THe Art of Homemaking: Let Every Room Fulfill It's Function

"Remember, a wonderful aid to orderliness is a function for every room!"

-Daryl V. Hoole

So this week I've been thinking about what the function of each room should be and then how to make them the most functional.

For example:

The room I spent the most time on this week was the family room.  This is where we spend the bulk of our time.  It's where I sew and cut patterns, where my husband relaxes on the couch, where Simon reads, where Gracie colors, and where Ruth plays on the rug.  It is also where we watch movies, have camp outs, play games and read stories.  When I asked my husband what the function of the family room is he said "fun".  I agree and our room reflects that.

Our house isn't for everyone---you can tell that we are...um...always doing something.

Our walls are lined with shelves that are filled with blocks and books and fabric and paint and markers and colored pencils and the like instead of with cool vases and interesting knick knacks. 

I used to fret because my house isn't cool like other peoples homes and worried that people would think I was crazy for doing things like setting up a sewing machine in our family room...but I don't worry so much anymore.  I think I finally get something I read in a book a long time ago.  It said to be grateful for the home you have right now, knowing that at this moment it's all you need.

I think sometimes it's easy to get caught in I can't really organize this room until we are out of the baby stage or I can't really make this room usable until I can afford new furniture or I can't keep this out here because it's not stylish.

But I finally get it---all I have is all I need.  So let's live the life we have.  (Sure we can hope for more, better, or different...but until those changes happen let's make the most of what we have.)  And right now my life consists of hand me down couches (worn but clean), toys on the shelves, and a cutting matt tucked behind the TV hutch.

All I have is all I need...and all I need is within reach in our family room.

I worked this week to organize this family room area---toys were resorted into bins---books re shelved by age level---the kids supply hut (stored in the closed shelving portion of the TV hutch) gone through and cleaned---and sewing table area purged.

I got rid of the magazines clogging up the storage shelf under a table to make way for the lap top and my sketch book.  Then I even added a few of the games we play most to one of the shelves so that they will always be handy.

I also have reminded the family about some of the family room rules---no bringing food or drinks into the family room---get dressed in your bedroom, not in front of the TV while your watching cartoons---before you can start a new project you need to clean up the one you were working on before---take your shoes off---and so on...I think these rules will help the family room to fulfill it's purpose as a place to play, create, relax, and have fun.

This week I'll be attacking the bedrooms---I think I want to get all of the toys out of them and make bedrooms just a place for keeping our clothing, getting dressed, reading, and sleeping.  Am I going crazy?  Maybe.  But I think I'm going to try it.  At least for the summer.

Do you have any feelings or ideas on the function of a particular room in your home or how you help a room to fulfill it's function?  I always love hearing your thoughts.

-liZ



Easy Swimsuit Cover-Up Tutorial for $5 Friday

 Yesterday was the last day of school.  Which means that today is the first day of summer vacation!

Hooray!!!

I'm so excited.  I LOVE summer vacation.

All of it---the kids, the heat, the snow cones, the sun, and especially all the water.

SO back HERE when I made The Endora Top and Elizabeth said that maybe I could change it into a cover-up for this summer I was all about it.

I think I actually went that afternoon and bought everything I needed to get started.  And then all I did was follow the exact same steps I used for the shirt except that instead of making it out of vintage fabric rectangles I made it out of some super soft microfiber dish towels that I bought at the dollar store.

The cover up was actually easier than making the shirt because it is made out of 2 dishtowels sewn together so there was no need to finish edges or anything.  It was one of those honest to goodness 30 minute projects (and that includes sewing the rick rack Grace picked out onto the bottom).

In fact, it was so fast and easy that I even made one for baby Ruth that afternoon as well.

Except hers is made out of the bar length towels (they were shorter and wider than the dish towels which was perfect) and we made a little fish to put on hers instead of the trim.

So if you want a fast project that only costs $2, whip up one of these cover-ups.

And then the only thing you'll have left to worry about is whether or not you have the courage to take the plunge!

-liZ

PS---I made these cover-ups a month or two ago but yesterday Grace got to try her's out at a neighborhood water party.  It was a big hit.  We just pulled it on after she was tired of playing in the water and it warmed her right up!

