Finally a post about our Kitchen Update....

I have not posted pictures of our finished Kitchen....  So what exactly did we do to this Kitchen in the last year after moving in in October 2013?  I painted the cabinets with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in the color of CoCo... We put all new hinges/hardware on the cabinets.... removed the doors up in the corner on each side of the sink and had the medieval wire removed and had glass put in, plus glass shelves in the cabinets on the corner also...  We removed the flooring and had large rectangular tiles put in... we flip flopped where the sink  and dishwasher was and added a new dishwasher and a deep stainless apron front sink/new faucets, removed the old range hood and put an over the stove microwave in, (and above the microwave put in a shelf) of course we brought our stainless gas stove and refrigerator, removed the laminate counter top and replaced with granite.  I installed white subway tile for the backsplash.  We had lighting put in over the sink and also LED under cabinet lighting... (LOVE IT)  .....

On the wall below there was nothing, so we had this dresser that would not fit downstairs, Mark installed the two end cabinets and made the shelves in between them.... We made this our coffee bar.

We replaced all of the windows and now we have an awesome view of our backyard, and we can even open the side windows for a nice breeze.  (the old windows were all fogged up in between the glass and we could not open them)

So for those who have asked to see our completed kitchen...   (by the way....the door back in the corner goes to the lower level).

Happy Wednesday....

Another Little Sewing Bag...

I first made the "Sew Together Bag" by Sew Demented Patterns and then someone told me there was another bag pattern that was bigger but almost identical ;) This one is the Bionic Gear Bag by RipStitcher patterns... The overall Look is pretty much the same ... I do like the size of both of them.

I did a Quilt as you go technique on the outside and must say I love the looks of it!

Have an awesome Saturday!  Nancy

Just a tweet....

Most of the time you have to be pretty fast or just standing there ready to shoot when one of these little creatures is out on a limb....   I had never been able to get a shot of a Blue Jay up in our trees and last week I was able to do that....  Now one of these days if I can only catch our pair of Blue Birds that come to visit.... They are so cute!   For now this picture of the Blue Jay will just have to do!

We have so enjoyed all of the wildlife in our yard.... and to think God created each one of them!

Have a great Tuesday!!!  Nancy

A little weekend project....

I had purchased the "Sew Together" pattern online from Sew Demented and finally got around to sewing it up this past weekend....  It is a clever little bag to hold a lot of sewing notions.  My one suggestion to you is that on Quilt Barn they have a sew along .... Don't ask any questions just do it!  (It will save you a headache)

Oh and please do not look at my wonky looking quilting on the front.... Learning to quilt is on my to do list!

There is a pin cushion and a felt needle holder on the inside of the bag....

A different view...

Sometimes in the light of day, things just look different.... So I was really not at all happy with the way the coupon holder turned out yesterday so today I gave it a good press with the steam iron and it looks better.....

                                     Yesterday's Photo                                                           and Today's

As you can see above the pressing made a lot of difference.........

I also decided to make another one and let my friend choose which one she wants.... the one below, (eye roll) I did correctly... Meaning I used the interfacing the pattern writer called for... It just proves to me I cannot use Annie's Soft and Stable in everything......

Oh and the labels are printed on printer fabric and then I used lamination for cloth to protect it....

 With a good pressing on #2 I like it much better than the first one!

So now she will have to decide......

Have an awesome weekend!  Nancy

A Cold Day Project....

Do you ever tell someone you will make them something and hmmmm you just put it off for whatever reason?  I did just that... a friend asked for me to make her a coupon holder.... so I promptly ordered the pattern and just let it sit and sit and sit for several months and finally today I made it....

Which by the way we started out this morning at -8 with a wind chill of -28.... Now at 3:18 in the afternoon my little project is completed and the wind is howling and the snow is blowing...  My phone says it is 13 degrees with a wind chill of -5 but it just looks cold out there and yes I am still in my Pajamas.... haha I think it is time to get dressed!

The pattern is from www.ISew.Biz  .......

Happy Thursday, wherever you are I hope you are staying warm..... I am blessed to have a nice warm house!

Nancy

Revised Craft Room....

I am finally getting around posting the pictures of what I changed in my Craft Room after Thanksgiving!  We went to Menards and bought some countertop and two base cabinets.... added some shelves and Voila' I have 2 new sewing spots....

I also shrunk my island down, I now have room to leave an ironing board set up if I need too!

(the island was bigger, I had the two cube book cases spread apart big enough to have a stool in the middle and it just wasn't working!)  This size is more doable we just shoved the two cases together and came up with a size for the top!

 So for those who were wondering what we did differently the BEFORE shots are in the top of my menu bar.... I will leave them for a while..

Happy Wednesday to all of you!  It is a cold day here in Northwestern Illinois!

Nancy

Bag Addiction.....

I knew it would happen..... when I joined the Bag of the Month Club again this year I knew I wanted to make more than one of the pattern for each month..  Last year I didn't have that option since I joined so late in the game... and being a newbie last year at bag making....

I have to tell you every time I complete a bag I am totally amazed and humbled that God gave me the talent to do the things I do with my hands.... I am really not trying to brag...  whenever I am turning a bag through the lining otherwise known as giving birth to a bag... I am overwhelmed that I can actually make them look as good as they do.  I am thankful for the talented ladies who have created such awesome patterns!

So here is a final picture of my first and second Companion Carpet Bag.... pattern author is Samantha Hussey @ At Home With Mrs. H     and just in case you wanted to know.....  it is not too late to join the Bag of the Month Club go on over to Sara Lawson's Blog  Sew Sweetness and sign up it goes on through June and if it is like last year you have till the middle of July to enter them into the contest... I did all of my bags in May and June last year!!!!

Here is my first....  I used quilting cotton and I always put SF101 on all pieces inside and out... I made the vinyl handles on this bag (they are not perfect)...  I also used Headliner Fabric in place of Annie's Soft and Stable...( I purchased the Headliner Fabric at Joann's used a coupon and got a lot for cheap!)

I have had a lot of questions about the pattern for the Wallet is was a free pattern on a Facebook Group "Sewing Totes Bags and Purses" the pattern is by Sherri Asamura Leong...... Although I made changes to the pattern.....    

Almost all of my hardware comes from Janelle at www.Emmalinebags.com who is also another awesome pattern writer and another favorite of mine!

Here is my second Companion Carpet Bag and it is made out of Flannel!  I used SF101 on the pieces and the interior is from Quilting Cotton I purchased all of fabric for the purse below at Expressions in Thread in LeClaire, Iowa (across the river from me)!

AND for your viewing enjoyment.... this is the view out my front door this morning!  We received 6 1/2 inches of SNOW last night!  Do you Want to Build a Snowman?  ;)

Happy Tuesday!  Nancy

I linked up at Freemotion by the River....

Floating Shelves.....

When we bought our home a year ago, we had all intentions of when I sold my home we would put in a gas log fireplace, but we have enjoyed our fake fireplace so much we decided not to do that!  (I say fake because it is just a wall mount electric heater and a mantle from the Habitat Restore)   We have decided that we really like it the way it is (for now anyway).  Although, in my plans to put in a fireplace was also the plan for built in shelves on each side.  So after Thanksgiving we put in floating shelves... If you want to see just how we did them you can go to Southern Revivals Blog and see her tutorial!  EASY PEASY!!   We had them done in one afternoon and it only cost around $50. for ALL the shelves!

My TJ MAXX Mercury Glass Lamps!  $39. each lamp and that included the shade!  SCORE

Painted the Shelf below with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint..... and love the outcome!

That is what I have been up to besides bag making! ;)

Nancy