Updated Screened Porch

Our house is 30 years old (we built it in '92) and through the years we have tried to keep it updated with various improvements. One improvement we have long dreamed about has now been realized - we have enclosed our screened-in porch.

Originally, there was no porch. In the late '90s we added a cement pad and were satisfied with that for a time. 

In '03 we added walls, two doors and screens all around. Perfection! We really loved this space. For 20 years now, we've had our morning coffee out here, enjoyed evening suppers, watched countless sunsets, all the perks of having a screened porch in a secluded, somewhat wooded hideaway.

After a time, we began dreaming of using this space year-round and knew that would be a costly upgrade. Would we be disciplined enough to save for such an improvement? The answer is YES! We now have our 4-season porch and it will be just as enjoyable as ever.

Two new storm doors and 13 windows have now made this porch into an air-tight and bug-proof (we hope!) room that has basically become and extension of our family room. When the weather is pleasant, we will open all the windows and enjoy all of nature's breezes and sounds. When too hot or too cold, we can close the windows and allow the house's heating/cooling to keep the room comfortable. 

The door above leads into the back yard, taking us past the bird feeder and the fountain. Here's what the previous door looked like. It had long outlived its usefulness as a door with all its warped and worn sadness.

With most of the furniture moved out of the way for the workers, we realized just how spacious this porch is. We will continue using the same furniture and upgrade the cushions for now. 

Before; looking into back yard.

During; workers installing windows on back!

Finished!

The next job (we're never done as homeowners, are we?) is to put down a nicer floor. This painted cement floor was done about the same time as the screens went in and the wear is showing. Peeling paint, especially where we walk, is unsightly, but will have to stay for awhile longer.

Porch front door; we enter here from the driveway.

And now a couple of pics with the construction cleaned up and our furniture returned. We did spring for a new, larger rug in the hope of covering some of the floor's unsightliness. Hmmmm, not entirely, but it will do.

So, in the last post I mentioned that DH and I were off to Hocking Hills for a short adventure. Well, friends, sometimes these just don't work out. I got some sort of stomach bug the first night, was indisposed all night long, and we drove home - not even 24 hours into our stay. I have slept most of the last 36 hours, and finally about an hour ago had toast with coffee. We forgot our swimsuits on the deck - the only thing we really got to enjoy at the AirBnB was the hot tub. We had planned a hike and a drive for yesterday, but it just wasn't to be. Here's a pic of the rental - it's a home made out of two storage containers. Small and tight, but I'm sure it has potential for younger guests than us! Ha! We older folks like our creature comforts!

This house was every bit as secluded as it looks. We saw deer and had a virtual symphony of birdsong. It completely epitomizes the feel of Hocking Hills. For anyone interested in renting a storage container home, they are listed on AirBnb. I believe they have five with another in the works.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Frienzies and Fun

Seven of the eight Frienzies shared lunch yesterday here on our screened porch. We missed Lyn who had a more pressing date with family (a granddaughter's birthday!) in Kentucky.

What a wonderfully relaxing day we had. Back in the beginning when we began this monthly tradition of getting together, we always met at restaurants. We soon discovered that we couldn't linger and visit the way we do when we are in our homes. We have traded off hosting Frienzies for several years now. It is always so relaxing and enjoyable to visit with these dear friends in the comfort of our homes. I may be biased, but I think our porch was particularly inviting yesterday - the weather was cool and overcast; the birds sang pretty tunes for us; the abundant spring rains have made our surroundings quite lush. The fountain provided additional ambiance. Totally delightful!

The Frienzies event ended mid-afternoon, and Sharon stayed on for sewing. We got a lot done! I started a baby quilt with this fabric I bought at Guhl's when we had the Canter's Cave retreat in early April. Four 1-yard cuts of these compatible fabrics at $3.99/yard. I finished the top last evening and will share it here soon.

Sharon used up the last of her Luna Notta/3 Sisters/Moda scraps by sewing this top together - she will add the corner triangles at home. I apologize for the poor quality of the photo - the day was quite cloudy thus the lighting in the room was poor.

