Kindle Cover in a Book

This Christmas I made Kindle covers for my sister and mother.  They splurged on themselves and it gave me the perfect idea for a gift.

I looked at several tutorials on You tube and then tweaked them for my own.

This is the one for my mom.  

I visited our local used bookstore and got this copy of a Sherlock Holmes book for $4.

Then I carefully removed the pages with my craft knife.

I cut a piece of cardboard an 1/8" smaller than the inside of the front and back covers.  I get these super straight lines by using my rotary cutter and quilt mats.

I cut a piece of fabric one inch larger all the way around to cover the cardboard.

Here is the one I did for my sister, a Nancy Drew Mystery.

I glued the fabric around the cardboard and then using my Kindle (thank you Husband for the Mother's Day gift) to measure the length of the elastic to hold the Kindle in. I then sewed them in by hand. I used quilting thread.

Here is the empty cover.  I glued the covered cardboard inside and weighted it down with the 2009 California Penal Code book; it weighs a ton!  (My son has the penal code form police academy.)

Here it is all together with a Kindle.

So there it is. A Kindle cover in a book.  And you can pretend you are still reading from a paper and ink book!

Blessings,

Jeannine

I'm linking to Met Monday on Between Naps on the Porch.  Make sure you see what others have been up to by going here.

Retro Pyrex Mixing Bowls

I don't know if you are like me, but there are certain things that bring back memories from childhood.  These Pyrex mixing bowls do just that.  My mom had only the yellow and green ones left from her original set, but they were in constant use.  My sister and I learned to mix cookies and bread in these bowls.  They were just always in the kitchen.

This past year Husband and I found several sets of these at estate sales.  Well, not sets.  We picked up pieces over the past year to put together three complete sets, with an extra yellow bowl left over. All of them are in good to excellent condition.  I don't think any of these ever were washed in a dishwasher, unlike Mom's!

However, I do not have a retro kitchen, so these sets are for sale.

They are just so classic and fun to collect.  We can't help ourselves.

Hope you enjoyed this little walk down memory lane.

Blessings,

Jeannine

Russian Christmas Ornaments

I realized I have never shared a special little Christmas tree that I put up each year.  It is only a little over one foot tall and I never remove the lights.  I just carefully replace the tree in a plastic bin.

What makes the tree so special to me is the ornaments. Husband and I purchased them in October of 1999 when we took our very first mission trip to Russia.  We worked in St. Petersburg but did all our shopping in Moscow.

We bought a small box with six handpainted Russian soldiers and three individual ornaments depicting traditional Russian costumes.  I adore these.  Each ornament is about four inches long.

These ornaments both remind me of our trip to Russia and of a classic Christmas tree.  They always have a place of honor.

Blessings,

Jeannine

Christmas Disney Table

Christmas dinner was a quiet affair at home again this year.  In fact we moved it from our traditional feast on Christmas day to Christmas Eve.  Husband and I are "sharing custody" of our Daughter with her Fiance's family.  And son is still serving in Operation Enduring Freedom overseas.

As our whole Christmas this year was Disney themed, so was the table setting.  The Mickey hand plates are from Target, this year, as are the red napkins.  The napkins were four for $4.99. Great deal!

The square plates are from Kohl's from about four years ago. The glasses are from Home Shopping Network last year, a gift from a friend.

The tealight holders are from Partylite, as are the tealights themselves.

The salt and pepper shakers are from Disneyland.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and enjoy a Blessed New Year.

I am linking to Tablescape Thursday with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.

Blessings,

Jeannine

Disney Christmas Stockings

When our son was born back in 1988, we purchased a Christmas stocking for him.  It is green and has Santa appliqued on it.  I then traced around it and made a pattern to make stockings for Husband and me and then for Daughter when she came along.

We have been using those stockings for the past 20 or so years.  This year I wanted to make some new ones to go with the theme for our Christmas decorations. We decided to go with a Disney theme.

So, character stockings.

