Reclaiming The Home

Rag Doll Love

I have been working hard on the projects for the Little House Club and one we did last week was Rag Dolls.  They had to be hand-sewn and made from recycled fabrics if at all possible.  The free pattern is from HERE.

Mine started with an old white sheet.

And quickly became a little dolly for Anna to play with.

She decided it needed a face and a belly button.

And then she got a bit carried away......

I think I will be making another one for me to have to display and make period clothes for as we go in with the crafty challenges for the Little House Club.

Recovered Scrapbook Tote Before & After

I have been slowly revamping my creative space.  One of the banes of my creative existence has been my scrapbook tote.  It has served me well, as an amazing gift from Rachel, years ago, but frankly, I had beaten the hell out of it.  We'll just say it had been well loved.

I wanted to continue to use it because it functioned well, aside from a few torn pockets and busted zippers... it just looked like it had been used and abused (which it had).  I tried cleaning it off, but it seemed to only get worse, and that did not remedy the broken zippers & ripped pockets issue.  I really couldn't take it to a crop without feeling self conscious either.  I'm hard on my equipment, apparently.

So, in the spirit of revamping my creative space, I decided that I needed to give my tote a makeover.  Take a deep breath... here's what it looked like before:

I feel bad... truly.  Its a good tote - and one of the biggest things that has lasted for me year after year.  I'm a bad tote-mama.

To redeem myself, I went and picked out a pretty upholstery style fabric.  Can't beat the price either!

Then I sewed.... and sewed... and sewed...

After many long hours of sewing, hot-gluing, and cursing a little bit (I have a few blisters), here are the results:

Isn't she beautiful?  I made a huge pocket on the front, double-seamed for durability and with plenty of give for storage.  There are NO ZIPPERS on the outside pocket.  On one side you can see that I sewed a couple of elastic strips on as well, that I use to store my pens & scissors for easy transport.  As a little something extra, I stuffed dried lavender blossoms between the fabric and the tote itself so it smells wonderful, too.

I love that this beautiful tote won't wind up in a landfill somewhere, and that I was able to revamp it for less than $5 worth of fabric (seriously took less than 2 yards of the $2/yd fabric!).  I have enough of the fabric leftover that I may make a tote or two that coordinate with it to hold extra scrap goodies for crops! 

And even better, I get to continue to use the same tote that Rachel gave me years ago.  Sentimental value runs deep with me. 

TWILIGHT SWAP!!!! *squeeeee*! (part 2)

Now that I showed you what I sent, its time to show you what I received!!  I am going to preface this by saying that I really really needed this amazing pick-me-up and Rachel knew exactly how to spoil me.  I feel pampered beyond belief. :)  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Rachel!

Here is the package with everything wrapped up.  She took SUCH careful time to wrap everything so beautifully, and had notes and tags for each item on every package!!!  She put a LOT of thought and time into this swap, no doubt about that!!

Jessica sent along a little something for me as well!!  There is a Team Jacob pin (SO awesome!) and an Edward keychain (he will be with me always!!), and Bella's Lullaby on CD!!!  She totally surprised me.  Such a sweetheart to send me a few gifts along in this package!  THANK YOU JESSICA!!!!!! :-*  I LOVE IT ALL!

Inside of a home-sewn felt pouch (that will be reused often to hold photos when I go to crops), Rachel gave me some AMAZING Jacob bath goodies that smell like "Woods and Earth" (actually it smells a bit like HEAVEN - YUMMMMM).  These are from Essence of Twilight.  If you're interested in getting some for yourself, you can find them at www.essenceoftwilight.com This scent is "Jacob".  Nom-nom-nom. :)

She sent me an AWESOME homemade bookmark that I will be using when I re-read the series again VERY soon.  I'm not sure how much reading I'll get done staring at that handsome face! (also my favorite quote from Twilight!)

Ah the music.  NOT ONLY did she send me the Twilight CD (*squeeeeeeeeeeeee!*)......

But she ALSO sent me the ENTIRE collection of Twilight Playlists from Stephenie Mayer's website that she has coordinated with the books!!!  I am listening to it right NOW, and can't get enough!!!  This will be in my CD player for a LONG time!  Check out this awesome custom case as well!!

I was seriously like:

(^^ Actual picture of me on the phone opening presents from Rachel!!)

She found the PRETTIEST apple to include with the package... SO very Twilight!! It's sitting on my desk right now and will find a very special place with my Twilight Collectables that I want to display!

She also found a Cullen Crest pin for me!!  I am so in LOVE with it!  Its subtle, but anyone who is a fan will know just what it is.  Fangirls unite!