Here we are at the end of May, and whew! What a lot was accomplished! I feel like this could be quite the satisfying summer if I can keep this up. We shall see!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Porch Curtains

For a long time now I have wanted to add curtains to the west side of our screened porch. I frequently sit out there through the morning and sometimes through the day, but evenings are difficult because of the direct sun that floods the porch. It is uncomfortably hot, even with the ceiling fan on. We love to have supper on the porch, and even if it isn't too hot, we have to maneuver our chairs to avoid direct sunlight in our eyes. Click here to see pictures of our porch from 2010.

From the photo above, you can see that I have solved the problem!

A few weeks ago, DH and I purchased two curtain rods, clip rings and a huge drop cloth. My plan was to somehow fashion a large curtain for the one wall of screened windows. Because I was still working out particulars and because the sun hasn't gotten overly hot yet, I have not been in a big rush to complete this project. I finally settled on a plan, so yesterday, DH helped me hook the hardware to the wall.

This morning, I took the drop cloth out the yard and stretched it out flat on the grass. I cut it in half and hemmed the raw edges.

The drop cloth fabric has plenty of imperfections, but that's the beauty of it. This tough, rough fabric suits me just fine since it is going to suffer some harsh weather conditions and exposure to bugs and spiders.

This was the easiest project! No pins. No iron. No casings. Only two fold-over hems. How simple to rely only on finger-pressing and eyeballing it!?

A seam runs through the width of the drop cloth; I was concerned that it would be too thick for my machine to take, but no! We charged right through it!

The next step was to clip on the rings. I measured out a 24" flounce and attached the clips at even increments across the panels. This allowed the curtains to fall just slightly above the porch floor.

Twenty-four inches might be a bit too much of a flounce, and I may end up taking these down, cutting off a bit, hemming the raw edge, and then rehanging. For now, I will leave them as is and think on it. 

The Reveal

With the possible exception of a couple more throw pillows, and plants, of course, the screened porch is finished. I stepped out there this morning (before breakfast and still in my nightgown!) to take these pictues. The shadows you see are from the sun peeking through the tree tops.

The bench under this bench pad is a very old family piece. I bought it at the auction of my paternal grandfather's estate sale. He had it in his barn, and I believe he made it. Maybe my dad or my uncle made it, if not Grandpa. Anyway, it's 8 feet long, and still quite sturdy. I made the bench pad of an assortment of blue and yellow fat quarters.

The fabric used on the seat cushions for the settee, chair and bench were all purchased last year. I just never got around to making the slipcovers. In the meantime, the original cushions got really gross, so I pitched them, bought foam, cut it to size, and made the slipcovers yesterday. This fabric has a more tropical feel to it, especially the floral, as opposed to the French-themed feel of the rest of the fabrics. I intend to leave the seat cushions in place all summer; while the tablecloth will come in for protection from day-to-day elements. I am going to be okay with the mixed messages sent by these two styles, tropical and French. The color combination of blue and yellow will make it okay, in my opinion. (I'm not a purist, then, and I'm quite practical.)

Few and Far Between

That's what my posting has been lately. Anyone who reads this regularly, though, knows that we are in the midst of graduating our youngest and all that goes with this big event. We are preparing for a graduation party, attending the parties of others, trying to stay ahead of the lawn mowing (we have had something like 10 inches above normal rainfalls this spring!), just to name a few of the things going on around here. Graduation was Friday night, and it went well. Only an occasional misting up - no big tears or sobs.

My Bernina decided to become contrary late last week. I had been working on a bench pad for our screened porch, and the machine got quite clackety and loud. I kept sewing and finished the bench pad, but it was clear that the sewing machine needed some TLC.  The noise seemed to be coming from the area around or behind the bobbin, so I took apart as much as I could, brushed out all the lint, shot some canned air in there to dislodge hidden bits, oiled a few moving parts and put it all back together. VOILA! She runs like a dream! Happy dance time!

