Pew restoration project!

A slightly different project this week.  My in-laws had their kitchen re-vamped a while ago now, and they had relegated a dark stained church pew to the garage. It desperately needed a new home. We thought we wouldn't have room for it at our house, but with a bit of re-thinking and measuring we found it may fit in.

Next came the challenge of transporting it from South Wales to Southampton! That was probably the biggest challenge as it didn't quite fit in the cars safely...and we kept umming and ahhing about paying a courier to deliver it.  Then when we forcibly had to upgrade our car this summer, and choosing an estate for our growing family, we found that we were in business.  The pew zipped its way down the m4/m3 and ended up in our garage ready for an upgrade!

I wish I had taken a proper "before" photo as it has undergone quite a transformation.  Below are a few pictures of before... My husband set about many long hours sanding back the dark stain to find a gorgeous Oak hiding.  We wonder why anyone would stain such a nice wood...but then that may be due to it's purpose/fashion at the time.  We don't know the history of the pew...but it's got a few gnarly and bashed bits, it's got the numerals VII engraved in a few places (we thought maybe it was intended for row 7 in the church maybe..?!) and a little metal bracket-y thing on the back shelf.  I'm sure it's had many a person sit on it through it's life.

 So here's a picture of it in our garage undergoing sanding...

Then it needed a good wipe down to clean it up.  We had help to move it up to the house as it was so heavy and so a sword fight ensued between my little man and his Grampy with the Pew providing a safe barrier between them!

And then the finished item in place...

 

I think it looks brilliant!  We are not sure whether to put a clear wax on it to finish it off, or to leave it as it is.  We will have a think.  I have the project of getting some nice wicker baskets to fit underneath to house our shoes, and also to find a fabric to re-upholster the foam cushion to fit along it's seat.  I am at a loss currently as to which fabric to pick...any suggestions gratefully received.

For the time being...we have already perched a few bums on the seat...

I'll keep you posted with any additions to the pew restoration project!

Love from me and my little man x

Baby blanket

At last I can finally say that I have finished a blanket!!  Usually the routine goes that I make a start and then decide I don't like the colours, decide it's way too big and generally get bored of crocheting along.  But this...I have finished! The things that got me through this wooly project were a) knowing that it was going to be a pram blanket for my pending arrival, b) using 3x strands of wool meaning that it is a chunky, fast growing blanket, and c) loving the colour combination.  I think the saving grace was that it was intended to be small, so it wasn't such a big commitment in my head. 

I enjoyed making this one, and it actually gave me a valid chance to put my feet up and chill out for  a bit (whilst still being under the guise of being "productive"!!).

I am an avid fan of Pintrest as there is so much inspiration to trawl through.  This is where I got my original pattern from.  I think this blanket is funky and different.  Blanket Pattern here.


Here is my project in pictures...

Making a start whilst the rhubarb and raspberry crumble is cooking in the oven...

Growing quickly...just like me tummy in the picture...

Getting some crocheting time whilst sitting in the sunny garden with my mum and sister...it's growing...

It was at this point that I had those feelings of doubt...the wool kept un-ravelling, remaining balls getting smaller and smaller and  I did the terrible thing of not keeping the labels!  Would I be able to match up the colours? How much more would I need?!  So on return home, I set out to our local (as in 2mins walk down the road) wool shop Knit Stitch N Craft  and me and the kind lady set about matching colours.  I managed to find the beige and the green (last balls hidden on the shelf!) and the blue we got a very very close match that would suffice...and indeed you cannot tell the change in the blanket.  The visit to that shop gave me more motivation to carry on and taught me one of the big lessons of always keeping your labels!!!

 Loving the chunkiness of this...I used an 8.0mm hook by the way...

 And here it is...Ta-Dah!  Hanging over the cot ready for baby to arrive...

 I considered a border...but then decided that it looked funky and finished without one.  I love the colours...I was dubious about adding the beige wool...but actually it helps to tone down the blue/green.

I am now onto my next hooky project....

Love from me and my little man x

Upcycling and Crayola Art

It's been a while...about 6months in all, that I've shied away from blogging.  The time seems to have flown and I've been busy crafting something a little different...

...and I'm now 27 weeks pregnant!

The pregnancy has been great on the whole, and I have only really struggled with restless legs at night - apart from that no other physical complaints which is good.  There have been some potential concerns with the baby, but so far it's growing, kicking me a lot, and the medics are keeping an eye on us, so hopefully all will be okay eventually.

