...but just barely. We spent the last stretch of summer at the lake, working on the house (I will update you soon with some photos), but mostly having fun with the children and friends, in and out of the lake (the weather was absolutely gorgeous!). However, last week we hurried off to Montreal because, very sadly, my mother-in-law passed away -- at the beginning of summer, we got the sad news that liver cancer would probably only give her two more months with us and sure enough, two months later, she slipped away from us on the day of her birthday... Her pain near the end was unrelenting, and after many moving and very earnest moments spent with family and friends, she finally let go -- I do hope and pray that she is at peace.
So, I am back in Vancouver now... heavy-hearted, but very busy with the children as we start up yet another school year. Along with re-organizing my work area (a never-ending job in my case!), I have lots of new project ideas germinating in my head... One of the projects I did manage to finish this summer was giving an old leather chair which I purchased for $5 a new look -- what do you think?
(Don't you love before and after shots! -- If you're into furniture before and after's, check these out...) I have to say that I didn't mind the chair in its original shabby state, but I was worried that my kids would very quickly make it so there would be no leather left at all on the top seat... (Yup, my kids are animals!) And, I also really wanted to try the idea of blanket stitching the fabric onto the leather seat -- I actually enjoyed doing it except for the fact that I got very sore fingers while doing it (I don't like using thimbles!).
I do have another old leather chair which I'd also like to perk up a bit with some fabric -- in this case though, some of its seams are ripped and the leather has cracked on the chair back instead of the seat, so I'm thinking of touching it up with fabric a bit differently this time ('show you when it's done...)
If you're like me and the thought of autumn gives you an urge to whip up a patchwork quilt or two, I recently received a heartwarming email from Annette who lives in Switzerland in which she mentions the quilt she just completed for her daughter -- take a look here at how sweet is! I also recently received a note from Beth who pens the inspiring blog give1save1.com asking me if I'd like to donate one of my pillowcases as a giveaway, in order to raise money for an orphanage in Rwanda to buy 50 new beds and mosquito nets for the children living there. So if you have a moment, please, please take a look at her post about the GIVEAWAY -- whoever wins the giveaway will have a choice of any one of the pillowcases which are in my shop at the moment. And that's about it for me for now... 'Hope you are taking the time to enjoy the beauty that September has to offer, wherever you may be...
