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The Best Laid Plans

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Gosh, the comments and suggestions on yesterday’s post about my problem with paper were so helpful. And funny. Clearly, some of you suffer from the same problem. But some of you are very organized (I am in awe) and generously offered many helpful tips. I plan to implement some of them right away.

In fact, I had planned to being shredding yesterday afternoon. Don was in the city and I seem to get more done when he’s not here. But before you shred, I said to myself, you must replace Mabel’s Drip Pan Pad (a task that I have postponed for 3 weeks.) Featherweight’s have a drip pan with a felt pad that, according to Nova, collects grease and oil and is responsible for a lot of that musty smell. You can order the pads from Nova.

I opened up the Mabel’s bottom and discovered a nasty old drip pan pad, which promptly was put in a plastic bag and dumped in the trash. I took the drip pan outside and removed all the oil that had accumulated there.

There it is. The other stuff is dried glue. And now for the felt pad:

I glued it to the drip pan, put the pan back on Mabel’s bottom and the musty smell is gone.

Ta dah!

Proud of myself, I thought that I had better exit the studio and start shredding. As I cleaned up my little mess, my eyes lit on a favorite piece of barkcloth. (I ♥ barkcloth, and that means ‘love’ not ‘heart’ – don’t get me started.)

No, I said, look away. You must start shredding.

But it’s such a pretty piece of barkcloth – part of an old set of curtain panels. I’ve had it a long time.

I’ve been wanting to change up the skirt around the sewing machine table. Maybe a solid color eventually, but I wondered if I could cut around some of the holes in the barkcloth remnant and make a skirt?

No. Stop. I should shred.

Before I knew it, I found myself measuring and cutting and looking for my velcro stash and it was if I had been taken over by aliens and I plugged in Mabel and, well, here you go:

I wanted something a bit bolder in here. I love all my turquoise and pink but I needed a dash of bolder prettiness. If things start getting too matchy-matchy around here, I get uneasy. Hey, it’s only velcro…if I find something I like better, I can change it. And Mabel, trusty little wonder that she is, did all the stitching.

Now I’m thinking the chair needs to be recovered, but if you remember, I used that chair to fix something in the bedroom. And while I was standing on it, it fell over and I stepped through the woven back. It’s better if I don’t repeat the words that came out of my mouth. So maybe the chair simply needs to be replaced. I don’t know.

And suddenly it was late in the afternoon and I heard Scout pacing around downstairs and I realized that she needed to be fed and I needed some hot chocolate so that I could check in on the blog comments and ….

The shredding never got done.

Happy Wednesday.

Comments

  1. Oh, Claudia, your post today is sooo funny! Of course you chose Mabel and the beautiful barkcloth over shredding–who in their right mind wouldn’t do the same?! The shredding can wait for another day! When inspiration strikes, what can you do but answer the call? xxoo, Martha

  2. I’d write a comment, but you’ve spurred me on to leave this computer, take a walk (I don’t exercise enough) and get on with cleaning this house. Pleasant distractions do get in the way of such things . . .

  3. Claudia,I just Love your blog so much! I have been reading for about 6 months. I now have all my friends reading,you have never disappointed me. -Judy-

  4. Finally got caught up with some of your recent posts! That’s a lovely piece of bark cloth and a great idea! Who knew Mabel had a felt bottom! I just learned something new : )

  5. What you did was waaaaay more fun than shredding, by far!! Eh, that shredding’s not going anywhere ;-). (I can’t tell you how many times I opt for other projects in order to avoid dusting…)

  6. That Nova is one smart cookie. Way back when she still wore diapers, most of the smell came from my daughter’s bottom too. he he he I can’t blame you… a gorgeous piece of barkcloth like that would have me avoiding shredding too. Love the flowers and all of the colours in it. You know though that it makes today shredding day… :)

  7. Do NOT throw that chair away!!!! You can have the cane fixed or make a cover for it but do NOT throw it away, sugar! I’d take it if I lived closer. Do NOT throw it away! :-)
    xoxo,
    Connie

  9. Good story, Claudia! Very fun! I’m starting to think that when my artistic side got activated, my organized side got deactivated! Could it be true for you too? :-D xo Jennifer

  10. What a hoot! I also, get more done when my hubby is gone. Easily distracted much?? Too funny! You have very aptly described my day! Only the details change! Thanks for the morning laugh! ;)

  11. Oh goodness, that is so me. I’m actually proud of you that you remembered your original goal was the shredding. I get off on something else and have no idea what I was originally planning to do. Love the new skirt. Vintage barkcloth always makes me swoon :)

    Hugs,
    Laura

  12. Well, you did have good intentions, And, you did accomplish another very creative and pretty task. So … I say kudos to you.

    Now, double shredding today?

    • Well, in a perfect world, that’s what should happen, but I found other things to distract me from the task at hand!

  13. I had no idea about the felt bottom on the Featherweights!! I learned something new today. Thanks! I probably would have done the same thing – sewing is so much more fun than shredding.

    Judy

  15. Shredding all that paper? What a waste of time. Here is the solution: Put a few inches of water in the tub. Add a splash of bleach. Dump all paper in. Let the paper soak, while you do something important, like a tablescape, or work on fixing the back of that darling chair. When the paper is thoroughly soaked, pull the plug. Let the water drain,(have a cup of coffee) then gather in up and smoosh it all together into a ball. Now, you can use it as papermache, or you can put it in a trashbag and dispose of it. Nobody is getting any info off that paper! Explain to your hubby it is a more secure method than shredding. He will be surprised that you are so security conscious. And, you will have invested a couple of minutes in paper, and will have a new table scape, or whatever. As a bonus, the bleach has made the bottom of the tub clean! TaDa!!! End of worry about shredding. (Hey, I have just written my first tutorial!)

  23. Procrastination is my guilty pleasure too. No way the paper shredding would have won out over that fabulous fabric. Onr thought though, isn’t it hanging upside down? lol .Blessings from the UK

    • It just might be, however, that’s the original hem for the curtains at the bottom, so it looks like they were made that way. Doesn’t bother me a bit!

      • It wouldn’t bother me either. My Father once wall papered my parents’ bedroom with very expensive floral paper. When I saw the finished result I told him he’s hung the lot upside down. This didn’t faze him one bit. He just informed me that it was Australian wallpaper, and therefore the right way up. My Mother never noticed anyway! lol

  24. LOL.. Lesley’s comment, that’s funny!!… and my mom’skitchen paper was also upside down.. the flower stems were UP.

  26. Oh dear! You too? I have started two sewing projects with a time limit and Always find myself doing somthing else first.That leads to something else, etc! Nice to know I am in such good company.

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