people are watching movies together -- especially when one of the viewers is a toddler who is far more interested in eating popcorn out of everyone else's bowls than the actual viewing itself.

But what awesome family memories.

And this movie night -- well, it was bigger and better. Add in two families, a set of grandparents, neighborhood friends and we had ourselves a party! A Princess Bride Mega Movie Party!

When my husband heard that we were getting a 3M™ Mobile Projector for our movie night he was impressed. But when I let him get it out of the box and set it up, he was like a kid in a candy store. He kept saying "This is really cool, this is so cool." (Boys and technology!) But it is a really cool gadget (the whole room was pretty impressed). The 3M Mobile Projector that is being sold at Target (learn more and find special offers here) is designed to connect to an Apple device and project anywhere --- so, essentially, you can have movies on the wall, on the ceiling or, as in our case, on a white sheet to make our very own movie theater in the family room. You can also watch YouTube videos, family pictures as a slideshow and even TV shows all from your iPhone or iPad!

Here is our setup ... an iPhone and the movie "The Princess Bride" on iTunes.

Source

But first, we had to get ready. Complete with mustaches.

and tee shirts......

and then finally it was dark enough for movie time.

And what a swashbuckling movie night it was, complete with sword fights, kissing (and booing kids), and by the time it was over some sleepy but happy kids, parents and even a Nana and Papa.

Now those are the family memories we want to continue.

Okay, this picture is in almost complete darkness but look at how clear and sharp the picture is!

To think that a device that is barely bigger than your iPhone could project such clear and amazing pictures? Pretty phenomenal.

And for our next movie night, well, it is definitely going to be outside! Doesn't that sound fun for the summer? Or even on vacation!

Now it's your turn.

“What's your favorite way to do Family Movie night?"

Leave us a comment for a chance to win a $150 Target Gift Card!

And who doesn't need $150 at Target---SCORE!!!!!

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a new comment

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d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to us, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 5/21/12 – 6/29/12.

Be sure to visit the 3M mobile projector brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

* We were compensated for this post by BlogHer and 3M, but all opinions are competely our own.

The Art of Homemaking: On Building a Sanctuary

2012-05-19T04:30:00.000-06:00

"Sanctuary... is a word which here means a small, safe place in a troubling world. Like an oasis in a vast desert or an island in a stormy sea."

---Lemony Snicket

My family knows that I've always wanted to live in a renovated old church house. I think it's because I love the idea of my home being a literal sanctuary. (Anybody else remember in your old world history lessons learning about how one could enter a church and claim sanctuary? Back in the day if you did this you were safe...safe from the world...no matter what...and nothing or nobody could hurt you as long as you were inside...)

It wasn't in the far distant past that it finally dawned on me that my home can be the sanctuary I've always wanted...apart from the world...where my kids are safe no matter what...a place of peace, and love and worship...a sanctuary...even if it's physical location is in my cookie cutter suburban home and not a renovated church.

Recently I was reading an article about the "soulcraft of creating and sustaining safe havens". The point that the author was trying to make was that we should be turning our homes into havens to shelter ourselves and our families from the hectic world we live in---in other words, creating my idea of sanctuary.

I think that all of our ideas of what a sanctuary looks like is probably different. But I think that we could all agree that we want our home to be a safe place from the world where all who live there feel loved and wanted.

The older my kids get the more important I believe a sanctuary is and the harder my husband and I try to create one. It's not always easy...life happens, needs change, money is tight, problems arise...but (and I am going to end this post where I started...with Lemony Snicket) hopefully we can be the

"sort of people who know that there's always something. Something to invent, something to read, something to bite, and something to do, to make a sanctuary, no matter how small."

Here's to creating sanctuaries.

-liZ

***Note: I'm still working this week on Facet 4 in "The Art of Homemaking" .

I want to concentrate one more week on the "Do it. Do it right. Do it right now." idea becoming a habit instead of just a great quote. I know that this will take longer than a week to sink in but I just want one more week to focus on it.

Thank you to everyone who left comments telling me about their positive homemaking habits---you ladies are awesome...and if you have anymore I'd love hearing about them. And as for next week we'll be moving on in the chapter to a section called "Let each room fulfill it's function" so be prepared.

Fringed and Slashed T-Shirts for $5 Friday

2012-05-18T04:30:00.000-06:00

Ok I promise that these will be the last crazy T-shirt projects I post for awhile.

