a kitchen corner.

 

  

My desire to have a completely clutter-free existence is sometimes compromised. A compromise made for the sake of my favorite little kids, who are fond of certain things in our home and have no idea what minimalism is or why someone would want it.

Instead of having stuff scattered about the house, I have dedicated certain areas for the display of these treasures. A kitchen corner.

To be honest, if my kids didn't care, this corner would be virtually empty. I might entertain hanging some sort of little cabinet to house apothecary supplies.
But my kids do care. And I do love that these things are special to them.

A beautiful mosaic cross from Denise Mosaics on Etsy, a Christmas gift from my kids. My collection of Art Nouveau tiles from my mom, an American Goldfinch drawing by Gage, a wood-burned family portrait by Kane, our Swedish prayer, a handmade mosaic by Gage, and a little painting that reminds the kids of Kauai, a rainbow of kindergarten pinch pots.

This corner is pretty special.
This idea of having a few areas to display treasures is working for us right now, and it has freed up other spaces in the process.
A compromise I can definitely live with.

Have a blessed day, Tami

cabinet.

 

I can't remember if I ever showed this.........It is completely made from reclaimed wood. I picked it up at a little antique shop. I was either going to use it as an apothecary cabinet or a spice cabinet. Because I have not even started my apothecary inventory gathering, well, a spice cabinet it is. It is situated right next to the stove, in a weird little spot that is both too narrow and too shallow for a regular cabinet. The ledge on top is perfect for storing a few jars of salt.

To be honest with you, this is the way I wish my whole kitchen looked. Bright and white. Reclaimed and a little rustic. Old, well loved cabinets, painted with a million coats of paint, matching better the 103 years our home has been here. Maybe one day, I will convince my hubby, that his most important mission in life is to build me custom new/old kitchen cupboards. Right after he makes the new top for my harvest table, and the doors for my china cabinet........Busy man, that one is.

In the meantime, this little corner of my kitchen makes me smile a little more than the rest of it does. Still I am grateful always for a large, clean, and fully functional space.

Now I off to tidy that large, unclean, and functional space.

 

Have a blessed day, Tami

thrifty

I don't post regularly about my thrifty finds. They are usually way too boring and utilitarian to brag about.
(hey, look at this awesome kitchen spoon I bought....get my drift)
I HAD to gush about *this* wonderful find.
This coffee press sells for between $30-$40 bucks.
I scored it for $4.00 at a local thrift store.

I love using a coffee press.

I am off to make a pot o' coffee in my fancy press. Ohhh, I should make a nifty little cozy for my coffee press. Yes.
Have a blessed day, Tami

aprons

I love aprons.
I nearly always have one on during the day. Aside from the obvious reasons to wear an apron (clean clothes), there is just something special about it. That little rectangle of cotton with strings makes me feel connected to the women throughout the generations who have worked hard to create home. An apron makes me feel like I have just donned the most fancy uniform, and I am ready to get down to business.
I have made aprons and been given aprons, I have thrifted aprons and refashioned them out of old skirts and dresses, and I love them all just the same.
I am in the mood to make a new apron.
Here is a little sampling of the aprons that are catching my eye.



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I love half aprons, but I do own a few other styles as well. I am thinking I will make another half one. My favorite apron is thread bare. Oh yes, I definitely need a new one. :~)
Check out my Pinterest page if you want to see more of my favorites.

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July.

Have a blessed day, Tami

Tea Cozy

I knit a new tea cozy. With all of the rain last week, I spent some time on the couch knitting and watching the first season of Downton Abbey, a movie called Land Girls, and Housewife, 49. All good period stuff.
I have knit this particular cozy pattern before, but this time omitted the knitted leaves. I love the picot hem. The cozy is for my biggest teapot, the one I use most often. I thrifted it about a year ago, I am pretty sure it is from the 1940's. I can brew a pot in the morning and it lasts all day long. Love.
Still no sign of the sun.
I guess I will have to spend some more time being cozied up on the couch, darn. I bet I can whip up a few knitted washcloths. I also want to find a cute Aran vest pattern.
If it's not raining cats & dogs, my kids are sure to be outside most of the day. They come in to be fed and watered, that's about it. As soon as we get better weather, I am anxious to get to the beach.

