Thursday, April 28, 2016

We Go Together Like Salt and Pepper


I have a tidy little collection of some of my favorite things: funky salt and pepper shakers. Take a gander:



My roommate gave these to me last Christmas. We think they are a house and a school in the colonial style! The salt goes in the school, and the pepper in the house.


These friendly grey foxes were stashed neatly in my grandma and grandpa's attic until they landed in my hands last summer. I like their smiles.


My parents gave this set to me for my 23rd Birthday when I worked at the Como Conservatory. The top flower part detaches and is the salt shaker, and the pepper sprinkles out of the watering can. It's pretty doggone fun to sprinkle over mashed potatoes.


And my parents gave me these red foxes for my 25th birthday. So happy!


Meet the Owls. Summer owls without scarves, winter owls with scarves.


White clean-line foxes for simpler times. So beautiful!


Fungus amongus. Some days are the best days when your roommate comes home with mushroom shakers for your collection. She found them at the thrift store and bought them for me!


Our downstairs neighbor came up the steps, gave these to me, and said "Now, I heard you collect salt and pepper shakers...so..." Yup, yup I do. And these are awesome! Perfect for "June Dairy Month"!

... ... ... ... ...

At the end of the day, I really don't like collecting things that take up a lot of room. So for me, these little sets are pretty nifty. Also, if I fail to see the purpose in an item it doesn't stick with me long. It's pretty fun rotating out these little shakers, so I can justify their purpose.


And there you have it! Keeping with the thrifty theme of this blog, all of these sets were gifts. My friends are good listeners, and when they caught wind that I collect them, why, they gave me my collection. 

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Handmade Vintage-Inspired Shirt


This here is a vintage inspired wrap shirt that I sewed up in a few hours! The floral linen was gifted to me (!) the total cost of this beautiful piece of clothing was $0.



I used the basic pattern from this blog:

 http://www.sewyourhartout.com/retro-inspired-wrap-shirt-tutorial/

I made a two alterations, though, and here they are:

1. The length of the original rectangle of material could be longer. The shirt is meant to wear with a high waist, but if you have a longer torso like yours truly, you'll appreciate the extra inch or two.


2. Instead of attaching the strips of material at the corners of the rectangle, put the shirt on and pin the ties so that they fall at the smallest part of your waist. Then take off the shirt and sew them down. Also the thin strips (the back ties) should be shorter because they will hang down and show even after they are tied.


This is a close up of the front bow!



This shirt is loose and will be very cool on a warm day. It also folds easy, and fits well in a suitcase! If you have a sewing machine, honestly try this shirt, and all it will cost you is a few hours of therapeutic creativity! 

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Saturday Morning Kitchen



My amaryllis! I've had it for four years, and it hasn't bloomed for the last two. To think I almost threw it out! I'm so glad that I didn't. The runner is from the second hand store- $2! Now if only I had an iron...


Lyrics from Bethel's "It is Well." I bought frames from the thrift store and painted them. The board part is just wood cut to fit and sprayed with blackboard paint.

This here, is my great grandma's sugar bowl. And now, it is my sugar bowl. Happy, happy.