Friday, August 16, 2019

Home sweet home

Hello from Baltimore, everyone! We managed to move and it was not quite painless, but it's done now and we're setting up our new home.  We spent last weekend cleaning (oh, baby, was it dirty) and then the truck brought our furniture on Monday.  So far Baltimore is great! It's very nice here (but quite warm) and it's been a pretty good experience. Bonus-- it only took me 17 minutes to get to work! This is a very big difference in the commute!

So, I guess you'll want to see my new sewing room, right?  First, a quilty picture, just so there's something quilty in this post:


This is a Tiny Tuesday block that I made with my pink scraps.  It's a variation on one of the blocks for last year's Squared Away project, and I'm calling it a Jumping Jack star.  You can make any of those Squared Away blocks into a Tiny Tuesday block if you cut the squares at 1-3/8. Yep, that's tiny! Now that I've made this one I think I'll make them all as tiny blocks.  In different colors, of course!

Okay, now to the sewing room. Here it is:


Yes, it's gray, but do you see how big it is?  This room is, unbelievably, about 12 by 29 feet.  And see that closet down at the end?  It's another 10 by 12 room, complete with shelves, hanging bars, and lights.  They tried to sell this as a fourth bedroom, but it definitely is not.  It's in the basement, but it has full size windows and a walkout door, but no wall to close it off from the rest of the basement.  This is okay, because the other finished rooms will be an exercise room and a storage room, so it doesn't have to be closed off for me. 

The room needs some warmer paint before I can even begin to work in there, along with some new lighting.  There is carpet on the floor, which is not ideal, but it's almost new and it's not in the budget right now to replace it, so it stays.  I really don't mind; I just want to get creating in there.  My fingers are itching to make some things.  And I'm thinking 12 foot design wall, what do you think?

As for the rest of the house, let me show you the whole reason we bought it:


A whole wall of windows looking out over the yard, which includes lots of trees and a small stream:


I saw three deer out there this morning, which almost makes up for the fact that most of the house is a dark gray, except the window room, which is kind of a mustard color, and the master bedroom, which is brown. Yeah, there's a lot of painting to do. And we won't even talk about the window treatments, which all need replacing.  I took down the really dirty ones with the dead bugs, but I had to leave some of them for privacy.  Those will be replaced even before the paint goes up, because I can live for a while with brown paint but not with dead bugs in the pleated shades.

So here we are and thrilled to be here! I think it's going to be a good place for us, and I hope to get the sewing room painted this weekend so I can unpack some fabrics.  Some bright pretty things should really brighten the place up, don't you think?

Everyone have a great weekend! I'll be unpacking and painting!

Sharing at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Finished or Not Friday (the last one for Myra), and soscrappy for RSC19.

25 comments:

KaHolly said...

I am so excited for you! I love new beginnings! Have fun making it your own, turning it from a house to a home!

Julie in GA said...

Congratulations on your new adventure! Your sewing room space is incredible, and that wall of windows--fantastic!

Libby in TN said...

Welcome home! The setting is lovely, lots of neat places to photograph your projects.

Laura said...

Wow! Love the wall of windows, the deck and the view! Love all the sewing space, too! The design wall will be awesome!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I think that is great - you have such a large room!! I know a lot of people like hardwood floors and we have a mixture - but really I love a nice flat carpet more - it is warm in the winter, office chairs do not skid across the room to the point that you can barely sit in front of your desk with constantly having to pull yourself back to the table. You can pin a quilt to the floor to baste if needed - as long as you vacuum often so no dust builds up I like them. Looks like you have a good view - I would make a design wall as large as I could - Mine is big but isn't big enough for a whole queen size quilt to be up in place.

MissPat said...

Well at least the presence of the deer will limit how much gardening you can accomplish. Choose carefully when you get to the landscaping part. But first the fun of designing that terrific sewing studio. Great view.
Happy painting (not my favorite activity, especially the prep and cleanup).
Pat

Barbara said...

