Simple Simon and Company

The Art of Homemaking

The Art of Homemaking: Meeting the Minute—Making Use of Carpool Time

This week I've been working on Facet No. 5 "Meet the Minute" from Daryl Hoole's "The Art of Homemaking" book.   The first words of the chapter are:  "An ideal homemaker makes the best use of her time and energy by being efficient...." And then the chapter outlines 10 different ways to become efficient---everything from maintaining good working conditions to eliminating unnecessary steps.  In the weeks to come I'll be working on those steps but this week, after reading the chapter I combined the ... View the Post

Dresses· Guest Post· sewing

Easy Tiered Skirt. A Tutorial.

I shared this a couple weeks ago at Riley Blake...and I hope you don't mind that I am sharing here today.  They really are great Spring skirts!    Hi everyone, it's Simple Simon and Co. and we are back today with an easy but especially darling skirt today that we have seen all over children's clothing websites selling for lots of money.  But instead of spending lots of money, we are are here today to teach you to make your own tiered skirt out of fabric from your sewing stash. I made this ... View the Post

Dresses· Thrifted Thursdays

Thrifted Thursday: Daddy to Daughter Dress—The Sequel

If you've come around here for any period of time you already know that I sometimes start with an idea and then....go crazy with it...and remake it 72 million times in 5 thousand different ways.(Like all those different kinds of t-shirt skirts,or the specimen charts, or the suspenders, or all those, well, you get the point.) So when I posted about the Daddy to Daughter Dress last week you may have suspected that I would be making some more...and if you suspected that, then you were right.Super, ... View the Post

Techniques· Tutorials

A Zipper Pocket Tutorial.

Last week I made a travel tote that can sit in the car with snacks and supplies mostly because when I run out the house I literally forget everything.  So I decided to make a bag---keep it in the car---and then it will be there when I need it.  (Well, that is the plan......I feel like I am so forgetful sometimes as a mom....I don't know at what number child it happend but I really feel like I lost half my brain cells.) By the way, this tote is huge....like carry 5 beach towels and all the ... View the Post

Boys

Something to Do with your Boy on an Idle Afternoon

The other day Simon, Grace, and I found ourselves with a sleeping Ruth and an entire afternoon without plans.  (Something that recently never seems to happen.)  As we talked about what we should do with our time Simon wanted to show me a book he had checked out of the library.  It was called "Draw Dinosaurs". I hadn't seen a book like this for years!  Growing up my grandpa bought me loads of these kinds of books---how to draw cartoons, horses, fruit, 1950's costumes, whatever...and I LOVED ... View the Post