Category Archives: Everything Else

Being Creative, Everything Else

Book Reivew: Sewing for Your Home

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Better Homes and Gardens Sewing for Your Home
Published by Meredith Corp.
Published in 1974
ASIN: B00161VWBI

Some Chapter Headings:
Colors and Fabrics
Window Fashions-A Decorating Asset
How to Make Pillows and Cushions
Room Dividers and Wall Hangings
Children’s Rooms are Special

I liked:

  • The nice explanation of special cutting circumstances like fabrics with a pile, one-directional designs, or plaids.
  • The sliding fabric panels on page 73. I love these! You’d have to see them, but basically the fabric panels attach to sliding tracks and essential create the impression of a fabric wall when closed.
  • The introduction to quilting.
  • The folding chairs that are made of 3 covered cushions that are hinged together. They can fold into cubes, chairs, lounges or mattresses.

My dislikes:
Not really any. I suppose that’s because the decor ideas are what I expected out of an early ’70s book.

Conclusion:

All that’s old is new again–well almost! If you are looking for a great home dec reference, this is it. This book includes great tables and diagrams for measuring and creating lots of basic, timeless home dec pieces: pillows, bedspreads, table runners, slipcovers, etc. I must also add that the chapter in color is wonderful with discussions and examples of rooms done in various color schemes. And, for an added plus, if you’re looking for some great ideas that translate into wonderful retro and modern ideas, a book published in the early 70s just might be the ticket!

Would I buy this book for myself?

Probably not, but as I “inherited” it, I’m glad it’s in my collection.

Would I buy this book for a beginner?

An old book is a great, and usually cheap, reference for a beginner. Somethings, like how to measure your windows, never change, making a book from a different decade, just as applicable.

Everything Else

Speaking of Undies…

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I was rolling on the floor laughing at this post earlier today. It appears my mom and two aunts have decided to start a new tradition at their regularly scheduled quilting weekend at the camp. They’re dying their undies. Well, painting them to be more exact. Yup. That’s what I said-painting their panties with spring colors!
And, that led me to remember that I haven’t told you about these:

Do you know how hard it is to find cute boxers for little boys? I wanted Valentine’s boxers for my LM and couldn’t find any small enough. So, Simplicity 9958 to the rescue.

I used 100% cotton fabric and 3/4 inch elastic. I can’t comment on the instructions, because I didn’t really use them. I did follow along with the diagrams. I used an XS for LM.

I would recommend this pattern to anyone looking for boys’ boxers. I think a beginner could easily follow along (with only the basic knowledge of finishing seams, hems, and elastic waistbands). The shorts took less than 1 hour from start to finish. Too cute!
Everything Else, Family

4th Birthday Recap

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We’ve partied for a week! Here are a few glimpses:
At school

The Birthday Boy is the Leader and the Flag Holder during Chapel

Opening Presents with Big Sister

The Birthday Cake

A Close-up of One of Those Dinosaurs

Swimming with Friends

Goodie Bags

A Homemade King Cake for Lunch with our Family (to go with our Gumbo)

A Card from Big Sister
A Favorite Gift (made by grandpa and daddy)

With all that’s gone on this week (Valentine’s Day, Grandpa’s Funeral, LM’s actual birthday, the party this weekend), I’m about “occasioned” out.
Everything Else

Love

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Valentine’s Day seems to be a little over the top. Flowers, glitter, chocolate, cards. But all that craziness isn’t love. This is:

  • Love is 10 phone calls in 3 days just to see how things are going when you can’t be there to offer a hug.
  • Love is church families who turn out in droves just to hold your hand and hug your neck when you are sad.
  • Love is every friend from your office stopping by to let you know they are thinking about you.
  • Love is 7 grandkids and 12 greats who can chuckle over memories.
  • Love is a quilt created by a mom and recreated 65 years later by a daughter-in-law, just to make you smile.
  • Love is a big sister who will hold your hand and wrap her arm around you so that you can see Great Grandpa one more time.
  • Love is in the prayers that you can’t hear but you know must be happening because you have such a sense of peace.
  • Love is 4 little friends, holding hands, looking out across a cemetery, knowing they are sad, but not truly knowing why.
  • Love is a husband that cries with you.
  • Love is in the tiny stitches and prayers of baby quilts.
  • Love is sandwich trays and chocolate cakes and cheese trays with “whole wheat crackers”.
  • Love is in a rose from your Daddy (or Husband or Brother-in-Law or Uncle or Nephew) on a sorrowful day.
  • Love is Christ Who laid down His Life for us that we might have Everlasting Life in Heaven with Him.

If you showed love to any of my family in the last few days, we thank you.