Men's Button Down to Kid's Button Down

Making clothes for your kids is rewarding and fun, especially when you can remake a thrift store find into something cool.

First, you will need a button down shirt that fits. I chose one that was a little big for my son, so that he could grow into them (if I'm making the effort, I want them to last).

Next, get your thrift store find. I have found that the sizes of men's shirts vary, but the sizes of the collars tend to be close to the same size. The shirt shown, I was not able to use. It was a 3X and the collar was just too big for my six year old's body. But the idea is there. Lay the kid's shirt over the big one so that the collars align. Draw a line around the body of the shirt. Then, move the shirt to the sleeves and draw a line around them, make sure you have the sleeves aligned at the cuff.
Sew the sleeves on the shirt (sorry for no picture), then sew the length of the sides. Fold over the hem and sew.

The results: five new shirts from thrift store finds costing about $15. Plus, I have leftover fabric that will make boxers, dog toys, and shirts for my son's favorite puppy dog toy. The hardest part was getting my son to try them on (he was playing video games). Now, I'm on the lookout for a "Magnum PI" hawaiian shift, because every kid should have one. If only we could duplicate the trademark mustache......
Happy Sewing!

School Clothes Dressing Board

Since I work most nights of the week, I arrive home just in time to take my son to school. His older sisters are in high school, so they spend the better part of their morning doing hair and makeup. Often times, I get home an my son is still in his pajamas.

After about a week of mad dashing to get the right clothes and find the lost shoe under the couch, I devised a board.

This board is designed to go behind the door so it doesn't turn into the centerpiece of a child's room. This is a left over piece of plywood that resembles the size of my child. I painted it in the colors of my son's paint swatch room and added hooks and clamps. The top hook hold a hanger for shirts, the bottom for pants. I used a garment hanger so I could clamp pants in. The hooks were predrilled holes for easy placement, and the clamps (office supplies) were glued in place and taped with duct tape to dry. Careful of runny glue.  The two clamps are for socks and underwear. Place shoes at the bottom.
Once everything is dry, I screwed it into the wall, or you could Command Strip it in place.

The idea was to have my son help pick out clothes for the next day, but also give him creative freedom with what he wants to wear to school.

A few times, I had to step in on his choices....

All in all, this is a great time saver. My daughters grab his clothes without using up their before school time, my son is happy with his wardrobe selections, and I like spending a few minutes with him every night setting up for the next day. I also am giving him style lessons without him knowing. :)

Total cost: free for me, I had everything I used.
Total cost from scratch: $3-4 plywood from salvage bin, $5 paint, $2 hooks and clamps

Sun Dried Tomatoes

This summer, I have had a huge crop of cherry tomatoes (and other small varieties). My son planted seeds given to him from a garden show in San Francisco. These were the result. Standard cherry, pale yellows that were very tasty, and small oblong heirloom looking ones.
I decided I wanted to take advantage of the HOT sun, and dry them. But first I had to make a drying system.
This is where my neighbors came in. An old man was selling odd sized pallets for $2, and other neighbors were redoing all their windows - so I asked for their old screens.

First, I tore apart the plallet and built a frame. I also made sure the screen would fit.  The second frame was made to rest inside the first. I simply laid the first frame down and built the second by laying the pieces inside. I used small nails, but I found that after a few drying sessions, I had to replace the nails with screws with washers and nuts.

Screen was tacked on with a staple gun to the tops of both frames. This created a space for the tomatoes to sit.
How To Dry Tomatoes:
1. Cut tomatoes 1 1/2 inch thick, or in my case cut small tomatoes in half
2. Lay on screen without touching one another, air circulation is key!!
3. Place screens in a sunny location that will not get any moisture.
4. Within a few days, tomatoes should no longer be "tacky". They will be easy to move around the screen and slightly crunchy if you pop them in your mouth (yum).
5. Store in an airtight container and freeze, or pack in sterile jar with olive oil. Use within a year.

I chose to freeze my tomatoes. So far, they are the best snack loaded with flavor. They are also great when added to soups in the winter.

Dry Happy!

Decor via paint swatches

This weekend, I did a makeover on my son's room while he was visiting his dad. After seeing some things on the internet about paint swatches, I decided to paint everything. Since he is the last of four children, I had a mish-mash of different pieces in his room. Nothing matched. White walls with a few crayon marks on them....where was I when he did that?? Toys all over. Before he left, my son and I did a "game" of Keep-or-Giveaway. We often go to thrift stores, so he understood the concept of giving other kids the opportunity to play with his old toys. I am very proud of him, he gave up two large boxes of odd ball toys.
It took two days to move, paint, and organize. And it was fun!

Race cars, Disney's Toy Story, Disney's Cars and Marvel Avengers. He likes a lot of stuff. Why not incorperate them all.

The bed is an IKEA twin that came off a trundle no longer being used. The frame is not quite complete in the painting department, but it was an easy bulld. 2x12s and a piece of sanded plywood resting on a 1x1 shelf, three inches from the top. *Note to self, watch out for little dogs while painting. Hard to see, but there are little dog prints on the carpet. This room is soon to be laminate.

The dresser turned out super.

