1893 Victorian Farmhouse

Oh My . . . We're Making Progress in the Art Studio This Week

2012-01-28T17:58:00.003-06:00

Jon spent his week of vacation working on the art studio. Oh, I cannot tell you how happy, happy, happy, I am to see the progress this week in the studio. Lots of priming and painting ahead of me in the next few weeks.

Let me show you in photographs what we accomplished the two days.

At 55" Jon installed simple 1 x 4 pine shelf rails around the perimeter of the studio.

This is wild--it looks so good--I giggle.

The shelf function is right on the money--a place to display finished oil paintings, that doubles as storage space for student's wet paintings between classes.

I'll never have to put a nail in the wall ever!

Above is 1 of two cubbies for canvas storage. In this photo I'm priming the birch plywood.

The temporary cross braces keep the frame square through the priming, painted, and installation. The cross braces gaves us some handles to grab hold when lifting the cubbies for installation.

A couple of saw horses in the middle of the studio hold the second cubbie while receiving two top coats of black satin latex.

This morning while I went to Stevens Point for window trim, Jon primed and painted the thin backing sheets to install on the canvas storage cubbies.

When I returned with the window trim, Jon already had the first canvas storage cubbie in position. Then, he removed the cross braces and trimmed out the face of the cubbies. I'll prime and paint the face trim tomorrow.

Here's a closer photo of the platform, stacked library card files, and canvas storage cubbie

Jon is tired as he finishes the cubbie installation and more shelf rails on the west and east walls.

This north end of the art studio we are looking at is where all the art supplies will be stored/sold. Underneath the countertop I'll install some carpet to store frames.

Jon celebrates his long day with a Sprite.

The card files will store new tubes of oil paint, brushes, etc. I have card stock ready to go, to start labeling drawers for the art studio supplies and for sewing notions in the west dormer sewing area.

While Jon was busy installing shelves, I filled nail holes with wood filler on the shelf rails and baseboards.

I climbed underneath the sewing area and primed the sides of the library card files.

This is the south end of the studio. Off this balcony we'll install outside stairs and railings this summer.

I've photographed this angle many times in different stages of construction. I'll have to make a little slide presentation of the same angle, showing the transformation.

To the left is the west dormer sewing area.

Tomorrow I'll sand, tape, prime, and top coat of cubbie face trim, shelf rails and baseboards.

Jon will remove excess lumber off the floors, and continue triming out the windows.

We're tired tonight. Having dinner right now. Early bedtime tonight.

Fred and Rainie slept all day. Lucky dogs!

Making Wool Cookies

2012-01-27T04:08:00.001-06:00

Time to Make Wool Cookies

Let me show you how I make them,

and

why I need them.

I purchased this splendid 4-drawer file cabinet for under $100 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

It sits in the west dormer sewing area of the art studio.

The wool cookies will replace the cardboard under the file cabinet. I'm not planning to move the file cabinet again, but the wool cookies (furniture pads) will help protect the floor.

Lesson Learned: don't move furniture larger than you are across a new floor.

Two 8-inch long scratches on the new floor remind me I should have made the wool pads sooner.

This is a hunk of boiled wool.

I purchased several wool jackets from Goodwill in November.

One evening I sat on the couch and cut up two jackets.

Lesson Learned: don't sit on the couch and cut up wool jackets, it makes such a mess. It is twice the work to clean up the mess than cutting it at the work table to begin with.

I washed the cut up wool pieces in the hottest setting in the washing machine, then off to the dryer.

There you have it, the simple steps to make your own wool felt.

I originally made wool felt for the Litte Girls Sewing Club--a sewing group who joins me the day after Thanksgiving every year. On that day we make (sew/craft) gifts all day long while their Moms and Grandmothers go Christmas shopping.

The wool felt hunks the Little Girls made into drinking coasters,

and topped them with machine embroidered leaves.

I still have lots of wool felt left over, and it is a perfect material for furniture foot pads.

Two layers of wool felt + glue + weights

By the way, the nice little juice glasses I purchased (14pc) for $4 at Unique Interiors--a second hand store in Greenville, WI. Way cool, eh?

Glued up, and ready for assembly and weights--they remind me I need to go to the store and get milk.

So I went to the store, got the milk, resisted the temptation to buy a bag of oreo cookies. But when I returned home--the longing for cookies continued, so I did the unthinkable . . . I caved . . . I baked chocolate chip cookies. It's been a week now, there are still cookies left in the jar. They are as hard as hockey pucks.

Tell me, is it bad to feed crunched-up cookies to the birds? Jon says I have to stop throwing peelings out the back door, because I'm attracting skunks. Lesson Learned.

Library Card Files Recycled and Installed

2012-01-24T19:12:00.002-06:00

I received 2 matching library card file credenzas from my neighbor--a very generous gift. If you look closely you can see this 60 drawer credenza consists of 4 sections bolted together. I removed the screws distmantling the credenza which included freeing the top and bottom 1-1/4" boards.

Mom removed all the brass from the drawers (120pc) and cleaned each one with fine steel wool.

Here are 1/3 of the drawers I sanded wooden fronts, primed, and 2 top coats of satin enamel. These vintage library card file drawers have plastic boxes with wooden fronts--easy to keep clean.

Here's what the credenzas looked like as I started the project. Flaking paint and very dirty brass.

Other things I refurbished for the studio--four metal chairs, purchased for a couple dollars each. I put new soy foam on them and purchased remnant fabric at Hancock fabrics--my home away from home, ha ha.

The metal chairs were so stinky, we hauled them home from the garage sale gagging all the way.

Taking the chair apart gave I got form fitting measurements.

I recovered 2 wooden chairs--here is one after I finished the upholstery.

Because these chairs where my FIRST upholstery projects, I photographed each stage of deconstruction, (insurance that I could put them back together again).

The two wooden chairs cost $5 each at a backyard sale. They also smelled terrible and were so full of dander I had to put on a mask even though I did the deconstruction outside. It was bad, very bad.

I started out with new soy based foam, and bargain fabric from the clearance section of Hancock fabrics.

Best tools: sharp scissors, electric staple gun, and confidence.

Right and Left: stacked card files. Jon carefully removed (sawed-off) the backsplash on the countertops to accommodate 29x57 windows. Sadly, the purple chair is going to Goodwill next week. I'm going to buy myself a new chair!

The lights are all discontinued products (reduced price).

Originally $49 each, I purchased the last four light fixtures at Menard's in Plover, WI for $15 each.

But first I asked lighting clerk for a print-out of other Menard's stores that had the same fixtures discountinued/on sale--to make sure I could get all 14 fixtures I needed for the studio.

Using the print out I called Menard stores in other states. I purchased the remaining 10 fixtures from Menard stores in Galesburg, IL (near my parents), and had the Des Moines IA and Rockford IL fixtures shipped to me.

Including shipping costs--I saved $450 using discontinued light fixtures.

I'm looking at the south end (balcony beyond the double doors). To the right is the west dormer (sewing area), and to the left is the east dormer elevator.

Any guess what this recycled item once was, or will be?

Let me begin by saying, each student will have an easel, chair, and wooden tv tray. I bought 12 wooden tv trays at various garage sales--primed and painted them black satin. Some of the tv trays came with their own caddy. This is a tv tray storage caddy.

But I'm going to use it for paintings display on the countertop.

Looking north now--Jon is in the north end working on another countertop and more library card file storage.

Pretty congested space right now with the saw and rail.

Last week I painted the platforms black for the library card files.

A temporary stick holds countertop that is screwed to a wall cleat. I took these photos yesterday, but today Jon added cleats to the card file sides, to support larger boards, underneath the laminate countertop-- then add an apron just behind the bullnose to hide the support boards.

As I write this blog, Jon is fabricating 2 plywood boxes that will sit on top of the left and right card files. These two 2 plywood boxes will extend to the ceiling, and create canvas storage space. Tomorrow I'll begin the task of priming the boxes and painting them black satin to match the card files.

Each box will have one shelf. The lower cubbies will be 32 inches high, 33 inches wide, and 24 inches deep--accommodating larger canvases. Upper cubbies 28 inches high hold smaller size canvases.

The card files have 17" deep drawers, and so the card file boxes are not as deep as the countertop. We're keeping the space open in the back, because there are outlets just within a hands reach.

Here's my Jon. Always a smile on his face. He can build anything! I sure love him.

Looking across the room, into the east dormer. The backside of this closet door is the elevator, accessible from the east dormer.

Here is the elevator shaft, with make-do-for-the-moment styrofoam sheets, (freezing weather outside).

No elevator yet. We still climb an aluminum ladder to get to the art studio.

I think the elevator will happen later this spring. I think.

Jon's favorite saying: (from the Red Green Show) . . .

I'm a man,

And I can change,

If I have to.

I'll be posting more studio photos this week.

I'm excited about the shelf rails to be installed around the wall perimeter--maybe tomorrow.

Goodnight for now. Sleep tight.

Chipped, Stained, & Cracked

2012-01-20T07:28:00.001-06:00

Do you have things that are Chipped, Stained, or Cracked? Please share your ideas how you use them, or recycled them.

STAINED:
Yesterday, I recycled some "Stained" projects. In the afternoon I re-invented an extra large white linen tablecloth purchased for a couple of dollars at a garage sale last summer.

It was very, very nice cloth, worn and soft to the touch but little yellow stains here and there. I cut up the vintage tablecloth, recycling them into eight 16" x 20" dish towels rectangles, and one set of pillow cases. The little yellow stains were cut away.

Recycled Dish towels embroidered yesterday.

The first thing that attracted me to this extra large tablecloth was the quality of the linen and the lace. I admit, as I paid for the tablecloth, evil wheels were turning in my head as I thought about carving it into smaller pieces!

I serged the edges of each recycled dish towel, then placed them in the 5 x 7 hoop with stablizer sheet underneath.

Action shot here. Machine embroidery of vintage serving spoon and fork.

Two Spoons: this one I'm giving to my friend Laurie--she likes old spoons. Laurie will take one look at this and laugh, and laugh.

Machine embroidering takes about 20 minutes. When I'm working on special projects I slow down the stitching speed on my machine.

The finished towels are plain looking, I could add a printed fabric band from scraps. What do you think? Plain or Peanut?

Plain

Add fabric color?

Actually my first STAINED recycling project began early yesterday morning . . .

I was folding dark clothes from the dryer. Ah, nuts--my favorite green sweatshirt . . . there were grease stains on the front of it. I have no idea where that came from.

So, I cut up an old green gingham shirt to make some triangles to sew over the stained spots. Here's the cover-up job on my favorite green sweatshirt.

I cut random triangles, stitched 1/4" on edges, and turned the edges under to press, then pinned the triangles in place and used small blanket stitch to permanently attach to the sweatshirt. Then, I got an idea . . .

BUGS . . . that's what's bugging me! I'll embroider BUGS on the sweatshirt, an array of colorful embroidery threads.

Recently I discovered dark gray smoke and walnut brown to use instead of black. My favorites: anything green: lime, kiwi, olive, fresh green, and golds, oranges, plumbs, peacock greens and blues.

Positioning the machine embroidery hoop.

(iron-on stablizer . . . that's the white paper-like sheet)

The hoop slides into the machine and locked. Ready to go.

Detail of stitching the embroidery design.

Detail of finished golden bee

Then, a dragon fly

Then a colorful beetle.

The Finish: saved the collar of the green gingham shirt and stitched it to the sweatshirt.

I'll add some stippling to the triangle squares--to nail down the wavy fabric. Have you ever stippled? Its easy and a cool way to make quilted fabric for coin purses and Kindle readers.

Confession: I like to experiment with recycling . . . but occasionally I make a hot mess, a disaster, something truly awful, and have the good sense to throw it away before anyone sees it. Come on, tell me your special word for making a mess . . . extra points for two-word or three word descriptions!

Everyday is Saturday, and my favorite day of the week is Tomorrow.

Having fun, wish you were here.

It's a Circus Around Here!

2012-01-09T23:38:00.000-06:00

The siding is finished on the two-story garage/workshop/art studio. Jon had the siding milled to match the siding on the 120 year old barn.

Jon worked on the art studio (second floor) last weekend. He installed the baseboard, and hung the closet door. We also have heat in the studio and in Jon's workshop below.

We talked about the layout for the countertops, and I measured and put down blue painters tape on the floor to mark location of the countertops and canvas storage, and left a drawing to show Jon how I imagine the finished art supply space will look.

Jon carefully removed (sawed off) the backsplash on the prefabricated countertops to accommodate the rather tall windows he installed.

Why we chose those tall windows:
I found the 29x57 windows for the art studio at Lowes, reduced to $45 each. Original price $245.00 each. The downside--they came without screens. Months later, I went to Lowe's to order screens for the windows--and can you believe on that very day, at the ordering desk, right behind me, was a large rolling rack in the middle of the aisle. I looked at it, and couldn't believe what I saw . . . . 9 screens for my 29x57 windows reduced to $5.00 each. I bought all 9 screens . . . and saved another $225.

