Thursday, November 12, 2009

Little Things Count Too

These have all been on my list of things to do for a long time. It's great to have them checked off. I finished painting this guest bedroom a lovely shade of spring green. My boys are sure to tease me that it's another Easter egg colored room, but I like it. It's a perfect compliment to the creamsicle whirlygiggles quilt so I threw that on the bed. It needed something, so I made some pillows to match.
I did some straight line freehand loopy quilting on the pillows to match the quilting on the quilt.
Redid my sewing machine cover to fit the new machine. Gotta keep dust away from my baby.
Reupholstered my stool and chair that I use in my studio. I used Michael Miller's mirror ball dots in orange and green. Love that fabric. Many of you have emailed and asked for info on how to upholster. I'm clueless about upholstery except to cut a piece of fabric bigger than the seat, flip it over, pull it taut and staple the hell out of it. Upholstery 101...take that, Martha.
We're almost up to 200 folks in the 'Joy in the New Year' challenge. Can't you hear the sewing machines buzzing? Lots of finishes are happening....lots of happy people. It's a good thing!

49 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm hosting a quilt retreat for the next three days, so I'm going to get a long ways in to my goal. Bring on the prizes!!!

Unknown said...

oh, to be a guest in that bedroom!!!!

Wendy said...

love, love, love the color! Any chance you can share it?

calicodaisy said...

My first project to check off is making a backing for my Turning 20 quilt and sending it off for quilting. I made three log cabins and now just need to set them into the solid and all will be ready to send off to the quilter.

Your pillows are perfect for your modern quilt look.

MichelleB said...

What fun things! I love the pillows and the quilting on them. They look great on the bed with the creamsicle quilt.

Needled Mom said...

Lots of great finishes there! I would love to be a guest in that very pleasant guest room....very calming.

Dempsey Rice said...

I'm wondering if you can point me to a tutorial about reupholstering a chair... or if you can post one? I've got a chair to do but have been a bit scared to do it!. Thanks!

paulette said...

LOVE the guest bedroom and the quilt/pillows are gorgeous...green IS my favourite colour! I have packed my bags...now where is that you live? :o)
Paulette

Jennifer said...

I love all the "little things" you got accomplished! I love your new sewing machine cover...

Jennifer :)

Meredith said...

Wow I have wanted to make a sewing machine cover for the longest time. I like how yours turned out. Nice spare bedroom. The bed looks so inviting.

Colleen Lunt said...

I love the quilting on your quilt. It is really pretty after the washing and puffing.

Quilt Rat said...

WOW! Great finishes....way to go!

Quilt or Dye said...

Here is a link to some of my finished projects. Thanks for the challenge! http://quiltordye.blogspot.com/

Sequana said...

I always re-do my "office chair" seats and backs too. *S* They look SO much nicer. And I just saw a sewing machine cover in the Moda Bake Shop that I'm gonna make. But not until I finish up my five UFOs......*S*

I thot I'd be done with #2 by now, but it has some hand work on it that I'd forgotten about - so it's taking longer.

Audrie said...

Love the pillows! So simple yet so pretty :) I need to make a new sewing machine cover... mine doesn't quite fit properly hehe

Poppyprint said...

I love the new-look furniture (also a big mirror ball fan!). It seems like good-wearing fabric for seat covers...let us know how it fares. Great extension on the sewing machine cover, too! (hey, my word verification is asillyme..guess I better do something outrageous today).

Thimbleanna said...

Your guest room looks great. I LOVE that quilt!

Abby and Stephanie said...

Your guests won't want to leave!!! Gorgeous. LOVE the machine cover.

Helby said...

Beautiful!
How long did it take you to do the loopy stitching? I don't think I have the patience for that.

Karen said...

The guest bedroom looks fab-u-lous. I really like the quilting. One day I am going to try that. I am going to start finishing my UFO's next year after I finish making Christmas presents. I am really enjoying all your finishes and it is keeping me motivated to get to my UFO's. So thank you!

amylouwhosews said...

Great finishes! I'm going to put the zipper in my year-old duvet cover tonight!

What Comes Next? said...

