super bowl discount at the creekhouse etsy shop

Super Bowl special! Enter coupon code GOPACKGO and receive a 20% discount at my Etsy shop through the end of the game. (See tab above.) We're ridiculously excited around here, being from Wisconsin and all, and want to spread the love. Go Pack!

~ Jenny

stock up the shop: more BIG vintage fabric

I can't even believe I bought polyester fabric...but how could I resist this?

Yes, another excuse to show off my cool chair.

3 yards of green, deco-y, craziness.

I searched high and low (well, on the internet of course) for any information on this name. All I could come up with was lots of information about this company. Could it be the same? I can't be sure, but I can be sure that there isn't anything out there (well, on the internet of course) about Duplan Prints, Duplan Fabric, Duplan Clothing, nada. It's so cool, I almost feel that it's pretty early polyester. It has such an art deco feel to me. Anyway, had to share and 'fess up to not being such a cotton snob this week. 

~ Jenny

stock up the shop: marimekko

I've long been a big fan of the Finnish textile company Marimekko. Yes, largely due to the influence of the good taste of my Danish-born friend since 2nd grade (are you reading?)

I was thrilled to find this fabric recently, and more thrilled to be able to sell it to someone who appreciates it greatly. Yes, it was one of those "gasp!" moments when I found it, but the extremely large scale of it stumped me. The colors and even the style would actually work with my decor, but the sheer hugeness? I'd need some seriously high walls or something.

Orange, rich red, and navy. What a great combination.

45 year old fabric in almost mint condition. How cool is that? Here is an excerpt from a book titled Marimekko: fabrics, fashion, architecture by Marianne Aav. Have not seen the book in person, but I really enjoyed seeing the photo of this fabric in its day, in use.
~ Jenny

stock up the shop: vintage apron

Found this little vintage apron the other day. The colors and patterns just me happy for some reason, probably because I'm a child of the 70s.

Cute huh?
~ Jenny

project: surf's up toddler skirt tutorial

We have dreams in this house of learning how to surf. The kids put couch pillows on the floor, stand on them, and dramatically waver back and forth, "whooooa, whoaaaa, whoa!" The kids' movie Surf's Up is hilarious and is quite a favorite around here lately.

I can't give a tutorial on how to surf, but how about one to make a cute little surfer-girl skirt out of surfer-girl's older brother's surf shirt?! Super quick and easy, literally 20 minutes if you have the stuff. And this is what you need:

1 boy's surfer shirt with (this is important:) a straight, 1" hem. (Yes, you can do it with a curved, skinnier hem, but then it won't be quite so quick! The bottom hem ends up being the waistline...I'll address a complication about this later, you've probably already figured that out...I'm a little slow.)

3/4" - 1" elastic

thread

sewing machine

The photos are pretty self-explanatory, but I'll add some comments along the way to clarify. Oh, cool buttons really help the skirt look extra cute. And, ummmm, sizing...I cut up my little boy's size 5 shirt to fit my 2 year old little girl. Good enough? I thought so...it's elastic!

Hem the edge you just cut (this will be the BOTTOM  hem of the skirt.)

Thread your elastic through the original bottom hem of the shirt, this will be your waistband. Now might be a good time to grab that toddler and wrestle her down to make sure your making the waistband just the right size.

Now to address the aforementioned complication...yes, the print is upside-down. You probably saw this coming. I don't really worry myself too much about these things (clearly,) but the more I looked at various Hawaiian prints, I've realized that many have pictures going both ways. It still looks ridiculously cute, and you'll see another at the end in which the print can go either way.

I pinned the elastic in place, overlapping, and then sewed a square to hold it securely before I trimmed the excess elastic. See the square at the top above the buttons?

You may think this is just a grand effort to show off this adorable 2 year old belly, and maybe it is.

 

Try it, it's easy! (Oh, and if you don't have an older brother, just head to the thrift shop and you'll have your choice of all sorts of awesome prints. Maybe some nice plaids...doesn't matter if they're upside-down or not!)
~ Jenny

stock up the shop: the thrill of the hunt

I've always loved vintage items... including vintage fabrics and linens. I'm no expert on vintage fabrics, but I am very intrigued by them and very much enjoy shopping for them. I'm not talking about shopping online or at actual fabric stores, but hunting through antique malls, thrift shops, flea markets, estate sales...to find fun treasures hidden in the corners and piles. 

