RIP Dear Boy

We had to say goodbye to our dear Dudley Do-Right this morning. We spent 15 great years with him and he will be missed. We love you, boy!

All it takes for me to make something is to say I’m not going to…

So I said to my friend Yancey today, ” I’ve decided not to do ANYTHING productive until school starts.” I then proceeded to go home and make these two skirts. Yep. After days of going into my studio looking at fabrics, searching through patterns, drawing up sketches, etc., I just went in, grabbed some fabric from off the floor, and knocked these two guys out in less than an hour.

The fabrics are all vintage pieces I’ve gotten from Knitt’n Kitten over the past few months. The main fabric is a quilted cotton, I’m guessing from the 80′s, with little flowers on one side and big ones on the other. The plaid feels almost like a calico and the pattern looks like 60′s to me.

Quinby’s is the big flower side of the quilted cotton and a red and white striped flannel. I may go back and add pockets to the skirts. Not sure yet. I like that these were all super cheap vintage fabrics. Both skirts all together probably cost me $2 to make. Not a bad way to spend an unexpectedly warm afternoon.

Upcoming Portland Coolness

Just wanted to make sure all the local knew about this upcoming coolness. I’ve never been before, but it looks pretty awesome. See you there! I’m hoping to pick up a couple of fun new-to-me items.

Must Make Monday – Home Projects for My Late Summer/Early Fall

My first two projects are from twogirlzstuff. I saw the vintage hanky curtain on pinterest and when I went to go see what was there the above map covered tins caught my eye.  The curtain will be great for my kitchen window. If anyone has any vintage hankies they are willing to part with I would love to swap some vintage fabric for some. 

I’ve recently reorganized my jewelry and right now all my earrings are just chilling in a lidded porcelain box. Something like this cool idea from Modish would really come in handy.

 I like this woodsy hanger tutorial from The Maize Hutton Blog. It would be great for my photo shoots and for displaying some dresses on the girl’s walls. Plus I’d get to use power tools!

I’ve been meaning to make some of these potluck bowl covers for awhile. maya*made shows ya how to do it just in time for those late season picnics and get togethers.

Megan over at Ohdeedoh shows you how to make a hanging book display. My girls are in a bunk bed so I think this would work nicely in lieu of a bedside table.

Laura Normandin over at Wren Handmade had the great idea to make one of these oilcloth fabric table placemats. I’ll have to do a circle one, but I should be able to figure that out.

Better Homes and Gardens has a how-to for these really fun vintage tin organizers. Wonderful for the studio, living room, girl’s room, wherever and once again power tools!

I’m thinking this basket from Pickles will be good for getting me back into crocheting this fall. Might just have to make a few of these!

I love these memory jars from Martha Stewart. The girls and I collected a TON of seashells from our WA trips this summer and I think this would be a fun project to do with the girls before school starts.

No Nanny Nightgowns

My good friend Cory, who normally nannies for me on Monday mornings, called out sick today. Get better soon, Cory!! None the less, I was able to get a sewing project in today. I know. It’s been ages since I posted a completed project. Yay, me!

I saw this and figured I could do it too. Guess what? I was right! My girls now have two new pillowcase nightgowns just in time for the weather to actually get hot!

I used two pillowcases (PZ’s is blue with white diagonal stripes and big illustrated bows on it and a scallop edged hem. Q’s is white with blue and yellow stars on it.) and some ivory stretch lace. Simple! It took me maybe an hour to make both of them.

You can see by the snorkle and Q’s purple scribbled up legs that the girls found plenty to entertain themselves with while I worked. Today was one of the first days that really felt like summer to me. A completely lazy day. I took the girls out of their pjs to put these nightgowns on them.

Speaking of summer. Look what I found in my garden just a few days ago. Maybe there’s still hope for my tomatoes!

Here’s hoping you’re having a least a few lazy days this summer! Happy August everyone. Now I’ve got to go snuggle my girls as we do a few puzzles and continue our Scholastic Treasures summer long marathon.