Have a blessed day, Tami

vintage goodness

Spending all last week volunteering at church, I was the first to dive into the treasures that were being sorted for our annual rummage sale.
At this point in my decluttered existence, I only see fit to bring home very practical treasures. A tray, scissors, and a colander. Utilitarian for sure, but oh so vintage.
A sure cure for the most dedicated junk collector, is to sort and price the amount of discarded clutter we went through. It is always worth it in the end, raising money for so many worthwhile charities. Volunteering for this each year keeps me in check. The week ended with a deep thankfulness that I no longer collect. I spent too long getting rid of the stuff to let it creep back in now.
The few items that I brought home will be put to good use.

Only 5 more days of school for my kiddos!
I cannot wait.

Have a blessed Monday, Tami

kitchen light

The light is beautiful this time of the year.

Have a blessed and light-filled day, Tami

eco-warbrobe

Every Spring I like to go through my closet. I don't have a large wardrobe, but I do like to replace the tired, with new to me pieces for the Spring and Summer. As soon as the temperature permits I am all about dresses and skirts. Even during the colder months you can find me in skirts with wooly tights and boots. I would like to be sure that each new addition to my wardrobe is chosen in the most eco-aware way. Buying used is always my first choice. I have an aversion to buying new, when there is so much clothing that is perfectly fashionable and usable that is already here and waiting to be found.

I would like to make or refashion a few skirts. I have always wanted to deconstruct a thrifted skirt for the fabric and remake it. I will make this a fun goal for the summer.
In the past, I have bought my t-shirts new. Second-hand cotton knits are usually so worn out by time they get to the thrift store, that they are not worth it. I have really liked Eddie Bauer for the fit and quality of their t-shirts. These days I am thinking a lot about where and how the cotton is grown and the devastating effects that it's production has. I will be making an effort to replace our cottons with organic, when the time comes. There are a lot of really great vendors on Etsy, and I can find sellers that are near to me pretty easily. There are also some really cute patterns out there for simple sleeveless pullover blouses. I would love a few of these in lightweight cotton, maybe refashioned from a man's dress shirt, or using the fabric from a thrifted skirt. So many options!

I am hoping to get one more season out of my casual sandals. I will definitely be replacing them with something sturdy that will survive the beach, walking, camping, and everyday wear (and last for many summer's). That is a tall order. I will still try and find a pair that are gently used, but if all fails I will buy new at a deep discount and hopefully through a earth-friendly producer.

To be the most frugal and eco-conscious, I would prefer to buy nearly everything used. Even yarn can be reclaimed by unravelling a sweater (I have done this and it works great). I stop short of undergarments, which for obvious reasons, I prefer new. It can be quite daunting to buy goods in a responsible way, there is so much we don' t know about the way things are produced. The more aware I become, the more I desire to keep these matters close to home, where I can be sure of how they are made. This is not possible in all situations, but every little bit helps.

I am just so happy that the weather is warming up, which means that I might actually get to wear these clothes that I am dreaming about.

Have a blessed day, Tami

thrifty

I am thrifty. Here are some of my favorite things.

I am a sucker for a piece with a story. On the back of the frame there is a note. In 1952, this panel was embroidered for a son by his mom, in 1993 it was cleaned and re-framed for the sons of the original boy. They gave it away in 2009. Sad, but lucky for me. I love to stare at all of the beautiful and intricate stitching.

My very hip distressed 1960's leather chair found on Craigslist, cheap. I had the seat recovered in velvety chocolate fabric and a new cushion made. The sheepskin is thrifted. This is my favorite knitting chair.

A very cool distressed brass lamp with a marble base. I added the drum shade. This lamp sits in our livingroom and gives a cozy glow to the room at night.



I needed a tray to sit atop my ottoman in the livingroom. A sturdy place to set my coffee or tea. I loved this. It is about 10x13 inches and has just the right amount of "well-loved" wear on it.

My most favorite find was sitting outside St Vincent's thrift store in a shopping cart marked "free". Maybe they had no idea what it was, or thought nobody would want to clean it up. It is the most beautiful, old, well loved, huge dough bowl. I can just imagine the hands of the mamas that have kneaded dough for their families in this bowl. By the looks of it, it has seen a lot of love.

