Stitching and Quilting

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Now that my office/craft room is finished and more importantly, now that the playroom is finished so the toys are out of my craft room area – I have space to unpack my stitching and a huge beautiful craft table to quilt on!

New couch and new sewing table ryan built!
Another view of the craft room

I wasted no time in picking up some projects and the timing was great that my stitching group came out from MA for a 2 day stitching weekend and that got me motivated to start a few new pieces and start stitching again.

This is just an update on the stitching but the first project I did was to finish piecing my nephew’s baby quilt (just as his first birthday rolls around – hah) – and it’s now mostly quilted too. I did the basic straight quilting in the seams and just have the free hand/free motion quilting to do to make it more decorative.

Spider Banner progress

While my stitching friends were here I focused on this Spider Banner that I had going already (possibly started it last year?). It was so nice to stitch for large blocks of time and I made lots of progress on it. It didn’t feel like it was the right season for it however so after the weekend ended I decided to start a new piece that would have me more motivated and I’ll pick old spider up again maybe in the fall.

New piece

Ok so the new piece may also be a bit on the Halloween side my friends all love these pixie witches (there are a bunch of them) and decided we would each stitch our favorite at the same time. I have 2 patterns but decided on this green one first (the other one is more of a jack-o-lantern/orange theme – too fall like).

I’ve been working on this witchy piece just a bit over one week and she’s going so fast!

Progress as of last night

There are a lot of beads in this piece which will be those blank swirls in the skirt – I can’t wait, it’s such a fun piece to stitch!

I also started another piece yesterday that I designed myself using elements of a pattern I liked. It’s a piece for my brother and sister-in-law that celebrates their house and marriage. I’m hoping I can get this done around their anniversary? Because I designed this one it’s hard to see what the finished piece will look like but I included a part of the design in this picture.

Just a bit of stitching on this one so far

I’m excited to get some craft time when I’m not working or playing with the kids. My new space is perfect for it!

New Door

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It was a long weekend filled with some rough work – poor Ryan even needed stitches in his wrist after cutting himself on the concrete.  Saturday Ryan finished up the jack hammering – which involved cutting his wrist, taking a break to drive to urgent care, coming home instead of waiting 3 hours – going back to jack hammering then going over to a friend’s house to get stitches at 5pm 🙂  Eventful and Productive – but not a fun project that’s for sure!

On Sunday – ryan spent the morning getting the wood and supplies needed, then fighting the rain while getting the doorway framed out.

It was a LONG day but just after the kids got tucked into bed the door install was finished up!

There is still work to do – mortar for above the door, trim around it, new patio outside of it etc.  Plus I have to install the lockset 🙂  BUT the hardest part is done and now we can get all the dirt that’s sitting in the basement out and clean up the basement!

In other progress I spent the weekend with the kids so my projects were small – I got the fan installed in my office, some furniture moved around some things unpacked from the basement and installed on my shelves and a door knob installed 🙂  Nothing flashy but enough to feel productive while watching and occupying 3 kids!

More Progress

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We’ve kept up the momentum on getting the playroom really truly finished.  Before the party we were able to get the painting fully done!

Finished painting!

Ready for furniture 🙂

Since the party we’ve kept up the work – I finished up most of the electrical in the playroom (waiting on switches before I can install the fan but outlets and recessed light switches are done).

We finished painting the shelves for the built-ins!  And I’m already filling those up!

Shelves painted

Shelves getting filled! I got to pull 2 boxes out of the basement of things that have been packed since we lived in NH!

I’ve been painting the storage base to my craft table and just finished the second coat on that last night!

Craft table – ready to get set up this weekend!

This table is going to be amazing – more storage and a big space for both the kids to craft and me to sew!  I can’t wait for that to get set up!

I’m waiting on some new bookcases I ordered for the playroom before most of the toys move in but once that is set up I’ll get more pictures.  By then the room should be finished fan and window wise (I have to scrape the paint off the windows still maybe this weekend).

In other big news – Ryan and his Dad started work on a new basement project on Monday – cutting a huge hole out of our basement wall to put in a new double door.  It took all day and they made good progress but it will be most of this weekend working on it before the door is installed I bet.

Cuts had to be made from both sides to get through the 10″ of concrete

Full day of progress – next up jack hammering to get it down to the bottom

Still to go – clearing out the rest of the concrete, cleanup then putting in a new header and installing the door!

We have piles of dirt still in the basement from one of our very first house projects – putting new support beams with footers in – we’ve been waiting for this door before we get that dirt out (rather than cart it up a flight of stairs in buckets) – so I’m excited to finally clean out and organize the basement after this project!

The house is really coming together.  Maybe we’ll even take a break from house work soon – hahahaha!

Playroom Painting

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The birthday party is approaching and we’re trying to get the painting in the playroom finished up so that we don’t have to empty the room again after the party!  We spent all day Sunday working on the playroom – sanding trim (primer coat) priming doors, painting the ceiling and all the caulking.  I got the first coat of paint on the crown after the girls were in bed and started the trim paint (1 window and a bit of the wainscotting).

