New Gig: DIY Contributor at Papernstitch

Papernstitch is one of my favorite blogs for DIYS, inspiration and small business advice, and Brittni could not be kinder or more generous (I give her full credit for our last house being featured on Apartment Therapy!).  I am very am excited to be the newest Papernstitch contributor!  I will be sharing a monthly DIY project, & my first one went up yesterday.  Visit Papernstitch to learn how to make the Faux Mercury Glass lamp" above.  My next project is already in the works, & will be up next month.  Thank you, Brittni!

I Really Love: Colette Patterns

While clicking through the internet I stumbled upon Colette Patterns, which is a small sewing pattern company out of Portland, Oregon.  The timing of this stumble is perfect, as I have been thinking a lot lately about getting into the habit of sewing more of my own clothes, but have been having a hard time finding suitable patterns.

Now I can't decide which to try first...  Maybe the Jasmine blouse...

 

 or the Ceylon dress. 

These Clover pants are an absolute must.

 As is the Beignet skirt.

Lucky for me (and for you!) Colette Patterns are reasonably priced and the website has plenty of tutorials, and even a forum where you can discuss each of the patterns and ask questions if you are stuck.

Maybe there is a fella in your life who would like a handmade shirt?  Woohoo! There is a pattern for a shirt for him, too.

 Colette Patterns is owned by Sarai Mitnick, who is a professional sewing writer.  Be sure to check out not only the Colette blog, but her personal blog, Sweet Sassafras.  Also, watch for her book, The Colette Sewing Book, which is available for pre-order on Amazon.

Color In My Studio Space

I was organizing craft supplies in their new home today and was very happy with how much color there is in this space.  Neutral, earthy rooms have so much appeal to me, but somehow wherever I am color follows.

GIVEAWAY!! Mustache on a Stick from SomethingsHidingInHere in Honor of MOVEMBER

What is Movember?

Since its humble beginnings in Melbourne Australia, Movember has grown into a global movement inspiring more than 1.1 Million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate. No matter the city or country, Movember strives to change established habits and attitudes men have about their health, to educate men about the health risks they face, and to act on that knowledge, thereby increasing the chances of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment. 

On November 1st, you can register at Movember with a clean-shaven face. For the rest of the month, selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health. 

In 2010, over 64,500 US Mo Bros and Mo Sistas helped spread the word.

Why is this important?  Because we all have men in our lives (young and old) who we want to stay healthy and vibrant, and being pro-active about their health is one of the best ways to do that.

Shauna and Stephen first made their mustache on a stick over 5 years ago. It all started because Stephen can't grow one of his own (it's sad but true). Naturally, he dreamt of all the staches he wish he could grow and started carving them from wood. one day, Shauna came home to find his collection and immediately said "Stephen, put those on a stick". The rest is photo booth history. They've made hundreds, probably over a thousand and still love seeing photos of them in use.

Looking dapper and handsome isn't the only reason to pose for a photo with a mustache on a stick. Recently, Stephen met with the fellas who started "Movember" a campaign to raise awareness about men's health (specifically cancer). A few years ago stephen's father was diagnosed and beat prostate cancer so the mission of this group is close to their hearts.  Shauna, Stephen & I wanted to get involved so we're sharing their classic mustache on a stick with as many people as we can and telling them about Movember.

.

In order to win a mustache on a stick of your very own, courtesy of SomethingsHidingInHere:

1. Visit the Movember website.

2. Leave a comment on THIS post letting me know that you have done so. You may gain an extra entry each by linking to this post on your Twitter, Facebook or blog.  Just make sure to let me know in your comment so that I can accurately keep track of your entries!


I will randomly choose a winner on the evening of Sunday, October 16 and notify Shauna and Stephen so that they can send the lucky winner their mustache.


Thank you so much for entering and for helping to spread the word about Movember! 


xo,
Katherine

BEFORE & AFTER: OUR KITCHEN

The biggest project we tackled in the new house was the kitchen.  I try not to be a princess, but it was nasty in there and needed a fresh start.  So, we replaced EVERYTHING.

