Archives for October 2011

Burp Cloths

 I see this question a lot on Facebook and have been meaning to do this post for some time ~ “Where is a good place to buy burp cloths?” My answer is Embroider This. I’ve been ordering their burp cloths for a long time and they are wonderful! I buy the 4×6 ply Cotton Prefold Diaper. They also sell 2×5 ply, but I’ve only ordered the 4×6 ply. Anyway, here is my comparison to a Gerber cloth diaper I purchased at Walmart or Target. I think Gerber makes a premium cloth diaper and this may or may not be one of them ~ this was in a pack of 12 I purchased once when I had run out of the ET diapers and did not have time to order. I used a couple, kept a couple and sold the rest at a yard sale!

The diaper on the left is the Embroider This diaper and obviously it is a smidge bigger and the space between the inseams where the monogram or applique usually go is larger, which is a plus! You may also notice that the ET diaper is thicker ~ on the G diaper you can almost see through the side panels. I find that the ET end seams are typically even too (straight seam), whereas the G diaper ends can sometimes be crooked which makes sewing fabric or ribbon on a little tricky.

The end seams on the ET diaper are also “neater” to me. Can you tell a difference? I am not bashing Gerber diapers at all and they are fine to use (and I’d be interested to really see how the premium diapers compare). I just prefer the Embroider This diapers and try to recommend them when I get this question! I hope this helps!

Here are a few more kitchen pictures and I promise to move on from the kitchen! Let me say that I am not a designer or decorator (nor do I play one on TV). This kitchen renovation has been a HUGE process for our family and I’ve enjoyed being able to share it along the way! It’s also been super fun to “document” it along the way for our friends and family! Jeff & I can barely hang a picture together, so the fact that we survived this major renovation is a reason to celebrate! Anyway, I got a few bar stools today after hours upon hours of web-shopping and 6 trips to World Market, Pier 1, Target and another furniture store. We went with inexpensive (these are from Pier 1), “leather” (easy to wipe off), no arms (easy to store under the counter) and non-swivel (less counter banging and horse-play from the kids). Since the people who are going to sit here the most are 8 and under, I think we made the right decision!

We have a lot of space in our kitchen including this “area” behind the island. Not sure what we’ll put there? Maybe a little gathering area w/ a little seating? A couple of chairs, small table, lamp?

We also have this space between the kitchen and eating area where we talked about putting some type of console table with a piece of artwork over it. There used to be cabinets here! Sissy is also showing us her ballet moves.

Here is another view, and the chandelier above our table came with the house. I would like to replace it sometime (hi Jeff!!) since the shades that were on it no longer match, and the “bronze” of the chandelier doesn’t really match anymore either. The wish list is long! We have no rugs and nothing hung on the walls but a clock. Baby steps!

That is seriously it for a while! I’m working on customer orders this week and we have several new designs coming at Applique Cafe. They are all previewed on Facebook! Have a great week and thanks for following along! Oh, BTW…

 

We survived!

I can ALMOST say that our renovation project is DONE!! We have ONE MORE DAY, I think, this coming week. They have not done the front door, painted the little hallway to the master bedroom or hung our under-cabinet lighting. Minor details. I have been battling with my sinuses for 3 weeks. Today I took an Allegra-D. I had no idea a decongestant could throw me in to “nesting” mode (without being pregnant). You’ll see what I mean shortly. Anyway, here is our new pantry! The old pantry had lots of random wire shelves, so we took that all out, painted it and had our contractor do these nice wood painted shelves. LOVE THEM! I went to Target Friday to scout out some baskets because that’s what I’ve seen on Pinterest and it looks super organized. Haven’t bought any yet. There is also a blank wall on the right side so I am trying to figure out what to put there to make it both organized and cute! It doesn’t take much to excite me.

Do you remember this post from SEPTEMBER 27th? Today I FINALLY tackled this room. Jeff & I have been chipping away at it for a couple of weeks, and today (thank you Mr. Allegra-D), I got it all cleaned out, dusted, mopped and organized. The contents of this room (which is what we call our “mystery room” adjacent to our eating area in the kitchen) are temporary. This is my old dining room table which I used to sew on, which will be used probably by Browder to do homework for the time being. The boxes underneath the table are picture frames and chotchkies that we have no where to put right now, but it is all out of the way and organized until we get ready to hang stuff! I have hung 1 clock and a key rack in the whole house I think. Oh, and a bulletin board.

“Mystery” storage room. We will eventually decide if we want shelves in here, cabinetry, a desk…. exciting stuff, huh?

And… the moment we have all been waiting for…. the finished KITCHEN!

I’m in the market for a few counter stools, which I cannnnooootttt decide on. The island pendant lights were hung last week and they are from good ole Pottery Barn.

We painted our ceilings in the kitchen too and while I was unsure about doing it, it turned out great, especially the huge dome over the table! We painted them the same color as the walls.

Our next project is our den! We had it all painted (ceilings too), but the furniture in there was mine before I met Jeff. It’s great furniture but we’re thinking we need to update since we have a new kitchen. Maybe by Christmas.

The dining room has been painted and the funky arches have been taken out. We have no dining room furniture in there so there’s not much to see. I have to give a shout out to Amie of Linen and Boxwoods! She is my sweet friend who helped me along the way with all the decisions regarding paint, cabinet colors, lighting, etc. She made several trips with me to the tile store, the lighting store and put up with my texts of pictures of paint swatches painted all over the walls. THANKS AMIE!! She is getting ready for her own renovation with our same contractor, so I can’t wait to see it all unfold!

Our next major renovation will be our bathroom, but we’re taking a break until after the new year so you can have a few months of actual applique posts rather than renovation updates. I am STILLLLLL…. working on my sewing room too. I can’t quite figure out what to do and won’t commit to hanging anything on the walls (other than my bulletin board). Maybe soon I will get it together. Maybe when I have another Allegra day. Seriously – I cleaned out our garage, put a bunch of stuff in the attic, hung the boys winter clothes up and put up some of their summer stuff. Ditto on my closet – I got out all of my winter clothes and put up some of the summer stuff and started a Goodwill bag. I’ve accomplished more today than I have in 2 months.

War Eagle!! Time to crash…

I’m still here…

We are still in renovation mode. The kitchen is about done (are you sick of hearing about it yet?) ~ we have one more good day to wrap up loose ends, hang lights, hook up plumbing in a couple of sinks, etc. Hopefully that day will happen this week. Last week they took this funky arch out of the foyer. We’ve been trying to figure out it’s use ever since we moved in. Also, we’re painting the dining room so the walls had to be mudded first. The existing paint was drippy, hence the mud. The mud walls will be sanded first and then painted.

No arches! I’ll be sure to post pics when all is done in the dining room AND kitchen! Our dining room is small, which we love! When we get old will we formally entertain?? I’d love to one day re-do our stairs….

We are also re-doing our front door, which is all shades of brown right now after being cleaned.

The projects are endless…

Here are some tees I did last week (last minute) for a little clothing sale a friend of mine does twice a year. AC Helmet.

I’m not sure where the peace sign is from? It may actually be Embroidery-Boutique? AC Spider Patch on the right.

AC Pumpkin ~ our first pumpkin I think! I had very little time to do these so I had to chose simple designs. Simple = good!

This is a Nobbie Neez Kids pumpkin ~ I was dying to do something with this fabric!

I just love PEACE sign “on earth” for Christmas!

There is a 50% off sale going on at Applique Cafe! It ends tomorrow (Wednesday = first thing Thursday morning)! I’m working on sampling 4 new designs as I type this….