if you build it...

I believe a good number of the things we want in a home can be repurposed or made by hand. Now, that doesn't mean that we will necessarily do that ourselves--for various reasons. BUT, when I can swing it, it shall be done.


Some of you may know about my obsession with Alaskan native Ana White and her ability to be beautiful, stylish, and completely competent with a mitersaw and kreg jig (oh, how I long for a kreg jig!). She encourages women around the world to make their own furniture. Not crafts. Furniture. We're talking beds, shelves, closets, benches, dining sets--you name it.


Case in point:

photo by ana-white.com

We're going to make this. 

Before the baby comes. Mom Hawk and I are going to create it, paint it white like the rest of the trip in the room and put little matching baskets underneath. And maybe a throw pillow.

Just watch us.

icj,

~j

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wedding shower favors

I am teased rather often for owning a blog about homemaking, house-making, etc. There are many reasons I do so, most of them rational. I like to be crafty, though unfortunately not in the clever sense--rather, just the I-definitely-think-I-can-pull-that-off-sense.


Here's a brief step-by-step instruction toward making your very own, maybe-they'll-last-a-year wine-glass this-one-is-mine thingie:


Step one:
Purchase 1 $0.29 12x12" felt square for every color you want to use. Total cost here, under $10 for 18. (I could do the math, but I refuse. I'm on vacation, and I study theology. No point in thinking when I don't have to).

Step two:

Open bottle of good red wine. Fill glasses. Sit and compete with friends over whose family is more like those in that film, Four Christmases. Fill glasses again. Oh yes, and cut fabric into 1"x3.5" rectangles.

Step three:

Fill glasses. Cut white yarn that is clearly the wrong style. Very fuzzy. It is best if the yarn becomes tangled and shreds and becomes the catalyst for expletives. Definitely the best.

Step four:

Open the bone-like ivory beads you purchased at JoAnn Fabrics for $3.99 @ 50% off. Drop into small dish. Watch them scatter across the table making a plink-plink-plink that perfectly compliments the expletives that follow. Gather back up. Stare at them in the dish, daring them to escape. Fill glasses.

Step five:

Cut a whole at the base of one end of each rectangle. Do this first by trying to shave a hole with a dull razorblade. Then, realize that this is inefficient and looks ridiculous, after all--you're not really a surgeon or a crafter. Watch as friend on her third glass of wine folds the end and cuts a perfect inside cut. Glare at beads.

Step six:

Take the best yarn ever and try multiple ways to make it look cool around each rectangle. Fail at this at least twice. Then go for simple route. Forget to take picture of simple route and find yourself stuck with only photo of first-and-not-coolest attempt at yarn decoration.

Step seven:

Thread bone-like jumping beads through yarn, tie behind one side. Push through the easy hole your friend has made after three glasses of wine, and style on formica-top table.

Step eight:

Fill glasses and toast the prophecy that EK's fiance, southern-man-Eric, will see wine-mine-things and call them, "precious."

Merry last-days-of-Advent!

icj,

~j

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Canvas Your Coaster

I recently came upon these:

twig & thistle

They may not look as lovely, but I can tell you this: I'm going to make them for our home. Someday. I have all these great ideas from other crafty thinkers.


So, good news: I have an idea of my own! My friend Steph and I are making something special for our friend, EK. I can't say what yet, because I know she checks this blog, but I'll provide a tutorial so long as they don't turn out like mush.


I really hope they don't turn out like mush.


icj,
~j

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oh, what an {advent} tree this would be...

photo by abby at afeatherednest

I can't resist. Mama Shedd and I were talking Thurs. night about blogs and how one could spend hours lost on one alone, clicking from link to link and idea to idea. Well, one of those sorts of blogs is that of Abby Walker at A Feathered Nest. She's graciously agreed to guest post in December about holidays in the home, but before we get that gift, I have to highlight her work.


If I could, I would do this right now:

parts of which she created from seeing this:

pottery barn kids

She also offers great tutorials that include up-close-and-personal for the not-so-experienced:

Someday, I'll get to put these to use in my own home. For now I live vicariously through another's endeavors. But how great is that! Someone my age knowing what she's doing with needle, thread, and funkiness!

icj,

~j

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