Meyer Mix

Position: Seamstress

Description: A new construction project requires the assistance of a seamstress to make theater curtains and playhouse curtains.  The project is on schedule, with base molding and door casing installed yesterday, and carpet being installed today.

Location: Westcoast headquarters, but willing to travel to branch office in Chicago suburbs

Hours: Contractual position, 1 day

Skills: Must know what that bobber thingy is on a sewing machine, and how to load it.  Solid opinions on fabrics and pattern options a plus, as well as theater experience.  Also, must be able to concentrate admist the chaos of 7 children running around.

How to Apply: Please arrive in person to the auditions, taking place next week.  Can bring own sewing machine (becuase we have a feeling that it wouldn’t be the first time a Kelly has brought or tried to bring one on a plane), but can also use local machine.

Slowsky has been working at our house for the last four days straight.  His first two days, he spent tiling the bathroom floor.  The last two was spend hanging the rest of the doors, starting on baseboard molding and door casing, and a bunch of other items.  Leo and Joyce came over for a visit yesterday, and took us out to dinner, so that was a welcome break in the basement project.  Jenny and I did go to home depot on the way back from dinner, and then worked until 2am.  And today, I clocked 8am until 10:45pm (Slowsky too), and Jenny is down in the playhouse now putting the second coat of bright pink on the walls.

In the afternoon, I made a pilgrimage to Owl Lumber in Lombard, to buy the door and window casing, and stair parts.   As I was loading up my massive pile, I thought to myself, I better double check that the price they gave me ($1.19/ft) for the casing was accurate.  Sure enough, it was actually $2.19/ft.  That might not seem like a lot, but when buying casing for 7 doors, three windows, two built-in cabinets, plus railings and balusters for the staircase, the total came to just shy of 2.5 million dollars.  I actually had a panic attack at the store, followed by deep feelings of depression on my long long drive home.

The feeling stayed that way, until we started cutting the trim, which lifted my spirits.  I was excited to learn how to do it, and think it is a good skill set to have.  Plus, it was pretty easy, so there was the instant gratification.  We cut the trim for two doors, and then completed just about 1/4 of the base molding in the main rooms.  My goal for tomorrow evening, is to cut the rest of the base, because then we need to stain and seal it before the carpet comes in 9 days!

 That is the update.  Keep it real.  Peace out.

We’ve been hard at work.  I know that the Oregon family would like pictures and color samples of our progress, but that requires effort on our part, and frankly, by the time we are done working each evening, we are too tired.

 As for the colors, there are two main ones.  The first, is a light cream color.  The accent color is a green that resembles mashed peas baby food…after it is eaten and spit back out.

We’ve been doing a lot of painting.  Last Saturday, we stayed up until 5am the the following morning painting (Jenny made me).  Then I got up to work with Slowsky at 7:30am for a full day.  I told a friend about it, and she said we needed an intervention.

 So, here is the progress…

• Sand drywall DONE!
• Wet sponge the walls, and sweep up so we can paint  DONE!
• Prime DONE!
• Paint (and pick the paint colors) Colors are picked! Two ceilings painted.
  6-5-08 update, We’re sooo close!  All basement walls have one coat, and most have two.  Bathroom is done too!
• Insulate the ceiling 
• Install a drop ceiling
• Cut, stain, seal, and install base and casing molding
• Install 7  5   Only 2 left now! door frames and doors (oh, and stain and seal those as well).
• Build the built-in media cabinet
• Install all electrical outlets, DONE!
• Install can lights.   Bathroom is done, soffit is done, waiting on drop ceiling for rest!
• Tile floor in the bathroom Tiles were cut today (6-5-08) by Slowsky.  He’s coming back tomorrow to put them down!
• Wainscoting in bathroom
• Install sink, toilet, and shower door (oh, go buy a shower door)
• Install utility sink Done!
• Connect all plumbing 
• Stain, seal, and install three windows, and trim
• Closet shelving
• Carpet (this is the only part of the project we are not doing ourselves) Ordered, and will be installed in about two weeks!
• Dismantle our craigslist couch, to get it to fit into the basement, and then reassemble.
• Install wired house smoke detector
• Run speaker wire
• Install theater screen
• Convince Jenny to buy an HD projector