Linen Closet Madness

So lately my GREATEST obsession is my soon to be linen closet! I have never lived in a house with a linen closet and thanks to my wonderful hubby....I'M GETTING ONE IN THE NEW BEDROOM!!!

This is a crazy little dream of mine. Even when I was a little girl (ok maybe at least a teenager) I loved linen closets! I remember Gramma's always smelling so so so good! I love it when you have clean linen in a closet, a box or trunk and then when you open it...ah clean laundry smell. Well actually in this house my linens are a little like this....a sheet here in this drawer, a pillowcase in the buffet in the dining room....etc. It's crazy!

The linen closet of my dreams is like this....Baskets to hold the sheets. Each sheet set tied with a ribbon and a size label. Here are some pictures of my inspiration....(Can't stand Martha Stewart in action...but adore her organizational mind and crafty ways!)

Photo found HERE

Photo Found HERE

Photo Found HERE

I'm really quite glad that I'm not the only nut job that can't wait to have my linens in order! I have a plethora of towels so I'm sure that some of those will find a home in the closet as well. I should have measured to see if my upholstery cleaner would fit in there...but then again...we're going for pretty here!!

So a friend of mine sells Thirty One and I'm IN LOVE with their goods! I can't even say that I have a favorite because it's all so good! I have this huge bag (false, I have TWO of these)....

...and I use it for EVERYTHING! Load it with the grocery bags & take less trips from the car to the house, going to the lake/river/camping, quilting outings, laundry basket, traveling toy box, the list literally goes on and on and on!

Anyways as I was doing laundry and folding sheets and putting them in my large utility tote, I asked my Darling Husband if he thought that 2 of these bags would fit sideways in the new linen closet....he said, "Uh babe, Four of those will fit in long ways."

At that point I almost hyperventilated!

(He responded, "It scares me a little at the way that your whole face just lit up!")

(You can find these totes and SO many more at Amanda's website HERE!!! Double bonus for the company is that they are a Christian company based on Proverbs 31....love that!)  

So the storage basket issue is solved! Since the closet is so high, it won't be overly convenient to get in and out of so having the ability to just grab a bag and then slide it back up there will be nice. I'm still trying to decide if I should get them monogrammed on the ends so they are labeled....hmmm....thoughts anyone?

Ready to see the 'plans'?...they're pretty rough since I made them in Microsoft Word...but you'll get the point!

Isn't it great!? So it's going to be above our regular closet since in an old house you just have to take what you can get. We raised our ceiling about 13 inches or so i think which gives us 28 inches about the closet. (i think, don't quote me!)....

(stay tuned I just found and AMAZING idea!!!! Another day; another remodel!)

Above the four bag shelf will be another shelf....what to put up there? Just blankets? Misc Storage? Hmm not sure.....

Anyways...Wednesday the ma-in-law had a meeting in town, so the sis in law and I hit Menard's for the closet supplies. (Is it necessary to point out that we were able to do all of this without the assistance of a worker bee and in only 50 minutes? I think yes!)

 So technically, the following pictures are the 'BEFORE' photos of the closet....

(She was so cute holding on to it! Look at her white knuckles! We had to borrow Cowboy Paxton's rope to tie the load together so it wouldn't shift on them...(Didn't get his picture! :( oops!) Once I got out the camera she got all cheesy but before she was serious as can be...like she was thinking, 'Good thing one of us is sane!')

This was before the Wal-Mart leg of the journey! By the time we headed home, this what the load included: 8- 2x4 precut studs, 8-1x4x10s, 6- 1x6x10s, 1-1x8x10, 4 drywall corners (3- 6' 9" & 1- 9 ft), 4 sticks quarter round (8 ft), 2 children, 3 adults, 5 tiki torch sticks, big bundle paper towels, 8 Wal-Mart sacks, three birthday presents, toys/games for the kids & our lunch! There was no changing the radio or the temperature...well I could turn it up or down....It was an adventure! :)

I totally can hardly wait for Merle to be able to put this bad boy in! I'm giddy about it!

I'm listing a few of my newly found favorite organization blogs....

