Ta-Daaaa!...

Brynwood Needleworks - Carved Acorn Headboard - Before

Well, the suspense is over. I can finally show you what I've been working on. This is the before photograph of the detail on the headboard of a queen size bed set I purchase a few months ago.

Brynwood Needleworks - Carved Acorn Headboard -After

I waited to start work on it until I was healed from my last surgery. I knew I wanted to get the paint on before the weather got too cold to do that in the garage. I finished this project over the weekend, so I can finally share it with you! Have you guessed yet what drew me to this set?

Brynwood Needleworks - Carved Acorn Bed Set - Before

I found it on - you guessed it - Facebook Marketplace. It was about an hour away, so I showed it to Handsome, and he agreed we should get it. Once it was here, I realized it was a little (basement) musty, so before I could paint, I took the time to clean it with water and Murphy's Oil Soap™. Then I used the Deglosser from Heirloom Traditions All-in-One Paint Company.

To say there was a little elbow grease involved would be an understatement. I cleaned both sides of each piece - taking extra care around the spindles - and let it dry between sessions. When my nose and I were satisfied that I'd accomplished my goal, I was finally able to use the Deglosser to take the sheen off the wood finish. (I also removed the metal decorations from the footboard to deal with later.)

Brynwood Needleworks - Carved Acorn Bed Set -After

Once everything was, again, thoroughly dry, I began painting. I used the Heirloom Traditions' All-In-One Paint in Cashmere (white), and London (gray-green). The Cashmere took three coats to completely cover the oak finish. The London paint only took two coats.

Brynwood Needleworks - Small Bed Side Table Showing Drawer Detail

I also painted a small, antique washstand table I had to coordinate with the bed. The exterior is London, and I painted Cashmere inside the drawer.

I'm wasn't sure how I felt about the modern-looking drawer pull, so I've since actually changed that for a more rustic-looking one. I took the gold-tone medallions from the bed, and used Rub 'n Buff™ in a silvertone on them. I like them much better in the silvertone, but...

I also have some carved acorns that I've had for years. I may try those on the footboard to see if I like them better than the metal trim. If I do, I may switch them. 

The plan for this bed is to bring it into the main bedroom. As much as I love (and I really do) my farmhouse bed, I want to use that in a future guest room, and have a queen bed in the main bedroom. I just didn't like the mattress as tall as the last one was. It was nearly impossible for me to toss myself into bed every night with this gimpy knee. (My little brother wanted that set, so it has a good home.) 

I  have an antique oak table that's on the other side of my bed now. I've had it for 30 years, and I just can't bring myself to paint it. I do, however, have a table cover that fits it perfectly. I'm going to embroider it along the borders with my new flower obsession design, in colors that go with the bed and washstand. I think it will fit right in without having a painted finish. Fingers crossed. Otherwise, I'll find another washstand on Marketplace for painting. I see them just like the one I have all the time.

We have a few things we need moved in the house, so in a few weeks we'll hire professionals to do another "in-house move" for us. I'm making a list of what we want moved and where it needs to go, so I don't forget once they're here, and we can make the best use of their time. Time is money, you know.

When that happens, I'll be sure to take photos of the new setup. It will be all moved and settled before the snow flies, and we can just enjoy the new (and final) arrangement.

Now, what was I working on before this? Oh, yes. I remember. Time to get my morning coffee and then I'll get back to it.

Master Bedroom - A Work In Progress...

Brynwood Needleworks - Farmhouse Bed

You thought this was done already, right? In February, 2018, I wrote a blog post about the Paul Bunyan bed and bedroom set we purchased for the master bedroom. While it's a beautiful set, this bed has, lately, been almost impossible for me to get into at night. That's mainly because of the issues related to my recent surgeries. (I wrote about this beautiful set HERE.)

 

Well, obviously, I need to be able to get into bed at night without having an issue, so Handsome and I discussed options. The Paul Bunyan bed is a queen size bed, and while it fit in the master bedroom, the whole set definitely took up more space. We even discussed painting the set to make it appear smaller, but in the end, the height of the mattresses was still an issue. Let me say that changing the depth of the mattresses wouldn't make a significant difference because of where the rails are set to hold them.

Brynwood Needleworks - Farmhouse Bed

I have loved the double size farmhouse bed since I purchased it before we'd even moved into the house. The downside of this bed is that, my dear husband is 6'5" tall, and a double bed is too short for him. We do have a queen size bed in another bedroom, so we have sleeping options.

