Settling In

Oh how I've missed you guys.  Man a month has flown by with business.  Thankfully I can now say, life is back to normal.  Well at least a new normal!  Sadly the only boxes left to unpack and organize are my fabrics.  Selfishly I would have unpacked them first, but if you know me, I'd never sleep until my house, especially the kitchen is in order.  Two hungry boys depend on me for food.  Soon I hope to share with you pictures of our new home, but I haven't picked up our new couch yet, and my walls are naked.  So stay tuned...

I did manage to meet one of my 'before I move' goals.  A finished a quilt.  Not just any quilt, but one for my mother. 

 Freedom Quilt

She received it at her birthday dinner at the end of March and has mentioned more than a few times how much she loves it.  I still can't believe it took me this long to make her a quilt.  She has been high on my priority list, but I had to collect the perfect fabrics over time.  She was worth the wait and I'm so happy with the combination that unfolded.

Please pardon the picture quality.  It really doesn't do the quilt justice.  The FREE pattern/tutorial I used was Starry Eyed by Angela of Fussy Cut.  Its was an easy tutorial and I thought the star theme went really well with my Red, White and Blue selection of fabrics.  

This here is my favorite block because I managed to add a piece of Anna Maria Horner into the center.  This small piece of fabric was a swatch thrown in with an fabric bundle I received a while back.  I kept it on top of my growing fat quarter stash for my mother's quilt for inspiration.  In this quilt, it adds a fireworks kind of effect. 

You may have noticed I used a bit of Bliss by Bonnie & Camille, as well as a very large variety of DS Quilt fabrics and a few reproduction prints from Darlene Zimmerman and P&B Textiles.  But my ultimate favorite was that I was able to use the Holly Hobbie-ish fabric as my white background.  It was the perfect low volume print.  This print I picked up at JoAnne Fabrics, oh gosh, I don't know.  Maybe 8 years ago.  I had 3 yards on hand so I had just enough for this large throw quilt.  I think it was the perfect touch, don't you?

For the back I scored on the clearance rack both DS Quilt prints for only $6/yard...and then I did a center scrap strip to join the two together.  It was really fun to design the pieced quilt back.  

For the quilting I don't have a detailed shot, but in case you are interested I used my walking foot to quilt in the ditch.  I quilted in the ditch between every print and the white background, including every star.  It was a serious trying of my patience, kind of test.  But the end result was just what I was hoping for.  

Well I'll be back hopefully soon to share some pictures of my sewing corner all set up.

xo,

Lindsay

Moving Forward

This is just a shop update.  For the next 3 weeks my Etsy shop will be closed during our move.  I'll let you know when its back open!

lindsay

Make Lemonade

Since we found out we have to move I haven't been motivated to garden... like, at all.  I'm so sad about the possibility of letting go of my garden box.  It is time to harvest though.  So, I called my sweet neighbor/friend over to take what she wanted and offered her the box if I can't take it with me to our new place.  She said she'd love to have my garden box.  So, hopefully it will fit in her yard.

The other day we dug out our crop and clipped lots of lemons from our little tree. Don't worry I've left plenty for the new residence. It is so rewarding to pull carrots and beets from my own soil. I just love digging and watering and watching things grow. Jack was such a good helper this season. He takes credit for the sewing of seeds, most of the watering, and of coarse the harvesting. Thats the fun part, right? God gets the glory for the growing though. It is so amazing how much can come from one little seed.   Here is my little farmer Jack Jack:

And here is the Lemonade we made together:

I used this tutorial I found on Pinterest.  Its super easy and yummy if you ever want to try making your own.

Next I think I'll try Lemon Curd, its one of my favorites on my chocolate chip scones.  

xo,

Lindsay

 

Lane Acclaim Tables

I've done it!  All by myself too...,  I've successfully refinished my two Lane Acclaim end tables and extra long coffee table.  

