Melikes the Teal...

Melikes the teal. A bit of a teal obsession going on over here. It's my new neutral. If a shockingly bright color can be considered a neutral!?

According to Dictionary.com one of the definitions for neutral includes:

Matching well with many or most other colors or shades.

And because I DO match it will most other colors and shades....it's my new neutral. See? I'm not completely out of it. Just half way, right?

Anywho, many of you know I painted an accent wall in my boudoir a lovely teal shade. Except I never provided photographic evidence. Mostly because I am in need of an upgraded camera to replace my current non-correct color depicting camera, but anywho.

Here's what my bedroom looked like pre-painting. In a 'bed pushed to the center of the room and stuff piled on it so I can paint' arrangement:



The new color? Intense Marathon:



I showed the paint sample to my hubby and he raised his eyebrows and gave me the "you are a nut job" look. I kinda like it when he gives me that look.

Anywho, new accent paint on back wall, said adios to the non-matching red-brown sludge and new bedding and we now have:


(Yup, that is a cluster of three teal VintageDutchGirl fabric flowers on my accent pillow. Super easy way to dress up a pillow.)


(Goodness gracious I need more decor. And to lose those lamps - blech. Oh well, they were garage sale under $4.00. No biggie.)

Ahhhh. So much better.

Still not done yet.

Need to convince the hubby that I can paint the bed frame white.

Need to get new lamps.

Need some orange/persimmony ruffly accent pillow goodness.

All things on my list.

I DID have extra paint laying around....and once I get the painting stuff all set up I tend to go a little nutso.

I made this cute little side table for my front porch with scraps left over from our gate building
project. Yep, I used our chop saw and drill all by myself...and I LOVED it. Yep, I'm a woodworker's daughter through and through:


(Drat, those stupid chairs. I keep forgetting to post them. Ok, this picture will be the intro. See those chairs? I'll post Chapter one this week. Sound good? Ok. Oh and look at that dorky photographer in the window. Hasn't she ever heard of a reflection before? Sheesh.)

Anywho, it was boring. So, it got the good ole Teal treatment:


(Powered by diet coke, of course.)

And while the paint was out I hunted in the garage and house for things needing a little spunk of color. Grabbed a few more things and got to painting:



Yes, those are my garden stakes. Pictures to come soon.

Yup yup yup. Melikes the teal...

A

** Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **

Sassy new Headbands in the Etsy Shop!

I finally was able to list some new fun headbands in the Vintage Dutch Girl ETSY shop. Just a little sprinkling of new products I've been having fun with.

A cluster blossom headband light teal and white:



A cluster blossom headband in sheer white and black floral print:



And a layered ruffly bright yellow headband:



There will be many more styles and colors to come so keep watching!

A

These Ruffles Used To Be Sleeves...

Everyone has that boring plain white long-sleeve button down shirt just hanging in their closet, right? In my case, that boring white plain button down shirt had an extremely unflattering criss cross tie detail between the two back seams that just screamed MATERNITY. Or OUTDATED. Either one, not good.

So.....I chopped it up.

(And no, I did NOT take a before picture. Mostly because I couldn't find my camera. Also because when inspiration hits I can't think straight until I've attempted to create said inspiration. And lastly because you ALL KNOW what a boring plain white long-sleeve button down shirt looks like, right???)

Step 1: The collar was seam ripped off and then restitched the seam down leaving a simple edge. A much more clean and crisp look. Besides, the collar was all ugly and slubby from use. It was time for it to go.

Step 2: The long sleeves were chopped off and the sleeve edges refinished. (Save those cut off sleeves for Step 4!)

Step 3: Goodbye ugly outdated maternity criss-cross back ties! Seam ripped those babies right out and tossed em in the trash. Just a bit of restitching the seams down without those ties and the back looks 100% better.

Lastly, and most importantly....

Step 4: The sass. The fun. The RUFFLES! Seam ripped those cut off sleeves from Step 2 and cut double matching lengths for each side of front button placket.

(I had NO IDEA that my still-sorta-new-and-scary serger could do rolled hem edges. SAWEET! So stinkin' fun. Maybe I should actually finish reading my serger manual. It probably can do dishes and mop the floors too!)

