Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Home repair Day # 1 .......and a sewing report

Sunday night, as expected, I was VERY tired after having the grandkids for so long...and I thought I'd drop right off to sleep as soon as I got things done and went to bed. Wrong.....I tossed and turned until about 1:30 in the morning........watched the late news and heard the weather yesterday was to be FANTASTIC, which would be good for Day # 1 of the home repairs. I woke up just before 5 a.m., though, and heard THUNDER.......very severe storms were going through the area. We didn't get the worst of it, but still...can't they get it right even 6 hours ahead of time? SO...we waited until one wave of storms passed and then moved our cars for the contractors and got the patio furniture off the patio (as requested) so the trusses could be delivered there. Of course, you know the trusses never arrived yesterday but are now supposed to be here TODAY.

The packers were to arrive at 7 and got here at 7:45. Things were going smoothly.....but the pod that was supposed to be dropped in our driveway at 10 a.m. didn't get here until after 1:30 in the afternoon. I guess there are worse things that could happen, but it was a bit discouraging to have things get behind schedule on the first day. Now, our master bathroom and bedroom look like something out of a germ warfare movie as they are totally draped in plastic......or maybe it looks like a room where someone with no immunities would have to live (like the boy who lived in a plastic bubble). It's rather eerie.

Good news for you, though.......I was at my sewing machine by about 7:30.....did get the signature blocks done......and also the pillowcase (see photos below). I then opted not to do the border on my friend's family quilt. Instead, I washed my wool felt and used the colored water to give a soft color to two pieces of my white wool felt....one is now a very soft blue and the other is sort of a flesh color. I was trying for deeper colors, but only got "soft" ones....maybe I didn't do it right. (My friend, Sandi, has posted something about it on her blog, but I couldn't find it...naturally.) I like these well enough, though. (Photo below, also.) I have started going through fabrics to start a disappearing 9-patch, which I've wanted to do for awhile and will show you that as it progresses. I hope to do some sewing on that today....while they are ripping down the ceilings in our master bedroom and bathroom and also starting to tear off the damaged part of the roof.

Completed signature blocks to send to Linda
My ladybug pillowcase!!!
My "weak" new colors of wool felt

19 comments:

Betsy said...

But a least a little sewing therapy was achieved and that is always nice. How long will the repairs take?

Unknown said...

love the ladybug's.........so cute

Tangos Treasures said...

Hope things go smoothly today!
Blocks are pretty & the pillow case is too cute!

ooglebloops said...

Renovation is always a test of sanity!!!Once they get all their ducks in a row - it should be better!!!!! I love that pillowcase!!!!The wools are a nice pastel. I guess I better get moving on my blocks!!! maybe after I dig up more potatoes and can the tomatoes....................

quiltingnana said...

sounds like you are busy today!! Recouping from grandkids today - off to a dr appt and then work...maybe some quilting this afternoon!

luv2quilt2 said...

Construction never seems to be really on time, but it sounds like they are making progress. Good luck.

Crispy said...

Being behind is part of the construction process but they seem to make up for lost time eventually. Love your projects and hooray for getting some sewing done/started.

Crispy

The Other Barb said...

welcome back to "sew land" . I really like the signature blocks.
good luck on the construction!

Kaye said...

lots of early birds reading blogs, we need pictures of the Bubble room. The pillow case came out adorable. I sent my signature blocks to Sandi, was first!!

Jocelyn said...

Somehow things never go as planned when it comes to renovations. But hopefully things will move along now.

Anonymous said...

That pillowcase is great(!) and so are the lovely woolfelt colors. Glad you are back to having some relaxing fun after so many other things that took your energy.

LINDA BYLSMA said...

Great assortment of colors in your blocks. I'm going to have a real challenge, picking and choosing who gets what!
Try adding some vinegar to the dye bath to get a richer shade. It causes the dye to attach to the protein. OR, use Kool Aid!!

Rachel said...

Don't you just HATE nights like that when you're tired but can't sleep. They make me crazy!!!

Sorry to hear that things are getting behind already. What a pain. You just need to go into your sewing room, shut the door, put on some soothing music and SEW! That will solve all the problems... and if it doesn't, try a shot of vodka. haha.
Love the pillowcase! So cute.

Nanette Merrill said...

Whenever I have sewing machine time it helps the day to go better. Busy busy! The right therapy for it all is sewing.

Needled Mom said...

Isn't that the way it always is when things are planned?

I do believe that the job of a weatherperson is the only job in the world where you can be wrong 80% of the time and STILL not loose your job!

Sandi Linn Andersen said...

There are always delays when contractors are involved. That's my belief anyway as the amount of delays when they built our home were incredible. In fact, we've been here almost three years and there are a couple of things that happened the first year we moved here that the contractor was to fix and we can't get him back here. My husband took care of one of them and he will probably have to do the other one. What a pain! Glad that you got some sewing in, though. Hmmm, a disappearing nine-patch is something I've wanted to try, too, but I don't dare add another project. I was going to do some wool dyeing today but we got heavy rain and I want to work outside. It's too damp so I will wait til tomorrow. Your woolfelt colors are lovely! You may think they are weak but you'll find that they will be perfect for some future project. I "see" sandy beach in the top one and blue sky in the bottom one. :-)

Barb said...

You are back in the saddle again!!! You got quite alot done too....Hope things go more smooth for you today.

Wendy said...

Pat your blocks and pillowcase turned out great...as for the construction, just keep thinking about how nice the end results will be...hang in there...try a litte chocolate with the sewing!..

limpingalong said...

Love the pillowcase! I can understand your frustration with the repair projects. I found out that it will be Monday before the carpet stretchers can be out here to stretch the bedroom carpet and to tack it down where it meets the tile.
I'm loving the tile, however -- got a dust mop and it just a few minutes I "cleaned" my living room and dining room and bathroom floors.
I left you a challenge over on Doug's web site -- think you are up to joining in sending something for next year's flower show?