Sewing with paint on my mind

Sometimes I worry that I sound like a broken record. Hmmm... is that phrase antiquated? Should I say like a scratched cd? Anyway I feel like all I've posted lately is purses and today is more of the same. At least I'm consistent. I'm so happy to have purses waiting to be made and I feel like I'm working at a good pace. It's been a variety of styles this week. More Machine Made Patchworks inspired bags. I used a leather strap on a couple of these. One of my favorite fellow purse makers Craft Apple posted about using saddle straps for handles. I had to do a little searching since I don't live where the West begins, but I did find saddle ties that worked wonderfully as handles. Who knew? Well, Linda knew, that's who. Thanks Miss Apple. The wonderful thing about commissioned purses is many times I end up with something I never would have designed myself. This black patchy-patchwork bag for instance. My personal taste is more neutral and understated, boring maybe. This bag is bright and cheerful and will suit its new owner perfectly. She asked for a black bag with patchwork in jewel tones. This is my interpretation. Hope she likes it. So that's what I've been up to, but what's been on my mind? As the title says, paint. Not spray paint. I'm itching for some change and not my typical quick change that involves a little fabric and some spray paint. No, my mind has been drifting to thoughts of hardwood and new wall colors, painted kitchen cabinets, slip-covered sofas. Do I have time for this? More importantly, do I have money for this? NO!  That's a big fat No to both questions. The hardwood lust has been going on for quite a while. In fact 11 years ago when we were building this house I wanted hardwood throughout. The builder all but laughed at me, knowing our budget. So I had to settle for hardwood in the dining room and carpet in the other rooms. Carpet is supposed to be really bad for those with respiratory problems (me). It harbors dust mites and all sorts of other things I'd rather not think about, add to that training a new puppy. Try as I may to stay on top of things and keep an eye on him at all times, there has been the occasional accident. So hardwood has been on my mind. Now if only my mind could come up with a way to pay for hardwood. A less expensive project that's also been dancing in that head of mine involves paint (I can't be blamed for this one). How can you look at this kitchen and not want to paint? I've never been crazy about my dark wood cabinets. I know, I know... it's a sin to paint oak...bla, bla, bla... I'm just not a wood kinda girl (except when it comes to floors of course). I really want to paint them, but it's kind of like getting a tattoo. I know that I better love the color I choose because I'm going to be stuck with it for a long time. I'll paint most things on a whim, my philosophy is it's only paint, but this particular project is going to be no small undertaking involving lots of sanding and removing of doors and hardware and taping off and, and, oh my... You see now why I haven't done it yet.  Oh the dreams of a crazy purse maker. I didn't even tell you about the walls I want to paint or the slipcovers I want to make. It's an exciting life I lead isn't it?

I'll leave you with this picture. Toby, guardian of the food bowl. No matter who is eating, Toby is standing by. Watching. I'm not sure if he just likes watching them eat or he's making sure they don't eat it all. I'm guessing the latter. How'd you like to eat every meal with an audience?

That floor is laminate by the way, not hardwood.

Comments

[Chris Howard]

Ah, I too love hardwoods. Our house has about 80 percent hardwood, but before you get excited, you should know that the wood is beat ALL TO HELL. Seriously, I've seen better floors in 50 year old restaurants. We seriously need some rugs in the house to cover some of the more scruffily areas, but have you priced rugs lately? Floor covering is really expensive no matter what you do.
As for the cabinets, I say go for it. It's your house and your life, you paint it whatever color your want! I can't wait to see what you do with it!

Have you ever seen FLOR? Put that into google and see what comes up.

[Leslie]

You can never share too many bags. I love your work. I too love the ideas in the Patchwork book. It is interesting to see if looking at the drawings will produce the same product as the photos in the book. I have started one of the bags and decided to see if what I think I should do is really what the directions are asking. So I took the book to school and asked one of our Japanese students if she could translate the pattern. She took it home and her father did all the translation. To my surprise...the purse actually has an outside pocket.

[Kelli]

LOVING those zakka bags. No shock there, huh?

[Lori]

Love your new bags and love seeing new bags everyday. Good luck with your painting and slipcovering. I just painted the living room and does is ever look better. Toby looks darling.

[Pam]

Love the new bags!And as someone with asthma, hardwood changed my life. Seriously. We put in the prefinished stuff so there were no fumes etc and wow, has it taken what we have given it and still looks amazing. And we're super rough on floors and have 2 dogs. Seriously. amazing. I'll NEVER have carpet again.

[lla]

I never get tired of looking at your work! And I absolutely love the leather straps you're experimenting with....