This next item I couldn't even get a good picture of because I was so excited I wasn't taking the time to focus the camera right.  My bad!!! 

She made me a woolen felt pouch embroidered with the phrase "greetings from LA PUSH", bound with twine and a tag that says, "Wish you were here!  Love, Jacob". 

On the inside.... SHELLS from La Push beach!!

And as if that wasn't enough, I got my VERY OWN JACOB!

She didn't stop there.... ooooooooooh no!  Rachel went ALL out for this amazing swap!  She made me the COOLEST Twilight jewelry... just a few "Rachel Originals" :)

This one is on my neck right now!

She made these two necklaces out of dominos that she altered.  They look SO professional.  I am just in AWE of what she's done!!!  I can't wait to wear them out and show off a bit!

Amazing. :)

She sent along a few more (okay 18) little baubles!  She made all of this awesome flare just for me!  There are even a few in there with pictures of me & rachel!!  I can't wait to decorate my bulletin board with them!

She knows me so well. :)  She decided to pamper my home-making side a bit too and made me an apron as well!  (I'm sorry for the bad picture of this, but I took all my pictures as I opened everything in the car LOL!!)  I am SO going to be wearing this while I'm cooking Christmas dinner.  Hubby has said that he will oblige the "nibbling." ;)

And... so I don't have to choose EITHER Edward or Jacob.... I get to have them both!

To make sure to keep all of my dates with all of the vampires and werewolves I know, she made me this INCREDIBLE planner! (Can we say "WOW"?)

As if that weren't enough, she sent along a journal for me to write all of my thoughts in (and dreams about Jacob... er Edward... er.. Kevin... someone)

Here's a framed picture of our "fish faces" all Vamped out and in an AWESOME frame. :)  That's sitting right next to my apple on the desk right now!

She made me a REALLY cool tee shirt that says "DAZZLED" (which I will be wearing tomorrow while we're out shopping!)

And custom painted a tote bag with Edward and Bella!!  I took this out today in lieu of my purse, and LOVED every minute of it.  This is my favorite bag, EVER.

Last, but DEFINITELY not least, she sent me an AMAZING scrapbook.  I mean WOW.  I get to keep all of my Twilight memorabilia (photos from the book release, movie ticket stubs, etc) in there... I will have to do a separate post to showcase the whole thing because it is BREATHTAKING.

When all was said and done you couldn't see the floor of my van....

But I was happier than I've been in a LONG time. :)  Thank you for absolutely making my day... week... Christmas, Rachel!!!! :) 

*SWOOOOOOOOOOON* :)

~Kristin :)

TWILIGHT SWAP!!!! *squeeeee*! (part 1)

Okay so for the past month Rachel and I have been doing a Twilight swap for one another.  It was a personal swap between just the two of us, with the goal being that we just spoil each other as much as we possibly can with Twilighty-goodness.  Of course a good portion of that was customized and made especially for the other.

My package for Rachel:

I got her a copy of Wuthering Heights (a book that Bella reads throughout Twilight), a black planner & a black journal (that she can alter if she wants - i was going to paint the book covers on them but ran out of time), and a silver ring with two garnets & two hearts representing Bella & Edward's love (though Rachel swears its representing HER and Edward, hehe!). 

I made her a scrap-basket out of a gorgeous embroidered black fabric in twilighty colors (the style of the bag is like this - its for scraps of paper and such while she's scrapbooking at a crop).

I bound a book of Twilight Cliffs Notes with a custom-designed cover.  I got the "Cliffs Notes" from here (written by Cleolinda Jones). - *WARNING* do not read the cliffs notes if you have not read all 4 books.  There are a couple spoilers.  If you haven't read the books, but want to read this, then you have a great additional motivator to read the books. ;)  I also included a couple of cute Twilight Cartoons I found in the bound version.  You can see them here and here.

I made her a customized mug with a picture of the rainforests in Forks that says "its too green" (homage to Bella's opinion of Forks when she arrives, and to Rachel's LOVE of all things coffee). 

I "vamped" a picture of Rachel and me from when she came to visit this last spring and made a card for her.  The card fit perfectly into a frame that I also included. 

I made a bottle of "spark'es" out of a bottle of glitter - and the label says "real men sparkle" with a picture of edward. :)  

I also crocheted a mug cozy with handspun red wool, and sewed an image of an apple (as all fangirls know, its Twilight icon for the "forbidden fruit"), that matched a crocheted apple I made for her out of the same fiber. :)

I also crocheted a set of fingerless mits in black wool with red laces from the same wool yarn as above. :)

I also crocheted a hat that looks similar to the one that Bella wore when she was talking to Jacob at La Push in the movie.  I used this pattern (Durango) and shortened the bottom to two rows of back post sc.

