Leola's Fall Open House.....

Can you believe it's that time again!!!!  Wish the weather was more fallish but the signs are all over.  There are heavy cobwebs everywhere, the locusts start making their sounds earlier in the afternoon and leaves are falling all over.  To top it all off.....TOMORROW IS SEPTEMBER 1!  How can that be?

I've been trying to complete some of my projects.  Does anyone else have that issue?  I have all these projects half finished and nothing completed.  So yesterday I finished 2 appliqued pillows and 2 lampshades.

 

These are the two lampshades I made.  Note to self "don't make lampshade with fabric containing large amount of polyester".  It was so hard to glue but thank heaven, I had lots of clothes pins and ribbon (& patience).  This was the fabric for the back of my pillows so thought it would be wonderful for a shade......and it looks great but was sooooooo difficult to make.  Actually, this shade (including labor) should sell for about $500).  But it won't!

Love the way it looks on the black lamp.....and with the pillow.

 This is the wool pumpkin pillow I made.  Do you know how hard it is to find orange wool.  Impossible!  So had to dye my own.

Guess I'd better get back to the work table.  Lots of projects to complete by next Thursday evening plus there are dozens of candles to be marked (did I tell you I don't like marking merchandise?).

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend and can stay cool.

Happy Friday.....

I just figure with every Friday that goes by, we're that much closer to Spring.  My seed order is on it's way and I'm ready!  This year I ordered from Baker Heirloom Seeds.  It's just down the road from us in Mansfield and they do such an incredible job.  There's nothing better then some of the heirloom varieties.

This week I've been doing some serious work with my lampshades.  The first one is from an old table scarf I found that has a monogram and beautiful blue trim.

 

 

 

The second one I made has a few more angles and took a little longer.  Love this fabric and the coordinating check.  I'll be putting them both in the shop in time for Spring Open House.  Just have to get some lamps rewired now.

 





What would really be nice is if it would warm up enough to work in the garage.  So many things to put a finish on or paint.  I was so bummed this week to find out my neighborhood True Value Store is closing.  Everyone there was so nice and helpful.  It's just so sad to see the neighborhood places going out of business while they keep building more Walmarts in our town.  So few seem to have any loyalty to those local people who work so hard to make a living in their small businesses then they take what they make out into our community and spend the money.....rather then sending it off to corporate offices.  Makes me sad.

Hope every one has a good weekend.

Never enough time......

I know it's been awhile since I've posted but my time has been spent the last couple of weeks trying to get things ready for Leola's Christmas Open House.  Lots of pieces that need a little tweeking to make them shop-ready.  I've put finishes on a couple of great early benches I found.  Also trying to get some primitive trees put in containers and some pillows made.  Wish my time management skills were better.

The wonderful early chest I bought from Barb in Fairfax, IA, had been in the garage since I brought it home.  The drawers needed to be cleaned & deodorized and the whole thing needed a good cleaning.  It's finally finished and placed in my great room.  Did I tell you how much I love this piece!!!!!

Wish I knew more about it.  The dovetailing in the drawers are hand done and pencil marks can still be seen.  It's just really a good piece.  The little chair on the top came from my mom's family.  I purchased it from Mom's cousin Ivin's auction after he died. 

Also moved a few things around and redid the walls.  It's so strange how I want to do everything different in the fall.  Love this set of drawers.

This is my latest lampshade.  For some reason, I'm totally in love with brown checked fabric right now.  Hadn't been able to find any until I went to my friend, Frannie's, house and she had a piece left over from an upholstery job.  Had originally planned to sell the shade but after spending at least 5 hrs. making it plus all the materials I purchased, I decided it would stay with me.  Haven't been able to figure out how people are able to spend so much time making something and putting no value on their time.  All the materials I use have to be ordered from New York and are not inexpensive.  I love making them but just can't afford to sell them.  Maybe someday.

 



Judy, Linda, and I worked this week on a photo for our open house card.  Linda has a wonderful little log house that she uses for a gardening shed.  We took a bent willow chair, wool blankets, pine cones and this flat backed basket out and decorated it.  I'll share pictures later.  I have 2 of these baskets to put greens in for open house.

I love fall decorating.....

Judy, Jean & I are headed to Dry Creek Cabin Antique Show in Dixon this weekend.  We love going there in the fall not only for the antiques but to take in the smells and ambiance.  It's out in the boonies and screams "FALL".  It's just about my favorite place to be in the fall.

It's cool and rainy here this morning and I'm having a difficult time getting out of this chair.  I have to order some wood and get some things cleaned up in the garage.  Guess I'd better get started.  Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Remembering Vermont......

Last year at this time Judy and I were preparing for our trip to Vermont.  What a wonderful trip we had.  I loved my lampshade-making class with Judy Lake and meeting the diverse bunch of women in the class.  Thought I might share some of the pictures from the class.

The picture above was the inn where we stayed.  It was a wonderful place to spend a week with the most amazing food.  Every meal we had there was a delight both in taste and sight.  Love that we were treated like guests in a beautiful home.

For two days Judy would drop me off in Pawlet at the Lampshade Lady's store and she would head out to have adventures on her own.  The little town of Pawlet was such a delight with a general store where we ate our lunch.  They had homemade bread and again, amazing food (everything from Carhartt clothing to gourmet cheeses and fine wines).  Only in Vermont!

Loved the ironing board on the front porch.  Maybe I'd enjoy ironing if I had a view like this.

This is the inside of her shop.  There was every size and shape of shade frame and every imaginable kind of fabric from modern to vintage linens.  Judy also has quite an inventory of the shades she has made.  She now has an Etsy store.

We had such a wonderful time.  Maybe in the next few days, I'll have time to post a few more pictures.  It was hard to take a bad picture in Vermont.

Have a great Wednesday.  I'm making a lampshade.