A little makeover.....

Sometimes the smaller things can make the biggest difference!  In the picture below... do you see the double sliding doors on the left?  Well those doors went to our pantry and they were a pain in the hind end!  If you had them slid one way you need something on the other side... If you had them slid the other way... well you get the picture.  It was hard putting things away and getting things out.  It was always a mess.  Sooooo I got the brilliant idea to put in French Doors.

THE BEFORE PICTURE

THE AFTER PICTURE... 

They were inexpensive Pine French Doors from Menards (less than $250.)  I painted them with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Provence toned down with Arles, to give it a little different color. I put frosted contact paper in the windows so you cannot see all the stuff on the shelves.  Even though it is organized I still do not want it showing.  

 A better shot of the doors.

And the inside... I love this.  It has made so much difference!  Thanks to my hubby for being the muscles behind this project!!

and you thought I was finished.... Ha ha.. I am always looking for another project!!

Happy Weekend!  Nancy

Spring has arrived....

We had a few visitors come and go... A few turkeys and lots of beautiful goldfinch.... The goldfinch stay all winter but oh in the spring when the get their summer color, they are beautiful!!

The Nappy Bag for a new mom...

Last week I made the Nappy Diaper Bag for a new Mom to be!  The pattern is from Samantha at home with Mrs H....  It was the first time for this pattern and I even got to use my embroider on my machine!  Not to shabby for a first time pattern use!  It is a great pattern, and I wouldn't expect anything else from Samantha!

 I also made a little diaper changing mat that I just whipped up out of the blue (pun intended) ... No pattern.

I think it looks good on this beautiful little Momma!

Happy Sewing!  Nancy

A few things I have been working on...

Here is the Bloom Quilt (Lori Holt Bee in My Bonnet)   I have been working on!  Who knew I would like appliqué?  

 My daughter and hubby recently got a camper so I had to make these cute pot holders for them!

Found an antique metal picnic basket that wasn't even cute, so I painted it and put a window decal on it!  It does a good job holding most of my fabric for the Farm Girl Vintage blocks I am working on!

I recently made a Swoon Harriett purse and just love it!  Tula Pink fabric fit the bill for this cool bag!!

So there you have it...  No this isn't all I have been doing just all I am showing for now!  I will try to post our latest DIY home project in a couple of days as I get it all completed!  New pantry doors and a revamped pantry!  Who knew doors could make such a huge difference??

Keep  Smiling!

Nancy

Little Miss Muffet

sat on her tuffet.... you know the rest.

I have been busy working on tuffets....  Preparing to teach a class on them at a fabric shop.

Oh but first I have to show you the China Cabinet I bought off of Craigslist and immediately painted it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in the color of Provence.    Ohhhh I love it now!!  (sorry to you all you natural wood lovers out there especially my brother Jim!)  I did take all of the hardware off and spray paint with silver of course! ;)  (Robert I know you are smiling on that one)...

 AND now to the Tuffet I was talking about....  the first one is the pattern from the Tuffet Source...

Look at all those delightful colors!  I timed myself when making this and I am not slow at doing anything.... In saying that it took over 11 hours from start to finish.  E V E R Y time you sewed a strip (it is foundational paper pieced) you had to get up, go to the iron, then trim each.and.every.strip 64 TIMES..... I was exhausted by the time I was finished... This would be a 2 day project, but no not me, I had to get it completed in one day....

I painted all of my legs with Annie Sloan of course! ;)  The one above is painted in Provence and the one below in Emperor's Silk.

The Tuffet below is the Quick and Cute Tuffet Pattern by Erin Underwood... I like it equally well as the above and the bonus to the one below is that I finished it from start to finish in less than 4 hours!!  That is huge!  That was with prepping the foam and the wood base!

This one is with some of my favorite fabric "Scrumptious" from Bonnie and Camille MODA Fabrics.

This pattern you could sew 4 strips together then go iron... then go sew again..... sew much quicker!

No project is finished unless you finish the bottom and make it look pretty!  I have since put felt on the tips of the feet.

I guess it is all a matter of preference as to which you like best.    I do like them both but LOVE the Speed EASE of the second one!

Happy Weekend to you!

Nancy

a Busy little Bee.....

I have been pretty busy since the first of the year... We have had tons of cardinals at the feeders this winter... I can easily count 18 at a time!

Lots of pictures..... 

I finally finished two of these Chevron Quilts for two grandsons that share a bedroom.. I also made matching pillow shams...

 Thought I would personalize it a bit....

Trying to learn to use my Bernina Stitch Regulator !!

   One of my Swoon Bags I made along with a billfold!  The Nora in the small size along with a wallet.

I had these four grands one weekend!  What fun!

I tested this wonderful clutch for Christine at Chris W Designs!

I made my first tuffet!  I love it!  So does my granddaughter!

Another Nora by Swoon bag!  I love it!

 So in case you thought I was sitting around eating Bon Bons and hibernating.... Nope not me!

Happy Valentines Weekend to all of you !

Nancy

Gearing up for sewing in 2016

It seems like I am continually looking for "a better way"  a "neater way" to have all of my gizmos and still be "neat".  Crafting in any form is sometimes "messy" so the key is to have places to stash your stuff.... In that being said I have too much "stuff" so I just did a major revamp of my studio and replaced my "cube island" and my "scrapbook cube storage" with 2 Hemne 8 Drawer Dressers from Ikea.. I love Ikea how about you?  In case you are wondering the glass cabinets are also from IKEA they are the Billy System... Love them!  I have also been asked the size of this room, it is 12X14 and that does not include the closets.  For those who have asked the dressers with the board on top is 38 inches tall.

So I have been destashing and keeping what I am currently using....

Oh and all of the bright light coming through the windows is the reflection of snow!  Where was it last week???

I went to Lowes and had them cut a board (it was Birchwood in 3/4 in thick)  the correct size to fit onto the top of both of the dressers (my hubby put a 3/4 inch strip around the outside so it would not shift) and then covered it with batting.  The whole thing can be used for an ironing board when I remove my cutting board.

I also always get asked about the sign above my sewing area "God Is Good all the Time" it came from Hobby Lobby a year ago.

I also get asked about the irons, the black and white is a Euro Steam which I LOVE it is the best iron I have ever had.... the purple and white one is an Olisio I purchased recently on Black Friday at Joann's, I got it for times I did not have a lot of ironing to do.  (The Euro Steam has to be emptied EVERY time you use it!)

In the above picture you can see my sewing closet with my Juki TL2010q, now that machine will sew through about anything!  I love it!

I do not think I properly introduced you to my new friend "Bernie"  I think we will be best of buds!  (I have an embroidery attachment also for her)...  Bernie is a 770QE

Pretty much my wall of shame..... (Because I have way too much yarn,...)

Just to keep this post real this is under my sewing area.... It will soon disappear too!  It is loads of scrapbook paper!

Hope you have a great day today!

Nancy