My little man understands a lot more than I give him credit for, and we have turned a corner of him thinking it was being a "naughty baby as it's kicking mummy", to lots of hugs, talking to the bump, and plastering the baby in Thomas the tank engine stickers!  The future arrival of a new addition to the family has led to some great developments for him - the transition into a Big boys bed, and a Big boys bedroom!  This has all gone down very well and he has not been bothered by venturing into his old room.

I will take some photo's to show you his new room in time...but I have completed a couple of projects for him.

1) Up cycling furniture.

Storage has always been limited for clothes, and a new chest of drawers was definitely needed.  Coincidentally my mum was getting rid of an old dresser she had.  I think the story is that she had it when she was 18 and it has taken on different colours/uses since then!

This is it in it's original, dated glory...

 I hired my husband to do the hard job of sanding it down.  The varnish was on so thick it took a good while.  He started when it was a bit chilly, so he waited until warmer weather to finish it off for me.

Once sanded (I forgot to get a picture of it when it was naked!), I set about to painting.  I did two coats of undercoat primer, and two coats of eggshell paint.  It didn't take too long to paint, but I had to be careful of dribbles.

It then sat knobless for a while why I debated over which knobs to choose.  I wanted something that would be boyish, practical, pretty, not too expensive and something that he wouldn't grow out of.  I ended up buying red, green, and blue ceramic knobs which I think work well for a boys room.  These can always be changed in the future so the dresser can be re-purposed when needed.

Here is my "Ta-Dah" moment!

 I am really pleased wit the way it's turned out.  We still had a conversation about storage crisis...so we ended up buying another unit from IKEA, but I think eventually it will get the same treatment and I think they'll look pretty good next to each other.

There's lots of little bits to finish off in the room which will come in time, but at the moment, he's enjoying sleeping in his new bed in his new room.

I have done some fun crafting for his room too...

2) Crayola Art

So i've absolutely loved the crayola art ideas that have been coming up on Pintrest...and it just seemed too much fun to pass by!

I had a spare canvas, so I set about buying a good range of crayons.  Now this was probably the hardest challenge.  Every shop I looked in did the smaller packs, but I didn't want repetitive colours, I wanted a whole range.  Crayola in shops these days includes all sorts of fandangled new pens/pencils/crayons etc.  I just wanted traditional!  In the end John Lewis came up scrubs and I bought....

I went through and picked out all the dull colours (blacks, greys, browns etc.) and then sorted them into colour groups and arranged them until I was happy, and was certain they'd fit.  I then set about super gluing them to the canvas.

 This was my favourite colour range.

I was going to stick my little man's name accross the bottom and then peel off once the wax had dribbled...but I actually like the black W I stuck on in the corner, and decided to leave it there.  Then came a hair dryer...and a lot of fun....

 They took a while to get started, but then once they started running, they were away!

 

It's not hanging on the wall yet but....

....Ta-Dah!

I think it's pretty cool, something just for my wee man...and it was super fun project to make!

That's all for now.  But am sure will write again soon.

Love from me and my little man x

Pig

Things have been cosy here. 

I’ve loved curling up in my new fluffy slippers…

Drinking gallons of tea from my lovely new mugs (Christmas present from my husband!), that have sat on my beautiful new coasters (present from Santa)…

…and enjoying some crochet.

Last year I was ever so lucky to have had something made especially for me, by one of my friends’ mums!  I think it the most fabulous way to carry my wool for my current projects.  Portable and pretty!

It’s been tasked with keeping all the pieces together in a safe place for my latest project…

So what has been my latest project I hear you ask?  Well I set off to make an amigurimi (that word always looks more akin to something from a sushi menu for sure!) toy for my little man, and then through conversation at work and an upcoming birthday for my friends’ girl, I thought I could make it for her instead…and so my poor little man has missed out again!  I really need to set down and make something solely for him.

We always are talking about which character is the most favoured at anyone time.  My little man’s been going through phases of Noddy, Peppa Pig, Postman Pat and the Snowman.  I get quite excited at the thought of the acceptance of a new character as it introduces a bit of variety for me after having to sit watching about 100 Noddy episodes!  My friends girl currently also likes Peppa Pig, and I understand that was to be the basis of her birthday cake.  So…I set about making a Pig! A George Pig…as apparently she likes him best.

