Sunday, January 31, 2016

Rainy Days

We have not had a real winter since 2012 - almost no rain and sunny days have been the norm.


But this year, El Niño is in full force and today we had heavy rain, crazy wind  (42 mph) and even an emergency alert on our phones regarding flash floods.


I used my indoor time wisely and finished up a bunch of projects.


I found this IKEA hamper in the attic the other day (my kids are great about dumping stuff at our house) and it's quite functional, but not my style.


 I thought I might make the hamper work in our house with a bit of drop cloth and the word laundry was easy to add with my metal Decor Steals stencils.


It amazes me how much better the hamper looks with a lighter colored bag.


I'll admit that I "staged" this pic (my purse doesn't usually hang here nor does the sign,), but I did clean out the stuff Steve had hanging there - he did not need 7 jackets, 4 sweatshirts and a vest.


Next up was finishing the cable knit pillow I decided to make after seeing a pretty pillow here that Lory of Designthusiasm shared a couple of weeks ago.


All I had to do today was sew buttons onto the back - I haven't knitted cables in years and had to play around with creating a pattern.


But, I'm liking how it turned out and with my color palette, I'll move it from room to room.


In my last post, I said I was going to make cookies and a rainy day seemed perfect.


I love this recipe card because it shows that it has definitely been used - the only recipe I use for oatmeal cookies.


I can't believe that I actually typed out the cards on a typewriter.


After eating a few cookies, I packaged them up into bundles of 6 and gave them to neighbors - otherwise, I could have eaten them all.


It was still raining so I grabbed my grandmother's school slate (circa 1890),


chalk and little metal stencils to write a new message.


The chalkboard triggered an update in the entry.


I had moved the red cart out of the entry, but I love it and I didn't get to look at it in the guest room.


So, the cart is once again in plain sight and Grandma's slate has a place of prominence.


By 5:00, I had the table set for dinner - Steve is making pork ribs tonight.


I had a very productive day and the wind is supposed to howl all through the night and tomorrow so who knows what else I might finish.

64 comments:

  1. We started getting the wind here a couple of hours ago. The rain is supposed to drop in tonight and be very windy all day tomorrow. I'm working on my baby blanket tonight while listening to the wind howl outside my LR window. I love all the projects you got done. Love the knit pillow. Enjoy a wonderful week! Blessings, Cindy

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  2. What a lovely way to use 'stay in' time. Hope the weather doesn't turn really mean.
    Joy

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  3. You did have a very productive day. We were supposed to get rain this winter with El Nino. We haven't gotten much at all. It was almost 80 today. Crazy! I love your grandmother's antique slate. The hamper is darling too. Great job.

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  4. Fun rainy day post, Carol...you are so creative! El Nino has given us a much drier winter!

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  5. Good evening my friend! Stay put, take advantage of those indoor days (remember the days in school when it rained and no outdoor recess?)We are supposed to get heavy snow tomorrow, so I better gear up for that. Lovely projects and that laundry bag really looks SO GREAT! Enjoy. Anita

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  6. I noticed that cart first thing! That cable knit pillow is just fabulous! like the blue of my last dresser. maybe a bit darker. I've been craving oatmeal cookies. Maybe I'll try that recipe - but I'm out of oatmeal. I've been a bachelor the last two weeks, which means I eat a lot of oatmeal. I made some cranberry sauce and mix it with roasted walnuts in my oatmeal. I LOVE it! You're a doll, ya know?

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  7. The weather has been so crazy this year. LOVE that navy pillow you made. GORGEOUS! It will fit so perfectly anywhere in your beautiful home.

    Have a great week.

    Judy

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  8. I am one of those crazy old ladies that LUVS adverse weather...as long as it's safe, I love rain and thunder and lightning and rain rain rain...I get more done on those days...love everything you got done...so so cute

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  9. How special that slate is! Love your table setting, too. Hope you have some dry days ahead!

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  10. My but you were productive. Just finishing the knit pillow would've made me proud.

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  11. O! How I miss the coastal storms! Going to Spooner Beach and seeing how high the waves were (staying well out of reach of them!), looking for what the storm brought up afterward...

    I love the pillow!

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  12. I'm impressed that you came up with your own pattern for your knit pillow, Carol! It fits in nicely with your decor. I'm still plugging away at my afghan, but I'm afraid I'm going to run out of yarn before it's long enough. Your laundry hamper looks so much more your style with the stenciled muslin liner. Cute! And the cookies look delish!

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  13. I'll say you got a lot done. Love the laundry bag makeover! Your staged laundry room sure was pretty! Mine seems to be the drop off place. I clean it, then drop off more junk. Clean it and then do it again. lol! On the list to clean again tomorrow. Love the pillow. It looks perfect with all of the others. Love grandma's slate!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  14. It's really coming down now with lots of wind and lightning. Love the chalkboard of your grandmother. xoxo Su

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  15. I just adored this post- made me feel like I was truly sitting with you visiting and just talking about the day and accomplishments. It was real and fun and special. Thank you for that.

