Hello from Hartford. Same apartment, though some things I left behind (nothing big) are missing. This used to happen to me at the Old Globe apartments in San Diego; things seem to migrate elsewhere. I’ve fluffed the apartment as best I can. Here’s what it looked like pre-Claudia.
These apartments are in an old office building and they have incredibly high ceilings, which help to make a smallish apartment seem more spacious.
After:
I brought a quilt from home. I made this pansy quilt several years ago and it remains my favorite. I decided that if I had to be away from home for 2 months, I was going to secure that darned quilt to the wall with pushpins. Purple pushpins, I might add.
I also added that piece of barkcloth. It covers an incredibly ugly table.
I’m fortunate to have a television with a larger screen. Some of the TVs in these apartments are really tiny.
I’ll try to get a crisper photo of the quilt another time. It’s a wee bit dark in this apartment at the moment.
The desk – where I tap away at the computer and create compelling blog posts. I moved that covered canvas off the wall and decided to use it as a bulletin board.
My director is a really nice guy. He left me this note with a bottle of wine. I’m crazy about him.
We stopped at Trader Joe’s along the way, of course. Had to stock up on food…and flowers.
Hello, pretty purple flowers!
My own little sewing studio. There’s Mabel. She’s wearing her little cover-up at the moment.
I brought my pink vase from home and filled it with pretty flowers from Trader Joe’s. That’s the wine that Darko left for me. I don’t really drink, so it will probably be in its intact state at the end of my two months here. Unless I have a particularly difficult time. Ahem.
Bags of reference books ready to be transported to the rehearsal space. Quilt tops ready to be hand quilted. I haven’t a clue what kind of project I want to do, so I grabbed a lot of fat quarters and brought them with me. Hopefully, I will be inspired.
I snatched this quilt off of our bed at home. Don will be fine without it. But I wouldn’t be. There, ensconced among my pillows (also brought from home) are Wayfrum Holmes, Maggie Rabbit and Little Lamb.
They like adventure.
So, there you have it, my friends. My little home-away-from-home.
By the way, some of you complimented me on my new watermark. See it up there? A red circle with dots, along with the name of my blog and my trademark lamb-with-the-party-hat?
My good friend Dawn Cain of Creative Cain Cabin designed it for me. I have a full on crush on this watermark. Dawn lives in Michigan (my home state.) She’s preparing to move to WordPress and I’ve been helping her in my own small way as she navigates this transition. Oh, you’re going to love her new blog design!
I’ve never regretted for one minute moving to WordPress, by the way. I love everything about it. I did the whole thing myself and the transition was relatively seamless. It’s been nothing but a positive experience for me.
Anyway, Dawn made two versions of this watermark, one with black lettering and one with white. Once she moves her blog, she will be available to design one just for you. I’ll keep you posted as to when she’s up and running.
Rehearsals start today. I had dinner with my friend Mary, who is the stage manager, last night. Here’s to old friends and the new friends I will make during this process.
Oh by the way, one of the perils of staying in temporary housing? Not realizing the alarm clock has been set and being jarred awake by a continuous ringing at 12 am and 1 am.
Happy Tuesday.
Good morning Claudia, Your place looks nice with all your touches. Have a good day, Doris
Thank you, Doris!
Good Morning Claudia,
I woke up early this morning excited to see what you did with the apartment.
I am not disappointed. You made the place look like home. When I travel
I always bring a few little things from home to make it personal. I will miss your
cottage while you are away but look forward to your adventures. Hope you
have a great day.
Sharron
I think bringing personal touches makes all the difference in the world, Sharron.
I will miss my cottage while I’m away, too!
There’s nothing like a bit of home to make a new/temporary place feel like home.
I’m learning to hand quilt but can’t seem to master the first stitch. It’s always a LOT longer than the others and much longer than I want it to be. I got a new thimble with the dimpled flat top so I’m hoping that will help me get the rocking motion down and shorten that first stitch.
It takes a while to get it smaller. The key is to rock it at right angles to the fabric, that helps.
Nice touches Claudia, I envy your talents! I really do (in a good way) I would never try to steal them or anything like that. What ever you decide to make, I’m sure it will be top drawer! It always is. -Judy A-
Thanks, Judy!
