Father's Day Memories

Father's Day is bitter sweet this year.  As many of you know my father passed away last August.

This will be my first Father's Day without him.

This is my father when I was little.

Here he is when HE was little.

When thinking about Father's Day I am reminded of one year long ago when I did not have a gift for my father.  My mother is Australian and did not know about father's day.  So as a last minute gift my friend and I made "Hug Credit Cards" for our fathers.

My credit card was almost the size of a regular  credit card.  On the card I had little boxes where he could demand hugs at any time, but then he had to X the box.  I was about eight at the time.

My father kept that card in his wallet for years.  When I was sixteen we had a fight, and at the end he took out his "Hug Credit Card" and used the last hug.  I could not believe he had kept that card for eight years.  It was all worn, but lovingly protected in a special pocket in his wallet.  It was at that moment I realized how much he treasured the gift I made for him.

Me and my dad at my wedding, July 24, 2009

In honor of my father I made this "Hug Credit Card" for you to print out and give to it your father (or your children's father).  I left it colorless on the front so that you (or your child) can personalize it.

Follow these two links for the printable:

Hug Credit Card Front

Hug Credit Card Back

Since this post is all about dads I have to mention one more.  My step-father was also a very important man in my life.  He taught me how to tie my shoes and fold my toilet paper (yeah I'm a bit strange like that, maybe it is a German thing).

This is my step-father and little brother.

I took this picture on one of the last times I saw him.

At the risk of sounding all cheesy and sentimental: love your dad and tell him often.  Enjoy your dad and hug him often.  They are very important. 

Happy Father's Day!!!

Pot of Herb(s)

I got this idea from Martha.  Follow the link to get to her instructions.

Basically I saw this picture and ran with it.

I discovered that five pots of all these different sizes is actually quite expensive.  We only got three (but the same concept applies).

I made a pot of herbs just outside my kitchen door.  Now I just step outside for a nice addition to my cooking.  The herbs have to grow in a little, but they will, I have faith.

Gather your supplies (and the pots of course).

 

I layered the first two pots.  It took surprisingly little soil (we bought way too much). 

Then stacked the third pot on top.  I added some rocks for good drainage. 

Add the herbs (make sure to break up the roots a little to help them grow). 

Plant the herbs, and water.  That's it. 

Then, sit back and enjoy the fresh herbs.  I planted rosemary (that went on the top because it spreads), basil, cilantro, thyme, and oregano.  I love the rosemary in my omelets, basil in everything, cilantro in salsa, and oregano is good on chicken.  Yum, nothing tastes quite like fresh herbs when you are cooking.  They are one great aspect of summer weather for sure (I can never keep them going in the winter). 

I have some more herbs planted on the berm...I just hope the rabbit doesn't get to them. 

Trend Allert: Blue Dresser

Yesterday I shared with you my dresser painting crisis.  I still have not made a decision, but most of my friends on FB tell me to NOT paint it. 

Anyway...I wanted to paint it blue.  I have been planning to paint it blue since I moved here seven months ago.  Now I'm wondering if maybe I am just following the fashion.  It seems that everyone and their mother are painting their dressers blue.  They all took my idea (just kidding, light blue is a popular color right now)!  

One link party, and a quick Google search and I found these dressers:

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They are all really beautiful, but I'm still not sure about my baby.  But don't worry I have another dresser I plan to paint this week. 

What do you think about blue dressers?  Old news, still good? 

Crisis Today

I had a bit of a crisis today.  You see I have this beautiful dressor, but it has been misstreated while in the care of a friend.

As you can see this is really a beautiful piece.  It has nine drawers, the origional hardware (I have the other handle) and such a great form.

The probem is that this dressor (now used as a side board) has some damge:

It has been chipped, scratched, and even burned. 

So today I set out to paint it.

I took out all the stuff from inside it....

I took off all the hardware... and pulled out most of the drawers.

When I saw this:

Just for kicks I went online and did a quick search on this furniture maker...

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I found this dresser for sale online for $650!!!!  Now my dresser is not in as good a condition, but this threw me for a loop.  Turns out that Huntley Furniture was made as early as 1906.  It is not handmade furniture, but it is still very good.

After posting a quick panicked message on FB for advice, I talked to my hubby and decided to wait to paint it.  I could be diminishing the value of the piece if I painted it.  So I guess I will have to learn how to fix up this one, without painting it. 

I really wanted to paint this dresser, but now maybe I won't.  It all goes back to that age old debate between painting an old piece, or keeping it the original wood.  The wood tones are very nice, but when you paint you can hide a lot of damage. 

What would you do?  Any advice for this very indecisive woman?  I'm just afraid to decrease the value...but on the other hand, I don't plan on selling it...I just don't know what to do.  (I should also mention that I don't have the money to have it professionally restored, that would be my top pick.)

Do any of you have this problem?  Do you get nervous about painting your old furniture?  I would love to hear your stories. 

Laptop Sleeve for My Hubby

After the hubby saw my computer sleeve, he wanted one of his own.  I used this opportunity to make a better sleeve than the last.

I must say, it was a bit more complicated, a bit more involved, and I made some mistakes, but in the end it came out quite well. 

I used two different shades of grey for this one, and it was not just normal felt, but wool felt (fancy stuff for my hubby).  I also used magnetic clasps for the cover flap, so that it would be easy for my husband to open his sleeve and get out his handy laptop.

The process is similar to the last one, found here, but because of one mistake I made (the front layer of felt was too thin in width), this project was slightly more labor intensive. 

Supplies:

1/2 Yard of felt in two colors
Thread
Two magnetic clips (not too strong, you don't want them to interfere with the electronics in the laptop)
Scissors
Sewing machine
(And the computer so you have the right size)

Like the last one, I cut the outer layer of felt to wrap around the laptop one and a half times.  make sure to leave enough fabric to overlap sufficiently and create a close. 

Fold over the close where you want to have the magnetic flap. 

I gave the overlap of about an inch, a generous inch.  This has to be done first so that you can attach the clips, before you sew the two layers of fabric together.

To attach the magnetic snaps, you have to make small cuts, slip the clasps through and attach them to a piece of cardboard (I was not sold on the cardboard, but now I see that this was a good idea, it is easier to open the flap with the cardboard to hold on). 

Then you have to add a layer of metal (this is included).

Fold over the spokes and the clasp is done.  Repeat these steps for the remaining three snaps (the second side of this one, and the two for the other side).

DON'T DO THIS!

Notice how I put two different sides of the clip on the same side of the flap?

I had to undo the second clasp (on the right) and put the right clip on.

Next, it is very important to find the right place for the other snaps.

I had the laptop in the sleeve, before I made the marks, and even then I had to change them later. 

When you have all the snaps in place, then you can start the second layer.

Measure out the second layer, this is where I had my chance to fix the too thin outer layer.  I made the inner layer a half inch wider on all sides. 

I then sewed the two layers together on all sides.  I made sure to mark here the button flap would overlap.

I used a zipper foot (after breaking a sewing machine needle) to sew near the snaps.

To sew the inner layer, I turned the pieces inside-out, and only sewed the two sides to make a pocket. 

I also sewed the snap flap on both sides of the snap, it make for a better line on the outside. Then I trimmed the felt around the top.

I think it came out very well.  I especially like the way the inner layer shows on the sides.  I tried to get my hubby to pick a brighter color, but he liked the grey. 

Overall I'm very proud of this. 


I can see this in many bright contrasting colors.  I would do a pink and ornage for me, or black and red.  Oh there are so many great options.

What colors would you choose?