Saturday, January 23, 2010

Bedroom Doors - Part Two

Ah today was a productive day for DH and I.  He finished framing the interior side of the french doors that he installed last weekend and then added the dry wall.


I was busy packing and sorting through the stuff we have accumulated for the past 11 1/2 years.


The Panthers are playing the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight therefore we stopped after pulling the old medicine cabinet out of the wall.     

Tomorrow is another big day as we have to empty the room and prep because the tile guy will be at our house early Monday morning.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Lonely Pattern

It's been busy here...with the latest House Project underway, I have had no time for sewing.  I started cutting out a pattern about two weeks ago, but between the preparations for the bedroom construction and working too many late nights, work has been interfering with my quiet time. At present this pattern has laid on my cutting table silently and alone.  The pattern is a mix between a swing and a pleated handbag, so if I ever do get to work on it again, I hope that it turns out to be a lovely handbag.
The two fabrics I decided to use for the handbag are from Joel Dewberry's lovey Ginseng collection.  Since it's been so long, I am not sure, but I think the Tossed Flowers Rust will be the top panel and handles and the Orchid Petal Rust will be the exterior of the bag.  I still need to out the lining which will be a light brown broadcloth.

  


Someday. 

Sunday, January 17, 2010

And so it begins...

For those of you who have followed me, you know that I have been blogging about my remodeling my bedroom for the past few years. From looking at bedroom furniture to the two spots on the ceilings that tormented me, the first spot for the past eight years and the other spot most recently.  Well, we stimulated the economy during the month of December by purchasing the bedroom furniture, the flooring and the sink cabinet.  I think I have also made a decision on the bathroom tile and may have also narrowed down the paint color.

This weekend's task is to remove the sliding doors that lead to the patio and install the new French Doors, which have been sitting in the garage since the window delivery last summer.  As with everything we have done with the house, I love to document the process through photos, so let's beginning with the Before Photos:


This photo was taken the day we closed on the house back in June 1998, the owner was kind enough to leave us their nasty rugs and draperies and hot tub that took me nearly eight years to get rid of....


I have hidden the doors behind some vertical blinds I had purchased in the early 90s.


DH getting to work....

Tearing out the frame from the outside








Doors Are In!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Undiscovered Shop - Gerdin's Corner Artshop

One of the promises I made myself for 2010 was to Pay Forward the attention I have received from others on their Blogs.  I thought I would highlight some "undiscovered shops" from Etsy.

The first shop in this series is a little shop called Gerdin's Corner Art Shop.

Glenn Gerdin's shop currently consists of two-dimensional works in oil, watercolor, or oil pastel of urban landscapes watercolor and card-stock prints of his paintings, ranging from $15 - $410.

My favorite painting is entitled: Parallel Park, mainly because of my my love of Mini Coopers and the quaint street scene.

A little history:  

Glenn Gerdin is originally from Minnesota, but moved to Tidewater, Virginia when he took a position as an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at ODU. Although he painted prior to his retirement, the demands of his career limited his time to paint. When he did finally retire in 2005, he started taking classes and studying drawing and watercolor and oil painting. Today, he works exclusively in two dimensional works and mainly uses oils, watercolor and oil pastels.  

His current studio in Olde Towne, Portsmouth also serves as his muse, providing most of his subject matter which are urban landscapes. Glenn says of his work, "I try to make the colors really stand out, and make extensive use of my color wheel. I also prefer night scenes, since I feel this adds a degree of mystery to the work."

His works which have won several awards are currently on display in some businesses and a few galleries in the Portsmouth and Virginia Beach areas.  To find out more out Glenn and his work you can also visit his website.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Handbook for 2010

A friend sent this to me, so I thought I would share...


Health
:
1. Drink plenty of water
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants...
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Sewing Again

With all the cleaning and vacationing I have been doing I have not been sewing that much.  I did however finally add two new bags to the shop:



 Large Pleated Handbag - Chestnut Branches in Eggplant

A pleated handbag constructed in a brown-burgundyish and light blue Joel Dewberry's cotton print, "Chestnut Branches - Eggplant" from his Chestnut Hill collection. A color palette of brown and blues, this handbag is lined in a coordinating light blue broadcloth cotton. Constructed with two interior pockets (a zippered pocket and an open pocket) and stiff interfacing to help maintain its shape. 


Pleated Shoulder Bag in Black 

A great everyday bag, large enough to carry more than your essentials. A heavy weight black cotton canvas that has a subtle pebbled texture fabric, this single pleated shoulder bag is fully lined with a coordinating floral cotton fabric. The rich color palette consists of black, blues, oranges, white and reds. The interior has a large split deep pocket, a great place to keep your blackberry, cellphone, keys and a zippered pocket to hold other important items. The Shoulder bag is then finished with a magnetic snap to keep your items safe and constructed with a stiff interfacing to help maintain its shape.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

New Year - Time to Get Organzied

With all this talk of a new year, new decade, fresh start, etc., it was bound to happen.  I had to do something about my Studio.

I couldn't find anything, really wasn't able to work in my studio anymore and I have had an itch for a change.  I should add that the rest of my house is actually very organized and clean, but for whatever reason, I have never been that organized when it comes to my studio.  I have blogged about this in the past and I thought it couldn't get worse, but was I ever wrong!  When I had friends over a few weeks ago, I apologized for the state of my studio and one responsed that it was a working studio. While it temporarily made me feel better, my studio was at the point of ridiculous.  So while it's still not done, (I still need to paint and once I get a shed in the backyard, some of the items behind the screens, including the black file cabinet will be moved out of the room), it's at least a start....

So now I air my dirty laundry (and yes, these photos are embarrassing):

Before:


View from the doorway


Look at all the boxes stashed underneath the table

 Views of the window side of the table










Look at how I store my roll of fusible fleece, by standing it upright on the garbage can.






Closer view of the corner
Oh look, another box of fabric..







A closer view of the closet side of the table, (what's that, another box of fabric?)





And now After:

View from the Doorway







On the shelves I added some boxes to hold thread and other notions



Added another shelf over the doorway







View of the table.  Moved my sewing machine to the other side of the table and still have my jewelry tools and boards on the other side in case the whim to make jewelry overtakes me.






View of the window side of the table, added an old wardrobe that been sitting in a box in the garage.  Here I store my rolls of interface and handbags that I have already made.




View toward the closet (just don't look behind the screens)


 My desk area, still need to organize my idea board and finish going through all the magazines I have stacked under my desk.


And now the only thing I have under my table, is a little rug for my puppy...

Friday, January 1, 2010

New Year - Now What?


So, it's not only a New Year, but a new decade, therefore I have to ask myself so now what?

It's that time of year again, to start thinking about the year ahead, what is in store and will what will you do differently this year.  It's also time to form those Resolutions, so do I have any New Year Resolutions? Yes I have a few buzzing around in my head.

Some of the same old ones, some new ones:
  • Weight loss, would love to drop 15lbs, perhaps just get into better shape
  • Change careers - dream on....
  • Get Organized Home & Studio  
  • Add more items to the Shop (maintain  90- 100 items by year end?)
  • Market HM Mills - Market off Etsy, participate in off site selling (Shops & Shows, Newsletters)
  • Incorporate more jewelry & lampwork beads into some of my bags
  • Blog More - perhaps undiscovered Etsy Shops
  • Upgrade my Store Front - perhaps participate in some Critiques
  • Watch my FL Panthers in the Play-offs (ha ha ha, now I am dreaming)
  • Work on my Mystery novel
  • Add some new items to HauteBridal 
  • Practice Yoga everyday