Vanilla Joy

FLY Lady

Organized Home

Simple Organized Living

I hope you all enjoy my ramblings...my bestie just can't believe I could obsess so much over a linen closet...she doesn't get it...her house is modern and has lots of storage, like her laundry that has it's own room...isn't that right Jenn!?

And now for that AMAZING storage idea.....

Find that link HERE. There's some neat 'history' behind the idea.

Speaking of stairs, look where I found my son sleeping yesterday morning!!!

Ok I believe that's all for today! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by the Pinwheel Pioneer!

I give you....Blogger Conglomeration!

This is just a modge podge of pictures of my latest projects....They keep rolling in! :) Beware...inspiration just may hit you upside the head! Ha ha! Enjoy!

These pots....plus.....

This paint....Equals....These beautiful re dos!! Made for my sister in law's patio! I'm pleased!

 I love the little owl next to this one! Whimsy!

Merle's Father's Day present to go on his night stand in the 'new room.' It has a black easel to go on. (Also a spray paint project but didn't take a picture of it!) I thought this was fitting and sweet and wonderful! (My bro in law cut the board for me...I used scrapbook letter stickers for the words. Covered with mega coats of clear spray paint...still waiting for it to dry...may have to resort to a schlack of some sort. I love it!)

I have learned that demo is a dusty hot exhausting job! This is what it looked like before I shoveled all of the debris out the window to the back of the pickup. (I am now a shoulder patient at McMeen Physical Therapy I used to work for them...it only feels right to advertise!) The sad thing about the debris loading is that it took me ALL DAY to shovel into the pickup and that load filled one teeny tiny hole in the in law's driveway....It was a PICK UP LOAD FULL! I was so let down...I thought for sure it would at least dam up the Dismal River. Sad day!

Stay @ Home Mama turns Rouge! I was dying of dust inhalation! Plus I thought it was funny!

So did P.

Ah Beautiful drywall! That's a wonderful sight to see...my handsome studmuffin on a ladder...oh and look at that new window! (And my son in his dino footy jammas...yet again!) So close to done...with drywall!

Now Mama's home alone to get some stuff done! Better get after it! Rest assured that there are more projects underway...but who wants to see half done projects!?

Here's my list:

1. Quilt wall hanging

2. Garden tool box painted/hung-almost done with this one

3. Jewelry Box

4. Growth Chart

5. Closet Door Surprise- not telling! You can't make me!

6. Photo Faux Canvas

7. Family Picture Frame (made from the boards in the ceiling...hello 1921!)

8. Stained Headboard

(Not to mention the packing/sorting of clothing, the taping/mudding/texturing/painting of drywall, the sanding/sealing of the floor....oh my I have a lot to do!)

Inspiration

Thanks to my friend, Jenni, and her blog post "Favorite Five," I feel inspired to post something...anything, despite the fact that I'm only half way done with about a thousand projects...I feel that posting on any one of those would be very anticlimactic and we're going for big wow power! (To all the English teachers who might be reading this post...I realize that sentence is in no way correct!)

So I give you my version of "Fave Five"....

1. Favorite past time as of late: Gardening. I've been working in Addy's garden to 'deweed' and mulch and decorate. I'm waiting for my bulbs to come up in my 'Gnome Sweet Gnome' garden so I can re plant them and see what we have to work with. I love that everything in Addy's Garden has buds on it. I can't wait for them to open!

2. Favorite saying of all time: This little gem has gotten me through some tough things.

Believe in yourself. You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face. You must do that which you think you cannot do. -Eleanor Roosevelt


3. Fave Recipe: 'Chelsea Chicken' (named because I got the recipe from my friend Chelsea and I didn't know what to call it so it was usually "Ya know that chicken asparagus artichoke rice dish that Chelsea makes'...and I'm too lazy to call it that every time!

• Chicken breasts (4 medium) (Canned chicken works well if you're in a time pinch)
• can (or 2) artichoke hearts, drained
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (small amount)
• frozen asparagus (fresh works too)
• wild rice

Heat fry pan over medium heat. Cover bottom of pan with small amount of EVOO. Add chicken, artichokes & asparagus. Cover with lid and cook until chicken is done. Serve over wild rice.

