Blogging Benefits

My schedule for this week was kitchen but we aren't actually going to Ikea for the bottom sink cupboards until Saturday so ...

It has been over a decade that I have wanted to repaint the basement landing.   My seven, soon to be eight, year old grandson came for a long visit.  He is a helper so what should we tackle???  He likes to paint.  That landing!

 And after he left I had a new helper, my youngest grand daughter, Jolina, 3.   That border is another stash find.

 I may need to let that paint cure a bit more to get that old wall paper border to stick.  I am kind of impatient.  :(

I diluted the original caramel for the top and then ran the rest on the old cement.  I figured it'll stick considering a happy face one of the kids slapped on the cement lasted forever!  lol   Now if I can resist buying new colour coordinated brooms...  ;^)

The caramel paint was actually meant for this hutch as I was to repaint it cranberry and the back board a gold.  Decided to leave it the natural wood but I did  go back later and repaint it old white.  I also found some better door pulls than the stark black I had.  Looks great with all the white  dishes and stuff I collect.

I am sure luving the simpler look to my kitchen.  I have decided classic items and timeless colours are way better than trendy items and fads.  That is a KISS!

I see my assistant added her Hello Kitty glass to the shoot!  :)

So all in the interest of having a pretty blog post...

One landing made acceptable.

One can of paint and a wall paper border used up and out of the basement 'stash'!  I luv the benefits!!!

Take a deep breath!

First I will exhale and catch up on the finding outs and the finishing ups.

I am happy to report I have edited out two pieces of furniture and I have some bare walls and better yet bare floors.  The dust bunnies that were reading my books have to find another library. lol  I dispersed the books to pertinent rooms, put brown paper covers on some to eliminate visual clutter and boxed up those who might better bless somebody else.

Disregarding the future of  'when we...',  I repositioned the stove for an outside vent,  made the fridge a bit handier and have commissioned a long rolling counter that the kitchen table can butt up to or run alongside.  Best event was adding some more colour.  Who knew the Rooster's red coffee pot would be so affirming!  I'll refinish the wee coffee bar and make a more colourful teacup wall hanging!  I'll leave some space between the upper cabinets and above the big farm sink (which is patiently waiting in the basement)  for a colourful apple or two! ;^)

I think I need a couple more glass shelves for glasses.  They aren't so handy to the fridge anymore but what the hey!  I can possibly spruce up the aqua paint on that old cafeteria table and refinish this old wood unit a similar red to the hutch or even an espresso stain.  I'm short and pouring water down into the coffee pot without standing on tippy toes is a bonus!  lol

I did work on the Irish Chain and as I was finishing up the straight line quilting I got to thinking that I might want to consider the less is more principle.  I think the curved echo in the coloured triangles would be too much.  But I went ahead and I practiced some free motion leaves.  When I drew in the actual area I saw how small it was.   Hmm, maybe a shamrock?  Four leaf clovers were too big and the three leafed clover was pretty tight.  Sew...

I bound it up. I'll throw it in the wash, add a hanging sleeve and call it done.  I have my fabric cut for April Showers so as to be ready for next week.  Perhaps it will more readily accept some free motion stitching but I'm thinking rain is kinda linear.  oops!  May Flowers are coming!  ;~)

The block of the month called for more little yoyo flowers.  Not.  I was checking out old shows on The Quilt Show and Judith Montano inspired me to do some silk ribbon flowers.  I'd forgotten how much fun silk ribbon embroidery is!  :)

I have been kinda busy doing the cleaning and not writing about it but the DYLP is caught up for this week.  It has finally dawned on me that the extra leaf on the right should be flipped to the next set of pages. Oh well.  I'm starting to get the hang of layering.  Phew!  Good thing because...