Ran those matching lengths through the serger creating a rolled hem edge on each side, top and bottom and then created some sassy ruffles using a basting stitch with my regular sewing machine.

Pinned the ruffled goodness on, sewed em down and jumped up and down with glee. Sometimes I get so excited when a project I'm working on finally turns out the way I envisioned it that I just can't stand it and have to jump around a bit.



Hows this for some sass?



Looks much better with a black belt too:



(Pardon the bulkiness, I threw it on over a pink t shirt to snap this photo. Ha! I just noticed you can see the vertical lettering on my t shirt through the white shirt. :) I am SUCH a dork!)

OK, tear through your closet and start turning those long-sleeved shirts into ruffled short sleeved sass!

A

** Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **

Crafting Feeds My Soul...

The last three weeks in May were crazyness in our house. Bubbalu had a bad reaction to his anti-allergy medication and well....it made him kinda crazy. OK, more than just kinda crazy. Most of you already know how mischievous my Bubbalu can be. He took it to whole new level. Which in turn makes Mama crazy. You know how it goes.

Finally figured out what was going on and my normal mischievous level little Bubbalu is back!

(Big breath.)

I also had coffee with an amazing mentor Mama who said to me , "Amanda, have you been doing any crafting the last few weeks?"

Uh. No.

"Honey, you NEED to be creating. It's what you do for YOU."

Hmmmm.



I'm one of those Just finish your work and THEN you can play kinda people. Worked great when I had, you know, a REAL job. However, when anyone asks me if I'm working I always say, "Why yes, I do work, harder than I've ever worked in my life. I'm a Mom". Problem is, my job IS NEVER DONE. Are you a Mom? Is YOUR job ever done? Nope.

There is always something to be done and I feel guilty indulging in my crafting/sewing/creating time.

But I was unhappy.

So, I made a choice. I chose to leave dishes out, laundry unfolded, papers left on the counter and bathrooms still needing a scrubbing and ran for the craft room.



My mentor Mama was right. Crafting feeds my soul. It always has. I've been gluing, cutting, sewing, crocheting, stitching, painting, drawing or designing my entire life. Just ask my Mom. It drove her crazy at times! Love you Mom. Thanks for putting up with me :)

I picked up my scissors, plugged in the glue gun and turned my sewing machine on. It's been GREAT to be back. I'm working on some super girly, bright, fun, polka dotty and ruffly accessories. They'll be in the Etsy shop soon.

So, what do you do for YOUR me time? Is it crafting and creating like me? Reading a book? Taking a nap? Exercise? Eating? (Oh wait, maybe that's just me. Yep, right next to my sewing machine you will find a red Fiesta Ware ramekin that is always full of Costco's Ambrosia Chocolate chips. You know. Just in case of a chocoholic attack.)

Seriously though, I'm curious what other Mama's do for their ME time.

Spill it...

A

** Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **

One Hundred Shades of Happy....

I am one hundred shades of happy right now.

Just found out my Brother and Sister-in-law have just met THEIR NEW DAUGHTER!

In ETHIOPIA.

Yep, they have met the sweet baby girl that they will take home to be theirs. So very exciting, God is SO good. Yep, she is my second Ethiopian niece/nephew. The joy doesn't stop there. We have ANOTHER brother and sister-in-law who are on the waiting list for THEIR baby girl too! Our family is growing by leaps and bounds!

Just finished booking an AWESOME hotel deal (with an indoor heated pool for Mr. Energy to swim in) in a few weeks to go and meet our NEW NIECE.

We will be waiting to welcome her home to her forever family in the airport baggage claim area. Love it. Love it all.

Just scheduled a late morning coffee date with a dear friend where I can squeal and gush all about my NEW NIECE.

God is GOOD...

A

Me Loves the Toddler Food...

It doesn't matter how old I am...I will always love toddler food.

Macaroni and cheese?

YES PLEASE.

Tall glass of ice-cold chocolate milk?

YES PLEASE.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwich?

YES PLEASE.

Chocolate pudding snack pac?

Hand it over!!

