The Power of Paint

There have been so many project going on around here lately! Sewing, gardening, painting, crafting..... Since it finally feels like summer, it seems like everyone has burst in activity. I love Saturday's and tend to cram so much in that I am wore out by Sunday! This Saturday was no exception. 

The list included:

 ~ Wash and paint the wicker furniture I bought Friday.

First coat done! isn't it looking good?

~ Paint the decks chairs I recently acquired.

~ Paint the back steps to the basement.

(This has been on my list for a very long time. I tried to paint last winter, but because of the extreme cold the back stairs weren't even 50 degrees!)

So excited with how it turned out! Now we just need to paint the walls, trim and door. 

Just in case anyone needs to know this is Sherwin William's "Powder Blue". It is the same color as the porch floor and you may have noticed I am also painting the deck chairs with it.

Those are just a few project I have been working on lately, can't wait to share the details with you soon. It always amazes me what a good coat of paint can do!

Quick Fix Alterations from Women's Day magazine-1954

 These pages I found in the 1960s Decorating book. You never know what you will find! They are from Women's Day November 1954. 

Some of the tips are helpful, but what really caught my eye was the illustrations. Too cute!

Pink Geraniums

Tutorial: Making Double Fold Bias Tape

This post is for my little sister Becky (who might be a little spoiled). 

Bias tape is really only four steps. Cut. Sew. Fold and Iron. Fold and Iron again. Sounds pretty easy right? It is!

First off, you will need fabric. It really doesn't matter how much, but if it is less then a fat quarter, the seams get a little too much. You will need to start by finding the bias of the fabric. I do this by folding one corner in diangnaly and cutting on the fold. Now cut strips along the fold. If you want 1/4 binding you will need to cut an 1 1/4 strips, if 1/2 inch binding 2 1/4. This is because I it shrinks up in the making because of the stretch. 

Next sew all your strips together by matching the angled ends so they make a right angle turn. (Like sewing quilt binding together.) This ensures your seams don't stretch out of shape as they are now sewn on the straight of grain. Trim all seams even so there is nothing for the bias tape maker to get stuck on.

Iron all seams flat going one way. I usually also iron the strips to make sure it will run through the maker nicely.

Now take one end of your strips and feed it through the larger end on the maker.

I poke the fabric in as far as it will go and then use a pin to pull it through the rest of the way.

Once it is through, pull out an inch or two.

Flip the maker around so the handle is pointing down and pin the tail end to the ironing board.

Pulling slowly and straightly, pull the bias maker down the fabric with one hand, with your other hand iron down the fold. Do not pull too hard or you will stretch your bias tape out. If you do see it stretching, after you have pulled for a few inches, move the bias maker back up slightly to ease some of the tension. 

You will need to keep repositioning the pin as you work your way down your strip. Remember to keep the tension steady, but not too strong that will stretch the fabric out of shape.

You will now have a lovely length of single fold bias tape! To make it double fold, there is one more step.

Using the pin to hold your tape in place, fold in half.

Iron well to give a crisp finish.

You are done!! Now you need never stand in the fabric worrying what color of bias tape to get, the one that is a little brighter or the one that is a little more green?

(Sorry the photos aren't so good. This was kind of an experimental post using iPad photos.)

Sittin' on the Front Porch

It is such a beautiful day here, I thought this post would be fitting! 

We are enjoying our porch so much this year. Too many things to do last year for much porch sitting time. Naturally, it is still a work in progress. Someday I will come across the perfect set of wicker furniture at a great price, that is my dream anyway.

 Mandy had her knitting group over for lunch earlier this week. She decided it would be lovely to enjoy it on the porch. We moved the table from the other side, popped up the leaves and added a few chairs. Perfect! (Until the wicker furniture appear I think this is the look we will have.)

When I do get that wicker furniture, I am thinking of moving the table back to the other side, but leave the leaves up with a few chairs. Just need to decide what color to paint the chairs........

And of course, what cottage porch is complete without a potted geranium?

Happy Summer!

On Living Less

Have you read the story of Carmella and her family at Assortment? When their world fell apart during the recession, they moved into a 665 sq. ft. cabin. Her blog is the chronicle of their life "On Living Less". My mom and I discovered her several months ago and we have savored every word. For us, it is very timely. Though we have not been forced to downsize so dramatically, our living space is about halved from our previous home. And we certainly identify with Carmella on uncertain economics issues and major life changes.

Today, Carmella posted on savoring the small triumphs of life and remembering to find the opportunity in waiting. To realize that our life doesn't have to be perfect, our To-Do list complete or all our dreams come true to be able to enjoy life's opportunities. Even though we may be waiting for an important decision to be made, a better job found, or a house to be completely finished, we can savor perfect moments and find opportunities of enjoyment.

It reminds me of last summer when it was so chaotic. When we were living in an upper apartment with a dorm room sized refrigerator. When every waking moment was spent hurrying to work so we could hurry  home to work on the house. But it didn't matter if we didn't go anywhere or do anything fun. It didn't matter if we didn't have running water or working light switches. That wasn't going to stop us from having our family parties. We would all sit around the table in my half-finished house on an odd assortment of chairs, stools and benches, usually in our sweaty work clothes, and talk and laugh about the next project, the next dream. 

June is Busting Out All Over

 It is so nice to have a bit of warmth again, to feel the sun shining brightly on one's face. I think the plants are appreciating it too. They seem to be all bursting into bloom with extra vigor this year. This is the neighbors lilac bush peeking over the fence next to my garage. 

My sister Mandy and I were so excited to finally dig into the flower beds this year! It doesn't look like much yet, but it is a whole lot better. When I bought the house, there was one bush, that was it. One giant, thorny bush. We made the flower beds deeper and once the little sidewalk to the right of the front door is pulled up, that flower bed can also be deepened.

We put in boxwood, winter creeper, astilbe, and coral bells along with the hydrangeas and pansies already there. 

I am so excited to how well my hydrangeas are doing, (just behind the astilbe) can't wait to see it blooming!

 Along the side of the house we have lily of the valley, which I meticulously pulled up last year. But you wouldn't notice that now, so I have given up the fight and decided there is much better things to do with my time! 

 It's not that I don't like lily of the valley, they just tend to go crazy and take over. But they are growing on me........and the scent is divine!

 Also along the side of the house are Iris, rescued from our sister in law's house before construction began.

 One of our favorites!

These adorable boots were a house warming gift from sister Becky last year. So cute filled with petunias and dahlias!