Happy Spots

A long time ago, one of my friends commented that a quilt I made her "just made her happy".  If she was having a bad day, all she had to do was get a glimpse of that quilt, and her outlook was better.  She asked me if any spots in my house made me happy.  Well, up until that point I hadn't really thought about it.  But now, for your visual enjoyment, are three new happy spots...

The first one is on our mantle.  It takes me sooooo long to finish something.  Often people comment on how much I do.  If they only knew how long it all takes...case in point are these letter blocks.  I looked high and low on the internet and at craft stores to see how to make my own.  Ended up just winging it.  I had a fence post cut into squares (3-1/2" square--big chunky things).  Then I asked Isaac to sand them, paint them black, then paint them cream.  Once the blocks were ready, I printed the letters I wanted on regular paper.  I cut them out ever so carefully and used Mod Podge to put them on the blocks.  I also made letters to spell out "welcome" and "Parker".  There are little imperfections all over the blocks...places where the black shows through a little, a crack or chip here or there.  But I like it.  Now if they get messed up, it will blend right in.  It's so hard to keep things perfect.

I want to sand down the edges of the blocks a little more as well as possibly spatter them with black, but that will be down the road.  In the meantime, I like our Easter tidings.  I thought the blocks were too big, but they DO get the message across.  I would like to find some silk dogwood branches to artistically place around them.

A closer view of the blocks...

Next, let me welcome you to my newly painted and hardwared treadle sewing machine table and antique cheesebox filled with rag balls in the foyer.  There is a 25-watt light bulb in the lamp.  After dusk I like to keep it on till we all go to bed.  It is just enough light to make a warm glow in the hall.  A nice welcome for those who work late.

Last, but not least, is my world traveler table runner.  This pattern is called Honeycomb Stars.  It was hand-pieced and quilted by me, mostly in Ohio and Florida, and the states in between last summer on our road trips.  Beats a souvenier shot glass! 

I am usually not so concerned about being matchy-matchy, but I hung some navy blue candles that Susie gave me to complement the blue in the runner.

And a close-up.  Notice the Lego guys in front of the plant shoots I'm rooting...just keepin' it real!

I had several ladies write to tell me how much they like my RED kitchen after this post.  I still love the color.  Picked it without thinking about it much, but it was a good choice.  Emily is painting her kitchen a similar hue.

TTFN,
Joan

Treadle Machine Top Being Upgraded!

My darling girl is upgrading the top of my treadle sewing machine base.  Years ago I saw a treadle machine base at a friend's house.  Her husband had made an oak table top for her.  I loved it. 

My oldest daughter, knowing my love for sewing, found and bought me a base at a flea market.  It had no top at all.  Bless her heart, she hoisted that thing all the way to the car by herself (with a recliner under the other arm).  It is made of case iron, so you know she looks like Hercules.

Today I took the plunge and started repainting the thing.  My husband had sawn the legs off an antique rickety table that used to grace our foyer.  That table was seriously a danger.  I kept expecting one of the legs to give way and have all the decorations come crashing to the floor.  So today I sanded down the bottom edge of the table where the legs used to be and painted the sides.  Rachel is painting the top.  And doing a marvelous job.

In this first picture, I had already removed the drawer and painted the front and sides.

This top seriously needs help.  Will a coat of paint be enough?  The wood is rough, the beveled edges of the top even worse.  I did not want to sand it because it was so wavy.

In my defense, I always had a quilted table runner on it, so all that was exposed was the nasty edges.

Here it is with the top half painted.  Looking better already, eh?

My lovely assistant (get a load of those curls, will ya?).

Finished!!  Now I need to entice her to wash off the cast iron part...it's very dusty.

This might be foyer-worthy again!  For now, it's in my bedroom.

~Joan