Trying To Organized My Creativeness...

I'm trying hard to organize my creative areas & get a better handle on my creativeness.

I spent the afternoon finding my sewing machine area & I'm so pleased that today I'm going to tackle the cutting area next to it.

I am for sure a piler with the idea that I'll get back to it, I never do & many more plans & projects are added to the multi-layers of finished project scraps. 

I love scraps they are like old friends that have memories for me & I want to make a scrappy quilt with them if only I could organize more time in my day!

This is not for everyone from what I have been seeing on Pinterest & other sewer's sewing rooms. I am a bit envious of how they can hide everything that is used. I love my sewing room & the memories it evokes as I create the next wonderful idea that is in my head & then in my hands!

Progress was made yesterday!

I really wish I would have had a picture before of this area that is now ready for the next project!

I store wool, serving threads, & some clothing patterns under the sewing area.

The serving area used when I make clothing is now home to the notions for marking & specialty needles. I love to have Scotch mints at hand to have a sweet treat every now & then. 

I am so enjoying having a small laptop with a speaker to listen to tutorials & music. I was watching The Mom & Pop Quilt Shop on Saturday.

There is so much stuff on this wall length, it starts with an antique 1800s oak mantel from St. John NB, my sewing machine area that was an office desk from our company working days & a cherry china cabinet that the cat loves to go into & sleep on a quilt that is stored in there. 

Awe yes, my race car days, wow what a blast of adrenaline going 135mph in 9.35secs, the best time in my race days. I finished my bucket list of going down the Miramichi Dragway before retiring.

I still have my first race car, Cobra Mustang SVT & I did take it for a ride down the highway this summer. Bill built me the car that is on the clock after that as he said I would ruin that 5-speed racing it.

OK, this is today's job...

There is a cutting mat under all this chaos. These are my WIPs - work-in-progress.

The top of this was cleared last week!! So much to do...sew little time.

Yes Nicholas those are your Pokeman PJs that will be tackled with your dad's fishing PJs this week!

I'm going to move the library of binders to a bookcase downstairs & will take out projects at hand & return them as if it was a library. lol

I've had this sign since the 70s, the colours are now coming back! But it says the best for this area.

This paint-by-number was done by me in the 60s, I was 11yrs old & saved & used 2 weeks of my allowance money to purchase it at the Hub Variety store. Dad helped me frame it & the tape is still on the back holding that precious picture in the plastic frame. Simple memories that make me smile, this room is my happy spot!

Another view of the same area of tackle today. There is a 36" cutting mat under it!!

I will tackle the top of the china cabinet another day...

Yes, that is the gorgeous Cobra Mustang but in front of it is the newest find!!

A solid cherry Gibbard china cabinet, this is the bottom. Four opening doors on the bottom with a solid wood shelf inside it! Also three drawers, the center two open as one big one!

This is the top of the china cabinet with four opening doors!

I wanted a special unit to hold all my Bunnykins that I have collected & been gifted over the years, this is the unit that is going to do just that!

What a beautiful unit it is! The company closed in 2010 because of cheaper made furniture that came in from China but the quality of these solid wood furnishings will outlast it!

This solid oak TV unit is in my sewing room now but will move to the basement for storage.

The navy botanical fabric is the skirting that I'm making for the under-counter in my potting shed to hide all the planting pots that are under it now. I'll post pics when that is done. :)

The new cabinet is smaller in width than this one & will create a wider feel to the room.

This room is wider in the front as you walk in & the width of the large window at the other end. 

The Dollarstore lilies are in bloom right now & are loving the heat & humidity!

I don't remember the name of this flowering bush that is so beautiful next to the dark siding on Bill's shop.

Baxter & Bridget are enjoying their pool time in their new pool from Dorice.xXx

This is their third pool in five summers. The plastic weakens from the sun making it brittle & cracks. The duct tape works for a while but it too wears down & the leaks happen again.

Bridget is a funny little girl Boston terrier, she loves the pool so much, and so does Baxter, they love summer & the cool-down that happens in the pool after playing fetch.

I hope you too have a cool-down area to go to with the dog days of summer upon us.

Well enough procrastination, time to put the timer on & do some work in the "Bless This Mess'' area.

Have a great week, I know I will as the kids, Nicholas & Leslie are Eastcoast bound & will be home here to start a new chapter in their life in their new home in Miramichi, NB.

My heart is so full of all the wonderful changes that are taking place within our family living in three different provinces. 

Like branches of a tree, we grow in different directions, yet our roots remain the same.

I'm looking forward to seeing all my children again at Thanksgiving. 

Have a wonderful week - wherever you are.

Thank you for stopping in to see the organizing that I am trying to do...

When all I want to do is create, well I guess I am creating, a more workable space! 

LOL

Stay safe, stay healthy!

Cynthia

Mid August Already!!

 This summer has just flown by, and what a beautiful summer it is this year.

The garden has not looked so beautiful, let's go for a stroll!

The limelight's enjoying having the two bushes removed & has filled the front of the porch again!

The Annabelles have stretched through the fence too!

Jocelyne's retirement bush has taken on a life of its own & I love the soft pink blooms on this bush!

This little garden is in the dog-run/laundry line area so I see it nearly every day hanging laundry.