I started Sketchbook Skool this morning with much fear and trembling.  A waste of time because of course the whole faculty and the classmates are very affirming and encouraging.  I do think these next six weeks will be life changing!  :O  I may change my sketchbook to a soft cover and a lighter weight paper as we'll be near Staples tomorrow.  The size is good.  I learned cursive with a dip pen but if the skill needs revisiting I'll stick with the uniball or pigma pens.  Pencils are not allowed as we need to really commit to the line.  eek! 

There is a hint of spring in the air.  I'm hoping winter doesn't blow back with any kind of bluster. We had snow last night.  But I won't be holding my breath!  ;^)

Half and half!

Today is split half daylight and half darkness.  I'm thinking I have six of one and half dozen things to do.

 Lambing is half done and the second half is always slower and less trouble than the first half!  The only green I've seen has been in the hay bales!  ;^)

We had a full house Sunday and they all dispersed before another weather system blew in that produced a total whiteout. Thankfully it didn't last long enough to shut everything down.  I had errands in town yesterday and I began to see gravel showing between the high snowbanks and everyone was smiling in town as the sun came out, water started dripping and puddles formed on the sidewalks!  I do believe we have spring happening.

The coffee pot died and the Rooster brought home a new one.  I say this because he bears a lot of responsibility for what happened next. lol   I am trying to deal with life as it is and not what might be.  So I am looking at all the 'what ifs' that we have on the to-do list.  If we did a bump out for a breakfast nook we can have an island with a big farm sink.  The sink awaits in the basement.  I am trying out island positions but the bump out looks further away than ever.  Also the old sink is needy to the point of embarrassing.  Sunday we had the Rooster and about 4 women, several kids and a few sight seers all circling the island!.  (I was off setting a long but  pretty table!)  It was crowded.

HMMMM!

So Monday I decided we should just get that sink happening where the old sink is.  But the new white hutch encroaches on the sink space.  Ah, the smaller hutch in the front dining room would work and it is RED!  It was meant to be!

 So I pushed and shoved as much as I could until the Rooster came to finalize the lifting of the top back onto the white cabinet.  Actually the kitchen dishes have a red leaf on them!  The watercolour has bits of red flowers.  And I have a couple of red cooking pots.  I am here to tell you that if you buy what you like it all manages to go together!  :)

 I need those two old Ikea cupboards that were my island but if I took the top off, rotated the square cabinets and put it under the window we have a peninsula instead of an island.  Close enough.  The old elm cupboard was lovely but really too big for squeezing through with the laundry and it needs significant regluing.  Off to the veranda it went and it may find another spot but only after gluing.  The little jelly cupboard is happy to be back holding recipes and tea things.  I haven't done my valence because I'm still considering options.  I did see a lovely faux Roman shade I'd like to figure out. I did antique the very white birdhouse but that is a south window and I can't wait all day for the right angle of light. I'm spring cleaning/decorating!  lol

I put just about all my white ware into the bigger hutch.  The glass doors will keep the dust off and I really think this will be there final resting place as all this switchy switchy is cutting into my 'art' time!   lol This hutch needs another coat and some waxing and its drawers and knobs finished up but all the prep is done. My teacups are handy, my table linens at the ready and I'm pleased. 

I shall change up seasonal decor by alternating my quilts, pillows, and a few appropriate accessories.  I have realized that seeing bare walls and being able to move easily through the rooms is desirable.  Stuff is leaving!  I am luving the fresh feeling and while the hallway is slated for painting next, the spring cleaning is done for the bottom half of the house.  I'm half done and spring is just starting!  :) Now does anybody want coffee?

Curtailing the Craziness

While I managed to curtail the start of a new quilt I did realize that I could scratch that particular itch with a little kitchen project.  The kitchen has a ways to go but I can get some accessories happening.

The colours for the kitchen are a medium/light taupe and aqua with a nod to the golds in the adjoining rooms. I need to decide what the final colour for the hutch will be.  A new island will definitely be aqua and I'm deciding if it will be the only aqua .  ???

