Making things for the home

I have come to love making things for the home. It has really been something that I enjoy so much. Do you make things for the home? Did you realize that you can personalize your home by creating simple things?

We live in times where everything is presented as perfect and I think that has caused many to never try to create decorations for their homes. The television and the media (magazines, papers etc) have brought zillions of ideas to us, but they are presented so glamorously that we think that it is out of reach.

Believe me on the path to simplicity home creations are just another arena to dabble in. Now the dinner table is an area that brings the family together. It is an area to share the day, to talk, and to just enjoy each other’s company. So for this project for the home I have made simple placemats and cloth napkins.

The fabric was remnants from curtains that I had made and a wedding present that I made for the couple Bill married in May. If sewing is not your thing, I must confess that it is not really mine thing either, but the stitches are in straight lines(generally:0) so continue on with me.

Here are 2 of the placemats so you can see the front and back. I love mixing prints and fabrics!

By making niceties for your family you celebrate them daily. Sometimes we forget that the place to be the mostest hostest is in your home for your family.

The cloth napkins are one of the easiest things that you can make on a path to simplicity. The savings from the cloth napkins add up. I used to spend around $6.00- $12.00 a month on napkins. Think about this: it may seem like minimal savings, but really this small amount could reduce debt on credit cards, or be put in savings or on the house note. Many people do not look long term and think that this small amount is worthless to put away. But after I share several other things that I have made to reduce throwaway or unnecessary products, the small amount increases. Be positive and think of how this money is in hourly pay. If you are on salary break down the time it takes for you to work for a product that you wipe once on your mouth and throw away. This is where you realize that your sweat in your job is much more valuable than perishable items.

Back to the placemats- the pattern I made used four complementary colors, and I created a simple pattern. The napkins were made in the fabric that was the most left over. How pretty and nice the table looks when you have set it so lovely? Everyone gets in the mood when the table is set. Manners are out and conversation reflects the mood. Take one afternoon and make a new table placemat setting and cloth napkins today.

Here is the placemat simply displayed with the cloth napkin on the top. It is so easy to create this ambiance for your home!

Here are a few other styles of placemats and napkins that I have made for the home.

If you'll notice some are crocheted and some are actually painted on. I have fun with my daughter and we come up with projects like these.




Oh and here are 4 other things that with a bit of help from Bill I created. This project has been in constant change and always a delight to the home