Best Resources

Hi, took a break from furniture making. I just wanted to say that I find the best resources are old decorating books. Look in used book stores or flea markets. My best resource is my Ethan Allen catalog. It gives sizes and of course lots of ideas. I have gone out and measured furniture to get an average on heights, widths and lengths and keep this in a notebook to refer to. Contemporary furniture seems to be bigger in scale. It's confusing when I'm holding something that sized from the 19th century and comparing my measurements of a chair for today.

I've loaded more pics of the apartment. The chair and sofa are what I am making right now to put on the CDHM.org site. I call them my Retro set.

I will talk you through anything else in the room that you want to know about. Post a comment and let me know where you want to start.
TTYL Kris

First Apartment

This room box represents what I thought would be a great first apartment back in the '70's. What a dreamer!
I'm going to start on the left side and go around the room explaining what I did.
To start with in the left corner hanging from the upper cabinet, you can't see it here, but I will post more pictures, is a 90 degree wall bracket. It imitates wrought iron filigree. I made it with black quilling paper. You can also cut paper 1/8" wide and paint it black. I used it for a plant hanger, the plant is in a starter bowl made from a clear pony bead. I made the plant from Fimo and the macrame hanger is buttonhole thread. In the '70's plants were very popular. The plants I made are from Fimo or florist's tape.
The sink, stove and refrigerator are made just like the Vintage Kitchen's, I just made them in apartment size. The bowls on top of the cabinet and holding the popcorn are painted to look like Pyrex Ware. I made them from quilling paper also.
The bathroom is just a peek, but the shelf inside is nice. I copied one from an old S&H Green Stamps catalog. It's made from quilling paper, too.
Remember the stereos that folded up? This is all thin basswood and Fimo. Now, the table and chairs were something I always wanted to have, I've had to settle for them in miniature! These I will explain how to do later. They are made from the little plastic champagne glasses, taller plastic wine glasses and basswood. And lots of gesso!
The brick wall is just a brick red plastic brick sheet that's been painted flat white and sanded a bit in spots.
The book shelf has sliding doors made from brown cross stitching paper. This makes good pegboard, I remember furniture having pegboard sliding doors. The T.V. is a copy of what I had when I first got married. It's a bit tedious, but I think it's worth trying.
The rug is punch needle using embroidery floss with the loops cut off. The pictures are from catalogs and picture frame from Hobby Builders used to make the frames. The shelf on the wall has false drawers. The table is copied from and old decorating book. The lamp base I turned on a lathe and them used gesso to give it the stippled texture. We can talk about improvising a lathe. And everybody had a boomerang ash tray your aunt made at ceramics!
I crocheted the afgan from embroidery floss and made the chair, couch and ottoman from pictures from old decorating books.
If you have any preferences of where to start please let me know, I would be happy to oblige.
TTYL Kris

Crochet..the perfect solution for anxiety!

Good Morning! 

I am finally able to get on my father's computer, after I found his password, to post a little update. He couldn't remember it due to the influence of his pain medication.  My last post was made from the hospital and I have been trying to get settled in with my dad, at his house, ever since. I just brought him home yesterday. He had a bad fall last night, but is fine now.

 

Today, I'm working towards getting my laptop connected through his wireless connection. Hopefully, I will be able to do some more posting in a day or two. Thanks for visiting my blog Cindi! Trudy, I can't wait to see your post about the candle I sold your daughter and the one I gave you! I gave one to my dad last night and he was so pleased. It started a long talk on candle-making. :o)   Christi--Hey!  How are you?  I'm a little exhausted...but alive and finally kicking again. Ha!

 

 This last few days have been some of the hardest of my life, but blogging, if I can make it work, will be my sanity saver! Last night, I finally thought to bring out something to work on while we visited.  I spent the evening crocheting a colonial baby cap out of yarn while my dad talked and talked with me. It really helped pass the time and helped me be more patient.

 

At first, I was too overwhelmed to think of doing anything but sit and listen to him, but this was just what I needed to relieve the stress from this new situation.   My sister is making these caps for the Ren-fest and other shows and she showed me how to do it just this week.

 

 I'll be crocheting a pull string to lace through the edge about 2 inches from the edge.  Then you pull up the strings and tie them into a bow.  It causes the circle to puff up into a colonial style cap.  These will be great for me to sell at the next spring craft show and will also make cute baby gifts!  I'll post a picture when it's done.