Last weekend Jon and I discussed the function and form of the 4 inch shelf that will travel around the perimeter of the art studio walls. Positioned at a height of 55" the 4 inch shelf will store student's wet paintings. This is be the same style of shelf/railing Jon installed in the upstairs bathroom.

Below :the west dormer (right) is a little space carved out for sewing and recovering vintage lampshades.

Upstairs in the art studio, the saw is buzzing . . . the air compressor is running, and Jon is trimming out the windows, doors, and baseboards. The compound miter saw/rails, sawhorses, and SAWDUST keep me and my camera away for the moment.

I keep asking, do you want some help? He always says, "no . . . I want to be alone when I cuss."

I promise, I'll post some photos--even though it looks like a 3 ring circus.

Little Babies - Sweet Babies

2011-10-31T18:25:00.000-05:00

The little baby is my grandmother Leatha Clarissa (Ashley) Harriman, born November 1906

The baby shoes belonged to my grandfather Gilbert Samuel Harriman, born November 1898

Both items were items were given to me by my Aunt Mary.

Mary is the daughter of Gilbert and Leatha Harriman.

I stuffed bit of honey colored organza inside the shoes to fill out their shape. Am I losing my mind, or can you see creases in the leather defining his little toes?

Ah Mary, thank you so much for letting me display these wonderful treasures in my home.

My grandfather

detail of Gilbert Samuel Harriman, c1902

Lebanon, Missouri

Gilbert, age 4 - 1902

Family Reunion, Lebanon Missouri

Backrow standing: Walter Ray Harriman, Nettie Viola Harriman, Francis Marion Harriman, Benjamin Hollandsworth husband of Pearl Harriman, Pearl Harriman, John William Harriman, Harley Harriman

Seated adults: James "Howard" Harriman and his wife Edna Irene (Snow) Harriman and their son Gilbert Samuel Harriman--my grandfather.

Center of the photograph is Mother, Mary Elizabeth (Stevens) Harriman, patriarch of the family.

Father, Samuel Harriman (deceased, not shown in this photograph)

Next to Mother, is Anna Harriman Butts and her husband James with their infant son Ray.

Bottom right is the youngest sibling: Verna Mae Harriman Mills. Verna had 13 children; she named her 11th children Finis (the end), but it wasn't.

detail, 1907 photo of my grandmother

Leatha Clarissa (Ashley) Harriman

1908 photo of my grandmother Leatha Clarissa (Ashley) Hariman

with her parents Annie Laurie (Miller) Ashley, and William Arthur Ashley

We are so blessed to have many remarkable images and personal family items that my Aunt Mary gave me to display in our old Victorian.

It makes me smile every time I walk by. Sometimes I stop to touch them.

There is another trunk of family items to photograph and post (heirlooms from Aunt Mary)

And one more suitcase of old, old photographs to scan and post that Dad found and sent my way.

Oh my, I'll do my best to get the task done and load them up on ancestry.com

Finding Gladys; 1902, 1903, 1906

2011-10-25T08:49:00.000-05:00

I found Gladys . . . isn't she lovely?

Gladys 1906 - age 20

Under some unusual circumstances I acquired 12 original drawings made by Gladys. The drawings were signed and dated from 1902-1903. A friend of a friend sent them to me as a gift to decorate our old Victorian.

When the drawings arrived I immediately noticed the artist's signature and went right to Ancestry.com to see if I could find Glady's ancestors. In minutes I found two living granddaughters Rachel and Julia and sent them an email. Next day I received a reply:

I am Julia, Gladys's granddaughter. I wonder if we have the same Gladys??!! My grandmother was born and lived all her life in Portland Maine. She was born in 1887 and died in l980 at the age of 93. She attended Wellesley at the age of 16, graduated, then married . . . around the age of 20 and had three children including my mother . . . who just died at the age of 100.

Gladys . . . was very well educated, traveled a good deal, and wrote poetry. She was also involved in the suffragette movement here in Portland. Our Gladys was in fact an amazing artist, and sketched all her life. I have a book she made of drawings of freshman student life when she was at Wellesley College, a copy of which is in the college art collection. I don't know if she ever actually studied drawing or drew from models.

. . . I wonder how her drawings would have made their way out to your area of the country! How do you think we could clarify if this is the same Gladys?

Let me know how you think we should proceed. This is so exciting! I will also try to telephone you.

Many thanks,
Julia

I scanned the drawings and signatures and emailed a few images to Julia. Below is an image of one of Gladys' drawings

Miss Green Posing, 19 Nov 1902

I received the following response from Glady's granddaughter Julia:

I am so excited to receive your email! The handwriting and the drawings are clearly those of my grandmother Gladys- I would recognize them anywhere. I have been going through all her letters and her sketchbooks this fall. She had a very characteristic drawing style when it came to facial features and clothing . . .

Thank you Julia. Thank you for sharing memories of your grandmother Gladys and giving me permission to post about our "chance" meeting. Finding Gladys was a wonderful journey.

1907 Victorian Halloween Party

2011-09-20T08:32:00.000-05:00

"A Halloween Party at Moss Point at the Residence of Dr. W. R. Thompson" (newspaper clipping)

By far the most interesting social event that Moss Point young folks have been treated to in a long while was the Halloween party given at the home of Dr. W. R. Thompson Thursday night. About thirty young people assembled at the home of Mrs. Fred Herrin, where the young ladies rigged themselves as ghosts to escort the young men to Dr. Thompson's residence. The crowd was met at the door by a gruesome witch, who pointed the way up the dimly lighted stairway with her broom.

The young ladies preceded the young men down the stairs into the parlor, where they seated themselves in a circle on the floor. The gentlemen were then allowed to enter and quiet a lively time was had guessing the identity of the ladies. The house was beautifully but weirdly decorated with ferns, golden rod and autumn branches, with here and there in the most unexpected corners pumkin and guord jack-o-lanterns smiled and gnashed their teeth.

In the parlor arch doorway there hung a portiere of apples on strings of varying lengths with a horse shoe hung in the midst, through the prongs of which each guest tried to throw three tiny apples. Those who succeeded were assured of phenomenal luck for the ensuing year. In another room a big pear shaped pumpkin hung, on the shining surface of which were cut all the letters of the alphabet. This was rapidly twirled and the guests in turn tried to stab some letter, thereby finding the initial letter of one's fate.

Pinned to the wall in another room was a sheet on which was mounted a large figure of a witch riding her broom. Scattered promiscuously over this were small envelopes containing fortunes. The guests in turn were blindfolded and allowed to seek and find his fortune by touching the sheet with a broomstick. The one securing the fortune placed in the witches handreceived as a prize a lovely little kitten.

The dining table was draped with a snowy white cloth. In the center of which was placed a mammoth pumpkin which had been freed from the meat and cocircled with grape vines to which clusters of grapes were attached. A large bowl containing punch was placed within the pumpkin shell, this being placed upon a lovely center piece made of autumn leaves. Running from this to each of the four corners of the table was a vine made of the conventional leaves at the end of which was placed a red apple candle stick on a mat of leaves.

Above the punch bowl hung a lovely hoop made of vines and all sizes of jack-o-lanterns with staring eyes and wide open mouthes. In one corner of the dining room was a beautiful gypsy tent where a lovely young lady told the most bewitching fortunes. Delicious refreshments were served and all kinds of quaint Halloween customs indulged in until the wee small hours.

It's Only a Bird . . .

2011-08-29T10:09:00.000-05:00

I found Henry in a shop called Ingeborg's Cupboard, downtown Waupaca.

He was sitting high on a shelf in the store.

I asked the store owner to bring him down for closer inspection. Wow, he's a pretty bird.

I call him Henry, after the previous owner's son, and because I like the name.

Henry Wrolstad 1882-1903

I put Henry the Bird in the kitchen, on top of the east wall of cabinets--about the same height as he appeared in the store. Every once in a while, someone noticed the bird looking down at them.

Time to give Henry some attention.

Henry is sits on a 12" post, mounted on a piece of plywood.

This month I moved Henry to the red dining room. Gathering some fern, and fall colored orange-gold leafed brown branches, I covered the plywood base with moss and foliage.

Henry takes up a heap of space on the mantle,

but all dressed up here he is center stage in the dining room.

Henry Makes Special Appearance for House Guests:

I hosted a group of 70 guests August 13, welcoming the Wrolstad Family Reunion. Their ancester John Olsen Wrolstad built our house in 1893. The dining room table was filled with hydrangea, accompanied by trays of butterscotch oatmeal cookies, and iced lemonade made by my mother Lorraine.

I was so busy with guests, I forgot about photographing the event. What was I thinking???

I want to thank the Wrolstad Family Reunion for taking time to tour our house, and for the kind words about the whole house restoration.

I want to say hello today, to a new friend Junelle.

Hi Junelle,

When will you come visit us at Wrolstad-Quien Victorian?

East Room Revisited

2011-08-02T16:25:00.003-05:00

I pass by the East bedroom every morning. As a guest bedroom it is spacious and comfortable. Decorated with some personal items from the previous owners.

Above is the entrance to the East bedroom (from the hallway, I'm currently working on).

The entire house has same woodwork style--a sawtooth crown with a spoon carved daisy.

Let's go in, and take a look.

A walnut dressing table holds some vintage and antique items. A statue of Chattelaine found in an second-hand bookstore caught my attention. I walked by her for three years. I asked about purchasing her over the years but she was not for sale.

If you ask, sometimes you receive. I must have asked about the statue at least 10 times. The last time, the clerk felt motivated to call the owner about my request offer. She shows a bit of attitude--that must be why I like her.

Toile fabric for sewing the drapes and pillow shams.

Cheap and Free

Good Bargains

I purchased the comforter at a second hand store for $25.

Then I found a bolt of the same fabric at Hancock, $6 per yard

and made the drapes and pillow shams.

The Cream and Black Toile comforter was the jumping off point for decorating the East bedroom.

I selected a dark charcoal wall color, and painted woodwork in cream.

Things I love about this room:

The winter white antique bedspread from St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shope - $49 barely covers pale yellow sheets. Grandma Eva's hall phone still has her number imprinted on the dial, Dickens 35-123. The scalloped bedside table $10

Detail of the antique bedspread

Another thrift shop find--an antique foot rest. For me, a short person hopping up on to a tall mattress, the foot rest is THE BEST. I didn't recover it, even though the ivory fabric is stained.

I like it stained. I appreciate its function.

The sleigh bed sits on a large off-white area rug over an expresso painted floor.

On another treasure hunt, I found a pair of old lamp shades in such ragged shape, I forgot about photographing them before ripping off the tattered stained remains of what used to be ivory satin.

Using left over drapery fabric, I covered one of the shades in linen, a cream and black toile.

It took forever to hand sew this shade. And truth be told, I covered it first in white brocade and didn't like it--and tore it off, to start all over again with the toile.

I always have good collaboration with Hancock Fabrics employees, and they helped me pick out two layers of fancy black trim. We get serious when we get down to the details.

You know, I had nice toys when I was a kid.

BUT, now I have awesome toys at age 60!

My friend Kathy and I found a little whole in the wall shop during one of our weekend treasure hunts.

In a corner sat this dusty vintage lamp base. And the lamp base said to me, "come here, we need to talk."

The price was $25. I almost didn't buy it because $25 is twice what I usually pay.

Then I rubbed my hand over the high relief design on the glass base. Yup, gotta have this one.

Washing it up, adding missing crystals--its just a fabulous piece. That's why I fussed over it, pairing it with just the right shade, fabric, and trim.

Check out the scroll work on the base holding the glass.

This 9' x 12' off white area rug was $99 at . . .

wait for it . . .

Fleet Farm, Stevens Point

What a shocker. Quality on the Cheap.

Believe me, this rug has a sumptuous feel on bare feet.

A great bargain

I purchased more of those large area room rugs in different colors

at Fleet Farm for the other bedrooms.

In the corner is a rather fine looking floor lamp, purchased in a Poi Sippi thrift shop for $35.

I'll attached some detail photos.

I love the walnut 4-drawer dresser, won at auction (holding my breath) and getting it for $100. The drawer operates without flaw, and the finish is remarkable.

Ragnhild Bertine Quien's teacher's briefcase sits on a chair in the East bedroom (her room when she lived in our house).

It was quite a surprise to receive an email from Laurie, owner of Reflections Antiques, questioning me about a briefcase she had acquired with intials R.B.Q. I jumped at the chance to buy it and bring it home to Ragnhild's room.

I found a couple of Ragnhild's handwritten letters and keep them inside her briefcase.

Above and Below are details of the floor lamp. The base reminds me of a decorated cake.

The bridge of the lamp is way cool.

The Smith Corona typewriter - do you have an idea what year it was manufacturered?

