Hannahs gift

We are getting close to the gift giving time of year again. And since I never showed this I thought it would be a good time to show you guys a fun gift I did last year that I would personally love to get. It was for christmas but it would be awesome as a hostess or shower gift as well. 

Glass Etching. Have you guys tried this?! It is SO MUCH FUN ... you will be trying to figure out how many things in your house need a permanent label! 

I also borrowed dads wood burning tool and personalized some wood utensils

And then added in a handmade apron (apparently it didn't occur to me to take a photo of it unfolded) and two screen printed tea towels. 

What's fun about this is you could just buy it all and not customize or hand make anything-- so you don't even have to get crafty to do the same thing for someone! 

Hot Pads

I had this idea for hot pads... it's been a while ago so I am not sure where I saw it but this is what it morphed into.... Mum had the cork circle hot pads from ikea and I decided to make a covers for them. 

It was an awesome way to use up scraps 

But the major thing I wanted to do is have them be removable for things like washing 

or so you could grab things from the oven

I need to work on my binding skills for circles. But so far I am super happy with the design. And fun thing I realized after is that I can use them as a mini ironing board in my craft area- for those tiny things you don't want to yank the ironing board out for. Awesomeness!

A Wall Goes Up ll

There for awhile I was coming home to scenes like this. 

 Disconcerting. 

 Anticipation. 

 Amazement.

 Removing one very dirty, useless, something over your cabinets helps so much. The only problem, see how you can still see the light over the dining area? It just seemed wrong to  us.

The photo below shows the wayyyyy before.

So. Very. Ugly.

Then the walls go up.  

 

Rooms become separate.

And we wonder why it wasn't always like this.

One day, maybe, we'll get to finish this area......

A Manly Mixer Cover

Kris visited this past weekend and reminded me that he had requested a cover on his last visit - which was right after Micah was born... I had completely forgotten until he said something. So I whipped this cover up for him. I am totally digging the less fussy look. 

 The inside is just a solid black Kona

And the best part is they are super fast to sew up when you don't add the quilted strip! If you know a bachelor who loves to cook this would really be the perfect gift 

Go here for the

Stand Mixer Tutorial

Kitchen Improvement

This wine rack has bugged me since we moved in. Yes I selected for it to be there (though honestly I have no idea why) but I never expected it to be all awkwardly up high like that and 5 years into living with it, it's become clear that it is completely useless we usually put a bunch of San Pellegrino up there for decoration and it all just collects dust and is a total pain to clean. Yesterday when I was deep cleaning the kitchen I realized that the wine rack is just held in with little finishing nails... awesome! 

So I talked to Uber about it and asked him to rip it out. But when I got up this morning I realized... who needs him! So I did it myself and I LOVE it! I have always wanted a book shelf in the kitchen and have been trying to figure out ways to put one in ... duh! I would still like to do something with the awkward space below the cabinet but for now I am extremely happy with this improvement.

P.S. Why can't I decide on a fabric and make myself a kitchen aide cover- so irritating!

That Wallpaper Has Got To Go

 I think this wall paper was as old as the house... which is really unappetizing in a kitchen!

Yes you can be this excited about a full size fridge! You Know Who made jokes about my lack of cooking.... Who would not be motivated by this appliance? Space = organization = happy creating. 

Of course I have yet to prove this theory....

What a huge improvement no wall paper and shiny appliances can make! Of course not everything goes as planned... Both of these appliances had to be replaced! The icemaker went out in the refrigerator and some last minute mind changing had me calling Lowe's for an upgrade on the stove... thank goodness! Have I mentioned I love Lowe's? It's definately a decision that I won't regret!

So much work to be done.....

Before Pictures Continued - Kitchen, Eating Nook and Back Living Room

Kitchen

This spot is going to take some work. We've already cooked up some crazy ideas. 

Eating Nook

Living Room with fireplace. Yes I have a fire place. Come on, don't be like You Know Who, I know it's Florida but it's all about the ambiance baby.