Simply put: One apron, many looks! Change the front panel with a sassy tea-towel or fabric panel quick as a wink!

True to my More Splash Than Cash roots, this apron is one of my favorite items I have designed. I always thought waiters look great in their knee-length aprons at fancy-schmancy restaurants. Always knowing they would be easy to make, I just never took the time to make one.

When I make something, I always want it better than what I can buy. Then it hit me: kitchen towels! They can be added to the front with hook and loop tape. Of course, this morphed into interchangeable towels and voilá—My Bistro Apron pattern was designed and written!

This is what I love about the apron:

• Uses one yard of fabric
• Can make it in an hour or less
• Can personalize it for many people
• It’s something I can make for the men on my gift list

To make it easy for you, I have also put together kits that include the fabric, hook and loop tape, and apron strings. Then check out the my selection of tea towels— you are sure to find one that “speaks” to you.

Oh, yeah! Did I mention it could be made in less than an hour?

Watch the demo now!

Who is Home Dec Beck? Click here.

Donna Babylon is a DIY and sewing guru. Her latest book is Decorating Sewlutions: Learn to Sew as You Decorate Your Home. Learn more at www.MoreSplashThanCash.com

Surprise your valentine with a unique place setting made by you with love.

Ooh-la-la! Something’s cooking for Valentine Day.

Looking to create a fun and easy place mat? Download this free pattern for a heart snowflake and use it to decorate your home for this special day.

You can also make the black and white place mat in minutes. The complete directions are in my book, Decorating Sewlutions: Learn to Sew as You Decorate Your Home. Choose two fun fabrics and a coordinating solid. Such an easy peasy project!

Donna Babylon is a DIY and sewing guru. Learn more at www.MoreSplashThanCash.com

I've made my list and checked it twice. My gift of the year is here!

Spoiler alert: If you are on my gift list, don’t read any more! I’m trying to keep it a surprise.

It’s only a few days before Christmas and I am finished making my gifts. No all nighters. No “IOUs.” I can’t believe it.

I always choose a project for the gift of the year. Last year was mini wallets and key fobs. This year it is oven mitts. I loved selecting the fabric for the receiver. I chose horse fabric for my friend, Edna. Cat fabric for my pet sitter, Jo and my friend, Lonnie (even though she doesn’t cook). A music motif for my nephew, and a guitar fabric for Davey and family. I also made a few generic versions for hostess gifts. The oven mitt is just a little something-something to say “Cheers!”

The pattern I used is actually part of a new pattern I designed. It is going to be on the website the first of the year. I am offering it as a preview for my downloadable patterns that will be available soon thereafter. Many of you have never tried a downloadable pattern, so here’s the chance to see what they are all about. I love the idea since I am an instant gratification kinda girl. I see it. I want it. Now I can have it immediately.

Well, off to wrapping! Ya gotta love it.

Materials Needed

• Large, flat tray (optional)

• Cone-shaped basket in size of your choice

• Fall fruits and vegetables (either fresh or artificial) such as pomegranates, gourds, miniature pumpkins, small apples, artichokes, peppers, dried ears of Indian corn (choose ones that are hearty and won’t spoil if left out for a few days)

• Nuts and/or fresh berries such as cranberries (don’t use fresh cranberries if you are making an artificial arrangement).

• Leaves, straw, excelsior, or raffia for filler and decoration (artificial will last longer, but fresh colorful leaves allow you to choose from nature’s bounty)

• Ribbons and other interesting objects that will add color, sparkle, and texture (there are no right or wrong choices)

Directions

• I like to place the cornucopia on a large flat tray that has a layer of leaves covering the surface. You don’t have to do this but by placing it on a tray the entire display is portable so it can moved off the table to make room for Thanksgiving food as needed.

• Start by filling the back of the basket with leaves, straw, excelsior or raffia (this will also cut down on the number of fruit and vegetables you will need to fill the cornucopia and also be a “base” for the fruit.)

• Place the largest vegetables and fruits towards the back of the basket to serve as the backdrop. Arrange the smaller ones in front. Think of your arrangement as if you are taking a group photo and having the taller people in the back so everyone can be seen. Leave some of the fruits and vegetables to spilling out onto the tray on top of the leaves.

• Now sprinkle some nuts, grapes, and berries over the whole arrangement. Cranberries (or something similar in size) are nice to fill-in any spaces.

• Tuck extra leaves and/or ribbon amongst the fruit and vegetables.

• If using fresh ingredients, your creation should last a week or two.

Donna Babylon’s More Splash Than Cash decorating concept is designed to help everyone have a beautiful home. More Splash Than Cash doesn’t mean cheap. It means that the time and cash you invest–whatever the amount–are well spent and the results will be enjoyed for many years. Learn more at www.MoreSplashThanCash.com.

Poached Pears with Chocolate Sauce

Ingredients

• 4 pears, peeled

• 1/2 lemon, juiced

• 2 cups water

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 4 (1 ounce) squares bittersweet chocolate, chopped

• 2 tablespoons heavy cream

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 1 tablespoon prepared coffee

• toasted almonds for garnish

Directions

1. Leave the stems on the peeled pears. Sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent browning. Set aside.

2. In a saucepan large enough to accommodate the 4 pears standing upright, combine water and sugar. Place over medium heat, and boil until sugar is dissolved. Stir in vanilla and place the pears in the syrup. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Allow pears to cool in liquid, then drain.

3. In the top of a double boiler, combine chocolate, cream and butter. Heat, stirring, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat, and stir in coffee liqueur.

4. Place pears on serving dish, dribble chocolate sauce over pears, and garnish with toasted almonds.

Donna Babylon loves sewing, decorating, and cooking. And, not necessiarly in that order. Today, cooking is on her mind.

