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October

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Well, hello October!  Can someone tell me where September went?  As much as I love Summer, I really-really-really love Fall.  September and October are kind of a toss up on which is my favorite.  September is my birthday month and back to school time, but October is when I really break out the Fall decor, it’s my wedding anniversary (20 years on October 6th), and I LOVE being the hot apple cider lady for the trick or treaters. 
I’ve been adding a few Fall touches here and there to the house.  I usually bring them out all at once, but it’s been feeling a bit rushed this year and the little-by-little approach was all I could handle.
The front porch was the first area to be decked out.  Every year I say that I’m going to do something different, and every year the same decorations go up.  But I do still think they’re pretty.
The pumpkins were the deal of the season!  If you have ever shopped for pumpkins, you know that the big pumpkins are pretty pricey.  We were at a funeral, in a small town in Eastern Washington, and noticed that the church was selling pumpkins as a fund raiser for $4 each.  I didn’t have any cash on me, but my mother in law came to the rescue and the kids bought 5 pumpkins!  (That just reminded me that I need to pay back the money I borrowed!)

The Fall quilts have made their way out.  When I graduated with my Master’s Degree in 2000, my friend Christy (a teacher I used to work with) gave me some beautiful Fall fabrics.  I love, love, love these fabrics.  I didn’t know what to do with them so I took them to the fabric shop that she bought them from and asked the quilt shop owner for suggestions.  In about 10 seconds flat she had lined up my fabric and written out a quick and easy pattern for me to follow.  To this day, this is one of my go-to quilt patterns when I need a quick and simple quilt to give as a gift.

Oh, mini pumpkins, how I love you!  I’m a bit addicted to those little guys but they just brighten up any tablescape.

And any burlap pumpkin can join the party too.

I love all of the jars will with leaves, wheat, and pumpkins on the dining room table.

And finally, we have a little quilty happiness.  Camille Roskelley always has a basket filled with rolled quilts in her house.  Since I want to be just like her, I shall roll my quilts in a basket too.  

Happy October Friends!  Thanks for stopping by!

Sewing With Salt Air Fabrics

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Yesterday, I wrote about not being quite ready to let go of the Winter quilts and pillows.  Maybe it was because it was a cold and rainy day, and I just wanted to cuddle up under a quilt with a good book.  On the next sunny day, I think I’ll be ready to bring these out.  

I do love the bright and cheerful colors.  For all of these projects I used Moda’s Salt Air line.  They are such happy fabrics!
I will admit, there was a time in my life when I couldn’t imagine buying fabric at a quilt shop.  The big fabric store chains were just fine for me and made a pretty quilt.  Then, I discovered Moda Fabrics.  Sigh.  They’re so pretty.  I just love the way there is an entire line of fabric with 40 prints that are meant to go together.  It’s just so cohesive and makes my wanna-be-artistic-style easier to achieve.

I used the fabric for more than just quilts and pillows.  There were lots of summertime kid projects with Salt Air too.

Now, maybe if we could get a little sunshine around here, I could get in the mood to decorate for Spring!
Happy Spring sewing and decorating!

A Not-So Springy Quilt

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I know it’s time to put my winter quilts away and bring out the Springy quilts, but this one doesn’t seem too Winter-ish.

It’s Spring cleaning time and I’m thinking about rotating my seasonal decor.  Quilts are my favorite things to change out.  I usually leave a big basket filled with almost all of my quilts in my family room, in case of a chilly night on the deck when we have company over.  In addition, I have one or two draped over the back of a chair or hanging off the side of the couch.  I rotate those, seasonally, along with my floor pillow covers.  This is one of my Winter quilts.  There’s really no reason that I call it a Winter quilt.  The colors are pretty neutral and the fabrics are not season-specific.  For some reason, it just says Winter to me.

This quilt was my first jellyroll project.  I fell in love with the colors of this jellyroll, the minute I saw it.  I had no idea what I would make, but I just loved this fabric.

When I ran across this book, I knew my problems were solved.  I bought the book and picked out a pattern.  The pattern I chose was not something I would normally pick.  It was very random, and I tend to like a more predictable pattern.

What do you think?  Is this a Winter quilt, or can it stay out a bit longer?
 

