Garden Beauty

It seems as if we are spending every lovely moment in this gorgeous dry weather.  No matter how hard I try, I cannot imagine spending these moments inside the house.  Whether I am walking with my girlfriends, sitting on the computer, playing ball with the kids I am outside at the moment.   It will end soon, and I want to take full advantage of every sunny moment.  It is a positive thing. ❤  The kids love dragging every meal outside as if we added a new playroom to the house.  These are all the new Target details I added to the terrace.  They are so pretty.  Tomorrow I am hoping to finish some pajama bottoms for Nicolas, and have a sewing day all to myself.  I hate to even mention it, because I don't want to jinx myself.

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Imagine That!

Nothing happened this weekend as planned, but imagine that?  I wanted to get a few things done, and then trace out a few patterns, bake a cake, and go on a bike ride.  I did none of the above.  I am hoping that maybe tomorrow will a bit different.  I am also planning to take a sewing day or two this week.  Enough chores have been done, and I need a break.  Of course, one of things we did "attack" today was Olivia's room.

We moved her furniture, cleaned out everything, and in the process realized that she has enough clothing for this summer.  That saddened me because I could not wait to make her a few dresses.  Oh well, time to tell my sister to stop sending me hand-me-downs.  I won't get to sew her anything, if I keep getting all these pretty clothes from Gymboree and Janie and Jack.  LOL.   Let's see what I can still stuff in her closet.  If not, I will sell it in my shop.

See the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Kinder-Kouture

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Sewing Room Makeover #5

Things that made me happy today.....

- Great lunch

- finishing this room

- finished shopping for Olivias bday

- classical music to calm my nerves

I admit, I cheated.  This picture does not show all the junk that is in my hallways and dining room that still needs to fit into this room.  However, I have decided that this is how I want my room to look, so some things must go.  I am now in the smallest room of the house, and although I now have a closet (it is almost full of fabric - SIGH), whatever does not fit, will be sold or go to goodwill.  So far, I am very pleased because all those little drawers are nicely organized, and I have managed to consolidate alot of my junk. Much needed space is still available.  Yippee.   I also painted each desk and gave it a fresh white look again.  Olivia managed to draw with marker on almost every cabinet.

A few notes...

- The paper hanging on my pegboard is medical paper.  I bought an entire box last year.

- Love the thought of looking at the newest Ottobre magazine.

- The cubbies are from Target (also available in Lowes).

- The document organizers, magazine holders, cd holders and photo album boxes are available at Walmart for $6 a piece in white and brown.  Great buy.

So, off to clean up the rest of the house, and hopefully tonight I will find some time to reorganize my drawers.  It is a good feeling to know that everything has its place, even though it took four days to get it done.

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Project Makeover

Whenever I stay away from my blog it is usually because I am working on a BIG project.  Something that is taking every inch of my free time that won't even allow me to think of blogging.

On Saturday, while sitting on the couch most of the day, I watched the kids play in their playroom.  It suddenly dawned on me how cramped they felt in that small room.  I suddenly felt a pang of guilt that my sewing room was the largest room in the house.  Of course, you can imagine what went through my mind.  So, I decided to switch the rooms, and give the kids a grand old playroom.  I even left my computer table in the room, and set it up as an ART center for the kids.  What the heck, I was not sewing much lately, so in the end what did it matter.

I am happy how it turned out, and it always makes the kids happy to find all their toys nicely organized.  I even went so far as to color coordinate their books.  It is taking me forever to get it finished, because I am determined to organize and declutter as I go.  However, it will be worth the effort.

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Less then 12 hours left.

My little Miss Olivia is sick.  She has the flu and a sinus infection or sinusitis.  So the last two nights have been very strenuous.  She stayed up coughing all night long on Saturday.  On Sunday she was running a high fever most of the night.  I finally called the doctor on Sunday night, and got her some antibiotics.    Today, she rarely coughed at all thank goodness.  In the picture above, she is wearing another pair of Ottobre Vilka pants that I recently sewed for her and the top is an Onion pattern.  I love it, and it fits better this year then it did last year.  I have been sewing, but getting nowhere fast.  I am working on a lovely nightgown for her, and I hope to have it done before Christmas.


Tomorrow, my Xmas present arrives at 9am in Atlanta.  That's right.   My hubby is on his way home.  I am sooooooooo excited (and a tad bit tired).  I am so looking forward to a relaxing Christmas break.  The house is clean from top to bottom.  I even managed to clean my dining room (don't laugh Sarah).  It is a joke.  While I have been undertaking one room after another to declutter and organize, my dining room became the home to everything that did not have a home.  After two months, you could not walk around the table.  It stayed that way for almost 5 months.  Now I think it looks fabulous, especially with my newly covered chairs.  Thanks David.

