Cute Pincushion

Is this cute or what? NO...I did not make it, but since I'm spending my time painting instead of sewing figured I better find something crafty to post.
I was reading some Yahoo mail and found the directions for this Rubic's cube pincushion here.

Do not think I've made this, or came up with the idea because I didn't. I'm real good at copy/paste, but I'll give rsislandcrafts from SW Florida all of the credit!

I just remember being in Junior High School when the Rubik's Cube became popular....they still aggravate me because I can't solve them ...but this pincushion (already solved) would be cute setting next to my sewing machine.

Monday before Thanksgiving

Lots of progress, but not alot of pictures to upload. I painted, and painted and painted all weekend. Every color on the house is still on my fingers, arms and in my hair. For some reason, I wear my work. I also have lots of sore muscles.


Don't think I've posted this picture. --ignore the blue socks. The top three 'chips' are my countertop choices. The one that I thought I really wanted---turned out to be really ugly against my tile.


We're doing two things wrong in this house--according to the designers. We are not doing stainless steel appliances, and we're not doing granite countertops.

#1--I owned a restaurant and I HATE stainless steel. It's cold, it's colorless and it's ugly. If you have them and love them...that's fine with me--I'm not picking on you, so don't send me any hate emails. I just don't like them. It also reminds me of my restaurant days---I don't want them in my house. I don't even want a stainless steel sink in my kitchen. I'll have one in my laundry room (they're cheap), but not where I'll be working in my kitchen.

#2--I cannot afford granite. In our part of the country (can you say boonies) it's close to $80 a foot for granite. Laminate is $20. Hello? Call me frugile...or cheap, I don't care. My laminate countertops are just fine for me.

The stain-messes are all gone and the light fixtures should be installed shortly. --yeah, like if/when the electrician shows up. I have a garage full of drawers being stained and finished.

I have 8 windows in the whole house--not counting the doors. I washed every window and it was so nice to be able to. The old house had 18 windows that couldn't be opened.

Oh, another tibid of useless information. There are 21 doorknobs in the house. How do I know? I ordered them off of ebay. Have you priced doorknobs lately? It's unreal!

Hopefully today there will be even more progress--like a second coat on that red wall!

Wood Stain

I haven't posted any house pictures lately, so here's the progress on the wood-stain. Yes, some of them are a little dark, but it gets dark SOO early around here.
They do make a mess when they stain, but I haven't found a contractor that doesn't. This is probably the cleanest crew we've had. Other than smearing stain on the walls--which I'll paint over, they don't leave anything out that my "helper" brings to the back door.

This is my sewing room. The cabinet in it is an extra one (the wrong size) they made for my bathroom. So the cabinet maker just left it and I'm going to put a laminate top on it. Rusty (my helper) thinks that he's going to get to spend a lot of time in here with me after the carpet goes down.



Why do they call these "French-doors"? DH calls them Russin' doors --he says the kids will be rushing out of them all of the time!

New piece of Furniture

Elaine posted a chair she bought and when I told her I also bought one (the same day) she told me I needed to post a picture of it too! I told Troy that I was going to go take a picture of it, and he said that I needed somebody posing.

The guy I bought it from called it a secretary-desk chair. It has one back (spindle?) broke, but it still is sturdy and strong. It's also a heavy chair. It was setting in among all of his junk saying "set in me....please!" I knew once I set in it, I'd buy it. It'll look good among all of the other old-wood things I have.

For $5...I think I did good! --that includes the spider and her web underneath.

Quilt Show Pictures

These are quilts that were sold at the recent MCC relief sale. Most of these sold for $800-$1700. There were beautiful quilts and some really simple. Very traditional-style quilts being made and sold. These were all made and quilted by the Mennonite and Amish churches in Oklahoma. (no, I didn't get to bring one home!) A very inspiring quilt show.

Been Busy...

It's decided to turn cool--not real cold yet, but cool. Cool enough to light the fireplace (which I'll be glad NOT to have in the new house), and cool enough the leaves are starting to turn colors.

Last saturday was the MCC Relief Sale in Oklahoma and this was the first year I've gotten to go. DIL's family works with the benefit, and it was fun to go see their quilt show. She has pictures on her camera---will try to post them later. Beautiful quilts made by the Amish and Mennonite ladies all across Oklahoma. Was thrilled at some of the prices that they were bringing. Glad somebody appreciates the work going into them.

They also have a quilters-corner where you can pick up scraps to go into your own quilts. Well, you know I had to rummage through it and I did find some good bargains. --like my washing machine full for about $5. But...I needed it!

The woodwork in my house is now stained a real pretty fruitwood color. No, I haven't taken any pictures and it sure stinks! Hopefully, they'll finish up this week. My countertops are suppose to be here next week. The contractor thinks we'll be moved in (did I say that?) by December 1st. ..maybe sooner. Sure, it'll be COLD then....but it'll be nice and cozy (and insulated).