plump pudding

Just what I've been looking for

This weekend I was Billy No Mates due to the fact that Keanan was playing an away football match and Ethan had gone to watch his friends playing football.  Stephen was in bed - so that meant I was all alone.

So what do you do when you are on your own?  Pop down the car boot sale.  Most times I go without some kind of master pan.  But occasionally there are times when I am looking for something specific. 

And I found them this weekend.  The first item I spotted was a child's blackboard - destined for the studio to write my orders etc on.

This was in pretty good condition and just needed a quick coat of emulsion before it was whiscked away to the studio.  The plan is to cross off the jobs when they have been finished.  Nothing like a kick up the backside to motivate you!

The second find was needed as Keanan keeps coming out to the studio when I'm out there.  There is only one tall stool which means that I often end up standing.  Damn cheek - it is my room after all! 

I already have one of these chairs that was a Mother's Day gift from the boys.  I wasn't after an exact match.  It just so happened this chair was there waiting for me and even better only cost me £3.  To top it all off I found a tin of paint in HomeBase reduced to £1.50.  Hence the lavender colour.

With all the sitting down I do, I need something nice and soft to sit on.  Being a meanie once again, I already had the cushion pad and cut up a vintage apron that I bought a few weeks ago.  I used the waist tie to tie the cushion to the chair and have backed the cushion with some lemon striped fabric.

No excuse now - back to work for me!

Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion

I seem to have spent a fair amount of time faffing around this week.  I can't grumble though as it has meant a spotlessly clean studio. 

It had become a bit of a dumping ground with things not being put away.  Plus I had to buy a new clock which kickstarted it all.

I moved my shelves from their temporary position on my industrial overlocker to the work top.  Which then meant I had to sort through what was on there and tidy it all up.

Next on the hit list was my postal supplies - which were all stuffed into a carrier bag.  After moving all my scraps to a box, I put my supplies in the now empty basket.

After a quick hoover, order was restored and it's back to the pincushions

Please look after this bag

I have been busy this weekend and wasted no time in using the vintage Paddington Bear fabric that I bought last week.  I bought it with the the idea of book bags/tote bags in mind.

The fabric just seemed perfect for bags. 

I have added a red ribbon tie at the top for extra security.

And to provide extra stability I have lined the bag with hot pink gingham.  Oh and a plump pudding label too!

There are only so many tote bags a girl needs which means that there are some bags up for sale in my Etsy shop.

There are only a limited number of the bags - so pop over quickly and have a look around.

Bargains

Yesterday's thrifty bargains were put to use immediatly.

Straight on was a beautiful Murano glass ring

And a permanent fixture: a cup of tea.  I found the mug (which is very reminiscent of Cath Kidston - shame on me after yesterday's post) brand new and still wrapped up in a matching money box/tin

Vintage tray cloth - destined to be cut up and made into something else.  Just not quite sure what yet

Vintage Padidngton Bear curtains.  These are also going to be cut up and made into something else.  I have  a few ideas floating around.  Plus I just couldn't resist them!

Not bad for a flying visit to a handful of charity shops!

Handmade

Rather than buying gifts I have been making this year - in an attempt to save some pennies (says she that went to the hairdressers yesterday)! 

First in line was a birthday present for my sister that she requested for her last birthday last year.  One year late but it was duly delivered this year.

A draught excluder

At the risk of sounding like a sour puss, I know that Cath Kidston sells these (or did) but I got thr basic pattern for mine from a vintage sewing book dated from the 1970s.  I have to 'fess up here to a love/hate thing about Cath Kidston.  Yes, some of her fabrics are very pretty but they are also very expensive.  And for me, the fact that she has made anything and everything emblazoned with her fabrics and logo dimishes their appeal.  Anyhoo, I'll get off my soap box and show you another photo of the draught excluder.

Made using vintage Laura Ashley baby needlecord, vintage ribbon and he has pollka dot under ears.

The next gift is for a friend who has just had her first baby.  Rather than buy baby clothes I decided to make a gift for the nursery.

Again made with a vintage pattern and thrifted felted wool.  Apart from the stuffing, everything on this little lamb is either vintage or reccyled.

I also bought (and forgot to photograph) a vintage copy of The velveteen rabbit.   Not the original 1922 version, but one from the 1970s that was in great condition. 

On the way to visit little baby Thomas, I undid all good work by visiting not one but several charity shops.  And came away with a small pile of delights.  Bad girl!  I'll tell you all about those tomorrow!

Hairy Moments

My hair was way overdue for a cut and highlights but the hairdresser that usually cuts my hair has got herself a salon which meant an increase in the cost.  Too much for me really.  Which meant my hair has been awful for the past few weeks and I have just been scrunching in back in a ponytail.

When I met up with a friend a few weeks ago she had had her hair cut and after admiring it, decided that's where I would go and have mine cut.  However there was a mix up in the text messages that followed and I booked an appointment at the wrong salon and only realised it five minutes before my appointment!

I even considered cancelling - as I am a right panicker about who cuts my hair.  So with trepidation in I went and I came out looking like this (thankfully)

Back to being a "natural" blonde again!

Clearing the Decks

So much for relaxing after the Christmas period.  After painting the cloakroo, I threw caution to the wind and decided that I would also spruce up the boys rooms.

But before I started painting I decided to have a big clear out/sort through.  That resulted in a trip to the charity box and the boys rooms being much clearer - they even "discovered" a few toys that had been buried under other toys.

This is the just finished version of Keanan's room.  It's not quite as tidy as this now - but I have been making the boys tidy up dirty clothes etc as they go along. 

I did tell you I was a white and cream kind of girl.  I bought a big 10 litre tub of magnolia paint from B&Q and just started painting.

After one weekend of painting solid, the rooms are so clean and fresh.  Shame it won't last too long!  But Maudie obviously approves.

(Belated) New Year Greetings!

Better late than never - a Happy New Year to you all!

Christmas seems such a long time ago and we are now into 2008.  The Christmas decorations are still up as I can't be bothered to get out the ladder, go into the loft and bring the boxes down. 

I have been spending my time on far more important matters such as re-painting the cloakroom.  It was done on a whim at the weekend.  Which meant that at 7.00pm on Saturday night I whizzed along to HomeBase to buy the same colour paint that I had seen on Kim's walls.

Shameless copying there Kim.  This is quite a radical departure for me as I am a cream and white kind of girl in the decorating states.  And whilst I love it, and it shows off the venetian glass mirror beautifully, I can only cope with it in the cloakroom.

And it took three coats of paint to cover the white walls - by this time my patience was definitely wearing thin.   Of course, I couldn't just paint the walls and woodwork and just leave it at that.  The plant was half price whilst I was buying the paint and the little Dutch girl print was moved from the bedroom.

I even raided my vintage fabrics stash and made a valance from vintage Sanderson fabric.

The finishing touch was to make a new lining for the basket and to add Kim's pom pom.  Perfect.

Next on the hit list is Ethan's bedroom which is badly in need of a coat of paint as the walls and woodwork are so scruffy.  The reality of this is that the Christmas tree may be up for a few more days!

Just to prove that I haven't been chained to a pot of paint all holidays, we braved the winds and cold weather at a local beach.  Stephen, the boys and two of their friends.

Bracing would be an understatement.  But it was worth it for chips and ice cream at the cafe afterwards.