This is the start of Minnie Mouse.

And  Mickey.

Both stockings are lined.

The beginnings of Daisy and Donald Duck.

I sewed the ribbon around the top of Donald. It continues onto the back.  Daisy's ruffle also goes all the way around.

Finished.  Each stocking only takes about an hour or so to make. All are lined.  It just makes them nicer when you actually (meaning Santa) fills them!

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there."

This is our mantle all put together. I made Mickey and Minnie for Husband and me.  Daisy and Donald are for Daughter and her Fiance.  Our son is serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and I wanted to include him as well.  I could not find striped fabric so I cut 7/8 inch strips and sewed them together, then cut out the front.  The back is solid black.  I used sticky back black felt to make the grin and eyes.  It is supposed to be Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

I mailed it to him and it is already hanging in his small room.

You can clearly see the skull lights his sister sent him for Halloween and the tiny little Solstice tree we sent earlier.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing the new stockings.

Have a blessed Christmas.

Jeannine

Christmas Door Decor: Ode to Pinterest

Like so many people, I am "on" Pinterest.  I love it and yes it does waste time that I could better spend on blogging, cleaning house, baking Christmas cookies etc.  However, it doesn't talk back to me or insist I repeat myself three or four times or come in tardy like students do and then promptly ask to go to the restroom. But that's neither here nor there.  I do enjoy teaching and I'm happy to have the job.

Back to Pinterest.

Earlier in October or November, this lovely picture or an urn Christmas centerpiece was being pinned and re-pinned. I promised myself that I would do this!

And so I did.  Sort of.  Husband had been given a brass urn at a garage sale when we bought a dresser and chairs.  It was scruffy and needed some TLC.  I spray painted it silver.  The candy canes in the original appear to be several different size tree ornaments.  I couldn't find these anywhere on the internet or in stores.  I improvised: I bought three packages of plastic candy canes at The Dollar Tree.  I then wrapped wire around the bottom of each cane so they could be stuck down in the floral foam.

I bought cranberry florals at Joann's. The branches are cut off an after Christmas clearance tree that my son had in his apartment two years ago.  It only cost five dollars so I figured it wouldn't be missed.

Husband and I bought the silver glittery sticks (ting-ting?) at Target.  They got glitter everywhere and in the long run didn't work out.  Ugh!

Here is the whole thing put together. It obviously is not an exact replica of the original, but it works with our other decor. I still really like the crisp white of the original.

The wreaths are left from last year.  I just added in the candy canes.

Have a blessed Christmas season.

Jeannine

Stocking Sale at Etsy

Happy Monday!  I am having a sale in my etsy shop!

30% off everything!

The code is

stocking11

I have some stockings and some aprons for men and women that would make great gifts.

So check out my shop here and see what apron your man could use for the spring barbecue season!

I hope everyone is thinking about buying American made prducts this year.

Blessings,

Jeannine

December Prima Picks Giveaway

It's a new month and Prima is giving away a new palette of colors.  These are just beautiful, bold and romantic for Christmas. Go here to see them used in various projects and to enter yourself to win.

Such lovely colors.

Blessings,

Jeannine

Red/Green Christmas Tablescape with Mikasa

I love the bright traditional colors of Christmas!  This year we did go with  traditional red and silver.  However, Husband found this set of Mikasa dishes at an estate sale and wanted to do a table in red and green.  I think it came out great.  The pattern is Renaissance and it is a set complete set for 7 plus a 15 inch platter. We bought it for $60. Lovely design.

The chargers are from Target, this year on the dollar rack.

The rest of the items have been on here before.

Community stainless by Oneida from 27 years ago.

Goblets from HSN last year (gift)

Ornaments from Walmart 3 years ago.

Red napkins 4/$5.00 at Target this year.

Thanks for stopping by for a quick look.

I am joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.  Please go here to see all the other great tables.  Get some inspiration!

Happy shopping and decorating for your holiday season.

Blessings, 

Jeannine