 

Please keep us in your prayers.  My husband and kids are at home managing on their own and we don't know how long I will need to be here.

 

Blessings,

Donna

Wardrobe Refashion

The Pledge

I ___Donna Rodgers____ pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 / 4 / 6 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings! Signed_____Donna_____________

Can I tell you why I'm taking this pledge? Here are the reasons...let me count the ways..

1. Because it makes so much sense and it's the great American tradition.
2. Because I want to be a good steward of all that God gives me.
3. Because I love the challenge of making something new from something old!
4. Because I'm a crazy frugal addict who finds so much joy in making something out of nothing or very little.

I just love this website!  I didn't know that I wasn't the only one who loves to do this. I've been doing it all of my life just as my mother and my daughter have. Amongst my favorite projects over the years I have made a nightgown from a sheet using the old one as the pattern, tote bags from a pair of thrift store pants decorated with yo-yo's made from scraps, aprons out of skirts, new candles out of old , square dance skirts out of old curtains.

I've also made a table out of a front door, jelly from peaches off our own tree, quilts from scraps, and homemade journal covers out of leftovers from previously made clothes.Is there such a thing as a scrap that can't be used? Ninety percent of my clothes and my children's clothes come from thrift stores or were made myself.  Our whole family is so crazy about living well on shoe string, that we will soon be profiled in Jeff Yeager's new book, "The Ultimate Cheapskate....Next Door".   I'm proud to sign up for a website that promotes my favorite hobby...using the old to make the new.

If you are crazy like me...let me know! And be sure to check out this awesome website with great ideas at www.wardroberefashion.net.

Oh Boy!

I see I have 3 new followers, you all joined on the same day. Going to move onto another room box to talk about. I think the kitchen chairs are too hard to explain. Please, if you do want to know about them we can send e-mails and I will help you along. Get back to you all after Christmas. Kris

Leopard Print Settee'

This is a 1 inch scale asymmetrical settee' and it is covered in a leopard cotton print and trimmed with twisted black embroidery floss, it includes 1 black silk pillow trimmed in the same.
It's measurements are: at the highest point in the back, 3"; 5 1/4" wide; 2 3/8" deep, the tall arm is 2 1/2 high and the low arm is 2" high. It is $20.00 plus $5.00 for shipping.(U.S.A.)

Dad is in the hospital..

Right now, I'm typing from Denton ...several hours from home this morning, getting ready to go spend another day in hospital with my dad.  As you know, he has cancer and took a turn for worse only a few days ago.  He didn't sound right on the phone, so I started packing..quick.  His sweet fiance (of 20 years) had been worried all week that he was not handling the chemo very well any more and I had already planned to come stay the day after Christmas.Thank goodness, once I got here, we got him checked into the hospital, and he was mostly suffering from dehydration from too much vomiting and diarrhea along with confusion from too much pain medication. Things just sort of snowballed into what could have been a life threatening situation.

I don't know quite where we are going from here.  For now, Tim is caring for the kids, Rebekah and Ebeth are preparing for Christmas dinner, and I'm staying with my mom, about an hour from the hospital.

I will get to drive home to Houston this Christmas Eve and be there for the great Christmas gift 'reveal' and it looks like the weather will allow it..the snow didn't quite make it along the I45 corridor.  What a gift from God for me!  I will drive straight back to Denton after the dinner.  Then Nancy will go home to spend Christmas day evening and the next couple of days with her family. Perhaps we will get dad home to his house by then. The Lord knows for sure.

The halls of the oncology floor are ringing with Christmas carols being sung by the staff.  I opened the door so daddy could listen...and thank goodness, he couldn't see me crying.  It was so sweet...but sad too. It wasn't where we planned to be for the holidays...but we are celebrating because of the giving hearts of so many...

Merry Christmas and the Lord be with you however and where ever you may be celebrating today.

Christmas Memories

Christmas Memories

The Christmas tree is sparkling.
The halls, with holly, decked.
The packages of red and green,
beneath the tree are stacked.

The pitter pitter patter..
of tiny slippered feet
go running through the kitchen,
to find a Christmas treat.

The frosty snow covered windows,
show a pair of sparkling eyes,
of a tiny tot who thinks a lot,
of Santa and pumpkin pie.