Not forever, of course, but for a few weeks I'll put away my shirt stack and scissors and move on to some other projects.

But for today.....today I've got two 80's inspired T-shirt projects in one post!

So let's party like it's 1999 making:

and

Each of these T-shirts were purchased at the Dollar store making them only a $1 each.

Then I brought them home and:

Ok, I worded that weird---I didn't cut off the sleeves themselves I just cut off the hem of the sleeves. (But you probably figured that out from the picture.)

So once that is done let's say you want to make a slashed T-shirt all you have to do is:

I marked a vertical center line down the middle for a guide and then I made my slashes one inch apart from each other. I also made them various lengths (just make sure that the lines are the same length on each side of the center line).
Oh...and FYI cut down the lines with your scissors and not your rotary cutter or else you'll go right though the shirt.

Then just wash and wear. (They look wayyyyy cuter after they have been washed once.)

OR

If you prefer your 80's T-shirts fringed all you need to do is repeat the first step from above (removing the hems and ribbing) then:

and then:

Now it's ready to be washed and worn.
Unless you're feeling funky then you can:

And that's that.
The beads are Gracie's favorite part of the shirt.
And I think even though I said this would be my last crazy t-shirt post for awhile that I'm going to make her just one more fringed shirt.
The thing is when I made her that Fringed Skirt I was talking about my "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" fringed shirt (which I loved sooooo much and wore everyday in 5th grade) but after I finished making these shirts I remembered the coolest shirt ever...how could I have forgotten it?

I used to have a turquoise shirt with a silhouette of a palm tree on it and then in hot pink graffiti writing it said "Tijuana". And the whole thing was fringed like this. (I know you're all jealous. And you should be. It was wicked awesome.) So thinking about that shirt I need to find Grace a T-shirt with a print and then go crazy.

Hummmm what kind of print would be good....There's sure to be something awesome at Saver's right? Maybe with the Ninja Turtles or unicorns on it....

(In the future remind me not to write these posts when I've only had 4 hours of sleep.)

Thrifted Thursday---A Thread Shelf

2012-05-17T05:30:00.000-06:00

I know that I say this every week...but I think this is one of my most favorite thrifted items ever! It was at a garage sale and priced at $5.00, but I had to have it. I am in the middle of a sewing corner re-do (which I think is going to take forever...because I just keep changing my mind) and knew it would be a perfect place to store thread and thimbles.

And I LOVE that it is made from old measuring sticks and rulers. Isn't it awesome?

Liz and I were talking the other day...that we are those girls that thrifted before it was cool. Liz was the girl who ONLY wore thrifted clothes in college, and I grew up in a family where Saturday mornings were garage-sale days and I would hope I wouldn't run into anyone who knew me. It's not that I didn't find good stuff...I just didn't want my high-school friends to know that I was clothes hunting at garage sales. We weren't cool vintage-seekers. We were just the nerdy ones way back when.

And now we are laughing about how hard it is to find good stuff because it is so cool now. Sometimes we want to go back to the old days where we would have the thrift stores to ourselves!

So I guess when there is a good score....we get even more excited.

Except for the people around us who are buying all the vintage patterns! booo! Three years ago...we were the only girls standing there sifting through old patterns (and buying all of them), and now we have to share. And that's just not fair ;)

Sewing with Vintage May.....

2012-05-16T05:00:00.000-06:00

Today we are over at the lovely Jess' blog sharing our take on sewing with vintage patterns.

Here is a sneak peek.....

See you over THERE!!!

Heroes of Homemaking Part II--Always leave a room better than you found it.

2012-05-15T05:30:00.001-06:00

(I just thought we needed a picture here...and since these were Grandma Lova's tiny irons, I thought it fit)

Liz is usually our resident "Art of Homemaking" girl around these parts, but I have recently felt the need to share about some heroes of homemaking in my life. I shared part one HERE and I am sharing another homemaking hero today.....my grandmother Lova. (As a side note, she always explained her name as Love with an "a.")

She really was a hero to me. She passed away when I was 14 and I still miss her almost every day. We lived close to her, spent almost every Friday night and Sunday at her house eating popcorn and playing in "Darkest Africa" (the dim wooded forest in the backyard) where we would run and play and pretend we were anyone we wanted to be. She had a tennis court (ok, a grassy field that was called the tennis court) where my siblings and I would drive a mowing tractor around for hours on end (and I think we were 4 or 5....I don't recall how we reached the pedals) and an attic that was mysterious and fun all at the same time complete with a leopard-print fur coat and hat that hung in one corner....that both creeped us out but also secretly intrigued us all at the same time.

