plump pudding

Completion

Well, the wardrobe is now completed and I am pretty pleased with how it's turned out.  I have to keep looking at it when I am in the studio - just to reassure myself of it's loveliness.

Please ignore the mess behind the wardrobe - that is my next task.  A HUGE fabric sort out and whatever I part with is destined for Etsy or e-Bay.  So keep checking back




First job was to remove the door and fill the holes left behind.  Then it was sanded and after a coat of primer/undercoat, two coats of Laura Ashley Eau De Nile eggshell.



Whilst I was in B&Q getting the MDF cut for the shelves, I couldn't resist these little wooden cut outs.  I bought four and glued them on to each corner.



Then of course I had to add the Laura Ashley frill - only to brighten it up a little you undertand.




And some more Laura Ashley courtesy of the wallpaper.  I am really pleased with the outcome - so much more than if I had gone to Ikea as originally planned and bought a shelving unit.  Apart from the fact that I enjoyed every minute of this makeover - all that fussing and faffing - it actually worked out cheaper than the unit.  And I do like a bargain!

And speaking of bargains, I have become a little obessessed about this studio sort out/make over and ended up back in Laura Ashley buying this beautiful fabric.




This will be the curtains that cover up the tumble dryer and freezer.  I will be stopping after that.  Promise!

Pimp My Wardrobe

I had a sucessful wardrobe hunt on Friday and ended buying a post-war Utility wardrobe from a local charity shop.  The best thing was that it was delivered Saturday morning.

In my haste to make over the wardrobe, I dragged it outside, removed the door, sanded and painted in over the weekend.




I did go slightly overboard and took a detour to Laura Ashley.  They were having a sale, so I couldn't resist.    All the pretty bits came from there: the wallpaper which is backing the wardrobe, the egg shell paint and the fabric for the frill.




As you can see it still is a work in progress.  I need to put in shelves and then paint and paper them.  Bit of a sticking point as the cutting machine in B&Q is broken and HomeBase don't sell sheets of MDF.  Once the shelves are in,  it will be just a matter of sorting through more craft stuff and arranging them artfully (obviously this will only last for a limited time) on the shelves.

Whilst in a titivating mood, the Ikea boxes were also given a facelift.  Courtesy of scrapbooking paper.




The worst part was taking out the drawer contents and filling them up afterwards.

Doing this I discovered a packet of used stamps that I had picked up on one of my  charity shop jaunts.  I liked the idea of having one odd box out of the rest.




Although you can't see it in this poor lighting, the front really shines dues to a few coats of PVA glue.

After all that frivolity, it was down to some work.  I put together my box for Claire .  She kindly agreed to take some of my items with her to a craft stall that she is doing.  So that will be in the post today - thanks!

And then it was back to the pincushion.  Hopefully  Sarah  will like it. 



I used beautifully soft creamy yellow wool felt for two sides of the pincushion.  The other two are vintage 1940s Sooty and Sweep Fabric.  Again, this one is weighted at the bottom for extra stability.

And if you can't resist, it is in the Shop

Plodding on

After posting yesterday, I popped to Ikea, had a good old mooch around and came home with a cream filing cabinet.  It wil be perfect for keeping my glue gun and smaller crafty items in.  If only I could figure out how to assemble it.




I think I have it upside down which explains why the one drawer I have put together won't fit.  I think I am going to have to admit defeat and enlist Stephen's help.

As a result of Monday night's sort out, there is a small pile of craft items surplus to my requirements.  Here they are all and they are for sale ibn my Etsy Shop




Oodles and oodles of bright red 25mm bias binding



Mixed rolls  of bias binding in yellow, black and burgundy



More 25mm bias binding - this time in baby pink Sold thanks!





Vintage rugmaker in its original box  Sold Thanks!



Master Bavaria: a vintage peg doll kit



Master China peg doll kit Sold Thanks!

and finally the cutest vintage party invites  Sold Thanks!




I was rather loathe to part with these, but somehow I don't think my boys would want to send these out!

Invitation

After chatting with Claire from Elfie and Me, her cards and decorations are coming up to the Country Living Spring Fair with me. 

Aren't they beautiful.  I'm sure the ladies at the Spring Fair won't be able to resist!  And the decorations too - so pretty.  I just love anything pretty.

I mentioned this to Stephen (more monologue on my part than conversation) and he said had I asked any other bloggers whether they were interested in doing the same.

Ah - that would be a no then.

So here I am asking fellow crafters (UK only sorry) whether they would be interested in wholesaling with me at the Spring Fair.

Well, what are you waiting for?  I would love to hear from you!

Holidays

This morning was the Market as usual, plus it was pay day.  I wasn't going to go into the shops at Cowbridge, especially not the charity shops, but if I was going to the bank it would be churlish not to.  Surely? 

There wasn't anything to buy, but I popped into the newsagent and succumbed to this magazine of loveliness

Flicking through there are some lovely ideas in here, although not all new.  Disapointingly some are from last Christmas. 

These stockings are cute, but this one has been on Martha's website for a while.  Good idea though

I have a million and one things to do tonight.  Finishing off a wholesale order for Lapin & Me which needs to be posted tomorrow.  Plus the school fair which is tomorrow afternoon.

And to top it all off, I can't manage to transfer the photos from my new camera on to the computer.  Which is why you have all had to suffice with Martha Stewart!