Pinterest Challenge revisit and other random stuff

Well, we have had an interesting few weeks around here.  Our overseas tenure was up for discussion so we have been having some pretty intense discussions about whether to stay here in the US longer or head home to Australia in a few months.  Thankfully the decision has been made (we are staying for another 2 years) and we can all relax and settle back into normal life.  Yay!  I am not in love with change and find this whole process pretty stressful so it is a big relief for me (even though my first choice would have been to go home).  Also, I tend to just stop doing much of anything until it is all over (go into my cave so to speak).  So, now I can attack all my projects with gusto!

First up, I did manage to have a go at my Pinterest challenge items.  I decided I just couldn't see the sense in making a specific hand towel for our kitchen when a kitchen towel hanging there does a perfectly good job anyway!  I need the space to hang my daily tea towel as well so I couldn't have one take up the whole space so I would have to make a dedicated hand towel narrower etc. etc.  Anyway, I have specific towels I use for hands and others for the few handwashed items so that will stay as it is.

Here is how far I have come in my crocheting.  Woo hoo, right?  lol.  Ok, I have basically got the slipknot and a chain stitch worked out and I did these from memory.  I am going to look up some instructions to make a simple flower next.

As for the stencilled cushion cover, well I kind of forgot about that one and only just managed to go and buy a fabric marker pen so I can do that now.  I will show it when I am done.

Other random stuff going on around here.

Here is the finished embroidery for my Mum that I am still looking for a frame for (she loves cuckoo clocks so I hope she likes it - pattern comes from Aimee Ray's Doodle Stitching book - BTW, not an affiliate link).  I am trying not to fixate on the mistakes...  A good iron couldn't hurt it either.  ;-)

I found some beautiful ironstone bowls at the thrift store.  I have read about them so much in Country Living and Martha Stewart magazines but had not come across any myself.  They have such a lovely feel about them and now I know why they are so popular amongst collectors.  I was lucky enough to go back to the same thrift store and find a matching serving dish also.  Now I can donate some of my cheapie, less favourite bowls.  My sister Sandra would laugh at me.  She shakes her head at my bowl collection (and my constant search for the perfect bowls).

Does anybody else own any of the Karlstad furniture from Ikea?  I bought them because they were slipcovered.  Um, Ikea?  If you have to totally dismantle the piece of furniture to get the 'slipcover' off, it is not what I understand a 'slipcover' to be...  Just bought some actual proper slipcovers from Bemz so that I never have to do that again!  Thank you, Bemz, for existing so now I don't have to sew them myself...

Talking about Ikea, I just bought this toy storage system to try and get a handle on the Lego explosion around here (saw this great inspiration).

Now this big conglomeration can be easier for A to access (the noise level alone in him looking for pieces on the bottom is worth it).  Of course, this is going to take HOURS to sort even if I am going to do it in the least OCD way possible.  Sounds like a good family night activity to me!

We have also been having fun with painter's tape.  A huge airport and runway is covering our playroom floor for now.  Honestly, I think A had more fun with the tape then he has had with the actual layout since then.  :-)