Thursday, November 28, 2013

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !

I know I have not been around the blog much lately.  I had planned on taking lots of pics during our vacation and updating you as our vacation progressed.  However I have taken NO pictures, lol.  I have been too busy relaxing!  I promise when we are back in Pa shortly I will take photos of the few purchases I have made and share them!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my friends and followers!  May your day be filled with the love of your family and friends and WAY TOO MUCH food, lol.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

NOT MUCH CRAFTING GOING ON....


See that big open space on my sewing table?  That's where my Ellure Plus (Ellie) is supposed to be sitting...ready and able to stitch away on tons of happy projects!  Unfortunately, she needed a bit of a "tune up" and "clean up" to keep her stitching merrily along and has been in the "hospital" for the past week.  In other words...all of the Christmas gifts I have started or planned have been waiting patiently for any progress.  THEY may be patient...but I am definitely NOT, lol.  

I have spent the past week sorting through TONS of paperwork, doing some online Christmas shopping for my folks (my gifts, lol), submitting all of our Flexible Spending Account receipts for reimbursement, etc.  In a way, Ellie's absence has been good for my other, less fun, projects!  


Since I am now done all of the Pending Paperwork Projects (say that three times fast, lol) I will spend today emptying out my scrap bucket and sorting, cutting, storing those bits and pieces of precious fabric that are worth too much money to waste. 


Goodness!  I didn't realize that my scrap bucket held so much!  Hopefully by bedtime tonight I will have everything cut into useful sizes...2.5" strip, 2.5" square, 1.5" strip, 6" dresdens, etc.  One more tiny corner of my sewing space will be all neat and organized!


AND...I will be resting and relaxing over the next few weeks and will be working on my crocheted bobble blanket.  It really needs to be done quickly to keep me warm over the winter!  Talk to you in a few with pictures, purchases and progress! 

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

EEK...RUNNING OUT OF TIME !!!


Oh My Goodness....where is the time going?  I can't believe it is noon already and all I have accomplished is quilting the Dresden blades on the FIRST of eight Dresden's in my mom's quilt.  Next I want to do an outline stitch around this Dresden, and then repeat the same for the rest of the blocks!  After the blades and outline quilting are done, then I want to quilt the centers of each Dresden and then straight lines 1/4" from the edge of each block...then quilt the border...and then bind...all in 21 days!  That is all the days I will have left between me and my machine both being away!  I am taking her in tomorrow for a good yearly overall, plus a check on the knee control of the presser foot.  Ellie is really not sewing as well as I would like and I want to get her looked at before it turns into something big.  

I woke up hurting this morning.  In fact I was DREAMING of hurting and I kept saying "Pain, Pain, Pain" in my dream.  When I woke up I realized I wasn't dreaming the pain.  So, wrestling this almost 60" x 60" quilt in my domestic machine is more than I can really handle today.  I pushed myself to do as much as I have done, and am now taking a lunch break.  I'm hoping maybe this afternoon the pain will lessen and I can knock out another one or two Dresdens.  Reminder to self:  NEXT YEAR START CHRISTMAS GIFTS ON FEBRUARY 1ST....

 


Friday, November 1, 2013

GOODBYE HALLOWEEN....HELLO....WINTER?

Ooooohhhh....it is nasty, horrid and miserable outside the Cottage window this morning!  It is raining with blustery winds...and It. Is. DARK!  The sky has just gained enough bluish glow that I can begin to see the shapes of trees, cars and houses!  Up until a few moments ago it was pitch black!  Eeeek!  I'm used to seeing sunlight by 7:15 AM. 

Like Halloween, I guess summer is really and truly over (not that I mind Halloween being over...I hate the holiday, lol).  J just calls me a "weirdo" when I tell people I can't wait for it to be here and gone!  Now that the Famous Amos cookies are given out to all of the little ghosts and goblins, the Holiday countdown really begins!  I am SO far behind this year.


BUT, Mom's quilt is finally a flimsy!  Once again, I apologize for the horrible photo.  I was teetering on the step-stool again to get this picture.  I can't WAIT for a design wall!  I just have to trim the jump threads, give it a quick lick with the iron and I'm ready to sandwich.  Wait a minute!  Ummmm.....backing?  Oops, looks like I forgot to buy it!  If the weather ever calms down I will head to Walmart to buy a queen sized flat brown sheet.  I really like using sheets for the backing as I know they will wear well and there are less seams for little toes to get caught in.  Besides, I like to save my scraps for other projects instead of burying them on the back of a quilt, lol. 

Dear Hubby just yelled up the steps to remind me we have to leave for our eye doctor appointments.  Dang, I forgot I was going to have to go out in this mess.  Hubby says it looks "spooky" outside.  Yup, that describes it perfectly (shiver)!

Stay warm, and dry, my friends....



Monday, October 28, 2013

MOM'S QUILT - IT'S GETTIN' THERE!


Please excuse the "meh" picture...I was standing on a step-stool trying to get a good shot, lol.  Step-stools and I are NOT good friends!  Additionally, the two tables are a smidge too high for me.  DH could lower them, but then they would probably be too low and cause my back to hurt too much.  I can't wait until someday when I have a table that works at MY height, lol.  

All I have left to do is the candy border with the embroidered corners and then I can sandwich it and begin to quilt.  Of course, I do need to press it before I sandwich it...there are wrinkles galore!

I'll post more pics when I get it further along.  Take care, my friends....

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

AN UPSETTING DISCOVERY...

