Monthly Archives: July 2014

Today the men came to make our master bathroom new again.   The toilet base was cracked and unknown to us leaking under the floor.   The tub is not yet leaking, but was headed that way with the old fixtures.

So we spent some time at the showroom picking out new fixtures including faucets.   Sometimes the difference between models is not visible to me.   I mean – a toilet is a toilet – right?    The bathtub we had, we really liked, so picked the same look, but without the Jacuzzi which was the part that was threatening trouble.     We chose a nice mottled marble for the floor.

And here is how it is looking this evening.   The floor and toilet are out.   The tub will come out and there will be a new toilet, tub, floor and door, but it will look much the same.   Only the floor will really look different.  But it will take the rest of this week and perhaps some of next week.

This post is a bit personal, so you are welcome to delete right here because I’m just a tad upset about being misunderstood and therefore labeled.

It has been hinted at more than once that I am a hoarder.   I do not think so, my belief is that I simply have a studio with a good supply of ingredients and many projects to do.   Some in all stages    To prove my point, I have gone through the house taking photos.  Nothing has been staged, just snapped as I went through the rooms.

The first room is the sewing/quilting/crafting supply room.   There are several photos here.   Notice that items are hung, boxed, labeled etc so I know what is where and can find it immediately.

The bags hanging on the front have current BOMs in them.

This is two of the 4 shelving units like this with folded yardage.  Actually there is yardage on each side of a unit which makes 8 sides.   I do need to get the flannel blankets done and off to the church as that would eliminate some immediately.

Holiday decorations and fleeces in buckets are in this cubby under the stairs.

OK, that is the room off the studio.   Next up:   the studio

The quilt hanging at the far end is the “mistake” quilt that I finished binding this morning.

Here is a bedroom that holds my fleeces from last year and this year and the reason I am refreshing my spinning skills.   Next year the fleeces will be sold as there are enough here for a few sweaters, scarves, etc.

These are photos of the downstairs rec room/kitchen which is only used for the large cutting table it has and for preparing animal food.   There is a large TV there, but isn’t used.

My closet is fairly small, but since I have few clothes, I can fit knitting  current yarns in here as well

These are the living room, dining, room and entry areas

This is the kitchen/family room area

and this is the entrance hallway storage.

OK    You have seen a large amount of materials, but would you call it hoarding?   Does it really look like a hoarders house.  Please comment.

This month Judy had us make 6 of these lovely blocks This will be a very attractive man’s quilt when all finished.   It gets better with each block.  It’s difficult to tell on this photo but the squares going from the upper left to the lower right are a medium brown and the ones from the lower left to the upper right are a black.

I also have all the seeds planted in the greenhouse *which is really a large cold frame) for winter eating.   I will have to thin them when they come up, but at least they are all in.   Today, I planted carrot, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, and parsnips.   The tiny tomatoes have been heavy.   We’re eating them with every lunch plus I have put some in the freezer.   Now to find a great salsa recipe for the large tomatoes which are nearly ready to ripen.   We did actually pick one and two more will be ready within the next two days

The manager of the store is wearing this inventive hat to show that the company has rented the space next door and  now will have a major expansion which is so badly needed.    Today’s program was = what else, – But “Christmas in July”   which  makes perfect sense if you are set to make gifts or live “down under” where it is the height of summer Dec 25.

This lovely quilt or table top is from Cheryl Taylor’s book “Christmas is coming”   In fact there are several delightful quilts in this book, plus cheery pieced and fusible-applique projects such as table runners, wall hangings, pillow, bed runner and even a Christmas-card hold   All are fairly easy

I know this photo is a bit confusing, but since I’m in a class, I have to take what I can get.   The quilt on the top left is from the above mentioned book,    The little house piece is from a pattern called “It’s a keeper” and has hooks to hang your keys on the bottom.

This  table runner  which is simple with a clean look is from “”Christmas is Coming”

Baker’s Dozen by Bit’s and Pieces has 13 nice pieces including this bag. aprons, table mats and table runner.

In the  “show and tell” section, this lady was wearing this interesting skirt she has made.   Only really it is a pair of pants as well.  Terrific for travel.   Until she showed us it was also a pair of pants, we did not know.   It has only a front and back seam, but looks similar to this idea   http://www.pinterest.com/pin/470696598526606534/

This is a class available August 3.   I think it is a beautiful table runner.  I am tempted I need more hours in my days s or maybe I just need to rearrange my day to use the hours better.    – Maybe the Fitbit will  to do it’s own thing which would give me an extra hour and a half.  sigh. sigh.

Oh and I should mention that after several days of very warm, dry weather, when I went to feed the alpacas tonight, their bowls had 3″ of water in them.   We are expecting another downpour tomorrow and then back to warm, dry weather.   We loved having the gardens watered for us.

As you can see, I inserted markers for each time the pattern repeats.   That helps me so much, because then if I come to the next marker and my count is off, I can easily check to see why.   This is the first set of 20 rows which are round 1.   I have at least 3 more rounds to go.  Because I’m not a cable expert, these are going slowly.

Tomorrow is Sew Fun day as well as Blood Draw day, planned that way, because they are decently close together So I’ll try to do better at taking photos and notes.  It seems I get absorbed in what she is presenting and forget the note taking.