This Westinghouse electric fan has original paint, and someone's original finger prints that had some white paint that stuck to the finish. The fan works great; I gave it to Jon a year ago (gift).

Someday the fan will leave the East bedroom and make its home in Jon's man cave.

Isn't it wicked how heavy the old typewriters were?

Beaded shade. I call it a hula shade. Is there a special name for this type of shade?

This is Ragnhild Quien's sister. Her name is Bessie Pauline (Quien) Pasternacki. Bessie married Leon Pasternacki a dentist, and known as the youngest mayor ever of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Bessie married Leon Pasternacki in 1914.

I was in a local antiques store. The shopkeeper told me, "I believe I have a couple photographs of women who used to live in your house." I was happy to see they were a 1906 Scandinavia Academy graduation class photo--students with their teacher Miss Ragnhild Quien,

and

The other photo was this very lovely photo of Bessie Pauline, probably taken around 1915 after she married Leon Pasternacki. I keep it in the East bedroom where the light is low and I can shelter and display her beautiful portrait.

Making a Shopping Bag with Pockets (Tutorial with Photos)

2011-08-01T09:31:00.492-05:00

I like making purses and shopping bags from upholstery fabrics.

I'm going to show you step by step, how to make a shopping bag.

Are you ready? Here we go.

Paper or Plastic? No Thank You. I brought my own bag.

This 15" bag has two 8" pockets wide enough to hold your Kindle snug and bottle of water upright--ready to grab quickly. Those are two things I want to have in their own conpartment rather than swimming around at the bottom of the bag.

This is a simple bag to make, and you can alter the dimensions to make any size bag you need.

1- Selecting Fabric

I found 1-3/4 yards of the window pane upholstery fabric in the clearance bin.

And a solid gray-brown linen fabric for the lining too, and purchased 2 yards.

I have enough material from these two hunks of fabric to make (4) shopping bags. One for me, and three for gifts for friends.

Great colors for fall. Ice blue and gold squares, wrapped with a bit of burnt sienna, and framed in a gray-brown.

Tip: When I took the fabric to the cutting table,

I asked the clerk for her advice:

What do you think about this upholstery fabric to sew a shopping bag?

Will I need a special machine needle?

Could you clip a small piece of the fabric so I could test it for fraying? (raveling threads)

Do you think this fabric will fold and press well? (to make handles)

---

2- Layout and Cutting Fabric

I layed the fabric out on my kitchen table, with the salvages at top and bottom. The frayed edge shown in this photo above is the salvage edge.

Most upholstery material is 54" to 60" wide. My fabric is 54" salvage to salvage.

I'm in luck, the window panes on this fabric are dead on straight, and I use my scissors to straighten the end of the fabric (right).

I measure 15" with a simple ruler and using the window panes for a guide, I cut the entire fabric with scissors from salvage to salvage.

Fold the fabric, join salvages. Hand press across the bottom and use scissors to cut the fabric into 2 pieces.

The result is (2) pieces of fabric 15" wide, and 27" long. With these (2) pieces of fabric I will make two identical shopping bags . . . (best use of fabric and my time).

Above photo: I fold each piece in half, and set them aside.

Above Photo: Cutting the handles

To make (2) shopping bags, I need two strips of fabric 4" wide. I measure with ruler, and cut the 4" strips using the window panes as a guide

At this point, you'll have (2) bag exteriors cut, and (2) handles cut.

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3-Layout and Cutting of Lining with Pockets

I decided to use the 15" x 27" window pane bag exterior fabric as a template. First, fold the brown linen fabric in half, joining the salvage ends at the top, and the fold at the bottom.

Lay the bag exterior on top of the brown linen fabric and with a ruller and pen, mark cutting lines left and right.

Before removing the window pane fabric template,

measure 8" to the left with a rule and draw straight line with a pen.

Cut only one 8" strip to make (2) shopping bags.

Remove window pane fabric template. At the fold at the bottom, cut lining fabric in half.

At the fold line at the bottom of the 8" strip, cut fabric in half.

Fold pieces and set aside.

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Review:

Two Bag Cut Outs Finished

Above photo: fabric pieces folded in half for (2) shopping bags

2 - window pane exterior bags

2 - window pane handles

2 - solid brown linen liners

2 - 8" deep pockets

thread

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4-Serging Handles and Pocket Fabric

Serge all four sides of the pocket and handle fabrics.

If you don't have a serger, using a zig zag stitch.

Secret: serging or zig zagging is an important step!

Why?

The solid brown linen fabric wants to ravel itself as soon as finished cutting the 8" strips. To stop the raveling, you must serge or zig zag stitch the edges.

The serged line also serves as a 1/4" turning guide. You'll see what I mean as we continue on.

Detail of finished serged edges

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5-Sewing the Pockets

Put one strip of the pocket fabric on the ironing board. Turn 1/4" serged edge and press. See photo below.

Next, fold the pocket in half, right to left. The fold will be on the right.

Sewing:

Think of the photo above as an "L".

Start at the top of the L and sew down to the bottom, Then sew the bottom of the L.

Do not sew the top

After you sewed the "L", turn the pocket inside out.

Use the eraser end of a pencil, or chop stick to articulate the corners. The corners are a bit stubborn when turning and need just a bit of fussing.

Above Photo: Turning the pocket inside out.

Once you've turned the pocket inside out . . .

Fold the pocket in half, right to left. Press the entire pocket.

Pressing the pocket produces a crease line at the fold, and the crease line will be your sewing guide line as we continue.

Tip: pressing as you go produces the best possible results on any sewing project.

The next time someone says, "wow, you are such a great sewer", you can raise your right eyebrow, and smile to yourself because you know the secret to being a great sewer--PRESSING as you sew.

Open the pocket and notice the crease line in the center.

Notice in the photograph above the right corner is needs a bit more fussing to make a better corner. Do it now while you have an opportunity.

Above is the solid brown linen liner for the bag. Serge the top and bottom of the fabric (short ends) as shown in the photo above. (I folded the fabric to photograph the short ends serged).

With the lining folded in halfU--the fold will be at the bottom.

Press the fold to make a crease line for pinning pockets to the lining. The crease line is also the bottom of your shopping bag!

Open the lining of the shopping bag.

See crease line.

Pin pocket 3" above the crease in the shopping bag.

Make sure the pocket opening is placed at the bottom (see photo above).

Begin sewing pocket to lining. Start in the center, using crease line in the pocket as a sewing guide. Sew two lines of stitch on either side of the crease.

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Use the illustration below. Think of sewing the pocket to the lining as sewing a BIG "U".

Starting at the right *, sew from the top corner down to the bottom of the pocket.

At the bottom of the pocket, pivot* and sew acoss the bottom of the pocket to the left corner.

At the left corner*, pivot and sew finishing the BIG "U"

Clip all the threads (front and back)

Fold the bag in half. In this photo the bottom of the bag is shown at the top of the photo.

Sew (or serge) the side seams (left and right).

At the opening of the bag, fold a cuff 1" or so, and PRESS.

Set the lining aisde.

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6-Sewing the Exterior Bag

Serge the top and bottom (short ends) of the window pane bag exterior. The short ends are 15" width.

Turn the fabric inside out

Fold fabric in half.

Join the serged ends (short ends 15")

Sew (or serge) side seams, left and right.

Turn the fabric 1" or so, to form a cuff and PRESS.

Open the bag, and turn the bag inside out.

Above Photo: Turning the Bag Inside Out.

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7-Inserting the Lining into the Bag

The bag is turned to its right side. Now is the time to use a chop stick or eraser end of a pencil to articulate the corners of the bag.

Stick your hand inside the lining, and insert lining into the window pane fabric.

Begin at the side seams. Nearly match the side seams of the lining and the bag. If you were to match them exactly the two thick seams would be too bulky to sew over.

Pin the lining fabric to the exterior bag fabric. Nearly match the folded cuffs. I like the 1/8" reveal as shown here.

Set the bag aside.

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8-Constructing the Handles

Remember those 4" strips you cut?

Get ready, we're going to make them into handles for your shopping bag.

You've already serged all four sides of the 4"handle strip.

With a rotary cutter, measure and cut 3-1/4" inch strips of crisp interfacing. Get heat fusible, (iron on) firm weight interfacing to make handles. The handles will be the work horse of your shopping bag.

Iron the 3-1/4" strips of fusible interfacing to the backside of the window pane fabric.

Using the 1/4" serged edge as a guide, turn the edges and press.

In the next three photos, you'll see me folding the strip in half, and pressing it again.

Now you're ready to sew two lines of top stitching to form the handles.

At the sewing machine, (left) the first row of top stitching is done. Now I'm top stitching the right side.

The strip you top-stitched is 54" long. Fold it in half lengthwise, and with the scissors cut to form 2 handles.

You have two handles for your shopping bag. Measure 1-1/2" from the end of each handles. Mark in this manner with a pin. There will be four ends.

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9-Insert Handles into Bag

Start at the (right) the exterior bag, measure 3 inches, and mark with a pin.

Take the handle, and insert it BETWEEN the window pane fabric and the lining fabric. See next photo.

Insert the handle until the yellow pin matches directly under the pink pin.

See next photo to illustrate.

With your left hand hold the handle firmly in place, and lift the handle upward and lay it on the surface of the bag.

Lifting upward, put a pin where my thumb is--this will hold the handle in place.

Below, the pin is put in place.

Below: measure 3" from the left side seam, place a pin to mark, and insert handle.

Lift handle, to expose lining and place a pin to hold handle in position for sewing.

Make sure the handle is arch correctly. Here's how to check.

Lift handle upward at the center. The inside curve of the handle should be one fluid line.

Another vision test to make sure handle is on correctly.

Lay bag down, and pull at the center of the handle. Look at the inside curve of the handle to make sure it is one fluid line with no twists.

Now that you have one handle pinned in place, we'll use their position as a guide to insert the second handle.

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Flip the bag over

Insert the second handle BETWEEN the window pane fabric and the brown linen lining.

Do the handle test again, to make sure the inside curve of the handle is one fluid line.

The bag is ready to sew the lining and the handles. One operation!

I've lifted the camera so you can see the brown linen lining with pockets.

TURN THE BAG INSIDE OUT TO SEW

10-Finishing the Bag

Begin sewing at the side seam, BUT chose to start an inch before the bulky side seam, or an inch after the bulky seam. Remember: a smooth start makes for a smooth finish.

I stitch 1/4" from the window pane fabric. Why? Because there is a 1/4" guide imprinted on the sewing foot, and it is easy for me to see. Because the brown lining is pinned 1/4" from the window pane fabric, I end up with a precise 1/8" line on the lining. Nice look.

Here is a closer look.

A second row of stitching catches the handle fabric, giving the handles extra carrying strength.

I remove pins as I go along. The pins are placed about every three inches.

Tip: Stitch 3" at a time. Stop, remove pins, and straighten fabric, and handles.

If you follow the three S's,

Stich 3"

Stop and remove pins

Straighten fabric

You'll sew perfect garments every time!

After the second row of stitch, clip threads and turn the bag right side out.

The finished bag needs some pressing, but otherwise its ready to go.

Hope you like the tutorial and photos.

If you want to see a bag made with a closure (tongue). Let me know. I'll add more photos to the tutorial.

The Best of the Best

2011-07-27T19:15:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while I stumble across a great website.

Here's one of the best I've seen: My 1923 Four Square, by JC from Ontario.

http://my1923foursquare.blogspot.com/2011/07/mouldings-and-cabinet-update.html

JC's journal is loaded with magazine quality photographs giving us close inspection of his skill and knowledge.

Please join me as a follower of JC's website. Leave a comment for him. He sure deserves applause for his stunning work.

http://www.my1923foursquare.blogspot.com/

I think we're in for quite a year of fascinating posts from JC as he restores his home. He is a good teacher, and is quick to share his successes as well as "those unexpected lessons learned".

I recently left a comment on this site about the moldings he fabricated to match the original.

Hi JC,
Wow. A jaw dropping wow! You do amazing work, and I just had to drop a line to congratulate you (your determination to find the exact profile for the moldings) Oh how sweet it is. Fabulous photos by the way. I agree with you, I love how the light defines the moldings. Your place is a magazine article in the making. Push for an opportunity to do that.

Mrs. D

New Project - Restoration Upstairs

2011-07-23T08:08:00.128-05:00

Here's the front foyer door.

We're starting a new project. Repairing walls in the front foyer, walls going up the stairway, and down the upstair's hallway. I'm dividing this project into sections, beginning with the upstairs hallway.

The painted yellow walls in the foyer are in rough shape. While the plaster keys appear to be in good shape, the texture of the walls is rough as a cob. That's my Grandpa Bert's line, "rough as a cob". Makes me laugh because I can still hear him say it and see his smile. I wonder where Grandpa Bert heard that expression, and how many generations said it before him. I've heard my Dad use the expression too.