Good morning! You’ve certainly made it nice and cozy. I love the way you brought some things from home to make the place your own. Two months is a long time to be away. Hopefully, your quilt and Mabel will make you feel right at home in your temporary place and you’ll make some progress on a new quilt. I haven’t sewn anything yet with my little Featherweight. Thumbs up from me on your trademark/watermark! Glad to hear that worpress works for you! Love your streamlined design. I don’t blog enough to make any moves to WordPress. I’ll check out your friends blog. It sounds like you have a great attitude and are ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work doing the things that you love. Love your post the other day about not following trends. One of my friends frequently says this is in or this color is in and I say, Doing what I love and what makes me feel happy is in. Homes look dated quickly when you follow all the trends. I do occasionally buy somthing trendy by I will not let the current fads dictate how I should dress or deorate my nest. Individuality is what makes a place a home!
Well, I have to put on tunnel vision glasses while I’m here and not thing about home too much.
Now you feel at home…well a bit. Claudia, hope you enjoy your time there. Don’t forget to take plenty of pictures for all of us that wish we were there too. xoxo,Susie
I will, Susie.
Love your touch to the apartment. Did you bring pictures of Scout and Don?
Just the ones on my computer! But I have a LOT of them on my laptop.
Your new temporary abode looks great. You can’t go wrong with quilts. Love the pansy one. Love your new watermark, too. I might have to contact the other Dawn :)
She’s pretty talented!
I love the pansy quilt! And the one on your bed is absolutely gorgeous. A very nice resting place for your traveling companions. We have a little toy goat (“toy goat, toy goat”) that has been hanging around our house for years. I think I will take a picture of him and send it to you!
A toy goat! Yay!
You’ve made your apartment look so homey! Your quilts are beautiful and I will look forward to what you do with those fat quarters. And I love your new watermark. How can you not love a lamb in a party hat? Enjoy your work.
I know – everyone loves a lamb in a party hat!
You give the apartment “homeyness” and that’s important to us girls, ya know. ;-)
xoxo,
Connie
Thank you, my friend!
Cozy and very comfy feeling! Looking forward to your adventures… :)
Thank you! Here’s hoping I have some fun adventures!
Very cute apartment. Home away from home with all the personal touches! Love the little white kitchen too!
The kitchen is my favorite part of the apartment.
Looks like you made your temporary space very cozy. Love Dawn.
Hugs,
Laura
She’s a lovely person.
Sooo much better, now that you’ve added your own personal touch. I like high ceilings, too.
Our ceilings at the cottage are pretty low! This makes for a nice change.
Wishing you a pleasant and successful stay in your temporary home. Love the quilt!
Thanks so much, Dayle!
Claudia I had no idea you brought your home with you. Brilliant idea. I love the bed quilt, what design is it. I haven’t made a quilt in a long time but have it on my winters to-do-list. Thank you for the mention of me and the watermark. I hope to make my move this weekend:)
It’s a design by Kaffe Fassett, built on a Snowball block. I have it in a book that I bought a couple of years ago.
Glad to see you are all settled in! I’m curious about that pansy quilt…I don’t remember you ever showing that before. It is positively gorgeous…does it have a story? Enjoy your day! ;)
I made it when we lived in San Diego. I can’t remember the name of the women who designed the quilt pattern, but I fell in love with it. It used to be hanging on our stairway wall in the cottage.
It’s nice that a few touches from home can make such a difference isn’t it? It also good to see the little traveling trio snuggled on your bed again..I bet they will be the most comfort to you while you are there..Love the quilts of course and the red barkcloth..wow..I have a gorgeous piece in green that I’m not sure what I want to do with it..I hope Mabel works some of her magic for us to see while you are there..Hugs
Mabel will get into some sort of action in a couple of weeks.
I’m glad Wayfrom and pals made the trip–they can stand guard while you are working and provide company when you’re “home”–which you have made very quickly and beautifully. What a lovely pansy wall hanging, and what a difference it makes. Anything pansy or violet gets my vote. Do you “quilt as you go” or after everything is assembled?
