Retro Flashback

Our family recently went to a hockey game and of course we had to buy some popcorn (hockey is really not my thing but we had free tickets.) This bag made the trip worth it! I saved the popcorn bag and took a picture of it. Hockey and retro ...who knew? The colors and retro feel tie in to some other items I am creating...keep you posted! Ciao

Grocery Bag Holder

Even though I try and remember to bring my cloth bags for grocery shopping I still forget occasionally and end up with plastic bags. I used this tutorial to make a stylish grocery bag holder which coordinates with my kitchen (parts of it are from thrifted material). Do you forget your cloth bags or am I the only one?

Some W.I.P.

I have been busy completing and designing some sewing projects and would like to share them with you. Above is a cute little gnome or raindrop as my daughter calls him made with some gorgeous natural linen fabric. I am in the process of designing a doll using the linen...pictures coming soon!
Above is a sneak peak of a bag I am designing for myself to use. It's been ages since I have made something for myself so this should be fun..
A completed ladybug zipper case...and below some bibs in progress made from upcycled fabric
And finally a completed zipper case...check out the little birdie in the top right hand corner..love how he is just perched on a garland of white dots...
Hope everyone has a great weekend! I am off to Westfest tonight to enjoy some live music...babysitter is booked so should be fun. Ciao!

Veggies & Vintage Retro Cherries

Here is a peek at what we have popping up out of the earth...some nice tender spinach (I hope the rabbits don't eat this - they already destroyed my peas!) Does anybody have tips on how to protect planted vegetables from being eaten - I would love to know...

I could not resist buying this cherry infused cotton tablecloth recently. It has a retro fifties feel to it which I love. It will fit on our outdoor dining table...it is kind of girly looking with the pink and all but ...oh well , it's cheery and summery! My sewing projects are very slowly getting done...there just seems to be so much to do at this time of year. I have cut my working hours to part-time and it is indescribable how much less stressed I am now. I am starting to deep clean my house, get rid of extra toys, junk, stuff we just don't need anymore and complete little projects around the home that have been put on hold for the past year. I love staying at home and feel that is what I am best at, now if I could just get paid to be a homemaker!

Take a peek!

Have been working on a making a grocery bag with this material I bought thrifting ages ago. I either thought it should be a bag or an apron. Bag won out because I wanted to try a new pattern I have. Don't know if you can see in the image but there are cute little strawberries, cherries and watermelons. The plan is to make more of these for our grocery shopping. They are a nice comfortable size but what is inside is what I am excited about...



.........new fabric! don't know what I will make with this but I know something will come out of it. The top purple fabric has a little ladybug on it - maybe will try a change purse - don't know I have too many things on the go now and with the weather warming up I have been spending alot more time outside gardening (weeding!). Any ideas what to make from this fabric?

Thrifty Vintagy Tins

This is the kind of thrifting that I love! My husband found these tins late at night on the curbside ready for the garbage. They have lovely decorations on them - the black one reminds me of Paris vintage posters. They were completely unused and in perfect condition, now they hold homemade chocolate chip cookies.

A Little Girls Garden Party Apron

I finished the little apron based on Randi's tutorial from I have to say... (by the way check out her shop Fresh Squeezed Fabrics - fabrics that are hip and modern - love the beater print by Kaufman) anyways...It took me quite a while and a bit of cursing was involved too! did one strap the wrong way..had to completely rip it apart and repeat, the ruffle was a little hard to put on since it was my first time and since I could not decide on pink or brown ric-rac I ended up twisting them together then sewing them down. That twisting part took quite a while (this was an idea I got from those Martha magazines where she twisted red and white ric-rac to make a candy cane apron!)
I also made a little bib for my other niece who turns one this month...why not? the fabric says birthday party to me. Well if i make another one hopefully it won't take as long! well busy weekend ahead catching up on housecleaning - sewed too much this week!

Martz Lamps

I bought these lamps at a garage sale a couple of years ago. I was immediately attracted to the clean lines and huge drum shades (those babies are hard to find these days). They have pottery bases with a small walnut finial on the top of each lamp. Being curious I researched the name etched on the bottom of each lamp which was Martz. I found more information here at Jetset Designs. Gordon and Jane Martz were a married couple who founded Marshall Studios in the 1950's-60's, a ceramic studio which produced mainly lamps. I love finding the history of secondhand items. I felt really lucky to find these and I like the warm glow that comes from the linen like shades - CFL's just don't cut it with this type of lamp. Does anybody else like to research where secondhand items come from? I would love to know about interesting items you've found!

Hello Spring!

This little cement owl is happy spring is finally here! He was rescued from a garage sale last year from an elderly woman who was getting rid of all her lawn ornaments. I like the weathered patina however painting him all white has been an option floating around in my head. I preferred this little guy over the plastic cow my husband also dragged home that day. The cow in question has mysteriously disappeared.


The two little froggies in the window are made of resin however they are special as my mother gave them to us when we first moved into our house.

Thrifty finds

These are some finds I scored thrifting..the brown and white bowls say Ridgway Espresso on the bottom and a classic chip and dip bowl which we use separately alot...growing up this kind of bowl was considered classy entertaining! Happy March Break time to everyone