a sentimental PB knock-off

It's summer - well, almost; fair to say that we all have summer fever at least. so with that, it means new pillow covers in the Smith household - or its a good excuse for fulfilling that need to  make yet another round of pillow covers. A store called Tall Mouse carries fabulous quilting fabric and had a 50% off sale of their usual $9.99  a yard fabrics. So I stocked up a bit for pillows in our front room, pillows on the girls' beds and for a few dresses for the baby. I tackled the pillows first, using the purchased fabric and a few sentimental things I picked up from both my grandmother and great grandmother.

the blue and gold prints are fabric I bought; the pink "blanket" is a vintage tablecloth that I found in my grandma's linen closet. I love the whimsical and girly look of it. No one knows that it's a tablecloth unless I tell them, right?

the brown and orange on the left and right sides are bought fabrics, and the middle pillow was one of a pair I picked up at a garage sale for 25 cents each.

Although I have yet to actually sew these into throw pillow covers, I just love the yellow and white pillow cases that, again, were in my Grandma's closet. I remember choosing these pillowcases for my pillows when I stayed all night with my grandparents when I was a child. All the more reason to bring them home with me! And the fun flower one? Another half off fabric - the choices were endless at the sale!

Now on to my favorite pillow of the selection presently in my home:  Here are the ones shown in Pottery Barn - the vintage flower pillows:

...and here are mine that I made using vintage fabric that I acquired after my great grandmother died in 2002.

I've held on to it and finally found it justified to cut it up and create pillow throws - after all, if it's in Pottery Barn, it's justified, right? Who doesn't love their look? And I think I like "free" quite a lot better than PB's overprices. Now as I look at these photos of the pillows, I think I will break out the iron for a few obvious reasons...

Happy Day!

matter the most monday #2...

ever since the twins arrived 4 1/2 years ago, the quote "the little things, they're not so little," has been one of my absolute favorites as well as a daily affirmation. with "back to school" just around the corner, my goal for the week is to maximize these little moments, grab the girls' journals (that i've slacked on a bit) and record these memorable times, and notice, enjoy, and appreciate the little things that define summer.

a must-have for your book shelf is the book "14,000 things to be happy about."

kudos to Barbara Ann Kipfer for recording her 14, 000 thoughts to inspire those of us that can barely accomplish a grocery list, let alone record a list of thoughts. think you could record your own list of 14000 happies? her book represents 20 years of recording all the things that made her happy. she began in 6th grade, first with a tiny spiral notebook, then larger notebooks, finally graduating to a computer. she uses it as a pick-me-up on a gray day, and as inspiration for what to cook for dinner or what to do with her son on the weekend.

a few favorites taken from her book to inspire me for the week :

-the rising of the sun on a misty morning

-being told you are dazzling

-flashlights that work

-"colour my world" by chicago

-birds nests

-strangers that you see so regularly that you feel they're almost friends

- loose strands of hair

-a well-worth-it wait

-deteriorated cookie particles in the milk

- handbags with room for everything

- thinking of the day, of your home, of your family, of things past, of things to come

happy monday!