No, Sonja, I wait until everything is assembled. xo
Claudia, the pansy quilt is the prettiest quilt I’ve ever seen!!!!!!!! I noticed it immediately in the photo before I even
read what you wrote about it. It really is stunning!
Love the design and the colors. It’s my favorite.
Dearest Claudia
Oh my………. Just LOVE the pansy quilt.
I have never seen that pattern before and must say it is just so lovely.
And love the choice of colors.
And love pansies ~ Thanks for sharing.
Brenda
What’s not to love about a pansy? The colors are beautiful, aren’t they? I’m real proud of this one.
Claudia I love how you make your ‘away’ home cozy and personal. I know it makes things easier. Love the new watermark! I’m so glad you like wordpress. I’ve heard that Brenda at cozy little house is having horrible issues and trying to move back to blogger. I think she has gotten stuck in no where land and I miss her! Wishing you good rehearsals!
hugs,
Linda
She has had a hard time. Something went wrong with her original transfer to WP, I suspect. But I don’t know that for sure. She’s the exception, rather than the rule. I had no problems at all. And most bloggers I know haven’t had any problems. But it’s been tough for her and hopefully, she will be happy at her new home.
I noticed the new watermark today for the first time. Love it!! And, I don’t think I had ever seen the pansy quilt. It is beautiful. Is that a new one, or perhaps I just must have missed it if you ever showed it previously? You have made the place in which you will dwell for the next several weeks (don’t want to say months) into a lovely home-away-from-home like you always do. Have a wonderful creative time!! It will be fun to see what you create with fabric while you are there, too!
No, I made it several years ago when we were still living in San Diego. We used to have it hanging on the stair wall but took down for a while. It’s been folded up in a stack of my quilts in the guest room.
The quilts really do the trick don’t they? They add such comfort for you while having to be away from home. I wonder what the house keepers think when they walk in and find such beautiful color everywhere! And I too can’t wait to see what those fat quarters become.
No housekeepers here, Annette! I’m in an apartment, not the hotel I used to stay in. I’m the housekeeper!
Claudia, your little home away from, looks very nice and Claudia-ish. I am loving that quilt on the wall. So beautiful. I noticed your new watermark right away and think it’s unique and cute. Have a wonderful stay while you are working and it’s fun that we all get to come along with you too. Ann
Thank you so much, Ann. Love that watermark!
After the last couple days with Dad I am thinking that wine is looking pretty good.
Hugs,
Meredith
Me too!
Love the way you made your “home” away from home. Isn’t it wonderful how a little color will make us happy? Enjoy your stay…I know I will by following you.
Balisha
Color makes all the difference, Balisha!
Claudia, you are a marvel! I am so envious at your ability to adapt and make a cozy spot for yourself away from home. And I adore Wayfrum Holmes, that is the cutest – hope he enjoys his time “way frum”. Oh my goodness and your pansy quilt – so charming. Pansies are an absolute favorite thing of mine and your quilt is so very lovely.
Thinking of you and looking forward to hearing about your time in Hartford!
Don thought up that name – isn’t it adorable? I love pansy anything!
You are amazing at turning a sterile space into a cozy home!
Oh, thank you, Maureen!
You inspire me with your home away from home attitude. (I carry a ceramic coffee mug and think I’m a clever world traveler.)
Well, having done this a lot, I’ve learned that I have to have things I love around me!
My dorm room here at Salve Regina Universtity has become my “home”. I’ve added quite some things over the past two and a half weeks. You will be fine!
It helps, doesn’t it, Regula! Have fun!
I think it’s fantastic how you make your temporary apartment more appealing and “homey” by bringing treasured items from home and buying yourself fresh flowers. I hope your stay goes well….xoxo
Thank you, Melanie!
Another beautification project by Miss Claudia! You have such a talent for creating a cozy home. Thanks for the update on Brenda; I was getting worried about her. Have a good week.
You have a good week, too, Dottie.
Looks so homey..good job..purple flowers to match your purple pushpins…:)
Absolutely!
Wow you really made the place look wonderful an SO cozy.. I LOVE the quilts. They’re beautiful.. Do you share this apartment with others?
No, thank goodness! Just me. I need the quiet and privacy after working with actors all day!