Her house was magical. It was the cleanest house I have ever seen....and she was ALWAYS busy with a home or garden project. We would often pull up in our car and she was transplanting lily of the valleys or busy in the kitchen making cobbler or working the books for my grandpa's real estate business on the adding machine. She was a worker bee....and never sat down until her "tasks were done." Not to mention the countless hours of knitting that she did and the amazing piles of sweaters that she gave to my sister and I.

Can you see why I miss her? She really was an amazing woman.

One of the homemaking lessons that I most remember from Grandma Lova is, "Always leave a room better than you found it." She used to say it all the time.

But she truly lived by this principle.

Although my mother will testify that I did NOT live by this rule as a child (I had PILES of clothes everywhere as a teenager); somehow, someway this rule of homemaking has sunk deep into my heart.

I do find myself whenever I leave a room, looking around and finding things that need to be picked up and put away--and then doing it. It usually only takes a minute to pick up a pillow, or refold a blanket (even if it is the 10th time I have done it that day) or placing things on the stairs, and actually taking them up when I go upstairs next.

And it's changed my life.

My house stays much cleaner (it's so not perfect)....but I also don't have to spend hours on it every day. It just takes one look around the room as I am leaving it. And a minute or two, which I CAN do.

Thanks Grandma Lova.

Sewing: Taking Your Measurements

2012-05-14T05:00:00.000-06:00

We shared this awhile ago over at Kojo for their Sewing for Me Series.....but in case you missed it here is our take on measurement taking.

Hello.

It's us, Elizabeth and liZ from over at Simple Simon and Company. Now, we know that you are probably thinking that we only make kids clothes. And you're right...kind of. While we are wild about children's clothing (sewing it, photographing it, styling it, designing it, embellishing it, whatever) what you may not know is that we are also interested in sewing for ourselves. (Don't let the conspicuous lack of self photos throw you off---taking pictures of ourselves is just not on the top of either of our "likes" lists.)

For a while we have been trying our hand at designing and drafting our own patterns. Sometimes we are successful and sometimes we fail...miserably. Either way it's been an adventure and something we've wanted to pursue. So a while back we decided that if we were going to continue drafting and designing we wanted to learn how to do it the "right" way. (Don't get us wrong we think self-teaching and experimentation is AWESOME---that's how I (liZ) started---but we also felt a need to be "trained" in the classical art of technical sewing.

After some searching Elizabeth found us exactly what we wanted and currently we are enrolled in an advanced pattern drafting course. It's awesome. Our professor, who started her own business before we were born, is literally a wealth of information. What we have gained has been worth all the late nights, travel times, and missed dinners. I only wish we would have found her sooner.

As you all know, there is a big difference between sewing for girls and sewing for women. And what we've discovered is that when sewing for women the ability to take correct measurements can make all the difference. It's like the foundation or the canvas for what you are going to create---and if it's not right nothing you make will be either. (Trust us...we know from experience---one of us, who shall remain nameless, is on her third body draft!)

So today we want to share with you how we've learned to take a few (of the seemingly endless measurements) one needs to take to draft a pattern and hopefully this will help you in your sewing pursuits.

Taking a bust measurement.

First things first. Our teacher is switching us to the metric system in this drafting class. It's been hard. But we think it will be worth it. But, we are showing you in inches today just because it is convenient and ultimately more of what we know here in the States.

Also, you want to measure yourself in your underclothing....and nothing else.

Now, put your measuring tape around your back and up under your armpits. You should be able to hold the measuring tape tight with your arms down because it is being held so tight right in your armpits. Next, have someone bring the measuring tape around the front to the fullest part of your bust. And record the measurement. For this dress-form lady, the bust is 34 inches.

Taking a waist measurement.

Ok, this may sound simple but first---you have to find your waist. And well most of us are using the wrong measurement....because we don't wear things at our waists!

So, here's how to find your waist. Stand with your hands on your hips and bend to the side. (Think Richard Simmons here.) Where your side bends (and it is probably a lot higher than you think) is your ACTUAL waist. Mark that spot with your finger. Now take the tape and measure around this line. Record your measurement. This little dress lady is 26.5 inches.

Taking your hip measurement.

