KissKus

More girly pjs

I finished my second pair of pyjamas for Amber yesterday.

For the leggings I used the same pattern as I did for the first pair. They fit great and they are SO easy to cut and sew.

I didn't have enough fabric to make a long sleeve shirt, so I had no choice but to make a short sleeved one. So what if it will be winter soon?! Mummy worked hard and it looks cute! (Poor girl...)

Actually, there was so little fabric that I couldn't add any seam allowance to the bottom of the sleeves, so my sewing teacher advised me to finish the edges off with bias tape. The bias tape is sewn onto the edge and then folded back, so that it's hardly visible while worn. I like it, it looks neat! I hadn't used bias tape in this way before and this is exactly why I started sewing lessons. Also because I get to use a serger there ofcourse... all the seams got some serger loving :)

All in all: a fun project that turned out pretty well (if even the girl will freeze ;)).

The facts:

leggings: Ottobre 6/2007 pattern 32, size 140

shirt: Ottobre 4/2010 pattern 29, size 146

fabric: thriftstore, either 50 or 80 cents for the lot (so cheap!!)

model: does not wish to be photographed in her pyjamas!

Restyled bookcase

I've been on the look-out for a bookcase for a while. I haven't been looking very hard, but a nice(ly priced) secondhand bookcase is not easy to find. Then one day I saw one online and bid 10 euros, Michel picked them up the same evening... I like it when things go so smoothly :)

This is the before-photo. Do you see its potential? It was a bit worn and smelly as it came from a smokers' home (yuk!). Some treatment was in order... I sanded it and then spray-painted it a few times. Fire engine red! Yes, you know that I like colour :)

Then Michel attached oilcloth to the back of the bookcase. I think that bright red and yellow gingham is a very happy combination :)

Now it sits in the livingroom and holds the library books and some of Linus' puzzles and Schleich animals (in the rotan baskets). We're all pleased with this new acquisition to our home. And happy that we have a bit more place to keep our books, because we do like our books!

This little rack is also new. From the thrifstore, painted and it now accompanies the other two!

The new stool

As I said yesterday (or technically today, because it was past midnight) I finished a new project.

Let me introduce you to my new stool!

Bought for 3 euros at the thriftstore I quickly spray painted it shocking pink (I hate that old fashioned brown polished wood). And then I crocheted the cover out of old t-shirts.

Now it graces our living room along with the other stool. It's smaller than the other one and perfect for a small kiddo to sit on or to put a bigger person's feet on.

The funny thing is that Linus pointed out which t-shirt belonged to which family member and we found out I used a shirt from all five of us (the purple is mine). I hadn't even thought about it... smart Linus!

T-shirt crochet

Still in and out of thriftstores, buying too many plates and cups. Also still buying small pieces of furniture that I spray paint in the garden (when it's dry, so it's a very haphazard thing).

However! A new obsession has entered my life since yesterday :) I've been wanting to try crocheting with cut up t-shirts and that's what I've been doing these past two days.

I just started cutting some of Simon's old shirts and then used that yarn to crochet a big granny square. I've actually just finished that first project; I will take a photo of it tomorrow.

This is the yarn that I cut today, I've become a bit more efficient. About half of this stash has already been used again, since I started a new project this evening.

You see, I told you: new obsession. I have a feeling that no t-shirts are safe in the house anymore. I've never been so enthusiastic about cleaning out our wardrobes!

Thrifty Tuesday

I found some time to go a thriftstore a little further away (only 15 minutes or so). It's the largest thrifstore that I know of in the area. Linus was a little reluctant to go. The poor boy is being dragged along so often on mama's treasure hunts ;)

However, on this occasion he was a happy little man and told me: I LIKE it here!

Well, I liked it too. And I found lots of little treasures. Not everything is photographed yet.

Fabric. What can I say? It's nice and it's fabric and that's reason enough :)

Lovely tin. Ira Denmark, designed by Ethel von Horn.

A bag of kitschy shoes. They are so ugly it's funny. I have a vague plan with these... (the little rack is also a thrifstore find from a couple of weeks ago, spray painted of course)

A fun wooden ABC-set. Not vintage, but in perfect condition.

Well, there was more & I'm sure that stuff will show up here sooner or later.

Crochet stool cover

A while ago I bought a simple wooden stool in the thriftstore (€ 1,50). I'm sure I made a BEFORE photo, but it's not on my new computer and I forgot how to access the external hard disc (don't tell the husband, he will just sigh). Anyway, the stool was bought specifically to be pimped.

First I traced the outlines of the seat and crocheted a cover while I was on holiday in France. I thought that that was just so clever of myself :)

Then I spray painted the stool in a lime green colour.

After that I put the two together (it fitted just right!).

And now I have a stool with a crochet cover. I'm pleased with the result and I will certainly do it again sometime (small stools are now on my thriftstore-search-for-list).

Thrifty Tuesday

A quick trip to the thrifstore brightened my day. Linus prefers to wait in the car these days, so I must make my round quickly. But that's fine, because I know exactly what it is I'm looking for.

This mug (bottom right) really brought a smile to my face. Family reunited :) I wonder if there are more? And I wonder whether the rest will come to me as well.

Arcopal. My love is growing, although I must admit I don't like all designs. These (two) plates are really sweet though.

More Arcopal.

Furthermore: a puzzle for Linus and a game and another addition to my Polish pottery collection, which I haven't photographed yet. Total cost: 6,40.

This is my retail therapy. I'm so easy to please. Just some small items from the thrifstore and a Mac.

 

Babies

It's always wonderful when a baby is born.

Also a good excuse to dust off the sewing machine.

I made this dress for a little girl that was born recently.

Fabric is a pillowcase from the thriftstore. Pattern: Knippie #3 2009.

And I believe that I never posted this pillow that I made in Octobre last year. It's quite obvious for whom ;)

Have a good weekend everyone!

Some very random things

These mugs were 35 cents each in the thriftstore, but the joy they bring me is priceless.

Bookmark monster that Amber made today. I think it's brilliant.

The book? The first hardcover I grabbed from our bookcase, which was The Little Friend by Donna Tartt. Who else was utterly disappointed by this long awaited novel? I really did try, but gave up after nearly 200 pages. I wonder whether it will it be worth it to pick it up again?

Michel's finger has a blister. There's an A on it... why??

I'm happy that all three kids have had quite a good first week at school. Especially happy that Simon seems to settle well in his new class, since he skipped a class. I've had rather a few motherly worries about my boy, so I'm relieved and pleased to see that the new situation seems to turn out well for him.

And now it's weekend! And what's more... the people in charge promised us some summery weather. I know, it's AMAZING!! Sun deprived as I am, I certainly intend to absorb as much summer as I can.

Happy weekend everyone!

I believe this is the start of a collection

I hit the thriftstore jackpot this morning.

It was one of those great moments... I was scanning the shop. Looking in the usual spots. Slightly disappointed: no textiles, no plates, no cups etc. Then I passed the table where they have a monthly colour display. Nothing special. I passed the table, looked back for a second and there at the bottom, tucked away, was a whole lot of Figgjo! I'm sure I looked around ready to fight anyone that dared come close to my treasure. Luckily no-one did...

I grabbed everything there was: 2 dinner plates, 4 breakfast plates, 4 squares plates and 3 bowls.

Wow. What a loot.

Welcome home, Figgjo Turi Design Market!