Detail of the Front Foyer Door

Original hardware on the front foyer door. The lock mechanism still works. Jon took apart the mechanism two years ago, cleaned it, and it with the skeleton key--works great.

Detail of mechanical door bell.

Check out the wood grain on the door. This is faux bois woodwork--a handpainted faux finish on pine by an artisan in 1893 to make the wood look like quarter sawn oak.

The doorways are also faux bois and and because of traffic over the years have chips in the faux bois paint, requiring touch up with a small artist brush. I use oil paints: yellow ochre, raw sienna, burnt sienna, burnt umber, and several artist brushes to make touch ups.

This is our very yellow foyer. To the left and right of the light fixture you can see golf ball size holes in the wall. That's where Jon blew insulation into the walls. The insulation made quite an impact on cooling, heating, and noise dampening.

The insulation was one of the first things done to the house in 2007 when we bought the house. Installation was very dirty work. We were able to move into the house in April 2008.

Above is a closet door in the foyer, located underneath the stairway. Again, all the woodwork is faux bois--handpainted to look like quarter sawn oak.

John Olson Wrolstad is the original owner/builder of our 1893 Queen Anne. John was a successful businessman in logging, and could have afforded expensive woodwork for his house. Instead he chose to have an artisan faux finish the pine woodwork throughout the house including the floors! Faux bois was all the rage in the 1800's.

The front foyer stairway

View from the base of the staircase

Ascending the stairs. Above is the temporary scaffold Jon built. The scaffold will help me repair the wall cracks.

Above, you can see the cleats supporting the temporary scaffold floor.

As we near the top of the stairs to the right you can see the cleat where a portable section of scaffold attaches to the wall.

At the left you can see the opposite cleat at the top of the stairs where a section of temporary scaffold floor can be added.

At the top of the stairs is the east hallway wall. Jon started to repair the cracks in the hallway sometime back. We are at a place now where we can continue repairs.

Once I am on the second floor landing I turn around to take photos of the temporary scaffold Jon built.

We hired Tom and Bev Lederhaus to finish the ceiling drywall installation, mudding, and sanding. Here are parts of the restoration that require more attention and ceonomical decisions. We did not rip out existing plaster and lathe but in some instances we've added new ceiling drywall to fight against new cracks, gravity, and furture maintenance.

You can see the temporary scaffold causes cosmetic damage to the stairwell walls which we will have to repair as we go along. Number 1 issue is safety, and so the scaffold fits the situation.

Laying across the scaffold platform is the second section with cleat. The cleat fits into the metal wall hangers. Next photo, you can see left and right--the metal hangers to hold the second scaffold section.

Below I'm standing in the north end of the hallway looking south to the upstairs bathroom we installed in May 2009.

View of the north end of the hallway landing. Beyond the etched glass door is a Juliet balcony. Last summer I started scraping the balcony but got distracted by another project--can't remember now exactly what it was.

For $200 I bought a pait of light fixtures for the hallway. You can't see the scrollwork etched into the glass shade, but it has similar etching as the etched glass door.

Here's the etched glass Juliet balcony door

The upstairs hallway is 28ft long, and at it narrowest about 5' wide.

Tom and Bev Lederhaus finished mudding and sanding the ceiling drywall July 14 this year. Two days later we hosted a tour of our house for the Voie Quien Reunion. The Quien family owned our house from 1917 until 2007. We purchased the house April 16, 2007.

Walking down the hallway to the new upstairs bathroom.

End of the hallway, entrance to the bathroom

We are so pleased with the upstairs bathroom. The door at the left is a huge walk in closet where we added a laundry room.

Just a reminder, below is a photo of the upstairs bathroom when it was just a storage room/small bedroom (Jan 2009).

Turning around now, and walking back to the stairway landing (looking north at the Juliet balcony door).

The east wall of the hallway. The brown painted line is decorative, but also shows where the picture rail might have hung. There is quite a bit of picture rail stored in the attic.

We are thinking about re-installing it.

So, as this project begins I'll track every suttle crack and secure it with web tape embedded with durabond. There are many cracks you can't see clearly in this photo. So let me give you an example of the number of wall cracks that were repairs in the west bedroom upstairs. You'll be surprised. See next photo.

Example: West Bedroom Upstairs During Repair of Wall Cracks (Dec 2008)

Example: West Bedroom Upstairs After Repairs of Cracks and Skim Coats (Jan 2009)

Above photo--descending the staircase

The pie shaped steps on the staircase

Traveling down the steps into the front foyer.

Peeling painted wallpaper (yellow); plaster painted green, and web tape embedded with durabond--beginning wall crack repairs.

Walking down the stairs, straight ahead are three golf ball size holes where Jon blewn in insulation.

The photographed light in the foyer makes it possible to see part of the Blue Heron etched glass front door.

Opening the front door - to show exterior view

How lucky are we? to have original doors, woodwork, and hardware

Here's a good photo of the etched glass front door

Imagine this. There are Five Doors in the front foyer. Two double doors here. One leads to the sitting room (living room), and the opened door here leads to the dining room.

I stopped to close the door to the dining room for this photo.

Now the door to the dining room is open again, and you can see a bit of the kitchen beyond the dining room. The door under the staircase is a closet. Across from the staircase (to the left) is another door (entrance to a parlor with pocket doors). Currently used as a bedroom.

I'd like to know more about these hangers in the wall at the base of the staircase. Can you tell me about them?

Upholstering A Bench - Photo Tutorial

2011-07-06T21:16:00.047-05:00

I finished reupholstering a bench for a client. I'll show you how I did it, step by step in photos.

The bench to be reupholstered.

Behind the bench are two more projects. A round table with round drawer purchased for $10 at a garage sale. And, leftover gray chevron fabric recovering four more chairs for the art studio.

Laying the bench on its side, looking at the construction, there are six tabs and screws holding the fabric top to the bench frame.

It doesn't seem possible spending half and hour just to remove stubborn staples.

Sometimes you can grab a hunk of fabric and lift off the staples and fabric in one tough jerk.

But for heavier or stubborn staples a cat's paw pry tool works wonders. Cat's paw tool costs just under $4.00 at Hancock Fabrics.

Using the cat's paw to lift staples.

This is a dusty job, sneezey job removing the old fabric.

Measuring and cutting new soy foam.

Attaching batting over the foam

I look at this assembly on my dining room table. It is the table and room where I do all my sewing projects.

I can't help but think what a pleasure it will be to have the sewing room in the studio, and my old wood dining room table with leaves will be a layout table for future projects like this one.

With zipper foot tight against the 3/8" cotton cord I begin sewing the piping.

Here's a tight shot showing the the piping being sewn.

Measuring for the top panel, and finding the center to mark side seams.

The bench top is 41 inches long by 20" deep.

Below: joining piping seams.

Overlap piping by one inch

Remove stitches on left piece of piping, snip one inch of piping cord. The snipped cord (left) immediately retracts to meet the piping cord on the right exactly. Works every time!

At the left, turn piping material 1/4" inward to make a hem (shown held in place here with white head pin (top).

Fold the left side of piping downward.

Secure with pins. There you have it. The two cords are joined and ready for a couple of stitches to secure.

I used this flat carpenter's pencil to show the center of the fabric (location for side seams, and piping seams).

This is the piping seam, pinned now to the top of the seat panel.

I spent time snipping the piping, careful not to cut the stitch line that holds the piping in place. I make snips at one inch intervals. This helps the piping relax, allowing it to be pinned to the top seat panel, and making the curves easy to pin and stitch.

With the piping pinned to the top seat panel, I try a quick fit before permanently stitching piping. You'll want the fit to be snug.

These next photos show the process of stitching the piping to the top seat panel. Be sure to remove pins as you stitch along. Pins are meant to keep fabric in position. Removing the pins as you go along allows the piping to relax and lay smooth flawlessly against the seat panel fabric as you stitch.

Approaching the corners, attended by three pins. 1) before the curve, 2) at the center of the corner, and 3) completing the curve and down the straightway.

The first pin removed.

The second pin removed, the machine needle is in the down position, the pressure foot is lifted, allowing the fabric to be turned.

The turn is made and stitching on the straightway continues until reaching the next corner.

Above: the top seat panel has the piping attached. Now I lay the side wall panel on top. Placing pins snug against the piping, pressing the fabric with my fingers.

Below: you can see pinning the side wall panel. Placing 3 pins at the corner, the same technique as the piping was pinned and stitched.

After stitching was complete. I fitted the seat cover over the foam/batting/board form, and stapled the fabric to the board.

It rained, and rained during the month of June delaying sanding and painting the bench frame. Finally, I took the frame to the basement and set up a TV tray to complete the paint job. I sanded and wiped down the frame prior to spraying the paint.

Two coats of Valspar black satin enamel (sanding and wiping down between coats), then a final coat of polyurethane clear satin finish. The secret to a "silky smooth to the touch finish" is sanding and wiping down between coats).

Here's the finished bench, sitting in the foyer for a couple of days. I'll deliver the bench to the client on Friday.

Below is a sign I have at home to welcome guests.

Art Studio - Flooring Installation Done!

2011-07-05T03:22:00.001-05:00

Jon finished laying the floor in the art studio on Monday. I vacuumed up the dust and snapped these photos. Next weekend I think Jon will install the tabletop height (30") L shaped countertop in the sewing room (west dormer).

I'm standing in the west dormer looking into the northeast corner of the art studio. The center north wall will have a countertop and some frame storage below. Northwest corner floor to ceiling will be a built in unit for canvas storage. Jon installed one of the three fans this past weekend. Sure makes a difference in this 95-100 degree weather.

Above is the south wall. At the ceiling (left) you can see S curve 3-bulb light fixture. 14 more light fixtures to install. Two soft white compact fluorescent bulbs in positions 1 & 3 on the 3-bulb light fixture to point to artwork on the walls. And position 2 will be a special 5000K 75 watt bulb to be pointed down at a student's easel.

Student easels will be arranged egg crate style, to accommodate 10-12 students. A nice class size is 8 students. 12 students in a class is tough work.

Standing in the middle of the studio, I turned toward the west dormer (sewing room).

The east dormer elevator shaft.

The west dormer sewing room.

I have 5 vintage wrought iron and vinyl chairs for the studio. This weekend I purchased this 5'x7'charcoal rug that will be in the east dormer when you get off of the elevator. Should help keep the floors cleaner (I hope).

Above: a detail of the 5 vintage chairs I purchased at Reflections (vintage/antiques shop) in Nelsonville, WI.

Close Up of the vinyl fabric

Below: I found 4 chrome chairs at a garage sale--$2.75 each. Oh my goodness, did they ever stink! I was glad to pull off old fabric and foam, make pattern, and re-upholster them. I used brand new foam for the chair upholstering projects.

I pulled the old fabric and foam off, and made paper patterns from the new materials.

Here is one of 4 chrome chairs (finished) I re-upholstered for the studio. What a fight to the finish and punished my fingers trying to stuff the fabric cover over the foam of the back rest. I almost wanted to give up.

NEVER GIVE UP!

Below: I found side two chairs (garage sale) $5 each, deconstructed them, and re-upholstered them for the studio. They'll be waiting chairs for the east dormer as you get off the elevator.

They smelled so bad the day I bought them and drug them home I could hardly stand to have them in the car to drive home!

While deconstructing the chairs, I asked for Jon's help--they were so dusty I had to stop and put on a face mask--I couldn't stop coughing from the dust. I photographed the deconstruction to have reference photographs to re-upholster the chairs.

The chrome chairs and these two side chairs were my first attempts at chair re-upholstering.

Love the gray chevron weave fabric. I used up every scrap of this material to recover two identical chairs. AND used the left over material to make purses!

The south end of the studio. The natural gas heating unit will hang from the ceiling in the corner and controlled by thermostat.

Again, here's the sewing room, west dormer

Instead of the light bulb shown in this photo, there will be a ceiling fan.

I'll continue to add photos as we move along and finish the window and baseboard trim. The exterior wood siding (same style as the old barn) needs to be installed before the end of summer.

I have a special surprise to show you for wet canvas storage--that storage should be finished about the same time the window and baseboard is installed. I think you'll really dig it.

Installing Floor in New Art Studio

2011-06-30T09:54:00.000-05:00

The Art Studio is coming together. We started building the two story garage/woodworking shop - lower level in August 2009. Then in May-June-July 2010 added the second story creating space for the art studio.

Here's my darling Mom, Lorraine removing brass hardware from one of the 120 card file drawers, getting it ready to sand each box to remove old crazed varnish finish, followed by primer coat, then two coats of black satin enamel. Mom cleaned all the brass hardware fixtures with fine steel wool.

By the way, Mom is sitting in the garage below the studio, sitting on one of the 5 vintage chairs I purchased at a vintage/antiques shop called Reflections.

