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two dollar deals!

The past few days I’ve been cleaning and straightening the house because my parents arrived last night for a nice, long visit. I am looking forward to some serious sewing time while they are here!

I did manage to get out a little bit and score some serious thrifty deals. Thursday, my daughter and I went to a garage sale looking for kid stuff. Instead we found a London Fog wool coat for my husband. I swear it is brand new. It was even his size, so no alterations needed. It was a mere $2. Can you believe it? I had to pinch myself. And he likes it!

london fog coat

Saturday afternoon I went out with an actual mission. I’m tired of having a door knob in all of my photos and decided I need some kind of wall shelf with pegs to hang my totes and refashion projects. I found this on sale for $2 at the first store I visited. I’m going to paint it white. Yay!

shelf

I still had some time to myself, so I went to a few more stores just to browse around. I’ve been looking for some pretty sheets to make some pajama bottoms and happened to stumble upon these bright and cheery flowers. These were also on sale for $2.

flower sheets

thrifting: Some days it feels like I never find anything at the thrift stores and I wonder why I even bother. Then I have jackpot days like this and it reminds me that the extra effort is worth it!

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it’s just a phase, right?

puppy says cheese!

The Terrible Twos are living up to their reputation around here. I’m not sure what is worse, the sleep deprivation from an infant or the drama of a two-year-old. There is whimpering and whining over the silliest things like, “Mom, I’m stuck to the floor and I can’t get up.” or “I can’t reach my toy (that is 12 inches away from my hand).” For a short while she would collapse in a heap on the floor because her milk was too cold.

Once it starts, it feeds on itself. It is constant. It is mind bending. It makes me wonder how I muster up even more patience when I was certain I was almost out. I keep telling myself that this is a phase, just like not sleeping through the night and temper tantrums.

I also remind myself that we have reached an amazing milestone that is not a phase. The fact that I no longer have to change a diaper really helps me get through the day. That and sneaking skittles when she’s not looking.

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project done: crochet jar jacket

crochet jar jacket

I love this little jar jacket. If you remember, the yarn was from a garage sale. I’m so glad it was wool, because it was worn in so many places. I did a lot of splicing it back together. It makes me think that it is recycled from something, but the wool is so straight. Usually recycled wool is wavy from being knit. Did someone actually take the time to unravel, steam out the kinks and then sell it? Or was it so old that the kinks just fell out? I wish I knew its history.

It turned out a little big, so I wound up putting it around a larger jar. (Smuckers natural peanut butter, if you must know.) I also had to crochet with two strands held together because the yarn weight is so fine.

stash: I have lots of yarn left to make this crochet bag. You can find the jar jacket pattern here.

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wardrobe refashion: floral shirt

floral shirt refashion

Not sure if this qualifies as a refashion or if it is more of an alteration. Do I need a new category?

floral shirt refashion

Originally, I thought I’d take it in at the waist, but the front has a bunch of tiny little pleats. I was worried they might look funny if I altered the sides.

floral shirt refashion

Instead, I just cut off the cuffs, which were too tight when buttoned. I used my rolled hemmer foot to finish the new edge. It worked great!

floral shirt refashion

I never thought I’d be a fan of 3/4 sleeves, but I seem to keep making them, don’t I? I love the way this shirt looks and fits now.

refashion: Shirt was $2 a neighbor’s garage sale. I wasn’t planning on buying anything that day, but I couldn’t resist the little blue flowers.

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wardrobe refashion: t-shirt toddler dress

I’ve got way too many pictures for this little refashion, especially because it was just a practice project. I bought this shirt because I liked the embroidery on the front and back. You’ve gotta love fabric that comes already embellished!

t shirt toddler dress

It’s loosely based on this Simplicity for Kids pattern. I say loosely because the pattern didn’t really cooperate with the embroidery. Not only that, but the shirt was crooked! There was more pink fabric on one side than the other.

t shirt toddler dress

I used the 3T size, because that’s what Bella is mostly wearing these days. It turned out a little big.

t shirt toddler dress

I’m still trying to work on two skills: sewing knits and using my rolled hemmer foot. My seams are still a little wonky, but they are improving.

t shirt toddler dress

Here’s the awesome thing, though. When I was taking these pictures, Bella asked me what I was doing. When I told her I made her this dress, she grabbed it and said, “Thanks, Mommy! I love this dress! I love it!” Then she rolled it up in a little ball and began to hug it.

t shirt toddler dress

It wasn’t until she tried it on that I realized how big it was. She told me it was fine. I’m hoping she’ll grow into it before the end of the summer. (Please excuse the post-quiet time crazy hair.)

t shirt toddler dress

refashion: I’ve been collecting cute t-shirts to turn into dresses. This one was from a church garage sale. Most of them are from 99 cent days at Goodwill. Pattern was also from Goodwill. It goes up to size 8!

