It Seems I'm on A Roll

I'm pretty sure I've been inoculated with a sewing needle these last few weeks. Either that or I've been possessed  by Crafting Demons. How else could I possibly explain the level of crafty activity that's been going on in my sewing room?  I'm just going with it - who knows how long it will last ?  By this time next week it's entirely possible that I won't want to look at my sewing machine for a month.

Lounging Around is finished. Two quilt finishes in 7 weeks is unheard of around here.  Happily I LOVE this quilt and so does Mr. P.  

I did my first ever quilt label for this quilt.   I'm a real quilter now.  And in the process of  showing you this -I'm also outing Mr. P. I seem to be doing that to my family a lot lately.

Kate was kind enough to send me some fabric sheets to try out for labels and I just went for it. Kate, you've been immortalised forever on a quilt as a thank you.  If it wasn't for you- this label would never have been made.

Little P's blocks are all sewn together and I've started the back too. Borders next.  This is another quilt I'm really enjoying making. What's going on? Three quilts on the go and I'm not hating any of them....

I made two more Dresden Blocks this week and appliqued them and the 3 from last week.  I've been working on this quilt now for about 7 weeks but since it feels like I've been flashing weekly progress pictures since about oh I dunno ...the dawn of time ...I've spared you this week.

I finally dragged my sorry behind out of the sewing room long enough to pay some attention to the computer desk drawers today.  This reno project has taken almost a year ( 8 months of which the desk sat outside doing nothing but waiting ) and has been fraught with unfortunate events. It looks like the pain has been worth it. I love those drawers. I love those handles. I love my new desk.

When the dresser is finally finished, we're putting the paint away for a while...

Miss P and I went op shopping on Friday and scored some crazy bargains. I bought this for Little P  because he is currently obsessed with vacuum cleaners ...

He doesn't know his colours yet so he doesn't know it's pink ..

And he scored some more toys. Miss P told me most emphatically that the recorder was staying here at my house.

I'm working on indoctrinating Little P into the "you can never have enough shoes" club. The boots are his.   They light up when you stamp your feet. Or when you throw the boots which is what he spent 20 minutes doing Friday afternoon. Bonus points to anyone who can guess who the pink pair belong to...

And I scored this fabulous carry all which will be perfect for toting sewing projects around. I'm trying to think of ways to make it look pretty. Any suggestions?

Miss P and I didn't get to our monthly craft project on Friday but magically these frames got painted anyway.. I think fairies live at my house. Cups of tea magically appear when I am thirsty as well. Stay tuned for the finish to this amazingly simple project later this week.

May the craft be with you.

Goals for this week
3 more Dresden Blocks
Half the snowball quilt top to be completed (since I slacked off for FNSI)
Finish the back of Little P's Alphabet Quilt and add one border to the front

The "D" Word and Other Stuff

You'd think with me being on holidays I would have spent this week being a whirling dervish getting all sorts of things done. I managed to get some annual cupboard cleaning done but I lost my puff by about Wednesday.  I'm calling that my down time for the holidays. Expect activity/results this week.

I spent two and a half days this week sulking and holding my own little pity party about having to go to the dentist. But I went.  I want to acknowledge that I know my dislike of the D word is completely irrational. For a grown woman to be throwing up in fear the morning of a dental appointment is so not cool. I've got my big girl panties on and am going back Tuesday. And next week too. I am about to make at least 6 months worth of payments on this dude's beamer or fund his next holiday overseas. 

In other news, I finished the table runner for the outdoor table. The outdoor table currently has the dining table on top of it - so I had to improvise for my photo shoot.

The horror of the kitchen renovation has started to fade and I'm tired of looking at my dark wood dining room furniture so all aboard the renovation train. Next stop - the dining room.  Decision made -I was on it this weekend.

I bought this table two years ago thinking it would be a nice table to refinish. It spent 18 months on the back patio when I decided I didn't like it after all and now the kitchen is finished I've decided  it's perfect for the dining room.  It was cheap , and it came with chairs which Miss P has since inherited along with our old dining table.

Here it is with one coat of primer. Since I'm thinking two coats of primer and three top coats and then curing time this is going to take a while.  I don't want to poly it when it's done because of yellowing ...any other suggestions to protect it, from you experienced painting type people out there? I'm going to distress it because Little P likes to use his spoon to play drums on my dining room furniture at mealtimes. Any experiences you'd care to share about how else I can make sure the paint doesn't peel off 4 minutes after it's finished will be most gratefully accepted.

I did the mental maths on cleaning the existing upholstery on the dining chairs I bought last week versus whether it was cheaper to bite the bullet and re-upholster them.  I can attest there are some truly ugly upholstery fabrics out there. I saw most of them yesterday. I found something perfect ...eventually.

I have RSI from pulling all the old staples and upholstery off. I know this is not going to be everyone's cup of tea and doubtless some of you are thinking "Has that girl lost her marbles?" Wait until you see the whole room finished. It's going to rock.

I've never had an actual light shade in my dining room. Yep-we're so classy we've had the bare bulb hanging out of  the batten for 9 years. I defy anyone to say I'm high maintenance. The hunt is now on for the perfect light fitting.

I whipped up a cover this week for my work diary and then shoved it straight back in the cupboard. Touching it while I am on holidays seemed almost sacrilegious.

I got all Betty Crocker this afternoon and baked Neenish cupcakes. I'm trying to lose some weight so obviously I had a brain snap when I decided to bake freakin' cupcakes.

Mr. P and I popped off to the movies last night to see "The Dilemma". Not being a Vince Vaughan fan I wasn't expecting too much . I wasn't disappointed. Save your money and go see Harry Potter twice.  

  

My goals for this week - my poor neglected Dresden's and some movement on Mr. P's quilt. Watch this space!

I hope your weekend has been wonderful.  

Finished

My theme for this weekend was "finished " because I was desperate to finish something. Anything. I have so many things in states of "half finished" I'm feeling like a crappy failure.  I REALLY  want to start something new but promised myself I wouldn't start anything new until I'd finished something old. Or several old somethings. Let me just say promising yourself sucks.  

Indy and Lola's quilt - Finished.

Devil's food cupcakes with chocolate maple icing. Ummmm...Started and Finished. Literally.

 Mug Rugs 8 of them. Finished.

The Blackwood Chair.  Finished. Finally.  

Sanding the desk- Finished.

My assistant sander. I'll mould that kid into a tradie yet. I'm starting early.

Sneak peek of yummy bits for the desk....

More painting...It's NEVER going to be finished. Confession: Mr. P did this painting. It was easier than listening to me whinge. These are meat safe bits. Yes. Still.

Started . Sanding the old door we brought home two weeks ago. Which at some point will mean more painting. And a lot more sanding. What was I thinking ?  I'm an idiot.

I'm so tired I can't even think about next week. No goals. No pressure.  I hope your weekend has been fabulously creative!