A blog about my adventures in sewing & crafting

Friday, April 30, 2021

April's Happenings-Lots of Pictures

 April has happened so fast.  Some days I feel like I can't keep up.  One day at a time, right?  

Dear Hubby is so sweet to take a selfie with me most Sundays.  He's so handsome!


Sunday Selfie April 11, 2021

I have been working on two pieces of furniture since having the floors put in.  The dresser is in our living room behind our recliners. We purchased this dresser over 10 years ago for $38!  I used Rust-o-leum Chalked paint for the body and Minwax Jocobean finish for the top.  This was a labor of love and took up Dear Hubby's barn for 6 weeks!

Refinished dresser


Our dining table is 27 years old and needed some much needed love.

Dining Room Table & chairs

Boy AJ's little sister got a new dog.  He's a Frenchie.  He melts my heart!  We've adopted him and consider ourselves babysitters when needed.  That face!


We are still doing some yard work.  Dear Hubby was worried about burning this large brush pile.  It only took a half day to burn down but the final logs burned for 6 days!


A firefighter from Church asked if I could fix the backing of a beloved quilt.  How can I say no?  The quilt is made from all his old blue jeans.  It's heavy!

Quilt repair

Using my Brother industrial machine

Dear Hubby did another yard project.  Helps to protect our well pipes too.


I had a major accident with my finger and the pool filter.  I didn't win!  Sewing is limited to one handed for a while.  I didn't know how "attached" I was to my nail until it was painfully ripped from my finger!

Nail Accident

Three days later



Maxx came for a visit again


He's soooo cute!

We wore him out!

The pool is uncovered but still too cool to swim.



Dear Hubby had a BIG birthday this month.  50!  He's healthier & feels better than he did at 30.  Still no date for his pacemaker replacement.  That's good but also bad since we cannot make travel plans until he's recovered.

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Sunday Selfie April 18, 2021

My nail isn't looking so bad.  I soak it numerous time during the day in Epsom salts and wear a band-aid to protect it.  But it feels like an electrical shock if something hits it.  

Finger Day #4

I tried beach waves with my hair.  I look like Medusa!  My hair is so straight.  We'll see how this looks this evening when it relaxes a bit.  I go next week for a trim.  

Beach Waves??

Hair cut has been rescheduled due to Hubby's upcoming Pacemaker replacement surgery.  It's finally happening!  We've been waiting since the first of the year but it keeps on ticking so the Cardiologist is holding off as long as possible.  This will be his 5th device change.  He's also on schedule for test about his continual abdominal pains.  After all his surgeries last year he still has severe pain in his abdomen.  I do hope it's something minor.


I finished the quilt for the Firefighter the best I could with 9 fingers.  I just hand tied the layers together with embroidery thread.  It took me a good week to complete.  I wish I was able to do more on the machine but the quilt was so heavy and I was unable to grab, push & adjust it while sewing.  I did the best I could.




Lots of hand knots


1 week later, still sensitive but improving!

These waves lasted for 3 days!  Crazy hair!
4/21 Selfie

Boy F and Dear Hubby went Fishing and I had a half day to sew!  It was slow but so nice to get into the sewing room & back to my machines.


I am really liking this pattern.  Classy and an easy sew.  It has pockets!  I sewed an XL skirt and a Med/Large top with a C cup.  I lengthened the skirt 1" and raised the v at the center front 1-1/2".  Easy fixes and I'm thinking since I have the pattern out to make a maxi version.



Love Notions Olympia Dress


Sunday Selfie 4/23/21

I heard that you should sew a pattern three times.  I didn't show you the brown ITY knit muslin version.  It fits good enough to wear around the house.  

Third times a charm!

Today is Dear Hubby's surgery day.  Prayers & Good Wishes for a speedy surgery & an easy recovery because "we got plans!"

Happy Sewing..................

Until next time...............

Bonnie




Friday, April 9, 2021

Easter 2021-Love Notions Willow Wrap Dress

Love Notions patterns did not disappoint with their Willow Wrap Dress pattern.  I cut a straight size XL.  (I need to work on those lumps & bumps again!) I did not have to do a full bust adjustment or a sway back adjustment!  It fit with no alterations!  Way to go Love Notions!

