dolls on Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner,

and we are not ready!

Brick Master will be wearing his knight costume from last year,

but Miss C. wants something new,

no princess this year, but a werewolf!

I am not sure how I am going to do that...

it will stretch my creativity!

At least, the dolls are willing to wear costumes I made before.

They have a few choices: ballerina (x 2), Cinderella, Rapunzel, witch, colonial dress, musketeer.

Miss C chose for them of course!

So here they are:

all 3 costumes are from the same pattern from You Can Make This,
I just changed fabrics and details.
And I had fun playing with Picmonkey Halloween theme!

the witch:

the musketeer

and Rapunzel

I better go back to do some sewing,

the spooktacular event at school is next Saturday,

and with the new job, I do not have so much time!

Happy sewing!

little caddy

After making all the vintage crates (here and here) to store our lunch drinks,
the cart looked still messy on the top,
with all the homework paper and pencils, pens...

So I built a little caddy to store it all:

perfect for pencils, pens, scissors and little mail.

After building the fence and gates,

we were left with a lot of scrap pieces of 1 X 4,

I spent some time wondering what to do with them,

then I found the perfect project: Soda crate caddy,

with this plan from Ana White, of course!

Because my scraps are 1 X 4, and not 1 X 6, it is shorter,
 but I was able to keep the same size by using 
 one more piece for the bottom, 2 instead of 3.
For the middle part I used some other scrap,
a piece of 1 X 6, so it is the same ratio,
just a little squatter!

Instead of dividing the caddy in 2 on each side, I left one side undivided
and put 2 dividers on the other side.
It allows us to put mail and larger items on the back,
and the pencils stay nicely together in the smaller rectangles.

I added again the corner pieces (decorative) like I did with 
the wine tray and the fall trough (also made from the fence!).
I really like them, they add such nice texture,
a little spay paint is all they need.

When I put the caddy on the cart, next to the home work,
it looks so much better,
but then I realized it was just too much...

too much wood, too much brown, not what I was looking for!

So instead of storing the pencils there, I thought it would be perfect for the lunch boxes!
Good color and texture, and just the right place to get ready before school,
after all it is chaotic enough in the morning!

So where did I put the caddy full of pencils?
On the other side of the room, where it sits happily,

and can easily put on the table when it is needed!

Happy day!

exciting news: a job and a feature

I have not posted lately because
I got a job! A real Job!
Not that being a Mom (and a side blogger) is not a lot of work...
After a few years out of science
(and a couple of moves, which kind of kill a career...)
I am back in the game, well almost since it is in a different field
where I know little, I am back at the bottom of the ladder,
but I have a job!
I have so much to learn that when I get home,
and after taking care of kids, homework and dogs,
there is little creativity left....
Luckily Mon Cheri has always been in charge of dinner!
I figure that in a few more weeks, I should be able to do some crafting,
but until then, it is probably going t be a little quiet around here...
not that I have ever kept a schedule!

On another front, I was featured on Doll Diaries for the doll ranch
I made for Miss C.'s bday.
I feel so special....fame and glory....
maybe some other day, I need to go to bed
so that I can get up at 5:30 tomorrow morning.

See you soon.

fall table for 2

After months of heat and mosquitoes,
I am so ready for cooler days and pretty fall colors.
I built a simple little trough, inspired by this tutorial by Shanty 2 Chic,
with some left over wood from building the backyard fence.

To make it more interesting, I added the metallic corners like I did in my vintage French wine tray.
I filled it with candles, straw like pieces and gourds from the grocery store.
And I set up the table for the nice dinner for 2 by the fire place.

Wine inspired French table cloth and napkins serve as a beautiful background,
matching perfectly with my Provence plates.
Now I better send Mon Cheri to the kitchen to cook us for food
for dinner....he is the chef, I am the baker!

Happy day!

making more crates

After making my first crate and enjoying the storage space,

I realized we needed more.

We have a small pantry, with no space for drinks.

And with the kids packing their lunch everyday,

there are a lot of milk boxes and juice pouches.

Even Mon Cheri adds to the volume with his V8.

So what's a crafter to do but built some more?

The smaller crate is the same size as my first one, I used this image from the Graphics Fairy-DIY.