But as the child goes off to bed,
we here him softly pray,
"Thank you Baby Jesus!..
for being born today!"

by Donna Rodgers (at age 12)

I wanted to share this poem with you while I have a few minutes to type.  I'm sitting on the bed in Denton...several hours from home this morning, getting ready to go spend another day in hospital with my dad.  He has cancer and took a turn for worse only a few days ago.  He didn't sound right on the phone, so I started packing..quick.  His sweet fiance (of 20 years) had been worried all week that he was not handling the chemo very well any more and I had already planned to come stay the day after Christmas.

Thank goodness, once I got here, we got him checked into the hospital, and he was mostly suffering from dehydration from too much vomiting and diarrhea along with confusion from too much pain medication. Things just sort of snowballed into what could have been a life threatening situation.

I don't know quite where we are going from here.  For now, my dear hubby is caring for the kids, my daughter is preparing for Christmas dinner, and I'm staying with my mom, about an hour from the hospital.

I will get to drive home to Houston this Christmas Eve and be there for the great Christmas gift 'reveal' and it looks like the weather will allow it..the snow didn't quite make it along the I45 corridor.  What a gift from God for me!  I will drive straight back to Denton after the dinner.  Then Nancy will go home to spend Christmas day evening and the next couple of days with her family. Perhaps we will get dad home to his house by then. The Lord knows for sure.

I have thought about several posts to do, but for now..I'm just sitting across from my dad in the hospital room eating cookies some angel provided the families of cancer patients who can't be home for the holidays. I called his priest, Father Morris, and he came and prayed for my dad yesterday and it just made his day. He will also come serve himand Nancy a Christmas Eve communion. That just blessed me to no end!  And another family member who lives nearby, his cousin, will also come to see him today.  A sister is working to get here for a week after the holidays so she can help too.

The halls of the oncology floor are ringing with Christmas carols being sung by the staff.  I opened the door so daddy could listen...and thank goodness, he couldn't see me crying.  It was so sweet...but sad too.  It wasn't where we planned to be for the holidays...but we are celebrating because of the giving hearts of so many...

Merry Christmas and the Lord be with you however and where ever you may be celebrating today.

Love,
Donna

A Christmas Poem

Christmas Memories

The Christmas tree is sparkling.
The halls, with holly, decked.
The packages of red and green,
beneath the tree are stacked.

The pitter pitter patter..
of tiny slippered feet
go running through the kitchen,
to find a Christmas treat.

The frosty snow covered windows,
show a pair of sparkling eyes,
of a tiny tot who thinks a lot,
of Santa and pumpkin pie.

But as the child goes off to bed,
we here him softly pray,
"Thank you Baby Jesus!..
for being born today!"

by Donna Rodgers (at age 12)

I wanted to share this poem with you while I have a few minutes to type.  I'm sitting on the bed in Denton...several hours from home this morning, getting ready to go spend another day in hospital with my dad.  He has cancer and took a turn for worse only a few days ago.  He didn't sound right on the phone, so I started packing..quick.  His sweet fiance (of 20 years) had been worried all week that he was not handling the chemo very well any more and I had already planned to come stay the day after Christmas.

Thank goodness, once I got here, we got him checked into the hospital, and he was mostly suffering from dehydration from too much vomiting and diarrhea along with confusion from too much pain medication. Things just sort of snowballed into what could have been a life threatening situation.

I don't know quite where we are going from here.  For now, my dear hubby is caring for the kids, my daughter is preparing for Christmas dinner, and I'm staying with my mom, about an hour from the hospital.

I will get to drive home to Houston this Christmas Eve and be there for the great Christmas gift 'reveal' and it looks like the weather will allow it..the snow didn't quite make it along the I45 corridor.  What a gift from God for me!  I will drive straight back to Denton after the dinner.  Then Nancy will go home to spend Christmas day evening and the next couple of days with her family. Perhaps we will get dad home to his house by then. The Lord knows for sure.

I have thought about several posts to do, but for now..I'm just sitting across from my dad in the hospital room eating cookies some angel provided the families of cancer patients who can't be home for the holidays. I called his priest, Father Morris, and he came and prayed for my dad yesterday and it just made his day. He will also come serve himand Nancy a Christmas Eve communion. That just blessed me to no end!  And another family member who lives nearby, his cousin, will also come to see him today.  A sister is working to get here for a week after the holidays so she can help too.