Interestingly the fabric I am using for my kitchen valence, the taupe tone on tone, was bought for the Conway Album quilt which under went a couple of colour revisions. :O  So I have LOTS!

I want to order new roller blinds as this is a south window and then I can figure a simple valance for this window.  The Rooster has always pulled any kind of curtains up and out of the way so he can survey his farmdom and I now just do a valance.  lol

This room is still a work in progress.  I need to put a final coat on the window and door trim.  At some point I will add a molding to the top of the wood and probably paint the bottom a darker taupe but that will be after we take out the sink and move it into an island.

When I raised the wood part of the walls I changed the space available for pictures. I've had to reconfigure things.   The stove wall needs tiles and an overhead vent. That little birdhouse now seems wrong.  ???  I like a variety of wall art so perhaps a wall hanging is what the kitchen needs. oh! BTW  I'm 'relaxing' the sheer fabric for the sitting room window.  Ahem, I'm really gathering my nerve to tackle that slippery stuff!  :(

But I am making a runner for the table and a couple of curtains from the ToT fabric for under the sink.  The new overhead light is dismal so that will be replaced also. :(   I'm feeling good about the kitchen but now to complete it!

 I realize it is a new project but I got the size down to something a bit more manageable.  lol  This is my attempt at improvisational piecing!  I may skinny up the widths.  ???

The weather is warming and that means we are getting snow.  Hence the whiteout in the kitchen window.  Looks like a good evening to make curtains and scratch my patchwork itch.  The Rooster is on supper tonight!  Cock a doodle DO!

Whiz Bang Fizzle

We started Thursday with a bang as Eliana got tangled in her covers and rolled unto the floor.  She is a bit of a drama queen and let us know how she felt about that.  The train blew just then at the crossing 1/4 mile away. All that was accompanied by a rudely awakened distress call from Joshua. Definitely naps all round were called for! 

We had an early start though because we had to pick up the Grand Dad in town as he was dropping off his big truck for some kind of servicing that escaped my jangled nerves. The grand kiddies felt it was cold and dressed as if we'd had our first snowfall!    Since these are new boots, I suppose it was inevitable.  LOL

Then back to really start the day!

Cleaning, that is the sound of the vacuum, soothes my soul.   So we started to do that; soothe my frazzled nerves, with some soul music.  I kept them at it.  It promised to be a nice day but we always have company Thursday night and I had to reclaim my space. 

Miss drama queen, was on rug shaking.  Not sure why the stick but behind her the drawers for the dresser can be seen.  Josh would be carrying them all in later and tightening the knobs.

It was quite the challenge to keep them on track when we cleaned the playroom but I am not all toffee and dvd's.  You play, you pay.  Note to self, do as I say not as I do! :O  ahem

We wrestled the cabinets around in the kitchen which is what I REALLY wanted to do.  It worked with only one major tippy moment.  Sorry, no photos. I was busy!!!

I am thrilled!  It turned out better than I hoped.   The light works but I need to hide that cord somehow.  Painting the kitchen walls is next and then that old sink leaves and we would like to have a large island.  This is a test run. ;)

The centre panel is not in as I must paint everything.   I feel like they are a good match though.

I would like the top of the hutch to be even with the top of the windows and I wonder if the Rooster could make me a box frame for between the top and bottom that would hold three baskets .  We'll see.

We did have a great quiet time in the midst of all the rearranging.  Eliana went to sleep immediately.  I checked my 'puter and after ten minutes my dear grand son reminded me I should be sleeping.  Right! I do believe I did!  :)  I was so relaxed I let him watch a dvd after we did the drawers.  Eliana must have heard the word dvd as she awoke. They watched Madeline while I made happy noises arranging my new china cabinet.  A bit of a fizzle from our previous action packed days but a change is as good as a rest!  ;)

 But it really was a lovely day so I shooed them outside to go harass the livestock!  :)   I harassed the display!  lol  The early morning mitts, boots and jackets must have made them think about hockey!  lol

Which made them all hot and then they needed a cool down.  These two are all about extremes and that keeps things banging, fizzling and whizzing!  :)

capital P for PAINT

Nothing like a few giggles, some "shake it all about" and lots of 'good ideas' to get motivated!

