Backings, Office and Bathroom Update

 

The studio is ready for work, and I wanted to get in there and do something. I had some backing fabrics, so I got a couple of them ready. I bought this Philip Jacobs print for the back of the pastel Macnas quilt. It was yardage, so I had to iron it all, and then seam two pieces together for the backing. So I did that.

I originally bought this fabric for the backing of the yellow Macnas quilt.

When I set it next to the orange and pink Macnas quilt it was pretty clear they belonged together. So I got that ready.

I -also- got the Office all set, I put all the books back in the bookcase, and organized the furniture and the desk, so that room is ready for use. One of the things that has always bothered me about that room is the sliding doors on the big closet. One of the sliding doors kept jamming, and I was always afraid of it because there was a mirror adhered to the door. It was loose, and I was always worried that if I pushed too hard the mirror would fall off and break and cut me badly. I wanted the guys to fix the door issue, and they removed the mirror without breaking it. They'll come back next week and rehang the doors after we paint them. The wallpaper is peeling off the front wall, so the plan is to remove that and paint that one wall. There's no real reason to paint the whole room. I'll be happy with the room after that.

Then I moved to the bathroom and gave it a good clean. The base of the spa tub was covered in carpet, which also hid any access to the plumbing, which was not good because the faucet leaks, making the tub hard to use. We can't cover that base with flooring, so we have to come up with another solution. The guys have an idea of a material to use, and I've left that decision to them. 

After all this the only thing left to do will be to replace the carpet in my bedroom and living room.

It was amazing how much work it was to get the rest of the house clean after moving all the stuff back into the appropriate rooms. I'm tired, but happy the house is back to normal.

The Official New Studio Tour

 

The studio has been put back to rights. This is the view from the door.

Just inside the door on the right are my ironing table, bookcases, 

and fabric stash and design wall. Nothing there was changed.

At the far end of the room. I used to have a table in front of the window at the right,  but it became a place for stuff to pile up and I wanted to stop that. Besides, when I took the table down, I liked the space it freed up. I moved a bookshelf there that was previously at the other end of the room. The bins at right will go back out into the shed. 

Moving back toward the entry, there is my small drafting table. This is convenient for working sitting down. I often plan quilts, or work out the math, while sitting at that table. The top of this table, my sewing table and large worktable are all covered in white cutting mats.

My sewing table is right where it used to be, with everything arranged just the way I like it.

This is my large worktable, and you can see something you almost never could before - a rolling stool I could never use because of the carpet. I generally work at this table standing up, but when I am matching pairs of fabric strips, or pinning pieces together, it's more comfortable to sit.

I -NEVER- sit while cutting fabric. When cutting fabric I always do it standing up.

Behind the work table I've stored my portable ironing table, small step stool, my suitcase containing my teaching traveling kit and the rolling cart I have never used because it wouldn't roll on the carpet. I expect I will use it more frequently now that I can move it around. 

In the top shelf I have put the fabrics I have selected for the Gray and Pink quilt. I am pretty sure I know what I am going to do with that, but my very favorite nine-year-old on the planet (a/k/a DGD) has asked for a quilt and since all quilters live for requests like this, hers will take precedence. Fortunately I have some great ideas. The last time the two of us chatted I sent her pictures and she told me what she liked and didn't like. I have some ideas percolating in my head.

Giving the studio a deep clean cleared out a lot of clutter and made space for me to store things that used to sit out in the open, often gathering dust.

At the far end of the room, I've got a broom, a dustpan and dust-brush, and a Swiffer duster for cleaning up. 

Because a hard floor will be chilly underfoot in the winter, I made a trip to the local Skechers store and bought a nice fuzzy pair of slippers to keep my toesies toasty.

Tomorrow I have to put the books away in the office and restore the bathroom back to normal. After that I'm going to sack out on the couch with a good book.

The New Floor, a Preview

 

The new flooring has been installed. It looks great and I like it. Here you can see the shelf that runs the length of the room (20 feet) under the windows. I painted it. I figured what the heck, it was dirty, and I might as well spend the money on a quart of paint and improve the look. I'm really glad I did.

Once the floor was done, we arranged the bookcases and brought in the bins of fabric. We swept the floors,  and I even vacuumed the floors, but it wasn't until I damp-mopped the new floors that they finally felt really clean. This flooring, when cut generates a TON of very fine dust, and it covered EVERYTHING. I had to clean every piece of furniture in the room. In fact, I have decided to hold off putting the fabric back on the shelves because I want any dust to settle so it won't get on my fabric.

Here is the office. The best thing about the hard floor here is that my chair will now glide on the floor and I won't need that stupid plastic mat that I trip over half the time.

Obviously neither room is completely done. There are issues (one lamp crashed and died) and things I noticed once I got the big furniture out, and more work is going to happen (can you say Paint?). But I'm tired so that will have to wait.

But I'm happy and it was money well spent, As the contractor said as he was preparing to leave, "Well, Lynne, you've just increased the value of your house." I mean, the rugs were beige, stained, and over thirty years old. The new floors are waterproof. Woot!

Oh Boy!

 

Oh boy! They guys came and made quick work of removing the carpet and getting the new floor installed in my studio. I think this is gorgeous and I am very happy. I love this. Once the trim around the baseboards is installed I'll be able to start moving back in.

I did ask for a gray. I think it will be easier to see all the pins and threads that will inevitably fall on the floor.

Woo hoo. Tomorrow, the bathroom... 

Can't wait for NO CARPET around the spa tub. Who puts carpet in the bathroom? It was here when I got here and I cannot tell you how eager I am to see the last of THIS!

MOOO-ving

 

There's no way to move the bookcase with my fabric stash unless I remove the fabric. And since I already know installing the new floor will create dust, I want to keep my stash CLEAN, so I put them in the large plastic bins. Good thing I had emptied them.

Haven't seen THIS in a long time. So where is the stash?

It's in the dining room. I actually had to go to the big box hardware store and get MORE big bins.

I have given a lot of thought to where I am going to put the stuff that normally lives in the studio while work is being done. You'll see over the next few days. I've also planned menus that require minimal cooking and preparation while work is underway.

And yes, I am fully aware I have WAY TOO MUCH FABRIC. What's a gal gonna do?

MAKE MORE QUILTS!!!!

I mean like, duh!