After 2.5 years of sanding, I made a run for it and devoted the last three weeks to sanding like a tweaker (wink wink - Jill).  I've read a ba-gillion blogs and how to-s on refinishing these same exact tables.  These Mid-Century Lane Acclaim tables are known for their two-tone colors, the intricate dovetail detail of the white oak and the lovely grain of the dark walnut.  Beautiful!

If you care to know the technique I used please read on, or just enjoy the pics!  

First a I stripped the tables using Jasco.  Wish I'd watched a few tutorials on this ahead of time.  The legs were a so frustrating to remove the Jasco/stain goo off.  I recommend using a stotch pad soaked in Mineral Spirits on rounded surfaces.  I scraped the flat surfaces with a plastic scraper.  Then I sanded using a hand sander with 150 grit sandpaper most of the time.  I also used a few sanding sponges for the hard to reach grooves.  This didn't work all that well.  They have a little too much give and get chewed up easily, not to mention cost too much.  I needed something with more pressure, but didn't know anything out there existed.  This is what took forever.  I hated the legs and wished I had not stripped them and just focused on the table tops.  Oh well.  After all is said and done I found a sanding block at Lowes the other day and wished I'd known it existed before.  It has a rounded side and angled side to it.  You can attach any grit paper.  Its GENIUS!  I bought it and plan to use it in the future.  Lord help me if I'm ever gonna do this again?!

After multiple trips to Lowes, I selected the Minwax Gel Stain in Cherrywood.  The hub online I found was to leave them either natural or go with a walnut stain.  I knew right away that I didn't love the high contrast of the two woods.  I like the original contrast where the white oak is brought down into the browns a little.  So I tried a walnut stain first, but found it looked a little dirty old brown.  Not at all what I was hoping for.  I wanted something with a hint of red.  So Cherrywood it was. 

Then I chose a Minwax Waterbased (Oil-Modified) Polyurathane in Satin finish.  I used several cheap sponge brushes, suggested by my father-in-law and I recommend it too.  The bristle brushes leave streaks and cost a pretty penny.  The satin finish is perfect, which I also love.  It doesn't have too much of a glare.  I hate glares/sheens on woodgrain.  It distracts away from the grain.  I know I sound like a man, ha!  Wooood  Graaaain!!!  But, I do, I love the wood grain.  Crisp white paired with wood grain... its a lovely combination.

As for this baby:  the coffee table, well, lets just say it has lots of personality.  I knew diving into this project that this table would never be what it once was.

My husband discovered that these lovely black stains in the wood grain were not surface level just hours after we purchased them.  There is also a large water ring on the other end, probably form a house plant.  He abandoned the refinish project, but still brought them home for me.  I guess the furniture designer in him, just couldn't bare to have such a blemished project.  Sadly I had already fallen for the whole set and wasn't willing to part with them.

I saved the coffee table for last.  Actually I should give the table a little more credit.  It did turn out a lot better than I thought it would.  I stained and re-stained the walnut several times till I was somewhat happy with the evenness of the color.  It was a lot blotchier before.  For whatever reason it just didn't stain evenly like the end tables.  Honestly the coffee table is gonna get a lot more blemishes in this house.  I need a coffee table I can put my feet on, if you know what I mean.  And I've got a 4 yr old boy who will most likely be landing airplanes on it and racing matchbox cars across it.  Can't you just see it now?  Its the perfect run way, right?

Onto other news...we found out we need to move this month.  Our landowner recently sold this house to his daughter, but before I get deep into packing.  I'll be back with a quilt to share with you as soon as I finish binding it and photographing it.  

Thats two more things off my NEW list for 2013.  Yeah me!

xo

Lindsay

Farmer's Wife Wrap Up

So I have these two frames I got from one of my Grandmothers years ago. 

I've had them on my walls empty for who know how long.  I've never really known what to put in them.   No art work popped out at me.  Our home is a mix of Shabby chic textiles and mid century modern-ish furniture.  The frames totally don't go, but I love them.  

