Project plan

I was pissed.

It was not an acute anger, one filled with immediacy and a desire to instantly set the world on fire. It was one of those slow boiling fumes, like a layer of lava underneath a delicately thin cooled crust. The heat still radiated outwards as a warning to those nearby but any accidental brush against the shell would break free a small eruption of consuming flare.

Every time I tried to contain myself from unfairly snapping or doing something I knew I would regret I could almost envision the scene in the movie "The Matrix" when Neo flexes his muscles and the hallway bends around him, eventually snapping back and reverberating like a wave moving out from his disturbance of reality. I could almost harness all that power with my willful rage.


It was the fault of nobody in particular. The unfortunate combination of a very restless nights sleep, spending the day working with a very demanding and narcissistic surgeon, getting a very late chance at a lunch break, and a hundred other small jabs or nips at my psyche throughout the day. Things I can normally shake off easily, stuck like glue today, and the load of them weighted me down to the most base version of myself. I was sarcastic and short with my children, I snapped at my wife when she was just trying to tell me some news that only seemed to pile on.

I spent my afternoon being much less than the person I would like to think I am.

I needed to separate myself for a while. A self imposed time out.

I stuffed in a pair of earphones and retreated to the shop. I knew if I tried to accomplish anything constructive it would only end in tears and possibly blood. So I just stood there for a while, my hands on the bench, my head bent down, and my eyes closed. Pearl Jam pouring into my ears as my meditative breaths brought my shops slightly piney sawdust scent into my nose and my fingertips absently caressed the grain of the benchs timber.

Eventually I picked up my head and started to look around. Im usually good at keeping my shop clean and organized but I had left out a handful of things. My marking knife and small tri-square absently lying over here. A mallet out of place over there. Some carving chips that had escaped the shop vac strolling around the workbenches legs. My joinery saws had been put away out of order the last time my daughter used them and my off cuts were a mishmash pile of chaos.


I picked up the marking knife and turned it around in my hands. Its comfortable and familiar weight felt right in  my hands. I inspected the edge and decided it was still sharp and in good shape. I walked over and put the knife carefully back in its plastic, protective sheath and stowed it away in my tool chest. The tri-square followed as did the mallet. Slowly I just started to pick up and organize the scattering of items I had left about. Finishing by sweeping and vacuuming the floor.  It took me less than a half hour and when I was done I felt better, not perfect but better.

I found my wife and apologized, I also apologized to my girls. Then I started cooking dinner, something everyone likes, Alfredo noodles and meatballs. While I was boiling the Penne I thought about a passage I remembered from "The Anarchists Tool Chest." and after supper I had to go and look it up.

"When I am too exhausted , ill, or busy to work in my shop, I will shuffle down the stairs to my 15 x 25 workshop and simply stand there for a few minutes with my hands on my tools."

Today is over and Im putting it where it belongs, behind me. Tomorrow will probably be better, but if it isnt at least Im lucky enough to have a sanctuary where I can reset my psyche to equilibrium.

Now that Ive shared way more than I probably should Im going to go, before I confess the secret recipe for my wifes famous "Six Pound Cookies."

Ratione et Passionis
(Reason and Passion)
Oldwolf

Last week, I decided to attempt a quick update to the bedroom pillows with the addition of two shams. My quick attempt ended up taking a few days, but more on that later.

After searching locally for some simple and affordable white shams with no luck, I thought that it would be pretty easy to make standard shams out of king pillowcases.

It took me a little bit of time to figure it out, but once I did, it was really easy!

First I measured my pillow at ~ 16" x 26". The king pillowcase was 20" tall, so that would give me a 2" border which was perfect! I wanted the finished measurement (with a simple 2" border all around) to be 20x30.


From the open end, I ripped the seam out about 14" on both sides. From the closed end, I measured 31" for seam allowance (since I wanted the finished length to be 30").


I then cut the backside where I wanted the opening for the pillow to slip in (about 10" from the open end) I used the fabric I cut off to create the top part for the envelope. At this point, I checked to make sure there was enough overlap (about 3-5") and cut off any excess.


I turned the sham inside out and lay the smaller piece under neath the larger section. (Since it is inside out, make sure that the finished sides will be on the outside of the sham.)

I pinned and sewed the sides that the seam was taken out of, I left the the top flap un sewn and turned it right side out. Now I had the basic shape of a sham with the envelope closer on the backside. Almost done!


To match the other side (which isnt sewn), I closed the open end with heat n bond no sew adhesive. I folded the fabric under so it measured 30", put heat nbond inside and ironed.


Finally, I finished by sewing 2" in on all sides. I measured 2" from my needle and I put a piece of tape to keep my line straight. Once I got close to the edge I held a ruler up to measure 2" and then turned the sham to repeat.

I forgot to take a picture here, but about 30 minutes later it basically ended up looking like this :)

via

I cut 16 - 4" strips and 5 - 6" pieces and 2 - 16" pieces for the long straight. I laid them out, put heat n bond adhesive underneath and ironed.

Mistake # 2  If ironed too long, the heat n bond will show through the grosgrain ribbon. See it below?


err ... I could of covered it with a second accent ribbon on top, but decided that combined with the work involved in doing it on the other sham wasnt really worth it ...


BUT ultimately I decided that the combination of not being able to wash them (because it would fray) and having to cover up the heat n bond wasnt worth it.

This could work, and I may try it again with these modifications:

1. After cutting the ribbon, seal with glue to prevent fraying.

2. Use a thicker cotton ribbon to prevent the heat n bond from showing through or sew the ribbon on. Sewing would be a good option since it is pretty hard to get the heat n bond everywhere.

So instead I ordered these shams from Crate and Barrel, Im still deciding if I want leave them alone or add a little something. Lets face it, I probably will :)

Lesson learned,  always test a small area before doing the whole thing (like the heat n bond on the ribbon) and sometimes the time invested isnt worth it!

I may try it on a smaller throw pillow (now that I know what mistakes to avoid)

Better luck next time! :)

--

Update 2/24/13

See this post for how I successfully added trim!!

This guy is one of my woodworking heroes!

Today Im super excited to have the fun and talented Shavonda from A Home Full of Color on the blog! Shavonda has a beautiful home with plenty of personality, color, and a great eclectic mix!

I adore her recent hallway transformation! Painting the ceiling coral really makes the space!! Her kitchen redo is also fabulous, make sure to pop over and take a look! or maybe her aqua bookshelves - I cant decide, They are all SO good! :)

Take it away Shavonda!



Hi Everyone! Im Shavonda and I blog over at A Home Full Of Color. Thank you all so much for letting me hang out with you for a bit today and thank you Sarah for having me.  Im sure I dont have to tell you guys how awesome Sarah is.  I just love her work.  Shes definitely one of my blog idols and its an honor to be here.  For those of you who arent familiar with me I have an affinity for colorful, eclectic interiors, glossy furniture, old houses, giraffes, and the Dallas Cowboys!  I also a little obsessed with rearranging furniture. Here are a few other tidbits about me....