Playroom project 1 (Planning)

I started this post a few months ago.. and WOW things change! :D

August 2015
I am a project person! ;) if you can't tell. I always have new ideas and projects, the follow through however isn't the best.
My goal for this fall is to get our boys playroom finished. Our basement is unfinished and the basement is COLD!! 
I've given Chris a few parts that I need him to complete 
1: duct work 
2: electrical
3: framing
4:drywall
So nothing big right!!! ;) 
Once that part is done we will get it painted carpeted and decorated! 
I have the perfect picture in my mind of what I want it to be when all is done!
My goal is that for New Years when we have our friends all together we will have a place for all the kids to play that is safe and warm!!

NOW: October 22, 2015
I really wanted to finish the basement bedroom this year, as you can see above.  However after looking into all the details I learned something... IT IS HARD, EXPENSIVE, and slightly Silly. We want to get the whole place done in a few years, however deciding to do one single room 10 ft x13 ft, it was gonna be a whole bunch of work and honestly I think when we decide to do the basement we should do it all at ONCE!!! Looking at HVAC, Electrical and framing, it seems its better to do it all at one time, and honestly once you have done that, might as well do the sheet rock.  So pretty much, if you give a mouse a cookie....

    

We decided we wanted to get Liam a TV for his birthday or Christmas. 

YES YOU CAN TELL ME HOW I FAIL AS A PARENT! but hey! they are my kids and I get to choose how to raise them :) 

I also wanted to limit the size of the playroom.  Last week I spent my weekend cleaning up the playroom, and decided they don't need that much space, and by limiting the space a small space heater will do a great job of keeping it warm for them. 

So I made a cute mood board, and this one is still a work in process, but here it is for now. 

As you can see this was before I decided to NOT finish. So the paint/carpet will be a work in progress! 

Age 7 and glasses?

IAt age 7 there's nothing I wanted more than to be just like my mom and dad which meant glasses! To me it was the coolest thing since well sliced bread or maybe the Internet or how about Twitter ... but whatever I wanted glasses.  So 20 years later when my sweet seven-year-old comes to mom and says I'm having trouble reading or seeing you take another glance thinking maybe not maybe you don't need glasses! THEN  the first second grade teacher tells you we think your son might need glasses. Oh Boy!  Here we go let's see what happens I making appointments (as luck would have it, we knew someone, my super awesome in-laws neighbor was the receptionist (Say that five times fast.) no wait don't! She got us in a matter of two days!

We went in and met with the doctor wow he is amazing he checked his eyes went through it all and before the machines even came out, he let me know glasses were not needed but that being said we had an appointment so he did all the tests we checked far away close up everything in between.    So remember back to me yet I don't think I really need glasses, I know I wanted them really really bad because well like I said it's the Twitter so well hindsight!

However back to my sweet little Liam the doctor worked with him talk to him explain what was going on with his eye He had a cool plastic one which  took apart and I put it back together.
Glasses were not necessary however with Liam's current reading situation they might be a benefit so I decided to go online

As I said before I'm not compensated in any way shape or form for my blogs your post at this point however Zenni came through for us the doctor said that he had a .75% prescription that could be benefited by some reading glasses just to help focus.  I decided to buy him some found their least expensive $6.95 glasses come on how can you resist that price so I ordered them and

Here they are they came in the mail and Liam loves them
"cool factor without the money/need of having glasses all the time I'm so ecstatic for his new little experience!"

 He can't wait to take him to school which may be a problem in and of itself but we'll see how that goes. I'm hoping it'll help with his reading however regardless spending 10 bucks on a kid to have a fun new maybe toy maybe necessity is well worth it's weight in gold

I'm super excited to see this little boy grow up! and check out his style!!

Boys room 2 (quilt and paint)

So I had a big post about Ewans quilt but forgot to post about Liams! So here are some of the pics I took of Liams quilt!

Also hand in had with that is painting the bed.

Ewan had to help and was amazing as always!

 

Primed. I used this, 

and then ran out of the little quart I got. My local HD didnt have the gallon and then I had to go with something different.  I used this (kilz)for the rest.   

TOTALLY use the Zinsserand not the second. 

I used oil based primer, and would totally recommended it.  With the help if the amazing Organizing Jen! 

I also found somewhere online that you CAN use Oil Based Primmer with Water based paint, however do NOT do the opposite.  

Ever since we helped my inlaws paint last year we are HOOKED on Sherwin Williams paint!

To get the perfect color Ewan and I took a fun trip to Ikea, and got a few shelf's then I went into our local Sherwin store and they found a match for me.  I now plan to put those shelf's in the play room. One room at a time I'm taking over my house and making it OUR HOME! 

The sweet worker was very worried about the darkness of my choice, he was worried it would be too dark.  However its on a bed. on a wall, yes I think it would be way too dark, but perfect for my little boys bed!

The paint went on like butter and I will also now and FOREVER recommend it!

For a pop of color I got 2 cans of spray paint, one red and one blue they were to match the back of each of the boys quilts.  I love the pop!