Look at you go! Great work getting things knocked off your list. I've almost got my first one done, and the second is out and the quilting is being planned. This challenge is great for getting me to actually work on some of these projects that have been kicking around forever.

Meg said...

What great finishes! I'm doing something similar--bathroom has been repainted, new trim and doors painted, AND a baby quilt basted. If I can get the mini and 2 throws finished by January 1, I'll have done my part! :D

Ruth said...

I'm a huge mirrorball fan too. Is there a way to put the Joy in the New Year challenge button/sticker on our own blogs? I thing that would be a fun way to reach out to more people.

Diane said...

lovely pillows and the chairs rock!

courtney.janelle.sews said...

I've been wanting to recover my sewing chair! It looks soooo fab in that fabric. I keep forgetting I want to buy all the colors of mirror dot.

henny said...

Wow...so many pretty projects at this post, all fabulous!

Sherri said...

Gorgeous guest room...and great finishes! Had to laugh at your upholstery tutorial!!!----Loved it!

One Flew Over said...

Fantastic! I love those cushions...especially the quilting, beautiful work.

Rose said...

I love that straight line loopy quilting! Looks simple, but I'd wager I wouldn't have a straight line by the time I was done!! Also, I've seen a detailed tutorial on how to recover office chairs like yours at Design Sponge, here is the link:
http://www.designspongeonline.com/2007/10/diy-wednesdays-office-chair-upgrade.html
You can share it with your readers if you like!

XUE said...

Your guestroom - that lovely quilt & your pic make it look like a page from a quilting magazine!!! So, so pretty!

Julie @ Jaybird Quilts said...

"take that, Martha." i love it!! your chairs look great.. i know the feeling of getting simple little things done around the house.. it is great!

Anita said...

Yay for finished projects!!!

MightyMom said...

having recovered my love seat a couple years ago I'll say that's about it. now having pillows that are L shaped and bolsters made it exciting!


great job on all those things. Who knew you were an Easter person too? That's been said about my house many times. light blue living room. yellow girl's room, medium green boys room and lilac my room....thinking about painting the kitchen turquoise.....

CitricSugar said...

WOW. Your "little things" make writing "get a coffee" on my daily checklist seem really silly. :-)

They all look fantastic and I LOVE your machine cover. I gotta make one of those one of these days. Right after I get a coffee. :-)

Wendy said...

Love the matching pillows - and hey, we went to the same upholstery class!
The dots are so happy -

Wendy said...

Best description ever for upholstery! That's EXACTLY how I do it.

Rebekah said...

love that cute little pillow!

I used to babysit for a family that had a pastel colored house. Every room was a different color of the pastel rainbow. Sounds cheesy, but it was gorgeous and very classy looking.

Those are great upholstery tips...that's exactly how I do it. :)

Kelly O. said...

I love that mirror ball dot fabric! I first saw it here and now I'm hooked! I've bought a ton of it for Christmas projects!

Victoria said...

Everything looks wonderful! Once again I wish I had some of your energy!

Jody said...

LOVE the pillow cases and spring green room. Am working on a quilt that so reminds me of your "He's A Star" - come on over and have a look - TheDailyFiber.blogspot

Darcie said...

It all looks amazing!!! I want you -- I NEED you -- to come Jacquie-fy my home!!! ;-)

I my. My word verification: housivi. Will you come to my *housivi* (house if I) promise to cook for you? hehe

Amanda Jean said...

lovely guest room!!!

Marjorie said...

Sewing machines buzzing??? WHAT? Then explain why my fingers are raw from all that hand quilting. Maybe I should start posting pics of my sad fingers instead of my finished projects.

Millie said...

I just LOVE the Wirly Gig quilt...I have one on my list and I just have to give it a try.

leslie said...

i am thinking you have accomplished a whole lot of things!! all of them just beautiful of course.

mama24monkeys said...

That is exactly how you reupholster a chair. Great Job!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE the disco dots! Whenever I find them in a shop I get so excited. Still kick myself for not buying the whole bunch when they came out.

I unofficially joined the challenge. I should have taken before and after of the huge wooden bowl that was full!

Piles of Pj bottoms today!

savvy stitch said...

I love your work! Would you be willing to explain how you did the loopy quilting?

emily.nudelman@gmail.com