Thimbleanna

Broken Record

I feel like it’s just a broken record around here.  Nothing exciting going on, but still working on things.  I spent most of the weekend painting kitchen cabinets at MeMum and BigDaddy’s.  We finished up Phase2 this weekend.  Each phase takes three days — two to paint and 1 to put back together.  (And by days, I don’t mean full days — we have extra time to play a game of cards or run to the store or whatever.)

Painting

I figure we have about 4 phases, which means we’re about half way through.  They’re going from this old little-bit-scruffy white with brass knobs,

Painting

to a softer white with knobs that are a better match to the hinges.  We did discuss swapping out hinges and then decided that was just too much work for all those cabinets.  I love the new handles on the drawers – very fun.

Painting

You can also see a glimpse of the pretty new corian countertops that MeMum picked out.  She wants a very neutral palate and I think it will be really pretty.  The kitchen will then be accessorized in blue.  She has some of those old Bing and Grondahl (I think?) Mother’s Day plates that she’s been hauling around for years and now she’ll finally have a pretty place to hang them.

Meanwhile, back on the ranch, I spent a little time organizing my flours and sugars into canisters. I was tired of all the flour and sugar bags sitting on the shelves.

Canisters

And there has been a little quilting.  It’s been very SLOW though.

Quilting

Matching all those little points is fussy work.  And they’re rarely right on the money.  I’m about half way through with these blocks too.

Quilting

I hope you had a productive weekend and that you’re staying cool if you’re in a hot place this month.

XOXO,
Anna

56 thoughts on “Broken Record”

  1. Those points look perfectly matched to me. Of course my eyesight isn’t the best. And the hearing is going too, and the memory went a long time ago……..! Sounds like you had a proper Suzy Homemaker weekend! Me too, between gardening, and grilling, cookie and tiramisu making, and putting borders on baskets….sigh! It’s the simple things in life, especially when the sun shines on all of them…….

  2. The cabinets are looking fantastic! I have antique white cabinets and love the color so much. You are being so organised putting all your flours and stuff into canisters. I really should organise my pantry better too.

  3. holy canisters! love that idea! i have that lazy susan cupboard and have a mess with all my tupperware in it…what a fabulous idea! and thanks for the cabinet inspiration. we will be remodeling a much bigger kitchen soon and i love that look. have a good one!

  4. memum’s cabinets look wonderful. you’re doing a fantastic job!!
    and i’m heading on over to use all of those flours! i couldn’t help but notice the self rising flour… i know what THAT is for!!!!!
    .oO my kingdom for a cupcake
    your triangles are fantastic. keep up the good work, i want you to get REALLY adept at triangles. i’m going to be a fortune reader when i grow up. and i’m going to start on you.
    :uses a deep voice and says… “I SEE TRIANGLES IN YOUR FUTURE”

  5. What are you talking about? Your points are perfect!!! And your ladder looks wonderful with all the flower and sugar ready for the next baking session.

  6. I love the new look of the MeMum kitchen – much better handles!! Now I will need to organise my flour into pretty canisters – I will be embarrassed when I open the cupboard, thinking how smart yours is!! It is definitiely a labour of love to get all those ponts perfect – but worth it! Have a good week, love, Anne

  7. I wish I could have new cupboards, I’d even be willing to paint them. I love painting. Your blocks look great to me.

  8. Wow the knobs, drawer pulls and paint really update the cabinets, they look great and so do your blocks. What a nice helpful daughter you are Anna!

  9. Oh, how I’ve been wanting my kitchen cabinets painted! Mine are not already painted or I would do it myself. They are stock early 80’s oak in desperate need of refinishing. I’m just too chicken to do it myself and it would cost a lot to hire someone to do it. Also, everytime I mention it my hubs looks at me like I’ve lost my mind! Your Mom is lucky to have you to help!

  10. They look pretty lined up to me! You’re making great progress on the kitchen too. Can’t wait to see it all done.

  11. Sounds like your summer is progressing like mine. Chipping some items off the lists with a little quiltwork sprinkled throughout. My kitchen has the offwhite cabinets with brass knobs but an updating like your mother’s is on my list…down a-ways, though. ;-)
    Love the blocks. What a sweet bee print! And paired with the blue roses!!

  12. I just now got your last post title! Anyway, I’m happy for YourMum, there’s nothing like a newly painted room to make life interesting. I like the new handles.

  13. Wow Anna as usual you are so busy. I love the new look on the cupboards. I also have the glass canisters so nice to see what and how much you have isn’t it? The quilting points look perfect. Have a great week. smooch

  14. I love those jars! They make flour look so pretty. Your blocks are wonderful, too. Half square triangles – yuck – Mine never seem to look as good as I want them to. But they always make such a great block.

  15. I’ve been thinking about changing to canisters like yours, as well. I have some that are plastic and not clear. I’d like taller and thinner, as well, since my shelves are quite tall… another job for the summer… or the fall if I don’t get a full time job. The quilt pieces you’ve completed thus far are beautiful! :)

  16. I’ve been thinking about changing to canisters like yours, as well. I have some that are plastic and not clear. I’d like taller and thinner, as well, since my shelves are quite tall… another job for the summer… or the fall if I don’t get a full time job. The quilt pieces you’ve completed thus far are beautiful! :)

  17. My week end was spent doing little half-squares too. The Susan Branch yellow looks real good with that print. What a huge difference changing out the knobs made–very nice!

  18. What a difference the new handles make. There’s nothing much going on round here either – I blame it on the summer.

  19. Your HST are looking great…the fabrics are scrumptious!

    Sounds like you are organizing away…I must admit a little of that is going on here too…must be the time of year!

