Year: 2010

Gimme a Giveaway: Cloth Napkins

Published on by Our Humble Abode59 Comments

*This giveaway is no longer accepting entries, Thank You!*

Update:  Somehow, I can no longer access the Our Humble A{Bowe}d Facebook account.  I have created a new account.  Please remove yourself from the first one and become a fan of this account.

Happy Black Friday, everyone!  I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving.  We just lounged around and I never changed out of my pajamas.  Gotta love it.  On Wednesday, I shared how you can save money, be more eco-friendly and give you something to do for an hour or so, cloth napkins.  You don’t have to wake up at 3 in the morning or stand in lines getting shoved by crabby people or drive from store to store to snag a set of the babies. 

Prize:  One set of 14 inch square cloth napkins, pictured above.

To Enter:  Subscribe to follow Our Humble A{Bowe}d, if you’re not already.  To subscribe, click the “Sign Me Up!” button under “Be the first to know.” 

For a second entry, become a fan of Our Humble A{Bowe}d on Facebook, (yes, we’re finally on Facebook!  Check often to see what kind of deals we’re running, right now, you can get 10% off your Black Friday orders!)  then come back and leave another comment.

Bonus:  Comment on this post with the words “BLACK FRIDAY” and tell us if you love it or hate it as well as your best deal.   

Contest Closes:  Thursday, December 2nd at 9:00 pm, central time.

Number of Winners:  One!

Ships:  Anywhere in the U.S.

Other Info:  Only one entry per e-mail address.  The winner will be selected using random.org and announced on Friday, December 3rd.  Good luck!!

We’re Thankful For…

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Happy Thanksgiving, everyone in the United States.  Those elsewhere, Happy Thursday!  We wanted to take today to share what we’re thankful for. 

We’re thankful for eachother and our family, both immediate and extended.  We’re thankful for our health.  We’re thankful for our abilities and capabilities.  We’re thankful for our abode and the improvements we’ve been able to make. 

In blogland, we’re thankful for our sponsor, IHeart Organizing. 

Not only does Jen have a fantastic blog and Etsy shop, she’s amazingly sweet and helpful.  Stop by and say hi to the amazing Jen. 

We’re also thankful for you, our readers.  Thank you for putting up with the crazyness we hand out often.  Thank you for your kind comments and encouragement, it’s truly appreciated. 

Again, Happy Thanksgiving.  Now, go stuff your faces with turkey (or tofurky for you vegans) and we’ll see you tomorrow with a giveaway!

How To: Cloth Napkins

Published on by Our Humble Abode7 Comments

This is a very simple, eco-friendly project.  Cloth napkins would make a great addition to a kitchen and dining inspired gift.  Add a set of napkins to a set of pretty dishes and it’s a great, usable gift. 

To make a set of napkins, pick a pretty quilting or linen type fabric.  To get 4 napkins, buy 1 square yard of fabric.  Cut into 18 inch squares.  Fold opposite sides in about 1/2 inch.  Iron to make a nice crease.  Then, fold the other sides in 1/2 inch or so, ironing to crease. 

Fold opposites over again and press to crease.  Pin in place to hold the shape.  Iron opposite sides again and pin.

Set your sewing machine to a close straight stitch.  Allign the edge of your presser foot with the edge of the napkin and sew.  When you reach a corner, keep the needle down, raise the presser foot and turn 90°.  Continue sewing until each napkin is complete.

Thanksgiving Table Settings

Published on by Our Humble Abode3 Comments

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I decided today would be the perfect day to show you fine folks a few table settings I whipped up.  Most of the items used I had lying around the house. 

First up, we have a turkey day snack setting featuring an abundance of leaf bowls.  I like to call this one “Just Leaf It.”

This is a really simple setting complete with all sorts of snacks, napkins and a sparkling drink.  Of course the main part to this setting are assorted leaf bowls.  To duplicate this look, you can buy various leaf bowls to fill with snacky goodness.  I have two sets in my Etsy shop and saw ceramic versions recently at Pier 1 and TJ Maxx.

For the main show, I kept everything simple.  I used our everyday plain white dishes and splashed Thanksgiving color in the form of place mats, napkins, place cards, nuts and a pine cone wreath.

Here’s a closer look:

I scored the metallic gold place mats for $.98 each on a recent Pier 1 trip.  I love the bit of sparkle they add to the setting.  Brown floral napkins that I sewed rest on each plate while a walnut turkey place card watches nearby.  A few leaf-shaped bowls are also nearby for any individual portions.  I think it would be cute to have salt and pepper in the small leaf bowl, also from Pier 1 clearance.

The centerpiece is super simple, consisting of a silver Pier 1 charger, though I should have gotten a gold one, too.  On top of the charger, a bird and branch candle holder rests, surrounded by nuts. 

What are your plans for the big day?  Hosting Thanksgiving or traveling?  We’re feasting on Sunday, not Thursday because my sister will be here.  Any favorite Thanksgiving traditions?  Funny thoughts about turkey day?  My favorite comes from a Friends episode where Joey wears Phoebe’s maternity pants to accommodate his huge stomach because he eats so much.