One other problem persisted: my tension seemed off, as whatever I sewed was coming out gathered! Not good. Did you know that older machines are not equipped to handle the weight of today's spools of thread? I have an old Bernina - around 24 or 25 years old - and had just replaced my thread with a new spool - it's too heavy!When I used a different, smaller spool, the tension problem disappeared. Interesting. Thread is marketed today on spools that are larger (more thread per spool), but older machines can't take them. At least mine won't handle them; I don't know if this is true across the board.

How will I use up all the thread I have on these bigger spools? I think I will have to buy a new machine. *wink, wink* Every dedicated seamstress needs a backup machine, right?

One pillow finished yesterday, and I love it! I sewed for a few more hours and look!

I am quite pleased with the results. These are 18" square; the pattern is in A Thimbleberries Housewarming by Lynette Jensen, and is called Flower Patch Pillow. The original calls for ruffles, but I opted to go without. Saves time and fabric, plus for a porch, I just didn't see a need to go to the extra fuss. My blogging friend Lori at Humble Quilts commented that these pillows have a French look, and I was so pleased! I didn't mention that this was the effect I was going for, so it was great to hear that the effect was achieved.

Tomorrow I will share pictures of Sharon's finished quilt top! Our Tuesday sewing session was productive!

Porch Beautification, part 2

A week ago Monday, I posted about replacing or redoing the cushions for my screened-in porch furniture. I didn't think I had pictures of the previous cushions, but I remembered some that I'd shared pictures of the porch with my brother-in-law who lives in Florida, and who hadn't seen our porch addition.

Well, anyway, I have some pictures; they weren't specifically taken for showing off the cushions and bench pads, but you might get an idea of what I will be replacing.

The table is missing its tablecloth in this photo, but I had enough of my remnant find to make a matching tablecloth. So, the wicker settee, wicker chair, bench and table were all covered in the same great pale yellow floral remnant. I really liked the look. The blue flower in the remnant matched the rug and long bench, and the pale yellow complimented the coffee table/bench.

And to think it was all such a happy accident!! No planning at all.

Now, I really have to "get cracking" on the redo! I have been focusing on other things, but I really must redirect my focus! Summer is a'comin'!

My focus for now is on my May Schnibbles. I will (hopefully!) have the top finished today. I also need to make that strap for the grommet purse...there's a story coming with that post.

The sun's shining!! We've had 4 straight cloudy, rainy, chilly days - this morning is beautiful!

Piece!

Jayne

Porch Beautification Project

I have a lovely screened-in porch which is a very inviting place on breezy afternoons. We have pleasant songbirds who provide just the right amount of accompaniment; the woods which surround us offers up wonderful rustling leaves. It's an all-around idyllic setting, if I do say so myself.

But, every couple of years the cushions and pillows need to be updated. Sunshine and weather conditions can take their toll on the crispness and color. I have been to the stores checking out potential options. I'm not really liking what I'm seeing out there. And the prices I've seen on these less-than-exciting possibilities are beyond what I feel like paying.

Soooo...

I think I will make slipcovers for the cushions I already have. I did that the last time I redid the porch, which was the summer of 2008. I found some fabulous sturdy fabric in the remnant area of Jo-ann Fabrics in Chillicothe. It was 54" wide, and a scrumptious shade of yellow with a light blue flower motif. The remnant had enough fabric to cover a settee cushion, a chair cushion, a bench pad and to make a tablecloth! It all looked great, and I wish I had a picture of it to show. Alas, I do not. All I've got is a naked porch in need of some bling!

The aforementioned settee, chair, bench and table minus their finery. They look so bare! I am looking for enough fabric this time to also make some chair pads for the chairs that go with the table.

I need to get in gear! Some nice days will surely be here soon, and it'd be nice to be ready for them! A big glass of iced tea, a hefty summer read, the ceiling fan circulating all the fresh air, the fountains peacefully trickling water -- want to join me?