What's Old Is New Again

So I ordered a dress off Downeast Basics (love their clothes) a long time ago and when it arrived I wasn't totally in love. Not really what was shown on the website.... It was a beige color that just got lost in my skin tone.




No belt or jewelry could make me feel better about it. Well, instead of letting it sit in my closet for the next five years I decided to try something to salvage it. I dyed it red!!!




I was going for coral so I used half the bottle of dye and only let it sit for about 5 minutes instead of 30-60. I LOVE the result and the way the belt pops now. And it's a color I would probably never be drawn to in the store so now I have some diversity in my closet. This picture isn't really doing it justice either....it's really pretty in person.

Speaking of makeovers....I'm upholstering my TOMS!!!!




DIY Fabric Covered Toms

I first saw the image in Pinterest HERE. She also sells them on Etsy HERE. And if you remember a few months back I showed you the unfortunate little hole in the toe mine had. This is the perfect way to get some more miles out of the most comfortable shoes ever. If anyone is interested I can do a little tutorial while I finish the other one.

Toddy Iced Coffee with Sweet Cream

I can't really describe how much I love coffee.....iced coffee specifically. Once I had my first cup of coffee on ice I couldn't really go back to the hot stuff. Then ,while living in New Orleans, I learned how to make it right. The secret is to brew your coffee with cold water and not hot which removes any of the acid taste. There are a few different ways to do this, and I am lucky to have the easy way. I use a little contraption called a Toddy Maker.




Basically you have a bowl, filter, cork and storage container. First you place the cork in the bottom of the bowl and the filter in the hole.




Then, place a whole bag of coffee (I prefer Starbucks Espresso Roast because you want something bold and smooth) in the Toddy Maker and fill with cold tap water.





Let it sit for 12 hours or more. I kinda forgot about this batch and it sat for 17 hours and it's just fine....maybe better! Pull the cork to let the concentrate run through the filter. I've heard that you can actually use the same grounds and let it sit another 12 hours and it's just like the first batch. I'm trying it right now, so we'll see. If it's not as strong maybe I can use it for making ice cubes to go in my drinks....ya know, because you can never have TOO much coffee!!!




Fill a glass with ice and about 1/4 of the way with your coffee concentrate.




Now here is where we make it deliciously creamy. I used to just fill the rest of the way with skim milk, but it was missing something. Last month I found this recipe for Sweet Cream. It's so easy to make. You mix one 12oz can of sweetened condensed milk and one 14oz can of evaporated milk.





That's it. Make sure you store it in something that you can stir easily with a spoon because if you don't stir occasionally the sweet milk will sit on the bottom after a couple of days. I fill my cup to the half way mark with the sweet cream and then the rest of the way with milk.




Rest your yummy iced coffee on your fancy mug rug and ENJOY!!!



You can find the Toddy Maker online, but my Williams-Sonoma now carries it!!! I think its $34. Totally worth it if you spend $5 a cup a Starbucks. Or....you can follow the Pioneer Woman way of steeping the coffee found HERE.

Check out the online shop my friends and I have called Running With Scissors. You can purchase some of the items we make including a few mug rugs :)

Dating, decorating and discipline

Finally, after living here in Louisville since March, we have a babysitter!!!!! It's so hard to trust someone with your child, but we have found her!!! Demi was in love from the second they met, even going to her before me. That's saying a lot because I have always been number one :) Anyway, we went to a fancy dinner and ate outside without having to occupy a little one. We just sat, and sat and sat.....it was LOVELY!





We're hoping to have her come sit while we go to Ikea so that we can update Demi's room to a toddler room! It's scary, but I want her to have a room that is all hers that she loves.


I want to get the black Minnen Ikea Bed




Expedit shelves for storage and toys


(wondering if the black bed and white shelves will look ok together......)


Ribba picture ledges for books




And hopefully make these curtains




Of course I've been sewing, lol. Here's what I've been up to this week.

Pinafore and Ruffle Pants





Mary Jane Booties(these make me want another girl asap!)





Plus Pillow for my husband



Name Pillow with verse. I love this pillow so much. I made this one, but if you'd like to order one from Etsy check out the shop The Joy Cottage.




We're going through a rough stage with Demi right now. She's throwing major tantrums when she doesn't get her way. We are basically ignoring it or offering her something else, but when we are in public it's soooo much worse. She can go from this little sweetie:




To this spoiled baby in two seconds flat!!!




I remember when I was growing up and I saw someone letting their kid throw a tantrum, I would think to myself "Just spank them and they'll listen!!!!" but being a mommy changes you. It's not easy to spank and not something I want to resort to. I love her and she has the most pitiful sad face you've ever seen. Let's just hope she grows out of it very soon!!!

Just me and my machine....

It's been all about the sewing lately..... It's about 130 degrees outside and my husband has been working a lot. And I don't really watch TV, so sewing it is :)

Been working on a few things for the Farmer's Market. I've been doing pretty well there and am really excited about all the festivals this year.













Also been doing some custom orders for family.
Oh and I made another AMAZING snack this week!!! I might even have to say that these were better than the pretzel bites!!! I horded them all so no one else got any, they were that good!




They have oats, graham cracker crumbs, PB, honey, vanilla, raisens, choc chics and crushed almonds!! Or whatever you want to add. The recipe is called No Bake "Energy" Balls. S0 so good! HERE is the recipe link.

Farmers Market

Sorry I've been a neglectful blogger lately!!!
Last weekend we traveled home to Springfield and I got to help at the Farmer's Market. I love our booth so much. And this was my most successful day since I started selling handmade items.





There was a lot of interest in my dresses, so I think I'll keep making those! The purple ruffle one sold yesterday.




Ellen's beautiful cathedral window pillow. She takes custom orders too!!! And if this one stays around much longer I might have to give it a good home :)








More shots from the day:

























I also worked on some items for my mother in law. I think this is probably the 4th or 5th clutch I have made her. She LOVES them :):) And she wanted a birthday gift for her sister to match so I made her the Buttercup Bag. Love the fabric and piping on this one. The clutch and wallet was made using Anna from Noodlehead's wonderful patterns found HERE. I am pretty sure I can make the clutch in my sleep now!




And the Buttercup bag is from Made by Rae found HERE.