PS---To make one of these cover-ups all you really have to do is follow THIS TUTORIAL and just omit the steps like measuring for length (I just used the entire dish towel) and finishing the edges and hemming (the dishtowel already has finished edges that are safe for the washing machine).  It's crazy easy, I promise. 

Linked Here, Here, and Here

Thrifted Thursday: Fiesta Ware

My sister is again responsible for today's thrifted Thursday.  She called me in a panic from an estate sale asking if I wanted any Fiesta Ware.

Did I want any Fiesta Ware?  Seriously....ummmm......YES!!!!!

I absolutely ADORE the colors of Fiesta Ware.  They are amazing.

And since I can't show you it all at once (I have to leave you in suspense somehow, don't I?)  I am just showing you the greens today.

In all honesty, I am not sure that all of it is actually Fiesta Ware.  The teapot is marked Fiesta as well as the larger bowl on the left.  But the cups are not marked and neither are the saucers.  And one other green plate (not shown) is marked "Pacific 205 Made in the USA" on the bottom.

Any experts?

~Elizabeth

An Updated Units Style Jumper

 I warned you I'd be posting another Units project today...

and I really like this one.

A lot.

Back in the day when I wore "Units" I had a particular favorite.  It was a one piece, grey and white striped, sleeveless, boat neck jumper.  I LOVED it and wore it all the time with either a white or hot pink waistband. 

So when I decided to revisit Units in my drafting class I knew I wanted to remake that outfit into a modern one for Gracie.

 So I started with the jumper idea and made Gracie's outfit a one piece jumper that buttons up the back.  I made it out of knit true to the Units style but instead of making it out of a striped print like mine was I color blocked Gracie's instead.  Then I gave her the sleeveless top with a rounded neckline instead of a boat neck.  

Now, my jumpers were from back in the day so they were kind of bunchy at the waist and tapered down to the ankle.  However, I wanted to give Gracie a flared leg and a fitted waist. 

The fitted waist allows the top portion of the jumper to blouse over and omits the need for the wide waist bands.

I like it.

It reminds me of my old jumper without being an exact copy. 

It was a fun outfit to draft and sew. 

But I was so excited when Gracie tried it on that I took these pictures before I even finished hemming the pants.

(Can you see the hem hanging down in some of the photos?)

Oh well, they're finished now and I love to see her wearing it.

And I have big plans for similar style jumpers for the fall...but until then I'll try to control myself and avoid any more Units posts for awhile....

I linked this project HERE and Here

An Updated Peasant Dress

Because I was updating The Pillowcase Dress a couple weeks ago, I thought it also time to do a bit of an update to the Peasant Dress too.  And since Liz and I have both had maxi dresses on the brain....it was a logical choice ;)

Sorry no tutorial for this one.....mostly because I was using a self-drafted pattern that I made specifically for Hannie.  But if you have a peasant dress pattern you love (this one, or this one are good, or here is a tutorial that is good too) I can tell you what I did.

For the fabric I used a cotton-silk blend (with maybe some rayon in it? It wasn't expensive enough to be full cotton and silk) print from Joann's.  I love the fabric, especially as a maxi dress...but be forewarned it is a bit see-through.  She has a slip and a cami on for this picture (and definitely needed it!)

Here is what I did if you want to make one too.....

If you are making a maxi dress out of a cotton print....you are going to need a kick pleat in the back.  Otherwise a little girl will not be able to run or walk well for that matter.  (And that is a necessity.)

Measure the length you want your dress.  Add 1 inch for a hem at the bottom.  Cut out the front in one piece, BUT for the back you are going to need 2 separate piece.  Instead of cutting the back on the fold cut two pieces and leave 1 inch for the back seam.

Sew up the back seam leaving 10 inches at the bottom.  Then I finished the kick pleat the exact same way I finished the back of this dress (sans the button closure of course).

The only other adjustment is some elastic thread around the middle to cinch in a bubble waist.  And that's it!

Hopefully that makes sense.  If not...email me and I will help as much as I can.

~Elizabeth


P.S.  I linked this up here and here.

Whatever Happened to Units?

 Am  I the only one who wore Units growing up?

I can't remember wearing hardly anything else other than Units in 6th grade.

(The skirts, the dresses, the stretchy pants....and those totally awesome knit belts!!!!)

