House Redo

We have been in our cozy house for 6 years in June.  We have slowly updated each room with mostly just paint, light fixtures and accessories (ok, we did splurge on new kitchen appliances and granite tile counters).  And I thought it would be fun to post all the before and afters.

Kitchen

Before

It always has to get worse before it gets better...

 After

Before

After

 Living Room

When we moved in our living room was a white box.

Before

After

After

 Bedroom

Before

After

After

After

Bathroom

Before

During

After

After

So sweet dress

I made this before Sophia was even born, and now it finally fits her.  Yay!

Baby Shoes

Another baby shower, another stab at something I've never tried before...baby shoes!

click here for pattern  

And of course a dress to match...

And a matching skirt for big sister.

What the heck, why not make a card to match, too.

I have always wanted to integrate fabric and sewing into cards and this was a fun opportunity to give it a try.  I grabbed a scrap of fabric off the floor and sewed it on!  

Perfect Granola

I have tried making granola and granola bars many times and it has never come out just right, but now I think I have finally found the perfect recipe.  This is adapted from my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.  I have already made this again and doubled it.  This is a great naturally sweetened cereal.

Granola

2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup coconut

1/2 cup chopped mixed nuts

1/2 shelled sunflower seeds

1/4 sesame seeds

1/4 honey

1/4 real maple syrup

1/3 cup melted coconut oil

Combine oats, coconut, nuts, and seeds. Combine honey, syrup and oil.  

Stir into oat mixture.  Spread onto greased baking pan.  

Bake at 300 degrees for 30-35 minutes, stirring at 20 minutes. 

 Stir it a few times as it cools.  Break it up and enjoy.  

More Chalkboards

Quilting around the robots was not as difficult as I first anticipated.  I love this fabric for boys available at Spoonflower.

Monster Shirts

I made my boys some more shirts for Christmas.  Click here to see the shirts I made 2 Christmases ago.

Cranberry-Strawberry Jam

I made use of leftover cranberries from the holidays with this cranberry and strawberry jam.  

2 cups cranberries

2 cups strawberries

1 cup raspberries

1 cup apple juice

1 package no sugar fruit pectin

1 cup sugar 

1 cup honey

Pulse berries in food processor or smash with a potato peeler.  Don't puree, you want chunks of fruit.  In a large saucepan mix berries, apple juice, pectin and 1/4 cup sugar.  Bring to boil and let boil 1 minute.  Add remaining sugar and honey.  Boil 1 more minute.  Fill canning jars and process 10 minutes in boiling water bath.  If you aren't experienced at canning, this website has instructions with pictures.  You don't need a pressure canner to can jam!

Kid approved!

I got 3 pints (or 6 jelly jars) full plus some extra for taste testing.

Chalkboard

Just finished another Christmas present for Sophia.  I got chalkboards for each of the kids and planned to paint each and put their names.  Then I came up with the idea of making a nice quilted case for each complete with a pocket for chalk.  I am still waiting on some fabric I ordered to do the boys'.  It's hard to find cute boy fabric!

I especially love that the cover reminds me of a laptop case.  Ironic considering it is for a slate like they used in one room school houses a hundred years ago.

Wooden Dolls

One lucky little girl will be opening these Christmas morning.

When searching for homemade gift ideas for the kids this year, I came across several cute painted little people.  I took it to the next level and added some skirts and dresses out of vintage hankies.  The I made a matching bag to tote them in.