I ironed the picture printed on contact paper with laser printer like on my tutorial. 

It is extremely fast, about 1-2 minutes on a flat surface!

For the bigger crate I kept the same depth, but made it wider.

Once again I ironed a cool pic from the Graphics Fairy-DIY.

Here is a detail of the pictures,

the transfers are pretty good, not perfect, but it gives them an antique look.

Since there is no drying time with this technique,

I stained the crates right away with early american

And here there are in "action!"

That's what I call major improvement!

It is pretty, less messy and the puppy chews way less cardboard!

Now I really need to address the top of this cart, 

we use the top for all the school papers and homework,

pencils and other random things that arrive from school or mail....

must find a way to fix this "area"...

luckily I have some scraps of wood,

I am sure I will think of something!

Happy day!

little purple bed

Remember the little quilt I was working on last week?

I mentioned I had some building and painting to do...

well I did and finished my project:

a purple doll bed with a cute quilt!

I had made a similar bed for Miss C a couple of years ago,

but this one is for one of her friends' birthday, who is into AG

 (8 years old seems to be the time when they go crazy about that!)

The tutorial for this bed is from Ana White of course!

Here are the old bed from Miss C and her friend's version.

I made it a little less wide as suggested by Jaime from That's My Letter,

it is just the right size for a doll, like a twin size bed, while the other one is more a full.

Doesn't she look comfy in her bed?

nothing like a smoothie, a dog and a book to relax in bed!

I recovered some 1 inch foam with white kona fabric to make the mattress.

I made a simple lumbar pillow and a real pillow with a pillow case,

just like I did for the original bed.

And here is the finished quilt.

Because of the strong color of the bed, I wanted a not so colorful quilt,

I used only 2 fabrics, and a very simple quilting design,

making it possible to quilt in one continuous line!

Fast and easy.

The birthday girl was excited and very pleased with her present!

Happy day!

working on a little quilt

Now that we are back in school and that we almost used to our new routine

and schedule, I have been able to do a little sewing.

I started working on a simple little quilt.

I am only suing 2 fabrics: a white kona and this turquoise print.
I chose a irregular bow-tie pattern, not all triangles are the same size.
I cut 3.5" white squares and 1.5" print squares,
and just sewed the print in the corner on the diagonal.
Then I folded over the little corner, ironed and cut the extra layers,
then wash/rinse/repeat.

and there it is my little quilt:

I know exactly what I am going to do with it,

but it requires more building and painting,

so it will have to wait.

This week end I also sewed utilitarian, instead of just pretty,

I made Brick Master 3 pairs of PJ pants (1 flannel, 2 cottons).

Last year I had already made him some but he keeps on growing!

Well at least I have more space for new fabric,

I used over 6 yards of fabric,

if that does not sound like an excuse to get some more,

I do not know what to do!

Happy sewing!

focaccia

Many years ago, I was a student in Florence/Firenze,

there I discovered focaccia, and ever since I have been trying to make my own.

Well it has been an adventure, many tries, not all successful 

but at least eatable...

This time, I think I have some success,

not perfect but I am pleased with the result,

and it is very tasty!

Everything tastes better with wine, cheese and garden tomatoes!

I used the recipe from "Baking with Julia", simple:

 2 1/4 cup tepid water

2 Tbsp active dry east

1/4 cup olive oil

6 1/2 cup of unbleached all-purpose flower

4 tsp salt

the real trick: let the dough rest in the fridge for 24 to 36 hours after the second rise.

It requires a lot of planning but you can see and taste the difference!

Before baking cover with olive oil, coarse sea salt and fresh thyme.

Enjoy!

Happy day!

first aid pouch and first day of school

Yesterday was the first day of school,

we prepared for it by enjoying the summer to its fullness,

which means very little sewing done for me!

Lat year, I made a lunch box and a pencil pouch for the kids...

Well this year, I just made them first aid pouch:

I followed this tutorial from A Spoonful of Sugar.

The top one is a much more masculine version that the ones presented on the tutorial!

This line is Mechanical Genius, so perfect for big boys.

The other one is girly as it should be, the main fabric is Dress Up Days (Riley Blake Designs).
Inside, they can find a couple band-aids, lip balm and a treat,
most little emergencies require chocolate!

