Finally!!!!

I realize that having just moved on January 4th, I wasn't expected to be completely organized and ready to tackle quilting projects right away.  That was a given conclusion, but, I have so missed being able to come home and "play" with Sonia or Bernie over the past few weeks.

Friday morning before work I finally set Sonia up on the dining room table so that I could get a much needed binding done for an upcoming store feature.  I can't tell you how wonderful it was to get back to my machine!

Jonathan snuck the camera out last night and snapped a rare picture of me.  I was so content sitting in that chair sewing on that binding that I didn't even notice right away what he was doing and if the flash had not gone off I probably would have never known!

We are still busy organizing and finding places for things around the house but all in all most things have found their home and the chaos is dissapating (I won't show you my closet yet!)....

Tonight my plan is to work on both the binding plus a quilt I have been trying to get quilted for a long while.  It's nice to get back into my groove.....while at the same time trying to keep up with things that have to get done at the store!  Of course it is all related in some way!

Hope you are having a great day!

Jo-Ann

Chaos continued!!!!

It's been a busy few days - Thursday I worked and then went back to the Townhouse to finish cleaning up and getting the rest of the "little" things.  Finished up there around midnight and went home to collapse, had to unpack a few bags to get in the door.  I'm so happy to see the last of all those stairs!!!! 

Yesterday I had the morning to unpack and made a bit of headway then I was off to the store to get some work done there.  It's a juggling act but now that I've got the energy to get things done I feel pretty confident that I can start making things happen.  Came home last night and on the way stopped to pick up a nice salad at Metro - it's less than a block from the new place!  had a lovely dinner and then worked on some stuff for the store.

I've been getting up early the last few days, it's a nice change and I feel like I'm sleeping much better too!  What a fabulous change for me!  So this morning I was able to do a little more unpacking before I left for the store.  The "Healing Heroes" gals were in today and getting loads of stuff done.  I was busy doing a bit of inventory work.

I had a wonderful surprise this afternoon when Barb dropped by with some cool stuff.  She's been doing some organizing at home too and brought loads of fabric for Healing Heroes as well as some cool stuff for me to go through.....

Then Fiona dropped by with the most wonderful gift - a quilted portrait of Gizmo!  I asked her a few months ago if she wouldn't mind doing one and got the photos to her a few weeks ago - she did an amazing (actually 2 amazing) quilts).  When Rich had to have Gizmo put to sleep a few months ago it was devastating for all of us so hopefully he will enjoy the larger of the two quilts.  The Bonus here is - Fiona has agreed to run a class on portraits from photos.....cool huh!!!  She really captured Gizmo's personality in both of the quilts....

 They are both fabulous!

I'm thrilled with both of them (don't recognize the woman in the photo - oops it's me!  The hair threw me off!

Tonight was great - I got alot done and can finally almost see the dining room!!!  I'm getting there, one room at a time.  I'd better get myself to bed....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

Happy Chaos!!

I couldn't be happier!  Richard, my son Jonathan and his two friends Ian and Dana moved 99% of the Townhouse yesterday to the apartment and I am thrilled because everything FITS!!!!  Well, there was an extra bed, an extra sofa and the TV cabinet didn't come either but those were planned, everything else fit exactly where I thought it would!!!!

 We ate standing up last night to make room for all the "grocery" bags being used to transport stuff, but once those bags are out of the way, everything fits in my dining room.....

 The living room is big enough to accomodate everything that was in the townhouse and the wing chair that was up in the guest bedroom at the townhouse....

 ..from another angle it also accomdates my large antique cabinet now being used to have the TV on as well as my pine desk and the pine storage unit that was in the den/office at the house!

 The kitchen counters have become makeshift storage while we moved the "big" stuff it all came out of....and my stove is now computerized with a built in monitor - NOT - wouldn't that be cool!!!!  Make Spaghetti and Meatballs and it's done by the computer/stove......

 No surface area was spared until I get it all in place....

 Even the floor is covered in the kitchen, but it all has it's place which it will soon find.....

 My red bookcase from the office/den fits perfectly in the front hall, in front of the door - makes me feel scholarly (and we don't actually use the front door to go in and out - we use the patio door!).

 Jonathan's room - still nothing done but in all honesty this picture was taken before they came back to build the bed at 10:30 P.M. when they finished with everything......

 Looking from the other side to the kitchen, my red bookcase......

 My bedroom - has all the furniture in place and I couldn't believe it but I even got the sea chest in which for me was a major bonus!

 By taking the sliding closet doors off, I was able to fit my second dresser into the alcove and the wing chair and hassock leave plenty of walking room.......Hopefully at some point in the near future there will be a curtain up to hide the "stash".....but Rich says he likes it that I have to wake up and look at all my unfinished stuff, maybe I won't start anything new!!!!  Uh-huh!

...and my dresser fits in great along with the little bookshelf for my craft/quilt books that was in the guest bedroom at the townhouse....the little greenmarks are the painters' tape marking the drawers and where they go!

