Update

Finally, we have found a reputable contractor who has agreed to undertake some of the immediate work that needs to be done to our ‘new’ old home before we can really start to settle in.   He was recommended to us by a local primitive shop owner and we’re thrilled to know that things will finally start to come together.

One of the downfalls of older homes is the dire lack of closets.  For the past month, Mr. Painted Quilt and I have essentially been living out of boxes because there is no where to hang our clothes.  Of course we were aware of this before we bought the house and the two bedrooms where we want to add the closets are large enough to accommodate them without detracting from the general appearance, size and ambiance of the rooms.  And an added bonus is that our contractor specializes in older houses so he knows what to recommend and how to go about it!  He’s coming over tomorrow to finalize plans and to give us a start date…and if the price is right, we might also give him some of the painting to do as well. 

Now I’m really getting excited! 

Because we want to paint the house from top to bottom, we decided not to unpack anything except for the necessities and the kitchen and bathroom stuff.  As a result, there are still mountains of boxes stacked in the sun porch and  spare bedroom.

One side of the sun porch…

And the other side.  You don’t want to see the spare bedroom…really.

The one exception we made to the unpacking rule was my studio.  I couldn’t live without my stuff and was experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms…honestly!  Even though this room is destined to be painted as well, it is ‘liveable’ as is so I went ahead and unpacked and found a home for about two-thirds of my stuff.  Keep in mind that these are VERY preliminary pictures and things will certainly change as soon as I become more comfortable with my new surroundings.

Although all my ‘stuff’ is familiar,  it is going to take me a while to get used to things.  The ugly office chair will be replaced with a comfortable wing chair as soon as I find the ‘perfect’ one.  This is my designated hooking and stitching area.

The physical size of the room is smaller than my last studio but I have the added advantage of two storage spaces under the dormers on either side of the room.  Notice the door?

Here is what’s behind it…

The storage area extends approximately 6” on either side of the opening and on both sides of the room.

I would like to add a custom storage cabinet or two sometime in the future specifically for my fabric stash but I have to keep on reminding myself that Rome wasn’t built in a day.  *sigh*

As you can see, I’m still trying to find places for everything and much more tweaking and rearranging will take place over the next little while.

There are still several more boxes to be unpacked but I think I’ll leave them for now until I get a better feel for my new space.

I wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year, and one with many finishes too!

See you in 2011!

Kaaren ♥

In Keeping With The Season…

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

This year has certainly been a busy one in the Painted Quilt household, especially now as we slowly settle into our new home.  Thank you all for your support, encouragement and friendship. 

And in the true spirit of friendship…together, let us keep our creative fires burning!

Kaaren ♥

Tuesday Hook-In

Every Tuesday is an open hooking day at the Moose River Rug Hooking Studio.  I went over late this morning to join in and to try to absorb whatever information I could glean from the very talented hookers in our area.  All the gals were so helpful and very giving of their knowledge and information.

Many of the gals bring baked goodies and there is always fresh coffee and tea served.

I’m thoroughly enjoying myself as I knew I would.  This is Diane and she designs as she goes.  If you like the scrappy style, you’d L-O-V-E this rug!  Notice her basket of precut strips on the floor beside her?  That’s all she uses when she makes her rugs.

Bette is a wonderful hooker and has been so helpful and encouraging.  Her work is exquisite.  Look at the gradation of shading on the leaves.

How cool is this Santa?

And here’s what I’ve done so far.

I’m starting out slowly and the design I’m working on is a relatively simple one but I’m learning and loving it!  Now I only wish that there were more hours in a day in order to accomplish everything that I want and would like to do.

Kaaren ♥

Raggedy & Friends–Block 6

With this block, we’re half way there folks!  Woo hoo!

Just a reminder that next month, I will be releasing Blocks 7, 8 and 9 at the same time because they’re smaller and have only one stitchery in each of the blocks.  And don’t worry, they will work up quickly so you need not fear falling behind.

To download the PDF file for Block 6,  including the instructions and line drawings, please click HERE.  Remember to click on the blue download button.

Have fun, happy holidays…and happy stitching!

Kaaren ♥

I Just Have To Share

This gorgeous house warming gift that I just received from Mary at Quilt Hollow not 5 minutes ago.

Mary is a very dear blogger friend and was one of the first to welcome me into the blogging community almost two years ago.  Mary has gifted me with a few of her second-to-none creations since then which I am proud to display in our home and I can assure you that this one will certainly take over center stage. 

Have a look at this…

Perfection!

I am not kidding you when I say that there are no better friends than blogging friends, especially those who spontaneously do things just out of  kindness and expect nothing in return.  Mary is only one of the many of you who have touched my heart in more ways than I could ever express here.  You all know who you are and I want to thank you for your kindness and above all, your friendship.  I am very blessed.

Thank you all…and thank you, Mary.

Kaaren ♥

Secret Santa Christmas Swap

I just returned from the post office with my very first parcel delivered to our new address…all the way from Australia.

Back in September, before we even entertained the thought of moving, I signed up for Chookyblue’s 2010 Secret Santa Christmas Swap.  I participated in it last year and looked forward to it again this year.  But, as you know, life and moving took over our lives during the past couple of months but I did manage to get mine out on time.

My SSCS partner was Toni, and here’s what she sent me.

One of the gifts had to be a hand made Christmas ornament which we could open immediately and the other gift also had to be hand made but didn’t need to be Christmas-themed.  This one we have to wait until Christmas morning to open.  Fat chance of me doing that!

