Time to Get It Done Already

For the past two weeks we were housesitting for my parents while they took a much needed break to Florida. That’s why it was just my brother, Garrett and me at their house for Easter (oh, and Whiskey and Shadow were there too. Can’t forget them).

It was a nice break for us too and was fun to have a larger space to live in, complete with all the luxuries we don’t have at home – a dishwasher, laundry room, yard for the pup to run in and king size bed. But I have to say I’m happy to be back at our little home and I kind of missed tripping over each other in the kitchen and elbowing Garrett in the face at night when I roll over (I’m sure he missed that too).

Our little break from home also meant that I had to take a quick break from any diy projects and crafts around our own home. I have a whole notebook (and Pinterest boards) full of projects I want to make and a basket with half finished projects, but my greatest problem is finding time. With only six weeks until the summer weather arrives, I want to get as many of my spring/summer projects done before then.

I have a bad habit of biting off more than I can chew, but here are the big projects I want to accomplish in the next six weeks. My goal is to set aside one evening a week to work on them and then find extra time for the bigger projects on the weekend.

1. New Throwpillow Covers to match Summer Futon Cover

Summer Futon at the Old Apartment

I love swapping out my red futon cover for my robin’s egg and brown striped one in the summer, but I have a hard time finding a fun pattern for pillows, that will go with the stripes. Any suggestions? I’m thinking maybe something like these patterns?

Dear Stella – Doodle Paisley, Grey

Tonic Living Fabrics

Its hard to find a pattern that goes with the stripes and has the right colours in it. I may have to think out of the box on this one.

2. New Covers for Bedroom Throwpillows

Now that I’ve got my new painted braid lumbar pillow in the bedroom, I want to change up the other throw pillows and add some new light blue sheets. I’ve always stuck with warmer gold and red tones, but now I want a cooler, fresh look. I’m aiming towards a pattern like these:

Steel Blue Stripe

Dear Stella, Tear Drop, Grey

3. Picture Frames/Artwork above the Bed

We still have nothing above the bed, but lately I’ve been seeing all these great picture frame displays popping up on Pinterest and I want to give it a try.

4. Gallery Wall in Hallway

Yes, our hallway wall still looks like this…since October. The sad and lonely (empty) frame there is to cover up the exposed circuit breakers behind it. I want to add some more frames and make a gallery wall, but I’m waiting for spring garage sales to get some great deals on frames.

5. Console Table/Dresser in Hallway

Right now our front hall has a chair set there for people to set stuff down on, but I’d like to replace it with a shallow console table or small dresser to had some storage function there, and give me a place to set things down when we come in.

I’m on the hunt for one to repaint during garage sale season, but if I don’t find anything by mid-May, then I’m just going to make it myself. Garrett’s aunt from South Carolina (Hi Judy!) offered me some great advice on how to make one myself and I just might have to bite the bullet and borrow my dad’s saw. 

6. Fix the Broken Chair Leg

One of the chairs I recovered has a broken leg that I need to fix soon. I always hide the chair when company is coming so no one accidentally falls, but some day its going to end in disaster…and then I won’t have a matching set of four. Not good. My dad has given me some great tips on how to fix it, but I’m still so nervous to do it. What if I mess it up!

7. Finish the Bathroom

We’re so close to finishing the bathroom. I just have to finish the bathroom hooks and add some art. Then I can show the finished thing!

8. Dress up the Porch

Source

Our little porch is quite a mess of salt bags from the winter, a bin of old pots and planters and remnants from a failed Christmas planter I tried out. I want to clean it all up and add some lovely planters for summer and maybe even a number sign so that the pizza guy can actually find our front door (a very serious issue).

Of course I have lots of other fun little sewing projects I want to do for myself that I’m hoping to get done during the evenings. I’ve decided that I need to start having a night to myself to sew. Its so easy to come home from work and get sucked into the cooking, cleaning, paperwork, my part time job or even just television and tetris (a family addiction, just ask my sister about it). Sometimes you just have to make time for it to get these things done. Wish me luck!