Sunday, March 20, 2016

This and That

It's been hard for me to get back into the swing of things since I got back from California last month. I've been dawdling. I've been reading. I have to do my taxes. I've got to call a plumber to fix a toilet that won't flush. I've got to wash the kitchen floor.

I know that when this happens I have to start somewhere and do something. So the laundry is done, the sheets are changed, the living room and dining room have been vacuumed. I have a batch of vegetarian chili all made and ready for my lunches this week. The week's dinner menus are planned. The bills have been paid and the checkbook is balanced.

Last weekend it was so nice and warm I spent the time outside raking the shade and vegetable gardens. I planted some Arugula and some spring lettuce. I also trimmed back the clemantis over the carport and prepared the bed by the side of the driveway. 

I haven't been idle, but I haven't really wanted to get into the studio because I knew if I fell in love with a project, the other stuff wouldn't get done.

There is one thing that has been bugging me for a long time, and I finally decided to do something about it.

Look past the quilt on the table in the photo above. Look at the window, and what's outside.

What's out there is the carport, the trash can and the recycling bin, and often, some gardening supplies and all that junk.  But what really bugs me is that if somebody walks by they can see whatever's going on in my house. Which I do not like. Want a better view?

This isn't exactly the view you want to see from your dining room table, so after a bit of research, I went to the big box hardware store and got some of that removable film you can apply to windows.

One advantage of being a quiltmaker is that we have tools to make long straight cuts.

THIS is SO much better.

Woo Hoo! Now I have more privacy, and it didn't block the light.

9 comments:

MrsB said...

I have that EXACTLY same film on my carport window as well as lower sashes on bathroom windows.

When I started reading it thought you might have made a curtain. But this film is a perfect solution. Looks nice and provides privacy.

Just Ducky said...

Excellent fix.

Pat said...

I used a film in my condo before I moved last year. I was on the ground floor and had two sidelight windows in the living room. I didn't really want shades or curtains so I found some film that looked for all the world like leaded glass. It gave me privacy without blocking the light. It looked so realistic that the condo made me take it down before I sold my place because they didn't have a record of me requesting to modify the windows. Dumb da Dumb Dumb! So I peeled it off. Wonder what the new owner is using. :D

Quiltdivajulie said...

Marvelous idea -- love the new look!!

Dorothy said...

I used a "frost" spray paint. Taped the windows first with very thin striping tape from a car painting store -- made quilt blocks on the top half of the windows, and sprayed it solid frost on bottom half for privacy. Tons of light comes in. In the summer maybe too much light early in the morning :-)

sue said...

I never knew there was such a thing! I used some frosted spray paint on my front door but it needs to be a redone and I think the film will be much easier. Thanks for sharing that idea!!

Megan said...

Fabulous solution!

Megan
Sydney, Australia

Quilt Monkey said...

I love this idea! We have the same problem - our living room has large windows that are look right at the sidewalk outside. There is a lot of foot traffic and I have to keep the blinds closed so that people aren't looking right into our house. But then the house is so dark. I'm going to try this out. Thanks for the idea!

Quilter Kathy said...

Brilliant idea!