Welcome to Maryland. Please consider joining Faithful Circle Quilters in Columbia. We are unusual in that we have a day group and an evening group and we meet weekly. Night group meets Mondays at 7 pm at the First Presbyterian Church at 29 and 108. Hope to see you there.

piecefulwendy said...

Oh Mari! I'm so excited for you. That view is so pretty, and you will love that deck! I can see why you are itching to get into that quilt room. Yes to the big design wall - absolutely! My quilt room is in the lower level of my house too, and I love it because it's cool in the summer. In the winter, I do use a space heater now and then, because it can get pretty chilly. Good lighting is a must, too, so give some good thought to that. We put in some LED lighting this last time around, and that has been a game changer for me.

Carol Weber said...

Yup, lots to do, but so much potential in this lovely home. Have fun making it perfect for you!!

Preeti said...

I'd love to bring over some housewarming gifts, hot food and my general sunshiny self :-) So happy that you are closer to me!!!

Sara said...

How exciting! That "window room" definitely was a selling point. And the basement space is fabulous. Even with carpet I'll bet you can't wait to get set up and start sewing. My sewing space is a large basement bedroom and I wish it had a walk out door and real windows. My tiny windows are at ground level. But we just put big egress windows in the family room and other basement bedroom.

JanineMarie said...

What a lovely home, Mari! You had me with the first photo of the garage side the other day, but that wall of windows and covered deck and a stream. Just wow! I’ve been following some midcentury modern sites lately and am fascinated. It looks like a real gem. Full size windows in a basement sewing room—that sounds like a perfect place to sew in any season. Have a wonderful time settling in and getting to know your new neighborhood.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

So fun to get a peek at your new home, Mari! The wall of windows is wonderful - definitely worth it for that! Meanwhile your sewing area looks like a great space that you will really enjoy. Happy painting! :)

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Mari! I am so glad to hear you are getting settled into your new home. Before you know it all the painting will be behind you. Ugg, who can have window coverings with bugs in them. Eek! A 17-minute commute - now that sounds wonderful. Seems to me you might be closer to a certain grandchild as well. {{Hugs}} Here's to getting your sewing room set up and settled sooner than later. ~smile~ Roseanne

Rose said...

I'm so happy for you. Everything looks amazing. I can't wait to see the sewing space set up. The tiny Tuesday block looks great too. But too small for me.

Katie Z. said...

What a fabulous room! I have a hard time imagining a whole room to myself for sewing, so it’s going to be delightful to see it filled up!

The Joyful Quilter said...

WOW!!! Between that studio space, those windows, and that commute... I would have bought the house, too! Enjoy!!!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Oh that is just gorgeous!! and your quilting space!! I bet you are itching to get in there!! What color will you paint it? (I am one that does like grey too) YAY for the move!!!

Deb A said...

Not bad if it just needed a good clean and some paint and window treatments. Nice big space for your sewing studio. I see many happy projects in your future. Less commute time = more sewing time!

Jenny said...

No wonder you bought this house with the super sized sewing room, and that wonderful room with windows overlooking the deck. As you say, you can paint over the colours which don't suit, and add new curtains as you can. Happy homecoming.

Susie H said...

Love the fabulous sewing space and the deck with the backyard view. I think you're going to be very happy! Congratulations!!!

Bernie Kringel said...

Wow!! This looks wonderful - the sewing space is HUGE. You are going to be so happy once that is all set up. I am excited for you! Plus that window wall. Lovely!! Enjoy Mari. So glad you are moved now and settling in.

helenjean@midgetgemquilts said...

Your new home looks lovely, as we say here, health to enjoy it! I am just heading off shortly to your last city for a visit. No chance now of bumping into you in the street now!

Preeti said...

Now only if we can find a good time to visit... I will bring my quilts so that we can take pictures in the big room with all the windows - SO. MUCH. LIGHT!!! let me know when you want to take a break from painting and unpacking :-) Your Tiny Tuesday block is Super Sweet :-)

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

What a great room you have for quilting. I'd have my vintage sewing machines all along one of those 29 foot walls. Have fun redecorating.