Although I have to admit that even though I wore Units almost daily they weren't the actual "Units" brand.  See, I grew up here in Utah (which I believe is the knock-off capital of the world) so of course in town there was a little shop open where you could go and pick your knit, have your measurements taken, and then a group of women sewed you up whatever units you would like...and they had bins and bins FULL of the band belts in all of the coolest colors...it was heaven.  (I recently was thinking about those women...I bet they made a killing in the late 80's.)

Anyways...those were the days, and the clothes.  So remembering all of this I decided to try out a "Units' outfit for Grace as my first official outfit for my drafting class. 

Sure there are some issues...I don't like the neckline or the sleeves...but I learned how to draft a pattern like this in just one piece, and some great tips on using knits so it wasn't a total fail.

Plus...I got to do an entire post about "Units".

(Even if it was like 3 months after I actually made the dress.)

Wednesday, I'm going to post the Units jumper I made Grace next---I kind of love it, even if it doesn't have the band.  So I'm warning you...there will be at least one more Units love post.

Consider yourself warned.

liZ

PS---Happy Memorial Day

The Art of Homemaking: It All Started When My Husband Lit the Wok on Fire

"Order helps a home to run smoothly...much frustration and time are saved...order sets the stage for power and accomplishment, and when a home reflects tender loving care, everyone benefits."

---Daryl Hoole (The Art of Homemaking)

I'm trying...heaven help me I'm trying but somedays (or weeks) it seems that the universe is conspiring against me.

I've been working on Facet No.4 "A Place for Everything" and making my home a sanctuary .  But somehow, this week, instead of our home increasing in order it exploded...I think it all started the night my husband lit the wok on fire (right now he's currently banned from the kitchen) and then that incident seemed to spark a chain of events that spiraled out of control until one fateful afternoon when we had a troop of police officers surround our house.

Yes.  You read that right.  A troop of police officers both surrounded and searched my house this week. 

No.  I'm not kidding.

 

 

The morning had been stressful.  I needed to get everyone off for the day and then the girls packed up and with me for another doctors appointment.  We rushed out of the house without even moving the breakfast remnants off of the table. 

 

 

However...the kitchen table was the least of my housekeeping worries...the day before I had sorted all the laundry in the ENTIRE house into GIANT heaps on my bathroom floor, on my bedroom floor were mounds of clothing from my husband and I trying to clean out our closet, then the rest of the house (give me strength) was literally a stew of boxes and bins of everything from clothing to toys to knick knacks as I had been trying to go through things for a yard sale...and the basement was the worst part---the kids have been playing down there while I've been sorting and I think every toy we own was out.  It was bad.  Real bad.  No order in this house.  What happened to my sanctuary?

 

 

But I wasn't worried either...I knew that after I got these doctors appointments over with I would have time to keep plowing through these projects and my house would soon be awesome.

 

 

However...

After being gone all morning I turn in the driveway to find my front door WIDE open. 

 

 

And instead of being worried about robbers the only thing I can think about is that everyone in the neighborhood can look right straight into my home and see the 6 loads of laundry piled on the couch and surrounded by the Mega Blocks and Strawberry Shortcake mixture on the floor.  I was horrified.  (Again by the thoughts of people seeing my messy house and not the serial killer waiting inside.)

 

 

I was talking to Elizabeth when I pulled into the driveway.  She said "Liz, you have to call the police."

But I hung up the phone and called my husband. 

He said "Liz you have to call the police."  And I said "Are you crazy?  Have you seen our house???  They can't come in!!!" 

But he said if I didn't call then he would.  (Husbands, they don't understand anything!)
So I called, and they came...and while I stood there on the sidewalk 3 officers searched my home for bad guys while I explained to an officer waiting with me that while they may think my house was ransacked it really wasn't---we are apparently just live in shambles.  "It's the newest trend," I said.  "Extreme Shabby Chic.  I invented it."

 

 

I was so embarrassed...so much for creating order.

 

 

Since then things have calmed down.  (Oh and no worries---no bad guys were found and nothing was missing.  I don't know what happened.  If I didn't shut the door, or if I left it unlocked and some neighbor kids came in---which wouldn't be the first time.)

 

 

So this week the topic is still under "A Place for Everything" and the focus is"Let Each Room Fulfill It's Function".

I plan to work specifically on our family room and our bedrooms but since this post is already a mile long...I'll just report next week on how and what I did.

(I just pray it won't involve any fires, the police, or ransacked houses.)

Enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend!

liZ