Saturday, June 30, 2012

Country porches~~~Color Therapy

I've been blamed for "loving my house too much".

 Ok. I confess, I do like the house because I put alot of work in it over the years and tried to make it a home. Before I moved here, I thought my dream came true to one day live in the mountains. It's honestly almost like a picture I had on the wall and would dream about it.

 I digress........
For the past 3 weeks, still working on the sanding of 5 layers of old bubbled up paint, in order to put a stain only, a redwood stain, on the floors.
I gotta BIG porch on the front, sides and back.
The project definitely took longer than expected but it's really so relaxing to sit outside at night, minus the skeeters. :P


I have to still do the trimming and sides where the pressure washer knocked off some paint on the bottom of the house and also will repaint these rails.

Note to self:  July is not so good a month to do such a job.


Yesterday and the day before we were in triple digits temp; but, the GOOD thing is a week without rain to do all this. I'm hoping and praying that it doesn't rain while the side is being done.


I was really hesitant at first to go with a drastic change in floor color but it really went well with the red tin roof and the front door. The front door is my next project but it will be painted in an oil based redwood. Then I'll put my "nest" sign back on.


I'm really pleased with the wood after the sanding and staining. So much better than painting over and over on bubbled up paint.



Abbie has been minding the computer and emails since I've been busy either working or running errands or chores around the house. However, she is NOT negected. LOL
She gets to watch from the top of the sofa through the windows.


Got the sticky stuff off the door that held the other sign. A good coat of paint in the same color will be good.


This is a pinecone wreath I've had for about 3 years from my Godmother, Dot.



And Thomas really does lay here under the bench on a freshly washed fluffy pillow.


The back porch, done yesterday, except the sides. Today I have to clean all the back porch and side porch furniture and move it back around.


Did this project ever make a sandy mess? Oh yeah!


The little sampler I stitched and was designed by The Sampler Girl about 2 years ago and it's sustained covered porch outside weather.


The lemonbalm helps keep the mosquitoes at bay.



What a project for today!



This table has always been with the house. The previous owner left it and I painted it redwood and it was housed on the back porch for the past few years. The top is an auction piece of stained glass window which fit perfectly on top of the table to have a spot to eat on cool evenings for two.


As you can tell I like red and I like hearts. This old shutter I got for 8 bucks at a local junkin place about 7 or 8 years ago.



Stay tuned for an after pic of the general re-do of the porches and rails.
This house should feel loved after all it's had done to it since moving here.

Even though I was hesitant at Home Depot, picking out this color, I'm glad I did.
I need to get busy cleaning but I"d rather be stitching. :)
Laundry is calling though. Tomorrow evening I think I will actually get some time to stitch. At least finish the sampler I am on and start a new one.......XXXX my fingers. Then it's back to work on Monday time.

The man that is making this sanding project possible


A cool dude who loves me mor-n- his coffee!

Stay cool!
Jennifer

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Summertime Blues



Summertime Blues

designed by Feathers in the Nest
copyright 2012

Red, white and blue is all around us as we get ready for Independence Day next week!

There are so many blue colors in overdyed threads we have to choose from! I thought how cool it would be to scramble a few of those threads just as in the olden days when the same color consistently was not stitched, but whatever was available at the time, lending to a very simple sampler with interesting effects with color.

The Butterfly bushes are in full bloom right now here but this year I haven't seen near as many.
I saw a few the other day and always pretty as can be, but an unusual color mixture.
If you are a butterfly lover like myself, this motif and blue shadey verse might brighten your day..........................especially if you love the color blue and give you something to stitch to add to your Summertime ornie basket. I'm thinking of stitching this one up 1 over 1 on 36 count and putting in a tiny navy blue wood frame I got at a local thrift store.

Variated threads suggested are:

Gentle Art

Liberty
Freedom
Cornflower
Midnight
Huckleberry
Presidential Blue
Morning Glory
DMC Black
DMC 645 Grey

And yes, the song Summertime Blues is playing through my mind tonight for some reason....:)

Color Me Happy,

Jennifer

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Red progress

Midnight progress here on My Everything sampler by the Sampler Girl. 3 more lines left! YAY@
Because I have tons lined up to do after this one.
Still don't know how I'm finishing it but have some ideas.
Many have asked where this frame came from.
I got this on on The Scarlett Letter website about 3 years ago. Its very finished, smoothed maple or birchwood I think, quite pricey but well worth it. I've used it alot and it seems not to be as heavy as the Q snaps.



Before


 Sometimes Abbie was bored with all the tasks we had going on.




Happy, fun times by all.



Around the house, the old Homestead is getting a facelift. The wood, all 5 layers of paint stripped completely all around the porch with 2 weeks of hard work and now red barn stain started.

All I can say is I LOVE IT. Matches the red tin roof but what a mess to clean off the furniture but well worth all this effort. Just started putting the stain on tonight and will do the rails next in the white as they are but need touching up.






It's come a long way, baby!

Cleaning furniture and painter the front door is next.

On the stitching homefront, speaking of red, it's sure close for July 4th and a giveaway time.
Stay tune!!!!!!!!

Erasing the old, making the new.

Good for the soul.


Hang in there, where there's a will, there's a way.



Jennifer