Photo Editing App and Other Musings

I recently read a blog post by Brook, at Nesting with Grace about a really neat app she likes to use to edit her photos.  I even downloaded some Presets she has for sale at ETSY.  Check out these before and after pictures.  The beginning pictures are great in themselves, but the editing...wow.

This one is my favorite.  The snow just pops!

The app is Lightroom CC and works for iPhones and iPads, and it's FREE ya'll!

It has been a lot of fun playing with the app on my pictures.  And...here are some additional things I'd like to document at this near end-of-year post.....

Take a look at these beautiful wooden beads.  My friend made them and gave them to me for Christmas.  She is so crafty and has great farmhouse taste.  I love the simplicity of them.

Below is my work group.  Our manager took us out to eat and then to Breakout games for a team building exercise.  It was pretty fun.  Ours was Island Escape.  You are locked in a room and have various clues to figure out how to break out of the room.

My son and his family living in Cambridge, England - their Christmas photo.

Another photo I received lately, just love this one.

I did a little hand lettering on bags for gifts of bread....

The new house is coming along.  The front craftsman columns are almost finished.

This will be a screened porch and a back deck.

Most of the lights are hung, although these pendants aren't exactly right yet.. :)

We've had so much rain, it is one big mud pit there!  We are still hoping to move in by the end of January, but there still seems to be a lot left to finish up.

I am so looking forward to getting in the new quilting studio.  We are hoping someone buys our current home soon.  We put it on the market about three weeks ago.  We've had four showings but no offers yet.  The realtor is positive it will sell, I guess no one wants to look at/buy at Christmas time.  I can understand that.

I'm formulating an end of the year post but it isn't quite ready yet.  I plan to print my blog for the last couple of years so I like to do a recap of the year.  Hope you have had a good year and are evaluating your year as well, and making plans for 2019.

Thanks for stopping by!

Rachel

December 1st

Wow, December already. It seems everyone and their brother is posting their decorated homes.  No decorations here, except our Christmas quilt.  Hope to move in about a month, and the house is going on the MLS for sale December 10th.  That will be fun, trying to keep everything spotless for potential buyers, not!

Here is a little eye candy for Christmas......love, love, love this simple quilt.

My little darlings are growing up.  I was never sad when my son was growing up, but these....oh my goodness, I just want them to stay little. They are loved so much.  I hope to go visit in Cambridge in March 2019, but that seems so...far...away.  They made a day trip to London recently.  I am so thankful they send me pictures.

The house is coming along nicely.  We are so glad we added the wooden beams, they add so much character.

I made this quilt a few weeks ago for our builder and his wife.  We have been very pleased with them during this process.  They have made it a pleasant and exciting time in our lives and I wanted to do something special for them.  We gifted them the quilt yesterday.

 I found a lot of house quilt patterns online, free.  I settled on one, but changed up the pattern some.  I was very happy with how it turned out.

 I was also very happy that I was able to make it using fabric I had in my stash.  That is always a good thing.

 The hubby loves flannel on the back of his quilts and insisted this one have that too. So it is nice and cuddly.

I was able to put their logo on the label.  That pleased them.  :)

Happy November!

We celebrated the hubby's and a good friend's birthday this evening.  Lots of fun was had at these two milestone birthdays.

Rebecca and her family are like our own.  She, her husband and four kids came over to celebrate with a birthday dinner, cake, and a game of trivia.  It's always girls against the boys, and normally the girls win.  Not so, tonight.  The boys pulled one off.

Today would have also been my mom's birthday.  We usually celebrated both her and Jim on this day. 

Can't make a post without a house update......

 We are really happy with the way the outside is looking.

I made a trip to downtown Knoxville this morning in search for a vanity for the upstairs bonus bathroom.  Knox Rail Salvage did not disappoint. The base is solid wood, with soft close drawers and the top is a granite look cultured marble.

 Made, what I hope is, our last decision for the house.  We chose a stone look vinyl for the upstairs bathroom floor. We had a similar floor in our current bonus bath and have been satisfied with it.  With the little wear this room will get, it is a great budget friendly choice.

And just for fun.....have you tried the Colorstreet nail stickers?

I'm hooked.  I've never been one to paint my nails although I've always thought pretty nails were so nice.  These are sold by individuals or online.  They are so easy!  No waiting afterwards and they come off with regular nail polish.  Unless your nails are pretty long there is enough in one pack for two manicures. Of course not all the selections are this wild, but I was feeling a little *fancy* when I picked these. They last from about 7-14 days, and on my toes lasted more like a month. Ulta sells a similar brand.

Thanks for stopping by!

Nothing Quilty Going On Here

Nope, no quilting.  But fun nevertheless.  Progress is happening.  Exciting day today, when the first of a couple of deliveries and installations of cabinets.

Simply white painted cabinets. Oil rubbed bronze hardware.  Knotty hickory stained driftwood island.

 Coffee bar with butcher block top.

 Master vanities.

And the vinyl soffit and shake work continued.

House Update and a brotherly visit

Thought I'd post a new house update.  We really couldn't be happier with how things are progressing. Trim is about 65% finished inside, brick is finished, stone column work started today, electrical was buried and got the go ahead to cover up, so that all happened today too.

The master bath is going to be fabulous.

We are just so excited and so thankful we are able to do this.  My quilting studio has the best light in the whole house.  My sewing machine will sit near this great window.

Cabinets will be installed on Tuesday.  That is something I am very excited and nervous about.  You study all the options and make selections but you don't know until they are built and installed what they will really look like.  I found things I liked from various different kitchens so I wasn't trying to copy one particular kitchen, but take things I liked from several.  Fingers crossed that it will all come together.

One last photo....not a house one but a significant one nonetheless.  My brother, who lives in California came for a visit this week. He left home early in his life, at about 18, when I was only 10, and hasn't been back home much over the years. It was a very nice visit.  My other brother came over tonight and we had a good time just catching up.

Construction Update

Well, it is really coming along.  The brick has started, the tile work has started, the primer paint is on, the ceilings are painted.  Interior doors and trim coming on Monday, dirt/gravel guy coming next week, and I think shakes and soffits are also coming either later this week or next.  Cabinets may be next week too.  Oh my!

Screened porch

 Back side of master bedroom

 Laundry room (has an entrance from hallway and also one from master closet -smart!)

 Hall bathroom

 Master bathroom - tub and separate shower

Inside walls primed, ceilings sprayed

I did discover something, but I am glad I saw it before it was too late for a return.  I had ordered two mirrors from Kirklands (great sale price of $34 for these 31"x43.5" mirrors), and had not opened them since picking them up a few weeks ago.  I kept thinking I should open them up....well, one was broken.  However they were great when I called and have ordered me a replacement.

We've also been working really hard doing some things around our current home, getting it ready to put on the market to sell. Power washed and sealed the deck, replaced some light fixtures, and have started packing up some rarely used things.

I've also had a chance to get some sewing done. This is the cutest quilt....it will be a special gift.  You ever make something and just KNOW the recipient is going to love it?  That's how I feel about this one....my machine behaved perfectly on the quilting too. That's always a bonus.

I realized recently that I haven't seen my grand babies since the second week in February.  This is the longest I've gone without seeing them.  :(  I miss them so.  I need a visit!

Thanks for stopping by,
Rachel