Progress reports (2): garden!

(click here to compare: my first garden post of 2011)

the pole beans are growing beautifully!
one pepper plant has died (still needs to be replaced).
the garlic finally flowered. 
my flowers are slightly wilty from this heat (hope to revive them with more frequent watering and a little love)
and I can't wait to harvest something. so excited!

pole beans

slightly wilty flowers

beans and tomatoes! so yummy!

Progress reports (1): record player

this week is the week for PROGRESS REPORTS! so, I've been out of school for 5 years and now that it's summer I'm getting my progress reports in.

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remember my 25 cent gem?  i have been slowly chipping away at it (literally) and finally drug it outside to see how it would sand down.

my Google detective husband tracked down that it's from 1946 and some of these Bendix record players are collectibles. ours may be too water damaged to be worth much but we connected a wire, plugged it in, and it spins! (it also gives off an electrical fence-like shock when you touch the metal parts and gets really hot and smelly. so we quickly turned it off and unplugged it.)

but, we both think there is hope for our little record player.

here's the progress. definitely has some work still, but it's coming along!

took the door off for sanding.

looking better!

trim: not sanded vs. sanded

I'm still considering paint colors but leaning towards a golden yellow. Bright shiny red did go through my head, but I think it might hang around our living room for awhile and red wouldn't match... what do you think?

What I've been sewing...

Isn't this little skirt fun??

And I've wanted to make a bow-tie ever since I came across THIS tutorial. Ohmygoodness! So cute. Makes me want a little boy ... Well, only-in-a-million-years type of wish after last year's pregnancy trials. I'll keep my little girl sewing going and just make things like this for sweet little boys (to come)!

This one's on its way to Korea. :-)

What you get when you run a lawn mower over it.

Don't forget your leash in the yard while the mowers are mowing.

Otherwise you'll go from this:

Image credit

to this:

Happy Anniversary!

To the One and Only.

:-) I love you, Jeremy! Happy #3!

wedding 1

wedding 2

honeymoon - Orcas Island

#1! (happy and vintage)

#2! (sick and pregnant)

And here's to many more!!! (49+ to be exact)

fun vintage finds - 5/16/11 edition

It's GARAGE SALE season!! Thrifters, rejoice! The number of Saturday sales in my neighborhood increase exponentially every week. Now, I just need to get out there and hunt!

Here are some finds from the last week. If you missed my other 25-cent gem, click here.

Did any other of you thrifters find treasures over the weekend?

two sets of 3 plates. odd. :-)

a few finds. candelabra on the right will be painted. I'm thinking glossy white.

Mom, what do you think abt these plates for your kitchen shelves?

totally vintage. i think my gramma had dishes like this.

china pedestal 

white vintage stud earrings

isn't this magazine rack amazing!?

it's in such great condition and it's staying just like it is.

a 25-cent gem

I love deals. And, to be honest, I am fairly shy. So working up the courage to stop at garage sales is a challenge for me. (Yes, I know, make fun of me if you will.) But, this week, I found some great buys, one of which was a 25-cent 1940s cabinet record player! The outside is in bad shape, but potential is in the eye of the beholder.

I got it home and asked Jeremy how much he thought I paid for it. He said, "I hope FREE!" Well, 25-cents is almost free.We haven't seen if it works (I highly doubt it) but the player arm still has its needle. Sweet!

Stay tuned for its transformation! I'm so excited about this one. What color do you think I should paint it???

wood paneling finish peeling off

peeling

I've already peeled the whole top off!

back ruined from water damage

front view

front also damaged by water

the inside actually looks fairly decent!

so cool.

inside cabinet

our Garden 2011

As of yesterday, my garden is planted. (Last year's was kind of a bust because I was too sick to enjoy it.)

Thanks to my in-laws and my parents for the seeds, plants, pole-bean creation and help. I decided I wanted to finish up my garden before I was left to do it alone (with a baby) and despite the very warm weather, everyone was game. Woo hoo! Let it grow!

I love watching things grow, the curled beans sprout into leafy goodness, little strawberries maturing into sweet delights. Plus, "shopping" in your backyard - can't beat that! I can't wait to teach my girl in the next few years... it's educational, sustainable and just plain fun.

tomatoes.

sweet peppers!

george's pole bean creation

garlic and a little jalapeno

parsley

cute little flower basket - don't you love the curly cue? I do!

strawberries.

a scarf

I made this scarf for my MIL's birthday. Unfortunately, the pictures do not 1) give it justice and 2) don't capture the real color.

Next time, I'll really try to get better pictures AND step-by-step pictures. But, I snatched the tutorial anyway from a great crafting blog. For the real tutorial, go to MADE.

(Love that site thanks to my friend and fellow sewing machine lover, Sharla, who introduced us just a few short weeks ago. I didn't know what I was missing! If you haven't been there, go check it out!)

Instead of turning and sewing all of the seams, I decided to just scallop the edges with my machine and trim the excess off. It probably would've been easier had I just turned the edges because with my gargantuan fabric scissors, the edging took HOURS. But, in the end, it turned out lovely.

(Note to self: next time, buy edging scissors. It'd be worth it.)

I finished it up with some elastic thread - also a new love! - and sent it off.

Woo hoo! What should I make next? One of these?

The Royal Wedding (?)

Could someone clue me in ... why all the American fuss over Britain's royal wedding?

Photo Credit here

I mean, yeah, I'm interested in her secret dress. (But I'm not getting up at 4 a.m. for that - I'll be able to find it almost everywhere and anywhere after I get a good night's sleep.) They make a cute couple. I'm glad he found a seemingly sweet small town girl. But that's just about it.

Can someone help me out here? What's the deal with all of the buzz?

(for an interesting perspective of all the money being spent, click HERE).

fun vintage finds - Easter edition!

Such sweet little dresses to be found. I really am surprised how many little dresses I've snagged at the Salvation Army here in town. Aren't they sweet?

size 3-6 mos - bloomers included!

sweet strawberry detailing

pinstriped pinafore dress - size 1

love it!