Summer’s winding down here, school starts next week.  I am always sad to get  my kids back to school.  But we have a had an incredible summer as a family, camping, hiking, BBQs, and warming up (we had a record breaking summer here, and it was quite nice).  As we’re winding down and getting ready …

For quite some time I had been looking for a serving tray.  I would go to Target or other stores and think how it would be nice to have a serving tray, both for practical and decorative use.  But I could never spend as much money as they seem to require, like something else in the …

The day the drain pipe vomits up raw sewage all over the downstairs floor, it’s always at the most inconvenient time. Day in and day out, the pipes and laws of gravity behave, and without any praise, they hide the filth and contamination from a home bustling above. The day it spews its ugly stench, …

Several years ago, my mom was at a mutual friend’s house and heard they were getting rid of their dining room table.  She told me right away, as it could extend a long ways, it had two leaves, and could sit maybe 10-12 people around it.  At the current time we had a little military drop …

Several weeks ago I spied a little cabinet at a thrift store I frequent.  I had looked over it, and passed, but two days later still hadn’t gotten it out of my head.  I went back, and to my delight and surprise it was still there.  Upon an even more thorough inspection, I discovered it …

Sometime last year, I was browsing my favorite sewing blog, Sewing in No Man’s Land, when I came across a throw pillow that she had copied from the beloved store Anthropologie.  At the time the blogger, Kelly Crawford and I had one thing in common.  Neither of us were close to an Anthropologie store, so …

Most the time, as I hunt for furniture, I have to be extremely patient.  In Alaska we have a VERY limited selection of both used and new furniture.  I suppose if I wanted to pay top dollar at a fine furniture store (I think there might be one in Anchorage), I wouldn’t have this problem, but then, …

This chair, I almost didn’t photograph.  It seemed like such a little make-over.  Like I didn’t put enough time and effort for it to be “blog worthy”.  (And the photographs aren’t great, but I am still pleading “very amateur photographer”, it’s all about the process, right?) So my main purpose in sharing this, is that …

Today I am going to show you how I went about creating the knife-pleated ottoman slip cover.  The important thing about slip covers is that they fit properly. Like an alteration or a custom-made clothing, a perfect fit will make all the difference. It can look like a slopping t-shirt or a custom made gown. …

We are enjoying an early spring in Alaska, and in anticipation of the semi-warmth (it isn’t here yet), there have been a few garage and moving sales the last couple of weekends.  I stopped by my sister-in-law’s moving sale a couple weekends ago and found this cute little ottoman. I have been looking for one to …