My favorite memory from this experience will be when I picked up Liam from school and brought him home he saw the bed and said. "Mom, I wanted the WHOLE THING RED!" I told him that was gonna be too much so we need to keep some brown.  He was NOT happy!! "Can we sometime paint it all red?" I told him we will see how the brown goes and then decide!  I so love my boys at this age!

And my favorites!  BEFORE AND AFTER! 

It's quite amazing what a coat of paint can do!

Boys room 1 (Planning)

Since we moved in our house I've been hoping to slowly but steadily put rooms together one by one.  The boys room has been of interest to me for some time.   I have built modboard after board thinking about how to make it perfect!!

Pinterest has also been an asset/curse here!

Shortly after we got into our home I had plans of Ewan sleeping in a big kid bed. Here he is 3 yr old, and well..... 

With no desire to get into the bed. :(

I got the boys bunk beds and they were great when we had my friends little lady sleep over but since then, it's just another place to play! 

Here is the room pre projects!!

   

There are a few things on the wall, but now that mom has control things are gonna change!!!

Here is the mood board up to this point,

Bookcases are for books!

This new fashion of beautiful bookcases has taken over and I love it. Sadly I have way too many books for my bookcase.

I decided since I just beautified the desk time to move onto the bookcase. I took a pic and started with the books and went through them. I was raised in a book family. Books are the stories of life. My parents have been gifting my boys books for years and we are super blessed and love them. Now we just need a good place for them.

Chris has always hated that I had mis NON books on our bookcase. Binders are not books.

I searched pintrest for pin worthy bookcase images however no matter how many I looked at, ideas were great, but I need my bookcases to hold books!!

 

Here is my book case reveal!!! Nothing fancy. But I love that it holds all my books.

I have two small shelf's in the boys room for books and I have many other ideas floating through my head. 

I'm not the style one of the family. Doesn't mean I don't try. For now I don't have any big plans for the  rest of the room. Other then keeping it a beautiful peaceful organized place to keep the work successful and hopefully a new computer in the near future.

I love how even though it really hasn't changed much at ALL, but I LOVE that I went through them and got rid of stuff!! 

Before we know it I might actually have a full fledged organized house! :D lol

DON'T COUNT ON IT! 

Sleeping beauty!

I love to sleep! I have this amazing ability to sleep way more then most! This has both great blessings and curses!! When I did the ultimate health challenge with my sister & others a while ago, I wasn't great about eating well or exercising, however I did win when it comes to sleep!!!

I put a lot of that on my boys! They all sleep for minimums of 8-10 hr a night! And I couldn't tell you the last time I got less then 7.

That being said on my 3 day weekends/ with my Ewan I set an alarm to make sure I'm up and out of bed by 9. Which normally means I have 10 hr of sleep..... This week I decided to be a bit different!

When Chris gets up and takes Liam, I wake up too!

Thursday:
I did a NOT ASHTEN ISM! I mowed the lawn. That might not be a big deal to many, however growing up my daddy hated doing it so he hired someone.  Then we owned a town house, so this is the first time I have a yard. So my second time EVER mowing the lawn and I made it beautiful :S NOT QUITE but I'll pretend.

Then Ewan and I headed out to IKEA! It was quite the JOURNEY! We had a blast and enjoyed running around like crazy people.  He had a blast playing with the kitchen and driving mommy crazy!! I got some lights that I have wanted for a LONG TIME!! They weren't quite what I had expected but the boys love them.

We headed home and stopped by Sherwin Williams.  OMG I LOVE THEIR PAINT!! I am not a painter, but as you can see this new work schedule is giving me a whole new look on life. Then it was nap time. I got panting the boys bed and Ewan took a nice long nap for me

Friday:
I got up super early again.  Ewan and I had an amazing breakfast.

 we went and joined Liam at school for some much needed Jesus!! It's been quite a long time since I last went to church and now with my new work schedule it makes it even more difficult.  Ewan was less than ideal, but Liam loved having us there. Then Ewan and I headed back to the FABRIC STORE!! I got the fabrics for Liam's quilt.

Saturday:
I'm on a roll.  I woke up and was ready to get out of bed around 8:30.  Not early for most but WAY early for me! Considering I normally get up on sat between 10-11 :D
I decided since I haven't gone all year to head down to the farmers market. It was PERFECT!  The weather was nice, the food was amazing, and I just got some good ol mom time.
I got to come home and make my family breakfast from all of the amazing foods I got!

My loot consisted of: peaches, pears, apples, raspberries, cherry tomatoes, regular tomatoes, corn, cheese, eggplant, squash, and potatoes.  It was wonderful!

I loved that as I brought out the food both boys were ecstatic to see what I got! Liam was so excited that now he will have pears for his lunch and between he and Ewan they downed the raspberries!

I feel so blessed that taking alittle time away from sleep and to change my weekend for the better and getting some more time with my boys!

We went to some fun at Liam's school and had to try to take some selifes with the MOON! 