4. Favorite thing I saw today:

I really don't know how this happened...but I almost wet myself when I found her! She's pretty proud of her self as you can tell in the picture! Everyone loves Spiderman!

5. Fave Summer Activity: Canoeing/Camping with the family. My husband and I love love love canoeing the Dismal River and have quite a system worked out. He paddles while I look at the scenery...once in a while he says paddle left or right and I do and we do great! Looking forward to a few trips on the river this year! Oh bring on the sunburn and bugs and cold cold river!!

Well that about sums up my 'Fave Five' for today anyways! I hope you are all enjoying this fine day!

Remodel Update

This is just a short and sweet demo update on the bedroom. It's coming along very slowly! Mainly because the best time to work is nap time and all the clanging and banging results in shorter naptimes...oh yeah and I'm a weakling so I can't do as much as my darling husband!

Paxton has gotten in on the fun with me and is quite the little helper!

When I saw this I thought the remodel might be on hold...I mean who could beat this wallpaper!:)

A good shot of the shambles! No turning back now!

Little helper man! Chopping away...yes in his dinosaur jammajams!That's how we roll! 'Fo Sho'

He was so serious about working. And so encouraging...'You're doing great Mom, I'm still winning but you're doing a good job!'

Timed out for a photo op! Coz that's also how we roll!

I cannot tell you how excited I am to have this done! Hoping Daddy gets some time to help us this weekend and next week!

Churn Dash: two ways

Inadvertently, I used the same block pattern twice with very different results! I realize that, despite the quilting connotation in my blog's name, this is my first quilting post! Enjoy!

The quilt on the left was made for Mr Eli who was born Feb 13. The print is old toys and the stripes look like old pillows, complete with a faux staining.

The quilt on the right was made for Miss Aly, born April 12. I love the bright modern look to this traditional block.

Both quilts are backed with minky fabric. Eli's with brown and Aly's with black.

The Churn Dash is a very old 9-Patch quilt block pattern, originating between 1800 and 1849. Its name is a result of the resemblance of the triangle and rectangle perimeter of the block to a butter churn and the center square to the stick (or “dash”) of the butter churn.

(http://www.quilting-in-america.com/churn-dash.html)

An easy pattern for the churn dash block can be found at www.quilterscache.com.  Eli's quilt is simply 6 churn dash blocks.  Aly's quilt uses just 5 churn dash blocks along with 10 1/2 inch setting blocks from the large print.


I love this block because it's so traditional and sappy ole me can't help but think about all the pioneer mama's who made this quilt in anticipation of their little bundles of joy and brides who slept under churn dash quilts made alongside their friends and family in preparation of their weddings. How many churn dash quilts traveled across this country as it's owner followed their dreams? Ah the sentiment of it all!

Remodel Part One

This post needs very little wording...except this....up to this point all of this has been MY handiwork....NOT my big burly husband....(Yes I'd like to hear a 'What what?") But now I'm to a point where I need the big muscles! And the handiman's knowledge of the best way to get carpet out of a closet withouth removing the closet doors....is there a way? Maybe cut it? I'm stumped...and a little sweaty so I gave up!

Here you have it...the part of the remodel where our bedroom has no carpet...a pleasant surprise...and our bed is in our living room! (Unlike the last remodel where our bed was in the kitchen....we like to keep it exciting!)

Before! Plain jane and so drab...and definitely not romantic!

 Can I just point out the vertical boards that don't go all the way to the floor? And yes I vaccuumed just prior to pulling the carpet up....A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

 Who needs a couch!It's gonna be a little cluttered for a while!

And surprise! Well not really surprise coz I saw the edges were wood just wasn't sure what i'd find underneath! And YAY!! Wood floors!

So it finally got dark outside, Daddy came home, and I really need to wash my hands and my face one more time before I eat....that carpet was el grosso!!

Stay tuned!

Easter...full fledged!