This is the floor finished with 3 coats – before we started our weekend work on the room.

Monday Ryan was off of work (mondays all summer) so he picked up the painting.  He got the first coat on the rest of the trim (minus the baseboard and 1 window sash), second coat on the crown and 1 door painted.  Unfortunately Monday night Bella got strep so instead of finishing up some work then some painting I was snuggling Bella who’s throat hurt until the medicine started working.

Yesterday was Bella’s 4th birthday!  She had a sick day home but was luckily feeling better already and had a fun day playing while I worked.  We had her favorite chicken and mashed potatoes dinner and cupcakes for dessert.   She got to play with her new paw patrol stuff while wearing her new Elsa gear – her best day 🙂

After bedtime (and lots of reminding the girls to stop talking) I painted the baseboard all around and the last window sash.  Then I switched and got the first coat of blue on the walls!  The room now has 1 coat on everything except 1 door so it’s looking more finished.  Next up we have to sand all the trim before we can start the second coat on everything.

1 coat on the room – paint is still wet in this picture

We are using the same ‘Ash Blue’ color in the playroom as my office as we really love it with the Linen White trim.  I also picked out a Cobblestone grey color to paint my sewing table which is sitting in the middle of the room in that picture.  That project will happen after the party but it’s ready for primer and paint (all sanded) at least.

It’s going to be another few long nights especially since I also have to clean the house for the party and maybe decorate and bake a cake ? 🙂

Playroom and new toys

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It’s been a quiet few months here  … haha yea right!  It’s been quiet on the house progress front only.  We’ve had 2 birthdays (one party) for Alex and Evie.  We bought a new piece of property (32 acres!)  a short drive away  and Ryan got a sawmill.  The sawmill is related to the property 🙂  Ryan’s new hobby is everything wood.  The property has some hard wood trees on it he hopes to saw down.  He wants to build a barn to dry wood as well as store some of our larger tools and trailers over there.

Later on he hopes to build a woodshop into the new garage we will build so he can build furniture.  He’s just planning for his early retirement at this point 🙂

In April we took a vacation week off an made some house progress.  Ryan built the shelves for my built-ins and then he built the storage part of my new sewing table (happy birthday to me!)

Shelves – there are 14 total

The playroom was mostly done, I believe just the crown molding had to be finished up trim wise so he also finished that!

And I designed my new craft table for maximum storage and the proper height for cutting fabric (for me).

Sewing table base!

During this april break I got the trim in the playroom all sanded and primed.

Then Ryan got his new saw mill (new to him) and he’s gotten to play around with it a bit…

It’s over at Dad’s barn right now and I don’t think he minds at all

Another project was Ryan’s dad’s spring project – getting the back yard (lake side) all cleaned up, leveled out and seed planted.  The grass came in wonderfully!

 

now it’s just a battle to keep the geese off of it!

 

And that catches us up to this past weekend.  We had a very busy weekend – Ryan got the playroom floor all sanded down (it’s our last unfinished floor that’s been waiting for us to get to it).  He got sanded and sanded and sanded while I sanded the shelves for the built-ins and got those primed.

14 shelves – all sanded, primed, sanded again

I used the sprayer on the shelves and they’ve been sanded after the priming but rain kept us from getting the first coat of paint on.  Hopefully this week I’ll have some time to continue that project.

Finally Saturday night I got the first coat of poly on the playroom floor!  Sunday I sanded it and got the second coat on – 1 more coat to go!

This is after the first coat

Final coat of poly will go on tonight – then next weekend (and any nights we can) we plan to get the painting finished in the playroom and have that room finished up for the next birthday party.  Getting closer!

That’s our update – i’m sure it will be a month before I have another one (at least) 🙂

Office completed

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I’m calling it (mostly because we’re already moving stuff into the room and using it – it even has a rug ) 🙂

This last month we finished up the office which was mostly painting left.  We had Brad come and paint the trim mostly while we were on vacation and I painted the walls.  This past weekend I painted the sliding doors which were the last bits of trim paint until we put in the shoe molding (we’ll buy that in the spring and paint outside then just install it).  Ryan made some shelves for the built ins with leftover plywood but we didn’t have enough to finish them so he’ll finish that up another weekend.  We’ll also paint those outside when it’s warm enough.

A view of the built-ins when the final coat was drying 🙂

The other side of the room (this was before the sliders themselves were painted

Another view of the built-ins

Most of the shelves for one side built

The room is already packed with my office and sewing stuff plus about 1/2 of the kids toys from the playroom.  We have to empty the playroom out completely as that’s the next room to finish up.  That room needs crown molding installed, floors finished and painting.

For my birthday Ryan is going to build me a craft table for my sewing area.  More storage!  He loves it 🙂

Trim and Walls done

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Both the office trim project (just installing – still have to paint) and the retaining walls project are done.  Lots of good progress pics to show!

