The Craft Room Redesign Project: DIY Sewing & Cutting Tables

The next step in The Craft Room Redesign Project you all have been helping me with was to create a bigger & better cutting table, and to try to find a place for my embroidery machine, without spending a lot of money. I think I succeeded.
So here’s before:

And after:


What do you think? Before you answer, consider that it only cost me $80. I had this expedit bookshelf from Ikea, which I purchased purely for function. I accidentally grabbed a birch-finish one, instead of the white that I wanted (really though, it’s not my fault-the sign said white, but once it was in my house I wasn’t going back with that giant beast). Point being, I liked the way it looked even less then I thought I would, and I didn’t think I would like it very much. But I did like the way it could hold a ton of stuff and only cost $129. After creating the hidden workstation, I thought I’d get a bunch of baskets, organize the shelves & hide the clutter away, and be satisfied with the look. But after doing all this work to spiff the room up, it was really bugging me to see this wall ‘o stuff in an Ikea bookshelf. It was dominating the room. I couldn’t justify buying a beautiful new shelving system, so I asked my production designer friend Charlotte to come over and help me out. And help me out she did.

My old cutting table:

My new cutting table:


I like that when you walk in (as seen in pic right above) you no longer see the giant bookshelf, since it’s now under a table and against the front wall. The whole room feels cleaner and more organized. Check out how we made these sewing and cutting tables for under $100 after the jump…
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Giveaway: Mrs. Jones Soapbox Eco-Friendly Household Cleaning Kit!


Who says cleaning has to be such a drag? Get rid of all those toxic cleaning products crowding the cabinet under your sink and go green! When this collection of Mrs Jones Soapbox appeared on our doorstep, we were over the moon at the yummy smell and chemical-free formulation, and just as happy with the awesome cleaning power (and the cute packaging is an added bonus).

Here’s what creator Jamie has to say about her line: I created Mrs. Jones’ Soapbox because I wanted to make a genuine contribution to the environmental movement. I was dismayed by all the greenwashing out there, particularly when it came to cleaning products and so I created a line that is truly eco-friendly and safe to use. I use vegetable-based soaps, natural minerals and essential oils to create the products and package them in bottles that are designed to re-filled or re-used. Refills are packaged in recycled water bottles, two liter bottles and gallon jugs that I collect from people in my community. Best of all the products look beautiful and smell great so it actually makes cleaning fun!

Well we are giving away a complete set of lovely Mrs Jones Soapbox cleaning products. This combo pack includes the entire Mrs. Jones’ Soapbox line so you can simplify your cleaning routine and make your home a healthier house to live in. You’ll receive the 5 household cleaning products plus a jar of laundry detergent that will last you through 80 loads of laundry. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even look forward to cleaning now…

So, we are so excited to be giving away an entire Eco-Friendly Household Cleaning Kit + Laundry Detergent/Fabric Softener Combo., a $60 prize that includes all of the following:
Clean – all-purpose disinfecting spray
Sparkle – glass, granite, mirrors & stainless steel cleaner
Shine – wood & furniture polish
Scrub – soft scrub cleaner
Soapy – concentrated, all-purpose dilutable
Laundry Detergent + Fabric Softener combo for 80 loads of laundry

And you know what is really cool? You can choose between glass or plastic bottles (both 16 ounces each) for the cleaning bottles in this listing. Find out how to enter after the jump…
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Link Love

EEEEgads this is cute! Me Sew Crazy remixed our Snap Wrap Dress into this adorableness. Check it out!

How to make paper twine from crepe paper. This is ingenious, I love it so much. Wait till you see how she did it, at Howdy.

Make origami numbers and turn them into nursery art at Bloesem Kids.

I want to go there. Everything about this place is inspiring to me (as I’m working on the patio redesign). Ridic awesome. At designtripper.

Isn’t this print lovely? It was designed by Nicole Balch and she has it available as a free printable on her site Making it Lovely!

Also…

I’ve been in Palm Springs all week working on my next book. I’d link to all of the wonderful and amazing things I wish you were here enjoying with me, but I already wrote about them all for Design*Sponge: The Palm Springs Guide.

Busy Mom Beauty Tricks, 11 great tips from our friend Sonya.

Tutorial for making a cute iphone sleeve at Sew Woodsy.

So I bought this little jumper off the sale rack at anthropologie (where it was hanging with the dresses), and I’ve been wearing it out & about with a straw hat and a cardigan feeling all cute-like. Then I just saw that it’s in the loungewear section of their website. So I guess I’ve been bumming around town in my pajamas. HA/:)/Ba ha ha ha/Boo yah/hee hee hee/jazz hands/SHUT THE FRONT DOOR. (sorry, it’s a facebook thing)

This fabric jewelry is so pretty.

Just thought I’d mention that my book is on sale on amazon right now. If you want to mail yours to me, I’ll totes sign it and send it back. I might even add a smiley face if jacinda would allow it.

What else we’re up to this week…
Giving away an awesome crib mattress. Enter here.
Being horrified by children’s bedding.
Rounding up the cutest stuff from the Renegade Craft Fair Austin.
Lusting after expensive baby clothes.
Rocking cheap hats.
Giving away the Hot Moms Handbook. Enter here.
Picking out our ten favorite Ikea outdoor products.
Sharing our fave summer toys on video.
Picking out kid’s music that doesn’t make us want to leave earth.
Imagining ourselves as Olivia Newton John.

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GIVEAWAY WINNER: Two Yards of Linen from Fabricworm!


It’s time to give away that luxurious Linen! One lucky Prudent Mama will recieve 2 yards of this gorgeous Essex Linen in whatever color they like (that’s in stock). That’s enough to make a gorg Hot Mess Mommy summer skirt, or a set of napkins, or maybe a romper?

I was so inspired by Jaime’s lux load that I just snagged some white and pink for myself (along with a little on-sale Soul Blossom for Clare’s birthday party.) It’s freshly washed and feels so nice!

The lucky winner is…
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