Found this lovely embroidery set for sale now on Dawanda or see more details here.  She makes such lovely embroidery designs, and I can just imagine this on some red fleece for a little girl.

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Sunday........Day of Peace

Sundays are always hard for me. For some reason, the kids always go to bed a little later on Saturdays, which in turn means that I stay up too late enjoying my freedom and peace and quiet. Getting up later on a Sunday is a given, and after I make the kids breakfast and sit them in front of the tv, my husband always calls. I usually do most of the talking, since his days are filled with work and other boring details that he would prefer not to share. I, on the other hand, talk about the kids, school, friends, family, and whatever else is going on at the moment in our life. Listening to every detail of our life, makes him feel like he is still a part of it. I also spend at least 30 minutes each night writing him as many details as I can about our day, plus I make it a point to send him a new picture every day. I take the time to make him happy. :)

After I finish talking on the phone with him, someone from my family calls, and then I usually get a phone call from someone in his family. Yes, my Sundays are full of phone conversations. Today, it was a total of 3 hours talking to family. I actually enjoy it, but by the time I am done, the house is a total wreck from ignoring the children and letting them watch too much tv.

So before I know it, I take my best friend - the vacuum - and go through the house quickly. I know I will need it again in the next four hours, so my friend stays parked in the hallway, waiting. Wow, it is lunchtime, and I am still in my pj's. That is so unlike me, and yet it is becoming a Sunday ritual.

What a difference my Sundays have become since my husband left. He was always a long sleeper on the weekend, but by 9am, we were always awake tending to our house and the kids. By noon, I would have everything done including myself, and be ready to attack a few projects or just relax and spend the day with family. I miss those days, and I long for them again.

Today I planned on getting the Christmas tree, but I am tired, and really hate to venture out. Sundays are meant as family days. Sundays are relaxing and filled with memories. I don't want to work today. I don't want to decorate. I want to nap, sew and watch tv. I guess being mommy is a 24 hour job, and with that said, I will put on my face, hop in the car and make the kiddies happy.

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Let the Decorations begin!

We spent the whole day outside with our neighbors putting up Christmas decorations.  It was fun, and tiring, but when all the lights went on this evening, it was such a beautiful feeling to see the kids eyes widen with such excitement as only a child could have during this time of year. Tomorrow I hope to get the inside done, and hopefully set up our Christmas tree.

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Christmas Crafting

I have always told myself that I would never get trendy and switch up my Christmas Ornaments every year, but both this year and last year I have wanted to change the tree from red and gold to white and gold and silver.  This year I fell in love with the Good Housekeeping spread of Green Christmas.  I just love the natural look of all that greenery around the house.  And oh the smells of a beautiful natural wreath is oh so sweet.  I think I have to hit Hobby Lobby tomorrow, or maybe Walmart.  I may have to buy some new bulbs.  Nicolas is in love with the star.

On top of that I also found some cute craft ideas to do with the kids, and I was really excited by the blog Girls in the Garden when she posted a link to the Christmas ball wreath.

Found this on Martha Stewarts site right here.

Lori posted a link to this site.

Other then that, life around our house was sort of boring today.  I  tried to get the house clean, but instead I did laundry almost all day.  I managed to accomplish alot of small things, but the general look of the house is still quite dirty.  Hopefully, we (and yes I mean the kids too) will be able to finish up the cleaning and head outdoors tomorrow.  Looking at my calendar today, I realized the first of advent was next Sunday.  OMG, I have alot to do, and so much to prepare for.  I always get excited about doing so much, until the holidays are here, and I am exhausted.  Hopefully my planning ahead will help out this year.  I think this year will be different.  Just the thought of him coming home for Christmas, sends an uplifting smile to my lips.   Yes, I am excited, and I have every reason to be.   Shhhhhh.....the kids sitll don't know.

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Reboot = Revamp

Who would have ever thought that my computer crashing would lead to a totally new sewing room makeover.  Well, the furniture is not new, but my newly organized desk space is.  In short, my computer was crashing on me daily - dumping physical memory several times a day.  I finally called my computer guy - and yes everyone should have one - and he told me that my hard drive is having problems.  Cause: overheating or age.  We came to the conclusion that it is probably overheating.  So I had to move it, and back it up, and now test run it for several days to see if the problem is resolved.  

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Fall is in the air in my home!

I have been doing alittle cleaning, and little decorating. What else can you do when the weather is so bad? And I am afraid that no matter how hot it is outside, I am in the mood for Fall. It just cannot come fast enough.



While shopping on Monday, I grabbed a few things to decorate with, one being this swag that I wrapped around my hurricane candle.

