Adventures of sewing a quilt

You guys remember my friends, Debbie & Rose, right?  They're the ones that make quilts...& in order for them to let me hang out w/ them they make ME make quilts...

Rose lives a couple of hours from me, so when we decide to get together for longer than a dinner, we have to make a weekend of it.  Debbie & I crash at Rose's house & many good times, sisterly bickering & laughs are had.  

You may remember that I started to make a quilt for the bed at the houseboat?  (I think I told ya'll about that?...) IF I didn't - I am making a quilt for our houseboat bed.  

After sewing together all the little blocks we realized 2 things:

#1-I had cut the 'white' middle section of the purple fabrics too wide.

#2-The quilt was NOT going to be big enough.

Time for plan B.

I decided to make it a napping/lounging blanket (YES I nap at the houseboat!) instead so it didn't need to be as big.  I had homework to do before we all met again:  

Take apart the blocks, cut the white strip 1/2" smaller, borrow moms sewing machine, sew them back together & cut all down to 4 1/2" blocks.

Guess how many of those things I got done between Jan 17th (when we met last) & May 11th (when we decided what dates we could all meet next?)

ZERO.

Listen, people - sewing is not my thing & it's not nearly as much fun w/out Rose & Debbie.

The week before we were going to meet I finally got started on my homework from 4 months earlier.

I never did borrow mom's sewing machine so I wasn't going to be able to sew them back together once I fixed the white section.  I figured it wouldn't take me too much time to do it once we got to Rose's since I'm a pro at sewing & all...

Next I had to cut the other 4 color blocks (green, pink, teal & blue) that were sewn correctly down to 4 1/2" blocks.  It has been so long I couldn't remember what the heck I was supposed to do so I had to resort to the instructions (& text a picture to Rose to make sure she could tell me I was doing it right.)

I mean - don't you love technology?  I believe this pic was sent w/ a message like, "I think that's why you gave me this 4 1/2" cutter - this is how big the whole block needs to be..."

I got all my homework done & on Friday evening we made it to Rose's house.  First up they surprised me w/ 40 gifts for my 40th birthday!  That box had all kinds of stuff crammed in it.  Some were cutsie gifts (like the pillow (!), lifesavers, post it notes, a notepad)  & others were my very own sewing items.  (Are you getting the drift they are tired of me mooching off their sewing stuff?)  But when Rose says '40' she means 40... there were 40 pins, 40 lifesavers, etc.  I must say that pillow looks great on my bed!  Thanks again, guys!  

Saturday morning we were up & off to the fabric store so I could buy the fabrics for my next quilt.  Since I wasn't going to have a quilt for the houseboat bed - I found one to make.  I'm a very visual person & have a hard time imagining what something will look like in different fabrics.

I found this on Facebook.  The colors worked & even B-rad said, 'Yea - I like that.  I like how it's 3D.'

Of course I consulted w/ Debbie & Rose FIRST to make sure that I could make this w/ their adult supervision.

After many hours of trying to match grays (you would be surprised how different GRAY can look next to another gray...) this is what we settled on.  Stay tuned for this.... it will get started after my napping/lounging blanket is done.

So here's what I've figured out about sewing - it's 93% planning & thinking & 7% DOING.  We had to think & look & wonder & measure & decide how we needed to proceed since all my little 4 1/2" blocks weren't going to make a big enough quilt.  

After much discussion we decided to sew 4 of the small blocks together into one giant block...

And God BLESS Rose & Debbie - I guilted them into helping me w/ my blanket ALL weekend.  They didn't get to work on anything they wanted too.  I had a sweatshop of sewers sewing blocks together working double time!

So the 4 small blocks turned into this when done.  My job was ironing... (it's harder than it sounds...)

Rose has this awesome design board in her sewing room so you can lay out your fabric to see how it's going to look & go together.  We tried to put the blocks all together in colors (like the original pattern) but it just didn't look good.  Rose got an idea to try & put them in a diagonal pattern.  It was all fun & games until we were missing a teal or something to make the pattern work.  Debbie stood at the design board while Rose shouted out instructions, 'move a green there - move a pink over!'  Then suddenly - she got it, it all came together!  Success!  

To make the quilt a big enough for me to nap with (I like to be ALL bundled up - feet covered, wrapped around my whole body & up to my neck!) we decided to put another color 'around' the colored blocks.  We were going to do white, but the lady at the fabric shop suggested grey to make the white in the blocks pop & I'm so glad she did.  

After we (& by 'we' I mean them) sewed the gray stripes between each row it was time to decide on the border I wanted.  (Remember I said 93% planning...)

Originally it was only going to be a little white, then the purple w/ white dots.  Debbie decided that if I did grey around the blocks, I needed to put it somewhere else as well...

