Sanity Restored

It's amazing the difference twenty-four hours can make!

Almost everything is back in order in my sewing room, though Rudolph seems to have decided to jump from the wall and play Peek-a-Boo...

My wall of embroideries, cross-stitches and vintage fabric will get re-arranged better when I next re-paper the wall - up till now it has just been a case of bang-a-nail-in-the-wall-and-hope-it-looks-okay...

Far too many boxes to fit under the worktop.  One day I will manage to reduce what I have, but it's not likely to happen any time soon!

I still love this sampler I made when I was expecting Miss U-t-B.   Babies may not keep, but she's still mine, even at seventeen!

My scrapbooking paper  and washi tape topped chest of drawers is still looking cheery...

Lots of little bits of vintage sewing paraphernalia on top of my button-filled mini chest of drawers...

More hand-me-downs from Miss U-t-B - her changing table (made from an old, school, typewriter desk salvaged by Mr U-t-B about thirty years ago), her first dolls' house and a rag doll I made her...

And her little Russian Doll...

The blanket box, filled with fabric (I think you guessed), looks tidy...

And even the noticeboard has got an orderly look about it...

Shame the same can't be said for the burgeoning heap in the corner of the worktop...

And the pile behind the tea-trolley!

New term, new start

With Miss U-t-B back at school today, it seemed the perfect moment to have a good tidy up in my workroom and settle back into the old routine.

Actually - who am I kidding? 

 There hasn't been any semblance of routine for most of this year, not since we started doing up the flat for Mr U-t-B's eldest daughter way back in January...

...and then Mr U-t-B did his back in...

drewprice.co.uk

...and it all went to pot!

So.  

I'll re-phrase my opening statement. 

With Miss U-t-B back at school today, it seemed the perfect moment to have a good tidy up in my workroom and try to establish some sort of working-at-home routine.

First I got sidetracked by some empty spaces on the wall and decided to fill them with a couple of bits of cross-stitch.  

This one I did as I awaited the birth of my little girl (who skipped off into Year 10 this morning!  Eeek!  Where did that time go?)  In the revamp of her room earlier this summer, she decided she was a bit grown-up for this...

But I'm pleased to have it in my room till I can (hopefully) pass it back to her for the next generation.

Then there's this one - I call it my spot sampler. (Is that a real term?)  Again, this was done many years ago, all the bits of border, letters and motifs being copied from works or books belonging to my friend Lesley one time I went to stay with her.

Then I put my new noticeboard up in a different place, so I can actually reach it without leaning over the day bed.

Then I got sidetracked into making a bit of mess, finishing off two cushion covers to add an extra bit of comfort and decoration to the day bed.

This one made from an old sofa-back...

...and this one from an old tea-towel...

Day bed corner sorted...

Worktop corner sorted...

Corner by the door sorted...

Sewing table sorted...

Storage alcove sorted...

 (Must get Buffy the dressmakers' dummy a top!)

Airing Cupboard corner...most definitely NOT sorted!

Ah well!  You can't do everything!

Method in my madness...

Although I haven't quite completed the woodworking part of my great plan, yesterday I reached the point where I could finally enjoy the fruits of my labours - I have a  den where I can indulge my creative urges without creating havoc and mess all around the house!  Thanks to everyone for their comments about my foray into joinery!  I'm especially liking the thought of a new name - 'Drill Lady'! Tee-hee!

The sewing machine has moved from the dining room table and been placed on an old table in front of the window.  

In the end I hope to get my sewing machine cabinet down from the attic study (it was also given to me by the lovely Sheila, just like the machine).  It will then provide extra (hidden) storage, and will fit underneath the worktop.  This space has acquired a number of boxes and baskets which look rather untidy, but this is only until I build the beefy shelves on the other side of the pillar you can just see on the right.

Now that I've tidied up so much, I can also have the ironing board up when I'm sewing.

This is a real boon as it means it is not in almost constant residence in the sitting room!  Yesterday I made a little quilt which you can see waiting to get its wadding and backing - it was great to have everything to hand as I stitched.

Earlier in the day I had been finding things that would benefit from a coat of the Annie Sloan paint I used for the worktop, shelves and other bits and pieces in the room.

I gave a lick to the lid of the picnic basket ( a car boot find some months ago) then added some vintage decals...

I love the cottage and its garden...

Just wish the (completely unused) contents were rather more 'vintage' than 'retro'...

I also painted an Ikea dolls' bed which used to belong to one of Miss U-t-B's Bear Factory bears.

It also acquired a couple of decals!  

It was these that got me inspired for the little project that I'm about to get on with...

Will post some photos when it's finished!

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

With that title, what better way to start than with a quick musical memory.  David Essex, resplendent in a variety of checks (Oh lordy!  He's forgotten to put his shirt on!) with an near-iconic rendition of the words in my title.

I know men do not like the c word - but wasn't he CUTE?!

Anyway, back to business!

(I've come over all peculiar...)

So, the cloud of the title is that Mr U-t-B is still very much out of action.  He's very bored and I really feel for him - he's not used to all this horizontal-ity, usually being a bit of an Action Man.  Wish I had a magic wand...

However, the silver lining is that I am acquiring new (and v. useful) skills!

You see, just before his back went, Mr U-t-B and I had set about turning our spare bedroom into a bit of a workroom/guest room.  If you've been reading, you'll remember the day bed we put together and its cushions...

...and the shelves that I took down (from there on the right) 
and put up again, as Mr U-t-B lay on the day bed laughing 
(well, gently chuckling - laughter being too painful by that time)...

Well, next on the plan was a worktop and some proper beefy shelves for boxes of fabric and 'stuff'.


And with no recovery immediately in sight for my poor husband, it dawned on me that the best way to get on was to do-it-meself!


So look at the corner now...

In so doing, my tools of choice have gradually escalated in size and scariness!

From this...

 ...to this...

 ...and then (gulp) this...

Tool pics courtesy of the marvellous Screwfix.com, producers of my husband's favourite reading material.

 But fear not, dear readers...

For both my hands are still intact (even if the photos are out of focus due to shaking with the scariness of it all!)

I actually found that using these tools is not so different from a sewing machine - use the little mark or laser line for lining up purposes, look at that only (not the needle/saw blade) and keep your digits away from the sharp bits!

First I selected some wood salvaged from the bed that used to be in the room...

I cut this to length...

....drilled holes, inserted rawlplugs and erected battens...

I then tried to convince the man at B&Q to cut my MDF to size, but as I needed strange angles (our house is wedge shaped) his clever machine could not do it (not very clever then) and I had to learn to use the circular saw. Then into place the worktop went...

That's got to deserve a Ta-Dah!

Then I dashed out to buy...

...and spent a much calmer morning with a paintbrush, then a cloth and wax...

...transforming MDF worktop, shelves, the row of knobs, the mirror and one picture frame.

I then spent some happy time 'fiddling' to come up with pleasing arrangements...

Wedding sampler up, books to hand, tins full of threads, pretty tins to admire...

Little drawers filled with buttons, sorted by colour, vintage sewing bits-and-pieces, the Red Riding Hood my Mum made when I was small...

Bags and basket of small scraps, cutting mat and tools.


Can you tell that I'm chuffed?
Today, more shelf building, and then some tidying and sorting!
But first a good strong cup of tea and something dunkable!