I even tried to get the kids in the mood, by using my cookie cutter on their P&B sandwiches, served with an apple. Yum!

The bunk bed has arrived. I moved furniture back into the room, and now it is time to finish the curtains, put the new sheets on the bed, and finish making the pillows. We are in love.

I bought these cubbies at Target last year. They do a great job shelving all those loose small objects and books that otherwise make his room look like a mess. The green fabric bins are full of artwork, crayons and junk.

This rain is getting on my nerves now. We could not leave the house again today, due to thunderstorms all morning. One minute I am turning the lights on, and the next I am turning them off, over and over again. This kind of weather puts you in a funky mood. You just want to curl up on the couch, light a Pumpkin Pie candle, and read a book.

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Lost on the F-Drive

Sometimes keeping pictures on the computer is a good thing, but sometimes they get lost in the shuffle. Today, while making a mistake with the mouse, I came across some old pictures of my sons room and baby pictures. Thought I would share them with my son and you.

This is my jewel. I am finally going to sell it. It is a german baby carriage, or pram. It comes with a bassinet, that can be removed once the child is old enough to sit in a harness. We used the bassinet for the first few weeks as a bed for Nicolas too. He enjoyed the tightness of it, and we kept it in bed with us. This was the loveliest gift I could have received from mom and dad. I cannot take it anywhere without being stopped and asked where I got it.

My sister took the time while I was in the hospital to put a german lullabye on the wall.

My mother made the bedding, decorated the lamp, painted the "N", and decorated the room.
I sewed the sleeping sack, and most of the clothes.

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Coming Together

Yup, it surely is. However, have you ever noticed when you go shopping for boys that it is the same stuff you see over and over again? I am tired of seeing Steve McQueen or the blue from Nemo. What about orange and grey, or blue and green, or black and red. It is really hard to find nice things for boys that are a little different. I would love to find some bright orange accessories to add to this color scheme. If anyone knows something that I dont, please comment. The above picture is a set of green sheets that I found in the girl section and a blue retro dot that I found in the boy section. Put them together, and add snaps at the bottom and you have a duvet cover that is perfect. I will have to go back to Walmart and get another set for the second bed. I put the duvet cover together and sewed it in less then an hour and whats even better is that I paid less then $30 for it, which includes two fitted sheets and two twin pillowcases. Now thats a deal! In the morning I just have to shake the cover, fold it and lay it on top of his bed. No tucking in the sheets or pulling on each side to line it up. I love it.

The fabrics from Yvonnes Buntefabrics arrived, and I am delighted to say the least. I love all of them, and cannot wait to figure out something I will sew with the. Any ideas. Oh, I know the pink and red dots are going to come in very handy. If I just finish this project this weekend then I will be home free.

Tonight we are off to another birthday party. This is the fourth one in less then four weeks. It is getting a bit expensive. Makes me wonder if everyone will show up for Nicolas' birthday next month? Oh well, we said we were going to keep it small this year. He will be six, and I don't think I need to spend $300 each year on a birthday party. The bed is costing enough. The funny thing is that he does not even remember his birthday party from last year! Just goes to show you.

I leave with you with a gorgeous photo I found on a very nice blog. I will be sure to catch up on my reading this weekend and post more then.

Found this on The Highest Form of Flattery.

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A good home must be made, not bought.

I am working on it. Believe me. Keeping a home happy and pretty is just alot of work, and takes alot of time. However we are making progress, and believe it or not, we are finding alot of lost items in the process, losing some, and buying some. The great thing about doing this bedroom renovation is that Target and Walmart are full of accessories for college students. Some of those items fit perfectly in his room, so I have grabbed a few things to match. The sheet sets cost me $13 a piece at Walmart, so I bought four sets, in order to make Duvet covers. The sets come with twin size pillowcases, fitted sheets and a regular twin sheet, which I turn into Duvet covers. I am hoping to avoid the hassles of making the bed if I use Duvet covers.
Things are finally getting back to normal in this house, and hopefully by next week we will be ready for our Back to School routine. We are still moving things, organizing my office, and doing the normal day-to-day necessities that must get done, but progress can be seen. I swear I will get some sewing in soon, otherwise I will go crazy. In the meantime, I put an old favorite on Olivia. This was a pattern from last years Ottobre magazine. Still love it, and hope to make another one for next summer.


In the meantime, I came across some pictures of decorating ideas that caught my eye.

What a lovely office idea. The gathered skirt really softens the look of all that junk that often surrounds a desk.

I love the symmetry in this picture.

Easy solution, where it fits. Dress up shelves with molding.

A simple paint technique to spruce up any cabinet.

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