In light of the fact that I'm likely to have another surgery, I need a bed in which I'm comfortable (I sleep alone post-op), and the farmhouse bed fits that parameter. So, a week ago, the Paul Bunyan bed left the second floor (thanks to my dear nephew's help), and the farmhouse bed returned to the master bedroom.

The rest of the dark bedroom set will be moved out, as soon as I find adequate vintage pieces to replace the dresser and armoire. Then, we'll sell the entire set as the guest room is too small for it. My vintage dressing table will also come back into this room.

Usually, I have a larger table next to the bed, but with winter coming, I don't want my chair blocking the radiator. The little plant stand will function perfectly as a surface for my overnight water bottle, and my eye glasses. 

I'm not sure I like the Wyeth print so high above the bed, so that might move into the fabric room when it's finally turned into the future guest room. We also brought the side wall lamps with us from Florida when we moved here. They've been stored safely until now. We've mounted them on the wall, and they function perfectly next to the farmhouse bed.

Once the entire bedroom is finished in keeping with the farmhouse look, I'll be sure to take more photographs to share. For now, I have a completely comfortable place to sleep and rest. I have a lot of sorting to do...mainly clothes (sheesh! How did I accumulate so much?), but there are other things, too, and then I can finish up. I can tell you there are lots of pieces that will be donated and shared.

One other piece I need is a nice bookcase. I love to read, and most of our books are still in boxes - tucked where they'll stay dry and safe until we have bookcases. I miss our Florida library room, and hope we can figure out the best place to do that here. For now, a bookcase in the master bedroom would be a nice start. 

I have so much inspiration from which to draw. I save photos that I find on Pinterest or online from favorite blogs. I'm not in any hurry, so I have time to edit and end up with what we really want. I like that this is a work in progress. Once of these days it will be complete, but I'm going to enjoy the process...the journey...until we get there.

Our Farmhouse - Master Bedroom...

Master Bed and Quilt Wall

I have more than a few quilts I love, and I've been trying to think of ways to display them here at the farmhouse. We have two beds (three, once the attic space is finished), so that takes care of two quilts. I also use them as table covers, but I recently came up with another idea.

During the winter, I noticed how cold our exterior walls were. I'm sure that, at some point, we'll reinsulate the house, but for now, I'm going to use quilts!
 

Master Bedroom Quilt Wall

 

This picture shows two of my very first quilts. The one on the bed is a chenille four-patch, that is the snuggliest and most comfy nap quilt. I love the colors, and that alone was what tempted me to purchase the kit. After carting the kit around for a couple of years, I finally assembled and quilted it in 2004. It's definitely one of my favorites.

 

The quilt I chose for the wall is made using the original Moda "Seaside Rose" fabric line. I made it in 2005. I love the colors in this quilt, and it goes perfectly with the paint colors, not only in the master bedroom, but throughout the entire farmhouse. It's also light and airy for summer, and it's a bonus that it will help insulate the room.

 

Of course, the use of a long rod hanging from two hooks gives me the option to switch out the quilt according to seasons, or just on a whim. The bed is much too big and heavy to move around, but changing out a quilt will give the room a new look whenever I want. I'm quite happy with this one, and will likely keep it like this for a long time.

 

 

I was working in the garden again yesterday. I have one more day of work left, and then I can show you finished pictures. I'm going to put down newsprint and then cover it with mulch, as recommended in my gardening books. Weeds won't come up through the newsprint, and the plants love whatever is in the newsprint as it deteriorates. Cool, right? I did get additional plants and can't wait to show you what it looks like now!! Soon, I promise.

The Learned Wife Sampler...

The Learned Wife Sampler

One of the things I did yesterday was to put up a few photos in our master bedroom. I decided that I'd put up on of my all-time favorite samplers between Handsome's and my photo. This is "The Learned Wife" sampler from Kingsland Designs. (I wish it were one of my designs, but it's not.) I'm especially fond of the verse...

"One did commend me to a wife both fair and young,

that had French, Spanish and English tongue.

I thanked him kindly and told him I loved none such,

for I thought one tongue for a wife too much. 

What love ye not the Learned, yet as my life,

A Learned scholar, but not a Learned wife."

This sampler is a reproduction of an original, dated 1740. I only changed one thing from the original design, and that was to change "French, Spanish and Italian tongue" to "French, Spanish and English tongue".

Master Bedroom Vignette

 

My sampler now hangs between photographs of Handsome and me. I took the image of him while on our honeymoon in Grand Cayman, BWI in 1984. My photo was taken by one of his photo students in a class Handsome was teaching in 1986 (I think).

