I picked up Soulemama’s new book on Tuesday, the day it came into stores. I was so excited! I cannot believe that the book actually exceeds my expectations, I had high ones. The projects are so manageable for my brain, plus they are really cute and practical, PLUS! they help me be more frugal and good to the earth, which have become acts of worship in my life. But beyond that, I have found the projects to be clear and tangible steps that I can take toward providing the kind of home and values I believe in to my kids. I’m often going back on my convictions in favor of convenience, or just from bad habits. I’m so inspired by this book, as if an instruction manual for the things I couldn’t get a handle on on my own was just handed to me. I’ve always been grateful for Soulemama’s work, but with this book, more than ever. I look forward to making thrifting a much bigger part of our lives around here.
So check out how, in the last couple of days I have been inspired by Handmade Home by Amanda Soule.
I re-organized my craft closet! I couldn’t believe how many vintage embroidered linens I have collected! I’m looking forward to putting them to use or repurposing them into new things.
This is my favorite shelf. It has said linen collection, now neatly folded on it, as well as some sewing notions, my patterns and the awesome Gingher scissor collection (in the wood box) that Sid got me for my birthday last year. On the shelf above you can see my little canisters of homemade lip balm that I love to give for Christmas presents.
This is the Towel Rug project from Handmade Home! See how straightforward it is? It is simply a handtowel on the bottom, covered with a fabric top that you sew the towel strips to before attaching to the bottom. Bath mats have been a constant drag in this, our bathtub bathroom. They get soaked! They get dirty! I usually resort to just tossing a towel on the floor for the kiddies to step onto, but this one is so much cuter and cozier and can also be washed just as easily as a towel. Mine is smaller than the one in the book, since I used a standard-size handtowel. She recommends using larger hand towels, or piecing together a couple to get a larger mat base. I got these yellow towels from Goodwill for $1.99, they looked almost new, and thought I’d just try making a small one. I think it turned out great in this size. The fabric I used is linen that I originally bought from IKEA which I had made curtains with for our old house.
It was put to immediate use and was approved of by all members of the family. Sid even said it looks like it could have come from Anthropologie, does he know how to compliment my work or what? And Aveline exclaimed, “Mom, it’s so beautiful!” I’m very much looking forward to making, using and sharing more of the projects from this book.
