Home Improvement

Well, there's no new quilt this week! I got distracted by a home improvement project that I've wanted to tackle for a while.

My laundry room had an old plastic laundry sink that was functional but kinda ugly. I had disguised it with a fabric skirt in 2017 but it was still not exactly what I had in mind.  Time for a change! 

Before

Last week we ordered a new vanity, sink, and faucet. Our installation took 2 days, since the cabinet had to be assembled and I painted the wall after we removed the corrugated tin backsplash and old sink.

The two of us are pretty handy around the house and have done many DIY projects together. This one went fairly smoothly, with only one extra trip to Ace Hardware for supplies. Luckily, basic plumbing is a skill I acquired early on, since that was my daddy's profession.

New Vanity 2024

We changed the handles on the overhead cabinets to match those on the vanity. I'm considering painting them white, but I sure hate to paint over the alder wood since it's in great shape. We'll see. 

Now that we're done, naturally I see more things to update in other rooms.  I guess there may be fewer quilts finished this year, but we'll be having fun redecorating our nest.

 

Sun Dried Cotton

Sun Dried Cotton

Another scrap quilt today, with lots of pretty pieces. It reminds me of an old fashioned clothesline on a sunny day.

Can't you just picture dresses, shirts, and sheets flapping in the breeze? I'll bet if you stop to concentrate, you could get a whiff of warm sun dried cotton.

All these prints in pink, yellow, blue, aqua, green and purple were left over from other projects or small pieces from my yard sale acquisitions. I emptied a scrap basket cutting them, but don't worry, I still have many left.

I sewed twenty-five colorful Hattie's Choice blocks with a white on cream vine print as a background. Two borders frame it up nicely: one plain, another created with the same small triangles from the main block. I used plain muslin for the backing, like my grannies used to do.

Sun Dried Cotton is 48” square. To create motion, I used Angela Walter's Squiggy ruler to echo stitch large rolling waves in white thread across the whole quilt. Such a fun project!

After writing this, I feel the need to start a load of laundry, just so I can hang it outside to dry.

Accuquilt dies used:
55220 Hattie's Choice 8” finished
55017 Strip 2 ½”

Slow down enough

to savor the moments

that make your heart happy 

Granny's Wash Day

Memories of sheets and housedresses hanging on the line at granny's house prompted me to design this adorable quilt. Some of the fabrics are 1950's vintage, from Granny Rose's collection of sugar and flour sack remnants. I added new pieces that would complement them, along with white muslin. 

Each four patch block is made up of chisel sections and triangles turned to create the design. This one didn't take long at all, since most of the colored triangles were already cut. I think it looks a bit like the dasher in an old time washing machine. 

A simple quilting pattern of even squares finishes off the vintage look. I used light yellow thread for the straight stitches. The backing is an old sheet of pale yellow with pink, blue, and yellow flowers.

I am lucky to have sweet childhood memories of summer days on the Tennessee farms of both sets of grandparents. And, luckier still to have Jerold's grandmother's fabric to use in my quilts. For more of my posts about Granny Rose, Granny Hill, and sugar sack fabric, click on those labels below.

Accuquilt dies used:
55735 Chisel 2¼” x 4½” finished
55147 Half square triangle 2¼” finished

Remember when

life was simpler,

and we didn't have a

care in the world?

Fresh Laundry

There's something about the smell and feel of freshly washed laundry. Clean and crisp. That's what I was going for with an update of our laundry room last week.

It all started when my eighteen year old washer began to make crazy sounds. A search for a reliable replacement led us to Speed Queen. A Labor Day sale at Gibson's Furniture in Gallatin gave us a great price on a new set, thanks to Eddie and Scott.

Perfect time for a quick redecorate, don't you think? I painted the walls a pretty gray-blue. Galvanized panels are perfect for the laundry sink backsplash. We painted the switchplates, cabinet knobs and hardware in hammered silver to match. Jerold installed a new under cabinet LED light.

A few antique blue Mason jars, old washboards and clothespins, Mason jar prints and a small painting I finished in the spring complete the transformation. The little scrap quilt is called Tropical Geese.

Results:  Fresh laundry room, bright, clean and crisp.

Normal

is just a setting

on the dryer