This is the East Dormer under constructionin May 2010. To the right you can see shaft opening for the elevator, and the ladder sticking out of the floor--our makeshift entry/exit during the studio build.

Well this is bare bones, isn't it? It is the East Dormer walls being framed. Nice view of the old barn.

Looking South is the Balcony Doors. To the left is the East Dormer.

The walls are gray, dark floors, the woodwork will be off white. This is the view looking north. The north end of the studio will have a 12' wide countertop with storage below for canvas art frames. To the left is the West Dormer (my sewing space). I bet I've moved those vintage chairs dozens of times during the build. We just ran out of room in the garage below to store easels, chairs, conference table, boxes of flooring, etc.

Sunday, I sat on the floor and re-installed all the brass hardware on the 120 card file drawers.

Here are four sections, each section contains 15 drawers. Two boxes stacked equals 29"--just the right height to add a laminate countertop. I'll sit (sew) facing the west double windows with two care file boxes on my left, and two boxes on my right.

Last summer when Mom and I worked a couple of weeks restoring the two old credenzas, here are some photos showing the drawer dimensions, and how I plan to use them in the sewing room for notions, and in the north end of the art studio for paint tubes/brush storage.

In this photo, just behind this credenza is another matching credenza. As I mentioned before, I removed the vintage legs, and unbolted the four sections making up this unit of 60 drawers.

At one point during the card file restoration I took some photos showing how I plan to use the 17" deep drawers by 5" wide. This will work out so well in the sewing room. I'll be able to keep the sewing supplies organized.

The north end of the studio we will use the other card file storage sections to support a standard countertop height 35". We'll have to elevate the sections by means of a 3-4 inch wooden base (platform). Here is a photo showing how I'll use the card file storage in the art studio.

Jon is doing a great job of laying the flooring. Note, middle of photo at the left in the floor is the now boarded up temporary entrance/exit, without the ladder sticking up through the floor.

Once the proper lighting fixtures are installed, I think you'll see more definition in the wall color. I'll be using 5000K color lighting. There will be three ceiling fans with lights for ventilation and comfort. Let's see how long we can get along without a/c.

Above is the East Dormer, and our new temporary exit/entrance with a ladder in the elevator shaft.

The building exterior siding will arrive soon. It is the same style of wood planks as the old barn. The color we're painting the exterior is a beautiful shade of . . . .

Fluted Glass Holophane Shades and 1907 Harvey Hubbell Pull Chain Light Socket

2011-06-27T06:34:00.000-05:00

I removed these two antique Holophane Glass Shades from upstairs bedrooms, and replaced them with larger vintage light fixtures for better lighting in the bedrooms.

These awesome fluted shades I'll re-wire with new fixtures and use over my sewing table in the west dormer of the art studio.

The pull chain socket fixture on the left turns out to be an antique as well. The label markings seem to fit the description of a manufacture date of 1907.

See link below for more information about this pull chain socket invented in 1896 by Harvey Hubbell.

http://antiquesockets.com/hubbell.html

Discussion about the Birds Eye Maple Desk (more photos)

2011-06-27T06:08:00.000-05:00

I received some great comments from Mark, Richard, and Ann about the Birds Eye Maple Desk I posted a couple of days ago.

Mark, Richard, and Ann have wonderful websites I follow. Be sure to check them out!

Richard's
http://www.myoldhistorichouse.blogspot.com/

Mark's
http://www.althingsruffnerian.blogspot.com/

Ann's
http://www.asentimentallife.blogspot.com/

Birds Eye Maple Desk: Richard and Mark agreed the desk was Eastlake. I added some photos to confirm Richard's review that the desk once had a top to it. Here are more photos noting peg holes and a cleat. I'm hoping to hear more comments from them about what the top might have looked like.

Summertime - Marinating Cucumbers and Onions

2011-06-21T11:10:00.001-05:00

Last night we made a Chicago style grilled hotdogs for dinner. I started with 8 for $2.29 Aldi's Angus beef hot dogs grilled in a hot pan on the stove (raining outside, so didn't use the gas grill).

Grilled the buns in a bit of butter. Chopped a tomato, green pepper, sweet pickes and added "1 hour quick marinated cucumers and onion slices." Here's how. I chopped up the last 10 bread and butter pickles and saved the juice. Sliced one half of a large cucumber, and one half of a white onion. Stuffed 'em into the pickle juice for an hour.

Last night we punished the marinated cucumbers and onions. So, this morning I chopped up the remaining cucumbers and onions and tossed them into the juice. Tonight we'll eat them for a side dish. We're having Baked and BBQ Sauced Chicken Drumsticks, and Buttered Rice with Broccoli.

And, we're having Lemon Pie. Jon will take one to work, and we'll eat the other one.

The best part of being retired is having time to cook, bake, and go to the Fitness Center.

1906 photograph of Ragnhild Bertine Quien

2011-06-21T10:19:00.017-05:00

I came across this photograph--The 1906 Scandinavia Academy graduation class, with teacher R.B.Q. Ragnhild Bertine Quien--daughter of the second owners of our old Queene Anne Victorian.

The smaller ovals are students, and the larger ovals are the instructors

Detail of Ragnhild Bertine Quien

I found the 1906 photograph mysteriously August 27, 2010. Here is my journal telling how I found it.

August 27, 2010

Wednesday at noon I walked downtown, and stopped in at an antique shop. I spoke to the shopkeeper and though we'd had nearly the same conversation before about my house, this time she said . . . I have something for you to look at . . . a photograph that may have come from your house.

The 14"x16" photograph is a class graduation from the Scandinavia Academy. Second row from the bottom, at the left, the second person is Ragnhild Quien.

Ragnhild and her parents and siblings lived in my house. Ragnhild taught at the Scandinavia Academy 1906-1910. The Quien family (second owners) owned my house for 90 years. I believe the gentlemen front and center is Principal Elmer H. Westgor.

I bought the photograph from the shopkeeper and brought it home--very pleased to have it.

Postscript: I always work through my lunch hours. So it was quite strange for me to suddenly decide on Monday of that week to take a walk downtown. I don't know why I just did. On that Monday when I walked past the antiques shop, a gentlemen, shop owner from the lower level of the building was outside the store. I said hi, and then mentioned I stopped by to speak with Ingebret (lower level antiques shop). The man said, she is closed on Mondays.

I don't know why, but I decided to stop by on Tuesday. I returned on Tuesday during my lunch hour, entered "Ingebret's Cupboard", and I could hear her on the phone. Not wanting to interrupt her I waited for 10 minutes. She was still on the phone so I left, but again it was just a gut feeling that I should return Wednesday to speak with her. So I returned on Wednesday.

Since this event I acquired Ragnhild's black leather briefcase. To see photos of her briefcase and read about how it mysteriously made its way back to the house, read my blog of Sunday June 19, 2011 - Finding Things Originally From Our Old House.

Finding items that were originally from our old Victorian

2011-06-19T15:38:00.002-05:00

Items originally from our old Victorian seem to be finding their way back to the house!

Item: Ragnhild Bertine Quien's Teacher's Briefcase
I received an email from Laurie at Reflections, a beautiful antiques shop in Nelsonville, Wisconsin.

Here's Laurie's June 2 email to me:

I think I may have a couple of pieces in the shop that may have come from your house! I have a Black Suitcase with the initials R.B.Q. and a Black Iron Plant Stand.

I had been thinking about you . . . and had an opportunity to show Elbert your website, he thinks he recognized it as a house auction we went to. Give me a jingle, or stop in and I'll show you the items!
Take Care,
Laurie

I was so happy Laurie contacted me. What a pleasure it is to bring home items like this stunning black leather briefcase that belonged to Ragnhild Bertine Quien--a person who lived in my house.

We closed on our old Victorian April 16, 2007--and agreed to let the Quien grandchildren have an auction at their family homestead a week later to sell the furniture and household items. That is how Laurie and Elbert acquired Ragnhild's black leather teacher's briefcase.

The condition is excellent, as you will see in the photos I took today.

The metal tag indicates the black leather briefcase was purchased at George R. Thiss, Leather Goods, Minneapolis. I wrote to a relative of George R. Thiss, asking if they could determine the age of the case.

Ragnhild acquired her teaching degree in 1906 from St. Olaf's in Minnesota.

Do you think it is possible the case is as old as 1906? I hope to find out.

The leather is clean and supple. Very nice "inside and out"

There are two pocket compartments for documents. The snaps are clean and function well.

The leather straps on the inside work well, and the outside latches are in good working condition. I will not be disappointed to find out the case is newer than 1906. I'm just making a guess.

The upstairs hallway is where I display Ragnhild's 1902 Academics Diploma she received from The Scandinavia Academy. The Academy opened in 1893 and closed in 1937.

Here are some detail photos of her 1902 diploma

And, her 1902 Scandinavia Academy graduation class photo. Ragnhild is the only girl in the second row down from the top row. From left to right she is the fifth person.

After Ragnhild graduated from St. Olaf's in Minnesota, she returned to the Scandinavia Academy--this time as a teacher.

Can You Put a Date on this Birdseye Maple Veneer Desk?

2011-06-19T13:56:00.001-05:00

I could use your help. Can you put a date on this birdseye maple veneer desk? I got it at auction last weekend ($100). I don't have a clue other than I really like it. And that's what really counts, right?

The drawers are solid wood, and dove tail joints.

The photo above is the best indication of the actual color.

Nothing broken. Some scratches and wear here and there.

The desk is sitting in the summer kitchen (east porch entrance) for now. I gave it to Jon for father's day. This will be a good place for his paperwork.

This afternoon, I took some time to clean it with Danish oil and photograph it.

Art Studio / Sewing Room

2011-06-07T21:11:00.000-05:00

Here we go.

We built a new garage between our Queen Anne Victorian and the old barn. The garage is a two story building with a new art studio and sewing room on the second floor.

Our drywall experts: Bev and Tom Lederhaus. They do oustanding work.

Below: Tom Lederhaus on stilts mudding the drywall seams.

Above: the elevator shaft in the east dormer.

Bev Lederhaus muds the drywall screws. When Jon framed in the elevator shaft, there was a little space left over to build a shallow broom/supply closet.

I am standing at the north west corner of the art studio. Beyond the French door is a balcony overlooking the backyard and vegetable garden.

Standing at the North East Corner of the Studio looking South. Off to the right you can see the West Dormer (8' x 12') a space dedicated for sewing. Looking forward to sewing in great light.

I'm standing in the East Dormer where the elevator is located, looking across the main art studio space into the sewing room.

Here's a straight on shot of the sewing room. It's not big, but it is heaven to me!

Center light source in the sewing room will be a fan/light fixture. Only another woman my age with hot flashes will understand why I need a fan in such a small space. Plans: two matching antique ceiling pendants on either side of the double windows planned--repurposed from two upstairs bedrooms in the Victorian. "L" shaped countertop supported underneath using the library card files Mom and I refinished in black satin enamel last September.

Below are photos of refinishing those library card files.

The credenza contains four sections bolted together (60 drawers). I removed the mid-century modern legs. These sections will sit underneath (support) the sewing room countertop.

Two credenzas = 120 drawers of library card files. That was a long, long project. But worth it.

Standing in the middle of the art studio.

Straight ahead is the north wall, and cartons of walnut laminate flooring, and the library card files are stack one on top of each other covered with an old comforter.

Above: I'm standing at the South East corner of the art studio. To the left is the sewing room.

I pointed my camera towards the East dormer elevator.

Above: The East dormer

Once the elevator is installed Jon will remove the ladder and close the opening in the floor.

We've turned the corner on the construction mess. Hot dog, it's looking good.

Note: I took these photos at the beginning of the mudding/taping process. This morning the drywall team finished and the rooms are ready to paint. This afternoon I picked up Zinzer 1-2-3 primer and when this 95 degree weather dies down a bit, I'll start painting.

I'm saving the top coat color as a surprize. I reupholstered 10 chairs last summer/fall for the studio, and if you'll check back last summer's journal I acquired some very cool vintage chairs for the studio.

I'm so excited. It won't be long now. We'll be dressing the studio. See ya later, aligator.

Re-covering Pillows with Piping - Photos

2011-06-02T00:22:00.002-05:00

I made 3 new covers for pillows. This is the last step, pinning and getting ready to close.

Just a few pins to hold the pillow seam steady while I sew 1/8" blindstitches. Once the blindstitches are complete you can't see the piping stitches peaking through.

Cutting the Front and Back
The pillow forms were 18" squares. To make a perfect cover--I cut front and back panels at 19" square. That's the secret--always cut fabric one inch larger than the size of the pillow form. Next, I serged all four sides of each panel. Set panels to the side.

Preparing Piping
I used 3/8" cotton cord. It is soft, and turns effortlessly around corners--making for easy sewing.