I am in the same boat as you - I've wanted to paint the cabinets in my kitchen for years. And whereas mine are not nearly so nice as yours, I'm hesitant for a lot of the same reasons: "You should never paint oak" "this is going to be a huge long labor intensive process" etc. - oh, and add to the list the fear that once I paint the cabinets, it'll make the countertops look really bad, so those will have to be replaced. Which, in turn will lead to.... It will just never end.

We have all hardwoods (except the kitchen-tile, and the bathroom-god knows what that is) and I do love it - even though they are in really rough shape and need to be refinished. (again - we did it about 7 years ago, and they looked fabulous, but original heartpine floors and an 80 pound Golden Retriever just didn't mix well....) I just know how much fur and dirt etc I sweep up from the corners all the time (the ceiling fans tend to blow stuff to the 4 corners of the room) and I get a little carpet phobic. I can't imagine if all that stuff were getting trapped in down in the fibers instead of accumulating on the surface.... but that's just me. I get squeamish about the most normal things sometimes....

[pinar]

love the bags.. and the waiter.. I would be so thin if I ate all my meals watched..=))

[erin]

ok autum, i say if you want to paint the cabinets, then paint them. i committed that "sin" myself last fall when i painted my solid dark cherry cabinets white. you know what? i like my kitchen alot more and i don't care that there is cherry under there. that said, doing it was a real pain, took six weeks (!) with the multiple coats, sanding, etc. but i love them. i really love them.

[linda]

The saddle ties look great! Especially with those fall colors. I was trying to get a closer look - how wide are yours? I got 1/2" but I'm wishing they were a bit wider. So, Miss Daisy, you and I have the same diseases - besides bagaholism, that is. I would love to redo our floors and cabinets. I've never actually mentioned the wood floor wish to hubby since it's not possible right now. And yes, for those of us with allergies, the pollen and dust mite poop just sits in the rug and I just can't vacuum everyday!

For those of us who spend a lot of time at home, how our home looks effects so much how we feel. So I don't know anything about the cabinets. But after all the sanding and painting, can you change the color with just a few more coats of paint?

[beki]

Oh Autum, I'm dreaming with you. I am itching to paint my kitchen cabinets. I can't stand looking at them another day! I've done it before, in my old house, and it isn't easy, and that was before we had three little kids underfoot. One day. I also want to rip up the tile in my kitchen, which is on top of hardwood (what a crime!), install new counter tops, and make a set of slip covers for my sofa. Will I ever get this done in the next 10 years, maybe, this year, never.

[tanya nichols]

Oh my painting cabinets...sigh i wanted red BRIGHT RED cabinets I saw it on HGTV...sigh...Hey have you thought about going on HGTV (or submitting a project to be considered ie:patchwork purse) I would love to see that...also our son has asthma and allergies...no carpet here!!! all wood flooring...(shh laminate hehe...)
OH i have taked to wearing satin headbands this fall ...with my hair in a ponytail....Uh-Oh im rambling...gonna go before I overwhelm the blog comment section!

[Lindsey (Yankee Girl Designs)]

Oooh I love the black and white quilted bag, I think thats my favorite one of yours so far! If you can just box that bad boy up w/ Toby and send 'em my way that would be fabby *giggle*

[Karyn]

I love all your bags, I'm glad you keep sharing them with us.

[Sarah Day]

I wonder if Toby can see all things dining everywhere in the world? That's a lot for such a tiny pup to have to handle. It's a good thing he's got such pretty kitties to occupy him.

[mijk]

I'm completely blown away by the orangy patchworkbags. The are gorgeous..

[amanda]

I would highly recommend painting your oak kitchen cabinets. In our last house (which was just a cookie cutter plain jane house) I painted my oak cabinets barn red. I loved the look and transformation that it made in my kitchen. At the time I had two little boys (one was an infant!)and it took me a month. It was a lot of work and I didn't know if I would like it or if it would hold up or if the paint would get sticky (I am a worrier!!!) but the results were fabulous, I would do it again. It made the house mine...if that makes any sense. I got plenty of flack from people for doing it. My neighbor's mother in law (among others)was horrified....but in the end, it was my house to do with what I pleased, and it was a lot cheaper than replacing anything. Come to think of it, in my first house I painted over oak cabinets also...that was when I discovered the importance of a good quality primer: I think I used Kilz or Zinsser.

I just would like to add that you are not alone in your high hopes for your home. I seem to have a hundred ideas to do next for every project that I complete. It is nice to hear of others in the same boat! But the feeling of accomplishment is the best, isn't it?