NEW BLINDS

The three windows across the front of the house had mini-blinds – original to the house I’m sure so they were about 11 years old.  They didn’t open and close very well and the big wide one in the bonus room was very hard to raise.  I finally ordered a new one for that window from Just Blinds. I’ve had it for a week or so and today decided to see if I could find some inexpensive blinds for the other two windows that are not nearly as wide as that window.  Anyway, I found some at Lowes.  They w ere not as wide as I wanted – 31 instead of 32 inches but I knew I could hide the small gaps by hanging panels that I already have on each side of the window in the guest room and eventually in my sewing room if I decide I want to.  Anyway, I got the narrower blinds because they were about 1/3 of what it would have cost me to have them order some 32” blinds and also cheaper than having them trim some Levelor blinds to the right size.

Brian came down after work and helped me put them up – he did most of the work while I watched.  I had spent about 45 minutes before he got here measuring, marking with a pencil, drilling pilot holes and then putting up one piece of the hardware on the first of the two smaller windows.  Probably at least half of the 45 minutes was spent trying to get the two screws in.  He finished the two small windows and then the larger one in 30 minutes tops and didn’t have to stand on a stool to do it!!:)

Thanks Brian.  Here’s the results.  (Please ignore any clutter that you see.  I think I’ll spray paint that wooden rod either white or oil rubbed bronze.  I have some of both.  When I replace those panels and I will when I figure out exactly how I want to decorate in there and make a quilt for the bed.  I’m going to raise the rod up so the curtains that I make will start closer to the ceiling.  There is only about 10-12 inches above the window anyway.

If I decide not to hang drapes in the bonus room, I’ll take down the rod and touch up the paint.

You can see the gap on the right side of this blind.  It’s not terrible but at some point I might make some panels – maybe the red that’s in the valance on each side.  They will have to be pretty narrow because the shelves come to the window casing so I don’t know …..

GOINGS ON

Today I finished up a series  of two once a week classes on how to use my serger.  Even though I’ve used it a little (meaning not even once every month or two) over the two years I’ve had it, I knew there was a lot more I could do with it so I signed up for this class at the Bernina shop and it was great.  I can thread it without having to use the manual, change the needles and have a much better understanding of how it works.  We used a different color of thread for each of  the loopers and the two needles so we could see exactly what each part played in the stitching.  My serger is pretty basic but it can still be used for some decorative stitching.  I have some fabric that would be good to make a couple of nightgowns. 

I can’t wait to do them with the serger and put what I learned to practice.

I’ve also made two more of these  crayon roll-ups  in cute girly fabrics (I’ll definitely be making some more)–
 

but forgot to take pictures  and I finished the blue and the purple fatquarter dresses and –surprise, surprise – I failed to take pictures of the blue one before I gave it away.  But it looks just like the purple one except for the color difference.  I made some changes to the pattern as I made the dresses so it took me a little longer.

  
Finally finished smocking this dress –

and hope to get it finished before I go to PA at the end of the month so I can give it to a special little redhead who will be turning 1 this Friday.

That and doing homework for my “Sew Like a Pro” class has filled up much of my spare time.
Hope everyone is having a fun week. 

JUST WONDERING

 Why have a display of plates  on the wall when you could do something like this?

 (photo from Whip Up)

WHAT HAPPENS AT GRAMS STAYS AT GRAMS … OR DOES IT??

Vail and Katy came home with me after church this morning so they could play with Avery.  She and her Dad spent the night last night after we all went to the big fireworks show at Southern Hills.  Anyway, while we waited for Avery to get here from church, they were playing up in the bonus room while I cleaned up from our lunch as I was watching a DVR’d Holmes on Homes.  Just as I glanced up to check on the girls Katy happened to say “Grams, I’m stuck.”  This is what I saw.

Yup, Kates had stuck her head through the bannister.  She looked away as I took the picture but she was actually grinning and giggling for the moment.  Anyway, I was envisioning having to find a hacksaw to get her loose but right then Michael and Avery arrived and we managed to get her out with a minimum of crying and no damage to person or property.  The funniest thing is that the space just to the left of where she is is large enough that she has turned sideways and put her whole self through the rails but where she was her head would not come out easily.   Michael played the part of Samson and pulled the spindles outward and they did move a little, I kind of lifted her up and when it seemed her head would come out without catching, I just pulled her back.  It was a tight squeeze but nothing caught on the way out.  Anyway, I don’t think she will do it again.  After a quick recovery  everyone was back to playing and a great time was had by all.

Hope everyone had a fun fourth.