The last few things were mostly photoshop junkie goodies.  I made her some bookmarks & mini posters. :)

 

 

 

Part two (the receipt of awesomeness) is to come SOON!

just a little bit of busy.

So I know I haven't posted as much as I usually do... but...

...we've had a few things to do lately.  *ahem*

And on that note, I also wanted to say thank you so much to Catrina over at Because Mommy Said So for the lovely Kreativ Blogger Award she gave me! :)  Her blog is a lot of fun, and definitely worth going to go take a peek! :)

I'm supposed to list 6 things I am grateful for, and then pass this on to 6 other bloggers.

1. I am incredibly grateful for my children who keep me laughing through the tears on the hard days.

2. I'm so very grateful for my friends, in real life, and here on the Internet.  You guys keep me connected to the world, help me to stay grounded, and are there for me in so many ways.  Thank you.

3. I'm grateful for my hubby who serves  his country in the Army, and devotes so much of his life to it, as he lovingly cares for me and our daughters.

4. I am grateful that through these economic hardships we are facing as a country, we remain blessed with a job for hubby, a home over our heads, and food on our tables.

5. I am grateful for my able hands to work here at home, and to be creative with.  We all too often take for granted the ability to do the daily tasks that are so necessary to life.

6. I am grateful for the goodness of mankind that I see in small ways here and there through random acts of kindness, support from strangers, smiles in the grocery store, etc.

There are many bloggers who I admire and feel are incredibly inspirational and creative.  Its hard to limit it to 6, but here are a few that I may not have mentioned before. :)

This Vintage Chica is awesome - she has beautiful photos, heartwarming stories, and lots of creativity to go around.

Thimble is a wonderful blog filled with color and down to earth ideas and stories that you won't want to miss.

The Merry Church Mouse is such a fun blog by one of my freinds - she is always posting about one creative endeavor or another - I love her work!

Stitchy Britches is a fabulous blog FILLED with vintage transfers that can be used to create the CUTEST works of embroidery. Definitely worth a peek

Scrumdillydo is one of my favorite creative blogs for ideas of things to do with children.  She comes up with such unique ideas all the time! 

Mayfly is another that warms my  heart with beautiful photos and a general down to earth feeling you get when visiting the blog.  Plenty of creativity to keep you inspired.

Hope you all enjoy a peek at a few of my gratitudes and favorite blogs  :) 

Preparations and Creations

We are still getting ready for school to start in a few weeks, and still preparing for the possibility of a move soon, packing unnecessary things away, and getting the house ready to sell. In the moments between the hustle and bustle I find some peace when I sit down at the sewing machine, focusing only on the movement of the fabric beneath my fingers, working the math for measurements, and seeing a creation come to life.

This particular shirt used to be a sheet that I picked up at the thrift store with this exact shirt in mind. I absolutely loved the print, and was so happy to see that it translated even more beautifully in reality than it did in my imagination. Full credit goes to the awesome fabric and to the incredible tutorial over at Just Tutes as well. I simply left the elastic out of the sleeves and added a button in the front from the stash to give it the slightly different look.

Have you been creating anything lately?

Stripey Hippie Skirt/ Shirt Tutorial

I seem to be full of tutes lately!  :)  Hope you all enjoy this one as well.

As you know, I'm making a lot of clothes for the kids.  This is a shirt I made for Abbi for summertime wear, but it could easily be adapted for school wear by putting a cute coordinating tee shirt under it.

(note the use of fabrics from the fat quarter challenge!)

 There is also a skirt that I made using this same process, but with wider strips. You may recognize the fabric from another outfit I made a couple of weeks ago.  This will be added to the school clothes stash.

On to the tutorial!  (click for full size to read easier!)

Have fun and let me know if you give this fun and easy tute a try! :)

The one (hundredth) in which she shares a Crochet Calorimetry Pattern

Its rather a big day here at Reclaiming The Home.  This is the 100th post for this blog.  What a journey it has been so far, and I am so incredibly thankful to each of you for going on this journey with me.  The future looks bright with possibilities, and I am certain there will be many more moments to share between friends as the life of this blog and Reclaiming The Home continues to take shape. 