Complete Project

So a short few weeks ago, I embarked on a JOURNEY!! :D Not unusual for me.... I was on a mission for a project!   I blogged about my feelings and emotions here.  

I had it all planned out and ready to go.  A few days later (my next day off work) I took my boys to the fabric store on the 10th. NOT my fav adventure, but I did it anyway.  Ewan wanted ALL Sesame Street, and hey its for him so why not.  Sadly I wanted 5 or 6 types and they only had 4 Sesame Street so we picked between mickey and cars. he picked Mickey and we picked two so it could be mixed up a bit.

Then as all sowers know now on to washing.  ALWAYS WASH.  and IRON fabric.

I got that part done then on to cutting.  I got a rotery cutter and a mat. BEST MONEY I HAVE EVER SPENT!!! DO IT if you plan to cut much.  I cant believe in all my old sewing times I never got one. I love it!

Then after cutting, back to..... YEP Iron again.  I don't know if this step is 100% necessary, but my first time ironing (when it was all one piece) wasn't great so I needed to do it again. (SPEND GOOD TIME ON THE FIRST ONE SO YOU CAN SKIP THIS STEP)  I decided to also use starch on the 8x8 sq

Then I made my small blocks I took the 4x4 ones and made them into an 8x8 (FYI I did use 1/4 in seam allowance on every item. helps alot with getting things all lined up. 

Here they are all pieced together (FYI in the pic they are up side down.)   Then guess what I did! :D YEP IRON!

I did take an extra step and trim all the new squares into true squares.  The cute bright blue one with big bird was a cotton felt, AKA it stretched. Therefore causing a few issues.  I spent some good time with my cutter again and got those going.  

Next I took a 4x4 block of 4 and connected it to the 8x8, did that, then connected them together to make big strips. 

Then sewed them all together.  After a few little unpicking experiences (every time I sew I have to do that) then I got the whole top together!!

EWAN LOVES IT!! I put it on what will soon be his "big boy bed" and got this cute cheesy pic! 

I decided to go get the bottom fabric and batting.  When I made it home my sweet boys were loving the quilt top.  COMPLETE with otter pops :'(  

Deep BREATH mommy!! Don't get mad.  Daddy told them to get off so they wouldn't spill. HOWEVER, alittle to late.  There was RED otter pop on about a 48x48 area and the white mickey fabric loved it most :'( 

BREATH, BREATH, BREATH!!!  I slowly picked it up, took it to the laundry room, spotted it, and NOPE NOTHING.  Thought common it will be fine.  Put it in the wash with some oxy-clean... And had myself a good glass of wine.  

I then washed the other new fabric so I could start on the back. 

GRATEFULLY almost all of the red came out.  There is still one spot just by the edge but its personality right ????? 

Nothing I could do so no reason to get mad.  I got the other fabric washed and dried.  So ready to get back to the quilt.  Since the cotton was washed again, there were a few pieces that needed a few extra stitches and even more.  I got to... lets hear it.  IRON AGAIN!  There were also TONZ of extra strings all over, since the wash can sometimes kinda beat up open edges.

Once that was done, I took over the WHOLE family room.  Laid out the bottom (minky) the the batting, and last the quilt top.  I pinned each square with a quilting (safety pin) then on to stitching.  

I was really on the fence weather I would quilt it or pay someone.  Considering there were quite a few imperfections, I thought, no reason to spend extra money for something I can do. So I started.  I found out from a blog I LOVE that Kim, does her own with simple lines so I decided to do that.  

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Not by an means an easy process due to the extra to the right of the foot, but I got it taken care of. 

I got the single lines done and Chris felt it appeared incomplete so I did stitches the other direction as well, giving it a boxed look on the back! 

By this point Elmo, Big Bird, Ernie, Cookie Monster and Mickey were LONELY!! So they snuggled with the boys! 

Mommy made it SUPER CLEAR that NO otter pops are allowed on it, and they listened and even washed their hands before snuggle time. 

As you can see Ewan is very happy with it.  

When it came to finishing the edges  I really didn't want to make or buy bias tape.  I wanted to use the backing. So I read a bit online and most said to keep it less then a 1/4 in on the front, I disagreed :D So I did a quick stitch around the whole edge then cut the excess down to about 3 in.  Then I also cut off about 1/4-1/2 in of the batting to make it easier to fold over and pin the edge.

MANY do the finishing edge by hand.  Which I planned to do, but then I thought with all the lines all over the back covered in lines whats one more? And it would fit the personality 

That also meant that I could FINISH it in one night.  I took the time to pin perfectly around the edge getting the corners perfect and spending a lot of time and energy to make it how I want.  AND....

DRUM-ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TA-DA

AND DONE!!

I placed it on my Queen bed to get the full thing view able... oh and the boys beds are currently dissembled in my garage with primer on them.  I AM VERY NEW so the amounts that I bought are not really correct and since this post is so WICKEDLY long I wont put that info out today, HOWEVER don't fear I will one day post that :) 

I want to use the excess to make a pillowcase, Like seriously who doesn't want a Minky Pillow Case! :D and I'll get the details of what I used!