Simple Simon and Company

$5 Friday· sewing

$5 Friday–Ruffle Tights

We are gone tomorrow so I am posting a day early.... I made these "Ruffle Tights" using some tights I already had for Hannie, cutting off the toes and then pushing the open legs on to the arm of the sewing machine.  While the tights are stretched around the arm they are smooth and it is a lot easier to sew the lace straight on.  Then, when you pull them off the machine, they bunch back up and are magically ruffled. An experiment that worked very well. I then started sewing different pieces ... View the Post

Celebrations

Candlemas Day

Yesterday we celebrated Candlemas Day (along with Groundhogs Day). We've never celebrated Candlemas Day before but my husband and I are convinced that it instantly became a family tradition.Among other things we turned off anything that uses electricity and gathered together in the family room armed with books, pillows, blankets, and about 20 different brightly burning candles. And that is where we stayed until bedtime.I hate to sound corny---but it was beautiful. And peaceful. And wonderful. ... View the Post

Dresses· sewing

A white dress

I have been working on Hannie's white dress for this weekend....and having been tearing up thinking about how fast this little white dress is going to be a bridal dress.  And I really just want time to stop so I can hold my baby and kids for a little while longer.  They grow up so fast.  Sniff. Sniff. ... View the Post

The Art of Homemaking

Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan—An Experiment with Scheduling

I need help. I feel like I'm always working, always moving, and always behind. It's exhausting really.Ms. Hoole says that, "An ideal homemaker plans a program or a schedule for each day so that she is the master, rather than the victim, of her work."And since, as I stated earlier, I am increasingly falling victim to my work I have chosen scheduling to be my first topic to tackle in my revised experiment. In her book "Project Organization" Marie Ricks says that "A well-used calendar is an ... View the Post

$5 Friday· sewing

$5 Friday—A Valentine Skirt

I have been wanting to make a t-shirt ruffle skirt for awhile and decided today was the day.  I used an old white t-shirt of mine for the base (just cut it off under the arms--no making side seams and no hemming) and then cut strips of old t-shirts for the ruffles all different widths....and then went to town ruffling and sewing them on.  And here she is....a free valentine skirt. ... View the Post