As much as I wish I had been creative enough to think of this myself, I can’t take full credit for this idea. I originally found this fantastic idea on Rhythm of the Home through Pinterest, and I knew it was a keeper. Hey, it involves mud and cooking utensils. What could be better for a bunch of crumb bums like mine?

I searched and searched thrift stores and antique stores until I found the perfect thing: an old beat-up nightstand for $18 that had definitely seen better days. The back of it is all warped out of shape. Which is perfect, because we will be leaving it out in the elements for 3 out of 4 seasons per year, for as long as it lasts, and I won’t feel bad about the weathering that will occur.

I chose a nightstand with a drawer and a top that could shelter some old cooking tools and pots and pans, the latter of which I picked up at Goodwill over the course of the last couple of weeks for less than $10. Small pots, cake pans, an old eggbeater (the current favorite tool), spoons for scooping and stirring, a sifter, and an old basin for water make up quite a collection of mud kitchen supplies.

I placed a large aluminum bucket full of potting soil to the right of the kitchen, and filled a few containers full of cheap kitchen staples, like corn starch and some old rice cereal that no one was ever going to eat. We also added a variety of dried beans, peas, and lentils for decorating their “cakes.” Unfortunately, most of those ended up on the deck after “the dumper” got ahold of them.

But despite all the youngest brother attempts at sabotage, Milo and Oliver were able to make some pretty mean cakes. We put them on the garden wall to dry in the sun, but then it turned freezing cold and rainy again, so we will have to try this again (and again, and again) in the heat of summer!

As for the outdoor kitchen itself, I am sure we will add to it this spring and summer. A couple of hooks on the side would be useful for holding a couple of old dish rags for drying hands and practicing dish-washing. A few more utensils will also be useful, and measuring cups are a must.  But for now, the boys are very pleased with this project, and so am I, especially since it means occupying little minds during some long summer days ahead! 

A little while back, as freezing rain sleeted down onto a skylight in our bedroom, I cut the legs off of one of my favorite pairs of jeans which had procured a nasty rip in the knee (one which I kept sticking my toes through and ripping even further every time I put them on). As I dreamt of spring and shorts/skirt weather, I cut and cut until the jeans were knee-length shorts. Then I looked in the mirror at my pasty white legs, took them off, folded them neatly, and put them at the bottom of the pile of cut-off shorts (now totaling three) I have collected.

But before I could toss the pant legs into the trash, my hand brushed up against one and I was struck by how soft it was. After three years of washing and wearing, those pants had become like an old tee shirt. I knew I couldn’t throw them away without at least trying to reuse them. And immediately, I knew: I would make little guys for my little guys.

I stayed up a little later than expected, sitting in bed under warm blankets listening to a radio show about the immigration debate as I cut and stitched one pant leg into a rabbit. First, I cut out rough shapes of the ears, then turned the pant leg inside out and hand-stitched the ears shut (I don’t own a sewing machine… yet).

Next, I flipped him back right side-out, and sewed on the buttons for eyes, a nose (and tied extra thread around the nose button for his whiskers), and a mouth. I stitched eyebrows for expression, then a bow-tie (made out of an old fabric belt).

I used the stuffing from an old misshapen pillow that I was going to get rid of soon (and saved the extra stuffing for a rainy day) and pushed the soft white stuffing into the rabbit’s ears, head, and body. Then I simply stitched him shut at the bottom, and voila! I love how he turned out!

The next day, of course, I had to make the other pant leg into another little guy. I gave the bunny to Milo, who immediately named him “Funny Bunny,” and got started on a bear for Oliver:

I followed the same technique, but wanted to add something special: a button pocket. I had a baby sweater which I adored but was totally ruined: stained and ripped beyond repair, so I took the henley neckline from it, turned it sideways, and cut it into a pocket shape.

I stitched the base part of the henley opening on first, being sure to secure each button to the denim extra-securely (knowing that it would be tugged and pulled extra when opened and closed repeatedly): 

I then put the top part on (the pocket-shaped cut-out I had cut from the top of the sweater), buttoning it to make sure it lined up after stitching it closed. Of course, I only sewed the bottom and sides, not the top!

I was a little nervous to give him to Oliver with the button problem he’s been having, but the whole point was to give him something to practice on with no pressure of getting dressed (this way he could take his time!). It was a success immediately. Oliver was fascinated and the first thing he did (after hugging and kissing his little friend) was start on the buttoning and unbuttoning: 

… And what d’ya know? He got it!

Not sure how long these guys will last, but they only took a couple of hours to make (hours that I enjoyed!) so I won’t be heartbroken if they get roughed up anytime soon. Plus, my handiwork was sooooo bad! I mean, you should see the bottom of these things. Not pretty. But I don’t think they mind…