The office trim finished up installation on Sunday with the doorway caps and crown going up.  The chair rail finished up Saturday.  The trim looks amazing and now “just” needs all the paint prep, prime, painting.  A little each night hopefully with a lot this coming weekend!

Crown around the built-ins really finish those off!

Door caps looks awesome

Chair rail is really show cases on the long wall!

Last week I finished painting the closet for the washer/dryer and we got that moved in Thursday night after all the electrical was done!  I love having the washer/dryer in here and at a great height too!

And outside Mark finished up the caps on the retaining walls and installed our mailbox.  It’s on a pivot so if a snow plow hits it it will just push out of the way instead of breaking/falling over.

Driveway entrance… Along with solar lights in the wall itself

Walls ready for a basement door

We seem to always have a big rush before xmas (last year it was the kitchen) – this year it’s the office.  Hopefully we can stay motivated and get that room finished so I can move into it!!

Woodshed

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The wood shed project was a kind of last minute decision – although it’s been talked about in theory for a couple years.  It’s almost done – although we are waiting on the roof materials and there’s a bit more of the siding or soffit to do.  Wood is going in, there’s some organization to it but I have not been involved so all I can do is show pics 🙂

wood shed

Vacation week (for Ryan) is over.  There was a little more trim work done in the office which I’ll cover next time.  Now it’s back to work for a short week then thanksgiving!

Vacation Projects

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Ryan took his annual work on the house stay-cation.  I couldn’t coordinate taking it with him fully because Evie has been home up until 2 weeks ago and with her just starting daycare I was finally able to start working more fully (more focused) just a week ago.  I did take 2 days off (and gave up taking 2 days next week for thanksgiving as I had planned) and helped a little bit.

One of the main projects that has been going on is a new wood shed that Ryan and Mark have built.  It’s not completely done but close (I think a little siding still to go on and waiting on roof materials).  It looks awesome but I didn’t get a pic yet so I’ll do a post on that later.  Today the guys are out cutting firewood to restock for the year.

The retaining wall project continues.  Mark finished up the second wall.  I think it’s pretty close to still in this state although we now have the blocks for the caps but he started a new project with the leftover block (plus some more purchased) and started retaining walls at the end of the driveway which are just about done with caps and all.  Still some work to finish up the mail box installation but the walls look amazing!

This is from a wh ile ago but it’s the walls basically done except for caps. The end blocks have to be chiseled and installed still . This will be awesome next year when we put in the new door!

Here is one of the new walls (it was cold so I apologize for the inside the car pics 🙂 Mark said he has to snip the cap blocks still to finish but the main wall is done.

Here is the other wall – it was hard to get a picture of the whole thing (again lazy and cold) but I’ll get nice pics when they are fully done. Check out those cute solar lights Mark got too.

Moving inside…

Monday I got the washer dryer closet caulked and nails holes filled then I got a coat of wall paint on the ceiling/walls.  Finally I finished up by priming the trim.  I bought good Killz paint but it is oil based so it was very fumy (ugg) which I didn’t realize.  I’m not sure I will use this in the rest of the room but maybe look for another good cover all primer (we have some bleed through in the upstairs trim I’m trying to avoid).  I think Ryan mostly is using poplar now which shouldn’t bleed as much but still I’d rather not re-paint but use good primer.

Tuesday I got the second coat on the walls/ceilings so now I can finish up the electrical and then paint the trim.

Washer/Dryer closet – can’t wait to move them in here!!!!

Now for the main event… my built-ins and office trim work!  Ryan has built the most beautiful built ins!!!  I poly’d the counter tops he made and then Wednesday he built and installed the bookcase tops then started the chair rail and baseboards in the rest of the room!

Chair rail in one corner is done.

A view of the baseboard (which is done in the whole room) as well as 1 built-in … teaser 🙂

The other built-in … I love that we planned the electrical better this time (rather than in my master where I had to put extender boxes in for electrical)

A close up of those finished counter tops – matches the floor perfectly (since it is flooring)

Just picture how many shelves I can fit in those bottom cabinets and the book cases!  Ryan won’t make the shelves or doors until the trim is all up in the room.  Once the chair rail is finished it’s on to crown.  This room is going to be the best looking room in the house I think and it’s all mine!!!  I can’t wait to fill it up 🙂

 

Retaining Walls

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The retaining wall project has been moving along quite fast!  Mark has been spending lots of weekday time working on the walls and Ryan helped on Sunday as well.

Prep work completed here

First rows going in (these will be covered by dirt). Also drainage going in.

Starting to build up the one wall

Sunday’s progress!

The wall looks so great- I love the pattern!  I think we’ve decided to wait on the door install till spring so we can order the correct height door we want/need (78″ instead of the standard 80″).  It’s hard to get and wouldn’t come in until cold/snow has arrived.  Safer to just wait till spring and get the walls done for now.

Mark picked up 2 more pallets of block today and I hear him out there on the tractor so I’m sure I’ll have more updates soon!