Family Weekends

I was so pleased when this weekend had arrived as I had been busy working for the two previous ones. I work 2 weekends, then have 3 off. I don't know where the August weather has gone to but we managed to have a summer sunday. Saturday was all about food shopping, and a rare few drinks out with a friend. Sunday started off with a hangover, and a carboot sale. I was really excited about the boot sale as I hadn't gone for a few weeks, but it was rubbish. It was so busy, and there was no treasure. I bought H a fisherprice aeroplane, which was a bargain, but no use to me! In the afternoon we went to Seaton Carew and walked to Hartlepool to the Tall Ships. My cousin lives in Seaton so we had a nice BBQ at his when we walked back.

This week I bought some felt that I saw in the Pound Shop and made these.

I also made some black ones and they have been hung on the wood behind the curtain pole in our bedroom. They were very easy to make. I am not sure how much I like them, they look ok. My whole house isn't right, is so higgledy piggledy. So need to move!! Maybe soon.

I have been thinking about my collection of blue and white pottery. It seems everyone collects blue and white! I think its why I am finding it hard to add much to the collection. This is it so far.

 Lets hope the carboots this weekend bring a smile to my face a bit more!

Bunting and Union Jacks.

In between two busy weekends at work I have managed to get my bunting finished and make a union jack. I love the bunting but am not that impressed with the Union Jack!

The bunting was really easy to make. I borrowed my mum's cutting board and rotary cutter, I must purchase one for myself as I think I am going to be making a lot of bunting. I am thinking its a great present for friend's children.

I cut out triangles using a cardboard template, using a cutter. I did the bunting double sided, using a zig zag stich, and then trimmed off any excess fabric. I then sewed the flags on to some piping, as it was all that I had. I need some thick ribbon or bias binding to make the rest.

To make bunting, I found that a cheap polycotton matterial was much easier to use that cotton, as its stiffer, and its cheaper. The striped & large spot material was only £1.99 a meter from Boyes. As I had lots left I then made this...

I used a rectangle of the navy spot, and then cut out strips using the cutter again. I think however that the white would look more effective just being white, and its not wide enough on the vertical stripe. I think I will get some white poly cotton and use that instead. Only problem is I've given my the cutter and board back to Mum. I do have her sewing maching now though. We just couldn't work out Doreen's old machine, and I think mum actually broke it trying to show me how it worked. So I now have the use of a new simple machine! Its fab.

That means I have even managed to finsh off my patchwork quilt, backed on to fleece to snuggle with on winter nights. I have ened up bodging it when sewing it on to the backing, the corners are a mess, so I need to sort them out. Though its just for me and it looks nice apart from bunny ear corners, think I should have trimmed them before stitching. Oh well you learn from your mistakes, that's what teaching yourself is all about!

I just want to say a BIG thank you to my new followers and the comments I have got. It makes me so excited when someone comments!

Busy!

Well I had a busy weekend working last week! In my few days off I've had a couple of nice days with the boy at country shows, visiting Grandma, seeing steam trains and going to an auction. He was really good at the auction, slept for the first half, enjoyed watching it for a short while and then ate for the rest! I bought a few boxes of rubbish really! The items I wanted were bought by traders, infact just about everything was bought by one young man and one old old lady. I was a bit annoyed, but I suppose that's how people make their money. It just meant no bargains for me!

The boxes I did buy were by mistake really, dropped to £1, then once they'd enticed me in the rose to £7! I have some Meakin plates, Myott plates, Schumann plates and a lot of schumann style pieces. I think I need to have a car boot sale to get rid of it. If I can get £1 each for the bits then I'll get my money back!

I can't find my camera at the moment. I am lost without it! Its in the house somewhere. I have made my own union jack picture as well and wanted some feed back on it, as its not quite "there". Anyway its a mamouth weekend at work again. Roll on monday morning then family life will be resumed for 3 weeks, its nearly autumn!!! I am the only one who looks forward to autumn?