  It’s cozy, just the right colors, and looks great in my family room.  Maybe just a few more months.

Happy Spring decorating… unless you’re not quite ready yet.

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Slipcovers For The Ottomans – A Fabric Review For Organic Cotton Plus

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I wrote a post a few weeks ago about my new chocolate brown Hemp fabric from Organic Cotton Plus.  Last week I was able to make the slipcovers for my ottomans.  (For the record, I had to Google what the plural form of ottoman is.  Ottomans just doesn’t sound right, but neither does ottomen.
So far, I’m loving the durability of the fabric.  It is quite heavy, doesn’t wrinkle, and fits snuggly over the ottomans.  The only slight downside I see, so far, is the color.  I wish it was a tad darker.  I would like it to be closer in color to the dark brown chair, in the background, but I’m loving the fabric itself.  
To make the slipcovers, I took apart my old slipcovers and used one of the side panels as a template.  I used a heavy duty needle because my quilting needles aren’t quite thick enough for this fabric.  Sewing with this fabric was similar to sewing with denim.  
Over the years, I’ve definitely become an online shopper.  Organic Cotton Plus has a great selection of fabrics and I love that they are made in the USA.

If you missed my post on my happy mail day, here is the rundown on my fabric:

Last Thursday was a very happy mail day for me.  Three yards of brown hemp fabric arrived in the mail.  
About a week prior, I was contacted by Organic Cotton Plus to do another fabric review for them.  I have done a few reviews for Organic Cotton Plus, and I have been very pleased with their fabric, so I was thrilled when they contacted me again.  I was invited to review their new Hemp line and the invitation came at a very good time.  I searched through their website and several things caught my eye, but I was especially excited about the brown hemp that I found, that resembled the brown fabric covers on my ottomans.
I loved my chocolate brown corduroy, when I first made the covers.  Sadly, after about two years, they have seen better days.  The corduroy is looking very worn and starting to come apart at the seams.  I expected that it wouldn’t last too long.  This is, obviously, a place for our feet to rest and is used quite a bit.  

Online fabric shopping seems like it would be a little challenging, but I have been pleasantly surprised.  The picture, below, shows my new fabric sitting on my old ottoman.  Not a bad match!  I was looking for something durable and about the same color.  It’s hard, when you can’t feel and touch the fabric, but I decided to just go for it.  The hemp that I requested was VERY thick and heavy.  I’m so excited because I think it will be long lasting and look perfect in this space.  Honestly, it’s exactly what I would have picked if I went shopping at the store, rather than online.

The hemp fabric that I picked is a woven fabric, that reminds me of a heavy duck cloth canvas. 

Isn’t it pretty?  I can’t wait to get started sewing!  I will be sure to share my pictures of the finished product when I’m done.  

Organic Cotton Plus provided me with 3 yards of brown Hemp fabric in exchange for my review of the product.  The opinions stated here are my own.
Side note:  I’m always a bit hesitant to accept the invitation of companies to review their products.  I don’t ever want this blog to feel like I’m always trying to “sell” something.  Currently, the only two companies I have reviewed for are LeapFrog and Organic Cotton Plus Fabrics.  I believe in these companies and will happily promote the good work they do!  I do receive offers almost daily, in my inbox, but I rarely think a company would be a good fit for me.  A few of the reasons I chose to review products for this company are: I love to sew, the idea of working with organic fabric appeals to me, and the fabric is made in the USA.  That being said, you probably won’t find a whole slew of new product reviews on here, unless Williams Sonoma calls.  I will happily review their products any day.  
Happy Online Fabric Shopping!

The New Family Room Couch

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Well, we finally did it.  We bought the piece of furniture that we said we’d go back for 3 years ago. 

