burnt toast and more new curtains...

I know it was just a couple of months ago that I made new curtains for our kitchen. I'd been hoarding 'Oh Cherry Oh' fabric for just that reason. Turns out I didn't love it in my kitchen as much as I thought I would. The colors were never quite right. So a little while ago when I discovered newer, better, more perfecter fabric for my kitchen that just made my heart go pitter patter, I knew I had to start again. Luckily hubby loves it too and was all for another little change.

I chose yesterday as re-do day... mostly because when my toast burnt to a billowing smoke crisp in the toaster making curtain washing a priority, I figured it was as good as any time to start sewing. And the funnest part of all was making a sweet little toaster cover to match the curtains. I traced the little image of the toaster off the fabric, enlarged it 400% on the copier, and spent a half hour or so embroidering. I pieced some of the sweet fabric stripes and finished it with green ric rac ties. I love it, especially the phrase, 'if we were meant to pop out of bed, we'd all sleep in toasters'. I guess my burnt breakfast was a good thing after all! Now it's on to a new table runner...

a cheery kitchen makeover...

I'm one of those people that when motivation hits, I don't question it, I run with it. I'd been dreaming of a little kitchen makeover ever since I started collecting the 'Oh Cherry Oh' line of fabric a couple of years ago. I didn't really have a plan... but I knew it would be perfect to play with on a rainy day. Well, today it's raining, and motivation hit. I love the new curtains I just finished up, and I love how the cheery red works with the sweet cereal dispenser in the corner. The square topper on my kitchen table came out of my etsy shop... you could say that I treated myself! What do you think? Here are the before pictures, and it's not that I didn't like it anymore that way, I just needed a cheery little change... I guess living in a rain belt can do that to you!

thank you, CSN!

So, a little over a week ago, I posted about having been contacted by CSN to give a product review. I thought about what I'd like to review... my favorite Sorrento dishes for my kitchen, something new for the office or bedroom... and I decided on this... it's a double food dispenser for cereal or treats... it arrived a couple of days ago and we're just loving it!

I love the retro red and am seriously thinking of taking my kitchen decor in a new direction. It looks great with my enamleware collection and vintage-ish linens that I got for my birthday. But more than all that, my girls love it and the element of fun it brings to their morning routine.

So, thank you CSN for another great product!

about the glass rolling pin...

So I did a little checking to see what I could see about the glass rolling pin from two posts back. A couple of gals that commented on it hadn't seen one before. If I have my information correct, I think that the idea behind the glass rolling pin is to unscrew the metal end, fill it with ice water, and use it to roll out pie dough and pastries. Don't quote me on this though... and don't ask me to try it! I've never made a pie from scratch in my life! Oh, the shame, now that I've admitted that!

I know it's filmy and dirty inside... but here are a couple more pictures for your viewing pleasure... I think it's pretty cool...

And I had a peek and found a few available on ebay, priced anywhere from $5-$15, so I got a great deal at $2!

garage sale goodies!

The girls and I, along with my cousin Andrea and her daughter Olivia, hit some garage sales out in Chilliwack on Saturday morning. We had a lot of fun and bagged a few treasures.

One of Andrea's finds... a great old window...

My new-to-me enamleware icebox, flat grater, and glass rolling pin... $6 for all.

The icebox now holds a few Gooseberry cookbooks on my counter, and the grater has been added to those above my stove.

And here's my favorite find of the day - for just $3, this awesome old bread bin!

I think it looks right at home in my black cupboard that Robyn built last fall.

It it I've tucked more Gooseberry cookbooks with a couple of candles. And the glass rolling pin fits in well with my wooden red handled one.

The girls and I were over at my parents for dinner on Sunday night... a couple of houses down from their place sat this old-ish school desk with a free sign on it. I'm not really sure why, but it seems to have followed me home. Maybe I'll take Emily's advice and use it as a display piece in a sale sometime... it might look good draped with a quilt or two...? I'll hang on to the "free" sign in case it doesn't work out and ends up on my roadside some day. *be sure to have a peek at the yogurt muffin recipe posted below... it's a keeper*

decorating on a dreary day...

Well, the rains seem to have hit the Valley. For those of you who don't know, this part of B.C. is known as the Lower Mainland... or, as the locals call it, the Lower Rainland. Today is a typical warm spring day with lots of rain falling... perfect for a few bunnies to come out of hiding!

I also wanted to show a basket of the Ukranian Easter Eggs my mom had made with my girls over the past few years... they've all done such a great job! I think there's only been one casualty through the years. Aren't they beautiful?

Have a wonderful afternoon!

We're having another 'girls day' today... at home! In fact, some of us are still in parts of our PJs! My mom and sister are coming over in a few minutes to watch the second movie in the Harry Potter series... my mom has never seen them before so we're working through them with her. It's the perfect thing to do on a day like this! Come join us if you'd like... I hear there's going to be popcorn...

Has anyone seen these before?

I just got home from a quick thrift shop, looking for Easter goodies. Among other things, I found these. They're plastic eggs that you punch out of the backing and then snap together. The plastic feels quite brittle, but I don't know how old they might be. I'm loving them though, and for $.30 each, they were a great deal! (My kids had better not punch them apart!!)

Any one seen these before or have any ideas about them?

score at the second hand store!

Have you noticed how many creative gals there are here in blog-land? My goodness, the thrift store finds that are being made into new creations just amaze me! I have to honestly say, where I live, there is just nothing out there... unless you want to pay an arm and a leg for it. And even then, it's slim pickings! I did have a fun trip to MCC and Value Village this afternoon though, and if Julianna hadn't begged me to go (she desperately wanted roller blades and I found some great ones for $5.99!!), then I never would have found these goodies...

I also wanted to share that there is a new blogger to check out... my friend Cheryl of Country Quilts. The link to her blog is here. Stop by and give her a hello!

Blessings,
~Kimberly

Santa Claus is comin' to town!

Yay! The trees are up, the lights are lit, and Santa is on his way! And, since I'm such a Santa girl, I couldn't be happier! Some snapshots from our home to yours...

And, although it's been said, many times, many ways...

...to you!

new to me from Gooseberry...

I love it when Gooseberry Patch has a sale... and so does Java!

(I think I'll give it a quick coffee stain bath... what do you think?)

Lookie what I got...

I have an amazing husband! Look what Robyn built for me, just in time for my Open Houses... I can't wait to fill it up with Christmas goodness!

I feel so very blessed in every way!

~Kimberly