Easy DIY Fabric Napkins

Now not our dining room got a recent update with the new floral drapes a I sewed, I wanted to bring in a bit more color in with napkins and just in time for the upcoming Holiday Season. Instead of going to the store and spending some moolah, and I decided to look though my fabric stash. I'm always buying a yard or more of fabric here and there for pillows or just in case projects. I was happy when I came across a pretty yard for fabric I originally intended into sewing into pillows, but the yellow citron shade wasn't a good fit with our living room. However I loved how the shade complimented our dining room curtains. I decided to sew 16 in square napkins, the perfect desert size. 

The fabric I used has a cool geometric print, and I like how a portion of the design would be in each napkin. I told my inner Martha to shush and not worry about cutting each napkin to 'match.' I iron and pinned each side of the napkins using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. The longest part in diying your own napkins is ironing and pinning. I trimmed the excess fabric on each corner to create a cleaner look. I estimate each napkin took about five minutes to sew. I spent around 20 mins or so on these napkins, most of the time I spent was on ironing and pining. I spent much less time it would have taken to buckle Avery in is car seat, find a parking space, drive to the store, get out the stroller and troll the isles. Yeah when you add all that at, it was easier to sew these napkins while the little guy took his nap. 

I have some darling napkin ring holders { a wedding gift } I used to see how the napkins look. In my opinion very cute. I also like how there's a hint of a pattern, that's not fully seen until after they are open. I'll mostly use our new napkins for desert time or when my girlfriends are our over. I still have some left over fabric, so most likely I'll sew two more. 

The napkins are a super simple diy sewing project, for those of you curious about learning to sew, this would be a good 'testing the waters sewing project.' This project could also be done very easy using no sew hem tape. I also like the idea of giving a set of napkins along with pretty napkin rings to a friend for a house warming gift. One of my girlfriends just recently moved into a new apartment, so she just might receive a set as a present!

What do you think of my super simple diy napkins? Have you done any simple sewing projects lately? Are you thinking about learning to sew?

* ps: I've been working on our Craft & Sew Page, Hopefully it will be 'live' soon!

Thinking Out Loud

For the past few months I've been on the hunt for a vintage { yet safe } wood high chair for the little guy. I really love the idea on taking old stuff and making it new again and would love to do the same with a high chair. Even though there are some cool new high chairs out there, most seem big and bulky for our small dining room, so vintage mostly likely will be the way we go. I would love to paint the vintage wood high chair a fun color, maybe a shade of teal? Or just play it safe with white? I'm also liking the idea of painting it glossy grey. I also plan on making a thin seat cushion, instead of using regular fabric, I plan on using oil cloth - perfect for babies. The high chairs below is a perfect example of what I was thinking.

{ via I like It, I Love It }

 { via Drab to Fab }

Hopefully I'll be able to find a darling vintage one soon, after all Avery will be turning 4 months soon and a few months after that we'll be introducing solids. I do have a backup plan just in case I can't find a vintage safe wood chair to redo. Enter Ikea, they sale two wooden style high chairs that could work well. The Blames highchair has a great shape, I would love it in a glossy grey or white. 

The runner up if we go the Ikea route is the Gulliver, I would also love it glossy grey or glossy white. I like that this one pushes directly up to the table, making family dinners much easier. This one has a much wider bottom base, so I'm not sure if it would work for us.

Whatever route we end up going for the little guys highchair I'll for sure share.On my to do list this weekend finish up some misc. diy projects and stalk Craigslist for the vintage wood chair wish me luck!


What are your plans this weekend?

Family Life

A few weeks ago our family took some professional pictures, with the addition of Avery we knew it was the perfect time. I'm so glad we took pictures, and had fun during the shoot. Hasani  loved the idea of taking the pictures in the same garden we got married in. He's a sentimental guy and a keeper, lol. So much has changed since I grew up, back in the 80's family pictures for  my family were super serious and always taken at Olan Mills. So its cool now that modern family pictures are taken on location ( I sounds so Tyra ) Anyways here our a few of the pics we love!! We used a local photographer in Sacramento - The Blue Owl Photography, I like her style style a lot so happy with the results.

I'm ordering my prints today and soon they will be on display in our home, I love how personal family photos like our wedding pictures in our entryway will create the warmth in a home. I snagged 3 large 14 x 18 on clearance for $ 11.98 and got one of them for 10% Off do to a minor scuff! Remember always talk up those 'imperfections' to the cashier, lol { SAVINGS } In the frames we have a picture of Avery and Tabari taken at Picture People, I used two $ 18 package coupons, for 25 pictures each, pretty good deal. I just took a quick snapshot until they a re placed on the wall, so please excuse the glare. I also received the 8x10 Canvas I ordered from Canvas People ( I did pay $ 14.95 for Shipping & Handling) I really like it! We decided to use our blog photo for the picture. I'm thinking about ordering one more a black and white pictures from our wedding for our bedroom.

I'm thinking we might replace them with the family pictures taken at the Rose Garden, not quite sure. Oh I did notice while I was at Target buying those frames that ALL the white frames at my Target were on clearance What's Up With That? Ooh Wee What's Up With That? Makes me think of the SNL Song I LOVE singing, lol. Tell me I'm not the only one who sings that song? Whew September was a month of family pictures for us!

What do you think of the pictures, is it me or does Avery's eyes melt your heart too? Have you noticed all the white frames have disappeared at your Target too? What style where your family pictures when you were a kid?

CLH Featured on Baby Lifestyles!

Avery's nursery has been featured on Baby Lifestyles Magazine in their Real Nursery section. Baby Lifestyles is a new online Magazine and Website that shares inspiring nurseries and ideas with their readers, we are so excited to be apart of it! Please check out the Interview here. Below is a screen shot of the feature from my computer screen.

Please let me know what you think of the article :) I'll be back on Thursday to share another DIY project I just completed.