Baby Quilt

Last night I got started on the crib quilt for my nephew, it matches his wall hanging and I need to get it finished before making the crib bumpers since the bumpers will be made out of the scraps (haven’t designed them yet).

So all the strips are cut and so far I’ve gotten 6 blocks put together of the 20 total.  The blocks are 10 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches each so it’s a decent size quilt.

Crib quilt

The quilt is very simple, no borders, just a binding after being put together.  Although it might call for rick-rack with the binding, I’ll have to see if I have enough rick-rack.

Cabinet Doors and more

We had a pretty productive weekend, especially considering we also found plenty of time to relax and recoup from a busy week.  Friday night Ryan started working on the cabinet doors and now has all of them made up!  Here’s a picture of one set of doors, the small ones are still clamped while the glue dries and these Ryan shimmed in so you can see what they will look like.

Doors!

Here’s a closeup of the door detail before the doors were finished:

Door details

The doors came out really great, the center is MDF beadboard but once it’s all painted you won’t be able to tell the difference.  We ordered all the hardware for the drawers (10 drawers inside) and hinges and latches this weekend as well.

While Ryan did the cabinet doors I worked on the cabinet for the gym.  I made the top out of poplar, attached it and added some trim.  Then did a final sanding and primed it.

Trim detail added under the top.
The top
All primed

Next for the cabinets, once the hardware arrives, Ryan can install the doors with the hinges (they have to be mortised).  Then we need to make the drawers and install them.  Once that’s all done and everything is sanded and primed, we’ll make a top, install it and start working on the bookcases that go above the cabinets. I’d like to get the bottom part finished so we can even use it before working on the bookcases.

And the gym cabinet just needs 2 coats of paint and a drawer to be made and added (probably).  For now I may go without the drawer and see how usable it is without it.

And just for fun, here's a new picture of Fitzy boy!

Curtains

Before heading home we hung up the new curtains in my sister’s nursery.

Aimee's nursery with new curtains

Now that the curtains are finished I’m focused on the wall hanging, crib quilt, crib skirt and matching bumpers.  We’ll see what I can get done in the next 2 weeks before I see Aimee again.

Early weekend progress

Friday night and Saturday morning we got some great progress done on our individual projects this weekend already.  I worked one the curtains for Aimee’s nursery (finished them by 11:30 on Saturday!) and Ryan made great progress on the built-ins for the tvroom.

Friday night he made the face frame for the right side cabinet in there, and Saturday morning he attached it and made the face frame for the left side.  Then he played with his router bit that he hopes to use for the doors.

The built-ins with face frames!
The router detail we plan to use on the doors, we just have to pick a type of panel to use, this would be a flat panel option.

After a trip to home depot I headed down to Aimee’s house to see her and my nephew again.  He didn’t really wake up much during our visit but he did move around a bit and attempt to open his eyes for split seconds here and there, then fell into a comfy sleep (probably after he filled his diaper).

I’ll post pictures of the curtains tomorrow once they are hanging in the nursery, they don’t look like much all folded up and I can’t wait to see them hanging!

Stitch nights

Wednesday and Thursday night this week I worked on the applique for my nephew’s wall hanging. Here it is Wed night, the giraffe is done (minus the embroidery face) and the elephant body is attached. Thursday night I also attached the sun.

Giraffe done!

The applique goes so much faster than I remember and now I know why I love applique, it’s just been too long!

Sewing

I got some sewing done tonight – the valances for my sister’s nursery!

Monkey valance

I made two of them, they go with the curtains I’m still working on (one window done, one to go on those).

Valance with the curtains

Then because I won’t be home tomorrow night to sew, I got some of the animals for the quilt ready to applique and started on those – the giraffe first.  This quilt will have 4 animals total.

Applique giraffe started

In only 10 minutes or so I have more than half of the giraffe body attached already so I realized I need to go back up and prepare a few more pieces to bring, other than just the giraffe or else I’ll be doing something else tomorrow night since this will finish up quickly.

