I spy...a basket purse?!

Basket Purse - perfect :)

I hate diaper bags.  I know this is a very negative way to start a post, but I am trying to be honest.  I can never find anything in them, or when I do, it's usually some sort of food that has been hiding in it's depths.  It was around Easter time 2011, the boys were almost 18 months old and I had had it with those big bags.  I still needed something to put all the things I needed in my shopping excursions and trips to church.  The answer, as uneventful as it may be, came after I muddled what to do with the girl's Easter baskets.  I love to buy them, but how many more do we need?  Before the the massive Easter clearance, I had a clearly brilliant moment - I can use this basket as an alternative to my diaper bag....I bought one more on clearance and have the one in the photo, white, and pink...I was hooked.



alternative to a diaper bag or purse

Perhaps it's the color, the size, or the cute handle - but this style basket has proven to be a perfect fit.  It's not too big, not too small, it's a great color and it fits everything I need for my twins when I am shopping.  I even had room for a half package of wipes that I forgot to put in these photos. 



Here are my contents:

Here is what I took with me on my last shopping adventure:

Two sippy cups
1 banana with peel
lots of change at the bottom of the basket
My keys
A flower pen
A planner.
A wallet
2 baggies of grapes (sliced)
2 baggies of pretzels
2 fruit snacks
2 Keebler treat bags
2 bottles, just in case!

Hilariously, all items within this basket were consumed on one (1) forty minute Target trip!  ReallY!



fits perfectly



 The basket sits perfectly on the floor on my passenger seat and fits nicely in the shopping cart or underneath my double stroller.  When the contents of the bags and packages are eaten, I use the basket as a temporary garbage and throw everything away on the way out.  Leaving only what wasn't devoured behind!  That usually means my money too!  Surprisingly, I have received tons of great compliments - and that's even with my cute little red heads as a distraction :)

What do you think about diaper bags?

Do you hate or love them?

Would you do this?

Window repurposing project.

Old Window awaiting repurposing.

High amongst the bats and dust, on the third level of our New England barn lay 20 something old wooden windows.  This one was like a lighthouse in a storm standing out among all the others.  Now, it is being washed, scraped, sanded, and painted and awaiting finishing details; like, corkboard, and fabric.  This old window is to become my office cork board and dream board.  This was just peek -more to come!

Any projects in the works?

Antique Mantle Silhouette decoration.

New to our fireplace!  The family in silhouettes. Created using a profile photo of each of our family members and edited them in photoshop.  I printed each one and decoupaged them onto an old antique painted board I found in our corn crib.  I took out each of our names that were printed right below each silhouette for publishing.

Do you like silhouettes?

Chair Ottomans: Chairs converted into Ottomans.

Chair Ottoman finished work.

Convert an old chair into an ottoman!  It took me less than two hours to change these old chairs we found in our barn into a perfect addition to our living room.  Not only does it allow for extra seating, but you can put your feet up on it too! 



Materials:  Scissors, hammer, staple gun with foam
padding, material,  felt, ribbon, and antique tacks.

I started with having Mr. C take off the the back of the chair.  To keep the vintage appeal, I left the finish on both chairs - as is, but cleaned them up with a damp cloth.  I used 1" thick foam that I purchased from Michael's and cut it slightly larger then the top.  The material I cut almost 3 inches longer folding it under the bottom of the chair and stapling it with a staple gun.  I repeated this all the way around and then covered the underneath with black felt, so no Little's would get hurt from any staples.  I then used black ribbon around the outside of the now chair ottoman and hammered antique black short nails all around to secure the ribbon in place.  This was my first time ever upholstering something like this, so there may be better ways of doing this!

An old fabric shower curtain for the material.

What is the craziest thing you've upholstered?

Would you do this?

Caution Children!

This sign I found on our property kills me!  I loved it so much it now has a very prominent place on our newly cleaned-up front porch and entry-way.  I spent most of yesterday cleaning, sweeping, and getting it all ready for summer. 

***looking for your ideas on "take your shoes off"signs.  Something clever!  ****