Shower Curtain Instructions

First of all, if anyone tells you that something is "easy," spit in their eye and walk away. ;)

It's not that the shower curtain was super-hard to make, it's just that there was a lot of Math involved. And I'm an English major. For a reason.

The person who wrote these instructions said that 5 yards of fabric were needed, so get 6 just to be on the safe side. I'm working within a budget, so I intended to only buy 5. Then when I got to Joann Fabrics to buy the fabric that I had been lusting over for weeks, there were only 4 1/2 yards on the bolt. They had more of it....in the warehouse....which would take 2-4 weeks to arrive.

I only have the weekend to finish the curtain.

So I went with plan B, which was a brighter green that I "really" wanted, and only bought 5 yards. After I got all the edges hemmed "just so," I had waaaaaayyyyyy too many inches left on each side.

Which means that I SHOULD'VE BOUGHT THE 4 1/2 YARDS OF PERFECT MATERIAL.

But I didn't. So let's not look back.

I'm posting the instructions now, and hopefully in a few weeks, when we're in the new house, I can post the pics of the curtain/bathroom.

All-in-all, now that I know how to make a shower curtain, I doubt I would ever purchase one again. Not when it's possible to make one that's just perfect for the room.


http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/simplesewingpr_slhr.htm

Trying My Hand at Sewing (Again!)

My mother taught me to sew when I was younger, for the most part because I wanted to be just like her. She could do the most amazing and creative things, like smocking (real, honest-to-goodness, complicated pieces) and shadow embroidery (a type of heirloom embroidery that is stitched in reverse on the underside of fabric so that a "shadow" shows through when the right side is exposed).

Turns out that I have neither her eye for tiny detail nor her patience. ;P

That being said, I DO have her sense of frugality and disappointment in the quality or availability of certain products, and feel like I "can do it better myself!"

So today I'm going to attempt to make a custom shower curtain. Supposedly (SUPPOSEDLY) it is super-easy. I guess after today I'll know for sure!

JOY German Glass Glitter Garland

I told y'all that my German glass glitter came in the mail the other day, and I was able to finish one project with it (I don't know if any of you have ever tried to get anything done with kiddos running around, but a lot of times NOTHING gets done at all!), and have a couple more in the works.

Remember that I said that I bought the clear glitter since the silver was so much more expensive? Instead of using silver glitter, I spray painted my chipboard letters silver and then used the clear glitter on top of that. It doesn't have the EXACT same look, but beggars can't be choosers, right? And for my purposes, it worked out ok.

One of my favorite things about the second picture is that you can see the red dot from my son's laser pointer on the "Y." I had no idea he had it with him, and I liked that picture best, so it gets posted, red dot and all. ;)

Yay for the USPS!

My German glass glitter came today! I'm so excited! I didn't get to buy the silver stuff because it was just too expensive (and by the way, it was sold out on every website I went to!), so I went with the clear. I realize that it won't look quite as vintage, but I think it will still be lovely nonetheless.

I'm hoping that tomorrow I can make the "JOY" Christmas garlands that I've been dying to make. And maybe this Christmas I will have a new house to decorate!

Sheet Music Wreath Part Deux

All right, all right....so these aren't exactly made from sheet music! But they are still vintage paper wreaths.

After I made the first wreath for my girlfriend's wedding, my husband took a look at it and said "Where's ours?" So I went out to the garage, found an old book (I have NO idea where it came from, so obviously there was no sentimental attachment to it) and went to work. Now, I have to be honest, as a reader, it's a difficult thing to tear up a book....we have it drilled into our heads to be careful with books, right? Anybody else remember all the speeches we got in elementary school? So it was with much trepidation that I took on this project. ;)

The other is made out of a Bible that had been carried around/used so much that it had fallen apart.

Easy Peasy Hot Fudge Sauce

Ok, so I know already posted today, but I'm almost doing this more for myself than anyone else! I found this recipe online and I don't want to lose it....it's that good.

Hot Fudge Sauce

6 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/8 cup honey

Microwave chocolate chips and cream for 2 minutes. Stir until creamy, then stir in honey.

Fab.U.Lous.

Printed Pillows -- I LOVE THESE!!

I keep seeing these pillows all over blogland, and I just drool every time a new picture pops up. When I learned that how to make them, I kicked into high gear. I may or may not have gone pillow crazy. The thing is, throw pillows are always so expensive, and to a cheapo like me, it's really hard to pull the trigger when purchasing. Even if they're just gorgeous. Suffice it to say, my houses have always been throw pillow-less.

But not any more!!!

What do you think of these?

I am not going to stuff them until after The Big Move, since flat things are (naturally) much easier to pack, and we are already maxed out for space in the moving truck. Or trucks. Whatever.

The one with "Zeno Chewing Gum" is an imprint off of an antique stick gum machine that belonged to my grandfather for as long as I can remember. It still works, and when we were kids, he kept it on a shelf above his tv, with a toy mail truck (he was retired from the USPS) full of pennies so that we could get gum whenever we wanted. When he passed away this past April, all of the grandkids wanted the gum machine...so all of our names went into a hat, and my brother Caleb came up with the win. There are so many memories attached to that piece.

The French sheet music graphic came from The Graphics Fairy. Love her blog.

Anyway, I know my photography's not the best, and it might be difficult to see how these casings are going to be pillows, but I hope you get the idea!

How Do I......??????

I have been spending a ridiculous amount of time puttering around on The Graphics Fairy's blog lately, and it has been so much fun! I have made several projects for our soon-to-be home, and hopefully I can get some pics up soon.
Here's my dilemma.....many of TGF's images are centered left, rather than middle. How do I scoot them over so that I can fit more than one image on a printed page, or so that I can also add lettering? Obviously I am computer-challenged, so if anyone out there could help me out, I'd greatly (GREATLY) appreciate it!!!

For Real

Ok, it looks like we actually have a signed and executed contract for our new house! I would say that I'm super-excited, but I am still reserving my emotions for the day that we have keys in hand. It's a huge step, though!

Chocolate Gravy (Yes, That's What I Said!)

Because we are in a transitional time living-space-wise, I have so little to write about! I can't wait until we have a house that I can make homey again (and we should have some definite answers by the end of this week....for those of us that struggle with patience, this time has proven to be a bit challenging).

On the other hand, my mouth still works. And it expects to be fed. Frequently.

Growing up, my mother made Chocolate Gravy and Biscuits every Saturday morning. It was one of those things that we kids (and there were 6 of us) always looked forward to. I know, it sounds a bit odd if you've never had it before. But if you've grown up with it, it's like manna from heaven.

My oldest turned five (FIVE!!!) yesterday, and when I asked him what he wanted for his birthday breakfast, he said, "YOU know. What we ALWAYS have for our birthday breakfast!" And I knew what he meant before he clarified it. That child is my child, after all.

Chocolate Gravy
1 stick of butter
4 Tbs. baking cocoa
1/3 cup flour
3/4 cup white sugar
2 cups milk

Melt the butter in a skillet, then mix in the cocoa, flour, and sugar, making a paste. Add milk and stir until you reach a gravy-like consistency, keeping heat even.
It's just like making sausage gravy, only with sugar and chocolate. What's not to love?

This is not one of those recipes that you'll be on the fence about. You'll either love it or hate it.

I love it. ;)