We started by removing the pantry, since it was oddly configured and not very efficient at all.  We also removed the nasty texture on the walls and gave them a smooth surface and a coat of fresh white paint to match the rest of the house; replaced the back door, casing and door jam; installed new cabinets, shelving & countertops; installed new flooring; replaced the appliances; and replaced the light fixtures.

Josh and my dad removed all of the existing cabinets and Josh built all brand new ones.  He painted them Gossamer by Pratt & Lambert and used butcher block countertops & backsplash, which he ordered through his work.  The dark green barn light over the sink was on an "AS-IS" shelf at a local lighting store, and the vintage schoolhouse light in the middle of the room is from a local antique shop.

Our cabinet knobs are NOS vintage copper ones that my dad had in a box in the garage.  They were all in the original boxes and wrapped in tissue when I found them and had been sitting there for at least 30 years.  Coincidentally there were the exact number we needed!

We decided against upper cabinets on the outside wall because the kitchen is not huge and we did not want to close it in and make it feel smaller than it is.  Josh built the shelves out of mahogany, and this is where we store all of our dishes.

He used the same mahogany to build a corner shelf and the windowsills above the sink.  The sink itself is Kohler and the faucet is Moen.

An African basket from overstock.com and a small stoneware crock keep dishtowels and kitchen utensils within reach of both the sink and the stove.

Speaking of the stove...  We decided pretty early on that we wanted vintage.  We actually bought a different vintage Wedgewood originally, but were not happy with it once we got it home.  Josh found this one on Craigslist and I am thrilled with it.  My main wish was to find one with a griddle, and I am so happy that we were able to.  The pale green floor is Armstrong VCT--I can't remember the color name but can look it up if anyone wants to know.  It was inexpensive, super durable and a fun way to bring some color into an otherwise neutral kitchen.
 
Our refrigerator is also vintage and was purchased on Craigslist.  We struggled with a refrigerator purchase, as new ones are expensive and junky (at least in our price range).  I feel so lucky to have found this one in such great shape and fantastic working order.  Like the stove, the refrigerator is the same era as the house (1955) and fits well.

Canvas bins from Walmart keep table linens tidy.

Pantry items are in a cabinet now, but will soon go in a mahogany open shelving unit that Josh will build to go on the wall next to the refrigerator.

There is no dining room in the house, and the most logical place for a table is right in front of the gigantic window between the front door (which still needs to be replaced) and the kitchen.  Originally this area was carpeted, but we stretched the kitchen floor all of the way across the room.  My mom and dad gave us the antique (late 1800s) dining room table as a housewarming gift.  It has seven leaves and can stretch across the kitchen so everyone will fit at holiday dinners.  The chairs are from overstock.com, and I highly recommend them!

It has taken us months to get to this point and it is such a relief to finally be here.  I am really excited to see the open shelving unit that Josh is going to build, and will definitely share photos once it's done.

Its a Work In Progress: My Bedroom

Of  all of the rooms in the new house, the master bedroom feels the most unfinished to me.  Painting the door to the backyard white is the last of the construction-y type projects, which so far have included fresh paint, new carpet, new doors and hardware and new baseboards and door jams.

Most of the items that have made their way in here were accidental--there was definitely no decorating plan in mind, which I think is what is bothering me most.  My original though was to keep this room super neutral with more texture than color, but that went out the window the minute I brought in the colorful fabric bin (next to the teal bedside table).  After that more and more color crept in... The salmon colored fiberglass rocker, the vintage rag rug, the pink and orange clock next to the bed.

I just recently hung the vintage floral prints and I placed them high intentionally so I will have room for a headboard, which is #1 on my wishlist right now.  I almost pulled the trigger on a vintage faux-bamboo one today that I would have painted the same grey as out kitchen cabinets, but I didn't love the shape of it so I walked away.  I think I would prefer something upholstered, anyway.