We laid it out a couple of ways & voted (it's a democracy in the sewing room) & we decided to do 2" white, 4" gray & 6" purple for the borders.

AND just to prove to you that I DID actually do something - here I am pinning the 2" white stripe to one side of the colored blocks. (YES I made Debbie take my picture for proof...) AND I even sewed the white border on.  Look.at.me.  

Here was my original pattern...

And THIS is what I ended up with.  NOW-they didn't sew quite fast enough to get the purple border on so that will be around the outside edge whenever I see them again to make them sew for me.

We still have a quite a bit to do before the quilt is finished... the purple border has to go on (which I MAY attempt to do on my own...), the backing has to be attached, quilted on Rose's fancy pants quilter & then binded.  (All of which requires their adult supervision.)  

Summer concert series-Miranda Lambert

Shauna & I headed up to Klipsch Music Center in Indy this past Saturday to see Miranda Lambert in concert. Klipsch is an OUTSIDE venue so I use the word 'summer' in the title very loosely... 

The high that day was in the 50's & it was going to fall into the high 30's when the sun went down.

NOW-some will call us C-R-A-Z-Y for going to a concert in the freezing cold but I say NONSENSE.  It's an adventure!

I had to drink w/ my gloves on...

 We were all bundled up & had brought in a blanket as well & had our gloves on.  You can see from the other people around us they thought it was seriously winter.  I think they were being a tad ridiculous.  Once you were up drinking dancing & singing you would warm right up!

 I'm sad to report that we did not get to sit on the front row.

 We saw no one fall - we found no one to push helped no one.

If you're an entertainment officiando (like myself) you know that Miranda recently went through a very public divorce w/ Blake Shelton (UGH) who is also a country singer & NOW he is having a widely publicized, whirlwind love affair w/ Gwen Stefani (DOUBLE UGH) from a band called No Doubt. 

Perhaps you've heard of some of this?

ANYWAY.

It's not that I expected her to mention her ex or his new hussy girlfriend or anything - but this concert was a bit strange.  She didn't talk much to the crowd & she didn't introduce her band.  Shauna & I found ourselves looking at each other a few times during the show like, 'what is going on here?'

When I went to the bathroom, Shauna said there had been a beach ball thrown around & it went on stage.  She grabbed it & started talking about how it wasn't July & it was cold & she apologized to whoever the beach ball belonged to & then proceeded to use her 'pocket knife' necklace to slash it.

Like I said - strange.  

Regardless of the cold & strangeness - we had a good time.  We're going back to Klipsch in July - perhaps then it will be warm enough to drink w/out gloves?

Turning 4-0

On Tuesday, May 10, 2016 this bicentennial baby turned the big 4-0.  

Forty.

FOUR TEE.

Not possible.

Ok so we all know B-rad doesn't get to celebrate my birthday unless it's raining... & since it's been raining for 40 days & 40 nights (no '40' pun intended....) he got to come to my birthday dinner at moms house (which I moved up to the week before my birthday because it had been raining & I knew B-rad wouldn't be able to plant.)  AND then he was able to go out to dinner w/ Brian, Shauna & the kids on my actual birthday Tuesday night.

Brian lovingly drew a sweet funny picture for me on the card envelope...

40, 40, 40 blah blah blah...

Now THIS is a message I can get behind!  

 I love that  Ally wrote me a note...

 And even little Dylan wrote his name on my card.

(And DUH I know Dylan can write & this is not giant feat, but we have a weird relationship...sometimes he talks to me, sometimes he doesn't.  And I'm ok w/ that - I know kids can be fickle sometimes.  But we're making baby steps, people - he wrote his name on my card!  Score!)

So I have to tell you the story of this video (ya'll know there's ALWAYS a story...).  Shauna tried to get Dylan to kiss me on the cheek & he refused  We finally bugged guilted him into agreeing & his mom bribed him w/ candy!

So if you're keeping score it takes:

2 pieces of chocolate, a lot of cajoling & me saying, "Come on man - it's my birthday!" 

for him to agree to kiss me on the cheek...

Then he told his dad, 'do NOT post this!  I mean it!'.  Ya'll - he's EIGHT.  It amazes me what little kids know about social media.

I KNOW I looked pained but here's what happened - I didn't think this all the way through.  While I was on board w/ begging & bribery, when he came at me I thought, "Oh-I wonder if there's food on his face?"  THEN - the little punk didn't even actually kiss me!

He still got his chocolate though...  

The night after my birthday we had an impromptu dinner w/ some of B-rad's family from Arkansas.  They were in town for one night & we went to Joe's Crab Shack for dinner.  We've never been there & I'm not a big seafood fan but B-rad LOVES crab legs.