Machine Phobia

I own a sewing machine. Actually, I own two. One I bought for £12 from Dunelm, its a mini machine but it worked fine to stich my patches together once I worked out how to thread the needle! Seriously, I failed the sewing machine assessment at school in Home Ec. I was the only one, even all the boys passed it. So in order to step up, do some zig zaging, some quilting etc I have got a grown up sewing machine. Very grown up in fact. Its a Jones machine, in a lovely green box!

She's a beauty! The machine is from my Mum's friend Doreen. Thanks Doreen. Unfortuantly she is quite elderly and her sight has deteriorated considerabley so she is unable to sew any more. She made the thing on the front to put your pins in as you go along, and even keeps an elastic band on the cotton, though I can't remember why! I am yet to use it, and you know what's stopping me....the cotton's black. I am too scared to change it to white. I have watched some You Tube videos.

I am going to have to set aside an afternoon and get my head round it! Give me technology, I am fine. Give me a sewing machine I am scared! I need to get my quilt finished and get my bunting done! My mum did me half of it at the weekend, and I need to do the red flags for it. She'll be annoyed if I don't get it done as she asked for it for me.

Maybe this is why I am struggling, How sexist!

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Thanks for the comments I had on the other posts! I was so pleased!

Changes

I have been told that my old background was going due to cost of the people that supplied it, so I needed to find a new one. I have done so but i can't get my details in the side bar as they are on the lay out! I don't want the "about me" and "archive" at the bottom! So sorry it looks a bit pants at the moment, can anyone help?

Weekend Booty

Hello, does anyone read this? please say hello if you do! I am not writing for anyone in particular and it really doesn't matter if anyone does read this, its just, well it would be nice to know!

My toe is still really hurting, it hurts right into my foot. I need to get it checked out as i don't fancy putting my work boots on!! I did though manage to get one of my chairs done. I love it, so proud, I keep using that word but doing something yourself instead of buying new makes me feel great, plus its better for the environment, and sometimes cheaper!!

This is the before. Old dark wood, smelly cushion.

This is my after! Its painted white, just the B&Q range- cotton white. I like the B&Q own paints. I have used Farrow and Ball, though I prefered B&Q.

On Saturday I went to my parents for the weekend. They live over in North Yorkshire. I was invited to a Christening, the daughter of a school friend. I was lucky that it didn't start until 12.30, so we managed to get to the local carboot sale. We were going to try Thirsk or York but I didn't have time, and it was drizzling.

I was really lucky to get quite a few bits and bobs. One lady was sat in the rain and wanted rid and I got lots of items for £5, including some lovely wicker baskets and fancy gold frames. I also got some old pictures for 50p, so I did this transformation.

The picture on the left is the after, I should have done them the other way round, shouldn't I?! It has been painted with Farrow and Ball Ivory. I am not sure if I it maybe needs another coat. I like the picture. Its actually a Doctor Banardos promotion for voluteers. I did get two, the other one is of two girls but its so sad. I only bought two as the others were really sad, and made me well up looking at them. God I am so emotional!

On monday I went to visit my grandparents with my mum and H. We wanted to go to a lovely fent shop at Skipton, which is where I got the fabric for my chair tops. My Grandparents are 86. I love their house, it is full of vintage treasures! My gran gave me some lovely old books for H. Too nice and old for him just yet. I really need to make more effort to see them, as it really cheered them up and really who knows how much longer they are going to be around for.

My plan for this afternoon is to get on and paint my 99p ebay table and chairs. I have painted a few things but this is the biggest challenge.

I have been waiting for the free paper man to deliver, so I have something to cover the floor first! He has been now but I have cracked my toe on the door frame when I was walking out of H bedroom after I put him down for a nap. God, I am in agony. I think painting might have to take a back seat. I need a codine. I have saved them from the last days of pregnancy when I was in early labour, they are for emergencies. I've never had one since, 16 months later, this is a bloody emergency. Oh My God!