Land of the Unfinished and other closet finds....

 I do not have a craft room in my house.  A few years ago, I started to move totes of yarn upstairs, on shelves on one wall of the "gym" room.  I have always used our walk-in closet for such items, along with shelves in my utility room.

I have started the process of cleaning it all out of the closet, and oh my word, did things get buried in there.  I have used a  bookshelf full of crafting items.  I am attempting to empty it, come up with an organized storage upstairs, and move the bookshelf to the "guest" bedroom or spare room.

Unfinished Christmas ornaments in a kitchen soup bowl.  Gulp!  I started these in 2017!!!!  That was six years ago.  I was making them for the kids for Christmas, and even wrote a blog post for making them on my other blog:  HERE

Under those above ornaments a pair of unfinished candy corn earrings.  Have no idea why that tiny spool was in there.

Unfinished granny square scarf, and one water balloon.

Unfinished set of pot holders, because I could not get yarn that matched to make the second one.

Unfinished cover top for one of the girls.

Unfinished camper Christmas ornaments.

Unfinished flip flop key chain.

Unfinished thin dishcloth.

Unfinished Christmas ornament project.

Unfinished set of pot holders.

Unfinished knitted dishcloth.

These are the current "finds" in the closet

My first, ever pair of crocheted baby booties.  They ended up too big.

A pair of thick socks we bought for one of the kids for Christmas last year.

More lip balm and salve containers I didn't know I had.

Six hand sewn apron bottle drink covers with straw slot on the front.  I put a pencil in the top one to show you.  I bought these so, so, so many years ago from a friend.  I have a women's group at that time, and I wanted to gift them.  I guess that never got done, ha ha! 

I found a dime while cleaning.  Smiling here.

Oh, we have only just begun.  However, I have finished painting one entire doorway trim in the hallway.

Beautiful Day ~ Painting Resumes ~ Balancing Act

 

While the washer was doing it's thing, I cleaned my clothesline.  Boy it was dirty.

We had a beautiful  60 degree day, so I took advantage of it.  It won't be so nice the rest of the week.  See that lonely sock?  Daughter E did her laundry here a few days ago, and it must have fallen into my dirty towels ha ha

The entrance way to the kitchen from the hallway, is arched.  That is the color of wood before I started painting it. It truly made the rooms look so much brighter, and we love it.  However, I have 4 more doorways, and two windows to paint.  It's a get-er' done over the next few weeks.

The only thing motivating me, is the fact our garden is flooded, so I can't do anything out there until it dries up.  We are supposed to get snow/rain this Friday anyway.  

Since I took those photos, I now have the side door trim primed and will paint it today.  It's a process, and I will be so happy when we are done, but when exactly is "done" around here ha ha!

First, I had to clean all that trim around the side door with vinegar water and a rag.  While that dried, I took down the only curtain in that area, and washed it.

It needed a washing anyway, so that spring clean job is done.

Then where ever I cannot use my handy tool around the edge of the trim, I put up paint tape.

Followed by a coat of primer, then I wash out my brush and wash the tool, move ladders, remove paint tape, put lid on can and do it all over again the next day.  Not my favorite thing to do.  Painting that is, but so much cheaper than buying all new trim for the entire house.

Oh, and the interruptions during the painting process result in a loud heavy sigh, a few expletives, and eye rolling.  Not fun when you are down on the floor, and the phone rings in the other room.

It's been a balancing act between painting the hallway trim, and cleaning up the bedroom walk-in closet.  I'm working on purging, re-organizing and getting anything off the floor to prepare for carpet removal, but I have a lot of work to do.  I could not believe how much yarn I still have in my closet, unfinished Christmas ornaments, unfinished Christmas gifts, and a whole lot of crafting supplies.  Everybody may end up with something crocheted next Christmas ha ha ha!  I guess it depends on how busy our garden year is, and what still needs done inside the house (which is a lot yet).

I filled a garbage bag with yarn to take upstairs, but that is not even close to what's still to be collected and moved up in storage.  Oh boy.  I do have my computer area organized with a notebook for what to make with what, so I'm staying on task and using up what I have.

Coffee Hour and Computer Time

 

I've been spending morning coffee hour looking at paint colors for the next upcoming rooms/hallway.  It's not easy for sure.  I may buy samples again, as the color is never the same on the paint chip as it is on the wall.  Lighting can also change the color in a room or hallway.

By looking them up online first, it saves me a lot of him-hawing time at the hardware store.  It also helps me visualize the room/trim etc.  

I've also been pretty regular at devoting a few days a week to load any useable digital coupons from two stores, but thinking about starting up digital with a third.  The way things are going, any savings helps these days.

Boring post today folks.

Ornament Idea and other ramblings....

 

I saw this ornament for sale the other day.  I thought it was so cute, but look at how small that is.  You'd almost have to knit with toothpicks to create one, ha ha!  Just thought I'd share.

One window and office door trim is completely done.  In the spring, I will take that door off and paint it.  It's just not on the to-do list right now.  Anyway, I later removed all the paint tape and started on the next window.  I'm so glad we decided last minute to paint the trim.  No better time than now with the flooring not in yet.  It really brightened up the room.

I can tell you, that is has not been fun.  I never knew how many muscles were used for painting.  I have to climb the tall ladder to paint the top of the windows, and literally lay down on the floor to paint the bottoms of the windows.

The only reason I have not painted the trim around the stairway, is that our handyman ran staples into the trim to hold plastic up, so I'm waiting on the spackle to dry.  Oh, he put 4 or 5 staples in the wall to hold up wires, so I have to spackle that today too.  Just a what were you thinking moment....

I got a tall order for a crocheted blanket.  I'm hoping for some holiday sales for the yarn.

Heat and Eat Breakfast ~ Painting Progress ~ Asparagus

My husband and his crew are getting taco breakfast burritos.  I had to cheat and use tater tots vs. real potatoes, but it's their heat and eat meal this morning.

I spent the entire day painting.  I have officially used almost an entire roll of frog tape.  The trim on the ceiling takes the most work.  I have a second coat to do on one window and start on the very last window.

Window blinds arrived, but I'm only ready to install one for the moment.  I am still doing painting on the wood above the window and sink area.

My new drawer knobs arrived.  I have to buy longer screws for the desk drawers, but what an amazing new look with just paint and knobs.

Before

After, but still in progress

I'm still painting floor trim and corner trims, so those in the back ground are the darker wood I am painting white.

Our asparagus is still coming in.  So thankful for that.