Renovation progress report - week 34

This week was a big one in reno-land.

Come to my window
Remember these horrible windows? The ones that let more cold (or hot) air into the house than if we'd have the front door open?

There's just no words. I mean, someone bought screens that were too short and then filled the gaps with exposed boards. What in the world? Do you think that Boozie Susie from Russet Street Reno stopped by?

The strangest part is that it is probably worse than it would have been with the original windows. Why even bother replacing them?

This dining room shot is the stuff that nightmares are made of.

Well, no more craziness. Those windows are GONE!

We actually bought our new windows in the fall, but it snowed before we put them in. I'm not sure Ryan couldn't get them in. I mean, he was only building a garage and installing a fence. Sheesh!

So, they've been hanging out in the garage.

(As a side note: When the windows arrived, I made my normally-very-calm husband very upset by exclaiming that they look really chintzy. After all the time he spent measuring and shopping around and choosing and ordering and loading and unloading. Yeah... and these puppies weren't cheap. I don't know what I thought they looked chintzy at first, but I don't think so anymore. They are really nice Anderson windows. Sometimes I need to learn to shut my pie hole. You probably don't know what that's like.)

Anyhow, all winter we just dealt with the old windows (and the high heating bills). But this week, Ryan got all the old windows out and the new ones installed in record time.

17 new windows.

And in the process, he only shattered one old window. And no one was hurt, so it was all good.

It's so much better.

Especially when you remember this 'before.'

We still need to trim outside and inside the windows, but they already make such a huge difference. Ryan's going to focus on the interior and work on the exterior as it gets warmer. (It's apparently still winter in Illinois.)

There aren't drafts in the house anymore. We don't have to use towels and coats to block the ice cold air from getting into our home. And it's brighter and cleaner. And I really like the pane-look.

All-in-all, we are thrilled. And the Rand-dawg (who took our old garage and kitchen cabinets and all the old radiators) is also taking the old windows off our hands. It's amazing how this Craigslist contact worked out for us. So we don't even have to figure out how to dump them.

Now, if only the trim would put itself up.

So, that's the week in review.

For you eagle eyes, yes, I did work on the bathroom painting, too. But, unfortunately someone (who most certainly wasn't me... okay, maybe it was me), spilled a gallon of trim paint INSIDE the new vanity. So, that derailed my momentum. The good news - it didn't get through to the new floor and hopefully the vanity is salvageable. The bad news - I had a melt down. But, what's new, right?

What do you think?

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Tutorial: An e-reader sleeve (Nook)

I made a couple more sleeves for a Nook and thought I'd do a quick tutorial.

Well, let's be honest, this tutorial didn't end up being quick. I've never done a real tutorial before, so I'm really hoping this makes sense. I tried to take a photo of each step, because if you are like me, you are a visual learner.

But let's just say that this may be my first and last tutorial. I tried, I really did. But, I think other people may be better at the whole thing. Plus, I just kinda learn things as I go, and I'm not 100 percent sure it's the best way to do it.

But these cases are cute and I think you need one, so bear with me, okay?

It's not difficult at all, and this makes a pretty protective case for your e-reader, so it won't get scratched or damaged in transit. The first sleeve I made (above) has held up beautifully, and I've actually had a lot of compliments on it.

But, let me be up front. THIS IS NOT AN ACT OF PERFECTION. I take little shortcuts and don't expect everything to be perfect. So, if that's a problem, you may not wish to do this project.

So are we all on the same page? Good!

This tutorial makes a sleeve designed for the Nook, but you could certainly change the dimensions to accommodate any size e-reader, or even enlarge it for a tablet of iPad.*

What you'll need:
Fabric A (exterior) (For my fabric A, I joined 5 strips from a Top Drawer Bella Green jelly roll to give it a pieced look. You can also use a single fabric, like I did in my first sleeve.)

Fabric B (interior)

Fusible fleece interfacing

Velcro

Iron

Sewing machine and thread

Cup or something to round corners

Cutting:

Cut your fabric so you end up with:

- 2 pieces each of A, B and fusible fleece -  9.5x7 inches (main body and lining)

- 1 piece each of A and B - 8x7 inches (front pocket)

- 2 pieces of B - 5x7 inches (flap)

- 1 piece of fusible fleece - 5x7 inches (flap)

*To make it fit your own tablet or e-reader, simply add an an extra allowance to all sides. For example, I added an inch to the left and right side and an inch and a half overall to the height. (The Nook is 5x8 inches.)

Main body:

Fuse the fleece interfacing on the wrong side of the exterior fabric (A). Trim edges.

Optional: If you want to add some quilting, now is the time. I like the looks of the straight quilting lines, so I added a few about a half inch away from the lines of the jelly roll.

Use a round cup or bowl to round the edges of the bottom, like so.

Join the two pocket pieces together at the top by ironing about a 1/2 inch seam and sewing shut for a clean top.

