This Was Halloween II

I'm still here!  Since school started, things have just gotten so busy. Frankly, blogging has obviously not been at the top of my list. I don't even think it was on my list. I haven't been much in the creative spirit. Maybe things will change.  We'll see. Last couple of months pretty much came and went. I don't consider myself to have a stressful sort of life, but the last couple of months have been stressful, filled with unexpected series of events (that were beyond my control) that I won't get into. It's over for now. We also managed a sort of last minute trip to the West Coast, since the kids are off-track. Now, I'm dealing with the last stages (hopefully) of your typical Autumn cold. As for the cough, I'm sure it'll stick around for a while.
I'm not the procrastinator I used to be back in my school days. (Some of my best work was accomplished in the wee early morning hours!). I guess those were the days my body and brain seemed to handle it well. Now, I like to have a plan, have things done ahead of time, so I can avoid the stressful feelings . . .
I waited to decorate for fall until September 23. I was determined to have as much of summer as possible! While I would normally get the Halloween decorations out October 1st, it did not happen. I wasn't even going to get them out this year. But on Saturday morning (Oct. 30), when I saw oldest daughter, and youngest boy, cutting out Halloween shapes out of construction paper and sticking them on the window, I figured I better get the Halloween box out. I guess sometimes we revert to our old ways...

I know Halloween is over, and the few that wonder through my blog are more than likely over it too,  I decided to post some of it anyway. While I did not make a single Halloween decoration this year ( I have some ideas stored up in my brain for next year), I did make most of them in years past.
This was Halloween:

 I made these up. Hubby cut them out for me and I painted them.

 I made these basketful of kitties, a few years ago.

 This one I made, sits on the ledge.

 This cross stitch took me about 3 months of "spare time" (when our family consisted of 4 instead of 6).

 I made a couple of bat garlands to hang on the windows.

 The pattern was useful for other projects.

 Another quick pillow.

 These are little wood cut outs I just painted.

 A couple of thrifted plates.

 My last Halloween cross stitch.

 And last of all, my handpainted 2 X 4 wood sign.

 Hope you enjoyed the spooky tour, because all this is going back in the Halloween box tomorrow!

Classified Insanity

"You're Insane!" is becoming an all too familiar phrase around here.

Before I had even started with the china cabinet redo, I decided I wanted to redo my youngest boy's bedroom a bit. I pieced this quilt wall art.

The cross stitch that once used to hang in our bathroom found a new home.

Then I decided, I wanted a desk with a hutch. The thing with online classifieds is when you see it and you want it, better get it soon! We were on our way out the door to my parent's house, when I told hubby: "We have to take a detour!" I had just been online while everybody was loading up in the van, and found the perfect desk with hutch for the perfect price! Only 10 minutes from our house (better than the hour long drive to pick up other pieces of furniture I bought in the past). I bought it, and hubby picked it up the next day.

Here it is before: (Okay so it wasn't quite perfect, it needed a good cleaning, some minor repairs, and some spray paint).

A side view of the hutch.

I love the shape and look of it. Exactly what I had in mind!

This is how I pictured it:

I sprayed all the handles brushed nickel. I was going to replace these, along with the ones from the dresser, but could not find matching ones in the right size. (I'm kind of glad I didn't. More money in my pocket and I do like how they look.)

(After, but before the "Basket Case"

Later, I found the perfect little chair to go with it. 

Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder!

Yikes!

Now, it's a beauty!

 

When hubby came to see my progress, he said "You're insane!" "Do you actually enjoy this?"

In answer to his question: I don't know if I would classify all the work that goes into these projects a "Hobby", but I certainly enjoy the outcome! Is that insane?