The place was extremely LOUD.  Like Sandra (from Arkansas) was sitting 2 people away from me & we couldn't even hear each other talk.  That was a major thumbs down because I like to talk.  The waiters & waitresses have funny sayings on their shirts (i.e. 'Got Crabs?') & there are other dirty sayings around the place so that was a thumbs up.  

They brought out bibs & each one had pictures drawn on them or sayings - I picked this one out for B-rad... 'Show me your mussels & I'll show you mine!'

 I got the boring White fish & B-rad got all you could eat Crab legs.  (Since we hardly ever go to seafood he was all about all you could eat crab legs!)  Ya'll-I was mesmerized watching him prepare them eat - I just sat there & stared at him.  There is serious work involved in eating crab legs.

And it's seriously messy.  They have pails set down inside the table for seafood schrapnel.  Gross.

Clearly he was excited & tearing into those things because he flipped one onto my leg.  

Interesting tid bit - when he did this he tried to reach down to grab it & I said, "NO-I'm taking a picture!" Instead of waiting for me to get done & THEN throwing it in the schrapnel pail he just went on eating & I had to throw it out when I was finished.

 I wanted to have the waitress take a picture of us after we were done eating, but Brady was ready to go so I had to chum up w/ the ladies at the table beside us & ask them to take a picture for me.  The lady I asked told her friends, 'oh yea - SEE-I'm not the only one who likes to take pictures!' so we were all talking & laughing about that.  (That will be important in a minute...)

While I was waiting for everyone to eat their weight in crab legs a waitress comes up beside me & said, 'I hear today is your birthday?' &she had like a wig & stuff.  I looked up at her & said, "No - it isn't."

So my evil brother in law told them it was my birthday (ok it was either him or Sandra-but she's a guest so I can't call her evil...) & they put this gettup on me.

(You know you're old when they give you a hot pink wig & you say, "How many other heads has this thing been on?")

 Listen carefully to what the girls announces to the whole entire place what I'm gonna do.   UHM, I say a cuss word & you can hear my brother in law roaring w/ laughter in the background.  You will see me turn & ask the ladies at the next table to help me... & this is why I'm glad I was extra nice to them when I asked about a picture...

  

After we finished eating we went outside so we could talk for a bit (since you couldn't hear yourself inside!) & I wanted to take another picture.  There wasn't anyone around to ask so I walked back inside & asked the person at the hostess desk to come out & take our picture.

And if you think I didn't you don't know me at all...

 So everyone asks, 'does it feel any different being 40?'  The answer is yes & no.  I 'feel' no different, but there's something mentally different about being FORTY.  

Dads words of wisdom to me were, 'Well sissy, you know really - you've lived probably half your life already.'

Gee thanks, dad.

But really - he's right... & that is a little strange to think about.  I'm sure the thoughts will dissipate as my birthday gets farther away & the spectacle of saying 'HA HA you're FORTY' wears off... 

or at least I HOPE it does...

The bathroom saga - the next to last chapter

Ah, the next to last chapter...do you know what THAT means, loyal stalkers?  THAT means the bathroom is almost done...like so almost done that we're actually using it now.  Oh, HAPPY day!

When I last left you, we had finished sanding the drywall & were getting ready to paint.  I chose what I refer to as 'color #2' (the one on the top row that doesn't even look like it's a color to the left of the darker color).  I will tell you I am not happy with it - however the can of paint was $65 so I'm dealing w/ it & will either: 1) let it grow on me or 2) re-paint it when we've saved some money back from what all we've already spent in the stupid room.

I wanted color #3 (the one on the top row, right) but when I showed it to people they said, 'Oh, that's TOO dark'.  That's what I get for listening to other people...

A couple of weeks ago, B-rad put the vanity mirror & towel bars up for me so I could take a shower in the other bathroom & use the newly remodeled master bath to 'get ready'.  He had some help from Sonny.

(Notice the time on the clock on my night stand... I've told ya'll a THOUSAND times how I have to wait on B-rad to get done at the barn to do stuff for me.  I assure you-this is pm, NOT am...)

Sonny was all about checking out what was going on.

And just like that - the vanity was ready to be used.  Notice the not darkish light-ish, blue-ish, grey-ish, almost non-existant wall color?  (I am choosing to make the best of it & going w/ more dark accessories...black rugs, black towels, black, black, BLACK.)

I could bore you w/ all the details of how this light came to be, but I'll spare you... just know it was a major pain in the ass & I bought something else instead (even though I wanted THIS one in the beginning). When I regretted what I had changed my mind to, Lowe's didn't show ANY online at ANY store w/ in a 100 mile radius.

