Get Together

We are having my work group over tomorrow for a cook-out.  I am very excited to have everyone over and get to chat with their spouses and see their kids.  I work with some great folks!  So, I've been busy, busy, busy.....getting ready.

Leftover batting

What do you do with your leftover batting?  After I finish a project, I use it to go over my floors to pick up the dust and threads.  Usually on my hands and knees.  I recently figured out that putting a piece on my Swiffer works great.

Jesse

I love the way he hangs his leg off the deck railing....

Progress

Finished all 99 blocks and started putting them together this afternoon.  Down to only four more long seams, and the top will be done.  I don't think I am going to do a border on this one.  I always have trouble deciding what color border to put on these scrap quilts. I'm thinking about a pieced binding from the leftover strips. I have some donated fabric for the backing, but I am not sure it will be big enough.  Going to have to figure out what to do there.  Hope the recipient likes this one.  Not everyone loves scrap quilts like I do.

Thrift Shirts

Made a visit to the local thrift shop this morning.  Got 5 shirts for $8.  This is probably about the same amount of fabric as at least 20 fat quarters (which sell for $2-$3 each). One, a J. Griscom, had the original tag of $70 on it! It had been marked down and down at the store evidently, to $5.  Then whoever bought it decided they didn't like it and donated it to the thrift store.  One was a L.L.Bean, one a Haggar and a couple other brands. All 100% cotton.  These will be great for quilts.

By the way, a lady at the shop told me that she heard cotton was going to be tripling in price due to the floods we have had this year.  So, maybe we quilters better be stocking up from the thrift stores.

Oh yeah, I also saw a pattern for an apron, made from a thrifted shirt.....humm, I like that idea.

Wall Expression

This is a vinyl wall "expression" from UpperCase Living.  I think these things are pretty neat.

Shirt Quilt

Another quilt made from recycled shirts.  This will be a gift.  More later on the occasion.  I used a little different pattern that is quite easy.  I cut all the blocks 6 1/2 x 8 1/2.  Some use four 2 1/2 inch strips, some use three. I alternated lights with darks.

Shower Curtain Topper

I got his wild hair tonight and decided to make a new valance for over the shower curtain.  No pattern.  Sometimes I try things that are in my head, and they just turn out...well....homemade looking....not really the "pottery barn" look, I was aiming for......

I love to try to decorate, but I really don't have the knack for it. The bathroom still seems pretty dull.

More Painting

The painters did such a good job on the bedroom, we decided to go ahead and paint a few more rooms.  I've got everything put back together, and rearranged some things.  The other bedroom and below the chair rail in the dining room is the Oakwood Manor. Above the chair rail and the rest is Barbados Sand by Benjamin Moore.  I am really happy with the neutrals and the trim work.  I finished up a couple of doors last night, and need to do a bit more trim painting.

Wedding Pics

My son and daughter-in-love were in her cousin's wedding recently.  They look so beautiful!  Thanks Charla for sending me the pictures.

Hard Lotion Bars

I ordered a kit a few weeks ago, to make my own hard lotion bars.  These are great for cracked, dry heels, and for anyone with dry skin.  All natural, made from bees wax, coconut oil, and shea butter.  You can see the products and kits here.

I ended up with 29 mini lotion bars and 4 lip balms.  I tried to scent the lip balm with peppermint.  Not sure I got enough.  I added some orange and lemongrass to a few of the lotion bars.  Wrapped them in wax paper and tied them with raffia.  Will make cute little gifts.

The Neutral Walls

Love the new paint color in the bedroom.  A beautiful neutral. It is Oakwood Manor by Benjamin Moore.

 I finished the quilt I made for my friend from her husband's, son's, and grandson's shirts.  It is going to be for the little one's bed.  He turns 4 tomorrow.

Paint

Yippee, the painters are here.  They are painting our master bedroom and bathroom.  I did almost all of the trim work earlier this week in the evenings.  I am so excited.  My plan is to get all the paint in this house to neutrals, so any quilt or color scheme will work.  I really hope this paint job will last at least 15 years!

Great week

I've had such a great week off.  So many projects done.  Not a ton of quilting, but I did some.  Got my friend's shirt quilt on the frame and am working on it. Just got back from a walk along the lake path. I am going to have to go back to work to get some rest!

My checklist for the week:
Make pillow shams
Clean and organize master closet
Make a run to Goodwill
Organize front bedroom closet
Paint doors to the garage
Paint front door
Spackle columns in dining room
Finsh piecing shirt quilt for my friend
Finish piecing doggie scarf quilt (almost, still have to put the border on)
Powerwash both porches (DH took care of this)
Powerwash wicker furniture on porches (again DH)
Set up painters for bedroom
Order shutters for bedroom
Purchase new lamps/mirror for bedroom
Paint risers for stairs
Get carpet removed and wood on stairs


Stuff I did not get done:
Make hard lotion bars from kit
Make a run of scented laundry detergent

And to my friends who think I am an obsessive energizer bunny:
Relax and read on the porch swing


I also did some things for my mom this week, and some other little projects.  I guess if I retire, I might run out of projects to do at home, then what would I do???   (I know, plant a garden, read more, visit friends more, quilt more, ......naaah, I wouldn't run out of things to do)

It has been a great week.  I am so blessed and thankful.

Stair Re-do

Before

During

Almost finished

He still has the a few treads, the landing, and the caulking to finish it up.  I am thrilled with the result. Tonight I taped and painted all the trim and wow is my elbow sore. Amazing how the light made it look like three different paint colors on the wall.  The bottom is the truest.

Pillow Shams

I am off this week doing home projects.  One of those is redecorating our bedroom.  I made Heather Mulder Peterson's pillow shams from her book Shams with Style; very happy with them. Got new lamps and shades but I am not sure that I'm lovin' the red shades. Got a new mirror above the bed, and I am lovin' it! Thanks Hobby Lobby for 50% off!

The room is going to be painted a bit darker, but a more tan neutral.  That won't happen for another week.

Other projects today included painting risers for the step re-do.

And while I was painting, I decided to paint the two people doors in the garage (inside out out), and the front door.  What an improvement.  Can't believe I had not done that before.