Check out this fun 1970s apron with teapots, houses, doors, and flowers in great 70s colors.

This is an amazing Lanz Original fabric from the 1950s. It is a really beautiful representation of Little Red Riding Hood. Just over 4 yards of this!

Beautiful blues, stripes, and tiny flowers on this one. It's a lightweight cotton.

Something about it, I just love looking at it. 

This is a cute Scandinavian print. Such pretty colors and a cute design. It has definitely never been used or washed. I can just see it as kitchen curtains or a tablecloth...

or maybe even a panel in a little girl's skirt or dress!

Because I unfortunately don't have the time or energy to sew with all of these, many of these fabrics, and more to come, will be for sale at the creekhouse Etsy shop along with my other vintage finds. Looking forward to learning more about vintage fabrics!
~ Jenny

project: slipcover

Ugly chair...worse in real life than in the photo.

Old Target linen/cotton blend curtains and happening by this tutorial.

Voila! 

I think I'll go back and press all the seams just to crisp it up a bit. 

But I also like the wrinkly-unkemptness of the linen. 

Great thing is that it all comes off in one piece to pop in the washer and dryer and pop it back on.

And here's the new TWO year-old trying it out. Happy Birthday Little Girl!

Cute and very satisfying. 

It seems like the perfect weight fabric, with the right amount of drape to it...

and a bit of stretch to hide imperfections (don't look to close.)

project: anna maria horner meets toddler proofing

I recently obtained 4 chairs from a local thrift shop. Nothing fancy, but they match my not-so-fancy table. The cushion covers, as you can see, are not so great either. But, with a family including little ones, a not-so-fancy table with not-so-great chairs are just fine, for now.

Well, cut to a few months later with a squirmy five year old and downright wacky almost-two-year old who likes to eat yogurt with her fingers...the not-so-great chairs are downright nasty.

Hello, day shopping alone in Denver (happy b-day to me) and coming across a fabric store I had dreamed of visiting. Hello, stumbling across a corner bin containing Anna Maria Horner's Little Folks Forest Hills Oil Cloth. Hello, brain engaged enough from having a shopping day to myself that I actually could think of the project I had been meaning to do...with this particular oil cloth! Hello, beautiful, fun, funky, toddler-proof new chairs!

Soon to be finished this weekend. Excited about getting it all done!

I have a project list, and it's slowly getting crossed off. Loving that.

~ Jenny

only you can prevent forest fires

Are you having flashbacks to the 70s when you read that phrase? I sure did when I found this fabric last week at a thrift shop. I've always had a thing for Smokey, and was tickled when I found these curtains.

I tried to research to find what year they are from 'cause I hate to call things vintage if they're not really. They are made by Fieldcrest, and the only thing I could find online was this funny little article from 1972. (I love you, internet.) I think I can safely assume that they are from 1972, which I would consider vintage; I was just one year old...so yes, definitely vintage. Looking at the style, colors, and pictures, that sounds about right to me.

Can you stand the cuteness? Have a closer look at some of the images:

Little blue possums!

What a nice turtle helping blue mouse get his flower home.

Who made that beautful necklace for you Ms Deer?

Hmmm, break my matches...I don't get it, but I'll do anything you say, wise one.

I think he's getting ready to make another necklace for his lady...

I know that was a lot of photos with very cheesey captions, but every time I looked I found another very clever cute little thing.

They are two large, lined curtains, about 2 yards wide by 1.5 yards high, and the fabric is nice heavyweight. Question is...what to do with them? They'd be cute curtains as is for little boy's room...or maybe for a play room...or maybe made into...hmmm...I just don't know. 

Happy 4th of July, all. Maybe something this weekend will remind you of your childhood...decorated bikes, ooohs and ahhhs, the smell of fireworks, root beer floats...can't wait to see little boy experience his first sparklers tomorrow. And to those of you in other countries, enjoy your weekend, too!!

~ Jenny

been gone

You get the picture. As soon as I get the suitcases unpacked and get caught up on my sleep after traveling with two little ones (hubby didn't get to come this time,) I'll be back at it.

~ Jenny