I decided to take my chances & go to the store & look to see if there was one on the shelf, JUST IN CASE... it must've been my lucky day because it was there on the shelf... & it was the ONLY one left.

About a week later, B-rad put up the shower glass.  (Again-look out the window-it's dark outside, people.) 

And my pretty, new vanity was covered in tools.

Our bed was also recruited for storage.  You can see one of the glass panels at the bottom of the pic laying against the bed.  B-rad carried every one of those bastards up into the house by HIMSELF.  (Everything was stored in the garage until it was ready to be used.)  These panels were freaking heavy-I don't know how he does that stuff!

The installation was really difficult (I thought.)  B-rad even had to read the directions... I don't know if I've EVER seen him read directions.  I sometimes suggest it & he says, 'HMPH I don't need directions!'

He had to install the metal bar thingies against the wall that the glass panels would slide into first, then he positioned the glass inside them.

I mean-look at that intensity...

Next the door was put on.  I LOVE the door because it slides back & forth & doesn't open out like normal doors.  This shower was ALL B-rad's idea so he has no one to blame but himself for the intense installation when he saw it at the store he said, 'THIS.  THIS is what I want.'.  He never has opinions on anything & didn't have any on the bathroom except this shower configuration & since I'm a giver I said, "Yes, lets do this shower!"

I did, however, veto him on the color of walls he wanted (it was like a brown & gold color & did NOT go w/ my our theme at all.  I said, "NU UH" & picked the one that look like marble.  (Come ON, people - if I let him have his way too much he will start to think it's an option all the time...)

After he got the doors up he had to put little seal thingies on all the edges of the glass.   I'm not crazy about the clear glass - I'm a bit shy & would of liked to have a bit of frosting on it but that wasn't an option.  

  SIGH.  

Why oh why did B-rad have to choose this as his only thing to have an opinion on?

I am standing in the shower giving the thumbs up because B-rad was all done!  Not only can you see right through the glass, you can also see a bit of your reflection when you're inside the shower.   (See my reflection in the glass close to the bottom of the picture? GEE isn't that great when you're showering?)

We bought a linen cabinet B-rad put together for me Sunday night when he got home.  It's black & ironically does not store our linens.  In it I have our extra soap, contact solutions, cotton balls, toilet paper, etc.

Since B-rad thought it was such a great idea for me to put our toothbrushes in the decorative glass beads in the other bathroom, I found these black, grey & clear stones & thought they match the vanity perfect.

The only thing left to do is a few decorations here & there & trimming the doors.  Planting season is upon us so trim will have to wait until I'm 90.  

And now--because I know ya'll love a good before & after as much as me....

Before:

AFTER! 

Before...

AFTER!

Before...

AFTER!

And since I figure you guys are wondering what it all cost (I would be) - I will tell you we have been saving &I've been waiting impatiently for years to get this done.  (We have wanted to remodel our bathroom since the day we moved in over 16 years ago.) Don't forget we took it all the way down to the framing & had to cut a hole in the floor to re-run a LOT of plumbing.  So we bought plumbing 'stuff', 2x6's, pocket doors, vanity, vanity top, toilet, drywall, drywall mud, paint, lighting, the shower, flooring, & lots of other 'items'.  The budget was $5000.00 & we did go over that - not counting all the new decoration 'stuff' we spent around $6000.00 on the remodel.   That does seem like a whole lot especially since B-rad & his dad were able to do the work themselves, but stuff is expensive ya'll!  We splurged on the fancier vanity & granite top (just those items {not including all the nonsense you need for them - silicone, side splash, faucet} totaled around $1200.00!). The other major expense was the shower walls, floor pan, door & return glass panel which cost a whopping $2300.00 {again - not including all the nonsense for it - silicone, shower faucet...). Over half our total expense were in those 2 features.  

But I must tell you - I don't care about how much it cost - I L-O-V-E MY NEW BATHROOM!  Like seriously-I just walk through it sometimes & look around at how pretty it is.  I owe it all to my hubby & his dad!  They both worked really, really REALLY hard to get it all done just the way I wanted.  I appreciate their hard work so much.  In all it took about 3 months to get it 'done enough' for me to quit bitching at B-rad about "don't forget you HAVE to have the bathroom done before you start planting!!!!?".

  After B-rad & our savings account recover from this remodel (& he gets the trim on the doors done...) next up on my list is the kitchen.  I don't think it will be TOO much trouble (but then again-what do I know?).  I want to get new cabinets & remove the section of counter & cabinets above it that separates the dining room & kitchen.  I also want to put an island in the kitchen.  (ALL of which were B-rad's ideas!)  Easy breezy, huh?  

However - I KNOW we can't go 3 months w/out a kitchen like we did this bathroom so really there's really only one option -  B-rad's gonna have to quit farming...