Marc’s Beautiful Babies

Its seems to have become quite a tradition for me to enjoy all the pleasures that are Eurovision with Marc particularly as it also coincides with his birthday, plus the annual plant sale in Martley, a nearby village near Marc and Rick’s Worcester Cottage.  It’s always a lovely weekend, but alas, due this blooming Covid-19, this year it’s not to be, bum!

With this in mind, it was really spooky that just before meltdown I not only found one but two ceramic basset hounds in the antiques centre in Evesham, let’s just say I pounced on them, pleased as punch,  that I had found part of Marc’s birthday present so well in advanced (and add to his collection) …….. especially with one (above) being Sylvac ……

….. and the other one, with his tail held up in the air, which, Marc tells me is a true characteristic of a basset hound.

Sadly, I have had to put them in the post instead of enjoying Marc and Rick’s wonderful company, garden, out of this world food and ………….

……. fighting with these three reprobates, Hetty, Piccolo and Tilly …….

……. for just the smallest space on the sofa! 

What are they like, if not totally beautiful?

A Parents Impassioned Plea

Oh, the joys and pleasures of home schooling ……….

……. dirty rotten spoil sport!

I fostered Iris and Bertie’s love of all things tiny, shiny and preferably sticky oh so well, my work here is done!!!!!

Objects of Desire In Witney

Shortly before we went into meltdown Lu and I decided to have a day enjoying the pleasures of Witney ...........

........ which included having a mooch round one of our very favourite shops there, The Old Pill Factory - http://www.theoldpillfactory.com/

I didn’t make any considered purchases, but Lu managed to find a small, cut class ice bucket, something she’s been looking for, for at least 18 months, to go on her cocktail themed shelf in her kitchen, sorry no picture, doh, but it was perfect. However, although my money was safe on this rare occasion, I wouldn't be me without leaving with a few objects of desire and creative ideas. 

As you know I love a bit of religious kitsch, needless to say, I made a bee line for this statue of Mary, who looks a bit Lourdes-y to me. A fiver and I might have been tempted, but £25, I don’t think so, however, I really should know bu now that religious kitsch just aint going cheap these days!

I also LOVE a chandelier, this was so dainty with it’s pale, olive green droplets and naturalistic gold frame, beautiful, but way out of my price range, even if I had anywhere to put it!

I took the picture above initially to save the idea and then I noticed the price tag, but after a bit of research large, glass jars are again a lot more expensive than I had first appreciated.

At first sight this little box appeared to be decorated with wooden pieces …….

…… but on closer inspection it was covered with small squares of text, possibly from an old, faded book and then varnished.  I loved the affect and it’s definitely an idea I am going to try, especially if this blooming lockdown goes on for much longer.  I might try it on something fairly small first and then see how I go. 

And finally, a very looooooooong felt want!  When I was planning my move to Evesham I always imagined living in one of its many terrace houses, never a flat and one of the first things that was going to be on my shopping list was a vintage style shed, just like this, for the garden, that I could carpet, hang some retro curtains, furnish with Lloyd loom chairs, have shelves full of curios and old fashioned plant pots on the veranda ……… seeing this was like a dagger through my heart ……….. but never, say never! 

Nature Continues It’s Cycle In Lockdown

When we first went into lockdown on March 23rd  I took this picture of my view as a sort of reference ………….

I hadn't looked at again until yesterday ……….

...... when I took another …………… it seems as if a whole season has past us by.

Cactus Card

This card measures 6ins x 6ins and uses a pre-scored card blank from Hobbycraft.

This card came together surprisingly well, despite a small change of plan in the middle.

I really love the cactus stickers from Paperchase, however they are so tiny, it’s hard to know what to do with them for maximum effect.

I started by covering the front of card blank with some green check paper that I thought suited with the proportions of the stickers and then punched out 16 scalloped edged squares to put in the centre……

……. but when the cactus’s were added, it just looked too open and bitty, if you know what I mean …….. so I cut down the front of the card, and then mat and layered the resulting panel on white, silver and then white again before adding faux stitching, using a black fine liner pen around the last white layer.

I think the card came together at that stage.

A scattering of three black dots and a few doodled stars here and there complete the design.

Lockdown Blues ………..

Sometimes lockdown gets to even the best of us ……….

Bless her tiny, little cotton socks!

My Last Charity Shop Purchase Before Lockdown

I have to admit that I have quite settled into lockdown mode, but, if I am honest, I am really beginning to miss a good old Monday morning mooch round the charity shops of Evesham ……. and goodness only knows when I’ll finally be able to indulge again.

This was my very last purchase, the day before the shutters went down ……

……. now, I rarely delve amongst the picture boxes, but this unframed cross stitch caught my eye, mainly because of the subject matter and the workmanship and hours someone had put into it ……… and it cost me all of 40p, how could I leave it there?

There’s not a lot I can do with it for the next little while, it doesn’t fit any of the spare frames I have stored under the bed which is a pity and I’m not sure if, when framed, I will actually keep it, as my shelves and wall space are pretty much full, however, as there doesn’t seem to be an end to lockdown on the horizon, I reckon I have plenty of time to think about it’s future!

Sam’s Study – A True Adventure In Fiddle Fart!

Oh my goodness, what a load of old fiddle fart ……..

I felt I needed to put a 50p beside the armchair just to show you how small it is, I wish I could have also put all the blood, sweat and tears I shed to put it together………..

…… in what was a two and a half hour marathon! Just look at all the blinking stages and there was very little margin for error, as you are given the bare minimum of material,  should  you, pardon the expression, cock up!

I tried my best, it’s by no means perfect, but hopefully, if the whole thing is ever finished, amongst everything else all the squiggly digglely bits won't show up too much.