So, that is where we stand with the bedroom!  After two months in the house it's still unfinished, but is getting closer and closer to being something we love

Hand-dyed Yarn

I Keep Trying...

But I can't keep him away from that pillow.

RECIPE: Rustic Apple Tart

 

 When you find yourself with this many apples (and some giant lemons) baking with them is always a good choice. 

 

 I used a recipe in Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home to made a few rustic apple tarts.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.  Peel and slice the apples, giving them a good squeeze of lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.  Add a quarter cup of sugar and a few tablespoons of cinnamon.  Stir well to make sure all of the apples are coated with the lemon juice, sugar and cinnamon.  Set aside while you make the crust.

For the crust mix 2 cups of flour, half a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of sugar in a large mixing bowl.  Cut in 14 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon of shortening.  Work the fat into the dry ingredients until you have the consistency of coarse sand.  Add one third a cup of water, and use a silicone spatula to work the dough into a solid ball by pushing it around the bowl.  Turn the dough onto a lightly floured board and roll into a circle that is about half an inch thick.  Carefully transfer the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and pile your apples in the middle, leaving a 2 inch margin around the edges.

Fold up the edges, pinching them together gently as you go around.  Place a few thin slivers of unsalted butter on top of the apples and place the tarts in the oven.  Bake for one hour, until crust is nicely browned.

This is a great recipe not only for apples, but for apricots, peaches, nectarines, or any other stone fruit.

Enjoy!  

What I Wore: Layered Pattern

Indian Summer is finally (I hope!) starting to give way to fall, and it's time to layer.  Messy Heidi braids, tomboy style and black eyeliner=my uniform.  Here is how I did it today:

striped tee: J Crew
sweater vest: vintage
leather belt: vintage
grey corduroy pants: American Eagle (2 years ago)
shoes: vintage Clarks Wallabees
plaid scarf: Banana Republic
bag: vintage

Coming Soon: Stuff for Sale

It is apparent that I have brought home way too much stuff to decorate our new house.  As such, its time to reopen a shop.  I'm working on editing and uploading everything as we speak, and will soon have lots of vintage & handmade items to peek at.

RECIPE: GINGERBREAD COOKIES

My Aunt Jo Ann has been making these gingerbread cookies for family gatherings as long as I can remember and as soon as it starts to look like fall I fill (and refill!) the cookie jar with them.

 
The recipe is pretty simple. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F, then add one jar of molasses, a cup of dark brown sugar, one third cup of oil (either vegetable or extra light olive), two thirds cup water, 6 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking soda, and one teaspoon of each of salt, cinnamon, cloves, allspice and ginger together in a bowl.

Mix, mix, mix.

The dough will be soft and sticky, so form it into a ball the best you can while it is in the bowl.  Turn it onto a well floured board and continue to work it just until it holds together well.

Divide the dough in half and roll each half into a circle that is one half inch thick.  Be generous with the flour while rolling it out so that it doesn't stick to your board.  Use cookie cutters to make your cookies.  Circles, hearts and stars are the tradition in our family!  

Bake the cookies for 15 minutes, until there is no fingerprint when gently pressed.  When in doubt, err on the side of underbaking.  These are soft cookies, and something that seems a bit underbaked fresh out of the oven will most likely be perfect when cool.  

While the cookies are cooling, beat 4 tablespoons of softened butter, a bag of powdered sugar, a bit of vanilla and a few tablespoons of milk together to make frosting.  This seems like a lot of frosting, but the cookie recipe yields 48 cookies, and you want that frosting to be thick on each one.  Don't be skimpy!

These can, of course, be eaten right away, but for some reason they really taste best on the second day.  Just make sure to store them in a sealed container to keep them fresh.

bits + pieces

linking up with bleubird vintage once again for a bits + pieces post.

1.  a rug in progress
2.  our new picnic table
3.  welcome to california
4.  sorting Lego minifigure parts
5.  double trouble
6. + 7.  new lamps
8.  from the garden