Kitchen/Crafting Island

Hi Guys!

Don'cha love it when a plan comes together exactly the way you wanted it to? I sure do! Here's a little something that worked out so perfectly that I'm just tickled pink. Also a quick peek at my new crafty/play room at the new house we've just moved into.

I just unpacked my crafty boxes this weekend. I told my friend that doing so was a little like letting out a breath that I didn't know I'd been holding. As soon as I cut the tape and peeked inside those boxes, it was "ahhh my stuff!" I've missed doing little crafty things the last month or so, I don't think I realized how often I stitch/craft/sew until it was all packed up and I couldn't get at my "drug", hehehe...

See that big wooden box down there? That was the kitchen island in my other, tiny house. I got it at Cost Plus World Market when we bought that little house 6 years ago. My mom and I put it together ourselves. I've used it every single day to cut veggies, knead bread, make scones, sandwiches, waffles, cocktails, pizza, etc. Infinity. It was definitely the hub of my kitchen. It's held up wonderfully for being used daily for six years, and only bears one small stain on the top, a drop of mustard. The ghost of my last sandwich on moving day...

I had hoped I'd be able to use it in my crafty space at the new house, but I wasn't sure it would fit. Happily it does, perfectly!

And still gives plenty of room to move around on all sides.

And holds SO much stuff!

Like all my crafty/stitchy books!

All in one convenient spot!

And best of all...

It's EXACTLY the size of my large cutting mat!! Not a millimeter to spare on either side! Now I can cut fabric and paper on my mat without having to clear off the dining room table. I'm positively chuffed!

I love it! I feel a little like I hit the lotto on this. My faithful kitchen island, is rechristened my faithful crafty island, and will continue to serve me well for many, many years!

I still have a lot to do in my playroom, but as we get more settled I'll share more pictures of the space, if you guys like that kind of thing. I do, I love seeing where other people practice their magic! I can't hardly believe I get a whole room to use for crafting and goofing off, at my other place I had to do all of that squashed into a corner of my guest bedroom. It was quite the cramped, little mess. I'll show you a picture of that sometime too if you'd like, a before & after kind of thing. So excited! Can't wait to be settled enough to actually play in my new playroom!

Hope you all are doing well and surviving Daylight Savings time. I couldn't figure out why I felt so zonked when I got up this morning until I realized that it was not 6am, but 5am! Oy vey!

Have a great day chickadees!

oxo,

Lisa

Settling In

Helloooooooo there everyone!

Well, the hard work is over and we've moved into our new house! Oofa. That was a chore! We've been in our new place one full week now, and it's starting to feel a little like home. I can't say that we're all settled, I'd be lying if I did. There are still boxes in most of the rooms in some state of unpack-ted-ness (is that a word?) and some rooms haven't been touched yet (hello, craft room). But I'm getting there, slowly but surely.

Today is the first day in weeks that I didn't have to jump out of bed & get busy or be at work, so I'm having a nice leisurely morning and taking the opportunity to have a chat with you guys. So, how ya been, friends?? Anything exciting going on? I noticed that the March Stitch-a-long over at Feeling Stitchy was starting today, looks cute too! Who doesn't love a stitchin octopod? Did anyone do the Feb stitch-a-long? I was a bit busy and didn't get a chance, but I saw so many terrific versions over on Flickr. I love that you can take 100 stitchers, give them one pattern and come out with 100 different results! Fantastic!

I only got to do the tiniest bit of stitching in the whole month of February, and I know I'm way too late to be posting anything about Valentines Day, but... this was something I stitched up for my sweetheart, a little love note. I almost forgot to take any pictures of it, but when I was packing up, I came across it and managed a few snaps (that's why the bare mattress in the background, the guest bed was my packing station!)

I like you. Do you like me too?

Check yes or no.

He checked yes, so I stitched it up before he could change his mind!

