Threadbndr's Profile

@ Barb in CT I actually save my REALLY stained cloth napkins and flour sack towels for use in the microwave, for straining things when canning/cooking and other messy kitchen tasks. They are gross looking, but clean - washed in hot water.

I think that part of the issue is that in the UK, the Arts and Crafts movement was very much an upper class idea. The original, hand pressed wallpapers and one of a kind handwoven tapestry pieces that came out of the Morris studio certainly could never be afforded by the average working class family.

In the States (while there are certainly exceptions like the Gamble House and FLW's masterpieces), the movement came down to a more middle class populist mindset with pragmatic choices that included some factory production such as Stickley furniture (despite the astronomic prices that originals now command, it was middle to upper middle class originally - since my grandmother had several pieces.)

I live in a tiny (900 sq feet) Craftsman bungalow and would LOVE to have just one room done in an authorized Morris print wallpaper (agreeing with Bee for Brian).

One of the VERY few good things about being widowed is letting my 'living alone' quirks back out. I was surprised that after 25 years together I went so quickly back to 'no pants' and dinner out of a saucepan (very embarrasing for a 50 yr old LOL).

Oh, and the crafts stuff out everywhere was a constant all my life. If I'm not working on something, I'm not happy.

One idea that my dad did for my son when he was in the Lego stage. Take all the instruction booklets, laminate the pages and put into a three ring binder. (Or you could use sheet protectors, but laminated pages are sturdier.)

Some of the instruction sheets may need to be cut apart and/or color photocopied, but it keeps the directions from getting lost/shredded. J liked to make a kit, then take it apart and he'd use the pieces in other constructions. Having the "parts list" and assembly instructions meant that he could usually get back to some version of the original kit later if he wanted to.

Look for 4 ounce jelly jars - they don't have the 'neck' of the jars above, but are easy to spoon out of. My local hardware store stocks canning supplies in the summer and I picked up a flat of 12 jars on close out for under $10. I'll keep an eye out next year for the spice drawer.

I'm not nuts about the chalkboard paint (dust worries), but I don't object to paper lables. Lids for canning jars are not very expensive if I can't get the old label off.

Pink/black/acid green is not my color combo at all, but I really like the backsplash and the oven surround.

As far as putting time and energy into a rental - I love it when our tenants do - as long as they are careful with the paint. It means that they care about the space and think of it as 'theirs'. That means that they will take care of MY investment, too.

Our current tenants painted the garage space to make a 'man cave', and I totally want to paint my sister's garage in her side of the duplex now LOL.

Advent wreath and outside decorations up the first Sunday in Advent, a little more interior decore (and lots of baking) each of the next two Sundays, then the tree goes up (around the 20th, sometimes the last Sunday in Advent is just to close to Christmas LOL). Everything comes down on 12th Night; occasionally the lights stay up if the weather is totally horrid, but I don't turn them on.

I try to make Advent a prayerful, thoughtful time, despite the retail madness, so I try to have the majority of my shopping done before Thanksgiving.

ACK! I sure hope that the reason that they painted the woodwork was because it was damaged - otherwise painting vintage Craftsman woodwork should be outlawed. You can never get the patina back and somebody will have to strip all that white sometime. And they will be cursing the '2010s white woodwork craze' the whole time.

The apartment is cute and well designed, I especially like the bedroom and kitchen wall colors. Just mourning the woodwork, Craftsman geek that I am.

I so want an IKEA. The nearest one is a twelve hour drive away. (I'm one of those 'wide sky' midwestern Americans without access to either public transport OR Swedish flat pack furniture LOL)

We need an IKEA in Kansas City!!!

I've been in nice "residence" type hotels that with a little tweaking (hot plate and small convection oven plus some kitchen storage and a dishwasher) would make wonderful studio apartments. A regular hotel room - maybe not.