To do this, you must have the patience of Job

Rebekah wants a new room.  No problem.  The components of this 'renovation' have been divided into manageable (read affordable) parts.  First up - closet renovation. 

Rebekah wants to get rid of her dresser.  She wants to put everything in the closet.  I gather this is to allow for more floor space for the friends that seem to be coming to our house more and more.  Fine by me. 

Ian took a trip to home depot to get her a closet organizer.  I should have taken a before photo of the closet because I remain doubtful that this closet will ever be organized....

We thought that since we were cleaning and renovating, that we should probably give the closet a fresh coat of paint since it probably had not be painted in ten years.  Don't judge.

Mommy's Little Helper

Our five year old daughter, better known as the hellion or whirling dirvish, asked if she could help paint.  It's a closet, it does not have to be perfect, it can have some brush strokes.  It took everything to say yes, knowing that there would be some clean up afterward.

It went --- long pause --- okay.  At least she looks like she had fun!  Now, if she could just read the instructions for the closet organizer.

Live High,

Heather

Scrap Masterpiece - Wreaths for Literacy



Have you had enough of the book page wreath?  Not me!  I love the book page wreath.  Maybe in a year or two we will shudder with regret, like when I stencilled everything.  I mean everything...





Rolling pages...



I do a fair bit of work with some noble people in Durham Region.  They work to improve literacy levels of our residents.  Imagine the patience it takes to help someone move forward.  Imagine doing this work with a tiny bit of annual funding.  Literacy groups are one of the many who have to engage in fundraising to make ends met.  The Literacy Council of Durham's annual event, Coffee, Tea and Words, draws people in to do the things I love, read and drink coffee.  Hopefully there is a bit of nibbles in there somewhere. 



Halfway through first layer




At the event, the Council seeks direct donations and raffles.  This is where the wreath comes in.  I am getting to the point.  I promise.  Actually, I promised the council a wreath to raffle at the event.  What better donation to the cause then a book page wreath?  I have made one for the event later this month.  It is a monster and I love it!!  I am going to have a hard time giving it up, but considering I have one in my dining room and more than half a book left, I think I better give it up.



Isn't it beautiful!



If you want a wreath, please come to the event.  If you can't make it and still want a wreath, I will gladly make you one, for a donation to the Literacy Council. 

Happy Reading!!

Live High,

Heather





 

Side Trip in Toronto



What does this have to do with economic outlooks?

Yesterday I was in Toronto for an economic outlook breakfast.  I promise, as you are my friends, not to go into details.  I love economic outlooks and the breakfast is not so bad.  I was in Toronto with my co-worker Sandy, she is a fellow sewing addict and an enabler. There was with a glimmer in her eye when she suggested a quick side trip to King Textiles before heading to the train back home.  Can I say she twisted my arm?  Forced me?  Dragged me?  Yeah, so not true.  We were out and down the street before we could put our coffee cups down on the nearest table. 

Kings Textiles is old school.  It has piles and piles of fabric, hard to move around and good old creaky floors.  This means that the fabric is varied, and the prices are good.  Downside?  Overwhelming.  Where to look?  The prices are awesome, how much do I drag home?  How much can I make Sandy carry?

Lots to see!

I have it in my head that I need to make a sling back pack.  Purchasing rip stop nylon is a challenge in Durham.  Good luck finding much selection.  Kings had a decent selection and I chose this because I am sure my son Tavish will be begging for one when he spies this camouflage stuff.  It was a great deal.



Backpack times two



I am addicted to patterned fabric and pick up this beauty - $14.00 for two meters.  I am making a skirt.  Come one summer weather.

Skirt for certain, little ruffle at the bottom

I know, I know.  There is that chair slipcover to sew, the couch cover, a blouse or dress for Jennine, but as all fabric addicts know, you need to have a good stash of fabric and projects.  Just in case...

The trip was too much for Sandy, she did not get a thing.  I gather we will be looking for more Toronto meetings soon.

Live High,

 Heather



Chair Slipcover

All over blog land are newbie sewers who are making incredible slipcovers for their furniture for a song.  I need to redo my home and need to do it for a song.  I can sew.  I fancy myself as a pretty decent sewer; I have made curtains, pillows, and clothes. 

We have lived in our home for almost 10 years and I admit that the colour of the walls and the basic furnishings have remained the same for most of that time.  There have been brief furniture moves, but essentially, it is the same space.

Blue is my favourite colour.  Why then, is my living room green?  It was lovely and cosy and much, much better than the 80's peach on the walls when we moved it.  The last 10 years have been spent focused on raising three kids and not much on home decorating.  Enter blog land to make my living room feel, well, BLEAH.

Did I mention I needed to redecorate on a song?  That means not breaking the bank to get a nice home.  Heck, that means not visiting the bank.  Inspiration derived from many blogs - some of whom even graciously include detail tutorials - means that I feel I can totally tackle some slipcovers.  That and a few free metres of the perfect blue fabric. (THANKS MOM!!)

Enter a free chair minus cushion.  FREE.  Hello.  I looked at my dear husband, promised things I'd rather not share and asked him if he would go get it for me.  He did, I did. Let's move on.

No cushion, no problem!

And there it sat, and sat.  A free chair sans cushion, for almost a year. 

My mom purchased the cushion for me.  (I have to pay her back, but the foam place is not open at night or on weekends) I made her a template, told her I wanted the hardest foam they have and sent her off.  I had budgeted $80.00 for it.  It cost $30.00 hello. 

The Christmas break was longer for me this year (thank you work!) and Ian had time off during the season for the first time since our son Tavish was born. (that is Tavish in the background up there) This meant I had some time on my hands.  I am allergic to time on my hands.  It took me an entire day to create patterns to make my slipcover.  I want a tight cover, one that looks a bit less shabby and more chic.  I am going to add a shabby couch cover and a nice french-inspired coffee table.  I will blog about those later.  I also found some wicked fabric to add interest, expect a blog later.

The cushion is done, that leaves the rest of the slipcover.  I promise to blog about it with a nice reveal.

Live High.
Heather