silky eye pillow

A few nights ago I sat down in front of the tv and couldn’t find anything to watch. My daughter was already in bed and my husband was downstairs working out. I decided to flip through some of my craft books for an easy project. I was really tired so it had to be really easy.

silky eye pillow amanda soule handmade home

I found the perfect project in Handmade Home: a silky eye pillow scented with chamomile and lavender. I had it finished and ready for the stuffing in no time. The next day I bought the herbs, came home and made a few more.

silky eye pillow amanda soule handmade home

stash: I had everything I needed in my stash except for the herbs. A quick online search showed that most people used flax for the stuffing. I had a big bag of sushi rice in the pantry and the small round grains worked perfectly.

thrifty find: fabric book panels

Remember all of those hours I spent thrifting without finding anything to wear? Well, I did find something cool on the way out of one store: a huge box of brand new quilting fabric. I couldn’t resist a little peek and what did I spy? Books!

fabric books

I don’t know why I haven’t thought of making fabric books before. My daughter had a few and loved them. She’d crumble them up, chew on them, drop them on the floor and after a run in the washing machine they’d be just like new.

thrifty second thoughts: Last week, I was proud of myself for not going overboard and buying the whole box. After doing a little online search, I wish I would have bought a few more.

my creative space

fairy dress

In my creative space this week, I altered this cute dress to fit my daughter. She hasn’t been that interested in dress up clothes, but there were a few times at the children’s museum that wore a dress almost exactly like this.

I snagged this one at the thrift shop, even though it was a few sizes too big. I took in the shoulders and body, but left the skirt as is.

fairy dress

She was really excited when I brought it home and couldn’t wait until it fit. Now, of course, she doesn’t want to wear it. Maybe I should call it a Fancy Nancy dress instead. If that doesn’t work, it can always be transformed into a twirly skirt.

What’s happening in your creative space this week?
Play along over at Kirsty’s.

heading back into the closet

wardrobe refashion linen skirts

The Thrifting Fairies must have been on Easter vacation last weekend. I did a lot of trying on and left with a lot of nothing. It made me think that refashioning what’s in my closet might be a better way to spend my time. So, on a trip up to Omaha, I grabbed two skirts and my seam ripper.

First to come out were the bulky pockets. Then I unpicked the waist and elastic casing. This week I’m going to take in the sides and insert a zipper (yikes!). Currently on the chopping block are these two linen skirts. Stay tuned!

what am i going to wear this summer?

Last summer I cleaned out my closet. I tossed out skinny jeans, pre-pregnancy clothes and pretty much anything that didn’t make me feel good. I accepted my body the way it was and bought clothes that fit my 40-year-old frame. I watched a lot of What Not to Wear and made a lot of trips to the thrift store. I felt better about myself.

In January, my husband mentioned something about P90X. I had actually thought about giving it to him for Christmas. I told him to get it if he wanted to do it. I’d do it with him.

Tomorrow, I start week 10 of the program and I find myself in a similar position. Nothing in my closet fits, only this time it’s all too big. I should be excited, but the thought of another closet overhaul is exhausting and overwhelming.

I have gone from a size 12 to a size 8 and I’m still shrinking. (Trust me when I tell you that there is only so much elastic you can sew into your waistband before you need to just go and buy a new pair of jeans.) All of the skirts I made and refashioned last year are too big. Even shirts are too big. (Just once I’d like to lose weight from my hips faster than from my bust.)

The weather is getting warmer and I can’t really ignore it anymore. I’m sharpening my seam ripper and heading back to the thrift store. Wish me luck!

details: In case you are curious, we are doing P90X Lean. I struggled with the nutrition plan because it places a lot of emphasis on meat, which I stopped eating last year. Instead, I’m following the nutrition plan outlined in Bring It!, which has a lot of yummy recipes by Melissa Costello.

thrifty find: vintage sewing basket

Last Friday my friend Kelly and I took a little trip west of Lincoln. A few people have mentioned to me how much they love Et-Cetera Gift & Thrift Shop in Seward. We decided a planned detour was in order.

vintage sewing basket

I made a quick sweep of the shop before treasure hunting and this vintage sewing basket caught my eye. It’s in really nice condition, especially on the inside. Needless to say it came home with me. It’s now home to my crochet blanket in progress.

vintage sewing basket

What fun things have you found lately?

Spring garages sales are just around the corner. I can’t wait!

melted crayons : take two

mini muffin tin crayons

It had to happen sooner or later. I melted my silicone crayon mold. I guess even silicone can’t handle melting and freezing wax over and over. Luckily I was keeping an eye on things and turned it off before it got really messy.

I kept my eyes peeled at the thrift store for another one. I liked using the microwave because it seemed silly to heat up the oven for just a few crayon shapes. Instead, I found a little mini muffin tin. So mini that it fits in my toaster oven. I didn’t even know something this small existed. I got some mini muffin papers and made my first batch last week. LOVE THEM.

The one thing that I didn’t like about the hearts is that they were a little too cutesy for boys. I’d been giving them as small gifts with handmade journals to some of my daughter’s friends, but boys her age are more into Hot Wheels. The mini muffin shapes are a little more gender neutral.

They take a little bit longer than in the microwave, but I really like not having to heat the whole kitchen to make crayon shapes. My little tin was a definite thrift store score.

thrifty find: new buffet!

thrifty find

It may have been a dresser in its past life, but I’ve got a new buffet, baby!

We’ve been looking for some kind of additional storage in our kitchen/dining area for months. I found this one at the thrift store this morning. It’s a little rough around the edges, but I think a coat of dark brown paint and new brushed nickel knobs will make it perfect.

The measurements for our space are also ideal. And it’s wood! Not particle board! It’s just right in so many ways. What a great start to the weekend!

Hope you have a great weekend, too!

p.s. The dishtowels from yesterday are still blue. Boo.

my creative space

quickie fabric scarf

In my creative space today I was in serious need of a finished project. Remember last year’s Spring scarf? I made another fabric scarf today, only no ruffles. Just a simple, long rectangle.

quickie fabric scarf

I grabbed some thrifted/gifted fabric, cut it into two skinny rectangles and joined them at the selvedges. Then I stitched the selvedges down. No fraying or unraveling at the seam! I did want the border to be unfinished, so I ran a stitch all the way around and then fringed the edges.<.nobr>

What’s in your creative space today? Play along over at Kirsty’s blog.

p.s. I finally finished my fused bag project. Pics to come tomorrow (I hope!).