first solo stitching

 

Aug 2017 t sew class web (1 of 2)

Tess took her first sewing class away from home this month.  She made a notebook cover with pockets and ribbon tie.  Her overall impression was that there was a lot of pinning, cutting, and ironing involved and it was worth it.  

Aug 2017 t sew class web (1 of 2)

Aug 2017 t sew class web (1 of 2)

Following this success she and her little sister are enrolling in the full semester course starting soon.  It is so very exciting for me to see which directions each child goes creatively and to be able to accompany them on their way.  

Fixer Upper – downstairs bathroom edition

Bathroom 5

After what began to feel like an interminable pause in the remodeling process we began to make incredible progress in the house this summer.  The biggest job was finishing the reflooring in the family room/schoolroom so we could move everything back in for the school year.  That we did and I will share that transformation soon.  Momentum being what it is I decided we could knock out some of the updates needed in the adjoining bathroom while we were at it.  Most of it was painting I could do.  Once begun though it ended up being a joint project and between us we refinished the trim, cabinets, doors, and walls. 

Aug 2017 bathroom paint  web (7 of 8)

This bathroom was probably an 80's/90's era vintage.  The stain on the cabinets was in rough shape due to moisture and handling over the years.  We were not in a position to do a full remodel and pull things out just yet.  Our goal here was a facelift.  We started with the trim and the room opened up right before our eyes. I should have gotten a true "before" picture but I started that window so enthusiastically I totally spaced.  

Aug 2017 bathroom paint  web (7 of 8)

Allen took off all the doors and I spent a few days sanding and painting.  He came along after and we tackled the rest of the doors in the basement.  If I had to do it again I probably would purchase a power sander and would use a separate primer and paint versus the all-in-one. There are no major problems but the cabinetry soaked up a lot more paint than the larger doors which were done with separate primer. 

 

Aug 2017 bathroom paint  web (7 of 8)

Aug 2017 bathroom paint  web (7 of 8)

We debated considerably over wall color. Eventually we would like to pull out the old tile and replace the countertop.  Eventually is not right now, however. Right now, we have cool taupe toned floor and shower tiles with matching counter.  There was a sunny yellow wall color which I normally would have found cheerful but which was jarring up against the tile.  We have a vision for a black and white end project but since this room is pretty far down the triage list around the house, and since we discovered that the wall color for the family room  - which we had sitting nearby – was also a perfect match for the tile and counter, taupe it is for the walls for now.  

Aug 2017 bathroom paint  web (7 of 8)

Bathroom3

Aug 2017 bathroom paint  web (7 of 8)

Aug 2017 bathroom paint  web (4 of 8)

So there you have it. It is probably more of a 2000 era bathroom now versus a completely Pinterest-level space.  And yes, I see those icky between the panes window blinds. the faucet needs to go.  It is nevertheless clean and bright and in the appropriate millenium. We did not go into debt over it.  Additional work will happen as it usually does around here – in bits and pieces and by cash only.  

  

Flag Work – DIY

Oct 2015 flags web (1 of 4)

Can we make the flag game?

Can we make the flag game? 

Hey Mom?  Can we make the flag game today?

Third time's the charm.  We made the flag game today, a very not professional DIY Montessori flag work board set. It consists of a blank map poster glued onto foam board, a poster of world flags (to cut), a box of long pearl head straight pins, and packing tape. 

It made for a long work period spent pouring over the atlas and trying to match everything up. I expect we will see quite a lot of it in the days to come. 

Oct 2015 flags web (2 of 4)

Oct 2015 flags web (3 of 4)

Oct 2015 flags web (1 of 1)