To Infinity

Not beyond today, just infinity. This Christmas, I decided to have a bit of fun and make more gifts than I usually do.  In addition to all my boys (Hubby, Dad, nephew and brother-in-law) getting hand-knitted hats, several of my friends also received hand-made infinity scarfs.  I made it up as I went, but now it's kind of addicting since it was so easy.  If you can sew 2 straight lines you can make an infinity scarf.

I started with a yard of jersey fabric.  1 yard length of fabric can vary in width- all of the fabrics I used for scarfs were around 59" wide.  Since I don't really have the floor space to layout fabric and photograph properly (and I had my sketchbook handy from my living room sketch) I decided to draw up some quick directions.

Open up the fabric and fold it length-wise (right sides together).  After testing a few stitches on a scrap of fabric, I decided to use a zig-zag stitch so that there would still be a little stretch in the seams.

Sew down the long side of your fabric to create a long tube.

With the tube, you'll need to fold the fabric again, but a little differently this time (cuz remember, it's inside out).  You'll want to fold the bottom of your tube inside  so the bottom edge meets your top edge and you still have a tube.  I hope this makes sense- this is the step I wasn't 100% sure would work, but it totally did.  Sew your 2 layers together around the tube, leaving a few inches open so you can turn it right-side-out.

Do not just sew a straight line here across the top with all 4 layers.  Just won't work.  It won't be a tube anymore and no more tube means no more scarf.

Invert it all through the opening and you'll see an infinity scarf!!  See, I told you it was easy!

To finish, hand sew your opening shut (I like to use an invisible stitch that my mom taught me, much like this one).

And voila, your neck will never be cold again!  Ok, maybe I'm overselling a bit, but for such a simple project, it has a great result.

I think I made 4 in an hour, and that includes distractions for kittens and tv.  If I hadn't run out of fabric, I would have kept going!

And here's my attempt at modeling my new scarf without being too awkward (yup a headless camera selfie in the mirror, I'm cool like that....)

Have I inspired you to give it a try?  I hope so... making scarfs is fun... all the cool kids are doing it.

Hand Made 2013

I really love the idea of DIYing new fun ornaments each year.  Not only does it keep your tree looking a little different each year, but it also gives you a keepsake from each Christmas. I was really hoping to be able to fill my tree with these beauties,

but after these 2 took me almost an hour, I put them temporarily aside and decided to try something different for today.

These ornaments were super easy and only required 2 different sizes of wooden beads, twine, and paint (optional).  We often used wood bead garland on our tree growing up, so I decided to play around with that idea a bit and make ornaments.

I didn't take pictures of each step since it was so easy.  Try and follow if you can:

First you make a loop out of twine and knot the end.  Then you thread beads on it.  Are you still with me?  The last step if you chose to do it- paint your new ornaments whatever pattern/color your little heart desires.

I know, expert difficulty, right?

Rather chic for something so simple and rustic, I think. Can't you just see a tree covered head to toe in these (because trees have heads and toes....)?  They'd also be pretty cute if they were painted in an ombré effect down the tree. Spell Check is questioning "ombré"... he's clearly not up on his design lingo.

On my second year of doing this myself, I'm totally looking forward to starting this yearly ornament-making tradition with future children.  Maybe next year I'll get Cutest-Nephew-Ever-Eli to start the tradition with me.

Frankie: Week 6

I hope you enjoy these weekly updates as I learn to navigate through the business of flipping houses.  Check out other posts about Frankie the Fliphouse HERE. I'm not really sure where the time has gone on this flip!  Week 6 already??

Anyway...  The beginning of the week I spent doing more paint prep, scraping and sanding the bathroom ceiling and more of the exciting stuff, all to prepare for the contractors to finally get started!  I have handed over the complete bathroom installation and the kitchen/hall floor installation over to the pros and so far I'm very glad that I did!

After starting on Wednesday, they've made strides in both the kitchen and bath.  In the kitchen/hall, they already 100% desqueaked the creaky floors, installed backer board and cut back the door jams (so the tile can go underneath).  The room already looks so much bigger with the uniform, non-peel-and-stick floor, I can't wait to see the tile down!

Speaking of tile, I picked up 1/3 of my tile order from Lowe's (apparently tile is ridiculously heavy and unless I want my Jeep to tip over, I shouldn't take it all at once... who knew??).  It's 18x18 and it's pretty.  22 more boxes left to pick up!

In the bathroom, the contractors shimmed out the back wall, added new insulation and put down a new sub floor.  Walls in a house of this age were a strange material.  Not plaster and lathe, but 2 layers of plaster board making it an odd thickness.  Since they need the wall to be even with the window trim, they needed to furr it out a bit.

Again, already looking so much cleaner and nicer and we haven't even reached the finish work!

While they were cutting and screwing, I was trying to stay out of their way but still be productive.  I was able to get the trim and doors in 2 of the bedrooms all primed, although the third bedroom is the bathroom staging area with ALL the materials and supplies, so that one will have to wait.  And since it's one of my most asked questions, I'll be planning a post about painting wood trim.  It'll be enthralling, I promise.

I also spent a good amount of time in the basement prepping the heater covers, trim that has been removed, and the bathroom doors for painting in the basement.  As you may have seen on instagram/facebook yesterday, I went crazy with my Critter sprayer again.  Have I mentioned my love for this tool?  Yes? ok.  Moving on.

All of the interior door knobs now match with a fresh coat of oil rubbed bronze spray paint.

After being in demo-land for over a month, it is nice to see finish work starting to happen!  By next week's post, there will be a dramatic difference, and I'm getting giddy about it!