Honestly, a major portion of the items I own are thrifted. It's just the way we do things. Apart from the everyday items that I thrift, I love finding those special items that I consider treasures. I am much less into thrifting-for-sport as I used to be. These days not much comes home with me unless it is needed. I really enjoy those treasures that I have found in the past though. And you never know what I'll find in the future. :~)

Have a blessed and thrifty Tuesday, Tami

creativeness

Some new kid art around here.

{can you say Truffula tree...}

Have a blessed and creative day.

Tami

worth the wait

Two years ago, I came across 5 skeins of Berroco Alpaca yarn at the Goodwill.......for $5.00.
When I found this yarn, I snatched it up quick. I decided that whatever I made, I had to be great. I settled on a sweater, searched for a pattern that worked with 5 skeins, and began.
I finished the original sweater 18 months ago. It was too big, and not the good kind of big. A good big would have been flowy, drapey, and comfy. I knew I wouldn't wear it.  I frogged it all the way to the bustline, and set out to make it fit better. The original shoulders and arms fit me so perfect that I didn't want to mess with starting over completely.
I am so pleased with how it turned out. It is a basic top-down, raglan sleeve, v-neck cardigan. I used a garter stitch band around the sleeve, neck/front, and bottom. The body of the sweater is stockinette. It has no closures and came out with the perfect amount of drape in the front. The sleeves are my favorite part. They are long and wide with a kimono-ish style to them. The bottom of the sweater hits me mid-hip and is nicely fitted. I just need to finish blocking and I am done! I would say, it was worth the wait.

Happy Leap Day, Tami

built in

You'd think that a 103 year old house would have, at least, some built-ins. Well not mine. Our home was built in 1909 with great quality in materials and craftsmanship, but was built for a workingman's family, translation - no frills. No fireplace, no lathe and plaster, no built-in cabinetry, no fancy nooks and crannies. I am thankful though, for the lovely moldings that they put in.
I drool over images I see of old homes. There is so much character. A lot of this character comes from odd little corners, nooks and built-ins. It seems that every bit of space was used for a practical purpose. We need that in our modest sized home.
We decided to make a built-in cabinet of our own.

I bought a vintage wood corner cabinet and we stripped it down to the box. We mounted it in the corner above our gas fireplace and decked it out a bit with molding. A good coat of white paint and now I have my built-in. I decided to leave the old red paint on the inside of the bottom portion. It was charming and will eventually be covered by doors anyway. (next project on the list)

I love it.
I now have a practical place to store my china and a few oil lamps. The treasures that I put on the top shelves are very special to me. I am not one for a lot of clutter, so if it is seen, it better be special.

Have a very Happy Valentine's Day.
Tami

a knitting basket

I take my knitting projects with me everywhere. I really wanted a basket with handles that was sturdy enough to stand up on it's own. I found a lovely basket at a local thrift store. It is exactly what I wanted, but really needed to be lined to keep my knitting projects from snagging. I love the size, it is the perfect for hauling around an in-progress sweater and a skein of yarn.
Now for the liner........

A thrifted 1980's shetland wool sweater. I felted the sweater, stitched in an oval piece where I cut the sweater below the armholes, which created a flat bottom to the liner,  and cut 2 slits near the top so it would slip over the handles. Pretty simple.

I stitched up the cut I made for the handles with gray wool yarn.
I may do a little more finishing work, like a blanket stitch around the bottom edge and maybe some embellishment. Maybe even a few pockets. I love how it turned out, practical and pretty.
Have a blessed day,
Tami

::for baby::

My littlest niece is due to be born here in a few weeks.
It has been 8 long years since we've had a baby born into the family. Everybody is so excited.
It is their firstborn. Having my first seems like a lifetime ago.

My sister's baby shower was yesterday. Anya and I went and had a little girl time. Anya is the youngest of the cousins and of our close friends, so she hadn't been to a shower.
She loved it! And she won a game, too.

