wow, running with the stitch

It is WOW, what is off my worktable!

I used  the KISS approach and went for an envelope finish and straight line quilting.  Done.

And in use.  I'll be changing to my winter decor very soon but it made an appearance for the cozy coffee theme.  :^)

This is a close up of the runner which I did first and sparked the simpler approach.  I was off and stitching and congratulating myself on a fast finish when I stitched through my thumb.  Pure dumbness but further confirmed I am out of practice and need to keep things simple until I ramp up to full speed.  :(

The Needle and Thread Network are no doubt making lots of finishes also.

maybe this time...

Can I get the shortbread made this week?

The hallway is up for consideration.  I underestimated a small job that once again involved the Rooster and his creative skills.  :(  So I need to jump on it first thing this morning.

I had taken up the rug.  I moved the clock across the hall and then decided to totally rework the base of the clock, well, the Rooster will.  And that's where I left things.

Another little piece that will move into the clocks old position is up for reworking and hopefully I can finish it up by Friday.  My Rooster carefully removed the wine rack and he'll be using it for his hobbies!  I am wondering what colour to paint it.  But I think I need to find the rug first.

There is that table runner and topper!!!  I'm also thinking I need one more sheer panel as I put the new one in the playroom and left the plain ones for the east rooms.  Luv the big leaves on it!

The calendar pages need keeping up with.  I am rolling with that one.

Jenn and I need to get some gift wrap and tags finished up.

I am sure others are busier than I but I am happy to only be kinda busy.  Here is to a smooth slide into the holidays!

Five steps forward and two back

We have a lot of the white fluffy stuff.  The gals in the coop are not real happy and the egg production is showing their displeasure!  They do venture out occasionally but the ducks are mostly out.  Look who is leading mama around now that he has really got his wings!  He can clear the top of the big barn!

The hallway was looking like such a small job that I diddled around with a lot of other stuff before I actually got down to 'doing' it.

I got the old leather trunk cleaned out.  All but a few year books that didn't fit were sent off to DD#1, official record keeper for the family.  I think she'll have a fun time pouring through the old letters and photos during the holidays!

I did make the 12 tags for 12/12/ 12 and that made me rethink how I was storing some things so I did get two more drawers done in the playroom.  All these little bits will make the job faster when I get into that room for the deep clean.  lol

I decided that the hall rug was becoming too much of a magnet for my sloppy coffee carrying on the way to the new computer station in the hallway.  Its also in the road for accessing the chair so I popped it into the Sunshine room and it'll be a cozy foot warmer and car race area!

But the hall turned out to be another digression because this clock needs more modifying as the bottom box to lift it up higher isn't right.  So my Rooster has agreed to another Saturday project.  lol

I want to store all my doll stuff in it.  That got me reacquainted with my 3 girls- Carly who had her glasses broke when dear grandson tried them on and who hasn't seen too well since! Carly, not Josh!  Emily Hanna, who withstands lots of attention, doesn't care for fancy and frills.  Her claim to fame was a 'for real' trip to a real hairdressers for a stylish bob.  The youngest and slightly smaller is Mariella , who for all her sweetness is a real trouper.  She survived a time away as her face healed from terrible black marks that Dutch Cleanser finally faded.  phew!  I am hoping that all the rearranging will postpone their re-entry into the grand kiddies play zone for a while longer.  Out of sight, out of mind?  Well, we'll try at least.

And that cleaned out another drawer!  yippee skippee!

I am up to date on the calendar journal.

The table runner ... :(

The shortbread...  :((   The grand kiddies and I will be making some on the 24th at this rate!  

I shall continue on with the hall makeover and see if we can get 'er done by next Friday!

WOW! 12, twelve, TWELVE

A memorable day so I need to do something memorable.

Tags!

TAG 1 

Tag 2

Tag 3

Tag 4

Tag 5

Tag 6

Tag 7

Tag 8

Tag 9

Tag 10

Tag 11

Tag 12

Just realized this morning that today was so special and will never happen again.  So I seized the day, well, the numbers!  I have always wanted to work in a series!  :^)  I will finish them all off with a  _ of 12  line on the back!

linking to my fellow Canadians at The Needle and Thread Network

Sun rise!

Another week has started.  I do appreciate that my week starts with Sunday.  Family day, rest day.

But now it is Monday and I need 5 things to do.

I thought the hallway would offer a bit of respite from deep destashing as it only has one closet.  hmm, I now see that the plastic storage is bulging with stuff also.  :(

But in chatting with DD#1, who is a history/genealogy buff, I thought I might do the trunk under my bed and send on all my genealogy stuff which I will not get around to doing anything with.  I don't need another hobby and she could use another hobby so I'll include a scrap booking magazine!  lol  She has an extra long holiday break and can ooh and ahhh over all these long lost relatives!

That would also be a nice start to the master bedroom which has stuff under the bed, 2 overflowing tall  book cases and stacks of books on both sides of the bed!  vbsigh

The playroom is in reasonable shape so perhaps I can get the table runner and topper quilted before I start splashing and spraying more journal pages.