There is a formula for finding your hip and your hip placement....but let's take the easy hip measurement right now. Find the fullest part of your lower tummy and hips (standing in front of a mirror may help you find this spot). Using your tape measure, record this hip measurement. This dress form is 34 inches.

Now you have the three basic measurements that are on the back of most commercial patterns. Or you can use these measurements to draft your own patterns or to change an existing pattern. Yes, there are "x of backs" and "point of busts" or about 20 other measurements in our course but we won't show you those today....because let's face it....we still get different measurements than our master teacher!

If you too are interested in drafting patterns (which is essentially starting from scratch---not tracing patterns from anything) we started out learning about pattern drafting from books (vintage books are awesome at this). Or even taking a class is a good way to go. The Fashion Institute near us offers 4 different pattern drafting classes based on different techniques and skills.

The Art of Homemaking: Facet 4

2012-05-12T04:30:00.000-06:00

Today I'm officially starting chapter 4 of the Art of Homemaking.

It is entitled "A Place for Everything and Everything in it's Place." It is the longest chapter in the book (so long that it is actually broken up into 8 sections) and is chuck full of information and advice that really is pretty awesome. As I reread it I thought again about how the women in decades past elevated the occupation of homemaker from a station to an art.

These women were amazing, their dedication, organization, frugality, and desire to make their homes beautiful is something else. And I appreciate it...a lot...even if I've been accused (far more than once) of being a raving feminist.

The intro to the chapter says:

"An ideal homemaker realizes that order must be the first law of her home. With her home free from clutter and confusion, maximum progress and accomplishment may be enjoyed by family members. This helps bring about a tranquil atmosphere which is a blessing to all."

Today I was at the hospital for some testing. My husband couldn't be with me. He had to wait in a different area. Simon was at school and my girls were with my mom. We were all separated. As I lay there I started thinking about the title of this chapter...A Place for Everything and Everything in it's Place...and I wanted all of us to be back where we belong, together in our place.

Tonight we are having our weekly family movie camp out. Everyone is piled here around me fast asleep, happy, fed, and all together...tonight everything is in it's place....and Mrs. Hoole couldn't be more right---It is a tranquil atmosphere and a blessing to all. Some days are crazy and some are frustrating and some are overwhelming but some days...some days are wonderful.

Now, while I've had my family on my brain this chapter is all about putting your home in order...and boy am I ready to dive into this. (Yes, I'm being serious...I don't know if it's spring fever, or what but I am so ready for this. Really ready.)

Mrs. Hoole writes in the chapter intro that:

"Habits can make or break us as homemakers. Habits become so automatic that we never even think about them or notice them, but oh, their effects..."

So before we dive into section 1 of A Place For Everything I'm wondering what GOOD habits do you have that help bring order to your home?

What do you do automatically everyday that helps to keep your home free from clutter and confusion?

Um..I'll start. I think I mentioned this before but every morning before I turn on the computer I have to do my morning reading but before I do that I have to make my bed. So, since I do turn on the computer everyday I also make my bed everyday. Without fail. It's one thing that will always be done---my bed will be made. It's like clockwork.

Another is a quote that has been stuck in my head that is slowly but thankfully becoming a habit. The quote is: "Do it. Do it right. Do it right now." And as weird as it sounds it's changing my life. If I have something to do I just do it (even if I don't want to)--and do it right and complete the first time and I do it as soon as I can--like right now, without waiting until I feel like it or tomorrow or whatever. This way of thinking/being is a habit I'd love to adopt so I'm working on it and slowly but surely it is changing me and my home...and one day I'm hoping it will just be automatic.

So how about you? What helpful habits do you have? or are working on?

Please do share...spread your awesomeness.

-liZ
*In completely unrelated news the van has been spider and web free for 6 days now---I think we got them! Hooray!

$5 Friday--Baby Gifts

2012-05-11T05:30:00.000-06:00

I have had a few baby gifts to make recently. For two new little girls, cute Black Apple Dolls. I decided to make them bigger, so I enlarged the original pattern by 200% and I think they are a cute size. I used all scraps for this project-extra drop-cloths for the faces and arms, leftover felt for the hair and leftover Starboard skirt fabric for the bodies. I found some cute tags online (I didn't save the source, anyone recognize them?) and the gifts are done.

A cute, but inexpensive gift for a girl of any age!

And for a baby boy that is on the way, a self-binding receiving blanket.

