Category Archives: etc.

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Crib Skirt Pattern

September 19, 2011

The girls room in coming together.  I finished up the crib sheet and crib skirt this last week.  If I couldn’t find a grey crib sheet, I knew for sure I wouldn’t be finding a grey crib skirt.  So, I made one with fabric that is in the baby’s quilt.  This skirt is made to just touch the floor when the mattress is on the lowest setting.

I opted for a straight skirt that has just one pleat in the center of each panel.  I’m not one for ruffles and fluff, so the simple lines of this skirt appealed to me.

I am including a pattern and instructions for making a crib skirt.  Please feel free to print off a copy or share it with others.  The numbers on the images below correspond with the instructions above.

No. 5
No. 5
No. 6
No. 6
No. 7 (the completed project)

Hope these are clear and easy to follow.  Please leave a comment and picture if you make your own crib skirt or sheet.  I’d love to see how it goes for you.

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Under Bed (or crib) Storage

September 13, 2011

I don’t think you can ever have enough storage, we definitely can’t in our little house.  I needed some extra storage for the girl’s room especially.

I actually found these 2 old drawers at a garage sale and paid $2 for each of them.  I have had in my head for a while that old drawers would make great under bed storage, but I thought I would probably have to buy a cheap dresser in order to have drawers.  I lucked out with a random garage sale that was selling just the drawers.

Lonnie painted these with the leftover crib paint.  I added 4 caster wheels that I picked up at Lowes for $5 a package to each drawer.  Then I added a antique-style clear glass pull to the front of each.

I already have them full of extra baby blankets, diapers, and clothes for the next season, and toys.  I think these are really going to come in handy.

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Crib Sheet Pattern

September 7, 2011

 I made this crib sheet for two reasons:

1. You can’t find grey crib sheets or bedding.

2. The materials cost less then $7, so that’s cheaper then buying just a plain white crib sheet.
I have included a pattern and pictures to make this sheet.  Feel free to print the pattern and instructions.  This really only took 30 mins to make.  
Follow the instructions on the pattern.  I have numbered the images below to go along with the instructions.  
No. 4
No.  6
No. 7 and No. 8
No. 8
No. 8
I hope you find this helpful.  I plan to make another sheet in a cuter fabric, but I needed to get one done as least.  You always need more then one sheet, leaks and spit-ups do happen. 

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Thrift Store Entryway Table – the finished product

September 3, 2011

Well, I’m not a very patient person.  When I get an idea in my head, I have to get started right away.  So, I decided what I wanted to do with my thrift store find.  I decided to keep the white laminate top.  I wasn’t willing to tackle trying to strip that off right now, plus I think it adds to the fun retro feel (and it should be easy to clean).

I opted to paint the sides and legs white to match the top.  I felt like the white would frame out the drawers.  I just gave it a light sanding and then painted it a semi-gloss white.  With a little TLC and some Zap! Professional Wood Restorer, I cleaned up the drawer fronts.  They really have some nice wood grain and color to them.  It mirrors the family silhouette with the chocolate brown framed in white.

I kept the original hardware, partly because I wasn’t sure what to replace it with and party because I like the brass color.  I tend to lean toward silver and pewter accents, a little brass seemed like a fun change.

I’m loving the opportunity to style the top of this piece of furniture.  I put out some of my favorite picture books, some fun things from my travels, and a new retro shaped lamp (see below).  It will be fun to change up things with different seasons and holidays.

Mercury glass lamp – Home Goods
Hand Made Recycled Glass Bowl – Fire and Light
Antique Quill and Ink Holder – bought in Yemen
Porcelain Painted Elephant – Mlesna Tea, bought in Sri Lanka
Basket Tray – bought in Papua New Guinea
Chubby Brown Vase – leftover product from a shop I owned a few years ago (Mango)
Assorted Books – collected over the years

Now doesn’t that look better?  I’m actually kind of embarrassed of the look I had before (or lack of look I should say).

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Thrift Store Entryway Table

September 2, 2011

Well, this entryway has been a long time in the making.  Back in January I started thinking about how I could dress up my entryway.  I finally made this addition in June by hanging my family silhouette.

A couple weeks ago I found this dresser at a thrift store (Salvation Army).  I think it’s from the 70’s, but it has a fun mid century feel to it.  It’s made by Broyhill and actually has dovetailing on all the drawers.  The top is covered in white laminate, which I’m not sure how I feel about yet.  It was priced at $75 and I was just not willing to spend that much on it.  So, I came back a week later and it had been reduced to $56 dollars.  Salvation Army discounts there stuff every couple weeks to make room for more items.  I still wanted to pay less and I knew that if I held out the would drop the price to 50% off.  I was willing to take the risk, I didn’t think anyone else would see the potential it had, at least I hoped they wouldn’t.  So yesterday when I went in it was priced at $37, cha-ching!  It’s mine.

I originally thought I wanted a table with a couple shelves for display and something that combined industrial metal and wood.  But, pieces like that a hard to come by and they are pricey.  The more I thought about it, the more I felt like extra storage was the way to go.

My plan in to paint part of the piece, either the drawer faces or the sides and legs.  I will share my finished product when I’m done.  I think there is some potential here folks, does anybody else see some possibilities?

Click here to see the finished product.

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Bicycle Baby Quilt

August 25, 2011

The quilt arrived this week!  It is so cute, I love it.  Thanks Grandma.

I mentioned earlier that Lonnie’s mom was making the quilt.  She made Denali and Dylan’s quilts when they were babies as well.  Their quilts and well loved and worn.  They still sleep with them every night.   It came together so beautifully.  I had no idea what pattern or design she was going to do.  We had picked out the fabric together.  And I was really excited about the cute bike fabrics we had found.