To celebrate this milestone, I decided to share a new pattern I am working up for a crochet version of the Calorimetry featured in Knitty in 2006.  I have always loved the look of all the Cal's that people have made, and wanted so badly to make one for myself.  Being that I'm a novice knitter at best, I have searched and searched for a crochet version, but have yet to find an established pattern for something like this (if you know of one, please tell me!).  As a result, I decided to design one, and created this:

I wrote down the steps as I created it, and would like to share the pattern with you as well.  The thing is, I need TESTERS!  If you are interested in testing out the pattern, please comment here and let me know.  Each of the testers who complete a finished crochet calorimetry and link it back here with their comments and suggestions will be entered into drawing to receive the 5 largest skeins of this lovely reclaimed angora. I will do the drawing on August 10th, so try to finish your Cal's and let me know here, by midnight on August 9th!

On to the pattern!

With an H hook and worsted weight yarn, ch 4.

Row 1: dc in 3rd ch from hook. dc in next ch and ch 2, turn.
Row 2: two dc in each st. ch 2, turn. (4 st in this row)
Row 3: dc in first st. two dc in each of next 2 st. dc last st. ch 2, turn. (6 st in this row)
Row 4: dc in each st. ch 2, turn (6 st)
Row 5: dc in each of first 2 st. two dc in each of next two st. dc in each of last 2 st. ch 2, turn (8 st in this row)
Row 6: dc in each of first 3 st. two dc in each of next two st. dc in each of last 3 st. ch 2, turn (10 st in this row)
Row 7: dc in each of first 4 st. two dc in each of next two st. dc in each of last 4 st. ch 2, turn (12 st in this row)
Row 8: dc in each of first 5 st. two dc in each of next two st. dc in each of last 5 st. ch 2, turn (14 st in this row)
Row 9: dc in each of first 6 st. two dc in each of next two st. dc in each of last 6 st. ch 2, turn (16 st in this row)
Row 10: dc in each of first 7 st. two dc in each of next two st. dc in each of last 7 st. ch 2, turn (18 st in this row)
Row 11: dc in each of first 8 st. two dc in each of next two st. dc in each of last 8 st. ch 2, turn (20 st in this row)
Row 12: dc in each of first 9 st. two dc in each of next two st. dc in each of last 9 st. ch 2, turn (22 st in this row)
Row 13: dc in each of first 10 st. two dc in each of next two st. dc in each of last 10 st. ch 2, turn (24 st in this row)
Row 14: *dc in each st. across, ch 2, turn* (24 dc in the row)
Rows 15-29: (rep * - * for rows 15-29)
Row 30: dc in each of first 10 st. dc next 2 sts tog. dc next 2 sts tog. dc in each of last 10 st. ch 2, turn. (22 st in this row)
Row 31: dc in each of first 9 st. dc next 2 sts tog. dc next 2 sts tog. dc in each of last 9 st. ch 2, turn. (20 st in this row)
Row 32: dc in each of first 8 st. dc next 2 sts tog. dc next 2 sts tog. dc in each of last 8 st. ch 2, turn. (18 st in this row)
Row 33: dc in each of first 7 st. dc next 2 sts tog. dc next 2 sts tog. dc in each of last 7 st. ch 2, turn. (16 st in this row)
Row 34: dc in each of first 6 st. dc next 2 sts tog. dc next 2 sts tog. dc in each of last 6 st. ch 2, turn. (14 st in this row)
Row 35: dc in each of first 5 st. dc next 2 sts tog. dc next 2 sts tog. dc in each of last 5 st. ch 2, turn. (12 st in this row)
Row 36: dc in each of first 4 st. dc next 2 sts tog. dc next 2 sts tog. dc in each of last 4 st. ch 2, turn. (10 st in this row)
Row 37: dc in each of first 3 st. dc next 2 sts tog. dc next 2 sts tog. dc in each of last 3 st. ch 2, turn. (8 st in this row)
Row 38: dc in each of first 2 st. dc next 2 sts tog. dc next 2 sts tog. dc in each of last 2 st. ch 2, turn. (6 st in this row)
Row 39: dc in each st. across. ch 2, turn. (6 st in this row)
Row 40: dc in first st. dc next 2 sts tog. dc next 2 sts tog. dc in last st. ch 2, turn. (4 st in this row)
Row 41: dc next 2 sts tog. dc next 2 sts tog.  (2 st. in this row)

Finish off with a 1" button of your choice on one end.  It will fit through the dc on the other end nicely. 

Your end product should look something like this:

Happy 100th!

Sewing School Clothes (with tutorials)

Hello friends!  Its been much too long.  Things have been incredibly busy since Kevin has been on TDY to Ft. Knox.  We have been busy decluttering the house in preparation for the move, which has been such an encouraging thing for me.  I love looking around and feeling less burdened by the clutter, disorganization and an overwhelming amount of stuff.  Don't get me wrong, I can clutter-bug along with the best of them, but it is really refreshing to feel like things are where they should be and its less that I have to worry about.  *whew*.

