Our Front Addition

With it being 14 degrees Celsius today, it was the perfect day to scrape the stucco residue and clean the construction grime off our windows.  We are so pleased the way our front addition developed and it has completely changed the appearance of our house. 

This is a picture of what our house looked like back in May before we started everything; before we cut down my pine tree, before we dug up all the bushes, before the bricks and flagstone path were removed.






And here is a picture of what the house looks today, after I finished cleaning the windows.

Extending the front of our house seemed to drag on forever.  There was extra work in the front that we did not have to deal with in the back, and weather conditions were not as ideal as when we worked on the back.  In fact it was only last week that the new front door and the last of the fascia trim were installed. 

Just as our rear addition had begun, we first dug out the basement.  However, in the front we also had to dig out and break up the cement block that supported our walk-in bay window.  When David installed the bay window 20 years ago, we never thought that one day we would be doing all this. So at the time, to support the bay window he simply dug a whole (5 feet deep by 8 feet wide) and filled it with gravel and cement.

The garage also had to be under pinned. And before the footing could be poured an opening had to be cut into the, solid, poured concrete basement wall to connect the existing basement to the new. With the rear addition the basement was a block wall, much easier to cut.  A new sewer pipe with back-up valve also had to be installed.

Finally, we were ready for the brick layers to return and build the block wall.  Just as it was done in the back,  the blocks were filled with cement, the outer edge of the wall was waterproofed, blue shielded and wrapped.  The back-fill this time, however, was gravel.
One more step before the framers could get started was to build the frame for the cold room ceiling.  This was then filled with cement, 8" thick.  The cement had to cure slowly so not to crack.  So over a 5 day period we watered it every day. 

Beams were installed to support the new structure.  First in the basement to support the first floor, and then one to support the second floor.

Another set back with the front addition was the demolition of our old roof line.  In the back, David had done a lot of the demolition himself before we had even begun.  We also had more rain days over the course of the front addition, so much time was spent tarping the house.

But the framers did an awesome job and framed up both floors rather quickly.

Next was the roof.  With the two gables, the front, again, was much more involved.

With the size of the roof, and rain again looming, it was all hands on deck to ice and water shield the roof.  The shingling was then done sometime later, taking about 3 days. 
 
While the guys were busy on the roof, one of the brick layers was back bricking up the front and sides of the house.

Next was installing the remainder of the windows.  These all had to be installed before our stucco guy, Stan, could get started on the front.  He was busy with the back and sides while the framers were working on the front. 

We reused all of our front windows, having only to order 4 new windows for along the side of the house.

Our bay window will now be my Dad's, in his living room.

Stan seemed to manage attaching all the styrofoam base and applying the first coat of stucco.

October brought us a lot of rain delays.  The final coat of stucco needed 5 hours to dry, a day to cure and temperatures above 5 degrees Celsius.  With no other options, we ended up tarping the house yet again to take advantage of the warmer days.

The final coat also required more guys, as it must be applied quickly before it dries.  With Stan's crew, being busy on other jobs, they applied the final coat in the evenings.

Before the scaffolding was removed, the aluminum guys quickly installed the fascia trim, soffit and eaves-trough.  David also used this opportunity to install the soffit lighting.

With the installation of our new front door scheduled for the end of November, David had to remove our old door and re-frame the new larger opening.
With the temperatures being so cold, David had the brilliant idea to board up and insulate the entrance.  This way he could take his time, without worrying about the temperature outside.  The installers also appreciated working in these conditions.

With the front boarded up, the door was brought in through our side door,  This photo also gives you a glimpse of the construction zone that is still on the inside of our house.

After only a few hours,  here is our new front door.

Even though we were held up by weather through October and most of November, we are weather tight for the winter.  A few outside finishes will now have to wait until Spring, such as the final stucco coat (only cosmetic) and the fascia on the rear addition.  The front entrance also still needs the styrofoam attached and to be stuccoed. 

Phew, the same way I was happy to see the completion of he addition, I am also happy to finally finish this post.  What am I saying, the outside of the addition may be done for this year, but we still have much to finish on the inside and then there is still the landscaping. 
Oh well, one stepping stone at a time.

Stitching with Lorene

Wednesday evening, Lorene was in the shop teaching a Canvaswork workshop.  The project was her Chantilly biscornu.
Having brought some of their own fibre stash from home, we first worked on selecting our colours.  This was a lot of fun.  One even selected colours outside of her usual compfort zone, but it was right on target with mine.  I can't wait to see them all complete.

 

This image shows both the top and bottom of the Lorene's biscornu.  It's a great project for canvas stitchers of all levels.  I love how the colours are interwoven and layered. 

Lorene has been designing for several years, and she joins the greats in what she brings  to canvaswork. 

One of her newest designs available for sale is
Ave del Paraiso.  It shows off her insight in colour, stitches, and creativity.  Even the background is spectacular; it is subtle, delicate and intricate all at the same time.  The end result is  mesmerizing.

In one of her teaching pieces she combines colours, such as orange and turquise.  One would never think of combining these, yet they blend together seamlessly and look like they belong together.
Having Lorene's models up on display in the shop,  I find myself checking them out every time I pass by.

They will remain up until our Christmas Open House, so drop by and see for yourself.

Designer of the Month: Lorene Salt

Lorene Salt is an award winning stitcher, and her favourite medium is Canvaswork. She has been designing for over 5 years and enjoys watching a piece come alive through colour and texture.

She has completed the Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Canvaswork courses through EAC (Embroiderers' Association of Canada), and has also  taken many cyberclasses and courses through EAC and ANG (American Needlepoint Guild). Lorene has taught at the EAC Seminar in Regina in 2010 and at the CreativFestival in Toronto in 2011 and 2012.

Some of her models on display at Gitta's will not be released until after the National EAC seminar next year, so drop by to see these and her other designs.

Lorene has a vast knowledge of canvas work and experience of stitching with all kinds of needleart fibres.  She will be in the shop Wednesday November 12th for Stitch Night, and will hold a mini canvas work workshop from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, and share her insights.






Visit our workshop page at www.gittas.com for more details, or just call the shop.

While visiting Gitta's this month, don't forget to collect Lorene's contribution to the Designer of the Month Sampler.  This design is free of charge, but we hope that you will add some of her other designs to your canvas work collection.  All of her published designs are also available on our website.

Lorene is our final designer, and her design completes the Designer of the Month Sampler.  This has been an fun journey, and I am so please with the end result.  Didn't it turn out great?