The halls of the oncology floor are ringing with Christmas carols being sung by the staff.  I opened the door so daddy could listen...and thank goodness, he couldn't see me crying.  It was so sweet...but sad too.  It wasn't where we planned to be for the holidays...but we are celebrating because of the giving hearts of so many...

Merry Christmas and the Lord be with you however and where ever you may be celebrating today.

Love,
Donna

Christmas is the time for giving...what are you giving this year?

Guess what I got my hubby for Christmas? That's right...a dream come true for him..a Cello! I also pre-paid his lessons, because once the bonus is gone...it's gone and we'll never find room in the budget to keep it up!  Monday morning,at 6:30pm..he is scheduled to meet his teacher--though he doesn't know it yet!

Of course, we need a lot of things, but part of being a good wife or a good husband is helping make their dreams come true.  Mine was producing my own music CD...for the kids it was flying gliders, buying a horse, Civil Air Patrol, Speech and Debate and a National Tournament.  We've all gotten to pursue our dreams...all of us except my dear hubby.

It's his turn and we can use the rest of the bonus to buy another car to replace our creaky old van later, with whats left over.  But I just know in my heart,  that now is the time for my computer programming faithful guy to do something he really loves...make beautiful classical music..on the instrument he's always loved and dreamed about.  Yo-Yo Man...watch out!!


Of course, along with lessons and music books, comes the need for a masculine tote bag.  Thank goodness, Shona needed one for her little guy! After racking my brain to meet the 'masculine' criteria, I came up with a fabulous idea!!  (At least I think so!)

Check out my other blog for a quick "How To" for making this great gift idea-- a formal and masculine musical Bach tote bag.  (What's more masculine than a classical composer bust?)

It is easy enough for anyone to do...but elegant enough to qualify for posting on my 'art blog'.  Check out..  Bach Tote Bag

I can't wait to make one that says " TIM" on it!
Merry Christmas!

PS. Send me a note (in the comment form) and let me know what favorite "surprise" gift you are giving this year...or what is the best one you have ever received?  I'd love to hear from you!

And if you know my hubby....SHhh!  It's a SURPRISE!!!

Making Christmas Gifts for Friends and Family

One of my sisters-in-law, is a lawyer in Washington, D.C.  She's a very accomplished woman and I'm sure she's "on the go" a lot.  She didn't seem to be the type of person who cares for 'froo-froo'.  Her daughter, Jordan, is about eight and I wanted to make something they would like and that would work better than my typical 'tote bags' for traveling.

What I came up with was a set of fanny packs for both of them.  I knew Mary had worn one once when our families went to the zoo with all the kids and thought she might prefer this kind of bag.

You really need to check out Hobby-Lobby if you want some great items to embellish! They have the cutest bags already made and ready to decorate--aprons, purses, backpacks etc.  As soon as I can get these gifts in the mail, I'll show you how to make the yo-yos that I love so much.





I plan to post a tutorial for "Making Yo-Yo flowers for Embellishment" on my other blog Homemaking Made Easy, either tonight or tomorrow and then you can try it for yourself.  Be careful though...these are addicting!  The whole project doesn't take me more than an hour and a half..and that's for two bags.

Have Fun!

Yes Virginia...it really did snow in Houston!

For the second time in our personal history in Houston...it snowed..for real!!  I happened to have Christmas music playing while I was sewing for the Christmas craft show.  Tim called from Denton where it WASN'T snowing to tell me.

Within 30 minutes, this is what it looked like in our front yard!  It didn't stick but it was still awesome!

Poor kids--they were in Denton too at a tournament and missed it.  But they did get to play in the snow here last Christmas.  Wow..we could get used to this!

Craft Sale Giveaway!

Ok Ladies (and gentlemen like my friend, Paul, who are undercover crafty-types), I would like to announce my first ever give-away contest!

 It's really just to get a little community started of people who would like to know when I post new tutorials or articles on how to make homemaking a little easier.  I'd like to hear from you very much!

As you know, from my last post, I didn't quite sell all of the things I made...so here is what I'm offering as prizes to those who vote on the following topic ideas and who sign up to follow my blog...

Here's how it will work...I will use a random generator to pick the winners..

