stitches and submarines...

...oof, I'm finally back... I fully intended to post a good ten days ago, but a few things got me off track. Please indulge me for a moment, and let me explain myself... About two weeks ago, I was in the middle of putting together some furnishings for my friend Molly who owns the shop, Molly's Furniture Salad. She was invited to decorate a room for the "Christmas at Hycroft 2009" event being held Nov. 19-22 in Vancouver. This event is held annually at Hycroft, a turn-of-the-century Vancouver heritage mansion which has been beautifully preserved, and is organized by the University Women's Club of Vancouver as a means to raise money for the its many scholarship and bursary programs and a number of charity and advocacy groups locally, nationally and internationally. The mansion is decked out in Christmas finery, local businesses such as Molly's shop are invited to decorate the different rooms, crafts and artisanal foods are sold, music is played and Santa Claus even visits (more info here). Molly approached me at the beginning of October to help her out with this project by making a few things that would work well in a child's bedroom, i.e., coverlets, pillows, banners, etc...

While I was pretty excited about the project, I didn't do much about it for the first two weeks after she told me... and then it hit me: I definitely needed to get going because of all the other things I had to get done in that time frame and because I was meant to leave for Florida on Nov. 18 to watch my 13-year old daughter play in a soccer tournament. Well, I am a crammer by nature...

About two weeks ago, despite having finished some of the bedding, I started to feel more stressed about it all; our usual chaotic family routine mixed in with a few other things that had to get done (such as my year-end bookkeeping... groan!) probably helped in the matter. I knew I was getting a bit edgy then because I had this dream, well, more like a nightmare: I was stuck in a submarine, many thousand leagues below sea level and the sub was flooding... Oy! And then a week ago, while making my children's sandwiches in my usual comatose 7:15am state (I am NOT a morning person!), I sliced the top of my middle finger with a bread knife so perfectly that I had to get it stitched up by my GP... 

OK, so it was time to shed a few things on my agenda and... simplify. I realized then that I wouldn't be able to make quite as many things for the Hycroft event as I had hoped for with my finger in stitches, so I kept to finishing the most important items and, yes... I canceled my trip to Florida -- only my husband will be accompanying my daughter. Disappointing as the latter was for me as well as my daughter, I just really felt like I needed to slow down and grab some control back in all my chaos.

On the positive side, now that I'll be in town this weekend, I will be able to attend the Hycroft event. If you live in the Vancouver area and have a moment between Thursday and Sunday, I encourage you to attend as well and join in the festivities; if you've never been to Hycroft, it's definitely worth a visit and the fundraising work of this women's group is so very worthwhile given our government's forever shrinking budget for education. I will leave you with a snap of Molly's decorated bedroom which I took this morning while I was helping her out (aren't the bed finished by Molly and that big red cardinal in those beautiful leaded windows simply fabulous!) --

Comments

[Stacey]

Wow you are busy - so glad you worked it all out.
The room looks absolutely stunning! Just stunning!

[Erica K]

I've been anxiously awaiting your post... you've been so busy! That room is amazing! I love the bird, but really...that bed takes the cake! The quilt...OMG! :)

Have you ever posted about your stash...with pictures? I can only imagine how incredible it must be...

[Holly in Virginia, USA]

what an amazing bedroom for a young lady! Was it originally a sunroom? (my guess since there is tile on the floor).

Next August, my husband & I coming to Vancouver for a visit, please let me know all the shops to see! I quilt like a crazy person, and will have 2 grandbabies by that visit. My husband is doing the IronMan Canada in Penticton, BC August 29th. many thanks

Holly
Virginia, USA

[clarice]

Oh my, I want a bedroom like that. Just beautiful, I hope you have a relaxing weeknd. Clarice

[Becky]

The room looks great! Your work is beautiful and fresh.

I hope your finger heals quickly!

[Stephanie]

That is just so beyond amazing, what a beautiful room!!

[Suz]

Stunning love it sooo much
Sorry to hear about the finger and the 'tangled head'....l remember it well lol
Glad you know how to say NO and can chill for the weekend

[karen]

Read your post and my husband and I took your suggestion to visit Hycroft - its a really beautiful house and garden. Your friends room with your lovely fabric furnishings is truly beautiful. The bed cover, pillows and banners are so fresh and pretty. We had an enjoyable visit - thanks

[kristin]

hi, beata - it was so nice to meet you + your girls at hycroft! the room was beautiful - such lovely work! i'm happy to have found your blog again - thank you! kristin

[le chat qui coud]

Lovely!!!
I dream to have the same bedroom!!!!!!

[danielle]

Hello, I am happy I discovered your blog. I love your fresh colors, will be visiting a lot, I 'll add you to my link list at pussmanstuffies and thank you soo much for sharing the crochet flower pattern! I want to try it!

[Valerie]

What a gorgeous room. Stunning.

[Jennifer]

I swoon over rosehip!!!

[philippines homes]

Love it, it makes you feel calm and when you feel boring just lay and sleep.

Deirdre G

[Olivia]

Will you make any more quilts like this one? I love it! So many colors to work with. This is exactly want a wanted for my girls room! Please let me know if you will make more...I just found your blog and I'm in love!