The bottom photo is of the first litter of yellow Labrador puppies whelped by my first Lab, Bryn. Bannor is the dark yellow pup under the center top dog. This photo always makes me smile, and I love having Ban's picture where I can see it. I still miss that guy. (He was 16 when he passed.) 

And, yes. Bryn was the inspiration for Brynwood Needleworks. She was about four years old when I began my counted thread design business of the same name. That was almost thirty years ago!

So, another area of our farmhouse is just a little more "us". There's no rush. We're having fun and taking our time. Everything about life at the farm is slower paced. This might as well be, too.

Farmhouse Renovation - Finished Master Bedroom...

Wool Cushion I Made For Mom

 

My Tasha Tudor book and the cushion I hand stitched for Mom sit right inside our bedroom door. Sis gave the cushion back to me after Mom passed. I treasure it.

 

Chair Caned By Mom - Now Mine

 

They book and cushion now sit on a chair that was hand caned by Mom. It's one of the last pieces she worked on, and I'm fortunate to have two of her caned chairs. 

 

Our Paul Bunyan Bed

Our Paul Bunyan bed greets us as we enter the doorway into the master bedroom. The top of the mattress is 33" off the floor. I may need a small step stool in the future so I'll be able to get into bed.

Long Dresser

I admit it. There's a television in our bedroom. At the end of the day, I like to head upstairs and watch programs I've recorded.

Valentina is also on the dresser, along with a few favorite photographs. I'll be putting something on the wall (mirror or special framed piece) after I decide what I want there.

 

Armoire

This is the west wall of our room. The armoire fits here perfectly, along with a comfortable chair for putting on shoes or sitting to read a good book.

 

Our Finishing Touch - A Favorite Photo Series

 

This photo series is Handsome and my favorite. It used to hang above our bed in Florida, and now it hangs above our Wisconsin bed. It's where it belongs.

 

So, there you have it. A mini tour of our master bedroom. The next room on our agenda is the kitchen. I'll tell you more about that in an upcoming post. For now, we're going to enjoy having another completed space in our old farmhouse.

Farmhouse Renovation - Master Bedroom...

Farmhouse Furniture

 

Yesterday was busy bringing new furniture to the farmhouse. This is just a sneak peek at the furniture Handsome and I chose. 

As lovely as I think painting all of this a pretty, classic grey might be, I'm not going to. It's a wonderfully, classic bedroom suite that will be comfortable for us, as well as our occasional guests. Once we complete our attic guest space, they can have the third floor to themselves, but for now, our guest room will be also be on the second floor with the master bedrooms.

I can't wait to finish setting it up, but it will be a little while before that's done. I just couldn't wait to share a preview of what's to come. You'll see the whole room soon enough.

Our Farmhouse Bed...

Brynwood Needleworks - Bed Frame Detail

I've been hunting...hunting for the perfect bed for the master bedroom here at the farmhouse. Last week I found it!

I can't tell you the style, but I can tell you what it feels and looks like to me. When I saw the detail in the woodwork, I was reminded of the Swedish farmhouse style. I think the white paint had something to do with that, too.

Brynwood Needleworks - Bed Frame

 

The frame was only partially painted when I found it, and the side rails don't really belong with this head and foot board set. I don't mind though. The bed is solid and not at all wobbly, so I'll finish painting it, and when those side rails are done, no one will be any the wiser.

My only real decision at this point is whether or not I want to paint it to match the woodwork paint color I've chosen for the house, or to use a chalk paint. I know the chalk paint is very trendy right now, but that wouldn't be my reason for choosing it. I know that I don't want the "chippy" look. I'd prefer clean lines, so whichever paint I use, it will be solid and clean on the wood. What do you think? 

Ahhhh, you're getting a peek at the master bedroom, too! Of course, the walls and woodwork will match the rest of the house, but I'm pondering whether or not to keep the carpeting. I love the feel of it underfoot, and it's in perfect shape. Although it would be nice to have refinished maple floors here, too, getting up in the morning and putting your feet on plush, soft carpeting definitely has it's appeal. I think I'll wait until the walls and woodwork are painted to decide. I still have time. 

Painting the bed will wait a bit, too. I have commissions that need to be finished, and oh, dear...must I say it? I'm going to have to start working on Christmas projects soon, too. I'd better make my list, so I don't miss something important! 

Do tell me what you think about the bed. I'd love to have some feedback before I get back to working on it!

Change Is Good...

This builder carpet has been in our master bedroom since we moved in nine years ago. When we moved in, it was already fifteen months old. Ten year old builder's carpet = gotta go.

