Cushion Covers for Ethel!

My husband finished making covers for the bottom cushions.  I think he did a GREAT job!  Better than I could've done.  

It's a very thick vinyl that he had to stitch by hand.  Needless to say, he managed to stab his thumb a few times with the needle...OUCH!

I guess that fabric draped over the back is a fabric swatch for maybe the top cushion?  Progress is being made!

It's Been a While!

Wow, can't believe I haven't posted anything on here in so long.  Well....yes, I can. The truth is, I have done NOTHING to Lucy in a long time.  She is in PA and I am still in FL :(

My husband has been getting very domestic without me there and has started hand sewing new cushion covers for Ethel.  Hand sewing because he found some very thick commercial naugahyde. That and he doesn't have the sewing machine.  Except for some painful jabs to the thumb, I think he's coming along quite well.  When he sends me pictures, I'll post them here.

On the Lucy front, despite not being up there to work on her, I did recently acquire a couple things that I can't wait to put in her.  My littlest son gave me an I Love Lucy mug for Christmas and I was told it is to go in the camper. (Ok, will do!)  I also found, on clearance at Barnes and Noble) a large, round I Love Lucy clock.  Not sure where I'll hang it yet, but it's going up!  Oh, and my sister gave me an I Love Lucy tshirt to wear when I am working on her.  Very cute stuff.

I am still worried about Ethel, though.  My husband seems to have several different colors going on inside her...he doesn't think so, but he's a guy and we all know how they can be when it comes to colors and decorating!

Well folks, don't give up on me here...I promise more posts will come as soon as I can get my butt up to Pittsburgh!

Nothing major yet

Well, I haven't been able to do any real work on Lucy yet since I'm still living in Miami and she's in Pittsburgh...but the time is getting closer.

I added some Steelers throw pillows and a couple strands of white LED battery powered lights for atmosphere.  The real work has been done on Ethel...

Buddy painted a fresh coat of gold around her.  The little pieces of paper stuck to her side are paint samples for different shades of white.

They all look the same to me.

That long blue thing next to a long black thing is Buddy's shell.  A type of row boat.  It needs repairs, too.  The black thing is a large tube that he's keeping around for Aidan to play in.  It would all be fine except for the fact that the tent for our wedding reception has to be set up in the grassy area in front of Lucy and between that boat and tube and that tree.  I think it's going to be a tight squeeze.  Ethel will get relocated out of the driveway....I hope....?

That's all for now.  The girls have to take a backseat until the wedding is over!

My first real time with Lucy

Last weekend I finally got back up to PA and was able to really check out Lucy.  Aside from having really awful flooring, she's not bad.  Not bad at all, if you don't also count the exterior. 

 This is her little spot in the yard.

 After wiping her down with disinfectant, I couldn't wait to go to Walmart and see what I could find to start sprucing her up.  I figured that since her name is Lucy, she needed to have some red in her.  And being in Pittsburgh, she also needed some Steeler stuff, too!

 I found this cheap doormat at Walmart ($3!).  I thought it was kind of retro and would be cool.

 A red valance...and the matching red curtains I hung under the counter where there's just a big gaping open space.  That silver thing in the back is just thrown over the old AC that we're probably going to remove and replace with a window.  I don't think my Lucy needs an AC.  She's going to be pretty basic and low maintenance.

 The cushion covers are AWFUL!  Orange and brown NAUGAHYDE!  Yup, I'll have to get those suckers recovered!  The cushion up top was found at a garage sale.  It's fine and serves it's purpose.  I'll probably make a simple cover for it out of a sheet or something.

 Throw a couple Steelers pillows on the couch, a Steelers garbage can, a Steelers throw rug and maybe a Steelers blanket and she'll be ready for the season!  Wish we had satellite...I'd LOVE to hang a flat screen TV in there to watch the games on!

 (sorry for the sideways picture)  I added a Lucy license tag that I got in Jamestown, NY (birthplace of Lucy) and a calendar I found.

 I plan on removing 2 of the light fixtures.  That is a working gas light over the table.  I found that red desk lamp at Walmart also on clearance for $4.  Such a bargain!

She sits right next to the woods, all tucked in and cozy.

 I also got some new screening and spline, but ran out of time.  Guess I'll do some window work next time I get up there.

Now, to check out Ethel...

 Personally, I LOVE that curtain, but Buddy isn't quite sold on it yet.  Maybe the flowers are too girly for him?  She's painted inside, but still needs something done about those icky cushions.  And a new tabletop would be nice, too.

 Ethel has a gas light, too, but no glass for it.  I think they must be rare and are really expensive, but we'll keep looking for something.

 Hi, Buddy!  Hey, who's that in the mirror?

 Ethel's upper bunk is folded up.

Overall, Ethel is better on the outside, but Lucy beats her on the inside.  Where the Shasta is all particle board, Lucy is solid wood with very little damage or work to do on it.

I had a great time and can't wait to get back up there again!

Getting There!

She's getting there!  I can see that the new cushions will have to be bigger, so no using the old ones as patterns.  And I think that table will become a different color...but Ethel is definitely looking better than she did when Buddy pulled her out of the AA Forest.

Ethel's got new a new floor!

I didn't think the pomegranite flooring was going to look right, but I must say...I think Buddy made an excellent choice for Ethel. 

Birch is Beautiful!

I feel like Lucy is my "baby"... I had an instant pull towards her the moment I laid eyes on her warm birch interior.  Reminds me so much of our place in Lake Placid (a 1950's Hicks with addition built on).  What's nice, but also kind of kills the whole retro feel is the fairly new countertop.  It's nice to be sure, but it's granite.  I'm hoping that I can still manage to play up a retro look despite that one glaring piece.

Her birch walls have very little damage.  We will probably give them a light sanding and a fresh coat of urethane to protect them and bring out their glow again.  I love the fact that, like the Hicks, her wood is solid wood - no particle board like in the Shasta.  No paneling.  Just beautiful, warm and cozy birch.  I can imagine camping in her when it's cold outside...

I just don't have any good interior shots of her yet.  Maybe I can persuade Buddy to take a few for me so I can post them here.