Center a piece of Velcro on the exterior fabric (A) of the pocket at the top near the sewn area. Sew the Velcro on. (I forgot to do this, but it's going to be much easier if you do it now.)

The pocket should be lined up about 2 inches from the top of the main body. 

Now, make a sandwich of the main body (with pocket on one side) and lining. (Fusible fleece should be on the outside.) As you can see, the bottom of the pocket is outside the main body pieces because I didn't cut them off. That's not a problem, they'll be on the inside and you'll trim it later.

Sew around from one corner to the other corner (around the curve). Do not sew shut!

Trim any excess from the pocket.

Turn right side out. You should have the main body with the finished pocket. The inside will be fleece.

At this point, it's a good idea to check to make sure your reader fits inside. You know, just in case.

(This is about the point I realized I forgot to add the Velcro. So I quickly added it to the pocket, approximately centered.)

Flap

Fuse the flap fleece to the wrong side of one piece of the flap fabric (B). 

Center a piece of Velcro near the bottom of the flap, about an inch from the bottom. Sew onto the fabric.

This is why I sew it on now. It's not really pretty, so it will be covered by the other piece of flap fabric.

Pin the other piece of fabric to the reverse side of the fusible fleece.

Use a round cup or bowl to round the edges of the corners (nearest to the Velcro), like so.

Unpin and Line up the wrong sides of the fabrics together. Sew around from one corner to the other corner (around the curve). Do not sew shut!

Turn right side out and iron. 

Your flap is complete!

Lining:

Pin two pieces of lining fabric (B), right sides together. Pin together.

Use a round cup or bowl to round the edges of the bottom, like so.

Sew around from one corner to the other corner (around the curve). Do not sew shut!

All the pieces come together:
I'm sure there's another way to do this, but I'm going to try to explain how I do this. First, put the lining into the main body (with the good side of the fabric facing the interior). It should fit snugly.

Now, fold in the exterior and lining towards each other at the top for a finished seam (around 1/2 inch around the top of the exterior and interior fabric) The seams should face towards each other.  I pulled my lining out a little bit cause I think it looks cute.

Pin together.

Take the flap and insert the unfinished end of the flap into the back side of the main body, between the lining and exterior fabric. 

(Test the placement by Velcro-ing the flap to the Velcro on the front pocket).

Sew all the way around the top to finish the sleeve. This will secure the exterior to the lining and the flap. (Let's just ignore my horrid crooked lines. It's hard to get around the sides and I pushed a little too hard. No harm, no foul.)

And there you go. A lovely pocket for your Nook! (I also added a few quilted stitches on the flap to add a little pizazz.)

I think it turned our really cute.

What do you think?
(Although I'd really appreciate it if you didn't tell me how horrible this tutorial is. It may drive me to drink.)

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Black and white baby quilt

My most recent baby quilt was a gift for my lovely friend and hairstylist, Kacey. I've known Kacey and her family for a very long time, since we were both kids. So, when I found out she was expecting, I was excited to make another baby quilt in black and white for the baby-to-be.

It's the same style as the primary color quilt I made for Addy. The fabrics are part of the Moda Half Moon line. (I also added some others that I picked up at the fabric store.) I love that they are really fun and modern and even had some prints with scissors!

And here's the mom-to-be with the quilt. (Isn't she so darn cute?)

What do you think?

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Lamp talk and class rings

Well, I've been consistently stalking the local Marshall's and TJ Maxx looking for the pair to my pretty glass lamp I found a month or so ago.

(Sigh.)

To no avail.

But, on my last trip, there were some pretty gold and mercury-glass numbers that caught my eye. While not exactly like the original glass beauty, I liked them.

And I really liked the gold and glass.

I walked away from them (and took a detour through the baby girl clothes for Addy). Then, I realized that I couldn't walk away without these new gold pretties. So, I bit the bullet and brought them home.

And wouldn't you know it, they look really nice together in our master bedroom.

How have I lived without lamps in the bedroom? I've really gotten used to reading in bed with light. So nice!

And, while I was originally going to take the other lamp back, I just couldn't do it. It's like taking in an orphan. I can't just send her back. It's in the extra bedroom now. I think she looks nice there.

I'm becoming a downright lamp diva. Who would have thought that a short time ago, I only had 2 lamps in the entire house.

I'm up to 6 lamps in the house now. I know Jennifer at The Newlywed Diaries will be proud. (Check out her follow-up post about lamps.)

And while I was in lamp euphoria, I also put some special rings on display. I've been trying to find a way to show off our class rings. But, you know, at some point you just have to do something.

When Ryan gave me his ring in high school, I wore it for a while on a chain. How very "Happy Days" of me, no? Then the two rings hung from my rearview mirror on a chain for several years in high school and college.

If you rode in my Cutlass Calais or my Grand Prix, you likely saw these rings.

But, for a while now, they've just sat in a ring box.

And now I get to see them in the extra bedroom every morning while getting ready. So much better.

A few questions for you:
How many lamps do you have in your house?
What do you think of our new additions?
Any ideas for a class ring display?

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