Next Project - Drapes for Living Room

We love the open feel of our living room area. You can sit on the couch or chair and look outside to the green area behind our deck and catch a glimpse of wildlife and the change in the weather. With the sun shining brightly in the summer and the windy rainy weather of the winter, we wanted to put up drapes to help keep the weather out when we wanted.
So, while Phil measured and figured out the height and width of the area, I was sewing the drapes. I had gotten heavy duty material from a quilter's garage sale and then purchased drapery backing to make them up. We then had a trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond (I think I mentioned that in my last blog of the Bark party) to pick up the rod and clips.

The rod is dark pewter and the ends are similar to our hanging light in the dining area.

This is the look of them open - before we hemmed them.

We then pulled them closed to measure for the hem. Problem ----- if you look closely, the pattern is off by about 1 1/2 inches. That is ok when opened but when shut - does not work at all. So off they came again and I took the tops apart and fixed so that they were the same.

Ta Da!!! They are done. They look great and gives you a nice cozy feel when the wind is blowing out there. Phil was a great help - especially when I had to hang them to measure and then take down - a number of times. Thanks, Honey. I appreciate all your help.

Our Bark Party

We have a sloped back yard and it was in need of something to hold the soil in place besides the weeds. So, we decided to go to "Boring Bark", pick out bark (aka wood chips) and have our own little bark party before the rain started. They had a colorful display as you entered the shop, and the leaves were just starting to turn - a great fall day to do our project.
After we paid for the 1 1/2 yards of bark, we went to load the trailer on to the Escape. There were only three there, but we took the best one.

Great engineering to hook it up to the vehicle.

There were many different kinds of bark to choose from. Some had dirt in them, some were colored dark, etc. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

So, we decided this kind would work and the man loaded us up. Three scoops made a yard and a half. We hope we only need two loads. Before pictures of the yard. This is the slope that actually goes to the neighbors and just before the wall begins.

A picture of the entire slope. Our work is cut out for us.

The day got better weather wise and the sun came out. Phil did the unloading into the wheel barrow and then took it to the hill.

I then spread it out two - three inches deep so that it will hold the soil in.

Getting in and around the ivy was not easy so I abandoned the rake and just moved it with my hands. Worked much better.

Three loads later, we are done. It looks so nice.

Those are our garden boxes in the background. The tomatoes were still up and trying to ripen. We have since taken them all out and prepared it for winter.

Team work got this job done in an a day. After cleaning up, we went to Old Chicago for dinner and then to Bed, Bath and Beyond for our next project. Blog to follow.

Q-FAC Retreat

Yesterday I went on a quilting retreat with my Q-FAC (Quilting and Fiber Arts) friends. We met at the Historical Society Museum, which has wonderful lighting and just enough room for all 17 of us. This is our teacher, Dennis, who owns Paradise Quilts in Sandy with his wife. He did a great job keeping all of us on track.
We were all busy with our project, Strata Star. They almost look like tumbling blocks with attitude.

Our lunch buffet was wonderful with quite the variety of foods. I didn't take a picture of the two chocolate cakes, pumpkin pie and apple cake - didn't want you to get hungry looking at it. We learned that not only can we sew, we can all cook wonderfully.

I finished my Strata Star and will be putting it in our bedroom on the wall above our bed. I am very pleased with how mine turned out.

Linda, our retreat coordinator poses with Darlene and Tammy, who worked on different projects.

Here we all are with our Strata Stars - all in various stages of completion. All with different looks and just wonderfully done. Thanks for sharing your day with me - I had a great time.

Down Under Update

It has been a while since I updated you on the Down Under Project. Well, it is done!!! Well, the shelves aren't done and the light in but Phil is very happy with the outcome of the whole thing. So, here are the recent pics. Phil was finishing up the first row of floor joists. He took time out to pose as the architect and main carpenter as well as with his work thus far.
We can walk on one board but that is all at this stage.

The first row is finished. Yeah.

Putting the second row on was faster but still too slow for Phil. As you can he had to add some reinforcements in some areas. Of course , he put enough nails and liquid nails in it so it will be really stable. It won't go anywhere.

Progress. Ah, it is nice to see it. Oh yeah, watch your head. Yes, that door is a little short but we will just have to duck down entering and leaving. Hitting it once will be all one needs - trust us - we know. :-)

The flooring is done. This is from the farthest corner looking south.

This is from the farthest corner looking toward the door. Wow, it looks great.

This is from the south side looking north toward the street.

Pretty good job - if Phil says so himself.

Phil says: "All cleaned up. Tools ready to put in their proper place. Relaxing with my brew admiring my work. I love finished projects. "

Shelving will be next. Then I will put a light in and change a little of the wiring that they put in. Look for future updates.

Trip to the Coast and Mini Shop Hop

Recently, I received a gift card to Gradma's Attic down in Dallas, OR. If you look at an Oregon map, you will see it is straight down I-5 just west of Salem. Well, the only way I know how to get there is to go via the Coast. :-) Oh, ok, so it is not the easiest route, but it made for a wonderful two day excursion with Phil. An SOS (Save our Sanity) weekend. Enjoy our mini vacation.
n Sunday the sky was blue, the sun shining, windy and the views beautiful. As you can see, the crashing waves are trying to figure out which way to come in to the beach area.

We took a little time out to enjoy the view while having a Tillamook ice cream treat. Yummy!!

There were many items on the beach including this huge stump that someone thought would make a good evening fire on a cold night.

King of the log - Phil!!!!

We found not only logs and stumps, but shells and some neat rocks that made great skipping stones. However, the waves usually picked off the stone on the second skip.

A great sunset taken outside the Kyllo restaurant. (notice the beach hairdo - usually windblown).

Nothing like a West Coast sunset on the beach. Just beautiful and breathtaking.

Monday started our shop hop. The shop in Lincoln City, where we spent the night, had closed down so we had to head on to Newport to begin at Quilters Cove.

This is a fun looking pattern of hexagons to make flowers instead of going ahead with Grandmother's Flower Garden pattern. Just may have to add this to my stack of "gotta dos".

We then headed inland east toward Philomath. Our next stop was at JanniLou Creations (as seen on this window etching at the shop). This shop was formerly a theater and they showcase some of the items in their decor. They also have music playing from some Broadway hits.

This is just part of the backroom of the shop. There is more behind the quilts hanging up in the back, more on the side in the classrooms and some upstairs where there is also an apartment for retreats.

We then traveled north to Dallas and finally made it to Grandma's Attic. A wonderful little place with lots of fun fabric in the 1930 pallet.

I just had to check out all the merchandise. There was lots to see.

We then kept traveling north toward home and made another stop in McMinnville. Boersmas is a great shop that is huge. It is also home to Gammill long arm quilting machines, repairs or purchases. I left with a couple of pieces of wonderful wool for my next hand applique penny rug and candle mat projects.

We then went next door to Boersma's yarn shop. Here Headless Hannah and I had a nice visit and she hopes you will come back soon to check out our blog. :-) Thanks to my wonderful hubby for being a great travel companion and taking me exploring the shops and byways of Oregon. You're the bestest. :-}