Another sewing adventure... Been looking on ebay at the fabric doorstop which are really attractive, and even on Ebay - over -priced.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cath-Kidston-Boats-Fabric-Doorstop_W0QQitemZ270472356883QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_Decorative_Accents_LE?hash=item3ef968a413#ht_500wt_975

So, I rustled up some fabric offcuts, and got out the sewing machine. 

Method

2 ways to do this, I cheated - so one long rectangular piece to go all around the outside, and 2 smaller ones, of equal size - one for the top, one for the bottom. Plus a 2 long slender pieces to make a handle for the top. 

I found pinning the pieces together really helpful. I made a long tube from my 2 long slender pieces and turned the right way out - then I used iron on bonding inside to make more rigid. This was then pinned to the seams of the top  - only then did I actually sew around the edges. Hey presto, half done. The bottom was harder, all those small spaces argh! but a bit of patience, and taking it slowly if you're not a seamstress and actually you end up with the fabric shell. Don't forget to leave a small opening for filling!

A friend recommended a good filling, to provide enough weight, but not too hard to stub your toe on. So, I filled with either rice or pearl barley using a funnel made this particularly easy. Then sew up and pop in front of a door - stand back and admire your handiwork. The only one thing I'd mention is not to get it wet as the rice/barley won't like it!

Materials:

Fabric, you don't need very much

Pins

Fabric iron on bonding

Filling - rice or pearl barley will do. 

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I bought a ghastly orangey pine wall shelf unit on Ebay for the princely sum of £3. I did not buy it for it's colour, but the fact that it has unusual detail cut into each side. This made it distinctive, and in my book indicated potential.

First I sanded it back to the bare wood, to make this faster I dug out the old power tools, detail sander went down a treat into awkward corners.

Next, I primed it, using wood primer and thumb twiddled while it dried.

Then, after 2 coats of eggshell paint, in this case a very pale powdery purple, I had an unrecognisable shelf unit, that is a fantastic addition to my daughters room, it looks like I forked out a fortune for her to display her treasured trinkets. If you like the shabby chic look you'd use some sandpaper to gently scuff the paint here and there and give it a slightly used look, this is most convincing on edges. You could also stencil your own design on for a truly customised, country look.

And the beauty of it is, once you have these materials, they go pretty far so you can re-vamp till your hearts content.

You will need:

Sand paper/sander.

Wood primer

Eggshell paint

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In September my very lovely sister had a birthday, and being rather cash strapped - but full of ideas I set to work on a little project. 

The idea, small heart shaped chalk boards hung from red ribbons to leave little love notes (or reminders!) round the house. Also a nice present for a teenage girl to hang on the door as a do not disturb sign!

Method:

Get your hands on some MDF, you don't need much, this is a great way to use up offcuts. Sketch out a pencil outline in the shape of your choice, in this case a heart. 

Now the really fun bit, using a jig saw, slowly cut out your shape - this may not be possible the first time if you are not used to using a jig saw, be prepared to take your time with this, the sense of achievement when you nail it is fab.

Now you have your shape get some sandpaper to the edges to soften them and smooth out the odd imperfection. I then drilled a small hole in order for it to be hung, mine was at a jaunty angle on one side to give it charachter and extra charm.

Prime with PVA glue to seal.

Paint with blackboard paint, a couple of coats is good. 

Thread your choice of ribbon through, and if including a gift card add now! (I cut out red rectangles from card, got a neat hole with a hole punch and  'handmade for you by....') Tie the bow carefully and voila! A rather lovely, very tactile and smart looking gift.

I also made a larger heart, and painted it up with the blackboard paint again and added a bracket on the back to wall mount as a companion gift.

Shopping List.

MDF, PVA, Blackboard Paint, Ribbon

You will also need:

Jig Saw, Drill, sandpaper, paintbrush.