I painted our bedroom and bathroom walls last summer, and then made the new quilt for our bed last fall, so all that was left was to get rid of that crummy flooring.

Handsome and I decided now was the time for a change, so we chose the new flooring and got the ball rolling.
Last Friday was the big day. The installers arrived around noon and cleared out the furniture (which we really appreciated).
Six hours later, our new floor was finished. The furniture was moved back into place (with a few changes) and we slept in our "new" room that night.
We woke up Saturday morning with the sun streaming in our windows, and shining off our new floors. Dog paws are a little noisier now, but we're thoroughly loving the new look.
I can't help but smile every time I look at them. We did the dining room, too, but I'll save those photos for later. So, tell me what you think. Do you think it's an improvement, too, or did you like the carpet better? (You can always click on my photos to enlarge them for a closer look.)

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR ANNE SWEET (ANNAKATE)

Anne: I've received both of your emails and have responded to them, however all of my replies have come back to me as "undeliverable". You told me that you don't have a blog, so I haven't been able to find another way to get in touch with you.

I don't know if you're on Facebook or not, but I'm there as my name appears here on my blog. I'm so sorry that I can't reply privately to your email, so I'd love to correspond with you via a private message on Facebook to answer your question and tell you how excited I am about your offer. PLEASE don't think that I'm ignoring you. You said that you follow my blog. I sure hope you see this! Thanks so much for contacting me. xoxo

UPDATE: Ann read this blog post and contacted me again. YEA!!! I guess I was having trouble getting back to her until she added my email address into her address book. Voila! We're chatting like bffs now!

She Thinks I'm "Versatile"...

I received a lovely surprise around the Fourth of July, and wanted to give it my full attention, so it's time to tell you all about it. I was contacted by Barbara of Moore Whimsies, telling me that she had bestowed a blog award upon Brynwood Needleworks. What a lovely gesture! She also said that there were some rules for the recipients.

Here they are:
1. Thank the person who gave you the Award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to 15 Bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic.
4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.

You know what a stickler I am about rules! Well, if you don't I'll tell you more about that at a later date.

1. Dear Barbara: I can't tell you what a pleasant surprise it was for me to receive your email telling me that I had received this award from you. I've enjoyed visiting your blog, and look forward to getting to know you better in the future. Thank you so much for selecting me among your new favorites.
xoxo Donna

2. Share seven things about me. OK...Here are seven things you may not have known about me before today.

• I am a southpaw. That means I write with my left hand - however, I do most everything else with my right hand. I am only one of three left handed people in five generations in my family. Sadly, I'm the last of those three. I'm told that if you look at my handwriting, you would be unable to tell that I am a southpaw, and I do not roll my hand over in that funny way that most people who write with their left hand do. Also, don't ask me to teach you how to cross stitch, knit, crochet, etc. with my left hand. I don't know how.
• I haven't colored my hair in nearly six years. It was my fiftieth birthday gift to myself. I had colored my hair (starting with Sun-In when I was 16) and hadn't seen my own color in all those years. I actually like the color it is now. Can you imagine how expensive it would be to color my hair every three weeks when I get my haircuts? Yup. I get my hair cut every three weeks (after four weeks, I start to resemble a schnauzer!).
  
• I love clocks. However, I don't have many that "tick". I never noticed it before, but my percussionist husband, Handsome, told me that clocks all tick at a different rate and the multiple tick/tocks drive him nuts. Quiet clocks only at our house.
• I'm not a gardener. I love the beautiful English gardens my mum created and tended while I was growing up, but my gardens are made of fabric and thread. Anything besides succulents dies under my care.
• Of all the things I can make, there is one (that I know of for sure) that I can't make. Dolls. Soft sculpture, stuffed, hand made dolls. You won't find me even trying to make one again. I've been traumatized by this knowledge since 1985. (Here's the full story.) I don't want to talk about it anymore, thank you.
• My favorite colors are soft, lavender/grey blue and light peach.
• I am hopelessly, madly and totally in love with Handsome. I have been since I first set eyes on him in 1981. Period.
• BONUS: I have a few nicknames. I most often answer to the following: Dee, Deece, and Wife. Heard less often, but also used: Donnie, Din and Sissyhead (by my sister, Diana). You can call me Donna, Dee or Deece.
  

3. & 4. I'll be contacting fifteen bloggers (who accept awards) who have my admiration for their inspiration and creativity. They'll be hearing from me this week.