In car news – the relay switch that controls the secondary fan has gone wonky and is kicking the fan on all the time when the car is off.  This is draining the battery and now I need a new relay and a new battery.  At least I know which relay, it’s not too difficult to get to (4 bolts), so I’ll probably get a new battery tomorrow and remove the relay when I park the car until the new relay comes in (had to be ordered).  Pain in the butt having to jump my car to start it every time!

Happy Mother’s Day

It’s been a crazy week and a half!  First and foremost, my sister is now a mother!  2 months earlier than expected but she and my nephew are both doing well so Happy First Mother’s Day to my sister!

Aimee and little Jason

Last weekend while my sister was in the hospital my family all went down to their house to help out by finishing the nursery and of course offering support in any way we could.  The nursery really came out great and by the time my dad headed home we had even put in the new rug and moved in the furniture.

The nursery 'finished' (just waiting for mommy and her baby!)
The dresser and changing table
Rocking chair

This weekend Ryan and I found ourselves unexpectedly home so we spent some time working on the house (what else).

Saturday we got chores done and then made the face frame for the cabinet that goes in the gym and got that attached, as well as some feet.

Gym cabinet with face frame added
Feet for the cabinet

Ryan also finished the base for the TV room built-ins.  Which made it easy to jump into continuing work on the built-ins today.  While I sanded the gym cabinet, Ryan got the pieces for the boxes to the built-ins all cut and ready to go.  Then we put the boxes together.  We can finally get an idea for how they will look!

The right side cabinet box in place
Both sides in
Cabinet boxes in place!

Next on that project list is to make the face frames.

One other little project we did today was give Fitz a bath (well a hose shower).

Fitz all clean!

Celebrations!

It’s that time of year again!  I took a class Thursday afternoon called Autumn Gifts which introduced this string art technique.  It was a neat technique and I really like the center motif which I replicated in green on our practice piece.  I haven’t started the full piece yet, we just practiced all the stitches.

Class piece

I didn’t get to do any shopping this year and couldn’t make any other classes so this was my shortest celebrations experience but we’ve had such an eventful weekend that I haven’t actually been able to miss it much.   i do look forward to hearing about the class my friend Sarah took and I’m hoping to have some time to work on some stitching this weekend.

Happy Easter

No pictures from this weekend unfortunately but we did get some small things done and we had lots of family up to visit.

Friday night Mom and Dad came up for dinner. Fitz was mostly the topic of conversation and attention.
Saturday morning we got a few small things done around the house. Ryan hung the tv in the gym. Dad fixed the bathroom door latch so it would close (deja vu), then he also chiseled out the door frame of the gym so that door would latch shut as well. So we had some fully functional doors for the weekend!

Aimee and Jason came at lunch time (although both have a very bad cold right now) and we had lunch. Fitz and Jovi got to meet and kind of play (Fitz wanted to play, Jovi not so much). They were good though. PJ and Erica came a little later and after everyone settled in we headed over to my uncle’s for easter dinner.

Dinner was wonderful and it’s always great hanging out with the whole extended family. Fitz did great (although he stayed on the leash, mostly laying under the table). It was a little loud for him and I didn’t want him to mark anyplace in the house so we kept him close. Aimee was really looking miserable so she and I headed back a little earlier than everyone else. Of course on the drive home my check engine light came on (yup, could have checked it at my uncle’s if it came on during the drive there instead of home!).

Sunday was a relaxed day, after a big breakfast everyone headed home and we relaxed for the day, although Fitz did get a nice long walk too (he gets about 2 a day on average). Unfortunately sitting around watching movies all day gave me a migraine so it was an early bedtime for me and Fitz (he was tuckered out for sure).

Not going to be a lot of house progress the next 2 weeks, since we’re away both weekends and I have some sewing for my soon-to-be nephew that I need to get cracking on, plus a dog bed to make. I anticipate more house progress in May though 🙂