It ain't over

But it won't be too bad.  The stupid ass clips that hold the grilles/bars in the windows are falling out and moving around.  Andersen came out today and decided the interior wood warped, they are replacing the sashes in about 6 weeks.  The thing that upsets me most is the fact that these quality glass sashes that could somehow be used or salvaged, are not.  He said they will go into the dump.  Multiply that by thousands of defective or replaced windows across the country.  Makes me nauseous.  But the hours involved with trying to correct the problem and then refitting them into frames would not fit in with their assembly line production. 

We're still sanding, it's been power washed, probably coming to stain next week.  Narrowed the light interior paint down to two.  One is SW's Urban Putty, another is a little lighter and custom.  Bleeker Beige (HC-80) from Ben Moore is also really nice but I want as light as I can without matching the wall paint.  I'll do the windows and trim but may see if the painter can roll the walls for us.  I threw all the sample jars together and mixed them with two gallons of another beige I don't want, there should be enough for Carole's living and dining room!

 

A laundry room nicer than my bathroom.

 

My birthday is coming up and I don't know if the giveaway will be something stitched, a box, journals, or if all else fails, GC.  We'll see how this week goes but time is running out!

 

Have a fabulous week folks.  Mid-June already? 

Summer will be over in the blink of an eye!

 

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Let there be light

I always melt when I view Phoebe's home on Pinterest (before she changed it to all white) which I've mentioned before.  It took years to get a contractor and I'm weary of thinking about the changes for that length of time.  Finally an end to at least part of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Needlework will show itself off without distraction of dark colors on windows and moulding.

So light it will be.  A perfect backdrop for painted pieces and dark wood, calm and serene.  She did have some areas of color which were fabulous but I am using one color throughout.

 

Her new look is pure white.  Decorating austere or sparse is very difficult and I think all white is even harder.  If the pieces aren't correct, it just looks like white paint and the theme is lost.  Phoebe's talent for decorating is unique and there is no way I could pull it off, not all white.  If you like that look, farmhouse, sparse, check out her Pinterest albums.  https://www.pinterest.com/phoebetroyer/

 I may be mistaken but it appears many photos I remember of the house before white are no longer shown.  If you have a favorite pinner that showcases this style, dare I say, show me!!  Like I need more photos to contribute to my confusion.

 

Have a great weekend.

 

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All done

Sam came back today after two weeks to finish the trim and he did a beautiful job.  What a joy to not have to follow someone and check their work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could not wait to see what the stain color will look like so I did one coat on the window trim.  Haven't painted the window sashes yet, just the frames, and I may leave it alone.  This color is dark but soft, like a charcoal brown.  Looking at the old stain around it, the clapboards turned a bluish gray.  I think I will be happy with this.  I WILL be HAPPY with this.

 

Just wanted to mention a few things if you are considering the Andersen A series windows.  The interior is wonderful, the grilles are not.  My other Andersen had a spring ball on the ends of each bar that slipped into a little hole in the sash.  Perfect.  Someone came up with the idiotic idea to install metal clips that CANNOT be removed and have the grilles snap into them.  Are you kidding me?  I have already sliced two fingers trying to wash a window with these thin metal clips all around the glass. 

 You cannot paint them to match the bars since you can't remove them so from the outside, they look ridiculous.  The glass is also tinted green for LowE efficiency and naturally, my curtains look pukey green from the outside. 

In order for the bars to not look green, since red removes green I custom mixed a little paint for them.  Take a look at the actual color and that same color behind the glass.  What would you do with white windows and bars?  Sam couldn't believe that they need to be light purple to show as brown through that glass. And why do you not see the clip in this photo?  Because I painted card stock with the purple paint, cut pieces to cover the clips and slid it behind them. 

 

It's appropriate to show you my swollen painful fingers over a bear claw design isn't it?  Oh boy.  My feet are smooth from the Baby Foot treatment but my hands sure don't match them!

 

Now comes the dreaded interior color fiasco.  I love the colonial colors but have decided to go very light.  So far, too yellow, too green, too pink, too gray.  The usual.  I want wainscot and paneling, Sam will come back. 

 Even if I knew the colors used in these rooms, the paint would never look the same because of the computer.  But I like the look. 

Will I tire of it quickly and be sorry I didn't chose a colonial color?

 

I already am and I didn't even pick a color yet!  Why do I have this problem?  The rooms are so small I don't think doing each a different color would be a good idea, and I don't like an ivory room next to a dark one.

 

 I need help!  But honestly, what good would it do?  Whatever I choose, I will want the opposite, and choosing the opposite in the beginning never works. 

 

My laptop battery is dead and it took me many hours of research to decide which to order.  I didn't trust the "new" branded ones on Ebay and Amazon because I read they have new cells installed in old housing, not good quality to hold a charge for hours.  Didn't want to pay $100 either.  It took me four days to make a decision and it's only a battery!!  I need counseling.

 

So there you have it.  Another boring post.  I haven't stitched in a while and hope to start something soon.  Will I be able to hold the needle with these fingers?  We shall see.

Hope the week is going well for you.

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Best to stay away

The crab is having a bad day so we'll just lounge on the deck for a while.  I don't know if Missy sneaking upstairs to the craft mess and knocking things off the counter has anything to do with it.

 

Tomorrow will be a better day and we can bug her for our Temptations catnip flavor treats.  Except for Missy.

 

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Forty years later

and I finally do something with the sweet heart boxes. 

 

I sold them soooooooooooooo long ago that I don't remember how I finished them.  I'm assuming since that was the paint period, I must have done a little Christmas theme on top and sold them as ring boxes.  Probably why one has a green base with red paint over. 

The other five I decided to do white and age them.  The wood is a little rough and gives them a nice look when sanded.  I've never done anything in white but I think it's perfect for this little box.

They need a pad down at the bottom, some wax, and they're done.  Better than burning.  Perfect size for a ring or thimble, maybe a special coin.  The lid is attached by a small dowel and swivels to open.  Cute huh???  Much better in person. 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll be gone for a few days.  We're buying coveralls and hats and sanding the house this week since the painter is AWOL.  My right hand is so stiff and painful that I seriously doubt there will be any keyboard smacking.  My ankles are the same, worse than ever, mostly from the sprains (another negligence I regret not pursuing).  Tylenol does nothing and I really miss taking Advil.  Getting old!!  Another birthday this month, happy to be here and able to crab about it.

 

 Hope your week goes well!

 

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For some reason

this doesn't look as nice as I thought it would.  It looks like an Arctic Creel ate some bad fish.  Doesn't it?  I think an upright non-hurling look would be more pleasing to the eye.  Mine anyway.  And since it's right outside my kitchen window .....

I think impatiens would eventually be too large so pink and white begonias may be the ticket.  Maybe a vinca vine in the front pocket.  For this display scale is important.  Unfortunately, mine has increased once again.

 

I had another fire but held back three small boxes to label.  I know everyone is sick of them, me too.

 

Hope you're enjoying the weekend!

 

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