Monday, March 5, 2018

Swipe And Wipe

This is one of those jobs you (or at least I) procrastinate about for days, even weeks.  When the painters left last summer, they were procrastinating too, because they never did paint the trim in the bathroom.

Having bought that quart of paint for $17.99, I wasn't about to let it sit in the cupboard too long.  Time to get to work.  Funny, I don't remember floors being this hard on my knees before.  It took about an hour to tape it off, most of which was spent hugging the toilet bowl trying to reach around to the back.  With a cupboard on one side and the bathtub on the other, it was a tight squeeze.
It probably took all of three tablespoons of paint as I swiped the brush around the edges, then wiped up all the paint I dripped on the floor.  I inched my way around the small room and in less than 15 minutes of painting time, was done.  That was a lot of work for small reward, but it does look better than it did.
With that project done, I went back to this one (now sporting my sun glasses to reduce the glare) and completed the borders.  I have to say although I'm more into neutral colors in my house, I'm totally in to this bright wake-me-up quilt top.  All it needs is some backing and quilting.
I lasted about an hour before jumping up to start yet ANOTHER project.  I found this Paris-fancy quilt kit in Palm Desert.  Always a place I wanted to visit, I even have a Paris bathroom in California.  I know, it's weird, but it even has a little Eiffel tower as decoration.

Once I read the instructions, I was sorry I bought it.  It's difficult with lots of fussy cutting.  That means you don't just lay down a ruler and cut up squares .. you have to cut AROUND all the good stuff to end up with a panel.  I spent thirty minutes making sure I was cutting the outside borders exactly like the picture.  

That's when I came to the end of the fabric and discovered the last border was missing three inches of black fabric.  Are you kidding me??  There's no do-over because there's no more fabric!!!  I turned around and found the 86 inch piece of material I needed in a big pile on the floor.

It is here I have to say I did NOT make a mistake.  I cut it just the way the pattern said.  The only solution is to sew that black strip to the bottom of the border cut.  But wait .... it has those stripes to match up and a long gold line.  

After studying everything for about an hour, I finally made some cuts, matched the pieces and began to sew.  I don't know how I did it, but in the end I had a perfect border piece to match the first one I cut.  Can you tell which one is pieced?  I'm ecstatic!!  I not only figured it out but sewed it perfectly.  A first for me!!!
This morning I'll pack up parts and pieces and head west all of 200 feet up the hill to the quilt group Monday sewing.  Yes I drive ... it's a steep hill.  But first, I have to make some cornbread to go with Chef Patty's wonderful posole lunch.  Every week someone cooks for all of us.  It's one of those more-time-talking-than-sewing get-togethers with a wonderful group of ladies.  I wouldn't miss it.






12 comments:

  1. Nice to get that trim work painted in your bathroom, looks much better. Great job on your quilt too!

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    1. Those little things will nag at me until I get them done. Now it doesn't stick out every time I see it.

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  2. If you really want to have sensory overload go on Google and type in illusion quilt or 3-D quilts and then tap image
    Thank Goodness I was sitting down when I did that
    Now here's my question why do quilters not turn over the underside and do a different quilt pattern On the underside
    almost like a summer and winter Color quilt

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    1. I have seen those quilts, Ed. They can make you fall right off your chair.
      I imagine we could do two quilts in one, but it costs SO much money to complete just one side, not counting all the time it takes, that I think it is generally too expensive. And I'd hate to be the one trying to quilt them both straight.

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  3. Whenever Tom and I painted a room the trim was my fun. It always seemed to take more time to tape it off then to paint.
    Your quilt top is lovely and the Paris one looks interesting and no I could not see the piecing in the picture. Which goes to show if you love doing something you have the patience to work it through. (One thing I learned quickly when I have used a kit for something, there is no room for error.)

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    1. You are so right Deb ... I have on occasion had to frantically get on-line and try to find extra material. So far I have been lucky.

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  4. Several residents at the SKP Saguaro Co-op in Benson spent Saturday in Sierra Vista, too, at the Quilt Show displayed in the high school. There are quite a few quilters here in the park. And over the weekend, too, was the 4th Street Faire in Tucson. Did not go to either...kept busy here in the park. The weather should be getting nicer with temps near 80 or above by Wednesday. Enjoy the day with the ladies. Lynn Cross

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    1. I remember you introduced me to one lady in the Co-op. I always like going to see all the beautiful things they make.

      I missed the 4th Street Faire ... spent too much money on the floor anyway! Maybe next year!

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  5. Great job on the trim. I always think I like painting (before the job) but the trim is so tedious and it seems when I pull the tape off, it always looks amateur. Yours looks perfect!
    Love the bright quilt as well as the Paris kit. I'm envious of your ability to quilt. I agree about the floors getting harder! I can't sit on my knees anymore either.

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    1. My trim work looks amateur too Patsy ... that's why you got the far away view!! LOL Quilting is a great hobby for me ... it keeps me busy!! Idle hands and all that stuff!

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  6. Good work! Even after I enlarged the photo I couldn't see where you pieced the quilt.

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    1. Thank you ... it was actually the one on the right. First time I've ever had that happen ... AND been able to fix it!!

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