Enjoy the fall and make an easy scare crow!

Fall is my favorite time of year for decorating. It’s kind of like setting the stage for the winter. It’s also the perfect time to decorate organically with nature as your inspiration. Think of acorns, pine cones, seed pods, branches, even pretty rocks as natural ornaments for the home.

One of the most traditional fall decorations is a scare crow. But, I have to make a confession. You see… I have never made one. I had a great Mom who was blessed with an athletic gene, but seriously lacked a craft gene. She would play basketball, take us skiing, go on canoe trips and hikes in the mountains. But when it came to crafting… well, we were on our own. So, I never made a scare crow among other crafty things.

So when I was talking to Tammy in the office one day, the subject of making scarecrows came up. So she told me how to do it.

How to Make a Scare Crow

Tammy suggests to get your neighborhood involved and create an entire scarecrow community. Choose bold colors and set up a display with corn stalks and bales of hay.

Materials Needed:

• Old pair of jeans (think about adding some patches)

• An old button down shirt (preferably plaid)

• Gardening gloves

• Boots

• Pillow case or pumpkin for the head

• Plenty of leaves

• Fiberfill, newspapers, rags, or straw for stuffing

• Twine

• A straw hat or other kind of hat (baseball, skull caps, etc.)

• Pencil, paint and markers for face

• Thick rubber bands

• Large safety pins

• Rake

• Buttons (optional)

• Stakes (optional)

Assembly

• Gather a HUGE pile of leaves. If you do not have an abundance of leaves, you can make up the rest of the bulk with straw, fiberfill, or newspapers.

• Wrap a rubber band around the bottom of each jean leg to close off the holes. Stuff the pants through the waist. If you want your scarecrow to be sitting in a chair don’t put as many leaves at the knees so they can bend.

• Button the shirt and wrap a rubber band around the bottom of each sleeve, as well as around the bottom of the shirt. Stuff the shirt through the open collar. If you want the scarecrow to have his arms bent, use less leaves at the elbow area of the arms.

• Stuff the socks and gloves and tie the openings closed with twine. Fasten the socks (or boots) and gloves to the pants and shirt with safety pins. Tuck the shirt into the pants.

• If you’re using a pumpkin for the head, carve it into a jack-o-lantern (this will make the pumpkin lighter in weight). Use wire to fasten it to the body. Or, you can decorate a pillowcase by using a pencil to draw on a face. Use paint and/or markers to give the face unique features. Then stuff the pillowcase and fasten it to the body with safety pins (the neck goes inside the shirt).

• Don’t forget to add a hat. You might want to have straw coming out from under the hat to resemble hair. Fasten the hat firmly so it doesn’t blow off on windy days.

• Create a vignette with bales of straw, corn stalks, mums and more pumpkins. To secure your scarecrow in place, attach him to some stakes with a hammer and nails.

Donna Babylon’s More Splash Than Cash decorating concept is designed to help everyone have a beautiful home. More Splash Than Cash doesn’t mean cheap. It means that the time and cash you invest–whatever the amount–are well spent and the results will be enjoyed for many years. Learn more at www.MoreSplashThanCash.com.

A great item to make for your fall decorating is a fabric pumpkin (they don’t spoil!!). Even better than a single one, is to make several in graduated sizes (always do them in odd numbers). Arrange the pumpkins with an assortment of twigs, colorful silk leaves and berries. This project is so easy—you can make several in an afternoon.

Materials

• Fabric in fall colors (don’t limit yourself to solid colors; mix and match prints and plaids)

• Carpet thread

• Needle

• Polyester fiberfill

• Twigs

• Silk leaves

• Artificial berries

• Glue gun

• Glue sticks

• EZ Circle template and rotary cutter to cut various size circles

Directions

Note: If you don’t have an EZ Circle template, use a dinner plate as a template to draw a circle onto the fabric for the medium-sized pumpkin. For a variety of sizes, cut larger and smaller circles.

Thread a needle with carpet thread (about 18 inches long). Make a running stitch all the way the outside of the fabric circle (about ½ inch from edge). Pull thread gently to gather the material. Leave an opening large enough to insert fiberfill, but don’t tie off the threads yet.

Stuff the pumpkin tightly with polyester fiberfill. Pull the gathering threads to almost close the opening. Hot glue a twig into the opening. Then pull the fabric tightly around the stem and take stitch several stitches on top of each other to secure. Do not cut your thread but insert the needle through the opening, down through the pumpkin and out the bottom. Make a tiny stitch and then take the needle and thread back up through the pumpkin and out the top. Pull the thread until a slight indentation is created at the top of the pumpkin. Knot the thread securely and cut the thread.

With another length of thread, thread the needle and knot one end. Thread it through the fabric at the opening to secure. To divide the pumpkin into sections (either 6 or 8), wrap the thread around the outside of the pumpkin. Pull the thread tight enough to create the indentations to resemble a pumpkin shape. Stop at the stem area, and securely knot the thread.

Embellish your finished pumpkin by gluing silk leaves and/or berries around the stem.

How to Use These Little Cuties

Add them to a twig wreath

Place them in a basket in the bathroom

Put them on the mantel

Glue them to a grapevine garland

Add a hanger and hang them on door knobs

Use one instead of a bow on an October birthday gift

Donna Babylon’s More Splash Than Cash decorating concept is designed to help everyone have a beautiful home. More Splash Than Cash doesn’t mean cheap. It means that the time and cash you invest–whatever the amount–are well spent and the results will be enjoyed for many years. Learn more at www.MoreSplashThanCash.com.

Betsy Ross: Our Stitching Hero!

Take today off, visit with your friends and family, watch some great fireworks. Eat lots of good food. A perfect summer day. Stay safe. Peace and love.