Sorry, no pic with this post.  I got everything into the trash bin before I even remembered my camera.  I went downstairs to the large upright freezer in my pantry to pull out something for dinner, only to discover everything but the bottom two shelves completely defrosted!  Lots of food and money is now in my big trash bin waiting for pickup Friday morning.  Both crockpots are going cooking up food I was able to save and 10 fully frozen thighs are in my fridge defrosting for later in the week.  I am now sitting on the sofa with a cup of coffee and snack pack of cookies...I need comfort!

A FINISH, A DISAPPOINTMENT AND A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE!


Remember my newly painted guest bathroom?  Well, I added a bit more to it yesterday!  It isn't done yet...I have lots of ideas still to come to fruition!  

Yesterday while I was out I picked up the cute little silver and black reed infuser, or is that diffuser?  I needed "something" for on top of the little cabinet, but didn't want it to be anything too big or heavy...the cabinet is held on with two keyholes and screws...and only one of them is in a stud, the other was hung using a "thing-a-ma-bob" (come on, girls, you know what I mean, lol) for drywall with no stud nearby.  Darn word completely escapes me.  I HATE when this happens!  Anyway...the towels are not the new "guest" towels I plan to buy, they are quite old (which explains the discoloration on the washcloth) and were only hung there to test out the towel color.  Yup, black does the trick.  And now, on to my finish...


If you swing around you can see the curtain I made to match the shower curtain.  It was easy-peasy to cut down a second shower curtain to make the valance.  I think I am going to use my mom's trick of clipping on some clothespins to help the pleats drape a bit more regularly.  One steamy shower and they should dry perfectly.  I think I will shower here over the weekend to provide the needed steam.  If you look to the top of the curtain you can see the traditional curtain rod that was hanging there already.  A quick squirt or two of silver paint and it was redone.  And my dad gave me the paint to use...so it was a FREE redo!  It isn't a complete match, but at least it isn't the "glaring" white of the unpainted rod, lol.  My next job is to replace the yellowed shade with mini blinds.  I buy my mini blinds at Walmart.  Dirt cheap and they actually wear like iron.  I'm sure my dad will help me hang them.  


Just next to the window (toilet beneath) is the vanity.  I bought the two brushed and shiny chrome pieces at Ross yesterday (with the reed infuser).  The jar holds Q-tips and cotton balls and the brush holder now houses two new brushes and a travel sized tube of toothpaste...just in case we have unexpected overnight guests.  Please excuse the filthy mirror...it hasn't been washed since the painters were here.  Time to get out my vinegar and water!  I still want to buy a can of black Krylon paint (for plastics) and paint the Dixie cup holder.  I also want to buy a plastic cube tissue holder for on top of the toilet tank.  I would love to find one in black, but I will take white and paint it with the Krylon.  

My next project will be the vanity itself.  Both the base and the sinks have yellowed over the years.  I would really like to repaint the base with a new coat of white paint (dang, should have thought to have the painters do it) and I would like to dress up the plain white doors with some beadboard and trim to match the front of the white cabinet. I would like to replace the sinks with plain white instead of the white and beige swirl that has yellowed to totally beige.  I'll keep you posted as I get things done. 

So, that was my finish.  Now, my disappointment...


These huge boxes sitting on my porch are for the UPS man to pick up today.  They are the project table for my yellow room that we bought from the Improvements catalog (Can you understand why I had to call J just to get them in the house, lol?)  I. SHOULD. HAVE. KNOWN. BETTER!  Poor J came over last night to assemble it.  Horrible.  Absolutely, totally inferior product.  The boards were warped, the holes didn't line up, the holes drilled for the silver turn-y things (technical term here, lol) were not deep enough.  After 45 minutes of fighting with it, J called "UNCLE" and I phoned Improvements to tell them I wanted my money back.  They appear to be okay with the return and said it will be free shipping...but we will see when my charge card gets credited.  J laughingly said if we EVER buy another "assemble it yourself" item that ISN'T Ikea...we can build it ourselves!  He was laughing, but I think there was a ring of truth in there.  Ikea furniture is foolproof.  We have ALOT of Ikea in our basement and bought tons to furnish J's apartment when he was away at college; and we have NEVER had a problem with assembly.  As he was leaving last night J told me not to worry...he will go to Ikea and buy what I need and then deliver it and build it.  My heart is melting... We raised a good boy...


Speaking of my boy...while going through some closets I came across the second quilt I ever made.  Back in 1991 I took a quilt class and made my first quilt, a gray/burgundy/mauve/blue, "Trip Around The World".  It hung in our basement until 2010, blocking the draft at the Bilco door.  When we had the basement finished the quilt came upstairs to snuggle under.  Anyway, the whole time I was making that quilt my then 3-year-old  begged me to "make ME a quilt, mom!" What was a mom to do?  Make my second quilt one just for him, of course!  Here is J's quilt... appropriately named"Make Me A Quilt".  It covered J, his bed, and floor, and any other stationary object, for quite a few years. 


Unfortunately, after tons of lovin' and TONS of washing (at LEAST once a week) the quilt has seen better days.  The seams are ripped, the material itself is ripped and the batting is almost non-existent in places.  But I can't bear to part with it.  I can still see his little blonde head straining to see over the top of the six foot tables to catch a glimpse of his quilt.  Believe it or not, I still have all of the fabrics used in this quilt and SOME DAY I will either fix it myself or find someone nearby who is a much better quilter than I and can fix it properly.  I would love to pass it on to a grandchild someday...

That is all that is new at my house today.  What's new at yours?