In an odd corner, small shelves display my son's Cars collection. Clean up is a snap.
The reveal was great, he was so happy. Now, he wants me to play in his room all day.
Happy Painting.

On the Farm - Spring

Several thing have been happening around these parts. Spring is here. I've been planting up a storm, weeding, cleaning the pool and watching nature work her magic.

This is this summer's Raised Bed Garden. After trying several different styles of garden, this by far, is the best for my soil, my manpower and my patience. Simple construction of low boxes are 2x6 lumber that was cut at Home Depot for free and painted with OOPS paint (see H.D. paint section and you can stumble on great treasures of paint that wasn't perfect, for cheap). PVC sprinklers that are portable and easy to fix just in case. Soon, when the weeds get high, I run the weed eater between the boxes and lay down straw.

Newly hatched Bantum Blue Silkies, courtesy of "Mama Hen" (my daughter, Miranda)

Grapes, grapes, and more grapes. Three different varieties - Green Ladyfinger, Thompson Seedless and Red Globe Seedless. Planted along the borders of my property, drip irrigation and recycled 4x4s and wire supports. I hope that one day I can make raisins, juice and have several walks in the orchard with a fist full of grapes.

Our pool is a simple one, but a vital.Northern California hits triple digits often. Tiki torches allow us to enjoy the cool water without the pests. I have been researching lifeguard chairs to sit high and over the edge of the pool, so I can get my feet cool while watching the little ones play. I hope to include construction in an upcoming blog, made from PVC pipe. Can you tell I love that stuff!!

My son enjoying his favorite veggie, RADISHES. Good thing they grow so quickly. The radishes, not the kids. In a few days, my son will be six.

I love Spring! Happy Living Outside this month.

Black Out Curtains

I work nights at the local hospital, so black out curtains are a must if I sleep between 8am and 3pm. They are also useful if you live by a street lamp, or a neighbor who likes the security of night lights. Here is a simple way to take your exsisting curtains and block out the sun.
First, take down your curtains, measure them and journey to the fabric store for thick, dark fabric. Black is best - I found mine on the clearence rack at WalMart. $1/yard= I bought the whole bolt for $10.
Here is the Before:

Cut and tack or hand sew dark fabric to back side of loops or a high spot on the top of the curtain.

Be sure if you have loops to leave about two inches of fabric to the top. Then, when hanging, the curtain will increase the black out effect. Tack the sides of the curtain down the sides. Since I use these several times a week, I used finishing nails. If used not so much, I suggest thumbtacks.

For a rod that is placed outside the window frame, a top valence is vital. Here, I found four placemats at the thrift store for $1.50. I sewed them together and attached them to the wall above the curtain rod. This way, the light doesn't come out the top.

When the curtains are drawn, keep them closed with horseshoe clips or similair.

The Effect: this room is completely blocked. I had to hide the flash to take this pic. It's 12 noon right now. No light is entering the room.

Happy Sleeping!

Making a Dress Form

Recently, I had abdominal surgery that, I'm happy to say, has changed my hips and lower abdomen (call it a tummy tuck of sorts). Along with the absence of pain from a C-section scar, I now have a closet full of clothes that also need a nip and a tuck to fit my new shape.
After searching the web for dress forms, I found some in the hundreds of dollars. But I kept seeing hand made forms over and over again. Youtube came in really handy for this. I watched some of the funniest videos, but learned a lot. Duct tape is so useful.
The End Product: ( I lovingly call her, the Other Mother)

Wearing the robe I made for pre-op.
The Process:

Wear a shirt you don't mind losing. Wear comfortable clothes, this took about 2 hours.

Have someone wrap you like Conan the Barbarian, in this case, my daughter texted her friends: "I get to duct tape my mom lol :). Do a thick section around your hips, this is your bottom of your form. A few times under your breasts and in between to keep as true to form as possible.

Ugh, keep going. My daughter made me cover my breasts. She thought it was just gross. Continue with the body and start on the arms.

Finish with the neckline. I wore a V neck shift so I taped onto my skin (not recommended). I had my daughter take a neck piece of folded in half tape (to not be sticky) and wrap it around my neck, then tape up to the piece. If you are claustrophobic, save this step for finishing.  When done, cut directly up the back and wiggle out.

Begin stuffing with plastic grocery bags. It takes a lot, I had been saving them for about 6 months and just had enough). Start with the arms, tape the holes once bags are in to help keep form. Continue stuffing to the form, and taping where needed. Once half way stuffed, insert a stick. This stick wasn't my final holder, but it kept the hole open for the final product.

Almost done! I used PVC piping to create the base and stand. Then wrapped tape everywhere. You could paint it too, but I went crazy with the tape. I used decorative butterfly duck tape to cover the rest, pictured is one roll. I need to run to the store for more.
Final Cost:
2 rolls of siver duct tape - $6
2 rolls decor tape- $5
PVC pipe and fittings -$6
Total = $17 - not bad!!!

This had to be the funniest project to date. My daughters and I were laughing, while my 5 year old was taking pictures. Now, a closet full of alterations await. And a bunch on thrift store refashions!

Happy ... tape/wrap/stuffing !!!