Blue and Brown blog bonanza and other crafty bits

I wish I had a big reveal for the blue and brown challenge, but alas the week on the couch kept me from working on our living room :(

I did manage to complete a few smaller things over the past couple of days. one of which is my contribution to the Great Blue and Brown blog bonanza that I shamelessly "borrowed" from Heather over at Me Making Do. I changed it up a bit for my version, shorter cans, fabric roses and a basket style handle, but one simply must give credit where credit is due ;)

There are plans for more of these in the future, I think they'd be adorable with herbs in the kitchen!

Heather's original version

I also made a tote..I had actually started this last weekend, but then my back went out and it sat just needing assembled, taunting me all week.

The fabrics are what was left of my green cupcake fabric after the quilt in the following pictures, 3 zip pouches and 3 snap pouches.

The quilt is just a simple tied quilt with a fleece backing.

And lastly, I finally finished sewing the binding on this quilt.

I just love this quilt. I used a vintage pucker dot for the back and instead of batting I used flannel, giving it more of a bedspread feel. So, that's it for now..It's time to get back to the sewing machine!

Later!!

Christmas Crafting from the couch

So I've been banned from the sewing machine this past week due to a muscle spasm in my back.

It's been kind of nice not being allowed to do anything.....OK, so that is as far from the truth as you can get!

It's truly amazing how not being able to do your normal daily thing makes you realize just how much you do without even paying attention!

Like Housework. I'm not talking about heavy cleaning, just the little things, Vacuuming, keeping up with the dishes, Taking out the trash, switching laundry....all these things you do just because they need done.

Or cooking..or sewing...or well...even normal movement in general for no reason than to shift positions!

My husband will tell you, this week we discovered that I am just TERRIBLE at the whole laying still and resting thing, unless I'm asleep from the muscle relaxers. Eventually I started listening and am not pushing myself to do more than I should though, and can feel improvement.

Anyhow, since I wasn't allowed to do much of anything I did some Christmas present crafting from my couch. 1 more nephew (I had to get more chalkboard paint, his is now painted and ready for some podge) to go and then I can work on their bags. There is still a bit of touching up to be done, and I'm thinking about adding a bit of ribbon..we'll see.

I've got a few extra clipboards I'm going to do up for the shop..so keep your eye open for those coming soon!

I also made up a pumpkin garland for my door that Hubby built me (oh that's right I hadn't told you all about that!)

Since most of the doorways in our house are arched, including the one to my studio, Hubby custom built this screen door to keep our cats out and away from my fabrics. I love that because it's screened and not solid I am not shut away from the rest of the household.

I had mod podged fabric scraps all the way around the door where the screen is attached. Then added the word create with a flower across the brace. The scraps still need some trimming done to them..I'll get to it eventually I'm sure LOL!

Time for a bit of breakfast,

Later!

Featured and more shop updates

I have been so very fortunate this past week by being featured in a few different places. First was my fall welcome featured by Stephanie Lynn over at Under the Table and Dreaming (Check out the side bar for the link!)


Then one of my quilts was selected for an artisan collection on Artfire, and now April has featured my Fall welcome on her blog as well(also a link on my side bar...I know I'm being lazy!)!
Thank you Ladies, I was honored beyond belief!


I also updated the store some more (HA!..Am a poet and didn't know it...I crack me up)

Time to get back to work..
Later!

New Shop items

I *have* actually been sewing in addition to all of the thrifting, furniture refinishing, cleaning, Laundry, and other multitude of Mom and housewife stuffs. I even finally got most of the way caught up on my quilting and hand sewing!

Just 3 more finished quilt tops to be pinned and quilted, one set of bumperpads to close up and I'm working on sewing down the binding on a quilt that I finished quilting yesterday. In the meantime, I managed to get this baby quilt, throw pillow and 2 runners completely finished for my Etsy Shop, and am working on orders and other store items as well.

Needless to say I've been keeping as busy as possible!

Time to finish dinner..

Later!

More thrifty Crafting and decor finds!

I should warn you, this post will be long and picture intensive, Hubby totally spoiled me this weekend and well, there's a lot to share!


It all started on Friday. While I was in Dayton for a Doctor's appointment, Minions 2 and 3 went to their Grandparents for the weekend leaving Me, Hubby and the almost 18 year old Minion 1 at home...which means I didn't have to do ANYthing!


On my way to the Doc's I stopped by a yard sale and picked up a couple of things:

These will all get a coat of paint, I haven't decided for sure what colors yet for the mirror or card holder.
The frame is another for my frame wall.

And then yesterday Hubby went with me to do some yard sale-ing and thrifting. We didn't get very far..one tag sale and 1 thrift store, but you will understand why we cut the day short by the time you get to the end of the post LOL!



This was was the thrift store haul. Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb is my favorite author..and I didn't have this newest In Death book yet..3 bucks for a *new* hardback? Sold!
Come Spring is a historical romance I have in paperback and have read many, many times..When I saw it for less than 2 dollars I grabbed it.

The frame is yet another for my frame wall, I really liked the shape of it. The little yellow crockery is for a gift for a reader of my blog, so no details or close up pictures of it for right now.