And here are the kids are their way to the first day of school:

No more picture together,

Brick Master started middle school and leaves before Miss C. wakes up!

She is in 3rd grade this year, and loves to walk the puppy to school.

Of course she loves it too!

Happy day!

how to make a doll Ranch

Did you enjoy the day at the ranch with the girls,

dog and horses?

Wanna make your own?

(limited skills and supplies required!)

Final size: 31" wide, 29" high, 3.5" depth (folded)

Full fence length: almost 90"

Before building Miss C.'s ranch for her dolls,
I checked out what was available to purchase.
AG sells a nice stable

but it is not in my price range, and there seems to be little space for the horse and doll.
I also checked Etsy and search Google for images,
but I was not able to find what I was looking for.

I wanted to build something easy, cheap and taking little space while not in use,
(Miss C.'s room is very small)
and large enough so it would be fun to play with,
especially with friends, or multiple horses and dolls.

I started with Ana White' s tutorial for the fences,
and changed the dimension and added a large entrance,
large enough so that the doll can ride through it on a horse!
I decided to go with only 3 sides, so that it could make a small triangle,
a square with a wall, or just a large area like this in the grass.

So here is what I started with:
4 rulers from Lowe's (lattice would be better but I used what I had)
(if using ruler, send them!)
some 1 X 2, about 16-17 feet total
and a scrap piece of 1 X 4 (12 " long)
2 sets of hinges
glue, screws, nails.

Both sides were built the same way, they are 30" x 12".
 cut the 4 rulers at 30", keeping the 6" for the entrance.
cut 6 pieces of 1 X 2 at 12".
glue and nail the rulers to the 1 X 2 at 1.5" and 6.5" from the top.
Done with the sides!

For the entrance:
cut 2 pieces of 1 X 2 at 12" (short posts)
cut 2 pieces of 1 X 2 at 28" (long posts)
cut 1 piece of 1 X 2 at 18" (inside gate)
cut 1 piece of 1 X 2 at 23.5 "(over gate)
cut 1 piece of 1 X 4 at 12"

Glue and nail the left over rulers to the posts at the same level as the sides
pieces you just built at 1.5" and 6.5" from the top.

Glue and screw the 18" piece to 23.5" piece of 1 X 2, centering it
on the longer piece (I did it the wrong way on the picture, making it harder!)
Then attach the 2 boards to the 2 long posts with glue and screws.

(on the picture I just added the 23.5" board, then realized it was not sturdy enough,

then I added the 18" piece to reinforce the gate, totally worked!)

Before adding the hinges, attach a piece of 1 X 4 (12" long) on one side of the gate
with screws to the 1 X 2 to allow the all fence to fully open and close.
You can see it on the pictures below:

totally folded,                          first part unfolded,                         second part unfolded.

Then add the hinges, prim and paint.
It should fold nicely on itself for easy storage,
the depth is less than 4 inch!

(it stands on it own, the grass is just not that leveled!)

When opened there is a lot of space for many horses and dolls,
and little/big girls!

in action, with a very happy Miss C.!
One needs to be inside the ranch/fence to take care of horses.

Happy day!




Linking to :Funky Junk interiors

dolls at the ranch

Summer is winding down,

the girls enjoyed their stay-cation,

and hanging out in the backyard in their swimsuit,

but they were ready for some adventure,

so to the ranch they went.

Miss C. like most little girls is a fan of horses.

She is over My Little Pony and other pink little creatures,

but definitively not over horses.

Last Christmas, she received a horse for her dolls,

 a good looking black and white paint horse (our generation from target)

and the AG riding outfit (we mix target/AG/homemade)

So for her birthday, I made her a fence for her horse,

with a large opening so that a girl could ride her horse out of the fence,

kind of like a ranch, after all my daughter was born in the South West,

in the land of riding horses on turquoise trails.

It turned out it was a great idea, since one of her girlfriends gave her quarter horse foal,

and her aunt (another horse passionate) gave her the western riding outfit.

It all came at the perfect time.

I might still make a stable to go with the ranch,

but it takes a lot of space,

and the mommy and baby horses seem happiest in the field!

It was a great day, nothing like horses to make the day special!

Miss C. did not get to ride a horse,

but at the county fair she rode a camel!

Happy day!