It’s probably been more than 3 years, now, but a few years back we decided it was time for an update in our family room.  The room had been painted yellow and housed over-sized, 10 year old, denim couches that had been slip-covered and had seen better days.  It was time for an update and we found the perfect (small-ish) couch at La-Z-Boy.  We ordered a custom color because I loved the fabric and I was actually surprised that the custom color was the same price at the floor sample.  It has really been the perfect couch, but we didn’t buy the matching loveseat.  The loveseat was the same price as the sofa, so we just went with one piece to save a bit on cost.  We used a couple of chairs, that I had originally purchased for another room, in place of a couch and just pushed them together so it looked like a loveseat.  About a month ago, we decided it was time to go back and buy the loveseat.  My fear was that it would no longer be available.  Much to our luck, they still had it!
When we sat on the loveseat, we realized how small it was.  Because the couch was smaller than normal, that meant the loveseat was even smaller.  It was really more of an oversized chair.  Since they were almost the same price, we opted for buying an identical couch.  Now we have two matching couches in the family room, with plenty of seating for lots of friends.  It’s a little tighter, right when you walk in, than I had hoped, but no one seems to notice.

As a matter of fact, no one REALLY seemed to notice.  We had family and friends who are as close as family, over for the Seahawks game a few weeks ago and they didn’t even notice my new furntiture.  I pointed it out and they said, “Wow, it blends right in and looks like it belongs.  I didn’t even notice.”  I guess that’s a good thing when a piece of furniture just fits right in like that!

I finally feel like this room is furnished the way I want.  We have plenty of seating and I love these couches.  They are deep enough to curl up on but no so deep that you can’t get out of them.  They are also a bit smaller than a typical couch, which is great for a smaller family room.  Now, I need to do something about the tattered ottoman covers.  The corduroy fabric has seen better days and is even starting to rip.  Hey… I finished all of my projects in the LIVING ROOM, but I never said I was done with the FAMILY ROOM.  There’s always something that needs to be done.

Happy decorating!

The Wood Burning Fireplace

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When we moved to our house, 10 years ago, I was thrilled that we had a wood burning fireplace.  I’ve always loved the crackling sound of a roaring fire and I know the trend is to rip those out and replace them with gas.  I understand that gas is convenient and that it’s much easier to flip a switch for warmth than it is to play Boy Scout and build the perfect fire, but there’s just something about a real fire that I love.

Two years ago, when we were having our chimney cleaned, the chimney service let us know that there was some damage that needed to be fixed.  We have a broken cap and some of the wood is rotting.  At $1,500 for repairs, we didn’t jump on the idea of having those repairs done right away.  This year, when we had our chimney cleaned (by a different company) they told us the same thing and the suggested fee for repair was about the same as well.  That news got us thinking that maybe we should just look into swapping out for a gas insert.  Then, the repairs at the top of the chimney wouldn’t matter because it would vent in a completely different way.

My friend, Diane, is in the middle of a big flooring, fireplace, and fireplace tile remodel so she asked if I wanted to go shopping with her over the weekend.  We found some very pretty gas inserts, but with my particular situation, the glass (viewing area for the actual fire) would need to be pretty small.  That was the first strike against this new plan.  Then came the really bad news.  We went to three different places and found that it would cost between $3,000 and $4,000. Sheesh!  We don’t mind a DIY project now and then, but DIY of fire and gas lines does not sound like something we will be tackling any time soon, so there would be no chance of cutting the cost.  That was the second strike.  I had pretty much made up my mind that this would not be happening, so I tossed the brochures and built myself a cozy fire last night.  Third strike, Friends.  I just really, really, like a wood burning fireplace.  I know, I know… a gas fireplace would increase the value of my home and it’s much more convenient but I also know that it’s 3 strikes and you’re out.  The wood burning fireplace will be staying.

The fluffy guy loves curling up by the fire too.

A New Shelf

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A few months ago my son tossed a kitchen towel toward the couch and inadvertently broke a table in the family room.  For the record, the table was on its last leg anyway… literally.  I bought the little table for $8.00 at Goodwill and used it as an outdoor table.  When the weather turned rainy, I brought it into the house but didn’t really know where to put it.  My daughter liked the way the table top spun and played with it a bit too much, leading to cracking.  I propped it in the corner and tried to make it pretty, while telling the kids to not put anything on the table because I had it balanced just right.

Onto the story about how a kitchen towel broke the table:

We had laundry waiting to be folded on the couch, including a few kitchen towels.  My son tossed a towel over to the couch and it hit the little lamp on the coffee table.  When the lamp moved, the table became off balanced causing it to fall, which then pulled the cords for the other lamps nearby and knocked those lamps off our taller shelves too.