I did add a bit of white jumbo ric rac inside the self-binding edge to give it a little pizzazz and I liked it. The fabric is some that I already had (Michael Miller, I believe) and so all I bought was the jumbo ric rac.

It would have cost me more if I didn't have the fabric, so keep that in mind. If you buying everything, it's probably more around a $15 gift.

Now I just have to deliver them! (Does anyone else have gifts in their car for awhile before they can get mailed or delivered---I am notorious!

~Elizabeth

Thrifted Thursday----Flip Flop Q&A

2012-05-10T04:30:00.000-06:00

Q: Where did I get these super awesome flip flops?
A: At Savers.

Q: How much did they cost?
A: $2

Q: Did I wash them before I wore them?
A: You better believe it---I even washed them before I tried them on. (Elizabeth brought her wet wipes with her which come in REALLY handy when your out thrifting. Really handy.)

Q: Did I only wash them with the wet wipes?
A: Heck no. They got there own special 30 minute play date in the washing machine as soon as I got home.

Q: Did I really buy some old flip flops at a thrift store instead of buying some brand new ones at the Old Navy?
A: Totally!!! Did you notice the completely awesome rainbow soles on those things? I did. And now they are mine.

Q: Couldn't I find another similar pair somewhere else?
A: Maybe...but now I don't have to because as I said before, now they are mine!

Q: Did I score any more goodness on the latest trip to Savers?
A: Yes, yes and yes. I bought three pairs of jeans, some curtains, three vintage sheets, a bunch of vintage pillow cases, and a pile of other stuff that is hanging out in the laundry room waiting for their turn in the washing machine.

Q: Can I think of anything else to write about these flip-flops?
A: No.

--liZ

An Updated Pillowcase Dress. A Tutorial.

2012-05-09T05:00:00.000-06:00

A couple of weeks ago while shopping I came across a darling little jumper for a little girl at H&M. I almost bought it (it was around $10 or so) but then when taking a second look at it realized it was just an updated version of a pillowcase dress.

So, I came home and made one. In 30 minutes. My kind of quick, naptime sewing project.

I did take a few pictures along the way to make a quick tutorial.

Here's how I did it....

I was making a TALL size 6/7 and since I want her to be able to wear it awhile I did make it longer. It is about mid-calf on her now, but I know it won't be by the end of summer. I am just hoping for knee-length then!

If you need to shorten the dress, you are going to need to shorten the first numbers in the dress piece and the ruffle. Both of them need to equal the length you want the dress.

It should now look like this on the back.

*Sorry I did make a mistake here....the straps are folded like bias tape (so there are 4 layers of fabric and they are sturdy) but they were NOT cut on the bias. They were actually cut from a 4 inch piece on the selvedge edge so the plaids would match, and then folded in like bias tape to make a 1 inch strap.

And you are done! A 30-minute dress that is perfect for Spring and Summer!

The Love Me Two Times Skirt

2012-05-08T04:30:00.000-06:00

Ok so I made another "Love" skirt.

I made the All You Need Is Love Skirt back in February but then last week I got to peruse some of Riley Blake's solids and decided it was time to make another one. But this time using cotton instead of knit and felt.

I made it just like our Simple Spring Skirts but just added the word "LOVE" between steps 3 and 4.

It was really easy and if you want to make one here's what to do:

(I just drew out the letters by hand because, well, I like drawing letters but you could also pick a font and print them out from your computer at whatever size you'd like.) Once you have them the size and shape you like, cut them out.

Then:

Yes, I trace them right onto the front of the fabric. I just make sure I cut right inside the pencil line so that the markings don't show up. (I know most people flip the letters and trace them on the back---but I'm a crazy person and somehow always mess that up so I go with this route. Always. That's just how I am.)

Now cut out the letters and:

Then:

Finally:

(I set my zig zag at 2.5 and my stitch length at .6. It took awhile to go around the letters but those things aren't fraying or going anywhere!)

And your done!

And now you know a little bit more about me as well...I can't figure out how to turn letters around, I'd rather write by hand than use a computer, and I listen to the Doors (hence the name). All stellar facts. Yea...good stuff. What other quirks should I share?

None for today, I think that is quite enough.

But in other news one of my favorite blog weeks of the year was announced yesterday.

That's right friends Crafterhours announced their skirt week! I love this week! And I love their blog! I'm already thinking about what to make---anyone else sewing along?

-liZ

Tooth Fairy Pillow

2012-05-07T05:30:00.000-06:00

We shared this a couple of weeks ago at Riley Blake......but in case you missed it....