Piping is a plaid fabric and cut 2-1/2" strips with a rotary cutter. I made 3 pillow covers, and each pillow requires two yards of piping, plus a tiny bit more to ease the corners. I purchased 6.5 yards of cotton cord. The plaid fabric was 56" wide, so I cut 5 strips, and joined the strips with the serger. Then I like to serge the entire length of the large plaid strip.

Using a zipper foot on my regular sewing machine I slipped the cotton cord into the plaid fabric strip, keeping the zipper foot snug against the cotton cord and stitch. I lengthen the stitch to 2.8 or 3.0 so the fit is relaxed.

After the piping is sewn, with scissors I snip every 1/2 inch along the entire strip length. Get a cup of coffee, sip often, and sing to pass the time while you make the snips, taking care not to snip too deep--staying clear of the stitch line. About 100 snips per yard. Snipping is boring, but honestly it is the most important step in getting the piping to mold around the panel--making it a breeze to sew.

The piping is pinned to the front panel. Place the piping to the edge of the fabric. I lay the front panel right side up, find center and begin to pin the piping. Above Photo--at the corner place pin, then

At the center of the corner place second pin, then

And now you can see placement of the third and fourth pin, continuing to pin every two inches until you reach the next corner and repeat.

As you pin and turn the corner, if you lift the fabric you can readily see how the piping will gently ease around the turn--confirming everything is pinned great.

When you've pinned the piping all the way around the pillow, let the piping extend 1 inch beyond and cut with scissors.

At the left, see the white cotton cord. I exposed the cord by removing stitches back 1 inch.

I snipped off 1 inch of cotton cord. Notice the twisted cord wants to immediately unravel, and the 1 inch of cord I cut off looks like a chunk of white fluff. Pick it up and throw it over your shoulder for good luck!

When I straighten the left piping sleeve, the cotton cord retracts immediately. Fold the end of the raw material into the area where you snipped off the 1 inch of cotton cord. Then,

Here, I am holding the left piping sleeve open, and placing the right piping inside. The fit will be perfect.

With a stitch length of 2.8 to 3.0, stitch around the entire perimeter of the front panel.

IMPORTANT - The best kept secret is: remove pins several inches before you stitch.

Removing the pins as you stich will allow the snipped piping to relax and sit in perfect alignment.

Stitch to the middle of the corner, stop, put needle in the down position to hold the fabric, then pivot to make the turn and continue stitching removing pins as you go.

After you finish sewing the piping, place the back panel on top of the front panel with right sides together. Pin every 3 inches.

Using the zipper foot stitch snug to the piping cord around the perimeter. Be sure to leave an opening of 8-10" to slide a pillow form into position.

Close opening with blindstitches. Give it a try and have fun.

I Love Making Purses

2011-05-11T08:51:00.017-05:00

During the remaining cold Wisconsin months (March, April, May), I've been sewing like a mad woman.

Here are purses I sewed last weekend. Nothing like a great fall/winter purse like these.

This so-soft fabric made three great purses. I added button closures

and added two permanent pockets to the lining, just big enough to hold a kindle, wallet, and checkbook.

I made portable pockets to slip in and out of the purses.

Above, the portable pocket holds a kindle and earphones--ready to slip in and out of the bag.

But here's a trick. My invention--I call the portable pockets "Halfsies" because . . .

Take the Halfsie in your hand, and stuff the bottom upward . . .

Use your finger tips to slid the bottom of the halfsie upward to form a double lined-double pocket to store smaller objects inside the bag. It's a great purse organizer.

The halfsie is a perfect spot to tuck away important receipts rather than having them swim around in your purse.

Or to hold reading glasses.

One of side of the halfsie holds my little camera, and the other side holds my cell phone. I stuffed my tube of lipstick in the corner. They tuck down nicely into the folds.

Here's the purse loaded and ready to go. Water, coin purse, kindle w/ear phones, and halfsie containing a cell phone, camera and lipstick. It is so convenient to reach inside to grab your phone, or camera, or glasses. You can find what you need just by "feel"--and you don't have to fish around for it.

Here are a couple fun purses . . .

The silky fabric purse on the left is double lined to keep it crisp looking and sturdy. On the right is a canvas purse, personalized inside and out.

The fun ruffle is so silky to the touch. The same satin fabric lines the purse interior and two permanent pockets.

Above is an example of a personalized purse.

Leave me a comment if you'd like to see a photo tutorial "how to make these great purses".

Lace: Antique, Vintage, and Thrift Shop

2011-04-28T23:17:00.003-05:00

I'm always hunting for attractive lace and crocheted trim. Yesterday I visited a little vintage shop in Poy Sippi and found some antique, some vintage lace and trims.

Cutwork I found yesterday. Today I sewed pillow cases and attached cutwork trim.

The lace I'm looking for must be at least 40-44" lengths to make fronts for two pillow cases.

When I buy cotton broadcloth for pillow cases, I wait until the cloth is on sale, then buy 12 yards at a time--enough to make 6 pair of pillow cases--on sale that usually means about $25. Immediately I cut the cloth into 1 yard lengths, perfect size for an overstuff pillow. Then I fold up the cloth and put it aside for a sewing day when I want to do some quick sewing for gifts.

There is nothing like jumping into a deep mattress, all dressed up in butter soft sheets and thick comforter, and laying my head down on a crisp white pillow jeweled in nice lace. Sounds great, until I get a major hotflash--rake off the comforter, jump out of bed and turn on the fan. Two minutes later, I cool down and give it another go.

The "next window" sign is 1920-30's, a favorite item from Uncle Herman. I used to take the sign to work with me occasionally. I always got a comment or laugh out of it.

I draped this lace remnant across a finished pillow. It has a hand crocheted scallop. The remanent is 40 inches. Enough for two standard pillow fronts.

The pillow at the right hand corner is trimmed in some contemporary cutwork. I believe I purchased it at St. Vincent DePaul's thrift shop for a couple of dollars. It had been someone's bathroom or kitchen valance. When I saw it in the thrift shop I grabbed it up fast--I knew it would make a great looking pillow case.

In the 1950s my mother made herself a dress from this turquoise and white print. The dress had a gathered skirt, and bodice featured a white cotton collar. I took it apart as it had a torn seam. Using a rotary cutter and I cut three inch strips to create these tailored pillow cases. The dress strips made quite a few pillow cases, enough to share the memory of Mom's dress with my sisters.

The pillow case openings are standard 22" for over stuffed pillows. But personally my bod isn't quite comfortable enough using an overstuff pillow. However, I confess I put overstuffed pillows in the spare bedroom--cause they look really great.

I'm passionate about trims with scallops. White on white is classic.

Served up in a glass candy dish is the find of the day--antique tatted lace, 86" priced at $12.50. So the question is do I spent $12.50 for a Sunday roast, or do I go for the antique lace and pull the ham bone out of the freezer for ham & beans on Sunday. Yep, I guess it will be little windy this weekend!

A Few More Lampshades I Sewed This Week

2011-04-16T16:29:00.001-05:00

Here is a another finished lampshade. There is quite a differene in color when lighted.

The beads were salvaged from another vintage shade that had some stains on the fabric.The beads were in fairly good shape, but it took some patience to remove them from the shade without breaking them apart.

Getting the trim on straight seems to be my biggest grief. I mount the lampshade on the lamp base and put it eye level when I glue. Perhaps you'll have a good tip for me how to get the trim on straighter.

While it would have been great to use the original scalloped detail on the beads, I found the scallop portion torn in places and in pretty rough shape when salvaging it from another old lampshade. After the beads were on, I covered the damaged scallop trim with an ivory braid.

Now, here's some pretty fabric. Leftover from making draperies for the master bedroom.

Below is the start of the pale olive lampshade. Because it has 8 sections each panel is sewn separately. The vintage shade was prepared by wrapping all the struts, and securing with stitches.

I make my own wraps. A softer, stretchy material cut with a rotary cutter in 1 inch strips.

Ah finally, I catch the last wrap with a few stitches.

Once the wraps are attached, cut a larger than needed section of fabric and position so the print motif sits right where you want it. Pin in place, direct pins through the wraps to hold the fabric snug against the frame.

The panel is secured with small stitches around the panel section. Carefully, trim away excess fabric close to the stitches. By the way, you may have noticed--this shimmery pale olive green fabric has two thin layers, the other side has a negative imagine.

Well, that's enough sewing talk today. Its 4:30p and I have to start dinner. I've been baking pumpkin pies while I typed this post. Smells pretty good in the house. We're having breaded pork chops, mashed potatoes, green beans, and deviled eggs. Sometimes we have Sunday lunch on Saturday night. Then, we can relax over leftovers on Sunday.

Making a Cover for a Lampshade

2011-04-13T22:40:00.000-05:00

This month I've been tearing down vintage lampshades. The frames require sanding, spray with Rustoleum, and wrapping the metal frame to provide a wrapped surface to attach fabric to the frame with handstitching. Here are some photos showing the process of making a fabric cover.

Drape a double thickness of fabric over half the shade. Have the fold of the fabric at the top. Pin and mark side seams with fabric marking pen. A fabric marking pen has purple ink that disappears later.

Cut out fabric, allowing extra for a seam. You can straighten seams lines a bit using the marking pen and ruler before you sew. At the top, cut the fold.

Place right sides together, pin, and sew seam. Trim seam to 1/8".

Turn the fabric, and slide over the shade. Pin top and bottom snug. This is a step I repeat several times. Usually the cover is too big first fitting and I take it off, sew another 1/8" from last seam, and trim seam again. You want a nice snug fit.

Eventually, you'll get the nice snug fit you want. I use a thick bathtowel on my kitchen table to protect the finish from the sharp pins.

Once the pins are in place, you can handstitch the fabric around the top and bottom. Be sure to STOP when you pick yourself with the pins. You don't want to transfer blood from your finger to the fabric. Take your time. Your stitches will be covered by trim, so the sewing technique you choose doesn't have to be pretty, but the material needs to be snug and attached with enough small stitches.

Above photo: the top is snug and ready to be handstitched around the perimeter.

After you handstitch the top and bottom frame, trim away extra fabriic close to stitches, and add decorative trim with hot glue gun.

I used eyelash trim at the top and acrylic beads at the bottom.

Note: Always install the cover FIRST, then the liner. It is a cleaner finish in this order. In this project I reversed the order to see if it made any difference. And it didn't work out. I had to tear it all off right down to the frame, and start all over again. Sometimes experimenting pays off, but not always.

A State of Disrepair - Antique Lampshade

2011-03-20T20:13:00.000-05:00

My friend Pam brought me this extrordinary lampshade. The frame is in good condition, the fabric--not so good. I wonder what color was it originally? More than dirty, the fabric is as crunchy as dried leaves.

First things, first. I wanted to photograph it, because there is nothing here to save, except the frame. What a shame, eh?

I'd like to point out--in the background, I closed the pocket door. The pocket door and woodwork are faux bois finished. The woodwork is pine, faux finished to look like quarter sawn oak and mahogany--and was created by an artist in 1893 when faux bois was very fashionable.

As I lay the lampshade on the carpet, the long fringe collapses. I adjusted my angle to capture the frame's scallops, top and bottom.

I don't know its age. Do you have any clues about its age?

Turning it on its top, check out the crunchy torn fabric

I'll keep you posted with photographs (stages) of recovering this fine old shade.

Since photographing the lampshade I've moved forward removing all the fabric and fringes, and sanded the wire frame--getting it ready for spray paint.

I have a small pile of items ready for spray paint and now I am waiting for a sunny/windless day to spray this lampshade frame, some pairs of antique window swing arm curtain brackets, a bridge lamp I'm restoring/rewiring, and this nice floor lamp base.

The bridge lamp and floor lamp base are going to my friend Pam for her new/old 1910 home. She's moving to her new home the second week of April.

I'm teaching Pam how to cover a lampshade. It is a finger picking, knuckle crunching activity. One afternoon of stretching fabric and hand sewing sections is tough on the hands.

Edna's Diaries 1902-1959

2011-03-18T17:18:00.007-05:00

Edna Irene Snow was my great grandmother. She was born April 6, 1878 in Rio, Illinois.

I've created a website to post Edna diaries, http://www.ednasdiaries.blogspot.com/ to share with you wonderful photographs, history of Sperry, Snow, Harriman, and Mead families, as well as world and local events during those years.

Her diaries begin in 1902, just 4 years after her marriage to James Howard Harriman. Please be patient with her brief entries duing those first years of her diaries. Her diaries start out rather routine, but over 50 years years her daily posts become longer, complex, and reveal the life of a determined woman.

My goal each month is to publish 2 or 3 years of her diaries.

I was eight years old when grandma Edna passed away in October 1959. I remember visiting her for the last time in the nursing home. I reached up to touch her hand, and looked at her face and she smiled back at me. I remember bits and pieces of her voice, but I do not remember her speaking to me that day.

