I'm Not Complaining, I'm Just Saying!

Wow, I was featured today and that was the one good thing that happen, thank you Lauren @ West Furniture Revival.

 I wanted to post my just finished Redo Furniture, but I am fried, my back is killing me and my brain does not seem to work properly.  To be on the safe side, posting furniture will have to wait.
 I had just accidentally added myself as a follower ON my own blog!  OMG!  It took me a while, but I did remove it, I am quite sure before anyone noticed, being new and all!  I am anxious for followers, but not that desperate!!
I must have inhaled too much paint, which is hard to do since I paint by brush and roller?  I just may have to get a paint GUN sprayer, that so many are using?  I  really do like to paint  the hard way, I could be wrong but I thought it came out better?  Any advice?  I have some fear of the paint GUN sprayer,  I imagine getting paint on everything, picturing our garage and yard to look like graffiti at its worse!
 Or  maybe the reason my fingers and brain are not coordinated , could  be the wind  blowing so hard last night  that it woke me at 3am and I could not go back to sleep?
 I will return with better capabilities for my revealing of new items,  I hope you will check back to see them!
Thank you for listening, going for a hot bath!

Shabby Do!

Hello, I am doing this background in Blue due to it is cloudy and cold today!  When is the true spring coming?
Yesterday I was outside painting new Redo Furniture to post and working with White paint, it was so sunny and warm I peeled off my winter wear to put on some old summer paint clothes, skimpy but what the heck, paint and get some tan at the same time, why not?  I don't know who was whiter me or the paint?  Oh well if neighbors look over or through the fence they will not try that again!

Today, I just put my winter painting gear in the dryer to warm it up before going in the garage to work, good idea, feels so good, now I just want to go lay around and watch TV! 

Better get out there while I am still warm, trying to get more posted soon, have a good day!

Vintage Pillowcase Quilt--------Finished!!

Yea!  I have finished the vintage pillow case quilt.  It measures 48x72 and the following is how I put it together:

1. Cut 24    8 1/2 x 8 1/2 squares from vintage pillowcases
2. Cut 48    2 1/2 x 8 1/2 border strips from white cotton material
3. Cut 48    2 1/2 x 12 1/2 border strips also from white material
4. batting-- I used extra loft
5. 1 twin vintage flat sheet for backing
6. 252 inches for binding -- a little extra to be safe
7. 2 1/2 yards of 100% cotton material for border strips

This quilt is what I consider Shabby due to using reused vintage material except for the white cotton borders that I chose to use. You could do  a variety of patchwork squares all in vintage pillowcases or I know you girls have your  own clever ideas.  Using a vintage sheet for the backing just is a great finishing touch.

Each vintage pillow case gives you two fat quarters.  One fat quarter gives you 4 8 1/2 squares for the quilt I did.  I have put together bundles of 7 fat quarters, all vintage from pillowcases for $18.00 from my stash

all ready for you, they are clean and ready.  For this quilt I did you will  need 6 fat quarters, I did cut some of the fat quarters larger than the 18x22 which is the true fat quarter size, none are smaller than 18x22 inches.

I used scrap from the top of the pillowcases for my binding, attaching for the length I needed, it gave it a very colorful binding and useful way to use the top border of each pillowcase.  I had strip pieced binding before from various 100% cottons in my quilting  and love the look.  So this was a must for me!

Here are 4 fat quarter bundles (7 fat quarters all vintage in each)     $18.00 each
Also I have one bundle of 30 cut and ready 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 squares             $20.00

30 8 1/2 squares
all vintage

linking to:
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ Best of 2011
http://sistersofthewildwest.blogspot.com/



http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com

Easter Craft -------Not too Shabby!



THIS EASTER TOPIARY I made was in the " Woman's Day" Magazine for the month of April with instructions,  I loved it, and had to try



I have to tell you, I have not bought a Woman's Day Magazine in a long time and if it was not for the long line at the grocery store check out,  I would not have thumbed through magazines.    Inspiration comes at the oddest times!  I had to buy this issue and quite happy with my Easter Center piece for the Dining Table.

I will give you a few tips that I learned the hard way.