  20. I’ve noticed that lately there aren’t too many posts on the blogs I read, the hot summer weather in the US must be getting to everyone. I love the way you’ve organized your flours and sugar, definitely looks better than a shelf full of half empty bags!

  21. I love the organizy cabinets you have going on there. I finally did that last summer and it’s made a HUGE difference when it comes to baking time. Which is more often now that everything’s so easy to find. Which means I should be extra mindful of how my jeans are fitting ;)

  22. The pictures of MeMum’s kitchen & your beautifully arranged canisters makes me want to visit you and your family ;o).
    And – wow – I’m deeply impressed by your piecing skills. The HSTs are awesome! I never get my fabric that flat (and my points matching THAT precisely), despite all my trying & pressing the units with a very hot iron (sadly, my steam function has been broken some weeks ago…and it was a new iron…).
    Wishing you a wonderful day,
    Julia

  23. it’s surprising how changing handles changes the whole look – they are the exact same ones that I would like, We’ve got heat, well humidity here, it’s raining but so sticky. I’ve been looking for somewhere for us to go on holiday in a few weeks but couldn’t find anywhere .. so haven’t been very productive I’m afraid ..

  24. Akkk I hate painting and would think painting cabinets would be a big deal (that is why I am putting it off). I hope you are done soon.
    I love you little pantry, doesn’t it make you want to bake !!! xoxox Clarice

  25. As always, your quilt looks beautiful, but I was even more impressed with the kitchen makeover. Those cabinets look brand new. I’m so sick of our kitchen cabinets, but I don’t think they’re high enough quality to even paint. Russ says he can make them, but……I was hoping to have a new kitchen before I retire in fifteen years, ha, ha.

  26. oooh, nice organizing! I love doing stuff like that. Your mom’s cabinets look like they’re going to be really nice. I plan to paint ours…..someday. I kind of dread the whole idea but I’m sure it would be worth it. Maybe when I can get some nice corian countertops someday, that will help motivate me?

  27. I love Corian counters. Your organized canisters look great– I need to do that, too. My sugar is in a plastic rubbermaid bowl. The points look beautiful.

  28. Those points look right on the money to me… Amazing. And your white kitchen cabinets are exactly what I need to do to my bathroom vanity… sigh. Just need the mental energy!

  29. That is going to be one spectacular kitchen!! I am in serious envy mode for those jars!! Where on earth did you get them? Please, please, let me in on the secret. Loving your HST blocks.

  30. Those points look pretty good to me…Nice color on the cabinets, I like it. I like the idea of the glass jars for the flour.

  31. Have fun with the cabinets! The quilt blocks look great. I love the fabric with the little bees on it. Do you know who the designer is of that fabric? I love glass canisters like that.

  32. Cabinet finishing is a Big Job! It’s looking really, really nice. Love the new pulls and knobs.

    And as always, you’re so good at making pretty points!

    Jody

  33. refinishing cabinets is not easy! yikes, hard work, they do look really nice.

    those points do too! I am not good at points

  34. I am flirting with the idea of painting my cabinets, but I’m a wee bit worried. They are oak with the heavy wood grain that oak has. I loathe their honey-colored homeliness, but can’t in good conscience get rid of them. (Not that I could cough up enough $$$$ for new ones if I wanted to, but a girl can dream.) My mom just got new cabinets. Ka-Ching and OUCH! I am certain that my cooking skills would improve if I didn’t have ugly cabinets, though. LOL!

  35. Hello! Your quilting looks wonderful Ann – delicious little triangles. I need to do the VERY same thing with my flour and sugar bags – I think you’ve just given me the prod I needed to get going on it x

  36. your mom’s kitchen is looking really good with the new hardware and paint Anna! And your new flour/sugar containers are the bomb. it looks like a candy store in your cupboard!

  37. Hi Anna….the colors in the quilts blocks are just the sweetest. You do nice work :) I was always a rust/beige kinda girl…but now I like the pastels better. No sewing machine news yet. I got the Elna back and it seems ok, but the guy said a new machine would be a good idea (my hubby heard it), so it’s just a matter of finalizing the choice. You’re sweet to help your parents with the painting (since you could be sewing instead :). Have a nice evening!!

    Love,
    Amy

  38. I have visions of you getting out of the car and telling the person ahead of you to move along and that person letting you know you still have corn kernels on your teeth. I chuckled to myself at the vision.
    Now on the traffic video – looks great for traffic, but all I could think of was “wouldn’t this make a great quilt”?
    I don’t know how to quilt. Yet. Are there some machines that are better for quilting than others? I have a passed down sewing machine (Elna), can I quilt with that? Help me out, Anna, I want to make a traffic quilt. Carolina.

  39. Wow – how nice of you to be painting the cabinets for your mum! I would love to redo mine too – mine were/are originally really cheap – originally tried to strip them (30 years ago), only to discover they were fake wood! So we painted them country blue, are you old enough to remember that color? Now I would LOVE to paint them white, but what did you have to do to repaint them, like sand them all over again? And do you remember what the original white was, and what white are you painting them now? I know there are a million whites, so don’t know if I could ever make a decision on that one! Would you mind letting me know??? It looks very lovely tho! And what are your wall colors? Oooo-hhhh, I might just have to get started on that project!

    Love your blog – big hugs from Michigan – Diane

  40. Thanks for sharing the cabinet project…I feel like I’m the only one doing a house update. Hope your Mom and Dad love their new updated cabinets. My house is so ripped up that I have to leave a couple times a day so I don’t loose my mind.

Comments are closed.