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my creative space

my creative space

I can’t tell you how hard it was to get a picture of this scarf. My family watched as I walked from room to room trying to capture the leaves. I started this scarf on retreat last weekend. It’s my first lace project and I love it. Tonight we’re going to see the Saltdogs at Haymarket Park and I’ll be taking this as my stadium knitting. Isn’t it pretty?

my creative space

You can find more pretty things over at Kirsty’s blog. Take a pic and play along!

details: Pattern is Branching Out from Knitty. Yarn is Red Heart Luster Sheen. Yes, really.

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handmade student emergency kit

virginia tech birthday gift

My brother is very smart. He’s got one of those jobs where he can’t tell you what he does. I have a feeling I probably wouldn’t understand a lot of it if he could. He’s also working on his PhD. Both involve a lot of hard work and math. Two things that he can always use: pencils and caffeine.

virginia tech birthday gift

If you’ve been reading my personal blog for awhile, you know that he went/goes to Virginia Tech. He never tires of Hokie-themed gifts. (I asked.) I figured what he needed these days was something for all of those pencils and caffeine. I made him a pencil case and tucked some extra mechanical pencils, lead and erasers inside. I also made him an adjustable coffee sleeve and sent him a big bag of his favorite tea.

recycle: I can’t believe I am still using up VT fabric scraps from a yard I purchased over a year ago. Denim was from a pair of jeans. (Freecycle is a great source for denim!) Fabric and button were from my stash. Elastic was a colored pony tail holder.

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still not interested in story time

We’ve tried story time at the library on and off for the past two years. In the beginning, Bella loved it. Then she found all of the little playrooms scattered around the children’s area. Now she wants to play rather than sitting still and listening. A few weeks ago, the Saltdogs were reading baseball stories. She’s been talking a lot about baseball lately and I thought she’d be really excited.

bella library

Even Homer the Haymarket Hound wasn’t reason enough to hang out with the other kids. She did, however, wait patiently in line to meet him. She even got his autograph. I have to remember that if events don’t go as planned, it’s ok as long as Bella has fun. And she definitely had a lot of fun!

bella library

. . . . .

new on julie-k: handmade father’s day bookmarks + handmade wedding and anniversary gifts

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handmade wedding and anniversary gifts

tea towels

You may have noticed a theme around here. I love to give gifts that will get used. I have a set of mixing bowls we received as a wedding gift that I use all the time. Whenever I get them out, I always think about our special day. So, when I was brainstorming ideas for wedding and anniversary gifts, I thought tea towels get used everyday! I made these with linen and they feel wonderful. I also added some details to match both couples’ kitchen colors.

satin stitch

I had planned to embroider their last initial on the towels, but everything I tried just didn’t work: cross stitch, back stitch, running stitch. I decided that maybe less was more, so I left the initials off.

tea towels

inspiration: The pattern for these is in one of my new favorite books, Linen, Wool, Cotton. The linen fabric is a blend and the review on Joann’s website sounded perfect for tea towels. Thread was from my stash.

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handmade father’s day bookmarks

father's day bookmarks

I had a hard time coming up with a gift for my dad and father-in-law this year. We did our daughter’s hand print for Mother’s Day and wanted to do something Bella-related for Father’s Day, too. After surfing crafty blogs for inspiration, I decided on a photo booth bookmark. Both of our dads like to read, so it seemed like a perfect idea. When we talked with them yesterday, it sounded like they were a hit. I’m sure they’ll get a lot of use!

inspiration: Bookmark idea from Make and Takes. Photo booth artwork from Sugarplum Paperie. Blue sparkly paper from my stash. Laminated at our local office supply store.