Still bald

There must be a secret or a trick to fitting caps to these berries and I don't know it.  The pattern for the top does not lay nicely, fit properly, and I've had it.  Spent a good amount of time working on my own cap pattern, and then put it aside.  Found a few odd sized very heavy paper mache boxes and spent a few hours and a ton of ink on a label for them.  But I love it.

 

 

Also worked on a 4" square and it will become a box of stitched house labels.  I found a few of my old squares and will add one to each side.  Will finish that tomorrow.  I will sort through the mess in the parlor and hopefully find something to stitch if not Ann.  This has been on my mind too, a gift from a reader friend.  I would love to finish it with piping as I did Beale's other round.

 

We'll see what tomorrow brings, other than rain.

 

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My berries are bald

And I don't know if I can give them a worthy cap.  It doesn't fit as I expected, too much fabric, even though the berry is stuffed to bursting.  I guess I'll work it out but after those fricking little beads, I can barely see!!  And I may have sewn a few too close to the top.  So I'll wait until tomorrow to work on them and give my dried out eyes a break.  Which would also give the berries a second chance at life.  Their first chance expired an hour ago but they begged for mercy.

 

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Rain rain go away

and DO NOT come again some other day!  The garlic is mush, the peppers are dying, the petunias are begging, the cats are confused.  At the first drop of rain or clap of thunder they are running to the house.  But today, they are so weird, cautious, unwilling to come inside which is unusual in cool damp weather.  Bud rarely goes outdoors anymore and sleeps all day, but I can't get him to come in either.   Yesterday brought severe storms and much damage (they think a tornado) in Brookfield Ohio, just several miles from us.

 

 Certainly nothing like the flooding experienced in other states, but this is mid June and we have been in the 60's and much cooler at night.  The ten day forecast is --- thunderstorms and rain every day.  This summer will be very short indeed.

As to why I don't have Mark do the low painting, he has a condition called accessory navicular which is an extra bone on the inside of the foot below the ankle.  When it acts up he needs injections.  Because of painting the walls, bending his foot while being on his knees, he needed another injection.  I don't want him in a position where the foot will be bending more than usual.  It may seem like I'm always painting, but all that talk about it was just that.  Picking colors and trying samples is a very long process with me!!  But I do have the formula now and glad I waited this long.  I am using Moore's White Dove Matte finish with 2.75 yellow tint (gallon) instead of 3.5 in the formula.  For my walls and lighting, it's good.  The north facing rooms may be able to take the full formula since they have less natural light, or I will ask for 3.0 or 3.25.  The trim being a darker white is a distinct difference giving me the colonial vibe, but light enough to feel like a white room.  Happy medium.  I may have liked the solid white, but this is a safer option for me.

 

Have a great start to your week.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

Oh!  Birthday giveaway coming up but once again, have no idea what!!

 

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Before and almost after

Baseboard is not removed, still the old color.  Wainscot is not installed.  But here are a few snaps of the before and almost after. 

The blue hutch - not sure if I will use black latch bar closures or knobs.

The built in cupboard.  The dark strip at the very bottom is the original color.  I knew if I laid there to paint it, I would not get up.  Will wait until we're painting the wainscot and do it then, suffer once rather than twice.  Thinking of using a flat dolly, laying on it, and have Mark push me around the room with the paint brush angled perfectly. 

The entire room.

The before, already pared down several times.

 

I still love the darker colonial colors!  But I am happy with the change.  Deciding which samplers or wood pieces will go on the walls won't happen until the other small room is finished. 

 

Have a great Friday!!

 

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Progess

If only I could talk Mark into taking this cabinet outside, it would make the paint job a lot easier.  I found a spray can that is very close to the paint color.  Getting into those bottom shelves will not be easy, and the top area that was open has oil based paint.  Dammit.  Sanding and primer.  My hands and fingers are becoming more stiff and thick.  Two coats of the guaranteed one coat coverage and I still see dark blue through brush strokes.  The spray is matte but it's enamel, good enough for the inside shelves and door backs.  I didn't realize Mark was kerfing the hell out of the top door or I would have stopped him.  If I want to have it open, they will of course be showing but I guess that really doesn't matter.  Until I say it does.  Gotta learn to stop sweating the small stuff!!  Do you remember Country Living magazine offering furniture plans decades ago?  This was one of them.  I have another of a step back cupboard, not yet constructed.   Haven't chosen a new chandelier yet, something simple, four tubular black arms.  Will try to sell this one but where?  FB marketplace?

 

 

The antique yellow I considered is an oil base from Old Village as old as the cupboard but still good.  I do love the mouldings and wall cupboard photos in that yellow that really isn't.  It's not gold, maybe light mustard, it's dark without being dark, soft without being pastel, settled with screaming.   Not much left, certainly not enough for the corner cupboard but maybe this one. I took the knob off long ago to repaint but never did.  I know you're stunned to read that.

 

I had to giggle at Mark this evening.  He is always shaking his head about my paint obsession and never really understood how whites and beiges could be a problem.  He did not want the dark trim painted and is now impressed with the change.  But walking into the room at dusk, he yelled to me to come quick.  "Look!!  The damn paint is yellow!  It was white this morning!"  Ah.  Lesson learned buddy.  Time of day, amount of light, curtains, all make the walls change throughout the day and now he finally gets why I am nuts about yellow or pink casts. 

 

That's it!

 

Can you believe we're heading into mid June already? 

I can't believe I will be turning 68 soon!

Wonder when we will have a warm evening.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Today's project

In attempting a clean sparse look, I think adding a top door to the corner cupboard is a good idea.  I can keep the door open against the wall to feature inside items, or close when I want a simpler look.  The very dark blue will be covered with the same color as the trim (or maybe a colonial yellow), crackled here and there to show a little blue.  Not sure if I have H hinges left, and if I do will NEVER find them, so I guess I should just order now.

 

A black and white scheme.

I just washed this rug mat, put it on top of the grain bin, and of course, Monkey Mona (Missy) thinks it's a good place to nap.  I ran my hand across her back the other day and will not try that again.

 

Have a good day!!

 

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