We have a tradition in our quilters guild that each outgoing president is presented with quilt blocks made by members, blocks that she will eventually put together to make her own President's Quilt. Each and every past president of Birmingham Quilters Guild has her own President's Quilt. That's a photo of my President's Quilt above.
When my term as guild president was up in the summer of 1996, I asked for Sister's Choice blocks. I have always loved that pattern, and I felt the name was appropriate for a group of women (I don't believe we had any male members at the time) who share as much of our lives as we do.
Another "changing of the guard" tradition in our guild is that the outgoing president often makes little handmade gifts for her board members. I recall that I made appliqued tea towels for everyone, and the process took me forever. I don't know exactly how many I made, around 20 or 25, I think.
This year our outgoing president, Carolyn, made these little chatelaines for her board members (photo above). Isn't it precious. I'll use it to hold a small pair of scissors for my downstairs sewing kit.
I have a project going on here at The Yellow House that I wish I had never started. Never mind that it's one that had to be done; I still wish I'd never started it. Upstairs, adjoining my guest bedroom there is a small storage room. Over the years, we've used that room for just that--storage. Whatever didn't have a place somewhere else (or in the basement) went into the storage room.
When Bella and Taco can to live with me and Jesse, that room took on double duty--as storage room and litter box room. Jesse is very conscientious about keeping the box scooped and cleaned, so I don't know why the kitties found it necessary to use alternate spots (behind things and unseeable without moving heavy pieces of furniture) as littler box pee-pee alternatives. When the room began to smell, we knew something had to be done.
Unfortunately that room, like the bedroom next to it, is carpeted. Jesse tried cleaning the carpet (several times) and disinfecting it with a wide array of various products. He has managed to get the smell just about gone, but the carpet is severely stained. Besides, the very idea of just how yucky the situation was behooves me to get that carpet out of there.
Problem is, the carpet cannot be removed until the items that call the room home are removed. So that is what I've been doing for the past week or so. There are several storage cabinets full of seemingly endless stuff. I have made several trips to the thrift store with loads to deliver--and piled what I want to keep in the adjoining bedroom.
Now it's up to Jesse to get the heavy stuff (cabinets, storage bins, chests, etc.) out. Then he will pull the old carpet up and throw it away. Then I'm going to get Lowe's or somebody to come in a put down some linoleum. I don't plan to put those big, heavy cabinets (which were Vann's doing) back in the room. They're going to the thrift store too.
I've already given Taco and Bella a good talking to, and they have promised to mend their ways and never make a mess again. I trust them. I have to trust them.
Meanwhile, I'm exhausted, and the job isn't even halfway done.
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On 08/01/2015, Barbara Anne said ...
What a lovely Sister's Choice quilt you made from the blocks you received! Love the idea of making handmade gifts for the board members, too. Cute chatelaines!
Oh, honey! I SO envy the storage room you have upstairs! Just reading about it made me turn probably 12 shades of green. :)
I wish you well with the mighty undertaking you've had to start. Bear in mind it will be well worth it. It will. Perhaps the process can be sped up by having strong guys from the neighborhood or church come on a certain day to move everything from the storage room to the basement. From there you can take your time dealing with it. Just a thought.
Big hugs!
On 08/01/2015, Doris Miller said ...
Susan, before you put a new floor down, paint the subfloor with Kilz. If not the smell will remain. This is experience talking!!
On 08/01/2015, Judy said ...
You might want to think about having the cats checked for urinary tract infection. Sometimes that will cause them to stop using the litter box. Good luck with the room remodel!
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