new cat behavior

While doing a few minutes of browsing around on YouTube I stumbled across this song.  Why do I love it so much?  Yes the video is adorable and the music is fun, but that's not why.  It's because of this line:


And now with modified movie lines popping into my mind ("Fabric is my favorite"), it's time to try to get back to sleep!

Several months back I went on a little thrifting spree and picked up lots of little things to refinish/repurpose.  One of those things was a cracked little metal jewelry box with a broken lid (for $1.00).  I think I remember having one just like it when I was a little girl.  I quickly fell in love with the tiny Queen Anne style legs and swirly flourishes on the sides.





I didn't care for the lid, and it was half dented anyway. Luckily it was broken clean off with no jagged edges, so I just discarded it.



At first I was thinking of painting the box and using it as a dish to store quarters for laundry. (Might as well have something that makes you happy every time you reach for more, and more, and more quarters to do laundry, right?) Then I had a different idea.

I pulled out the E6000 (for the first time ever, can you believe it?), glued the crack and clamped it in place overnight. Painted and sealed it, then made a little densely-packed pillow (made with a fat quarter and poly fil) to stuff inside.

Voila! I have a fancy new pincushion! (For a total cost of $2.50)

Not much evidence of the crack!

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This morning I finally completed my kid's Christmas present!  Okay, it's two weeks late, but still...  it's done, the kids and I are all happy!

Remember the vintage children's hutch I found on my local online classifieds for $5?





 With lots of time and effort (and frustrations!) I was able to turn it into this...

After!

Dollar store cooling racks cut down to size, duct taped and hot glued in place. Center cut out of one door with plexiglass glued in it.

Paper lined drawers

Home improvement store spigot for faucet (spray painted) and vinyl tile backsplash.

Tea stained paper lined shelves.  Tip - use glue intended for paper, I didn't and got wrinkles.

I had the kids wait in Seymour's room and gather the pots and pans that their aunt had given them for Christmas (since I told her I was going to give them the kitchen).  Seymour waited very patiently while I brought it in and took a few quick pictures.  Daisy waited a little while then came out and started playing with it.

It wasn't a total surprise for them, but what can you do when you're with them all the time and they're not in school yet?  Oh well.  At least Seymour hadn't seen it since it was primed.  But they both love it and the aprons I made for them to go with it.  I think the only thing I'm going to add are a couple small hooks on the side for the aprons.

Wooden knobs and 4" wooden disks for burners.  Those Ikea dishes are the perfect size!

Doesn't Daisy look like a little grandma with her hands like that?

Here's the cost breakdown: 

hutch - $5
primer, glue, wood filler, small nails, caulk, hot glue, duct tape - had on hand
scrap wood - $.50
mistint paint - $2.50
hinges and handles - $2 (from local Habitat for Humanity ReStore)
spigot - $4
wooden knobs - $3.90
wooden disks - $1.80
plexiglass - $2
2 - 12x12" vinyl tiles - $1.40
cooling racks - $1
cake pan - $1
5 sheets 12x12" scrapbooking paper -$2.50

Grand Total -- $27.60


Not too bad in my opinion, especially for a completely custom, unique play kitchen!

Man, I'm so glad that's over with... :)

One of the things I love most during cold weather is warm food.  Last winter I came up with this simple recipe for breakfast that my kids and I all enjoy. 

I start by buttering some pieces of bread and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.  We love the 100% whole wheat bread from a local bakery -- very few ingredients with a taste and texture that far surpasses any huge factory producer's attempt.


Then I use my nifty apple corer/sectioner (pictured below) to help speed up the process.  I take each of the larger sections and cut those into four slices each.  I scored some delicious, local, no-pesticide apples and they were crisp and wonderful. 


Then I lay them out on the pieces of buttered bread,


sprinkle with sugar (we use whole, non-refined sugar, aka Succanat or Rapadura) and cinnamon.



{As a different method you could sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon on the bread, then place the apples on top (I will try that next time and update with my choice of which I like best).} 

and bake in the oven for 15 minutes (at 375 degrees F) or so.



Then we enjoy some nice warm comfort food!
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I'm linking up to the great link parties on the "Blog Parties I Link To" page, including...

I like to browse online classifieds from time to time (okay, since the weather is cold and rainy I've been doing it a lot).  I stumbled upon this vintage children's hutch for $5.  FIVE DOLLARS.

Photos courtesy of the seller

Yes, it needs a ton of work, but I was so excited to find it.  It's such a unique and rare piece.  I have plans to put in a sink (although I'll have to sacrifice one of the drawers, and turn one half of the bottom into an oven.  My goal is to have this finished for my kids for Christmas.  We'll see if it actually happens!  ha ha

I was referred to the site Sew, Mama, Sew! by a friend and the first time I visited they had a link for a free pattern from Amy Butler's new book Amy Butler's Style Stitches: 12 Easy Ways to 26 Wonderful Bags. 


Yes!  This is just the style of bag I've been wanting and looking for, but not wanting to spend lots of money on.  I am going to make mine out of leather (black or brown?) with a blue leather flower.  I'll post as soon as it and my 5 million other projects are done!

Here's the link:
Awesome bag

It should still be there for a while, so go snatch it up!