How sad is it when you get a little too excited that the littles didn't finish all their lunch and you need to help finish it?

That'd be me.

May explain the residual post baby...uh...ISSUES that I have. And yes, as I have explained before, I am claiming the "I just had a baby" excuse for five years. FIVE.

Sounds reasonable to me...

A

** Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **

Wearing Tomato Cages And Eating Dirt...

I FINALLY got my garden in earlier this week. It was a glorious weekend and my seeds would have germinated...had they been in the ground on time. Oh well, at least they are in now!

Bubbalu helped me pot and stake the tomatoes while Daddy worked on building a gate:


("Look Mommy! I'm a ROBOT SPACESHIP!!!")

I'm hoping that tomato production and consumption will be good this year. Well, as long as my Tomato Bandit leaves them alone, that is.

OY.

Lil Chick was nearby and discovered that she was VERY fond of the potting soil and "helped" me plant my pots:






("Hey Mommy, this brown stuff is F.U.N. to play with! It looks like chocolate cake, but doesn't QUITE taste like it. But that's OK, I'll still eat it.")

* Did you happen to spot a chair revamp in the background? I honestly forgot to post about it. Will post it soon!*

The kids have been LOVING being outside in the sunshine. Mommy has been loving it too. The perfect kind of day for lunch on the deck:



Little did I know Bubbalu would steal Lil Chick's sandwich when I went back inside. Oh, the brotherly love...

A

** Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **

My Special Custom Costco Cart...

Dear Costco,

In addition to the drive thru that you will install for me, your #1 Customer, I have another request.

I would like to request a special custom cart saved just for me and a select group of my friends who make the list. (Am currently compiling the list and will deliver it to you upon completion of my request).

My Special Custom Costco Cart must include:

1. A plexiglass divider between the two seats in the front of the cart. It must be at least 4 feet tall so a certain 3 yr old cannot reach over to pummel his 1 yr old sister.

2. A plexiglass kick plate on the front under the shopping cart handle that extends down a good 3 feet or so to protect my legs and stomach from being kicked by aforementioned 3 yr old.

3. Why don't we just go and enclose the entire child-holding part of the cart while we're at it. Please let it be completely soundproof as to mute the sounds that comes out of my 1 yr old when she opens her mouth. (Lil Chick screamed so loud today in Costco that the elderly woman in front of me jumped clear out of her orthopedic shoes. Then she glared at me. Right before Bubbalu threw my Costco coupon book at her. Lovely. Mother of the year.)

4. I NEED a cup holder. And maybe you could make it keep my hot mochas hot and the frozen ones cold. Why don't you just put two or three of those hot/cold cup holders on there while we're at it so I can sip one while I shop and keep one or two more the appropriate temperature so when I arrive at my Sister's house they will be the perfect temperature for an hour long impromptu chat/playtime.

5. I could use a small mirror so I can fix my hair that gets hopelessly disheveled when I walk through the wind tunnel at the entrance to the store.

6. A receipt holder clip on the side of the plexiglass child enclosement so that the receipt isn't in a sweaty crumpled mess in my fist by the time I get to the sharpie wielding checkers at the exit.

7. A map of the store complete with current location of the Starbucks Frapps and Tostito's queso cheese. Yes, I could NOT find the queso cheese today. Very disturbing.

8. A priority checkout pass. Ya know, because I'm your #1 Customer and all.

Except for your Kirkland Signature Macaroni and Cheese. You missed the mark on that one.

Please let me know when my cart will be ready. I'll be waiting.

Yours truly,

A

** Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **

The Flute Got Flushed...

I was all excited last week to give the kids a toy flute and harmonica to play with. After all, we are excellent parents providing our offspring with creative, mind enriching toys.

That flute was LOUD. VERY LOUD. It kept getting "lost" on top of the piano and on the highest shelf in the cupboard. Sad, very sad.

However, Bubbalu kept finding it and playing with it. And yes, the flute did get flushed down the toilet last week. It wasn't the ENTIRE flute, just a four inch mouthpiece that makes the remaining pieces of the flute...well...NOT like a flute.

More like a blue stick with holes in it.

And guess what?