How wonderful to get to know Edna through her diaries and photos. I invited two more people who knew her well--her grandchildren Mary Jane and Gale (my father and his sister) to write about grandma Edna. While areas of the diaries are confusing to me, Mary Jane and Gale will have explainations and details.

November 10, 1945 - Memories from a Member of the Wedding

2011-03-03T13:01:00.000-06:00

Here is another wonderful article written by Donna (Quien)Osen who grew up in our old house. Donna and Mary Jane are granddaughters of the second owners Thomas and Maren Quien. The Quien family members owned our old house from December 1917 until April 2007--90 years!

As you read Donna's story below, keep in mind her sister Mary Jane's wedding date was November 10th, and the mother of the bride's birthday was November 10th, and by golly--as the third owner of this old house I'm proud to tell you my birthday is also November 10th.

Above: The Bride to Be, Mary Jane Quien

"Memories from a Member of the Wedding", by Donna Osen Quien.

The summer of 1945 was a bitter-sweet time for many families. The war in Europe had just ended, but battles were still raging in the Pacific. Troop ships were arriving daily, trains were rolling across the country bringing the military men and woman home to joyful reunions, but there was sadness too when a gold star hung in the window.

In our family we had concern for my sister’s fiancé someplace in the Pacific, but were cheered by the belief that the end of the war with Japan was imminent and that Ed would be safely home soon.

Mary Jane Quien and Edward Fossum met at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota when she was a sophomore and he a junior. They were a steady couple from then on. Ed was from Estherville Iowa, but managed a trip up to Wisconsin each summer usually between the pea and corn canning season at the factory where he was employed. From his earnings he was able to buy a diamond ring for Mary Jane.

When Ed graduated in 1942, furious fighting was going on in the Pacific in several areas in the war with Japan. Patriotic young men everywhere were leaving school, jobs and homes to go off to war. He was sent to Officer candidate school in Virginia with other promising college graduates. Mary Jane, as many other girlfriends and wives did, went out to Quantico to spend Christmas 1942 with him before he was “shipped out” the following spring. V-mail and long letters from remote islands in the Pacific filled Mary Jane’s mailbox for the next 2-1/2 years. Because of the censorship, no one knew exactly where anyone out there really was.

In the meantime, Mary Jane graduated from college, and took a job teaching biology and girls’ physical education at Neillsville High School for the next two years.

At Easter of 1945, Ed had ordered a corsage of sweetheart roses to be sent to Mary Jane to wear to church that day. But because of some glitch, it didn’t arrive until Mother’s Day. Since she wasn’t a mother or about to be, she wouldn’t wear it so our mother reaped the benefits.

During the summer of 1945 wedding plans were in the air and wedding preparations had to be made. The world rejoiced again when VJ Day arrived on August 11. We were all confident that Ed would soon be home safely, but we didn’t know exactly when. Nonetheless, my mother immediately started saving sugar stamps for the wedding cake and ration points for other things we’d need.

Outside of Mary Jane, who had visited them, the rest of us had never met the Fossums from Estherville. Concerned about what they might think of us, we decided we’d better fix up the house. We began by having many of the rooms re-wallpapered. Mrs. Carr, a large woman but nimble on a step ladder came to do it for us. But even more important we felt we needed to install indoor plumbing or “waterworks” as my dad called it. While we had a very nice roomy house, it was built in 1893 and didn’t have all the amenities.

So the plumber came with his willow wand and found the water source while we decided that the pantry was to become the new bathroom. But first the dirt floor cellar had to be enlarged to become a basement. So Dad, Mary Jane and I started digging out. First, some of the large rocks in the foundation had to be pulled out by tractor which I usually drove, because Mary Jane was “squeamish” about driving anything when Dad was around. She had had an unfortunate incident when she was learning to drive, accidentally putting the car in reverse and pinning him against the house. No one was hurt except her pride.

Well, we shoveled and dug and dug and shoveled and finally were on the way to having a bathroom! However, things were still in short supply and we sometimes had to wait weeks for the fixtures. In fact, we didn’t even have a bathtub by the time of the wedding.

Meanwhile, Mary Jane was busy sewing her wedding dress from some damask patterned white satin, and made a trip to Milwaukee to look for attendant’s dresses. Lots of item were still not back in the stores, but she did come home with some pretty cornflower blue faille dresses, unfortunately, one of them had been in a window display for some time and the sun had faded one shoulder and sleeve. Since I was “family” and the other two attendants Charlotte and Peggy were not, it was decided that I would have the “faded streak dress”. We sort of doctored it up with some blue chalk.

Well, things were shaping up and we had the dresses and sort of a bathroom, but no bridegroom yet. Finally, in late October, a message arrived saying Edward would soon be home and would have three weeks before his next assignment which would be back in Quantico, Virginia.
So now things really flew into high gear.

The wedding date was set for Saturday November 10, which was also Mother’s 49th birthday. Invitations were hurriedly issued, cakes and cookies were baked for the reception which was to be in the church “parlor” or basement following the evening candlelight ceremony.

I was able to get a day off from my teaching job in DePere to come home and help out. The Iowa guests arrived and they were all no nice. They just pitched right in and helped with things too.

Most of Ed’s friend hadn’t been mustered out of the service yet so were unable to attend, but cousins and others filled in as attendants. Our house was bulging with people for meals and overnight, but it was all so much fun. Our neighbors, friends and relatives provided beds for some of the guests.

I remember Marietta (a cousin) sitting up in the west bedroom making last minute adjustments on the wedding veil. I remember too, leaving all the supper dishes on the table so we could get to the wedding on time. I remember the best man was named Bob, ( I don’t know his last name) He was very nice but older and a little bald. Ed wore his dress blues and looked very handsome.

At the reception two of Mary Jane’s high school friends set out the food for the receptions which followed. I remember mother and aunt Gusta being upset that they put out plates with a slice of ice cream and two small cookies instead of having large plates of associated cookies so guests could help themselves to as many as they wanted. The guests were mostly relatives and friends from the community because the immediate planning time was so short and also trains and busses were still flood with homecoming troops and gas was still rationed.

After the reception the newlyweds changed, Mary Jane into a black dress and hat and Ed into civilian clothes. They waved goodbye and we wouldn’t see them again for two years.

No pictures had been taken because film was still scarce. Mary Jane and Ed did, however, have a rather formal photo taken the following week in Iowa. The fresh flowers from her wreath were long since gone so some rather stiff artificial ones were substituted, but it was a wedding picture nonetheless.

After a short stay in Iowa and Wisconsin, the young Fossums headed east where they lived in a tiny house at Henderson Island, Virginia.

**********

Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 11/22/1945
Quien, Mary Jane (Marriage – 10 Nov. 1945)
Word has been received here of the marriage of Miss Mary Jane Quien, former English instructor in the Neillsville high school, to Lieut. Edward L. Fossum. The marriage took place on Saturday, November 10, at the Scandinavian Lutheran church.

The bride wore a gown of brocaded satin with a fitted bodice, a peplum and a full skirt with a short train. She carried a white Bible with satin streamers and white roses.

She was attended by her sister, Miss Donna Quien, as maid of honor, and two former schoolmates, Mrs. Stanley Thompson, Spencer, La., and Miss Peggy Mann of Seneca, Ill., as bridesmaids. The best man was Lloyd Nasby of Estherville, Ia.

After December 1 the couple will make their home at Quantico, Va., where the groom is stationed.

Our House in Photos 100 Years Ago

2011-03-01T08:58:00.000-06:00

Above: Our house c1905. Second from the left is Mabel Wrolstad, youngest daughter of John Olson Wrolstad who built our house in 1893. We received this image from the Iola Historical Society in July 2009.

Glad to see this photo image to confirm the width of the original stairs. This summer (2011) the newly fabricated rails matching original profile will be installed, along with repaired original spindles.

Above: Our House September 6, 2010 Dad and Jon finished pouring cement pad and rebuilding front porch steps. I photographed them taking a break. They were exhausted.

Above: Our House - Dining Room c1893

Above: Our House - Dining Room removing wallpaper and repairing cracks in the walls November 2007.

The Rolling Stones song, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" goes through my mind while working on the house. This instance is certainly true. At the time, we were not able to repair wall cracks in the dining room and save the stenciling too. However, a couple years later of course we found technology where we could have made the repairs and kept the original artwork. Such is life, eh? The stencil work is still there under a couple layers . . . and there is always the possibility of restoring it, but I'll have to let another generation find this treasure.

Above: Our House - Recent photo of our Dining Room taken May 31, 2010, confirming the woodwork, etched glass doors, hardware, and screen porch door are original to the house. So glad.

Above C1893 family portrait John Olson Wrolstad Family.

Above: Detail of little Mabel Wrolstad from the family portrait c1893.

Above: Our house c 1893 - Sitting Room (Living Room)

In this image, we see a portrait of John Olson Wrolstad and hanging below his portrait is his powder flask from the Civil War. Below is a current image of the powder flask.

The c1893 images of the Sitting Room above and the Dining Room were provided to us by Heather Westgor great great granddaughter of John Olson Wrolstad and his wife Mathea. Heather's great grandmother is Mabel. Heather and her family will visit us this spring/summer to talk about their family.

Above: June 2007 photo of the Sitting Room (Living Room) after removing 4 layers of wallpaper.

I'll have to get busy and take some current photos of the living room, just as it was photographed above in 1893. First, I have to remove the 56" diagonal tv from the spot where John Olson Wrolstad's portrait hung. Eventually, Jon will fix up the carriage house into his man cave, and his tv (I call the size of Cleveland) go away from the Sitting Room (Living Room). Yeah!

Handpainting Furniture

2011-02-12T22:22:00.000-06:00

Several years ago Jon and I built 4 garden tables. The tables were 35 inches tall (countertop height), 18" deep, but the overall length varied between 5 and 6 feet. We constructed the tables adding a lower shelf to increase its strength and add storage. I gathered my oils, and handpainted them.

My initial thought was to make tables with holes to accommodate 10" clay flower pots, but later we found ourselves putting plates over the holes and making small buffet tables out of them for outside entertaining.

Above are photos of fruit I painted on one table, peaches, apples, pears, cherries, and plums. I readily sold it to my friend Pam.

This table, I call "picket fence".

Its all about experimenting. Look at the front of the table--see the vines and leaves? I hand-formed the vines and leaves out of sculpty clay, and made little nail holes with spaghetti. I baked the vines & leaves, and attached them to the table with little white nails. Then, continued painting the frame and vines white.

Before we were married Jon and I would swing on his front porch. When we married he restyled the swing, constructing a platform making it a stationary sofa. I painted it, and made pillows and cushions. Then I repurposed a coffee table, and painted it to match the pillows. The style now is a bit dated, and I had to look at the properties of the photo imgages to discover the year was 2001.

Below, is a hankie dresser I purchased for a few dollars. I found it at a garage sale. It was painted John Deere green, and had some chunks of veneer missing. I filled the veneer. My mother Lorraine sanded and painted two coats of satin black enamel. Later, I added gold flurishes, lovely black and gold knobs from a great shop in Waupaca "Embellishments", and made the worn interior suitable for garments by wallpapering the interior of the drawers with a classy black and gold wallpaper.

Now that I am retired, I look forward to painting and re-purposing some more furniture pieces.

Restoring the Red Dining Room

2011-01-01T10:54:00.000-06:00

We waited six years for an opportunity to buy our old house--hoping one day it would be available. We loved it--even though we'd never seen the interior.

Our first walk through with the realtor was not a disappointment, it had spacious rooms--all wearing layers and layers of painted-over wallpaper.

As we entered the dining room we stepped over chunks of ceiling plaster and knew we'd have our hands full. Everything needed repair.

First item on the list: repair flashing at the chimney--the source of moisture that brought down the dining room ceiling. The following year Jon took down the chimney, cleaned the bricks, and rebuilt it.

Above: Jon on cobra lift, rebricking the chimney. This photo also shows new house color and progress of scraping, priming, and repainting the exterior of the house (my weekend job--summer of 2008). I worked on the exterior siding from the safety of a bucket truck. Jon called me "The Bucket Woman".

Getting back to my story . . .

Next, we needed water. After sitting vacant for decades, there was so much to do. New electrical, new plumbing, new heating, and insulation. All the basics--to make it a regular home. Jon accomplished each task one by one. It took one year of work before we could move in.

While Jon took care of those projects, I began the process of removing wallpaper in 10 rooms. Because of the tall ceilings, a rolling scaffold was the only furniture in the house for months.

Below: Looking across the dining room, you can see the original screen door to the west porch. Window treatments were sewn by my sister Pam. The fancy lamps I purchased from Hancock Fabric--they had been $75 each, marked down to $15.75 each--and a perfect match to the wall color, Flaming Sunset by Valspar.

Below: Here's what the dining room looked like after removing many layers of wallpaper. Under all that wallpaper there was a beautiful stencil around the perimeter. Unfortunately the walls had tremendous cracks, requiring lots of repair. I traced the design--thinking I could add it back later, but got involved in other projects.