Not many posts but I am actually busy.  I am/was down in the depths cleaning and purging the laundry corner.  I am throwing anything that isn't being used right now away.  I will take my sink out to the workroom in the barn and make a spot for hanging clothes.  We have a shortage of hanging space in this old house.

 I also organized the paint section and I'm horrified by all the unopened gallons.  I think I'll use some on the plywood walls in the basement to freshen things.  I even have some old floor paint.

Yesterday I went to get Eliana and we toured a home reno store and got some fabric at Ikea to cover my seasonal accessories in the basement.  We also got some better paint paper.  It needs to be good stuff to stand up to my little artist's thick and juicy expectations.  lol

I seem to be restless as I decided to use some of that paint in the kitchen.  Not wanting to have a helper to sort more in the basement, I started stripping wallpaper in the kitchen. With one tiny section done I wondered what the jelly cupboard might look like in a more neutral colour than the original country blue.   ;) ;)

Eliana was game!   I hope I'm not encouraging ADD tendencies! eek!  But that wall paper is gonna be a bear!  :(

She thought she should be higher.  This girl is gonna move up in the world!  ;)

She reached the top finally as she tackled the back.

This is chalk paint and I used Pure White just because I wanted the inside white and a bit of a primer before the final outer coat.  So this was fast and easy.

Now my helper is onto ink and stamping so I just might be able to get that last bit of colour on the outside of the jelly cupboard.  Shhh!  She may not notice I have slipped away and I think dealing with her mess creativity in the playroom might be worth making own mess  creativity in the kitchen. 

oops!  She's arrived with her supplies to be closer.  Hmm, I shall paint and post pictures another day!

No place like home

If you came through the front door you step right into the heart of this home. 

 Welcome

This is what you would see.  Lots of dialogue on the picture placement.  I am surrounded by symmetrical people.  I'm okay with any changes that are made after I'm done and the almost empty paint cans are available for the odd touch ups.

The kitchen is very visible.  It is amazing what a coat of fresh paint and new door knobs will do.  It was while I was doing these cupboards that I smacked myself for taking on such an ambitious undertaking.  ;(

This hutch was placed last and I wish I'd more time to style it.  I'm not feeling the luv.  Painting is not an option as the home owners don't want painted furniture. Painting the window  trim was done because the window insets are white as are the baseboards and doors.   I'm also leaving the decision to mount it to the wall to my kids.

It was 10:00 PM and I was switching things around and thought enough already.  But this is a house with little people.  The 4 cupcake plates I bought a couple of years ago are for tea parties.  But I wanted to add some fun and casualness to a house that is taking on a bit of a formal touch.  The cloth covered stool by the sofa will indubitably be denuded and moved to under the window for the kids to monitor the school playground across the road.  Same with the table cloth as play dough rules here.

This bathroom saver cupboard was to add storage and as my Rooster was putting it together Sunday afternoon, I realized his pantry addition in the basement probably made this unnecessary but we/he was committed. lol

If you came through the back porch this would be what would greet you on a perfect day.  :)

Maintaining two places is exhausting.  Dear daughter's house may look great but mine has serious gaps from missing furniture and saggy piles leaning all over the place.  I'm happy to be home and restoring some order.  My Rooster is wanting something other than chicken scratch for supper tonight and clean socks for tomorrow.

Yikes, I see paint on that chair above!  Here's hoping that only the grand kiddies will be seeing things down low until I can get there, drop my spoon and surreptitiously scrub it off!  

So enjoy the tea I promised when you came for a visit. Sit, sip and sigh while I gear up for one last dance with my vacuum for this week.