    Have a truly wonderful week. : - )

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  16. Carol, you are amazing with all the inspired projects you manage to accomplish!

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  17. Always so nice visiting your lovely blog...so much inspiration and beautiful pictures from your home!
    Now monday and let´s have a great week.
    Titti

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  18. With all your troubling storms of El Niño !! You would not know it with the colourful beauty inside safe from the storm and all the creative beauty you are finishing up.
    It's been high winds with us here on the Southern California desert, flash flooding, and winds that haven been blowing down fencing.
    We are expecting miring snow to some degree. It will keep us doing I door projects as well.

    See you soon,
    Stay safe and creative.

    XxDore

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  19. Carol, what a great day that you had staying in and accomplishing so much! So many things to mention...the well-used recipe card, the cable knit pillow, the laundry basket, the old slate with scripture...delightful!!! Have a joy-filled week!

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  20. I miss DIY'ing!!! I can't do anything these days except watch and walk this puppy!!! oh well, this too shall pass...

    Meanwhile, love your new touches xo

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  21. All of your projects are so cute, Carol. Your entry looks really cheerful. I had to laugh when you mentioned all of the jackets, etc. that your hubby had hanging on the hooks - sounds very familiar : ) !

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  22. You certainly used your time well. Love all your tweaks, especially the laundry bag. Such an improvement.Glad you're getting some rain.

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  23. Love your projects!

    El Nino has brought us wet weather, winds, including some tornadoes which are very rare for us.

    My oatmeal/choc.chip cookies are almost gone. I took the majority to a family get together.

    It's dreary looking here today.

    Have a great week and thank you for another inspirational post.

    FlowerLady

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  24. You did have a productive day, all lovely things. Your mosaic is so nice. It might be those beautiful red enhancing it!

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  25. Wow, what a creative day you had. Love what you did with the plain laundry hamper and your grandma's slate board!

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  26. A very productive and creative day! We might get some rain later today so it's a good day for me to continue to purge and clean up a bit. Maybe I'll try to slip something creative in there also! Love the pillow and that slate is really special.
    hugs,
    Linda

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  27. I love all your sweet projects and the creative ways you used them! This year winter has eluded us in north Texas so it has been hard for me to get in the wintery spirit. Hopefully the summer will be just as mild!

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  28. Taking advantage of bad weather outside is a great reason to stay inside and be creative! I like the changes you've made. I recently made some oatmeal cookies too! I love how chewy they are. Hope you stay safe during the storm.

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  29. I want to use stencils, you always make the coolest things with them. Going online now to search for metal ones.

    Question: Do you know of a way to eliminate some of that button/Crisco from cookies? I tried apple sauce for part of the amount, but that didn't work out so well in the taste department.

    Mary

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  30. Okay you have to love how the recipe card is typed!

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  31. So many cute projects! I love them all! :-)

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  32. Carol,
    I love rainy days but more so rainy nights falling asleep with the sound of rain is relaxing. El Niña for you and in Philly we are having a very weird winter this year. Love your transformation of the IKEA laundry hamper, in your creative hands magic happens. Liking the red tray cart in the guest room. Carol I want to thank you for your last email and your mention of the pillow warmed my heart. Hey girlfriend you sure the energizer bunny wasn't inspired by you? You are amazing with how much you play and accomplish in a day!
    xoxo,
    Vera

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  33. As always you can brighten the rainiest of days with your enthusiasm for life and talent to make it beautiful!

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  34. Wonderful post. I like the stencils and stencilling too. So cute. And I love the well- loved typewritten recipe card! I guess rain is good when you rarely get it but I hope it doesn't cause any flooding, just a good ground soaking. It is almost 50F here this afternoon - rare for us - and it's not even raining. Tomorrow will be much colder again so we are getting strange weather as well. Happy February days to you.

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  35. Hi Carol, another lovely post . . . I just cannot get enough of your blog. There are so many pretties to comment on, but my favorite is your grandmother's school slate. My grandma had one just like that and a pen that she called a slate pen (instead of writing with chalk) and I think they lasted forever. When I was a child her school slate hung in her kitchen and she used it for making her grocery lists. You flooded my mind with thoughts of grandma and I thank you for that :)
    Speaking of floods, I truly hope you don't have any. Take care and be careful.
    Connie :)

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  36. Love all the projects you finished while El Nino was giving us some much needed rain. We received quite a bit, but the wind was terrible. My fence is hanging on by a thread and I expect it to be down by tomorrow. It's only the part above the cinder block which is lattice.
    I love the sweater you finished - it looks beautiful. I also like that red cart. Shame on me, I hardly did anything but a few errands.
    Have a great week.
    Mary

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  37. We are having unseasonably warm weather today with lots of sun... it's the kind of winter I prefer but we don't seem to get too often here in Ontario Canada... those cookies look yummy. I would have probably eaten them all as well... hope you stay dry!!

    Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG

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  38. Everything looks so pretty and i love that old slate....what a treasure!

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  39. You had a very pretty productive day. Love the laundry bag, pillow and the chalkboard....all so pretty! I had a productive day too but mine was doing bills and boring errands. Maybe tomorrow I will make something good. My husband has requested crumb cake.

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  40. My My Carol, you are always up to mischief and doing something creative. I love how you transformed that hamper, it is chic. I always enjoy reading your blog and your pictures inspire me so...good job on the cable sweater pillow. I made my kids cable sweaters when they were little. Wonder if I could still do it? And oatmeal cookies, we are soul sisters and should be neighbors. Another great post, take care. Marilou

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  41. Carol, I always love your styling, but today, I can't stop staring at the intensity of all those primaries - so pretty! And oh, how I miss that Cretan light; it shines exactly like the one in California!

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  42. Sometimes rainy days are great for having an excuse to stay inside and get a lot of fun things done. And of course, you're so super productive rain or shine!! Always loving your projects, Carol, especially how you spruced up that laundry basket.
    Mary Alice

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  43. You got a lot done and everything looks so good! The pillow is perfect in your decor. That laundry hamper definitely looks better with the lighter colored liner. You amaze me with your projects!

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  44. It sounds like it was a good day to stay inside and get some things done. Heard we might get some bad storms here tomorrow...I'm hoping they are wrong. Guess tomorrow might be a good day to read a book.
    hugs,
    Cindy

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  45. Our weather has been so crazy this winter, but I am not complaining. The last three years have been below zero for weeks on end. Today was 60!! Unheard of! Of course, it doesn't bode well for crafting. Your place always looks great!

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  46. Perfect day to stay in and work on such lovely projects and make vignettes. And cookies, mmm. I used to type recipes on recipe cards, too. My faves are the handwritten ones from relatives that have passed away.

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  47. I truly need to know what vitamins you are on? It was beautiful here today, sunny and 45. Gosh its a heat wave before bad weather moves in the end of the week. Love you cabled pillows and is I didn't have 4 projects going on I'd tackle another one. When I seen you made Oatmeal cookies I now have such a craving for one, funny I only like cookies raw and then get sick to my stomach, I know TMI! Rainy or snowy days here are great get things done days!

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  48. I hope you can watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pyC7WnvLT4

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  49. Love the laundry hamper, Pillow and oatmeal cookies! You are being so productive! Good for you!

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  50. Wow, you got a lot done. I would have just gone and had a nap while it rained!

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  51. Well, Carol, you certainly know how to use a rainy day well! You have accomplished a lot. Love the cable knit pillow and the laundry bag. Your grandmother's slate is a real treasure. I have my Granny's cook book from school. It is soiled and the pages are falling out but it is precious to me. She was a grand cook. Thanks to El Nino, we are having a mild winter which we welcome since the last two winters were horrible; especially last winter. I had to giggle at your comment about all Steve's jackets and sweatshirts. My hubby takes up every hook with his jackets and hats. He has a collection of baseball, football, and university hats. Our company has to throw their jackets on the couch in the den, thanks to him! But I'll keep him anyway. ;-) Great post! you inspire us all.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  52. Carol, The navy cable cushion cover is great. Sylvia D.

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  53. I'm glad you guys are finally getting rain. I know how bad you needed it, but I hope you don't get any damage from it. Those El Ninos can get ugly.

    The new laundry back looks great. And I know what you mean about the jackets and sweatshirts. I have the same problem lol

    Thanks for the cookie recipe!

    xo,
    rue

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  54. I used to type out recipe cards like that. I do hand write some on cards. Most of the time I just print them from various websites or look through my many cookbooks til I find something to try.

    The cable knit pillow is so pretty. I have never knit the cable stitch. Love the red cart.

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  55. I love all of your makes here today Carol! And that recipe card…reminds me of the ones my mom and grandmother have To me it says that the recipe is loved and it holds a memory to it. Your home looks stunning! And I am thrilled to hear that you guys have been getting the rain that you so desperately need! Wishing you a glorious week my friend! Nicole xoxo

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  56. Wow, you had a very productive time. Love everything you did, especially your pillow and laundry basket. Take care, Maria

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  57. I just love that you have your grandmother's chalk board....how absolutely special is that? :) Always love reading your sweet blog. Someday I hope to have a little cottage by the sea also

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  58. This reminded me of you:

    http://loveofhome.net/make-a-lettered-kitchen-towel/

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  59. I never saw the cart before that I can remember and I want to steal it.

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  60. I love the little touches that you do around your home to make it cherry and cozy. Oatmeal cookies are my all time favorite cookie in the world and now I'm craving some. Your newly finished pillow is a beauty and I adore the treasured slate!

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  61. Hope the storm has blown over and isn't heading in this direction! We have had too many rain and high winds this winter. Sarah x

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