Through the door, you can see the kitchen under reconstruction. Jon couldn't save the kitchen plaster as it was as tender as a crumbling cookie.

Just a few Holiday decorations for the bathroom

2010-12-22T22:25:00.000-06:00

A garland of red glass berries. If you use these towels and disturb the garland, I'm going to have to hurt you.

Not so long ago I would never pair two shades of blue (blue and turquoise towels). But someone put those colors together, and I said, okay I can do that, but don't make me put red and pink together--no, no.

Stand back, take another photo of the bathroom.

The walnut dresser gets some snowmen. Most of the glitter is rubbed off these snowmen, and they look a bit worn. I keep thinking I have more snowmen, but I remembered major de-cluttering a couple of months ago with my friend Pam (A clutter policeman). She was ruthless with me, asking me when was the last time I used this and that, and finally I stopped whining and got rid of two car loads of boxes of magic stuff like snowmen I'd kept long after they were considered cute.

A close up photo of two snowmen who are serving their last Christmas sitting on the underwear dresser in the bathroom.

I bought this handsome walnut dresser at St. Vincent goodwill store. There were two similar dressers. I made a deal for one of the dressers, IF they were willing to give me two drawer pulls off the second dresser to make one dresser complete.

The hula skirt beads shade I purchased at a consignment shop for $15. It is a great look for a reproduction item, and I love the amber lighting--taking an evening bath in the clawfoot tub.

The white wicker rocking chair is used as often as the toilet. I'm not kidding. I sit in the rocker and put on my socks in the morning. And while I'm taking a bath, the rocker holds my towel.

A fancy basket to hold tp paper and favorite magazines.

The print is, "The Waldorf, 1930" by Rinesch. I first saw it in 2007. Admired it, laughed out loud seeing it, and bought the print knowing I'd put it in the upstairs bathroom (finished May 2009). What I didn't plan for, (dah) was the size of the artwork. I still love the piece, but it is too big for the space.

Many years ago I bought these bird curtain rod holders. I didn't know when or where I'd use them. Just liked them a lot. Glad I saved them; they look good here in the bathroom. Did you hear that Pam? I'm glad I saved them!

I love to decorate the house with birds . . . picking up on the blue herons etched glass on the front porch doors. I found 5 of these great bird hooks. Two are installed in the bathroom on the east and west closet doors, and two on doors in the east bedroom. The last one will go on the closet door in the master bedroom.

Final thought. The bathroom is looking good since we created it in May 2009, however like all the rooms upstairs--we are still lacking crown molding. In February I start the last room, actually the long 28ft. x 5 ft. wide upstairs hallway. After those walls are repaired, and painted--we'll move all the furniture round and round again in each room so we can install crown molding upstairs. Our work is never done, it seems.

I feel a song coming on . . . in every job to be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and snap--the job's a game. And every job you undertake becomes a piece of cake, a life, a dream, its very plain to see, that a . . . . .

You finish the song. Come on, I know you know this one.

1898 Berry Bowls

2010-12-22T18:34:00.000-06:00

My Aunt Mary sent me her antique green glass berry bowls. There is one large bowl and 6 small single serving bowls. Since green is my favorite color, I can't tell you how excited I am to put together an ivory, gold, and green holiday table. I'm working on the tablescape right now and promise there will be some photos to post on Christmas Day!

Eliane Henderson of http://www.patternglass.com/eapgHome.htm identifies the pattern as Sunbeam, made by The McKee Glass Company, Pittsburgh, PA. in 1898. If you are interested in Early American Pattern Glass, check out Eliane's website to read the history of glass companies during the Victorian era.

I'm so happy to introduce you to my Aunt Mary and Uncle Cal Craig. I have a great photo of them to show you. AND, this post gives me an oppportunity to thank Mary for these lovely dishes passed down to her from her mother Leatha (Ashley) Harriman b. 1906, and originally owned by Mary's grandmother Edna Irene (Snow) Harriman b. 1878. Receiving beautiful antiques like these is like being in line to the throne. I'm so proud to display them in my home.

Above, Mary and Cal Craig of Colorado.

Above is Mary's mother Leatha (Ashley)Harriman

Above is Mary's Grandmother Edna (Snow)Harriman, shown here in her wedding photo May 1898 to James Howard Harriman.

Below are Edna's parents Martha Melinda (Sperry) Snow and Gilbert Spencer Snow, and children left to right: Celia Lorena (Snow) Mead b. 1866, and in the middle is Edna Irene Snow, Harriman b. 1878, and William Douglas Snow b. 1870.

In 2007, Mary and Cal were our very first visitors to our new/old Victorian home. They made the long journey from Colorado to Wisconsin to bring me a special gift--an antique sofa that graced Mary's mother Leatha's home. It is a stunning spindle couch that sits in my red dining room. Thank you Mary--these family items are incredible and give my heart a lift I cannot put into words. I love you.

Holiday Tablescape With Books

2010-12-11T07:00:00.000-06:00

My friend Kathy and I spent a weekend in Galena IL last summer. We stayed at the Steamboat Bed and Breakfast and toured many shops downtown. I got some ideas for the interior of my art studio--based on a really classy coffee shop we visited several times, but regarding our shopping experience in Galena, it was mostly tourista stuff.

We didn't buy much in Galena, but not far from there we found Cuba City IL. Wow--really had fun in one of the Cuba City antique/vintage shops. Purchased a 1929 Pal (hand crank) phonograph, and Kathy found for me this 4 place setting of dinnerware. The pattern is called Anniversary manufactured during the 1960s by the Jeanette-McKee Glass Company of Jeanette, Pennsylvania.

The truth is, I thought it was really pretty dinnerware and loved the color and knew it would pair well with clear amber candle sticks my mother Lorraine gave me. In the end I think all went well and it made a beautiful tablescape. I found the gold rimmed berry bowls (pattern is Sylvan, Fostoria Glass Co., ca. 1902) at a vintage/collectibles shop in Appleton WI, called Furniture Phases.

I had no idea what to put on the table to go with the dinner ware. Let's see, a gold and ribbon decoration purchased for $12 at Golden Country Gifts in Weyauwega, WI.

Added some old books, porcelain birds . . .

I looked through my pile of home-made cloth napkins, and added similar, but mis-matched florals.

In the end, the table looked good, throwing it all together in 30 minutes.

Then, Jon came home. I read him the menu as I'd written it on the kitchen blackboard. Ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, scalloped corn, green peas, raspberry jello loaded with fruit, crescent dinner rolls, cranberry sauce--all of Jon's favorites. After I read Jon the menu he said, "oh, ah, Mom can't make it today." My eyes got as big as the dinner plates. Sigh. So, I called my friend Kathy, and invited her, her son, and her sister-in-law to dinner . . . I delayed the 1:00p meal until 6:00p and we were back in business. Kathy kidded me, "oh I see--so I'm your second choice, eh?"

A Victorian Bathroom

2010-12-09T08:27:00.000-06:00

We converted a small bedroom into a worthy old Victorian bathroom. It was a slow process from January until May. Here are before and after photos of the upstairs bathroom project--photos selected in a random order.

It was the oval shade Tiffany style lamp that finished the bathroom. Oh, I really wanted this lamp so bad. Visited the store several times, wringing my hands, fussing whether or not to buy something so lovely--just to stick in a bathroom. In the end, I caved. I knew when I first saw it how cleverly it would fit the bathroom surrounded by the blue-green and yellow amber colors I love.

One of the first things I found in our old house was a 1923 powder tin, and inside a 1919 box of Rit dye. Later, I found and purchased a 1919 advertisement showing the same box. Haven't got the advertisement framed yet. Isn't it the truth though, there are always a hundred more projects lying at our feet. Takes time to stop, pick up a task and move forward. My favorite saying is: "Move forward, and do what you have to do". Do you know who said that? It was Johnny Depp, Sep 8, 2002, Inside the Actor's Studio, with James Lipton. I was so moved hearing those words, I got up, went to the blackboard and wrote it down. I read it every day, for months and months.

My Mom Lorraine is so artistic, very clever in the way she decorates and is a constant motivator for me. Mom gave me the ball jars to decorate the house. I used two jars here in the new bath to store bath salts. You know those bath salts are quite fragrant--a crisp menthol (must be the brand eh?) Just behind the ball jars is a tall drinking straw container repurposed here for cotton balls. I don't use cottom balls on my face, and haven't used them for a home permanent in years and years. BUT, I do use them for: I remove a cottom ball, spike it with a couple drops of essential oil, then put the ball into the vaccum sweeper

We purchased the Wrolstad-Quien house in April 2007. The second owners-- the Quien family, Norwegian pronunciation ka-veene, owned it for 90 years!

Worth repeating is the magic date of February 18, 2007 when we took our first walk through with the realtor to see the interior. We walked into the dark foyer and looked at the etched glass front door pictured here.

The foyer walls were papered, and the woodwork "faux bois" untouched since the house was built in 1893.

Faux bois finished foyer woodwork.

On our first tour, we continued up the front stairway passing a stained glass window.

All the shades were drawn down and doors shut in the house, and my goodness these first photos look quite dark. Here we are, walking the length of the upstairs hallway to the sun lit small south bedroom that would become the upstairs bath.

This is the little bedroom we coverted into the upstairs bathroom--it sits above the first floor bathroom. The first floor bathroom was installed in 1945, in time for Mary Jane Quien's wedding here at the house Novemer 10, 1945 to Edward Fossum. Coincidently, my birthday is November 10th, AND Mary Jane Quien's mother Ruth Danielson Quien--her birthday was also November 10th.

The room is 10.5' x 15', and has walk in closets on the east and west walls. Pictured below is the east wall walk in closet--converted into a laundry room.

Below, Jon installs a 4" shelf that wraps around the bathroom. In this photo--the new 3/4" beadboard is installed, and I spent hours sanding the recently milled material, then priming/sealing the wood, getting it ready for final color of paint.

In the corner you can see the soil pipe has been hidden with lumber and gypsum board.

This is the east wall. The walk in closet door here is the entrance to the laundry room.

Bless Jon's heart. He's given his heart and soul into this whole house restoration project. Jon is a contractor and a mill wright. A smart guy. And has a great sense of humor. Everyone loves Jon. Especially me.

We decided to put the 1903 Kohler clawfoot tub centered in front of the double windows. I think I've said this before, "The night was blind, but the neighbors weren't." Ha. Ha.

This the west wall of the new bathroom. We ended up putting a walnut dresser here to hold UNDERWEAR. It is convenient to have a walk in closet for clothes in the bathroom, and underwear close by.

We found good looking sconces at Menard's and a matching ceiling light fixture.

Here's the door to the hallway, and to the right is the location of the toilet. We purchased Mansfield toilet and matching sink at Menard's.

Here's the Mansfield sink, and just behind it I auditioned a six drawer high boy. I got it at a consignment shop for a few dollars and painted it, and fitted with new crystal knobs. In the end, I didn't use the highboy in the bathroom, and instead opted to use an amber finished wooden jelly cabinet with glass paneled doors. A better fit, more storage.
I was shocked when I started to paint the color on the beadboard. I wasn't so sure, but I stopped, slapped myself, got over it, and pressed on.

Jon is wonderful

Here's Jon pre-fitting faucet for the 1903 Kohler clawfoot. We were suprised--getting the right faucet fixture was more expensive than acquiring the antique tub.

The tub in place and some vintage curtains up. Curtains purchased from Reflections in Nelsonville, WI.--a great place to find antiques and vintage items. I found the art studio's vintage chairs at Refections. Hey, don't forget to come back to my blog site again in Feb 2011--the second story art studio will be finished, and I want to show you those vintage chairs. So cool.

Now, I'm really glad we chose to paint the beadboard "Bewitch" by Valspar. I wasn't sure for a while. Everyone does beadboard "white". I just wanted to try it differently.

The flooring is Teakwood by Laura Ashley--a laminate floating floor. Hey, hey, don't get sore about the laminate. We decided a floating floor works for us, and the next owner can rip it up and re-do the old floors--which are in terrible shape. For now, we do what we can do with the money and time we got.

We still have to install crown moldings in all the upstairs bedrooms, including the bathroom. But, we are waiting until we finish the upstairs hallway. I'll be starting the wall repair in the hallway in February 2011 when I retire.

I believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Here's the north end of the bathroom, to the left--the finished west wall of the bathroom with walnut dresser holding UNDERWEAR. Straight ahead, the door to the hallway.

My favorite sign. NEXT WINDOW This is an old bank sign, from Uncle Herman Cooksey's estate--from Chicago, IL. Probably c1920s-1930s. Sometimes I take the sign to work with me and put it on my desk. I always get a couple of laughs out of it.

Here's the beginning of the bathroom remodel, January 15, 2009. We finished the bathroom May 29, 2009.