THE FARMHOUSE

 THE FARMHOUSE

38" X 23"

Original design, rawedged fused applque & domestic machine quilted by me.

 Stretched on stretcher bars.

 Close up of bark and machine quilting on tree

 Close up of red fall leaves on small shrub

 Horse and Farmhouse

Pair of horses in the field

Great Horned Owl Sketch

 The plumber came today to fix some terrible plumbing that we discovered was in our bathroom when our ceiling caved in due to the porch roof leak.  So I took the dogs upstairs to my studio so they would not be in his way following him everywhere while he worked.   So I spent that time making my new background for my Great-Horned Owl piece and then sketched him out.  I found a photograph I especially liked on the website of Ron Austing a wildlife photographer.  I loved one of his photos so I emailed him asking permission to use one of his photos,  I included photos of my other two owl quilts.  He replied that he is giving me permission so I copied that email and put it in my files.  His website with the photo is:  Ron Austing

After finishing the background I sketched the owl from his photograph.  It took quite a long time since this quilt will be a little bit bigger then the other two.

 The plumber left late and now we have new plumbing in the bathroom.  It looks strange amongst the construction up there but we feel so much better that is fixed before the ceiling is closed up again.   Next step...the contractor who is coming in the next few days.

This is one of the only rooms that is feels untouched by this.  The guest room has the closet emptied out so that they can put in an access panel to the tub for any future issues so that is all over the bed.  The dining room has all the kitchen stuff in it that had to be moved out of the way for this work.  However the living room is still comfy and that is where I am now.

Stay tuned!

Tree & Red Twig Dogwoods

 This morning I finished quilting my second tree on my landscape quilt

 Someone asked where I get inspiration.  Well it is mainly from my surroundings.  I love going out and taking photos of the area I live in for future use on a quilt.  I keep a folder of these photos for later use.

The red in this landscape quilt came from heading out to my mom's to cut greens and red twig dogwoods for my winter pots at home.

 I loved how the red just pops in the winter landscape and had to add it in this quilt.  I fill two pots in front and one big one in the back.  The birds love perching in them and I will keep them until spring.

My telephone pole santa is also in place although he will not appear on this quilt.  I bought him 20 years ago!  He is all handcarved and weighs a ton but I love him and haul him from my attic every year.

This morning Watson was no where to be found.  I checked his favorite places and even looked in the mixing bowl which he sometimes curls up in,  Then I found him.

Seems he has decided to sleep in the guest room in the crib I have set up for Clayton.   Hmmmmm
Hope this is not going to be his new spot or I will be washing bedding before babies come for the day.  It is cute though. 

Rug & Border

 I bought a new rug for my living room today.  It appeared more orange red in the store but when I unwrapped it, it was more red.  I still like it and obviously Ozzie does as he gave up the couch to snooze on it.  Barley on the other hand still enjoys a couch cushion.  We are waiting for our gas fireplace to come in.  It is now over a week late.  It will go between those two chairs and keep the room nice and cozy this winter. 

I am quilting feathers again.  I have his face and tail finished and his chest almost finished.  I also put on a border as you can see.  It is fun to work on him as he stared you down under the needle!

Bathing Beauties and New Bathroom Paint

 I finished "Bathing Beauties" for my Etsy Shop today.  I have sold another quilt to Natalie who lives in Ontario.  She is hoping to start quilting herself soon so I look forward to seeing her work too.  Then I sold a quilt to a woman at the store from Sheboygan, Wi.  So I have been so happy with my sales and with Etsy.

Of course there were things here to keep up with and one was my upstairs bathroom which used to be a pale yellow and now is this really nice taupe.  I really love this color in there.

So yesterday I painted all the woodwork and two coats on the walls.  Busy days but the results are worth it.

Stepback

 Here is our new "pantry".  It is an 1850-70 stepback cupboard.   We first loaded the old Pastry Cabinet that was there into the pickup truck.  It actually was done in two trips to our store.  We set it back up there and priced it before we came back here.

Then we lifted the top half up on the bottom.  I am good at lifting but the bottom half is chest high so
lifting it up there was a challenge but Bob is strong and kept it steady.  Then it was time to fill it up.  It took all that I had in both the pastry cabinet and the bookshelf plus one kitchen cabinet.  We are very happy with this new look.  It was worth all the work and the rain storm yesterday.  I  only wish there was some way to know who had this first and what they did.

Lots of Good Things

 Today I went to see my quilt hanging in our local art gallery called "Gallery 110 North".  If you do not remember this it is called "Reeds On the Mullet River".    Not a good shot of it but you can see it here:  "Reeds"

 Our Gallery has been remodeled and the new gallery is wonderful.  Still needs better spot lighting adjustment but over all it is a huge improvement.

 The work was wonderful and I enjoyed seeing some of my friends work as well.

When I got home a package was waiting for me.  It was an Acrylic painting by Libby Fife.  I won this in a drawing on her blog last week and it arrived today.  I put it on an easel on my dresser.  I love the colors and Libby's technique.  If you want to see her work visit her blog here:   quiltedcraftsman

 It came with a photograph of another of her paintings on the front of the enclosed  card.  Thank you Libby, my cup runneth over!