Inside were two ornies, one hand made and the other store-bought.  Both are wonderful!  Toni also included some yummy sweets. 

I can’t promise that I’ll be able to wait until Christmas before opening my last gift but I’ll be certain to share it all with you when I do. 

I’m betting that you’re as curious as I am, right?

Thanks to Toni for her wonderful gifts and also to Chooky for hosting the swap.  I’m looking forward to next year’s already.

Kaaren ♥

Coincidence…Or Not?

We purchased our home in Nova Scotia at the end of September and in and amongst the papers given to us by our realtor was a flyer announcing that a rug hooking shop had just opened on the 20th of September about a half a mile from our house. 

Coincidence…or not?

When we returned to Nova Scotia on the 15th of November for the closing, I was able to visit the shop and got to spend some time with the owners.  The shop used to be the neighborhood community center but due to lack of use and declining support and funding, the building was offered for sale.  Four partners…who happen to be avid and accomplished hookers…bought the building and after four months of extensive renovations, the shop opened it’s doors this past September.

Amazing, huh?

The shop is stocked with all kinds of hooking supplies and tons of wool.  Be still my heart!

The finished rugs on display are to die for and most definitely a source of inspiration.

Did you know that rug hooking originated in Nova Scotia and in New England? 

Coincidence…or not?

Every Tuesday, the shop hosts a hook-in and when I dropped in this past Tuesday, there had to be 25 hookers ranging from basic beginners to master hookers, all working on different projects.

The majority of the gals sit up on the raised stage area where there is lots of space with ample tables and chairs.  You should see some of the works of art.  I didn’t take these photos then but I’ll certainly try to get some this Tuesday.  There’s Blaine, one of the owners, working on a rug depicting a scene of a typical Nova Scotia fishing village.

This photo was taken right outside the shop.  If you follow the winding road across the Moose River and up the hill to the yellow house (click to enlarge the photo), turn right, go up the hill then proceed down the road for about a quarter of a mile.  That’s where we live and remember, the kettle is always on and the ocean views are magnificent!

So tell me…coincidence or not?  *wink*

Soon to be stitching…and hooking…

Kaaren ♥

Slowly But Surely…

The boxes are being unpacked and the furniture is finding a preliminary place to rest.  It is our intention to paint every wall and ceiling in our new home and eventually every piece of furniture will have to be moved again to allow us to accomplish this.  Even though it’s only been a few days since our furniture and other belongings arrived, I was finding it very unsettling to live in this prolonged state of chaos.

Here are a few peeks of some of the ‘presentable’ areas of the main floor of our house.

The sitting room…

Another angle…

The dining room…

The living room with the gross light fixture and wallpaper…

and my quilt cupboard.

The kitchen is about 75% complete and is functional.

One of the coolest features about the kitchen is the oil stove which provides a mean heat and makes the room wonderfully cozy.

This view is going out to the back.  As you can see, as soon as one box is emptied, two more seem to materialize.  *sigh*

We dropped Mac off at the vet’s this morning to have his teeth cleaned and as we were driving around waiting to pick him up, I snapped these photos of Granville Ferry just across the river from Annapolis Royal.  We had a light dusting of snow last night and everything looked so clean and fresh.

We still have a very long way to go to make this house ‘ours’ and are going to take it just one step at a time.  There’s no rush…after all, we’re retired!

I’m hoping to get a start on my studio this weekend.  Let’s see if that happens.

Oh to be stitching!

Kaaren ♥

And So It Begins

I’m exhausted and I ache all over!  I’m getting too old for this.  The mind says yes but the body is definitely in conflict.

The moving truck arrived at 9:30 a.m. yesterday…right on time.  There were only two men to unload so Mr. PQ decided to step in and give them a hand.  That’s him in the right foreground.  And can you see Mac on the grass?  He’s supervising…until he spotted a squirrel who kept him entertained most of the day.

The weather forecast called for rain but thank goodness it held off until everything was unloaded from the truck.  Once again, the boys took care and laid down the protective floor coverings.

This is the sitting room or den and the room behind it is the dining room.  Every room in the house will be painted and the remaining carpeting on the stairs and in the one upstairs bedrooms and hallway will be taken up in the next couple of weeks.

The living room is right across the hall.  The beige on the walls that you see is actually the backing from the vinyl wallpaper that was there.  I removed all the vinyl when we were here a couple of weeks ago but didn’t have either the time or tools to remove the backing and border.  Every light fixture in the house will also be replaced in due course.

Above is the built in china cabinet in the dining room and...

The pantry is just off the kitchen.  All the hardware and drawer pulls are original to the house.  Eventually the flooring and counter tops will also be replaced.

 It was  a very long day for everyone.  The last item was unloaded from the truck at approximately 6:30 p.m.  All three of us were in bed by 8:30 p.m.  Yesterday was spent trying to make some semblance of order to the mounds of boxes and furniture.  The kitchen is about halfway done which is a great relief.

Slowly but surely we’ll get there.  I can’t tell you how much I miss my stitching and quilting.  It’ll be a while yet before I’ll be able to unpack and set up my studio because there is so much else to be done in the interim.

This post would not be complete without sending you all a big hug of thanks for all your support and comforting words.  I can’t wait for the time to come where I can take the time to thank you all individually once again.  But I do want you to know that your caring comments really mean a lot to me. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Kaaren ♥