I changed them 5 years ago from gold to silver with a black oxidized look.  This is the smaller of the two.  An awkward center size of 11 1/4" x 23 1/2".  My larger one is over our master bed.  Last week I had set my mind to put the famous love Scripture you hear at weddings form Ephesians.  You know, Love is patient, love is kind...  I even finished working on the text and made a pdf to print at Kinkos on poster board. 
Then... I remembered how once I'd seen a framed mini quilt and how lovely that was.  Then,  I remembered my Farmers Wife Blocks from the FWQAL just sitting there with nothing to do.

I wondered if any would look good in the frame.  So I rushed and to get them taped on the wall in the empty space and they measured perfectly!  Once I factored in the seam allowances, of course.  

So I picked 8 of my favorites, keeping in mind my green curtains that hang on both sides of the fireplace and Wow!  It was all coming together.  Don't you just love it when that happens?

Now I know that without the sashing, the blocks are a little less defined.  But I think it invites you to take a closer look.  What do you think?

I find it so funny how much green I have in my home.  I guess I like the color more than I realized.  I still have 4 more blocks left.  I don't know what I'll do with them.  Or if I'll get bored of looking at this frame and pull them apart and finish what I started with the FWQAL.

Ooo and I have to share this cute swag lamp I found at Ikea for $20.  

I think it works perfectly in my sewing corner.  I might embellish it as time goes by, but for now I really like the white cotton with little faux grey fabric buttons.

Well my little man is up from his nap, so back to mommy business.

Lindsay

New

Since the start of the new year, I've done some thinking.  I think I'm actually gonna set some goals this year.  I've never really been one for setting goals.  But this year is different.  I can't really say why exactly but I want to share my list or I mean lists.  

Life:

1.  Simplify my life more.  I can't really describe how, but reading Almost Amish by Nancy Sleeth really helped.  Again, I recommend this book to anyone who craves a slower simpler life style.  It has some great tips and scripture to support and encourage a reason for change.

2.  Join a weekly Bible Study, at least one season of 2013.

3.  Go camping!

4.  Keep up with walking

5.  More gardening

6.  Take more pictures


Sewing:

1.  Make our own Queen Size quilt for our bed.  Can't believe I'm a 4 year quilter and still haven't decided what I want, but I'm gonna make it this year!  Promise.  Definitely using some if not all of my FMF stash too!

2.  More quilts.  Apparently I haven't had my fill and I have a few in mind to make for others this year. Starting with my mother-in-law's guest room.  We'll get that ball rolling next month after we attend The Road 2 California Quilt Show later this month.

3.  Make myself some skirts and maybe a dress.

4. Make an Anna Maria Horner Art Student tote.

5.  Cover some new sofa throw pillows.

6.  Unless I find some I like, make some seat cushions for my new stools my girlfriend gave me. 

As if that weren't enough, I've got some 'home work' to do as well. 

Nesting:

1.  Finish Re-finishing my Lane tables... I know, I can't believe its taking me this long either.

2.  Hopefully purchase a new to me sofa + recliner for my hubby.

3.  Headboard/bedframe for our bedroom.  We've both wanted an upholstered headboard forever.

4.  Fill my two beautifully ornate vintage frames.  The one above my bed with lyrics to our song and one over the mantel with some scripture.   

5.  Paint my bathroom cupboards to match the kitchen ones since the counter tops are the same mustard laminate.

Okay, that was quite the exercise.  This list is a little longer than I thought it was in my head.  Now that its on paper, or I mean my blog, I have to admit its a little intimidating.  Goodness!  More may arise as the year goes on too.  I may loose focus and let go of a few of these or carry them over into 2014.  But I'm hoping to really put a dent in this list. 

I better get busy!

Destash Sale

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

FYI, I'm having a DESTASH sale in my Etsy Shop. Click image below to visit my shop.

Use coupon code: New2013 for 20% off thru January 2013.  

Here is a preview

xo,  Lindsay