Now that you know the story of How a Kitchen Towel Broke My Table, I can show you my pretty new shelf in the corner of my family room.

I looked all over the place for a medium sized table that had additional storage.  I was really looking for things like industrial carts that had a rustic feel, but all of those were too expensive.  A couple nights ago, we were at TJMaxx, killing a little time before a movie, and I spotted this little shelf.  It was just what I was looking for.  I wanted something a little taller, so I’d get better lighting from my lamp in the corner.  I also wanted something wood-toned but not matchy-matchy pieces.

I really wanted a place to store more “stuff” in my family room.  This shelf has room for a basket and blanket at the bottom, books and pretty jars, a few picture albums, a picture, and my new lamp that I bought with my birthday money.

I’m liking my pretty new corner in the family room!  It looks like it belongs there.

Happy decorating!

Summer Beach Mantle

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It must be summer, because apparently I have some time on my hands.  I’ve been having a lot of fun decorating around my house lately, so I decided to swap out my mantle decor for a summer look.  (By the way, have you ever noticed how mantle and mantel are both used when describing that ledge above the fireplace?  Well, Google says that you can use either spelling of the word.  If Google says it’s true, then I’ll believe it.  Everything you read online is true. Right?)  Anyway, I don’t change my mantel-mantle decor too often.  I usually stick with the same candle holders and antique books year-round. I’m kind of linking this beachy theme though!
I shopped the house for this look.

Well, actually I shopped the garage.  Since I’m moving schools this summer, all of my teacher stuff is packing into my 3 car garage.  Lucky for me, I have absolutely everything that I have ever hoarded collected!  Ya know those shells that you collected when you were 5 and your mom said, “Why are you saving those?  When will you ever need them again?”  Well, I still have all of those shells.  Not only that, but I add to my collection every year!

Every year, when we go to Seaside, I add a few more shells to my collection.  I store those in a box labeled “good shells” as opposed to the other box that is filled with all of those shells I collected in my younger years.  The good shells made it onto the display, along with those neat glass jars (below).  Won’t those look pretty with a few strands of beachy looking grass poking out of them?  The jars were from my son’s antibiotics after having his tonsils removed a few years ago.  Did I mention that I may have some hoarding tendencies?

I love this big shell!  My mom brought it home from her honeymoon, many years ago.  She let me have it to add to my collection.  Does that make her an enabler?  You know… the whole hoarding thing???

I always brought back shells, from Seaside, for my kindergarten teacher friends’  collections too.  Boy, am I going to miss those ladies!  Maybe I’ll make new friends, at my new school, who like collecting shells too.

The shells that are stored in the other box – not the one labeled “good shells” -earned a spot in the glass jar. They aren’t as pretty, but they are nice vase fillers.   
I’ll share a few more beachy spots in my house soon.  Until then, happy shell collecting!!!
(I’m really not a hoarder!)

Super Simple Floor Pillows

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My floor pillows have a new look!  Over the Summer, I dressed our over-sized pillows in Moda’s Salt Air prints.  The Salt Air line just screams Summer.  With the start of Winter, I thought they were in need  of a new look.    Last year, I made a quilt with Moda’s French General line and I had some leftover fabric from that project.  (My original plan was to use the reds in borders and backing, but I liked the light and bright better.) I had just enough of a solid and a floral pattern to make two pillows.  I love the way the pillows coordinate with the quilt!
Floor pillows are SUPER simple to make.  I bought extra large pillows at JoAnn and cut squares the same size as the pillow.  I added zippers to my pillows so I can easily wash the covers.  I sewed the zipper into the fabric first, and then sewed right sides together all around.  


Floor pillows are perfect for movie night, fort building, and great for adding a bit of color to a room.  My family room has been lacking color since I painted it white, added white drapes, and a few chocolate brown pieces of furniture.  A little red for the winter is just what we needed.  

Happy sewing!
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A Little Family Room Love

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The family room was clean and the kids were at school…
RUN!!!  Get the camera!  I snapped a few pictures of the family room before the clutter arrived home from school.  Well, now that didn’t come out quite right.  I love my kids!

Happy cleaning!

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