Monday, January 31, 2011

Lots of Felt and a New Project

I told you about how I have been SLOWLY reorganizing my house in the last post. Why slowly? Well, I get distracted sometimes, especially when I am working in my hobby room...

I found lots of felt from different places in the room. I guess I collected them over the years little by little. I started to line them up and color-coordinate them.

Look at all these colors!



and some more...



Looking at them made me wanna make something...and I actually started cutting them today. I will post the finished item with a tutorial soon!

10 years


Almost 10 years ago, after we remodeled our old 1920's home, we were featured in Phoenix Home and Garden (June 2001 issue, all photos by Christiaan Blok).  I came across the magazine the other day while cleaning out some boxes and couldn't believe how much has changed in our home in those 10 short years.  I thought it would be fun to do a little comparing...

We still have plenty of grapefruit...




The biggest difference is probably in what 10 years ago was a 5 year old's bedroom and bathroom, to what has become home to a teenager.  I didn't style it or clean it for a photo, it just is what it is.  We are actually in the works of painting and redoing her room a bit, so stay tuned for a possible bedroom makeover in the near future...

 



Now I just need to dig up some old pictures of the house from before we remodeled it...

Mosaic Monday


 Hello everyone,
       It is a beautiful sunny cold winter day here on the Island but can you believe January is over already. The sun will feel stronger soon and the days are already noticeably longer so spring will be here before we know it! I am starting to go through my garden photos with pen and paper nearby to write down little improvements that I want to make in the different areas of our garden. So, as I was going through the garden photos(and I have thousands of pics) I put together a few mosaics to share. Above are some peonies from the garden- I look forward to picking some bouquets of them again come June.


These were some of my favorite shots.
Although I enjoy winter it is a season I am never sorry to see it over so I can see the rebirth of our garden. There is such a thrill to seeing the first shoots poking through the ground, knowing color is about to burst to life.
I love this shade of green in the summer garden!

Well, all this talk of gardening makes me want to get some little projects done in the house so I will be ready to get out in the garden when the season arrives. When I look outside our windows though, I know I will have to be patient for awhile yet.
   I am joining Mary at the Little Red House for Mosaic Monday. There are lots of mosaics to enjoy there.


 Thank you for visiting,


 Carolyn

Picture Yourself Here

Snow getting you down?  Got the winter Blues?  Well, sit back and picture yourself here.  These are pictures I took in Naples, Florida this past November.  I figured we all needed a little pick me up right about now.  Click on the pictures to enlarge, then click one more time and they will get even larger.



See the shadows in front of the man in the picture below?  Those are a school of sting rays. 



Are you feeling a little warmer now?
Welcome Home,
Penny

Weekend Sewing

First off, if you haven't gone over to Project Run and Play to vote this week, would you mind heading over there and voting for #3 "Lindsay's Girly Girl Twirl Dress"?  I usually ask you guys to vote for your favorite look, but this week I need your help! 

This was a particularly hard challenge for me (I'm not much into current women's fashion trends).  We are definitely at risk for being eliminated and the next week is the vintage-inspired challenge which I know I can rock!!  So, if you all would please, pretty please, head over and vote, I would be so grateful!  Voting is only open until midnight tonight.

Click HERE to visit Project Run and Play!


This weekend I decided to take a little time to do some sewing for myself and my family.  I started my very first string-block quilt and these are my first four squares.


For those of you that sew a lot of clothing, you know how many scraps you end up having left over.  I thought this quilt would be perfect for using up all those skinny little scraps that I can't bare to throw away.  Plus, I love the eclectic look of all the different pretty fabrics.


A string block quilt has a "constant" strip of fabric that is sewn down the middle on the diagonal that is usually some type of solid color.  I chose to use white.  When all of the blocks are arranged the "constant" ends up making a diamond shape.  Pretty neat, huh?
In the picture above, you can see how the thin white strip forms a diamond when four blocks are placed together.  I plan on this quilt taking me a very long time, but I love that I am using my scraps and I know it will be gorgeous when it is all finished.


I also decided to sew a quick peasant style dress for my daughter Savannah.  I used the pattern that was given to us during the last Leila and BenProject Run and Play Challenge (the Sweet Dress pattern).  I actually sewed the pattern the way it was instructed this time.


This dress pattern took me about 45 minutes to get sewn (garment label and all!).  I would say if you are a beginner it might take about an hour and a half, but no more than that.  It's super-simple and only has two pattern pieces to cut! I would highly recommend this pattern to any new sewer that is looking to start to make children's clothing.


The only thing I did different with the pattern was to add the ruffle detail down the front.  I think this is going to be a great little dress for spring/summer.  And what I really love about this pattern is that Savannah will be able to continue to wear this as a top when she gets taller - gotta love that!

I hope you all had a great weekend!

Cottage Mama's Note:  The fabric used for the peasant dress is Heather Bailey's Pop Garden - Rose Bouquet - Emerald.

Interior Design Show, Roundup of some favourites

Here are some of my favourite finds/vignettes at the Toronto Interior Design Show. The show was so large and contained so many amazing vendors! Tomorrow stay tuned for my favourite booth at IDS.
1.House and Home Magazine's booth 2.Edgewater Tile 3.John Paul & Co 4.Edgewater Tile 5. Jane Lockheart's Booth 6.Oeno Gallery 7. Snob

Time For A Party

Are you familiar with Party Resources?This blog is home to some gorgeous pictures/work...
I can't read it without wanting to get married again...
Anyhoo, I will be over on Party Resources today guest blogging, please stop and check it out!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Life Is Good

Life Is Good.

Notice anything different in the picture below?

If you guessed that I was not wearing my sling, you are right!  I am being weaned from my sling.  I still have to wear it in public, like the grocery store, mall etc.  But at home I can leave it off.

I still can't raise my arm above my shoulder to blow dry my hair.  I still have therapy twice a week for the next two months , but things are progressing!

I case you were trying to read what my t-shirt says...


Yep....Life Is Good!
Welcome Home,
Penny

{ SLATE COASTERS }


a quick weekend project...


Home Depot - $3.97 for nine 4" tiles




coat with a spray of clear when finished...


cute?
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