It's a Mute Flute.

Yep, completely quiet. He can try and try to make it whistle, but nope, that thing is mute.

And I'm not ONE bit sad about it.

Fast forward a few days to 9:30 pm Saturday night. I'm busily scrubbing down the bathrooms in anticipation of hosting a family BBQ right after church Sunday morning. (What?!? Doesn't EVERYONE scrub their bathrooms at 9:30 on Saturday night? SUCH a life of luxury I lead...)

Scrub the toilet and flip the flush lever. And the toilet is hardly draining. It SLOOOWWWLLLLY finishes flushing and I remember that stupid flute mouthpiece.

Argh.

Which leads to a 9:35 PM Saturday night phone call to my dad, "Uh, Dad, how do you take apart a toilet?"

And what does he say? "I'll be over in five."

Awww, thanks Dad!

Mom came along to witness the fun and helped me finish scrubbing the house. After we made a much needed Dairy Queen run for refreshments we reviewed the pics I'd snapped of the Toilet Flute Incident of 2010:



Dad pointing to the place where they found the flute mouthpiece:



And we've sealed our Classiest Neighbors on the Block status by using our FRONT LAWN as a toilet hosing out location:



Extra fertilizer, right?

I'm just glad it was dark:



After the whole thing was over my husband says to me, "Do you have ANY idea how disgusting it is to pick up poo with your hand?"

UMM.

Did you REALLY just ask me that?

A. You got to wear gloves when you cleaned up poo

B. You got to haul the whole thing out the front door and hose it off. Can't really do that with the kids. Well, I COULD, but that's a little harsh.

C. I'm a Mama with two kids under 3, so yes, I DO KNOW what it's like to clean up poo with my hand...and it happens on an alarmingly frequent basis.

But, I've gotta give him props, he fixed our toilet!

I'm watching Bubbalu like a hawk around the toilet. Especially if he's been playing with musical instruments. I REALLY don't want to have to call my Dad at 9:30 at night explaining that his grandson flushed the harmonica, bongo drum AND maracas down the crapper...

A

** Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **

The Swagger Wagon...

My new favorite song:



OK, Chevy, we need the Tahoe version. I'd be willing to do a cameo if the price is right...

A

Some Sewing Inspiration...

I'm feeling all crafty today. Time to unearth the sewing machine and get back to it. Just a bit of inspiration for ya:












Aren't they beautiful?

I'd better get to it before the laundry and housework changes my mind...

A

**Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **

My Plunger and I Are Going to Be VERY Good Friends...

No no, not because I have malfunctioning bowels. Besides, do you really think I'd BLOG about having intestinal issues? Goodness gracious. That's just disgusting.

Anywho...

Destructo Boy has been VERY busy this week.

That, combined with Lil Chick's new found love of dancing on top of the dining room table while screeching her little lungs out has greatly affected my frequency of blogging.

Oh, you noticed I've been a bit absent?

I'd love to stay and chat but I've got to go and figure out how to get a flushed blue flute mouthpiece out of the toilet.

I'm going to hope that the plunger works some miracle flush-reversal for me.

But you can bet on one thing: If I DO manage to unflush that flute mouthpiece you won't catch ME playing that flute EVER AGAIN.

Nastyness!

Also, I need to pick the remainder of my wall decal off the wall. And yes, that'd be because Destructo Boy thought it would be fun to peel a few necessary pieces off first.

Come to think of it, I haven't found all the parts he peeled off the wall. Wonder if he flushed them too?

Off to plunge...

A

*Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day :) **

Busy BEIGE Bloggy Break...

Well lookey there, took another bloggy break. Mama's been busy.

Busy painting some walls. Now, don't get all excited about a special color or anything, it's BEIGE. Boring boring BEIGE. I had to paint over the ugly non-flattering brown-red sludge that the "interior designer" picked for our home when it was built. It made the woodwork look orange. Not just a tinge of orange, but IN YOUR FACE orange. I was o-so-happy to get rid of it. Even if it was to paint it BEIGE. Had to make the room ready for our new chocolate brown sectional couch. The family room is coming together nicely. Except for all the BEIGE.