The back of the quilt is a really fun grey and white polka dot.  I would like to do the crib skirt in it, but I am having trouble finding anymore of that fabric.

She also made another quilt for my niece that is due to arrive around the same time as our baby.

The thought of snuggling up with a quilt about makes me want to crawl out of my skin right now.  I am feeling very large and it’s still 100 F here.  I’m at that awful stage when your stomach touches your legs when you are sitting.  I am hoping that I only have a few more weeks of this.  But, I do know our new little one is going to love this quilt.

Design / etc.

Making Room for Baby

July 25, 2011

I am now 30 weeks pregnant, but as of my last visit to the doctor this week, I am actually measuring 2 weeks ahead of schedule.  I’m not to sad about that.  My due date is Oct. 1st, but I had hoped I would have this baby sometime in September.  Denali and Dylan were both 9lb babies and Dylan was even 10 days early.  So, I am kind of counting on a big baby again.  With that in mind, my nesting is kind of in “full-speed-ahead” mode.  In no time at all our sweet baby girl will be here.

Our little 1920 Arts and Crafts Bungalow has only 3 bedrooms.  We knew the baby would be either sharing a room with Dylan if it was a boy or Denali if it was a girl.  Ideally, Dylan recently got bunk beds, but then of course she is a girl.  And we are thrilled to be having another girl!  So, Denali’s room needed some rearranging and shifting to make room for the crib.

Denali has a beautiful antique full sized metal bed from Lonnie’s grandparent’s farm.  Lonnie’s parents had it refinished for us we she was baby.  Besides being Denali’s big beautiful girly bed, it has served as our guest bed all these years.  I wasn’t sure I was ready to move it out, so I am attempting to fit the bed, the crib, Denali’s desk and dresser, a night stand, and a new dresser for the baby all in the same small bedroom.

I measured and drew up a few plans, and in all of the scenarios, I needed to find a narrow (24 inch wide dresser/chest) for the baby.  There was really only one wall/corner that it could be placed.  The room has 3 really large windows, which are great for natural light, but hard for furniture placement.  I had hopes of finding a used, old, or antique dresser that I cold refinish.  But, no such luck.  Then I found this dresser at for a great price and free shipping, I went for it.  It looks great in it’s little corner and we have already filled it with adorable baby clothes.

As you can see, Denali has plenty of pink in her room.  That is why I went with the Pink and Grey for the nursery colors.  The brown rug is making it’s way out of the room and I will probably be changing at least the bed skirt on Denali’s bed as well.  Her PBteen bedding is still really cute and is mostly pink with just the tiniest amount of brown, so I can’t justify buying new bedding (even though I am IN LOVE with this bedding in the gray dottie).

The crib is in the process of being refinished.  As soon as it’s done, I will share pictures of it and the rooms new arrangement.

etc. / Food & Drink

Melon Mint Granita

July 1, 2011

When temperatures reach 100 F here in Cali, I only want to eat COLD things.  Last summer I made some Granitas – Maui Mango Ginger and Nectarine Mint .  This year I am trying Honeydew Melon with fresh mint.  

Melon Mint Granita


1/4 of a ripe Honeydew Melon, pealed and cut into chunks
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
Juice of one fresh lemon
2 tsp. mint 
Combine all ingredients in a blender and puree.  Pour into a 8″ glass pan.  Freeze for at least 2 1/2 hours, scraping it with a fork every hour.  Mixture should be frozen, but fluffy. 
What do you like to eat when it’s too hot to cook?

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Entryway Update

June 20, 2011

I have been wanting to make a change to my entryway for a long while.  I came up with these plans back in January, but haven’t followed through yet.  Well, in February I found a table for my entryway at Cost Plus World Market.  It was of course on back order and is still unavailable.  So, I gave up waiting for the table and decided I needed to hang my family silhouette at least, before our family changed.  And I enjoy looking at it, because I actually have a waist in the picture unlike my very round figure now.  It’s just a start, but I think this is looking a lot more updated.  I was really over the iron piece many years ago, but I didn’t want to take it down until I had something to replace it with.  I’m pretty happy with the change.  I’m a slow decorator, having a limited budget and being picky make for combination that can take a while to achieve.  But, sometimes that wait is worth it.

BEFORE
AFTER

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Robot Themed Birthday Party – Part IV (all the other little details)

June 16, 2011

Ok, this will be my last Robot Party post. There are just a few more little details left that I haven’t shared.The details are my favorite part.  I had a lot of fun drawing this robot on Adobe Illustrator (I took a class this last year in using this program).  My robot drawing was the inspiration for the cake and pinata.  I printed him up in all different sizes and attached him to the drinks, banners, bags, and just about everything.  It gave the party a very custom made feel.  I think I will be making these for all my parties from now on.

We got the girls special Robot necklaces from Forever 21.

Everyone decorated their own robot.  I provided makers, metal washers, nuts and bolts, metal pipe cleaners, buttons and glue.  I love a craft at a party.  Other then when the kids are eating their cake, it is the most quite activity at a party

Since my daughter’s 1st birthday, I’ve made fabric treat bags for their party guests to go with the theme. It’s something my mom used to do for my brothers and I.  They are quite useful even after the party.  Sometime I’ll share all the bags I’m made over the years.  I found this great Robot fabric at Joann Fabrics.  The kids filled them with the pinata spoils and then all the other candy and treats they collected at the party.

Finally, square silver plates in 2 sizes mimicked the shape of a robot.

I love party planning, someday maybe I can make it a paying job.  Now that would be a lot of fun.  Does anyone else love throwing a party as much as I do?