This was fun to make, start to finish I whipped this up in just a couple of hours. I stitched the "binder paper" on plain white cotton, with my sewing machine, then stitched the words on, by hand. I used a slate grey embroidery floss, so that it looked a bit more like pencil. I finished the piece by stitching the whole thing to a piece of white felt, then used pinking shears around the edges to help prevent fraying. I even made a little envelope to put my love note in (seen in the first picture), the envelope was tied with a tiny red ribbon.

Just a little something for my sweetie ♥

Well, I guess I better wrap up for now, there's still plenty to get done around here. It's all grey and rainy and cold here today and I'd really like nothing more than to stay on the sofa, watch old movies and do some stitching. Mmmm... that sounds good.

Hope you all have a lovely Sunday!

oxo,

Lisa

p.s. I would be remiss if I didn't thank a special someone here in blogland who popped over unexpectedly on moving day and helped me move, I mean really, that's a true friend!! Because we all know, that moving is the pitty pits! Thank you JILL!! You are the best!

We Got It!

Hi There Lovelies~

Just wanted to pop in and share my good news! We got the house we were after!! I found out this morning, and I'm way excited, so I just gotta blab! Want to see a sneak peak??

Idn't purrty???

(I totally ripped off this picture from a realty website, shhh. Don't tell anyone.)

I packed non-stop all weekend, just about every single thing we own is in boxes in the garage. Lordy, do I have a lot of stuff! Happy to report that we have managed to purge a ton! Christmas decorations, blankets & sheets, decorative pillows, decorative items, clothing, shoes, lamps, kitchen goods, glass wear, board games, a huge box of VHS movies, you name it. Sean and I have now taken 3 full truck loads to the Goodwill Donation Center since January. It's been purge central around this house! The question I've had to keep asking myself is "do I really love it?" and if the answer was no, into the donation box it went. I've been trying to be ruthless. Watching a few episodes of Hoarders helps. That show gives me the jeebers! The most painful cut was my books. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the process was heart wrenching. I love my books, y'all. I know they're just "things" and there's no way to keep them all, especially when you read a lot, which I do, but I feel like I kept so few of them, still... if I had to guess, I'd say I still have six full boxes, including cookbooks & craft books. Is that bad?

Anyway, I'm pretty excited to get this move done, these last couple of weeks have been stressful and exhausting and the last big push is just around the corner. Friday morning, a couple of guys from work, my brother, my husband and myself are going to make the big move! I think this house will be totally empty by the afternoon, we're gonna gitter done!

Hope it doesn't snow on us! It's supposed to be raining & seriously cold! They're even saying that San Francisco might see snow!! That'll be the first time in 36 years! Crazy-azy!!!

So, wish me luck & hang in there friends, I'll be back soon!

oxo,

Lisa

Moving on...

So it might be a bit quiet around these parts for the next week or so. Which is kind of a bummer, because I have some cool stuff to share with you. I will try to squeeze in a post or two when I can.

Moving is the pits. Is there anyone who enjoys moving? Can you imagine being a professional mover? Moving other peoples stuff around all day - every day?? Sounds like purgatory.

Why is it that when you start moving, the mess that packing creates just seems to get worse and worse? Seriously, you're packing things away, and more things keep appearing. Seemingly materializing out of no where? How is this possible, does anybody know??

This is kind of what my living room & garage look at the moment.

It's been a long week. I've been packing every night after work. I packed all day today.

Tomorrow, I'm tackling the kitchen and the back yard. Monday I'm hoping we'll be just about finished. We'll be living with only the barest necessities until we get to our new place. Paper plates & plastic silverware, oh joy!Wanna come help??? I'll pay in pizza & beer, or tea & scones, it's your choice. Anyone? Bueller?

Gee whiz, could I sound like more of a whiny, sourpuss in this post? Hehehe... I'm so sorry, friends. Moving is a drag. I am looking forward to the new place (fingers crossed - it's not ours just yet, we won't know until Tuesday or Wednesday - and yes, these pins & needles I'm sitting on are rather uncomfortable). If we get it,  I'll be over the moon! I'll even do a house tour once we get all settled in.

Anyhooo, hope you all are having a nice long weekend!

See you soon!

oxo,

Lisa