I need to get the winter backgrounds for December ready for journaling.  I think it'll be a blue Christmas!  lol

And then there is the darn shortbread.  Here is hoping!

Saturday's sum

I've been focused on those east facing rooms.

The Sunshine room is shaping up.  The paint colour should be easy to pick now but it'll be a sunshine colour.

 I spent some time deciding on curtain length and then I ordered a sheer white leafy panel for behind the orange panels.

Since this other room will become a bathroom, shorter curtains and similar treatments facing the road will work.  The pair of duvet covers I chose for this room are more worn and have a white background with  woven stripes running vertically in pale mint, pink, yellow and blue.  I'll have options!  I did get my design wall hung and I hope I haven't wrinkled things beyond redemption nor lost too many pieces.  I can also have my big ironing board set up in here. :)

I did get all the assorted boxes edited and down to a box for each family member.  vbsigh

This room is now officially done until the bathroom renovation begins. The framed scene is my dearie's retirement gift from his work.  Perhaps I can call it the reading room.  The Rooster studies his books and files.   I read my quilt design wall to see if it needs tweaking and when the reno happens I'll be sure to include a magazine rack!  LOL

The tree canvas is as good as it is gonna get for now.  Nice thing about stretched canvas is that it can be recycled!  

No shortbread again this week but the calendar pages are all up to date.

Now to load up some of my 'desirable' stuff to take to DD's casa so she can begin to accumulate her own stuff!    First is to take that empty file cabinet from my hallway.

I am a bit miffed that my sticky fingers creative time is taking a hit but I am beyond thrilled when my head hits the pillow at night that I am actually making progress with my stuff reduction program.  Very Satisfying!
But I can't quite face what is under my bed so I think I'll do the hallway next week, especially with the filing cabinet gone.  LOL

Not quite finished.

I wanted to try the grunge look for November for my calendar journal. I'm glad the month is done although it has lots of weeks!  lol

I only used red which works but was a bit of a challenge.  Writing on dark paper is also a challenge.

But red really worked for Poppy Day.  I remembered I had a photo of my Dad that we found after my mum died and I came across it as I was purging stuff today so I was very happy at the timing for this page.

I also remembered to leave some space for the grand kiddies helping clean our stove.  Definitely grungy!

I thought I was making good time till I realized there were five weeks in November and I'm losing light rapidly.  I should have the last week done for a Saturday show and tell instead of  my Friday Finish.  vbsigh

Wow, windows

I was introduced to duvet covers by my aunt.  She gave me her two single sized feather ticks and several covers and pillow cases. Straight  from Germany!  I passed on the the pillows and ticks to those who really luved them but kept the bedding.  What gorgeous fabric!   I have used the pairs of covers as long curtains. These are an extremely washable and sturdy cotton damask fabric with a lovely texture that is reversible.

So when I am in the thrift shop I keep an eye out for suitable covers.  Such a find was this orange duvet cover.  The fabric is strong enough to hold up to tearing the sewn seam free and leaving a strong selvage edge.  By cutting the button and button hole bands off I have fabric that is 53 inches wide and 144 inches long,  just barely enough for a pair of short curtains for the Sunshine room!  I will actually be using the side that faced inward so it is practically brand new!  lol

I just am thrilled with this golden yellow with an orange stripe.

Getting a good picture is a challenge.

Hind sight:  I should have faced the top for the gathers and rod pocket and then had more depth in the bottom hem. But it passes the galloping horse test and the grand kiddies themselves will be moving fast enough to not notice small glitches.  lol
And now I'm reviewing the pictures I'm not so sure I like the curtain rod showing.  Hmm, I need another creative 'wht if...'.

Now for the would-be bathroom.  I have a pair of duvets that will give me lots of options! The fabric is thinner but I do have two.  They are white with thin orange stripes and some wider ones in blue, pink, yellow and mint green.  I'm thinking that this bathroom will be white.   I will have options!

I will also have scraps.  This particular fabric is pretty soft (worn) so I'm not sure how it would piece together in a quilt.  But there is another 'what if...'.

I'll be checking out any windows I can see from the gals who link up to The Needle & Thread Network.  I might  get some more inspiration!

my, its Monday

New month!

I should have the November calendar pages all done.

The sunshine room has been pretty much transferred over.  The old sunshine room is really the Rooster's space but will become the new bathroom.  Most of his stuff is in the closet but I think I have a few things tucked in under the bottom shelf which I must confront. :O  But until the until the plumbers are called and the bath fixtures happen I think I'll put my design wall up.  :)

The cards were a hit and we will try tags and maybe some custom wrapping paper.  Joanne Sharpe at Whimspirations  is offering 5 free lessons on Five Golden Letterings.  Very do-able so far!

I need to get my tree canvas finished and replace the cozy coffee corner with the winter snowmen.

I do have supper guests to entertain and that shortbread still needs making!

On your mark...