If you sign up to follow my homemaking blog...I will enter your name once (but you need to vote too!) and if you sign up and vote on my art blog DC's Creations, I will enter your name twice!

 And if you are at all interested in music and poetry about the home.. ..then you can sign up to follow my music/art blog and get your name put in a third time!! (You can check out my music and poetry blog at Songs and Poems of Home.  My favorite is  Let Your Children Dream.

I also use my son, Christian's, photography, to illustrate the songs or just family pix.  They really are pretty amazing photos...he has the family 'knack' I guess...music, art, poetry...etc--except that my photos are not artistic like his.  I consider all three blogs an opportunity to be a blessing to you...my friends.

PRIZES!!  I will be giving away three prizes every week.  The first prizes will be the last tote bag..sniff!..the last two matching aprons (both the same size...about size 10), one set of the four different scrapbooking cards I made at Nicole Watson's workshop and a fabric covered journal cover.  The second prizes will be homemade scented candles and the third prizes will be pure homemade castile soaps.

My sister and I spent two days making soap. She is the expert and taught me how..though I haven't tried to do it all by myself yet!  The soaps are small but they are nice little things...scented with potpourri and shaped like shells. They are made of pure olive oil and of course lye. (No doubt, in January, I'll be able to post my soap making pix.)

I want you to vote on the following topics that I could cover over the next few months... Which one would be your favorite and why?  Is there something you'd like to see posted, that's not on the list? Let me know! I'd love to help you or direct you to a good source.

I'll announce the winners every Saturday evening...  I'm looking forward to meeting you!  I'm really happy about getting to share some of my homemade goodies with you. :o)

Which Topic is Your Favorite ??!!

Soap Making
De-Cluttering
Yo-Yo Flower Making
How to Roast Meat
Easy Family Devotions
Making Prom Dresses Modest
A Super Easy Baby Gift to Make
 Homeschooling in a Crisis
Housecleaning for Kids
Home Remedies that Really Work!
HomeSchool Record Keeping Made Simple
How to Cook Chicken Fried Steak
Rules for Washing Laundry
Weddings Made Cheaper

Costumes...Getting Dressed Up
Sand-candle making for kids


How to Knit Hats...without learning to Knit!
How to KEEP the House clean!

Super-tonic...fighting the flu!
Homemade Cleaners
Kid-Friendly Cleaners
How to Build a Chicken Coop
How to make Jelly
How to Sew Shorts
Teach Your Kids How to Cook
 A Day in Our Family's HomeSchool
How To  Make Jelly
How to Decorate Cakes
Healthy Recipes

How to Alter a Dress
Kids Helping Build a Building
Exercise for Those Who Don't
Easy Easter Crafts 
Easy Mother's Day Ideas

 Summer Sanity!
How to Arrange Your Furniture

Pre-School Made Easy
How to Cover a Couch Cushion

Super Easy Skirts

Homemade Games for Kids

Monthly Deep Cleaning...30 Minutes a Day

How to Hem Pants or a Dress 

Keeping Toddlers Happy 

Cheap Dates

Funny Ties for Father's Day

Fence Gardening

Pizza Made Easy

Raising a Moth from a Cocoon

Candy Wedding Favors

Quilting for Beginners

How to Crochet your Own Dishcloths

How to Raise Chickens

Easy Glass Painting

HomemadeValentines Day Goodies

Cooking for Kids

How to Bake Bread

How to Make Pickles
Five Easy things you can Make from Bread Dough

Christian's concert video

Christian doesn't care for this video, because the band had such a hard time getting started, but remember it was only their second time to actually play 'as a group'.  It gets better as it goes!

Christian's Christmas Band Concert

Christian's first band concert..

plays the trumpet.

He has been performing in the intermediate band and had two concerts with the Instruments of Praise this week.

  He played at a nursing home on Friday morning and at a church in Houston on Monday evening.

The band sounds pretty rough, partly because too many of the kids don't practice as they should and partly because they only practice as a group once before the concert.

There are five different bands in five different locations and they only gather as a group and play once.  It makes it very difficult for them to keep in time with each other.

 Christian did well, regardless.  He's the best trumpeter in the intermediate band.  Mr. Sommers does an excellent job working with so many kids in so many different locations.

We are really proud of Christian, of course! 

Elisabeth, Rebekah, and Jacob all came too.  It was a special evening for our family!