I made this little knitted mouse from a pattern I found on Ravelry.
I think it came out quite well, and hopefully baby will love it.
I also added a few treasures that I thrifted. A cute vintage pottery mug and a Beatrix Potter treasury.
I made another of my handmade boxes out of 12x12 scrapbook paper. It turned out the perfect size for the baby mug. I will definitely make more of these in the future.

We had a great day and it was so wonderful to be with family and friends.
I can't wait to hold that baby when she's born!

Have a blessed day.
Tami

::I heart books::

 

I like to know how to do stuff. And I like to read about other people doing cool stuff. And I like to be transported away (for a bit) by a fantastic story.

This is why I love books, and not so much ebooks, but touch them, smell them books. I like seeing them all lined up (sometimes by color arranged like a rainbow). I just love books.

We do not have an enormous collection of books, but the ones we do have are well loved for sure. We love the library, too. I should be a librarian sometime. Yeah, I'd be good at that.

Children's books are my all time favorites. The artwork is such a gift . The art makes reading them such an enormous pleasure. I would love to be skilled enough to write and illustrate a children's book. Writing one is definitely on my life list.

I recently had all of my 2007-2009 blog posts bound into a hardcover book through Blurb.
I have used them before and find it pretty straight-forward. I had to spend a few days
editing to get it to look just right. What a treasure this will be in the years to come.

I have no idea what the future holds for Joyful Noise, but I like knowing my words are forever on our bookshelf. I enjoy seeing my kids look at it, it's a book about them and they like that.

 

No matter what the future brings technology-wise, I will always own books.

I like having words and knowledge at my fingertips. Their physical presence in our home speaks coziness and comfort to me.

I heart books.

Blessings, Tami

::February::

Ah February, you are nearly gone. You are the longest short month of the year. Lots of rain, grayness, and cold, but still so much to love.
I was extremely excited to find a new*to*me sofa this month. (We love Craigslist). I wanted a vintage style sofa with the convenience of newer upholstery. And here it is. Can I just say what a blessing it was to find it for $60.00. The wool granny square afghan was a find at a thrift store for $6.00. You can see behind the couch a hint of my new lighter paint. The color before was a peachy-brown. I am very happy with how things are coming along with paring down and lightening up.

Beautiful flowers showing up to brighten our days. What a blessing.

A rediscovered favorite, *Ants on a Log*- adding a little excitement to snacktime around here- YUM!

The joy of a tidy kitchen. Makes me want to cook. I find it quite odd that I dislike preparing food in a messy kitchen. I spend a lot of time cleaning it up before I mess it up again~LOL.

A long held favorite in our house, nearly indestructible. Vintage restaurant-ware. I love this stuff. I am always on the lookout for these gems at thrift stores. I found a stack of salad plates recently for next to nothing. I love that.

Another thrift store find. I figure it is from the 40's (my favorite decade). The entire lamp is metal and painted this sweet green color. The perforations on the top of the shade cast the most beautiful pattern on the ceiling at night.

In anticipation of our resident hummingbirds returning, I thought I'd show off my Christmas gift from the children. Vintage of course, it sits in my kitchen window, greeting me sweetly each day.

We've been up to some organizing this month. These plastic document boxes, one for each child, will be tucked away in my computer hutch. I plan to use these for report cards, important documents, medical papers, all in one spot. This will help me cut down on paper clutter tremendously.

Beautiful Valentine's Day roses. I have a very sweet hubby.

We have plans to make one of these cool teardrop trailers for summer camping. The inside compartment houses a full size bed, perfect for hubby and I, and perfect for transporting camping gear. The backend is a kitchen, I love it! We already have a flatbed trailer and my hubby will build the body. I can hardly wait.

I have been doing some serious knitting this month. Stashing lots of gifts for next Christmas. I really enjoyed the simplicity of last Christmas, having all our gifts ready before December. We spent the Christmas holiday enjoying one another and more focused on it's meaning.

We've had some snow today. Quite a change from all the rain we've been having. I love the brightness the snow brings.

I am off to fix my kids some hot cocoa and toast. Perfect for a cozy day.

I pray that you are all having a blessed and productive (and cozy) week.

March is almost here, can anyone say *salad garden* YAY!

In God's Love, Tami