Thanks again, Barbara. Please be sure to visit her blog and say "hello" from me.
A quick quilt update, too. I've completed three of my five strips of blocks. All the squares and rectangles are cut out, and all are assembled (except eight - I need to cut out a few more leaf squares to finish them), and ready to be assembled into the large blocks. There are four squares in each block. Remember, there are five blocks in each strip. So, I've finished fifteen blocks. and have ten blocks to go. Not bad for a Sunday afternoon's sewing. I'll give you an update when I've finished the blocks. Next step after that is sashing. More sewing today, with an update tomorrow.

There's still time to sign up for my mystery giveaway. I'll be making up four items this week (using the image on my giveaway button) and will give you a peek at what they look like very soon.

Thanks to everyone who has entered so far. Good luck to everyone!

So Far, So Good...

I was busy working on the quilt project again yesterday.

I had already assembled strips of fabric, so the next step
was to cut the strips and then sew them into squares.
After I made the squares, I assembled them into blocks.

I assembled three. whole. blocks. today.
woo hoo!
Then, I took them to the bedroom, lay them on the bed
and determined how many blocks I will need for the quilt top.
5 blocks in a vertical strip.
5 strips across.
25 blocks in all.
I assembled three. whole. blocks.
Twenty Two blocks to go.

Recognizing that you might not want to see all the details of this process, I've only posted one photograph of the project today. But...if you'd like to see how I got to three. whole. finished. blocks. just click on the photograph above and it will take you to my Flickr album (tutorial) showing all the steps (except ironing...because, well, who wants to watch me iron?!!)

Twenty Two Blocks To Go.

Oh, and I finished another strawberry.
I love making these!

I'm calling this one the Lavender Strawberry Rose.

I filled it with organic wool and lavender buds.
It's quite large, too. Fits in the palm of my hand...barely.
Like it?

It's Called "Stripping"...

I thought you might like to follow some of the process for making the blocks for my latest master bedroom quilt project. (Apologies if you have no interest whatsoever! I promise I won't do this every day.) I decided on the fabrics that would be used in this quilt, and where each fabric should be located on the blocks. Actually, I really like the fact that it only uses three different fabrics, and I think you could safely use just two if you wanted to.

I started by looking at how the square is laid out and then worked out in my head how I might make the process a bit simpler than cutting out 1) large squares, 2)narrow strips and 3) small squares and then sewing them all together.
Quilters know that you can sew strips together, and if you've made the strips the right dimension to start, you'll be able to cut and assemble much quicker. (Hence, the term "stripping". Those clever girls!)
First, I chose the leaf fabric. I need to have 6 1/2" squares of that fabric. I also need to sew that square to 2 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangles of gold paisley fabric, so I cut strips of leaf fabric 6 1/2" wide by the full width of the fabric (42"). Then I cut 2 1/2" wide paisley fabric the full width of the fabric (again 42").
After I cut the strips, I put the leaf and paisley fabrics (right sides together) and sewed them using a 1/4" seam.
I ended up with strips of combined fabric (all 42" long). I pressed the seam open so it looked like this.
Then I did the same with the gold paisley and green fabric. Remember, the paisley needs to be 6 1/2" long by 2 1/2" wide when finished, and it's sewn to a 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" vine square.
I sewed the strips together as before, and pressed the seam open along the full length of the fabric.
It looks like this. Now I have to cut the fabric strips to end up with the blocks in the sizes I need.
Remember, I need 6 1/2" squares of the leave fabric and 6 1/2" x 2 1/2" strips of the gold. I know that my width for the blocks is correct, so I just measure off 6 1/2" and cut across the strip. I'll repeat this down the full strip of fabric, making sure I square up each time so that the blocks are even for the next step.
The next strip has to be cut so that I end up with gold sections that measure 6 1/2' x 2 1/2" and the vine fabric will just be a small square 2 1/2" x 2 1/2". That means I just cut 2 1/2" across the width of the fabric to end up with pieces in the size I need. I'll repeat cutting across the entire combined strip as I did in the previous combination.
You can see here that I end up with the leaf sewn to the paisley, and the paisley added to the vine in the sizes I'll need to make my blocks. After completing all this, I decided to take a breather for the rest of the day. I'll assemble the blocks today and show you how they end up creating a bow tie pattern in the middle of the big blocks.

I know if you're not a quilter, I probably just bored the pants off you. Maybe you can just look at the pictures and let me know what you think. Are you liking my final color choices? I put that finished block on the bed yesterday afternoon. Handsome and I both agree that this is the layout for the fabrics that looked best in our room. Hope you like it as much as we do!

Please enter my 400th Follower Celebration Giveaway if you haven't yet. I'm giving away four gifts this time, and your comment may determine just what you'll receive!