I also have my kitchen back.  Yes the tile man came back and sealed the edges where the tile meets the countertops.  After he left I could put everything back on top just being careful not to put it against the wall too close as to hit the grout line.

I am so happy to have a working kitchen back and it looks fabulous to me.  Nice and bright and cheerful.

The day was a good one despite it being cold and rainy.

Tile

Tile went in today.  Took from 7:30 until 5:30.  He will be back to do the grout tomorrow at 8am.  No sleeping in here.  I am really happy with it and the look of the stone.  Can't wait for everything to finish up tomorrow and putting all my things back on the counters for good. 

One day we will replace the stove with stainless steel.  The frig is SS and the dishwasher but he stove is still working fine and only about 4 years old so it may have to stay a while.  Works okay since it is across the room from the others.  We will shop for a new vent to go above the stove.  We disagree on what style to get so it may take a while.  :)

Kitchen Counters Finished.

 This is my kitchen this morning waiting for the counter top install.  They came at 7:30 and began the work.  I took the dogs to the groomer, stopped and got coffee and tea for Bob and me, and then headed to work.

 When I got home it was finished.  I LOVE IT!  So light and bright.  I immediately started unloading everything that was on the kitchen and dining tables and put them back in the cabinets and countertops.

 I am amazed at how much this laminate looks like stone.  It has the sheen of stone, the dimples and the grain.  We did the beveled edge which added to the look.

Notice the blue and yellow wall ....that is going to be covered by tile on Monday.  The blue is mine the yellow was someone elses in two tones.  Once that is finished it will be perfect.

He is also working up an estimate on how much it would cost to build this.....a fantastic pantry that would go on the wall opposite the kitchen counters.  This would be the solution to all our storage problems.  I found this on Pinterest.  You do find some great things and ideas on that site.

Kitchen Painting Finished

 Painted for two days straight.  This is the first time I have painted cabinets and it is not easy.  I am really happy with the results though. 

 We started hanging a few things after dinner tonight.  I love how neutral this color is so everything goes with it.

I still have that island to paint and we have stuff on the counters that will not be there but we have to wait 3 weeks for the countertops to be made and then after they are in the tiler comes for the back splash so we will not be totally finished until sometime in May.   I can wait.  Nice to know my end is finished.  Now back to the studio.  Well I have to work for the next two days and then Easter on Sunday.  Monday we are heading to our sons house and helping him put up a fence, or at least get him started, for his new puppy and the boys.

Day Two of Kitchen Painting

Painted all day today with only a short break for lunch.  Made great progress.  Bob painted the ceiling for me which I had all trimmed out yesterday.  I did about 3/4 of the walls plus the trim and wainscotting.  Had not planned on that but it looked dull next to the new trim so had to do it.

You can see the louvered door that goes into the world's smallest bathroom.  Yes it is a horrid location but the only spot it could have gone when someone decided to put another bath in years ago.  I am grateful we have it.   Being a 1929 bungalow there originally was only one bath upstairs.   There is a double louvered door around the corner from this one that is a coat closet.  That is finished too.

I am finished for the day so I can relax and re-energize for tomorrow.  Planning on watching DWTS!  Definitely not as easy to do as it used to be but I actually like to paint....as long as I have some good music to listen to while doing it.

Kitchen Project Started

 We began tearing apart our kitchen in order to paint and prepare for the new backsplash and countertops. I am saying goodbye to the blue which I loved and hello to a grey/tan.  You can see a test strip of it on the the picture below by the door on the right.  We decided to go ahead and paint the ceiling first since we have not painted it for about 7 years.   So we washed walls etc. most of the afternoon.

We pulled everything to the center of the room and took all the things hung on the wall off as well as all the outlet plates and light switch plates.  Then the window treatments and the ceiling fan blades.  Then I trimmed out the ceiling from the wall about 4 inches so Bob can use a roller tomorrow and finish the rest.  I will start of the trim tomorrow.

Now that it is atarted I am in the mode and hope to get it finished in the next 2 or three days.  Then we probably will play a waiting game for the counters and the back splash tiles since those are two different people.   But that is okay as long as all my work is finished.

Fantastic Spring Weather

 Today it was a magnificent day.  I got out my newly made pillows and set up the front porch for
sitting on and having a cup of tea in the evening.  The only thing missing is flowers, but that will have to wait until May unless this weather continues to be way ahead of itself.

 Barley decided the new pillows were perfect for  a little snooze.

 I covered the seats of my two antique wicker childrens rockers.   They turned out nice.

 I cut pieces off of the striped fabric and added it to each of the pillows.  I wanted them to be soft and comfy so no buttons were added.

 Ozzie went to his usual spot where he can watch all that is going on in the neighborhood.  He is such a character and can not miss a thing.

Once I sat down they both had to jump in my lap...believe me there is not room for anyone else!

Fall Splendor Right in Your Own Backyard