Today we are sharing a simple but cute project for any little girl in your life. A little doll tooth fairy pillow which can hold teeth and a little something that the tooth fairy brings in return. It is a PERFECT project for all experience levels...and if this is your first sewing project....we promise it is simple and quick.

This project came about because the Tooth Fairy is not finding teeth at our house! When a certain little girl puts her lost teeth under her pillow, that Tooth Fairy is not finding them....and therefore not taking them. But no more! Now there is a nice soft pillow with a special fairy-sized pocket---especially for the Tooth Fairy. No most lost teeth at our house!

Here is what you will need to make one too:

*1/4 yard main doll body fabric. We used the Verona line from Riley Blake.

*1/8 yard for the pockets---cut 2

*1/8 yard piece for hair--cut 1

*small scrap of heat n' bond--cut 1 hair pattern

*small scrap of felt for head--cut head pattern

*black embroidery floss for the eyes

HERE is the pattern for the tooth fairy doll. You will need to print it out at 100%.

And here is how you make her:

(This first pocket was a little too large for our doll, your pattern pocket is much smaller and cuter!)

Here is a great tutorial if you don't know how to make french knots.

I handstitched the little openings on the dollies but you can machine stitch them too.

Looking ahead--I am busy remixing some classic patterns (peasant dresses and pillowcase dresses) for this summer. Hannah is in desperate need of some new Summer clothes (that girlie has grown almost 2 inches since January) and I have been busy thinking of some updated versions of those classic summer dresses.

You will see one on Wednesday!

Any fun projects you are working on this week?

Due to Spider Attacks the Art of Homemaking Post is Being Rescheduled! (And some other stuff...)

2012-05-05T08:58:00.000-06:00

So I've spent the last few days mulling over the life expectancy of van dwelling spiders and decided that without a food source my mini monster wouldn't be with us much longer.

Wrong.

Yesterday I'm stopped at a light when I see a black spot on the corner of my sunglasses. When my eyes focus on the speck I realize it's the spider! ON MY SUNGLASSES!! ON MY FACE!!!! So being the rational person I am I rip off my sunglasses and throw them against the front window, sending the spider flying off who knows where.

Now the light is green and I start to go when my right hand feels all tingly. I look down and it is crawling with spider babies. SPIDER BABIES!!!

No. I'm not kidding.

Do I look like I'm kidding?

(Ok, so you can't see me but trust me, I don't look like I'm kidding.)

That dang spider laid her eggs somewhere in my van and the hatched.

She laid eggs!!!

Ack! I am so freaking out.

Anyways...

I squashed the babies right on my hand (so gross) and drove like a crazy person to get us home and out of the horror mobile. Then last night I made my husband vacuum out every nook and cranny of that mini van...he and Simon found 2 spiders in there but both were tiny. So I'm afraid the queen mother is still hold up somewhere in there and plotting her revenge on me for killing her babies.

Which leads me to wonder...can you fumigate a mini van?

Hum....let's think on this while I change the subject for a minute....

I have a few unspider related things to share:

#1. I washed Gracie's Fringed Skirt and it is waaaaay cuter washed. It makes the fringe even more um, fringier (Is that a word?). But now I like it more than I did before.

And last night (after the van was re vacuumed) we made her up some fringed shirts that we'll post next week. And we even made one with beads!

#2. The voting is up over at Project Run and Play and their theme for the week was "color". You should head over their, check out their work and vote for your favorite design. (The contestants have made some really great out fits this week.)

And I'm super excited for next week's challenge---it will be a movie inspired outfit. (It's a theme I totally want to try....I just need to settle on one idea and get started instead of brainstorming more and more possibilities.)

#3. I've already started the next Art of Homemaking chapter and I'm totally into it. (Not like wearing real clothes and make-up chapter.) I'll give you a hint what it's about---it has to do with that old adage "A place for everything and everything in it's place."

It is so cool and I'm so excited about it that it will probably take several weeks to work through (especially since we'll be going through it room by room). We'll kick it off next week with some quotes and I'll report on what I've already started with.

Now I've got to go. (Simon has a soccer game this morning which means we all have to drive in the van with the you know what.) Wish us luck!

*Note: If you haven't been around here for a week this post may not make any sense....so if that is the case just know that I've been worried all week about a sneaky spider who has decided to make my mini van her home....and hope (like I do) that she goes away soon so that I stop talking about it.