All the furniture is now completed, it was a bit disappointing to find the drawer front on the shelves above was split, so fixing it into position without snapping it completely was a little touch and go. 

Now it’s time to put all the hundreds of tiny books and boxes together, these are just the first few.  A lesson I quickly learned was to glue scraps of card inside to make the tops, bottoms and sides of the boxes a little sturdier.

As I did with the suitcase, even the tiny luggage labels and handle had to be cut separately and then glued on ………. happy days?

Lady Bug Card

This card measures 6ins by 6ins and uses a pre-scored Hobbycraft blank.

I am particularly chuffed with this card as it came together so effortlessly, despite my flagging mojo, nothing, for once, ended up in the bin for once!

I used the ladybirds and sentiment from this pack of cardboard stickers, that I believe, came from Poundland …….

……. and these trusty old old punches go back for far too many years to remember.

I decided to layer the daisies to give the card some extra dimension, especially when they are fluffed up a bit.

The gold circles and oblongs are nail art embellishments are also from Poundland.  Originally I doodled the heart shaped frame, but as I added the flower centre studs, I wondered if the oblongs might work if I added them to the lines, I think they did!

I put a layer of Ranger Glossy Accents on both of the ladybirds and sentiment, again to add some extra texture and dimension.  The finishing touches were made with a scattering of groups of three white dots using a white gel pen.  Voila!

Too Much Time To Think In Lockdown

I love my spare bedroom, I have just got it about right, but living in lockdown has finally got to me and I am beginning to think just a little harder than perhaps I ought to ……….

……. because much as I love the room, especially when I dress it for Christmas,  it doesn’t really “earn its keep”, it’s used about once a month for visitors or baby sleepovers but for the rest of the time it just seems to breed dust  and a store for all crafty tools and materials.  I pop in and out to search for or collect bits and pieces, which always results in a whole host of open boxes being left all over the bed ……..

……. as well as others being transported into the lounge, which then annoys the hell out of me, as I am sure I have mentioned a hundred times before. Then when I’ve finish working, I have two rooms to tidy away.  It’s weird, but it only takes a couple of things on the table to make the lounge “feel/look” like a bombsite and I know that the whole palaver often puts me off even starting a project, hence the thinking ………. 

It’s something Marc has suggested many times, why not simply replace the bed for a sofa bed?  The space between the two fitted drawer units only gives me 155cms to work with, but after a bit of searching I finally found this one which measures 145cms at it’s widest. 

I am thinking mustard or teal. I am currently bombarding the company that makes it with questions …….. however, won’t be doing anything until lockdown is over, giving me plenty of time to really think about it.

Replacing the bed with a sofa will give me more than enough room to slide my Ikea gateleg table from the kitchen area to the window in the bedroom (very much as it is already).

Then, when visitors stay it would be nothing to just slide it back again.  In the meantime I gain a little more space in the kitchen and when Iris and Bertie come over, they will have the option of playing with their toys in another room and I can just shut the door if I don't want to tidy up immediately, which also goes for when I am crafting, not to mention all my crafting stuff now being at arms length.

https://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/office-guest-bedroom-contemporary-home-office-and-library-miami-phvw-vp~4844082 – this is the nearest example I can find to how I sort of envisage it, minus coffee table etc.

I will need to find a place for the existing bedding but I have more than enough room in the fitted wardrobes in my bedroom, especially if I order a couple more vacuum storage bags.  The kettle, cups etc. will remain so that I can make a drink without going in the kitchen, however I may have to absorb or cull some of the stuff currently stored under the bed at the moment. I may buy a WiFi radio too save moving my other from room to room plus it’s nice for guest to listen to at night or in the morning.

So, that’s the theory, I have more or less worked it all out and should be able to finance it using all the money I haven’t been spending due to lockdown.  I think it all makes sense ……. I have just got to commit.

Halloween Truck - Almost Done

Today I have more to show you on how my Halloween Truck is coming along. The drawers all but finished (some just need Halloween papers put on the insides) so I have moved onto the truck itself, with, I admit, a little trepidation, because I don’t really have any concrete ideas as to where to go with it, it’s all very trial and error I am afraid.

I started with the back first, covering it with a orange/purple patterned paper and then making two separate door panels that will, hopefully, give it a little extra dimension………

……. adding two resin frames,

………. and colouring them with a green Sharpie pen …..

…… before creating two little scenes  with spooky sticker characters to give the impression that they are looking out from the back of the truck. They look OK, but I think it still needs a little something else, if only a couple of handles but I have left things as they are for now while I have another think about it.

I am also experimenting with the roof, using the same paper as the door and some lengths from Halloween straws round the edges, again another work in progress.  The current idea is to cover some small lidless boxes in assorted papers that when filled with sweets can be arranged on the top?????? 

I’ve gone round all the edges with a white gel pen, which I think works adding the skulls on the doors and front of the truck which came off  the straws used for the roof edging.  They will eventually have a layer of Ranger Glossy Accents put on them.

I am chuffed with the skeletons, I had to chop their legs off in order to fit in the cab, but they appear to have stayed in position with the help of a generous dollop of super glue.  I was able to bend one of the arms and hands using my heat embossing gun.

I am now thinking of giving them both a hat, either a witches one or a top hat using Fimo?

That’s as far as I have got so far, it really is a slow work in progress. There isn’t that much more to do, but I am wondering if I could possibly varnish over the black acrylic paint without it running everywhere. It’s the final bits of fiddle fart that will “make or break it” so I know I need to get them right, no pressure then ……. but hopefully you’ll hang on in there for the final episode in the next week or so.