While I am sharing exceptionally ooh-aaah images I have to include the new Airstream travel trailer by Design Within Reach. Oh my gosh. I could be compelled to spend time in an RV should it look like this. As it stands I am puzzled by the monopoly 80’s style upholstery and fake oak trim seem to have on the RV world. They could stand to take a cue from these:

So this is a long story short. I saw a Stendig style wall calendar in a magazine and fell in love with the bold fonty look. I was less in love with the price (not to mention it wouldn’t really work in this house – but that hasn’t stopped me from hatching plans before ; )) Leave it to Martha to save the day with an idea even better than that – a DIY chalkboard calendar wall.

Which I love nearly as much as this wall which now I can’t track back to its owner. : / I “think” I found it on House Obsession this wknd. If it is yours – I LOVE it.

This is the first of our sewing projects this fall. Seems right after I publicly declared my disinterest in sewing clothing we launched into….. sewing clothing. ; ) Once the sewing supplies were all organized and the table cleared it became much more inviting. This time I have little elves to help too.

Friends have discussed life skills curricula – both purchased and home grown lists – to use with older children. Our approach has been more laid back but very effective. We figure if we never do a job alone then eventually they will learn to do all that we can do. That doesn’t equate to brilliance, granted, but hey, we are fairly proficient at basic life skills. So that has been the way we have done things. This sewing venture has been no exception.

Alannah and I worked side by side on this one. I showed her how I read and laid out the pattern pieces and she did most of the machine work. This pattern (McCall’s 9603) was less than ideal. The piecing instructions were unnecessarily complicated. We will employ logical shortcuts next time like attaching the sleeves to the shoulders (and finishing the wrists) before running up the sleeve and side seams. Also their neck facing was a mess and didn’t even fit the neck of the bodice. We will use bias tape or ribbon or the like from here out.

Still, one look at the sweet corduroy print made it worthwhile. : )

Girls, check this out. Another must try project. Thrift stores tend to have those old popcorn tins in abundance. Never occurred to me to repaint and label them. Til now. : ) And of course I can’t stop thinking about it now. So unless Jen sends me the real McCoy from her trip next week I am tucking this idea into my brain for future projects.

The Nester linked to this post which she calls the Laziest Slipcover tutorial ever. I am claiming that prize however! Honestly the couch was even easier. The secret to my lazy success? Two words – Staple Gun. Ok two more – safety pins.

I bought a pair of these couches some 5 yrs ago at a sale on base. They originally lived in the Officers Club lounge so they were commercially sized (nearly 100 in wide) and built for lots of use. The down side was they were covered with an oatmeal tweed which looks quite nasty after very little use. They were already yucky looking when I got to them but the frame and springs were rock solid and they were large enough for our clan. For less than $100 a piece I snatched them up.

We have used premade slipcovers on these over the years but they come undone so easily it was a constant battle to keep them tidy. I hatched a plan last spring to reupholster. The fabric is a faux leather from – where else? Walmart. It was less than $8/yard. I picked up ten yards and then got cold feet. As the pregnancy progressed it just started to seem monumental. I was going to buy more slipcovers and an extra to make separate cushions. Then decided shoot, I already have the material. It is going to need sewing anyway. On a whim, Moira and I tracked down the staple gun and had at it. Less than an hr later we had the whole frame covered.

The cushions were a breeze since they are squares. We just set the cushion on a rectangle of fabric, sewed up the sides and literally – pinned the bottoms. You never see them and I don’t do zippers.

Let me tell you what we learned about the base. First look closely at your upholstery. Chances are the sides went on first and wrapped tightly around the arms. This is what I have seen in upholstery bks and what we did. What we didn’t do was rip off all the existing upholstery. I am ambitious but not insane. Instead, we pulled the new fabric tight and stapled into any bit of frame we could find. Where we couldn’t, we pinned (large safety pins). Then we folded fabric and draped it across the front and back, over the stapled sections. Since it is a faux leather it doesn’t move much but rather catches on the other layer and holds.

If you look very closely, as I am now that I have close ups, it is not professional at the folds. BUT, I generally have a throw tossed over the arms anyway. It is durable, easy to clean and we have commercial quality sofas for next to nothing. Enough for me!

I think it would have been an easier job with twill or the like. Not sure I would do the leather look fabric again simply because I don’t like it as well draping in front. To me, leather ought to be tightened down everyplace. But, since this is a lazy woman’s tutorial you can see it didn’t bother me enough to rip it off and replace it. I feel fairly certain my children will eventually irreversibly damage some part of it, allowing me to try again with something else. I am so fortunate that way lol!

Now there’s an inventive title. I am so going to have to try this though. The scrapbook section of any craft store has tons of these clear-backed quote stickers and rub-ons. The thrift shop has tons of plates. This is the equivalent of the Reese’s chocolate and peanut butter collision commercials from the 70’s (80s?) lol! It should happen.

Check out Bless Our Nest for more fall decorating splendor.

Oh, you are going to love this one. This article was linked on the Playschool6 list yesterday. I couldn’t have said it better myself. Here is an exerpt:

For me, being a Mom isn’t about buying a lot of electronic toys or decorating my daughter’s room as a fantasy castle. It isn’t even about having exciting adventures, or giving my kids the opportunity to take every possible after-school activity or sport that today’s culture seems to offer. What it is mostly about is time. Time being present with my children. Time to let Emma take her own time: to put on and pull off her shoes twenty times if she wants; time to figure out how to get her arm in the sleeve; time to scoop her own cereal. Time to let her set her own table, again and again and again. Time to cuddle with her on the low bed and read her favorite book over and over and over. It is a quiet way of spending time and letting her grow guided by an environment where she is safe to explore and learn about her world.

Do read it in its entirety to get a good feel for what makes a day in a Montessori home. This could have easily been titled A Waldorf Home in many ways. No tv, natural materials, rhythm and routine. Whatever you call it, it is simply delightful.

(For more ideas and images of Montessori in the home check out How to Raise an Amazing Child.)

My favorite season has arrived. Can you tell?

The lace curtains in the living room are gathered with small grapevine wreaths year round. In fall they sport autumnal colors. In late November we will change out the garland and wreaths for pine. In spring/summer with hydrangea or baby’s breath. (Yes I detest the blinds behind them. They were a neccessity in this south facing room to save the piano. If we stay here forever we will replace them with plantation shutters eventually.)

This is another little basket project done. I repurposed a gift basket from the baby shower and made a coffee station for Allen. The kids tend to take his coffee cups and travel mugs to use as regular drink cups and they are not to be found. So, I gathered the mugs, the travel cup, some sugar and creamer and napkins into a basket for two to four to enjoy since that is generally all the coffee that we serve around here.

And finally – a sneak preview of the newly reupholstered couch. I will try to upload some before photos and directions in the next day or so. It was easy-peasy I promise. Stay tuned