I found a cute house shaped basket at Homegoods (you can
buy a similar house shaped basket here
) and thought that would make a unique tip jar. (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links for your convenience.)
What I really like about this basket is that it offers two
ways for people to leave tips. Simply open the lid and they can drop in some
cash, or open the door and leave their tip inside.
While it's
already cute on its own, I knew it could use a little makeover to make it even
cuter.
Friday, April 26, 2024
DIY Painted Wicker Basket Makeover
Friday, April 12, 2024
Quick and Easy Lavender Bath Salt Recipe for Sore Muscles and Itchy Skin
No matter how well I try to protect myself from my pollen allergies, I often end up with itchy skin and sore muscles after a day spent tending to plants in my garden.
That’s when I like to indulge in my favorite bedtime ritual. I find that the best way I found to soothe itchy skin and sore muscles is with a nice, relaxing bath with soothing DIY bath salts.
This easy recipe combines Epson and sea salts, known for their muscle-relaxing properties, with baking soda, which can sooth itchy and irritated skin, and is quick and easy to make. It also is a fantastic handmade gift idea for anyone in need of a little pampering.
Friday, March 29, 2024
Joann’s Fabrics and Crafts is Broken and Here’s How to Fix It
If you've ever wondered why Joann Fabric and Crafts corporate office seems to
make purposefully terrible business decisions, let me assure you – it's not in
your head. The truth is, the upper management at Joann’s has a long history of
being completely out-of-touch with their stores and customers. This finally
led to the company filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March
2024.
Joann Fabrics made
210.9 million to 212.9 million in profit dollars and added 9 million new
customers by the end of the 2020 fiscal year. A lot of this is due to 2020 lock downs when people were turning to
old and new hobbies to pass the time. If Joann's corporate was smart and paid
attention to what their customers want and need, Joann’s would still be riding
this customer wave, but they didn’t.
Going from being profitable to
bankruptcy in four short years
takes a lot of talent in upper management to screw up a company that
much. Corporate tries to explain it away by saying customers are skipping
discretionary spending, but that’s only a tiny piece of the puzzle. Do you
know what people do in tough times? Make, repair, or upcycle things instead
of buying a new one. There is a reason visible mending is a popular
trend right now! It sure would be nice to buy a cute iron on patch at Joann’s
to fix my favorite pair of jeans but I can’t. Those shelves at my store are
practically bare and have been for a long time.
I took these photos of my local Joann Fabrics store in February 2024.
Please share this article with your friends!
Friday, March 8, 2024
How to Replace a Folding Camp Stool Seat
I bought two folding camp stools to use as foot stools on my front porch last year. I like that the folding stools are versatile. I don’t like that Michael's didn’t have two with matching fabric. Not to mention the fabric is pretty cheesy and cheap.
Let’s fix that.
It’s time for a folding camp stool makeover!
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Easy Coat Closet Organization Makeover!
Our coat closet is supposed to be for coats and hats, but it turns into a big mess because we store all kinds of things in there. I regularly clean and organize it, but it always ends up messy again. The closet organizer that came with our condo isn't good enough because we keep more than just coats and winter gear in there.
This coat closet needs better organization and a makeover!
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
DIY Stylish Throw Blanket Storage
On cold nights, I find myself reaching for one of the many
handmade throw blankets I have scattered throughout my house. Lacey, my dog, is drawn to these cozy blankets like a magnet. In fact, she loves them so much that she often takes over the entire blanket, leaving me no choice but to grab a second one for myself. Which is why more often than not, I use a throw blanket.
As a result of the crafty women in my
family, I have amassed quite the collection of hand-knit and crochet
throws. However, storing them in our coat closet has become a chaotic challenge.
Our coat closet is a disaster! It's overflowing with random items, and the blankets contribute to the chaos. I knew I needed a better storage solution for our beloved handmade throws.
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Easy Beginner Women's Hat and Mittens Crochet Patterns
I am always on the lookout for unique and stylish winter accessories. Unfortunately, I was unable to find the perfect winter hat in stores. That's when I turned to Pinterest, where I stumbled upon the ideal beanie - but as a crochet pattern, not for sale. With the help of my talented mother-in-law, I rediscovered the art of crocheting, which I had learned as a child from my grandmother.
I spent countless hours perfecting my skills, starting with simple wash and dust cloths and gradually working my way up to a scarf made from practice yarn. Finally, I felt confident enough to tackle the hat pattern that started the relearning process, so I splurged on some luxurious alpaca blend yarn (you can buy alpaca blend yarn similar to the type I used here ) and followed Crochet Dreamz's DIY Crochet Hat pattern the Jenna Beanie. To add a touch of fun, I topped it off with a leopard print pom pom (you can buy similar faux fur pom poms like I used here.) (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links for your convenience.)
But then, as fate would have it, I finished the hat just in time for Spring. So it sat untouched until this December, when I finally had the chance to wear a winter hat. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait! The chunky alpaca yarn keeps me toasty warm, and the softness of the fibers is the most luxurious I've ever felt (and I have many, many knit and crochet gifts that I love and use.)
Some may argue that I should have used 100% alpaca fiber yarn for this project, but as someone who is forgetful when it comes to chucking all of the laundry from the hamper and into the washer and dryer, I prefer blends that will survive a machine wash.
With one skein of yarn left over, I was in search of a one skein project that I could work on while traveling. That's when I discovered Make and Do Crew's 3-Hour Crochet Mittens pattern. I've always struggled to find gloves that fit my small hands, so I was excited to try my hand at crocheting my own. Though the pattern proved to be a little more challenging than I anticipated, I still managed to complete a cozy pair of custom size mittens (which took me longer than three hours, because I crochet slow.)
I also learned through this project that the best way for me to actually finish a crochet project is to be either be trapped in an airport or in a metal tube hurtling through the sky. Good to know.
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Wednesday, January 17, 2024
How to Repair an Adjustable Dress Form
Lola, my trusty adjustable dress form mannequin, has been through some wear and tear. Her cover is peeling and her base is constantly falling over. It's no wonder, really. After so many years of being poked and prodded with pins I’d be a bit tipsy and unglued too.
Poor Lola.
Lola is still usable and I especially rely my dress form’s adjustability and functionality for commissioned sewing projects. She just needs a little makeover and refurbish that keeps her adjustable and not as a decoration.
To renovate my adjustable dressmaker mannequin I decided to start at the bottom and work my way up.