Production Time!!

Do I know how to fill a space or what????!!!! It has been a long haul since moving to get it to this point. Well, it seems like forever to me. If you have been checking my blog to see what's new, I'm sorry it has taken awhile to post new pictures and updates. Believe me, it has not been without reasons. You know, just stuff that life throws at you when you aren't ready. We all would like to have things go smoothly with no unexpected bumps to throw us off track, wouldn't you agree? But, come on... when has that EVER happened??
The point I want to get to is that I am now again back in the swing of things... it just might not seem like it because I have so much catching up to do. But here at least are a few of the latest photos of my now fully functional sewing studio. I found all my cords and nobs and frames to run all my machines!! YEAH! Including the quilter. I have a lot of catching up to do there!!
Oh my.

It only looks like a mess to the uncreative eye! It's heaven to me. I took these this very frosty morning... I'll be posting another blog on the frost as well as a couple new designs I hope you will enjoy.

Drum Roll Please!

Well...I re-opened my Etsy shop this morning but I have yet had any time to sew a thing. It is taking shape though and looking more and more like a workable studio. The boxes are just a small percentage of what we had but it gives you an idea. Below is showing the cutting table with some of my beauties waiting their turn to be pampered. They were glad to get out of the crates and breath!!

This is my "DollyWall" looking rather full. Below it are more candidates for make-overs. Can't you hear them saying "Pick Me!! Pick Me!!"

Tah-Dah!!! My space is looking good! I now can move around and find things! Much more tidy.

It might still look like a mess to some, but it is my inspiration, my creative chaos. Now, I'll have to see what I can do with it!

Stay tuned!! ☺

My Buddy!

It is so funny the things you find when you move. This is Harley when she was only about 4 months old. I got her from a lady that use to cut my hair. She didn't know what to do with her because the mama kitty had died and left only this one kitten when she was 3 weeks old. I took her and nurse her with a bottle and she flourished! Actually she became a holy terror! But as you can see we bonded big time. This was not a set up pose. Every time I would do dishes she would climb up my body like a tree and flop on my shoulder just like you see here! When she got a bit too big and heavy for me to handle her climbing up, I would have to pick her up and let her be on my shoulder "before" starting dishes because if I didn't I got a very painful surprise! Harley will be 14 years old in Dec. She still is my best buddy but doesn't do much of the shoulder lounging anymore. Now she waits until bedtime and sleeps under the covers cradled in my arm. Animals are so endearing.

Big Day of Projects!

Yesterday was productive, I think. It wasn't raining like the day before so it made it easier to get things going.

Dori was busy painting the guest bedroom a beautiful shade of gray-green. It will need another coat and she will do that today.

The truck arrived with the split-rail fence materials and James and Isaac got right to work unloading. Just look at my grandson work!! He just got right in there and started carrying the 10 foot rails! Pretty good for 6 years old! Hope he is still as industrious in ten years! LOL

They also added the reflectors to the monster mailbox. James also fixed my cubboard door to swing the right direction and he took a limb off a tree that was hanging in a bad spot over the driveway and he and Isaac set some of the post for the fence. It was a good day! It's good to have kids!!

Progress...I think???

Thank goodness for strong men. Here is my wonderful husband and brother filling the truck with mostly stuff for the sewing studio! Except the oak library table which we will use once again for our kitchen table. I has a special history and it will be nice to use it again.

Below is a picture of the space all my sewing was in! Remember the dolls on the wall? The boxes are my daughter's as she and her family move in. It will be a great home for them.

Then the real challenge begins. Where to put all this stuff!!! It is overwhelming at times as I had lots of help to bring it in but I'm on my own to organize it...

What a mess! but it is coming together even after a few set-backs. My mom came to visit, which was great, and then I got a bug of some sort that made me feel rotten. Now my shoulder is really being a problem...Arrgh!! I just want to sew!!!

Things will start to look better in the next week. One box at a time...right?

Now if I can just find my cords to the machines!!!

At least my dolls are finding their places!!

Where did time fly??

