Manly Aprons (A Suprise Sewing Project)

A while ago my sister suggested that I make my nephews (4 1/2 & almost 2) washable aprons with lots of pockets. I thought it was a great idea and made each of them kid sized, canvas aprons. On both aprons I used snaps to make the neck and waistband adjustable and easy for my older nephew to get on and off himself. Also, the large and long pocket combined with the tall pocket should provide room for tools, cooking utensils and or both!


Somehow I only ended up with a picture of one of the boys modeling his apron. . .I will have to try to get a shot of the other one later.

Tale of Three Muffins

Sunday I decided that I needed to get some muffins baked and into the freezer. Okay, let me back-track. . .I like to make muffins and freeze them to take for lunch, with a piece of cheese and some fruit. Being that they are the main part of my lunch I try to pack a little protein in them. So, Sunday I made a couple of batches, some tried and true quinoa muffins and a "high energy" muffins (from my favorite cookbook). A bit of a side note, the base of the high energy muffins is pureed kidney beans! It is my first time making these but so far so delicious.


Later I whipped up a white bean chili, from this cookbook, and everybody knows chili needs cornbread. Being on a muffin kick I figured I would throw some canned jalapenos and cheese in my regular cornbread batter and call them muffins!

YUM!!!!!!!!!!

Festivus For the Rest of Us

I FINALLY got our Christmas decorations up! I used a two room set up. . .adding some buntings and bits to the bookcase in the living room and put the tree and an adorable table runner in the dinning room. It is really feeling more festive around here. Now I just need to address the cards, wrap presents and do the baking (my favorite part).

Two of a Kind

I haven't posted in forever. . .I won't even go into the excuses why! I thought I would ease back in with some cuteness of Crispin and Sweet Keith. . . Here you go . . .

Happy Halloween

On Saturday Jerod and I had a little Halloween fun carving pumpkins and roasting pumpkin seeds. I will be sad to see our pumpkin porch go. . .I thought it was very cheerful. . .I guess I will have to think of something else to put out there. We are curious to see if we get any trick or treater's at this house (we never did at our old house). Oklahoma City moved Halloween to Saturday night luckily Norman kept it on Sunday, I am keeping my fingers crossed to see some costumed kids!

Bad Boys

Well listen to this strangeness! Saturday night/Sunday morning I was asleep and Jerod was either still up watching TV or had fallen asleep on the couch . . . well he comes into the bedroom to find a phone because some strange man was pacing around our yard, getting on our porch and leaning against our car AND making these strange grunting/moaning noises! Needless to say he called the police. Both of us were expecting a scene like this


Fortunately, it went much more smoothly. The random guy told the cops he was staying a local hotel and ultimately the cop gave him a ride there (we think). As bizarrely as this guy was acting before the police showed up he seemed fairly coherent while they were talking to him (we watched and listened to this all go down from the couch and cracked the window a bit so we could hear). It made for an exciting middle of the night . . . although I really don't need excitement at 3 in the morning.

Fall Flowers

Jealous of all of the cute fall porches in our neighborhood Jerod and I took matters into our own hands! Although it is still as warm as can be in Oklahoma our porch looks like it is fall!

Quick Change

Two weekends ago I was visiting my grandparents in north OKC. As always, they are wonderful and generous and offered to let Jerod and I use their old dining table. After some hunting in the attic we found all of the pieces (they had taken it apart to store) and hauled it back to Norman. Last week I put it back together and Jerod helped me get it in place. Below is a shot during the re-assembly and a shot of the full dining room with our lovely new to us table.

The table is in good shape and with a little cleaning, oil and Old English (for the scratches) it looks shiny and great. Unfortunately, the chairs are a different story. . . while we love the shape of them the once blue paint is looking a bit green and the originally sky blue and white upholstery has become faded and stained, after decades in an attic. Realistically, I will not get the chairs repainted until spring (I don't even know what color I want them yet) but we needed to do something to spruce them up...QUICK! Sunday (Jerod's parents came to dinner that night) I pulled out a cute cream, red, pink and green plaid fabric and set to re-covering the seats. While, I still will be repainting the chairs the new fabric added new life to old chairs.

As everyone knows I love "vintage" for it's character and uniqueness (my grandmother said they bought the table in the early 1950's) but it makes it even more special to have things that have been loved and used by people you love.
I can't wait to have more people over for dinner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cutesomes

This is a boring post but here are a couple of things I think are super cute . . . that I won't be buying anytime soon. . .sometimes browsing is enough!





You can find all of these here, here, here, here, and here.

Hanging Around

I am a bit obsessed with things you hang from the ceiling (banners, mobiles, bunting, etc) and am trying to figure out a way to incorporate these into the decor of our house. Here are a few things I've seen that I wish I had a use for, want to copy, or are sparking an idea.

These papel picado banners seem like they would be more fun for a party than for everyday decorating but anyone who knows me knows these are right up my alley. Also, it is great that you can customize and personalize them for any occasion!
I have loved this bird mobile for ages. Luckily, Spool Sewing supplies a pattern. . .meaning these birds may find a home in the Gerfen casa sooner rather than later.













Bunting is always cheap and easy. Based on the cheerfulness of these images I may have to wait and put some in the backyard next summer!

How stinkin' easy (and classy) do these mobiles look! Obviously, the colors need to be brighter, to suit my tastes, but cute none-the-less.

I could go on and on but I'll leave it at that before I overwhelm myself and bore whoever is reading this.

To Do or Not to Do

In the name of organization and accountability I thought I would make a list of a few projects I hope to will accomplish before Christmas. Obviously, it would be wonderful to get more done than the following but I don't want to set myself up for failure!
To Do List
1. Paint and spruce up bedside tables
2. Make new pillows for couch
3. Finish bedspreads & bed-skirts for both beds
4. Knit a sweater
5. Knit mittens
6. Surprise sewing project
7. Secret knitting project
8. Make a plan for the backyard
9. Sew two dresses for work

I ask Crispin if she was going to help me with the list and got this response

Hello all-
I have been toying around with blogging for awhile but couldn't get up the courage or motivation to pursue it. With the recent (two weeks ago) purchase of our first home I decided it was time to give it a try.
I plan for this blog to serve three purposes: 1) to share what I am working on with friends and family, 2) to hold myself accountable for finishing projects by making them public, 3) to round up ideas and inspirations from other sources and. . . all of you.
I am a bit embarrassed by how public this whole blogging thing is but, I guess, that is also the point.
To start things out I have posted some pictures of the house, as it is right now. Keep in mind I haven't started decorating yet but will keep you all posted as I do. Enjoy!
Oh-one last thing. . .We are so excited and happy to be making this house our home.

This is the living room

The dining room

The kitchen

Our bedroom

The guest bed/computer/music room

Laundry/craft room