I love Easter. I love the cute springy decorations, the sweet little ones in their Easter garb, the dyeing of eggs, the hunting of eggs, the eating around the table with everyone (minus Dr. Husband this year...thanks to calving! We saved him some food!) Mostly, absolute most, I love the story of Jesus. He became human, with a breakable body, to be tortured and killed for our sins. Because of His love for us.  I love Him so much.

 Getting ready to kick off the egg dyeing! Goofing off in our excitement!

 Not our most flattering picture but we had fun...so that's where Ly gets the 'lips!'

She loved scribbling on them then dunking it right in the green. I love chubby baby hands!

     This is P's 3rd year of dyeing eggs...every year he turns out that color! Every year! Look who's clean...the one year old!

Now we have a jolly set of eggs to eat! Yummola!

Saturday we participated in the area Easter Pageant. The kids and I were in a scene where the children run to Jesus and the disciples try to push them away. But Jesus tells them to come. Matthew 19:13-15.

 (P was embarrassed to be in a dress...until he saw EVERY OTHER man in a dress!)

Yeah she had like 18 layers on to fight the cold wind!

Daddy was a disciple and a member of the mob. It was really fun to all be dressed and in character. (Sorry didn't get a family picture!)

I was so blessed by the entire pageant, but especially the scene we were in. There were several children to be apart of this scene. We were to go up and 'play games' then when we saw Jesus we were supposed to run up the hill to him. But when it was our turn the kids just took off. Bookin it. They were so excited to see Jesus. One little one tripped over his robe and biffed it. (His mama was close by and he was ok and took off to see Jesus) And I realized that that should be our attitude...Take off running to meet Jesus everyday. Sometimes we'll fall but Jesus will be right there to pick us up. Every. Single. Time. I feel like I have a new view...a new ambition, if you will. To run to Jesus...to stop playing games and just book it up to my Savior trusting that when I trip on my robes, He'll be there to pick me up and love me, just like that Mama did for her boy.

Lyla loved the lambs and she was so good at imitating them! It was darling. She had fallen asleep but woke up for the scene and when she saw daddy as a disciple she kept saying, "Hi Dada. Hi Dada."

P was so bummed we didn't actually get to meet Jesus. And he was concerned the 'Philistines' aka Roman Soldiers were going to actually kill Pastor Gene (portraying Jesus)....that's how real this was. But all in all I think he enjoyed watching it and getting to talk to the pretend Jesus. Oh yeah and playing ninja with all the other little boys. At one point between practice and the show, the pretty little garden of metal statues/crosses was draped with like 8 little boys' robes.

If you do not know the story of Jesus, you are missing out. He came to Earth as a lowly baby, lived as a lowly carpenter, died on a cross accused of sin that he did not commit. BUT He rose again! Death and the grave and our sin on His shoulders could not hold him down! And He did all this for you! Reach out and accept His gift of Salvation.

Sunday dawned bright and beautiful! I'm so glad that Easter Sunday was sunny and bright. That's how I picture the scene of Jesus' resurrection....the opposite of dark.

We enjoyed a day of hunting eggs, eating and spending time with family....there's lots of moments I didn't capture on camera...darn batteries dying on Easter! But here's what I did capture.

 I whipped up his tie before church yesterday...(using a variation of the pattern found HERE) I didn't whipstitch the back...i used a heat bond adhesive to hold it closed....I also cut it out so the print is upside down. It's not perfect. But it's cute!)

 I

I call my kids 'baby' sometimes, as in, 'Here's your sippy, Baby' or 'Bye, Baby' so she stood at the driveway saying, "Bye Baby." In her jelly shoes and pearl necklace.

Did I mention I love Easter garb!?

 Little man just wanted to show me his big daddy rifle gun. I exclaimed. He was happy!

Oh yeah I totally just posted a picture of my Sunflower Cake (thanks Pinterest) on my blog along with my family pictures...when you're proud, you're proud! So pretty!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter holiday! (Don't watch for any blogs for a little while. Mommy has some HUGE projects coming this week!....hoping for a new little 'niece'...any day now Sweet Pea!)