painting the living room library

It is amazing how a quart of paint can change a room!

So much more modern!
A few year ago, through the One Room Challenge  I updated our living room, and it was quite good:

with new paint, new curtains and  some updates to our library.

But lately I found it was a little blend, I started seeing dark colors back in style,

like this from Craftberry Bush and I grew more and more tired of the white library.
So I decided to paint it blue. It took a while to find the right blue:

(Lou is not a dog who likes to get her picture taken!)
Once I was happy with my blue, I started painting the library

unsure if I wanted it all blue or just the bottom. Stopping there allowed me to live with it  and decide that it was the right stopping point.
We have so many books, we barely see the color of the back.

We also decided to cut out cable, so one less black box  and more space for books. I also added a extra shelf in the 2 large cubbies making spaces for smaller books, and a proper place for the dictionary. I was concerned that I might not be able to find the same molding that was used to build this library  since it was done at least 10 years ago, (before we bought the house) but it is in stock at the Home Depot, so quite an easy project.

Mon Cheri thinks we should organize books by authors, but I like them disorganized, with French and English mixed, modern and classics willy nilly, serious literature with YA novels next to each other!
To complete this wall, I sewed two more panels for the small side window, while it is small and does not require as much fabric, it does take the same amount of time to sew them! But once again, such a great change, it makes me wonder why I stopped at that window, actually I know, I was tired of making curtains!

(dog pillow here)
Happy day!

some play food with a mini grocery bag

I sewed a little grocery bag and some play food for my niece,

toddler E as she was visiting me (with her family)

over Christmas break.

I previously made a very similar grocery bag (here),

but this time I used some Five & Dime fabric from the Fabric Mutt,

just like I did for this lunch box.

Inside I put a delicious sandwich:

bread, lettuce, cheese, tomato and ham

I made some many of them when my kids were little,

it was nice to revisit that sandwich (previously here).

And a breakfast set:

pancakes with syrup, egg, bacon and a tea bag

I also made these many times before,

the original references can be found below:

pancakes, eggs and bacon (here)

tea bag (here).

Of course the best part is seeing a little girl's reaction:

She likes them!

Happy sewing!

Christmas 2019 ornament

Last December, I did not sew as much  as I usually do, but I managed to sew some new ornaments:

a simple little tree,

following this tutorial from Nana Company,

it is quite easy and fast.

Amy is one of my favorite blogger,

she has inspired some many sewing projects!

I simplified it some by making only the front patchwork,

and keeping the back a single print.

It looks perfect on a present,

or in the Christmas tree!

It also looks really good

just standing in a basket

as decoration!

Last year ornament (2018) was this cute house:



Happy sewing!

Happy New Year 2020! Bonne Annee 2020!

I would like to wish you and your family Happy New Year!

My mom sent me this beautiful cross stitched card with swans and the perfect mix of blues.
I feel like this year is going to be blue, as the color not the feelings! I have started putting a lot of blues through  the house and I am not done... I will share as I make more progress.
Until then....

Merry Christmas

Here is our house at Christmas time, dressed up in a few places, ready to enjoy some fun family times.

Presents under the tree,

a cocoa station,

here for all the previous years

a cute embroidered vignette,

from the book that inspired my advent calendar

some cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning,

from this recipe

a new kind of buche de Noel, inspired by Amuses Bouche here for the more traditional ones
and

happy teenagers!
Merry Christmas and Joyeux Noel!

a crafty witch for Halloween!

This year Halloween decor includes this little cross stitched witch:

The pattern is from my favorite: les brodeuses parisiennes: "Fifties women".

It is just a sweet little witch, with a hammer, whisk and sewing machine,

perfect for me, as long as the broom doesn't represent cleaning!

She looks great with the crow!

I kept this year decor quite simple,

just a small "corner" in the kitchen:

There is candy corn in the orange pumpkin,

and usually chips in the cauldron....I guess somebody finished them!

Here are some from previous years,

I recycle my decor a lot!

Apparently there are no pictures from last year.

2017:

2016: 

2015:

Same crows, sign and paper products!

Fall took its time arriving here,

but now it is full force.

The weather is so crazy right now,

there are talks of cancelling trick or treating

because of potential tornadoes!

Miss C has still to carve the pumpkins....might not happen this year!

Happy Halloween!