Jen from Jen's Sewing Room on YouTube talked about printing the directions in a booklet form .  What a genius idea!  Sewing mentors are great!

Love Notions Willow Wrap Dress Booklet!

Hand directions

I added a flutter sleeve to the dress and after all the indecision about the sleeves, it ended up being chilly and I had to wear a jacket.  Uggghh!  Florida weather!

Love Notions Willow Wrap Dress

Only a quick selfie after Church.  We had a long day and left for service before dark. 

Easter 2021

Dear Hubby was straightening the flag, it looks like he's praying.  He said he was watching where he stepped so he didn't fall.  The perils of getting older! P.S. (He's about to be 50!)

Dear Hubby fixing our Flag

I had hoped to get a full on photo of me wearing the dress but it hasn't happened yet.  So I decided to go ahead and post what photo I had.  

I have not had much time for sewing this past week but hopefully soon I can whip something up.

Until next time................

Happy Sewing

Bonnie




Thursday, April 1, 2021

Goodbye March

**WARNING** LOTS OF PICTURES** LITTLE SEWING**A LOT OF LIFE**

 I have had a lot going on for the past month!  We moved back into our house after having all new flooring installed and of course that came with a lot of house projects.  Cleaning, painting, re-decorating, more painting........ you get the idea!

I did get my sewing machines set up and ALL my fabric put away.  Of course I had to make a few sewing room décor items.  I made new curtains, machine covers & ironing board cover.  Girl M & I also did a craft project/wall art. 

Sewing room curtains

Sewing Machine Covers

Ironing Board Cover

Wall Art

We are attending Church again!  I have missed Church so much!  It's nice to have a little normalcy returning again.

March 14 Church Selfie

Girl M. had a birthday.  She's 19!  Where does the time go? We took her to a Fallen officer funeral at the National Cemetery then a ride through the forest.  We stopped and took a selfie at the Iron Bridge.  She went to work that evening.  We're so proud of her!

19 Birthdays!

We dog sat the grand-dogs one weekend.  They are very active dogs compared to our two and I finally wore them out being outside ALL day!

Grand-dog sitting

Progress on my hair grow out.  It's very bothersome & in my eyes all the time.

Hair grow out-Mid March

Dear Hubby is still working with the neighbor doing farm work.  He sends me selfies during the day!

Moving the wildflowers

Dear Hubby has learned to send me Bitmojis from his phone!  LOL! He keeps me on my toes!
Dear Hubby loves his coffee!

Hummingbirds have returned for another season

Hummingbird season

We worked in the yard replanting flowerbeds on the West side of the house.  Nothing much grows there so we decided hedges and grasses was our best bet.  

West side flowerbeds

We also had a few trees removed that had some damage from the tornado on Christmas Eve.  I've lived on this piece of property for 43 years and cutting down trees breaks my heart.  But after having them removed and seeing that they were rotten I don't feel as bad.

Before

After

Rotten trees

I also had a Birthday in March.  It was a quiet one.  Just how I like it!  Dear Hubby took me out for Dinner.

Birthday date night selfie

I have a Dear Friend who made me a robe!  A "made for me" gift!  I love it!  Thank you so much!

"Made for ME!" robe

March 21 Church Selfie

Girl M got me an apron with chickens on it.  So cute!  It's good to have them Birthdays!  Sure beats the alternative!

Chicken apron

I've done my wifely duties and went with Dear Hubby TWICE this year to the auto races!  P.S. I kinda like him!

Auburdale Speedway

Speedway selfie

Sunday selfie:  My hair looks very white here

March 28 Church selfie

Hair grow out: I try to make it behave!

We traded our neighbor property and are fencing around our yard.  Dear Hubby taught me to drive the tractor!  My "new" favorite hobby!

Tractor work!

"New" favorite hobby!

One done, many more to go!

Another cornerpost in!


Working selfie!

I have to get sewing on my Easter dress.  Dear Hubby picked out his shirt & tie and I think I found a fabric that matches/coordinates well with his choice.  I'm thinking a Love Notions Willow Wrap dress.  You never know how hot/cool it will be here for Easter so I'm stressing most about what type of sleeves and skirt length.

 
Easter plans

I hope that April is as good to us and that I will have a lot to report back about.

Until next time.....................

Bonnie