The pond area is full of wildflowers & flowering ragweed that Bill & I are so allergic to but it is lovely against the lavender backdrop of flowers.

Bill moved so of the tiger lilies that we planted from the Thames River riverbank in London ON. They look lovely there! I'm going to try to bring in some bullrushes to hairspray the heck out of them & use them in some fall decor.

The pond is nearly dry now. Last year was the first year it did not dry out & looked like a skating pond in the winter.

 

Beautiful contrast with the dark siding.

Bill's shop even looks lovely with all the blooms!

The black-eyed Susans are thriving this year! The potting shed now has a variety of colours & the limelight hydrangea loves its new area next to the rain barrel! And had a surprise for me! I had put the bulbs in the potting shed to dry them out...

The heat & humidity that we have had brought these beauties back to life!

My plan was to dry the bulbs & start them this fall for Christmas bloom time!

A happy surprise! :)

The limelight hydrangeas showcase nicely against the newly painted asphalt!

This is where the bees gather!

We purchased porcupine grass to plant this year, these were the last three at 75% off!

How wonderful for us to live in a home that has resort views! Every day, every season we feel so blessed! I like the view with the dying evergreen gone after being taken down.

Such a variety of colours, I love it, so do the bees & hummingbirds!

This is the last of summer now & everything looks like it enjoyed this hot humid season.

We still have so many mosquitoes, deer flies, and black flies that love to feast on us!

The rose bush is loving this weather! And the bees are loving the sweetness from it, I love the sweet fragrance!

Napan Agricultural Fair Ribbons

I entered eight items & got seven firsts & one second.

This is the second win, this wee fox was second as the VIP print frog jumped on him for first.

I was familiar with that frog as I too had made him several years ago as a doorstop for one of the boys.

This fellow is so much more work as are all his clothing & rainbow crocheted bracelet & bag.

I even made his arms with wire armatures in them to make him poseable. 

He is very handsome even for a second place ribbon!

And here are a few of the firsts!

For my cottage PJs, I purchased batik fabric at Edge Squared Quilt Shop on one of Bev's many sales.

The fabric had a floral border on each end - I used that feature for the creative ideas that you'll see on the bottom of the pants, the sleeves & the front/back of the jacket as well as the bodice on the top!

The top has it on the bodice & the bottom! 

By the time I made this three-piece set, there were just a few scraps of fabric left.

The back of the jacket - when the pleat is closed.

Inside the pleat is the fancy edging fussy cut out to give just a geometric pattern.

A hanging detail that I do with my housecoats to hang on a hook on the back of the door.

I added a frill around the mandarin collar to add a little more interest.

These PJs were fun to design & sew together!

This vintage-looking Christening gown was done to learn a new stitch in crochet & I loved this little set in the book & wanted to take it off the page by making it!

It is so sweet & everything is 100% cotton, the dress, bonnet, and under innings of a muslin slip & panties. The lace is also real vintage lace that I had.

The lace is so soft to the touch!

I was pleased to have finished it but I could not figure out how to do the booties! And I tried several times...

My pillow of the cats, Rexon the Manx & Mr. Boots (RIP).

The hooked rug & the Christmas Carol quilt, and the Modernational Bear Quilt too will now be hung in the foyer!

These are not from my garden as I like to help support those that do sell from their gardens. 

This year we invested in a vacuum sealer & wow, when I told several people about how happy I was with mine, they all had had one for years!

These are delicious, I had a feed on them the same day I got them then sealed them for this winter

.

Thank you Sandy for the heads up on the skeleton dishes, these were the last of the plates but I was so happy to find the Peanuts plate!

I watched a tutorial on this scrappy technique & gave it a try, wow I love it!

I made another one after this one. You make 14" squares or as large/small as you want then sew them together. I made two little placemat-style ones for the woman that did the Handicraft room at the fair.

She's not a quilter & just loved them.

I loved the farmhouse feel they had when placed in the antique dough bowl! May have to make more for myself! lol

Apartment Update

The drywall is done & today the apartment is being painted.

The kitchen cupboards have been installed & not without a hiccup!

One of the foundation cupboards from IKEA was not delivered but has now been found on the delivery truck & will be delivered this Friday!

The countertop will be ready next week for pickup.

The fridge is still on backorder & it was ordered in May! What an uncertain time we live in now.

The floor looks great!

Storage room with an outlet to put the small deep freezers in.

The bedroom trim is now in place & ready for the painters.

I like the vertical five-panel doors, I've had them installed here so when the apartment was designed I added them there too!

The bathroom vanity is installed & the white subway tile will be installed this week too.

The IKEA storage unit is coming along nicely!

So many boxes have been flattened down from IKEA, it does help when you have to transport items if they are flattened into boxes!

Well, there you have it, a week in the life of Cynthia. 

Bill is leaving this weekend to go get Leslie & Nicholas for their big move out to the east coast.

A convoy will be coming back next Thursday, Bill with his truck & trailer, Leslie in her car, & Nicholas in his car...coming home.

Have a wonderful week wherever you are!

Enjoy this month as when we turn the corner to the next, it will be September!

Wishing you health & happiness always!

Cynthia

I'm over the moon to have a family with us