One thing about moving, you sure can lose track of time! Whew! I can't remember what day it is! Well, things are finding there place around here. It will take a few weeks to really get settled and get through all the boxes. I'm not as young as I use to be so it is taking a little bit longer. I do have pictures but we don't have our computers up and going yet so all I have to use is our laptop, which for the most part is doing a really good job! I need to find the wire to plug in my camera to the computer and try to post some pictures...but where did I put that darn thing!!!
I've been trying to update all my account information on line since we can't use Comcast anymore. They don't service out this far, (we are only 1.5 miles out of there area, poo). Haven't watched TV for a couple of weeks now and you know what? I don't miss it at all! If I want to watch something special like "Dancing with the Stars", I can watch it on line, with limited commercials!! I like that a lot!!
Our kitties have adjusted well and are back to acting normal. Harley likes to go with me to work in the sewing studio. She runs to the door and waits for me to pick her up and carry her to the apartment. So cute. She's my sewing buddy. Sophie stays in the main house and sleeps on the bed but she is at the back door waiting when it is time for Mike to come home! She just knows! He comes in and she is at his feet, quietly "screeching" out her hellos, (she has a horrible voice) but Mike loves it and greets her with "Where's my kitty?" They have a bond. LOL
Well, that's the latest. I know it isn't much but without pictures it is pretty boring to just hear me yak. I'll find that cord... it's got to here somewhere!????

Crazy Weekend!!

I have pictures but I will have to add them at the next posting. We are in!!! YAY!!!! Slept there Saturday night and last night. So wonderful. My cats are doing okay with the change. Sophie is a trouper and took to the new house like fish to water...but Harley!! Let's just say she is a FREAK!! She had to be carried all through the house to look at every room and closet and speck on the wall before she would set toe on the ground. Then she stay at my feet everywhere I moved. Then she did not want me to sleep in my bed. She actually punched me all night! She has no claws so she didn't hurt me but I didn't get any sleep the first night there. Finally had to go downstairs and sleep on the couch with her curled up beside me. Why couldn't she do that in my bed??? Arrrgh!
Michael and I sat on the porch and watched it get dark last night. Sipped some wine and relaxed. We both feel at peace.
The house is no where near in order...boxes everywhere. I had a few volunteers helping to pack and move over the weekend and now it is a search and hunt to find things. HA HA Ha! I couldn't even find my hair brush this morning!
I still hate moving but for some reason this time it feels right.

"The Dollhouse"

Hello Everyone!

Well, we have thought long and hard on what to name our new place. We thought the name "Avondale" was good but decided tonight that it just didn't fit. Many ideas passed between Michael and I, but none inspired us until I said dollhouse. We both agreed that it was perfect!

So this is introducing our home,

"The Dollhouse"

Miniture Doll Show

I had a great time today with my friend Jody. She invited me to a doll show - a miniture doll show! It was the first time I have ever been to one and it was awesome! So amazing how talented these artist are! I thought what I did was small but, my goodness, check out these booties that fit perfectly on Midge's baby!! Are they cute or what?? They are hand-knitted!

We were there about 5 and a half hours! I just know we missed something! One thing about minitures is they can sure pack a lot of stuff in a very small area. You can stand for 10 minutes easy in one spot and just when you are ready to move on there is something new that catches your eye!! Jody found some great bargain bins and I bought the beautiful white set above and the baby dolls. The whole time they were calling out numbers on the tickets you get when you pay to get in and the person that has the ticket wins a prize. Jody and I were diligent at checking ours but nothing..then I heard a number while I was talking to one of the vendors so I wasn't sure what I heard so I went up to ask and guess what! I WON!!

My prize!

I can see how easy it would be to become an enthusiast. Jody has built her own beautiful doll houses with lights and everything! I could spend hours just looking at all the details. She said she would help me with my first, when I was ready... that might be sooner then she thinks!! lol Thank you so much Jody for such a lovely day and the great company! ♥♥♥♥♥

KEYS!!!

MY CABIN IN THE WOODS

I truly feel like I'm dreaming! I have always wanted a cabin in the woods, surrounded by beautiful trees with a creek or river running by. Never thought it would actually happen! We closed last Monday and I got the keys yesterday. Mike and I went up for the tour last night. I feel so at home here. I hope we get snowed in this winter!! That would be awesome. I'm going to start taking things up there, little by little. Unfortunately, my shoulder and back won't let me do a whole lot by myself, but I can do some. It doesn't really need anything but we do want to paint a few of the rooms just to freshen things up. I will call today for the utilities and to get some quotes on the flooring for the studio, (replacing the carpet with hardwood) and replacing the tile countertop in the kitchen with granite. Here's a picture of the kitchen and the tile. What color do you think would look good for the new counters tops? Dark? I like strong contrast, I was thinking a dark chocolate brown with hints of gold would bring out the honey color of the cupboards. I'll be getting a lot of samples to test. I want it to be right.

It is a nice big kitchen. The sellers left all the appliances too and they are all beautiful! I just don't know why anyone would want a tile countertop...yuck. It is pretty but uneven and I don't want to deal with keeping the grout clean. Soon I'll have my mark on all this. This place is going to scream "Christine!" (and maybe a little Michael. hee hee)