Guest Bedroom Finished

I've been planning to paint our guest room for ages and finally got it done! And I'm counting it as a finish for 2016 even though I did most of it between Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Guest bedroom before

Guest bedroom after

Now in case you think it's a crime to paint beautiful natural pine paneling, I used to agree. But after living with it for 20 years, I'm ready for something that I can actually keep clean. The grooves between the boards had become nothing but a dust/cobweb magnet and I wanted them sealed, so I used Sashco Big Stretch caulk on all joins and around the trim.

Also, it's a little on the blue side but I don't like picking paint colors (too many choices!) so just buy mistint paint for half price whenever I find a light-colored gallon in a white base that's in the right color family. Can't wait to see what colors I end up with for the rest of the house!

Christmas Quilts Finished!

To use up some of my fabric stash several years ago, I started two Christmas quilts and even managed to get them both quilted, but neither was bound and they've been languishing all this time on my quilt rack - two more UFOs (unfinished objects).

1st Christmas quilt sans binding

2nd Christmas quilt sans binding

As my second official finish for 2016, I created a decorative binding from other stash that is sewn on completely by machine - no hand stitching required! How cool is that?

Binding detail (1st quilt)

Fully bound! (2nd quilt)

So do these quilts count as only one finish? Or is it two?

First Official Finish for 2016

For my 2016 focus word, FINISH, I've created subcategories, one of which is quilts. I have so many UFOs (unfinished objects) and WIPs (works in progress) stashed around the house, it's embarrassing. Anyway, here's the before and after of a baby blanket I started nearly a decade ago that is now my first official 2016 finish!

Unfinished fireman baby blanket

As you can see, I left extra fabric/batting all the way around the quilted fleece center panel to fold to the front to create a border.

Finished fireman baby blanket

And here it is - finally FINISHED!!!

 

Focus Word for 2016

Prerna and Mayank over at Content Bistro recently posted Our Word for the Year: The Powerfully Intentional Way to Achieve Goals as Entrepreneurs and Parents. Well, this got me thinking...

What should my focus word be for 2016?

After giving it some thought, I chose:

FINISH

While simplify was initially at the top of my list, I suddenly realized that if I just finish even a fraction of the things I've already started, other areas of my life will automatically be simpler.

So...

What is your focus word for 2016?

Welcome 2016

Cheers to the NEW YEAR

and another chance to get everything right.

Or not. Either way,

have a peaceful and prosperous 2016!