We have been doing a decluttering challenge over at the Ravelry version of Reclaiming The Home.  If you are not a member of ravelry (or even if you are) feel free to to join us over at the Proboards forums for RTH as well for a decluttering challenge, or just write about your decluttering pursuits on your blog, and link it here so we can see what you're up to.  Photos of my decluttering successes to come soon. :)

A big part of getting everything ready for the busy upcoming months, as well as decluttering the stash, has been sewing up clothes in preparation for the girls to start school in the fall. 

Those of you who know me, know that I much prefer an open-ended tutorial to a rigid pattern, so that is generally what I work from. I find that they allow me a lot more freedom in interpreting things to my own design, and I feel less like I can fail at it, as well, since the instructions are usually pretty open and fluid.

This top for Anna was made using the peasant shirt tutorial over at Just Tutes.  I altered it a bit by not adding elastic to the sleeve. I figured that while things were still warm out it would give a little more ventilation, especially in this humid climate.

(excuse the wrinkles and the grass that needs to be swept.  With hubby gone i've let the yard work go a bit - oops.  Anna was also only sad because she couldn't find her shoes, and wouldn't believe me that they were in the car - which they were - about 2 feet away.  Tears ended instantaneously.)

To go with the shirt I sewed a ruffled skirt to match, from the tutorial over at Grand Revival Design.  I LOVE this tutorial.  I will be making a lot more of these in different girly fabrics soon.  This was my tester, and I used leftover scraps from the march quilt kit to make it.  Because I sold some kits using this fabric, the proceeds more than paid for the fabric so I'm considering the materials for this outfit "free."

Abbi's outfit started with the same peasant blouse tutorial, only I added the elastic to the sleeves this time.  It worked well with this particular fabric (an old, white sheet that I found at a thrift store for 75-cents!). 

The skirt was INCREDIBLY simple.  I bought an old valence for 99-cents.  The lace came pre-attached.  To create the skirt, I simply threaded elastic through the top casing and sewed the two short edges together.  Easy peasy, and now she has a beautiful linen and lace skirt to wear to school.  If you want to make something similar, but don't have a valence, the Twirly Skirt Tutorial over at House on Hill Road is *fabulous*.  We have used that tutorial several times for super-cute skirts for the girls (and will definitely be using it again!)

Total cost of the valence outfit? $1.74.

(oops - more grass to sweep! - sorry)

This outfit was made using a Women's size L tunic that I bought at the thrift store for 75-cents.  It fits about a 4T little girl (isn't she cute??).  The pants were made using sleeves.  Here's my tutorial for sleeve pants, as I did them.
 
The shirt was done without a pattern or tutorial as well.  I will be working on a tute for that coming soon, using the body of the shirt for the fabric, so keep your eyes out!

I also have two other tutorials in the works for clothes I made for Abbi recently, so those will be coming over the next couple days as well.  My hope is that others can feel inspired to make some clothes for the fall, and to not feel overwhelmed by the increasing prices of clothing for our kids, as school starts!  All of the outfits that you see in this post cost a total of $2.49.  One needn't break the bank to dress their children well.

Enjoy, and be sure to let me know if you use the sleeve pants tutorial !  I'd love to see what you do with it!

 

Big News!

Here at Reclaiming the Home big things have been going on behind the scenes.  The needles have been knitting, the sewing machine has been sewing, and bits of craftiness are showing up everywhere around the house, here and there.  Because of my cold, the only cooking that has gone on was done by the infamous Mr. Rose with some buffalo cheese dip that he was quite proud of.  I'll have to ask him for the recipe so that I can share it soon!

The big news though, comes in the form of the new public Reclaiming The Home forum! 

My goal for the forum is to be a community of people who care about their homes and the gentle home arts.  There will be tutorials, resources, and information that will help us all to learn to be better Reclaimers, while providing incentive and motivational games in a fun atmosphere where we share our love of the home with one another. 

It is a place of friendship that welcomes people from all walks of life, where we all get to be ourselves, get to know one other better, support each other, and share our joys as well as our sorrows.  You don't have to be a mother, a wife, or stay at home to enjoy homemaking.

I know you will find real community here, grow friendships, build each other up, learn new things, and just enjoy hanging out at the forum.

If you have a moment, stop on by and take a look. There is so much to be found there and so much more to come, including a big surprise event for all of the forum members that will begin within the week! 

This idea has been in the works for some time, and I am so pleased to say, has finally come to fruition.  So many people were involved in its creation.  A big thank you to Caitlin, Pam, Diane, Audrey, Rachel, Robyn, Danna, and SO many more lovely women who helped to make this part of my dream a reality!