Remodeling Round our Fireplace

We've been casually talking, on and off, for years about doing shelf/cupboard built ins around our family room fireplace. We have had a number of ideas but have been concerned about to how to accomplish them. (Not wanting to drill holes in the brick).
Today I think I found something on-line that might just work :)
http://www.remodelaholic.com/2011/01/fireplace-remodel-with-built-in-book.html#more
This site is actually a great place to go for lots of other ideas. I really like the fact that real world remodels are used showing the before, through, and after process. The 5 R's also prevail ... which is always good :)

Civil War Sesquicentennial - block of the week

I mentioned a few weeks ago that this year is the sesquicentennial and that I might try something out of my comfort zone. Well here's an interesting blog http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/ written by the ever wonderful Barbara Backman.
Each week there will be a free 8" block pattern posted and a story related to the people who lived during the Civil War. It all looks very interesting so far. So if you have an interest in quilts from that era (or just want to read the history) this may well be the blog to watch (and participate in.)
Blocks so far -
Catch Me If You Can
North Star
Seven Sisters

Example of "Catch Me If You Can" block found at  Civil War Quilts. If you complete all the blocks and try the suggested layout you will have a 72"x82" quilt to add borders too.
Mmmmmm - I think I see a "spend some of my Christmas money on repro fabrics" visit to Franklin in my future.

A Gift From Mrs. Moen

I won one of Mrs. Moen's recent giveaways - The Napkin Challenge. "Nisse's Got a Girlfriend II" showed up in the mail on Saturday evening. I think it is gorgeous and will look good hanging in our family room or front living room. There was also a cute little bar of Norwegian chocolate in the package. Needless to say that gotten eaten by my kids and I almost immediately :)
Thanks Nina Lise.

I did a blog feature on Nina Lise a while ago because I really like her designs. For those of you that have never been to her blog I highly recommend a visit. http://mrsmoen.blogspot.com/

Creative Prompt Project - #101 - Pink

QLD Flood Appeal Auctions

http://www.tonicoward.blogspot.com/ Toni at Make It Perfect is coordinating this auction that's on Monday (some blogs are already taking bids). I have friends and relatives that live in, or close too, the flooded areas. Safe, thankfully.
The devastation there makes the flood we had here last May look minor in comparison.
If you want to help in other ways visit Robyn at http://daisyquilts.blogspot.com/ for a list. (14th January entry)
Also The Gumtree Designers are gathering items for "New Beginnings" sewing kits http://www.gumtree-designers.com/ (11 January entry). Items need to be to them BY the first week in February.

It's an Interior Thing - A Bowl Full of Lemons Challenge

Toni at A Bowl Full of Lemons has organized a New Year "lets get organized" style challenge. It's on day 6 (organizing your dresser drawers) but could be done at any time IMHO :-) Once the hubster wakes up I will tackle mine.

So far she has challenged her readers to organize :-)
1. junk drawer - I have one beside the phone full to the brim of papers. It gets cleaned out maybe 2 times per year.

2. computer desk - well that took me all of 5 minutes to fix and most of that was trying to untangle two sets of earphones my kids use.
3 Tupperware cabinet - always organized because they have my baking supplies in them.

4. Linen closet - definitely needs tidied up.
5. Under kitchen sink -  maybe some storage baskets would be useful.
If you want to participate, or just enjoy some before and after photos, hop on over to http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/
My thinking is if I get myself organized around the house again it might get me moving along with finishing all the wall hangings I started last year.

The big event for today here though is .... drum roll please ....... our new family room couches are being delivered. Yeah verily we finally found something we liked enough to buy. The hubster and the songbird (DD#1) are going to demolish our old ratty couch and just because I am a softy at heart we are holding on to at least one cushion for Lucy to continue using.
On the stitching front I have done nothing quilty except download and commit to making a design, albeit smaller, from Susan Brubaker Knapp at http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/ It's a freebie and there's also a giveaway.
I'm also starting back into making fabric postcards. (My wee break from that turned into almost a year.) Now that's embarrassing because I love making them.
Aaargh it looks like I am out of photo storage space for my blog. Now that's not good :-(

Happy New Year 2011