1. Hot glue the eggs on the Styrofoam cone first, then apply grass! 
2. When using adhesive spray don't mix drinking wine and working in an unventilated area!!
3. Keep all Kitty's out of the project area!!
4. I cut odd shape pieces of Easter Wrapping Tissue and it worked just fine instead of the trillions of small diamond shapes they give for directions.

If I can be of any help please let me know, and I would love to see how your Topiary came out!
HAPPY EASTER!

Kitty "Reno" has Recovered! Shabby Do!

Hello, Just wanted to let you know that Reno has made the 3 week recovery from his second hip surgery and is doing well.  After his bone biopsy, happily it was discovered he had physeal displaysia He was born with this genetic hip disorder and if anyone needs additional information feel free to contact me.  He is so happy and appears to be in no pain!  He is starting to run and play and get around better each day. 

Painting, Sewing, and Thinking of More Projects!

Hello, I am so excited about Spring, I know it is coming, but when?  I have been busy and will post more Redo Furniture soon.  I have been going in too many directions lately, as I know, this most sound familiar???


Painting Shabby Redo furniture and then I decided to use some of my "don't care" paint and do one wall in the garage for picture taking. I am not always able to get the furniture in the house for a good picture.  I am lucky enough to get it home to the garage to work on, honestly, I look like a member of the Hillbilly family with the goods piled high in my older truck.  I seem to want to explain on my route home as they look at me "This is good stuff, I have a Plan".  Got to love the truck, good for hunting the Shabby stuff!


And then their is the Sewing, trying to finish my vintage pillowcase quilt, and of course started another project for Easter.  I hope to get them done in time.  Talk to you soon.

Shabby Vintage Pillowcase Quilt

Check out my Shabby Stitched page if you love vintage pillowcases!

Reno's 2nd hip surgery is done!

I'm am so relieved Reno's second hip surgery is done and he is recovering well.  This young boy seems to be happy even with the recovery pain.  He is eating better now and his eyes are bright.  He will have a bone biopsy to make sure there is no bone disease?  I am feeling positive that he will be ok!!

Cat with two broken hips!!

"RENO"  Our Cat

Left broken hip laying down to eat!


 

Finally out of jail!  He hated the dog crate confinement after surgery




Reno's neighbor friends visiting!  They must be thinking
"what the Hell happened to you"



How can this be possible two hips breaking with no known accident????

 I am writing this for two reasons, to share and possibly help someone else, please contact me if I can help you in anyway?  Reno has been with me throughout my Shabby Redo projects and all my quilting.  As cat lovers you know, the wonderful companions they are,  he has been in so much pain, I can't wait for him to jump and get into everything again, even my paint!

 

It all started with his left hip breaking. the surgical  procedure is FHO,  they remove the ball of the hip and muscle is the only thing connecting their leg to their hip.  The hip breaks at the femur which attaches to the ball of their hip.  Cats femur is too small to have a pin put in so the FHO surgery is very successful on cats. Let me back up some, our healthy 12lb cat last September broke his left hip as the picture shows, no known reason to us?  He made it through the long healing stages of surgery.  Used his left leg normally and we thought  we were a happy family again, except for the high cost of his surgery, hold your seat, by the time he was through $3,000.00 dollars!  He recovered and was doing fine, well so we thought!  January his right hip broke, same location, needs the same operation AGAIN!!!  Now this time I researched, talk to Vets and Specialist, they reassured us he would do fine after another surgery.  I know you can image the stress, emotion, and yes the expense involved.  We had him admitted for surgery, but due to a long story of 4 days of him vomiting and diarrhea, two hospital stays, many tears, and sleepless nights his surgery was cancelled. Today he is able to eat on his own but down to 9lb 4oz from this new illness and previous surgery.  Trust me this cat has had plenty of blood test and we were assured he will be fine!  They will do a bone biopsy on the next surgery, this might give us an answer to his hips breaking?  He is re-scheduled for the second surgery and we are praying he will be the happy, lovable, fun mischievous cat as before!  He has been through a lot and we have learned a lot along the way, so if I can be of help, let me know.  It has been a journey that I do not wish on any cat or owner!  I am anxious to get back working on my furniture and the blog.  Thank you, and I will post on his recovery after his surgery:)

Reno in happier days!

Flea Market Style Magazine

Flea Market Style   click to see

  Can't wait to get my hands on the new issue, if you have not seen it yet, it is a must for Shabby Decor!!!