These sweaters and glass bowls are for THIS idea from Stephanie Lynn over at Under the Table and Dreaming

And I just love vintage sheets, and these are FAB! The tiny jelly jars were a steal at .50 a piece and will be used for notions storage in my sewing area.

Before we'd hit the thrift store, we stopped by the tag sale and let me just say...I'm glad Hubby was with me because I very likely would have passed a couple of these up due to them being box lots. I do want to say that as we arrived we were informed that we should take 20% off the marked prices so everything was actually cheaper that it would seem by the price tags.

These were the individual pieces we bought.

I just love the Spider! I know it was intended for a terra Cotta style pot, but I plan to use a round glass bowl on it and fill it with candy. The large glass vase is also for the recycled sweater deal, There are 2 vintage sheet music books, and another gift for another blog reader so no specifics, sorry.

Now for the box lots...

This one was packed FULL of stuff!

Here's a run down of most of what was in the tote.

79 FQs

21+ yards in yardage

25 zippers

24+ packs of elastic

3 vintage ric rac packs

9 bias and hem facing /tape packs

7+ packs of velcro

6 packs of buckles

5 pks of hand sewing needles

vintage buttons, machine needles and various other sewing notions and crafty items.

The second tote was all yardage..60+ yards to be more accurate!

I hit the jackpot on this trip, and pretty much wiped out my thrifting budget for a couple of months, but I think it was well worth it!

After the thrifting trip and a quick run to the grocery I sat down with hubby and we watched some tv while I finished up hand sewing the bindings on a baby quilt and table runner which I will post about after they've been through the wash and had pictures taken for the shop listings.

Now I am off to work on this:

The cross stitch is one I stitched a couple of years ago, and the quick cuts FQs were in my stash. The rest is from the Box lots :)

Check back later to see what they become!

Later!

SCORE!! or, Why I love thrifting ;)

I know what you're thinking..Wow..this is truly amazing..3 posts in less than a week?!?

Yeah, Don't get used to it..I'm like the wind, forever changing directions LOL!

While you are all pondering such deep insights into my neuroses, why not check out my latest thrifting finds? This trip combined 2 of my favorite things; Bargains and crafting supplies!

My first find of the day is this adorable frame..The picture will not be staying though, It's sweet enough, but definitely NOT me :).

I just love the flower detailing, and finding round or oval frames is not as easy as one might think! This will eventually go up on my frame wall..provided I get it done before the beginning of the next millenium.

Next was this set of check files. We don't write a lot of checks so I doubt it will be used for that purpose, but they were cool and I can "see" how they will look after some sprucing up! Maybe I'll use them for client information or something. I don't know yet *shrug*

Ok..This has to be the steal of the decade. 20...yes, 20 zippers for....ready for this? $1.00!!!!

Various Fabric pieces and scraps ranging in size from 6" x 10" to 34" by WoF (width of fabric for those non sewing readers :)) See that OSU scrap?!?! I'm going to have to figure out something special to use it for!And lastly, but most definitely not least..Vintage Sheets and pillowcases!!!

The top pink pieces are 2 pillowcases, followed by a torn bottom sheet, the blue ticking is 2 cases, and 2 sheets in a double bed size, and the flowers is a full size set of pillowcase, bottom and top sheet.My total expenditures for the trip? $18.58 after taxes. I'm well pleased :)

Ok, time to get something started for dinner.

Later!

More finished Sewing and home projects

So, as promised here are some more updates :)

Remember this chair from last week? It is now finished and has been appropriated by Minion 3 as "his" chair at the table LOL

A few weeks ago, Hubby and I ventured out to the Habitat ReStore here in the greater Columbus area. Besides scoring a FABULOUS Vintage sewing machine (post about that coming later) we also picked up this old 80's oak beaten up stereo cabinet. Now, I have to make a confession, I didn't see the hidden potential that Hubby did, BUT, I didn't utter a single word about it because I've been there before, and I know that sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees.

Anyhow, on to the transformation. I really wish we'd gotten a before picture. But let me just say that with it's dingy, facade, broken legs, and large size I wasn't totally convinced I wanted this behemoth in my kitchen.

I. was. wrong.

Hubby cut off the broken legs and put on a new, sturdier base to which he added locking casters. He cleaned it up, sanded it a bit and applied a few coats of Krylon Flat Black spray paint.

Let me say it again...I. was. wrong.

This stand is AWESOME in my kitchen. I no longer have to fight for counter space in order to keep the toaster oven out, AND since it's easily accessible it gets used much more often which saves energy since we aren't heating the huge oven up to cook with all of the time! (whew..run on sentences anyone? LOL)

The large bottom opening is plenty big enough for my apple peeler/corer to hide behind my new recipe box, which is shown off very nicely!

The top of the cabinet is the perfect spot for the fruit basket (Banana tip: If you break the bunch apart they don't ripen as fast). And of course, I just had to make a little runner to fit under it. It's reversible so I can change it up easily..This is the whimsical side:( I just love the little hens and chicks!)This is the quilted patchwork side:

Well, that's it for me today, I'm sure the first coat of paint is dry on Minion 3's new shelf so I'm off to get another coat on.

Later!