Can you tell I'm not a huge fan of the BEIGE? But it's worlds better than the sludge.

Busy feeding the children. Because they are food disposal professionals. They HAVE to be going through growth spurts because this is crazyness.

Busy cleaning and organizing the home front. Yep, unpleasant, but someone's gotta do it.

Busy building some gates for our yard. You know, a child backyard containment assistance device. The hubby and I have been having fun doing some carpentry. Power tools make me smile. I've got a bunch of projects on my list.

Busy getting the boy allergy tested. Let's just say skin pricking tests aren't Bubbalu's most favorite pastime. Mama and Bubbalu were both exhausted after that appointment. Starting to wonder what shenanigans Bubbalu will be getting into once he's healthier. Note to self: Hide the sharpies in a better location.

Busy helping Bubbalu and Lil Chick make my sister Sallie a birthday video. Not your average Birthday song, but oh well...



OK. The bloggy break is now over, nice to see your lovely faces again...

A

**Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day :) **

Wall of TEAL Frames...

Our master bathroom needed some sprucing up. Some snazzyness. Some SASS:



See? BLAH.

Also, I was feeling some cabin fever and needed a quick paint pick-me-up project to distract me from snot wiping duty. So I loaded the snot-makers into the car and headed to our local thrift store.

$11 later, and I had me a painting pick-me-up project and some decorative sass for our master bathroom.

Aren't they LOVELY?



I deconstructed them, tossed the mirrors, duck, glass and landscape photo and painted them TEAL.

Yep, the very same teal that I painted my bedroom but have yet to show you. Mostly because I keep forgetting to...and maybe a bit because the color doesn't come out true and that BUGS me. Someday I'll get around to posting a decent-ish pic of it.

ANYWHO.

If you remember, that bedroom painting occurrence was a good two months ago. Didja know that if you cover your painting tray with a plastic bag and set it aside in the garage you can forget about it and delay cleaning it? Yup, true story.

So I rediscovered the 2 month old teal blue paint sitting there all sad and unloved so I just HAD to use it to makeover those sad frames.

Paint paint paint and wait to dry. Haul them upstairs to master bath, let them acclimate to their surroundings for a good three days before hubby says, "uh, hon, are you going to do something with these frames or are they just here to decorate the floor?" and then finally get around to hanging them on the wall.

Here ya go, sassy teal blue frames to give my sad master bathroom some interest:



MUCH BETTER. I smile every time I walk in there.



And really, my walls are NOT the color of a one month old's poo, they are a light yellow-beige. Hmm, maybe I should get a new camera? OR, I could photograph my walls during the daytime with natural light.

I decided that the frames needed more interest and dimension than plain, right outta the can, teal paint so I mixed in some black paint to darken the rest of the teal paint.

I dabbed it onto a rag and smeared it on the edges and detail and am loving the results:



The just-right amount of dimension and aging I was hoping for:



Not something I want on my face, but on frames? Yes please.

And yes, if you have a great memory, I have done this decorative technique before. What can I say, I know what I like and I like what I know.

So go out and grab a bunch of frames, paint em teal and throw em on the wall. Methinks you'll like it too...

A

I'm linking up to DIY parties today! Click over and check out all the projects!






***Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day :) **

Sometimes They Have Potential...

Sometimes you are browsing through clothing racks and spot something with potential. You grab it, hopeful, until you see it is NOT your size. Or, about 3 sizes too big. Your hopes are dashed.

UNLESS....

I had a lovely friend bring me a cute shirt with potential that just happened to be about 3 sizes too big for her:



All she said???

"It needs you. Do whatever you want".

There's those words again! Love em.

This shirt sat on my "to be accomplished when inspiration hits" pile for a very long time. Anyone else have one of those?

And when I say a long time. I'm talking a LOONNNGGG time.

FINALLY inspiration hit. In full force.

I sliced and diced and added a wide belt hitting at that perfectly slimming, non-maternity looking spot and a sassy tie in the back and a Vintage Dutch Girl Flower pin to top it all off:





I'll admit, I wanted to keep this one :) But hey, it was fun to give it back to my sweet friend and see her smile!

A

***Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day :) **