Reno Update Week Four

 One horrible window gone! The old one was cracked and dirty, worst of all it never opened.
Good riddance!

Can't tell you how totally exciting it is that this stupid window is H.I.S.T.O.R.Y. Wahoo!

 The Altman Contracting crew has too much fun!!

 What a great smile Irving has!!

 Framing it out!

 OMG!!! We have window! We have windows that open. What more could a girl need? 

No need to respond to that...

 So that's why it's been so darn cold in the studio.

 Creepy space about the studio.

 Hey! Where is my roof?

 We're missing some roof, but we have some windows!!! 

 New fascias will keep the critters out of my studio, now that is damn good thing!

Here was my big surprise for Don. I gave the guys the go ahead to add a really nice porch above the door to our bedroom. A nice upgrade from the nasty metal awning from the 1950's. That thing blew apart if you looked at it funny. Irving topped it with the recycled slate. Sweet!!!

Poor little sewing machine table, it's so darn lonely. My contractor, Sander, suggested that I take it in for a tune up while we where closed. That's one smart cookie. Meanwhile, what little sewing I've done it's been done on my home machine in the dining room.

It's so bright down there now. I can only imagine what it'll be like when we have lights again. The pot lights are going to be so bright that Nicole and I will have sew with our shades on.

 I've got the guys bringing me a big sheet of plywood so I can finally get the cutting table done.

Won't that be a treat?

The backyard is looking divine, it's okay, I know your jealous! 

It takes a lot of hard working guys to get your yard looking this good. 

 For the last month we have had five big guys on our roof so it was very sweet to have

 some little hands helping out. What cuties.

 Mud and tape cover up all the holes. Progress is a beautiful thing.

Next up? Lights!!!

Where are all the custom tablecloths listings?

I am sorry to say that we won't be making custom oilcloth tablecloths for remainder of this year. Why? Because of that silly little hurricane named Irene, you may remember that she kind of dropped a big ol' tree on my house in August.

On Monday the contractors release us from the big blue tarp that has flapped insistently for over 2 months. While it will be nice to see out the back windows again, we don't have anything pretty to see since one of the tree branches punctured our sewer line. Try living without proper outgoing plumbing for 30 days. Not. Fun. The entire sewer line had to be replace so what little garden survived the fallen tree was cleared away by the back hoe.

We will stay open and sell laminated cotton tablecloths, chalk cloth goodies and all our aprons.  But in order to stay sane we won't be able to take any custom orders. Talk about bad timing, instead of fulfilling your holiday orders for custom tablecloth I'll be worried about...

 ... porches and roofs.

 ...windows and doors.

 ...plaster ceilings and doors.

Seven out of our ten rooms will need plaster work and paint. Ceiling and walls. Do you know what that means? I HAVE TO REMOVE ALL THE FURNITURE FROM THOSE ROOMS.  OMG!!! We've lived here for over 13 years and we like stuff. Our rooms are filled with tons and tons of stuff. Don't even get me started on the attic. I have to clear out too!! It's going to be completely crazy.

I am in denial about our own Christmas, we'll be lucky to put up a tree this year. The contractor says he'll be done before Christmas. I am not holding my breath, I've seen the movie the Money Pit. "Two weeks." My dear friend and assistant, Kathie, says we should have that movie playing in the studio tomorrow while they guys rip the slate roof off while we cut fabric below. Fun times!!!

But I am determined to create lemonade from these lemons! In return for all this heartache and hassle I get a fresh new look through out my entire home!!! Stay tuned my friends it's going to be a bumpy ride...