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Yesterday I had to dis-assemble a bed frame, and then assemble another one. This is a very easy, but mind numbing thing to have to do - and usually I end up with fairly sore hands from having to each individual screw into it's appropriate place. This is the bit I don't like about assembling furniture - yes it's great when it's all up and lovely - but anybody who has ever assembled anything flat packed will know that there are always about twice the amount of things to screw in than you'e think was even possible!

So it has been something I have been wanting for a long while - a powered screw driver - aaaaah! And I have recently got one - so the bed assembling was the perfect oppourtunity to see if this really was something worth having. 

And the verdict?

No person who has to screw anything should be without one!!! It made seriously light work of my task, and no sore hands at the end of it, indeed, in my half hour time frame one bed was was taken apart, the other assembled and I was able to make up the bed and tidy the room to be presented to my daughter! Fantastic.

And what is more, the one I have is not all bells and whistles, it was priced very reasonably at Wickes (one of my favourite places!) I gather some can bend into awkward corners and some some also have a LED light to show clearly what you are intending to screw into - all very nice, but for starters, mine is a HUGE improvement on hand power!

The outgoing bed incidentally was sold on Ebay, really worth doing if only to make someone else take it away!

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I am a recent convert to Ebay, and I don't mind admitting that I am slightly addicted now. The buzz you get from making money on items you're selling is only equalled by the elation of being the winning bidder on something you really wanted! 

So I made a commitment to myself, and our bank account, that I would only spend what I have earnt, otherwise I think the temptation would be far too great with all those goodies on offer! Thing is, it is a very useful constraint as you only buy what you actually want or need, and don't get caught in the trap of buying anything and everything.

So far I have bagged some delicious bargains. probably my favourite being 2 gothic arched mirrors for just £29, a fraction of what they would have cost me new in a shop. Nobody has walked past them without passing some comment on their charm! But also I did manage to pay just 99p for 4 coffee tables - 2 I did give away, but the remaining 2 have been sanded back and are enjoying a new lease of life - and I am feeling very smug for having paid so little.

Do beware though of losing your heart to something but not sticking to your final price - that is the price you won't pay above - I must admit that I have done this once, and whilst I am happy with the purchase, I have that sneaky feeling that I did overpay which does take the edge off! Oh, and always bear in mind the price including postage, or the hassle it will be to pick it up - that has been the deciding factor in many things I have had my eye on!

My one moan is that I really enjoy getting each transaction complete, and so few people leave feedback promptly!

Sorry to sound like a bit of a bore - but I also think that Ebay makes perfect sense in these financially challenging times, I'll bet most of us have stuff that we own but never ever use! Plus surely this is a slightly greener way of consumerism, as it is re-distributing things rather than creating demand for new? 

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So last year we (that's us and the kids) got really excited about planting some seeds - we planted them in the spring and have to say - they didn't seem to do all that great. But we pressed on - bought grow bags and seperated them in the hope they'd take off. 

They didn't.

This year we planted a seeds again. But this time - we planted fewer, and ones that we really wanted to eat. The idea was that instead of the tiny plug plastic pots (last years choice) - we used slightly bigger ones to enable the seedlings to establish a little better. Our chosen few were, radish, lettuce, carrot and a single tomato plant.

Planting fewer was more managable, and the seedlings were easy to tend, and then thin out if needed, in the bigger pots. Plus choosing carefully what to plant has given us the drive to look after them!

And we have some happy seedlings! They have been seperated to enable them to grow to maturity, and, due to lack of space we've planted them in a border - not a veg patch - a fantastic tip I stumbled across in a home magazine. The radish's in particular are starting to look pretty juicy. I fear we'll all have to share just one carrot at this rate though - oh well!

Also, I can't tell you how easy strawberry plants in a big terracotta pot are to look after - a drink now and then, and they do all the work for you!!! Sweet! ours have plenty of flowers and immature strawberries already.

I suppose the proof is in the eating - which will be soon.

I'd appreciate more easy tips. 

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Been thinking for a while about blogging about the things i hae been learning while slowly renovating our house, so here is mt new spcae to do just that! Going to get the sewing machine out as soon as I am able to try my hand at a few more projects - oh goody!

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