I still have to go back to the townhouse tonight after work to clean and gather up all the little odds and ends the "boys" didn't take with them and there are still a few....I think mostly breakables which have to be packed up and transported carefully!  So that's where I'm off to now but I am SOOOOOO excited to be in the new place, I can't express how happy I am!

Off to clean - have a great day everyone!!!!

Jo-Ann

P.S.  I'm really hoping to be saying Off to Quilt in a few days!

This should be an ad!!!!

.....for the strength of those recyclable bags we've all been buying at the grocery stores and other great establishments, like Costco, Shoppers Drug Mart, etc.....

 Here we have Wegmans, Metro and Sobeye's.....

Here we have Metro and Shoppers.....

 
It has been like this since Saturday when I got the keys to the apartment - fill the bags, transport the bags, unpack the bags and back again.....I'm not sure how many trips we've made....Jonathan does a few during the night while I'm sleeping - he's been a trooper, with attitude but it is getting done.

Tomorrow morning we pick up the U-Haul and start moving the BIG stuff.  Jonathan and a couple of his friends, along with Richard and I will be moving all the furniture.  Well - they will be moving all the furniture while I put stuff away and continue to fill bags and take them over.....it's the steps that are the killer here.   I am exhausted and am on my way to bed and needless to say I will be thrilled once this is all over......

I'll be back in the store on Thursday for Sit & Sew and maybe I can actually relax a little but there's alot to do there too!  No rest for the wicked - heeheehee!

Okay - that's my update for today!!!!  Tomorrow I get to fondle all my fabric stash while I pack it into shopping bags.  It is hidden in the big hutch in my dining room which has to be emptied before it can be moved......I can't wait!  At least I'll get to see my fabric even though I haven't had time to use it lately.....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

I have a plan!

Think back to the days of your first move - everything in the back of the car and then a U-Haul for the big stuff!  Well that's us, except in those days we used boxes!  Jonathan and I (with Rich's help for the big stuff) are doing it with Metro bags - you know, the recycleable grocery bags.  Big ones, small ones, medium size.....

Yesterday we moved almost the whole kitchen, leaving just enough stuff so that I could make a Rib Roast with all the trimmings for dinner last night!  It was a wonderful reward for a good day's work.  He even moved the bookcase and the wicker stand which means there's very little left to do in the kitchen.

 Blue bookcase in kitchen in townhouse

 Wicker stand in kitchen in townhouse

 New kitchen - photo taken from dining room

New kitchen - photo taken from living room entrance

I'm more than pleased with what we got done yesterday - the kitchen is always one of the hardest rooms to pack and move....but we were actually able to do it in 3 short trips.  Did I tell you the new place is only two blocks away?!?!  I seriously don't think I could move this way if it was any further.....

So now, I will give you the 5 cent tour.......the kitchen above and below the rest.....

 Front entrance and hallway - front door is in the centre - to the right, living room, etc. and to the left, bedrooms and bathroom

 The bathroom - your typical apartment size!  It's going to be interesting getting used to one bathroom again!

It's been 14 years since I had a place with one bathroom.....

 The living room - you can see a bit of the patio area (we're on the first floor - yeah!)

 The dining room and back door which leads to the patio

 The second bedroom (currently Jonathan's!) which is not a bad size

 The closet in the second bedroom

 The "master" bedroom (mine of course!) which is quite large although from this angle doesn't look it - you know me with the camera - useless!!!!

 The closet in the master bedroom (I am taking the doors off and you will see why once the furniture is in) - the previous tenant left me last year's calendar on the wall!

Last but not least - the hall closet - which is a whole story in itself but will work out just fine

So - the plan today is to finish off what little is left in the kitchen and start on the office/den.  I also need to figure out temporary window coverings for the apartment (the townhouse had blinds in every room so there was nothing to do).  Of course I already have "decorating plans" for the windows but I am on a strict budget and they will have to wait until I have the funds.  I think just some Walmart or Ikea blinds and that will have to do for now.  I was hoping to be able to use the curtains and rods I have from the house but the windows in the apartment are wall to wall so for the moment that plan won't work....

The good news is - most of my furniture is going to fit with no problem.  That was my biggest worry and I am very happy to say - is no longer a concern.....  It's just getting it over there that is a concern now!!!!  

I was hoping to paint first also but that too is going to be put on hold for awhile.   I actually have two gallons of paint which we had bought for the townhouse but when I got sick we stopped the painting, so I just need paint for the bathroom, bedrooms and kitchen but neither Jonathan or I are happy with the "new" paint smell so we will wait until we can open some windows to do any painting.  Besides, it's not in the budget right now, so we will survive until Spring with those "lovely" (ugh!) apartment cream walls.....

Okay - I need to get my act together (I'm hurting so I'm procrastinating) - take another Aleve and get to work on the office/den!  Needless to say - quilting is on the back burner for now....

Have a great day everyone and Happy New Year - it's going to be a GREAT year and you can quote me on that!

Jo-Ann