I got lost in the pattern found here.  Quite a nice easy to follow pattern.  I enjoy the quick progress projects, however after I did two attempts of both arms and legs I did start losing the will to carry on…but then after a break, and another cup of tea, the pattern somehow made sense to me again.  Here he is in all his George Pig glory!…

I particularly love his little curly tail…

So, another successful project! Woo hoo!

It’s started raining again here.  As I look out of my living room window I am impressed with how my amaryllis is growing…  I love the pot it’s in.  Colours our lounge are to be based on when we get around to starting the decorating!

Cheerio for now.

Love from me and my little man x

Forgotten makes…

So I forgot to post about two other presents I had made (again sorry about the photo’s, in the rush up to Christmas they have been rushed and often in a dark room.  I need to get some photo tips on how to make my makes look good!)…here goes…

1) A reading pillow for my nephew.  I did a patchwork pocket so that he could keep books, teddies and any other goodies in for when he’s cwtched up reading…

I quilted the pocket to give it some rigidity.

And an Envelope backing to make sure it can be bunged in the washer…I’m sure there will be some chocolate smuggled into the pocket at some stage!

I am really pleased with this, and have some of my own cushion plans for my little mans reading corner in his room.

2) Bunting for my niece’s birthday present…  I am disappointed that I forgot to get a finished picture of this.  It had a red binding, and I thought it was very cute and colourful…perfect for a girls bedroom.

I finally think that is the end of my makes for 2013!  Now I need to get going again.  My craft room needs a little (a-hem…a lot…) clearing/cleaning.  It’s currently bestowing a furniture makeover which is a third complete and that’s giving me a mental mind block about getting in the room and sorting stuff out!

I have re-instated our kitchen blackboard as a “Jobs To Do” List to give us that visual prompt that there are always odd jobs that need to be done, and also to give us that feeling of satisfaction when we’ve completed something.  A lot of them, so far, have been man jobs (fixing switches, re-newing bath seals etc.) which have been swiftly ticked off the list and a few I have been able to act as a wingman wielding my tube of “No Nails”! Ha ha!

2014 is going to be a year of doing I feel.

Love from me and my little man x

Happy New Year–2014!

Happy New Year everyone!

Did you all have a good Christmas break?  Ours was hectic and fun!

We travelled up to Northampton for a wedding the weekend before which definitely put us in the festive mood.  It was such a beautiful venue filled with twinkling lights you couldn’t help but feel romantically Christmassy.  This is the venue…

…just fantastic.

Then Christmas and my little man’s 2nd birthday (where on earth has the time gone?!) spent in my family home in Wales. Loads of food/drink, bundles of presents, board games and telly…a lovely time to get together.

Here are some Christmas presents that were hand made by me this year… they were all received well, and it gave me a sense of achievement to watch people unwrap their homemade goodies.

- a memo board for my mum

- a desk buddy for my sisters crafting room so that she can put her scissors etc. in.  He turned out okay but I would make some changes in future designs.

- Peg bag for my sister in law (sorry for the poor photo’s)

- Tree decorations for my friend and my cousin’s boys

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a lovely time spent with family, but also a nice return to normality for us coming home after over a week away.  The familiarity of your own bed and sofa is second to none, and living out of a suitcase really is tedious!

I’ve taken down the Christmas decorations, something I always am keen to do, and the house has a new sense of space.  Already we are embracing some new adventures for the year ahead. I feel full of inspiration at the moment. Small DIY projects have already been ticked off the list, and some bigger projects on the horizon.

So I wonder what 2014 will hold in store for us?! Do you have any resolutions?  Mine are:

1) As an extension of last years resolution, is to reduce the amount of time spent travelling, and invest my time into enjoying my family.  Funny sort of resolution really, as you think that would come naturally, but I often feel the pressure to be so many places for so many people, that sometimes time spent simply with my family can become neglected.

2) Exercise more.  I’ve already signed up to a “Return to Netball” programme, and hopefully I’ll get my running shoes back on when the weather warms a little.

3) Consider selling some small crafty bits.

4) Continue being a wicked mum/wife! (Ha ha…okay, no one’s given me that title…but I’ll take it!)

Right time to get my crafting house in order!

Love from me and my little man x

Aberystwyth (my home town)…just a week before the devastation of the recent storms… x