{Post 1,561} ...and More Painting

I am detailing all this painting for my mother, who I hope gets to read it all. After the foyer and hall (and all the doors and trim in THERE), we started on my youngest son's room. The walls were in such bad condition that we decided to put new drywall up. We also removed the popcorn ceiling (this means more painting). My husband did such wonderful work on all the trim as well as putting in a new floor and light fixture. That room looks 100% better.

Before:

In progress:

Finished except putting furniture back in!

 

{Post 1,560} Next Painting Phase

After my daughter's room was brilliant Dover White instead of Grape Popsicle, I tackled the kitchen. It was formerly Cut Ruby. My husband agreed, somewhat reluctantly, to let me paint over it as long as I left the working side of the kitchen red. He went away on business for nearly two days, and I was determined to finish it before he got home. I just made it. I painted all the trim, baseboard,and crown molding as well. I was pooped when it was finished. Two coats of Kilz and two coats of DW. Whew. But what a transformation. Our kitchen is huge.

Same corner, before and after. By the time I got the 2nd coat of paint on it, it was dusk.

Here's part of the whole room in a collage. I hadn't put all the stuff away yet. I was just excited to have the painting finished.

It has been interesting to see and hear people's reactions. While the red was well loved, I like the DW better. The furniture and decor just pop. I love it. So glad it is finished. I am lobbying to do the rest of the room that is red, but one battle at a time.

{Post 1,559} Lots More Painting Was Goin' On

I recently shared my bathroom cabinet pictures. I am also going to paint all my kitchen cabinets. That's a job that will take eons. We have a desk in the kitchen with 3 drawers and 8 doors in it. The island has 4 doors and 12 drawers. The normal kitchen part has 18 doors and 6 drawers. Do I have anyone's sympathy yet??  I will do it in stages. The bathroom turned out sooooo great that I cannot wait to start the kitchen. There are all the faces to do as well. Baby steps, grasshopper.

This whole painting marathon started with my foyer and then my daughter's formerly grape popsicle room. yes. That was the color. But she lives in the dorm at college during the school year now, so I decided to dive in and paint her room Dover White. Same color as the foyer and hall upstairs. I l-o-v-e that color. Her room is paneled. The first picture is of the panel grooves painted with Kilz.

This is after one coat of Kilz. That grape popsicle just shines through. 

The wall on the right after the second coat of Kilz. Fortunately, by the time I painted 2 coats of Dover White, all was well. My MIL came and helped me. She is a painting ninja. So helpful. We tag teamed so she did not over do it. 

{Post 1,558} Parker 2017 Christmas Quilt Top Near Completion

This is patterned after a quilt I saw online somewhere that I liked. Honestly, I don't remember when or where. I drafted my own pattern, and I am quite pleased with how it looks. Tonight I added the first two sides of the outer pieced border. Here is a shot of 1/4 of the quilt top.

I have been busier than a bee lately with painting projects in our house. Most recently, I sanded down and repainted out main bathroom cabinets. I did not take a before of the whole thing (trust me, it was uglier than sin). Multiple coats of paint, some of which had worn down or chipped off, gouges, scratches, and general yuck. The hardware had been right in the center of each door. I filled those holes in with wood putty and got new hardware pulls.  Here is a tiny bit of the before and after. 

I owe a great debt of gratitude to my 3rd daughter who sold me on the beauty of the before and after shots. Here is the after with the glowing bright white paint...

Thankfully, on Thanksgiving Day, one of our guests broke one of the faucets in this bathroom. I say thankfully because ever since we bought this house the double-sink vanity has had two ugly and mismatched faucets. A couple days ago, we went and bought new ones. Miraculously, a few days later, they were installed by my dear husband. This bathroom looks the best it has since we moved in.

On to the next project!!

{Post 1,557} Now the Cozy

I realized after I published my last post that I neglected to post a picture of my coffee collar/cozy/ice insulator. I am one of those (I suppose) rare people that do not like hot drinks. I might have a hot cocoa once or twice a year. Homemade icees and smoothies are my go-to drinks. Every beverage (even water) should have LOTS of ice. I bought a Magic Bullet to make THM drinks. The cups are single layers of plastic. So when I am enjoying my beverage, I am not enjoying the frosty fingers. Last night I was inspired (since my grandchildren were all home) to make sort of a coffee collar, but to keep from getting frostbite, not burns. This was my first one. I made a second an inch and half longer so that the ends of the collar overlap. I think it turned out well. The band is a covered elastic for ponytails.

The circumference of the cup is huge. It holds 40 oz. I think this will help grip the cup better, too. I could pour it into another glass or cup, but that would mean another thing to wash.

{Post 1,556} Cup Cozy and Grands

I have had 3 of my grandchildren for the past 9 days. One left Thursday night to go home, and the other 2 left yesterday AM. It was an act of love to give 2 of my daughters breaks from their normal responsibility and routine. I hope they enjoyed it, because I. Am. Worn. Out.

My husband and I took them to a "ranch" Thursday. It was fun. And exhausting. Like everything I did all week.

{1,554} Another New Quilt Underway and Catchup

My blog has been neglected for too long...again.   Here is a project I started this AM. It requires a specialty ruler. I made my own revolving cutting mat to make trimming easier. 

The two left rows are sewn together. The others are just stuck on the design wall. I see a couple that need to be moved. The blocks finish at 5" square.

Years ago a man who did remodeling on our house was moving, and I got this Lazy Susan from his wife. Her mother had made it. I have never, ever used it, although I thought it would be so cute for SOMEthing!! Once the blocks are assembled, one uses this ruler to trim them down. All four sides need to be trimmed, and moving the ruler just took so much time. Hence my innovation. I cut a square off a dying cutting mat for the center. It works splendidly.

The quilt was started as a result of seeing that I had a bunch of watercolor fabric strings that were just taking up space. I had seen a quilt made from this ruler in a quilt show last month and made a note of it. I waffled on buying the ruler because they just cost so much (to me). Finally broke down and started it. I like it.

I am catching up as I look back at my pictures. Next up...grandchildren!