Display Cabinet finally finished! Almost...

Remember, the display cabinet I was working on for ages...well since Oct?  I think this was too big a job for me and I got bored so Dh had to help me a bit.  Pushing me to finish before Christmas because it's taking up the space where our tree is going to be.

It's finally finished! Yeyy! Well, almost. We still have to put the glass on the doors and since 1 of the them is broken.  Not during the move, wayyyy before but we just didn't bother getting it replaced.  We still have to get some at the glass place in town where Dh got the glass windows for his shed in the summer.

My BEFORE pic was not very good, I took it when we moved in this summer.  This was my In-Laws that was passed onto us when me and Dh first moved in the old house.  It housed Dh trophies, boxes of crystal glass, bottles of wine and champagne (his winnings, we don't drink), pictures and bits and pieces like DS's christening money boxes, candles etc...I was really hesitant to paint but I didn't love it as it was.  I didn't like the dark wood.  Dh didn't  have a choice in the matter but he I think he's starting to come around but just didn't want to admit that it looks better now :)
BEFORE                                                                                     

These knobs with painted roses I found in the CS, I think it was about £2 for 9.  I'm not too sure, it's white against cream.  I think I prefer the old ones, metal dangly, but 1 is broken so if I find a matching one they might go back on.

The back, I stuck on the wallpaper (from the CS £1 for the new roll) with double-sided tape so they can be  changed easily.

 

I'm really pleased with the outcome :)

More Gingerbread Men

The oven was on anyway so decided to make some more.  It is such an easy recipe and fun to cut out the shapes.  We decorated it this time with melted white cholocate and smarties.  Yummm!  They didn't last long  :)

Chelsea tiebacks and mask

I finally got round to making tie-backs for DS's curtains.  The damp ruined the wallpaper in the corner so we'll be looking to replace that.  Hopefully there is enough left.  Bummer! I thought we were finished with that room but there's always something grrrrrr

I made the ties-backs using left-over from his duvet cover-turned-curtain.  Padded out by blue fleece.  The fabric is thin and thought of using the interface but couldn't be bothered with the ironing :] I quite like it padded.  The length didn't match in the end :) but no one will notice when they're tied up.  They are currently hanging in his curtain pole waiting for hooks. 2 sets now waiting.

DS has found a mask (a freebie from a kids mag bought ages ago) obviously DD wants it.  When one has something, the other wants it as well! The 'MINE!' game, always ends it tears. So I tried to copy the mask using scraps from his Chelsea fabric.  Not very good but he's happy :) I still have quite a bit left and will try to make one of those carrier bag holder, only I plan to put his rolled up socks in it.

 

Cooking with Santa DD, Snow and More painting

The stair spindles are finally finished!  I haven't decided how to decorate the along the stairs yet.  I think I'll wait now till we get new carpet put in. I have this large pine mirror that I'd like to paint but I saw in the Shabby Chic forum in MSE someone glued embossed wallpaper to the frame and given it a gilted effect.  For the life of me I cannot find it but I will post as soon as I come across it again.  It was very effective and I'd like to have a go.  I already picked up some samples from Homeb@se but it wasn't long enough so might have to go back for some more.

The roads have come to a stand still on Wednesday when we had the first snowfall of the year.  I love the white stuff! but we were stuck in traffic on the way to school for more than half an hour, usually 10-15 minutes.  I know we can walk it, but with the puschair it would take us about an hour to get there and me and DD back.  I managed it before, once and never again. Too tiring with the children.  I could walk for miles, ME...lol.  Anyway, they had fun throwing snow balls and DD got her bucket and spade to make a snow castle. Bless!

 

DD's handprints

It was the week for the School Christmas bazaar too and I volunteered to help setting up but they we're all sorted when I got there.  I was early enough to get 5 brand new frames for £4, books for DD and new 7.5tog duvet that would be used for wadding when I actually get round to making a quilt, or padding for the chairs that I will re-upholster one day.  I will find a use for it.  But DH is not happy cos it's another thing that will be stored and take up space. :{

Prior to that I made some gingerbread men and shapes with DD to take to the Bazaar.  Took them 'naked' as didn't have time to decorated.  Most of them went! I have to say I don't like decorating cakes.  I love making/baking but not decorating.  I think maybe because I know how much butter and sugar are already in them and don't need the extra icing.  I leave it to the children :)

Very simple recipe here: Gingerbread Recipe

I used the Laura Ashley cutters which has the snowflakes too.  The 2 large ones are plastic which didn't hold their shapes when baked.  We made more than the pic and I will be making some more, Milky big buttons and smarties have been bought.

 

 

And we finally saw Father Christmas yesterday.  He was at the library.  DD wanted to dress up to see him but still keeping warm thus the long-sleeved top under her Santa outfit I got from T3sco last year.  I was surprised that DD wasn't scared at all like last year.  She wouldn't look at Santa last year.  She talked to him too, which was really sweet as she is normally shy and hides her face when spoken to by strangers.  She has asked for a magic wand ( I think more like a fairy wand) for Christmas and when she got her goody bag she said, nearly in tears, there is no magic wand.  We just told her that it will be under the tree on Christmas day if she's a good girl :)


She had her face painted while we were there and she wanted to be a clown just like the one in Tig in Woolly and Tig.  I do like that show :) Tig is adorable.  Face painting is another skill I'd like to learn and I did thought of making my own version of woolly for DD...one day ...lol

Now I wand to have a go at making her a fairy wand.  Maybe like these ones:

Lu Bird Baby

The Modest Homestead

Monday blues

1st Monday of the month of December.  22 sleeps till Father Christmas gets here. Yeyy! I should be excited. I love this time of the year but I am just not in the mood at the moment.  I've only just started my Christmas shopping, the tree and decorations are not up yet and the worst of all I haven't bought an Advent calendar for the kids yet! *shocking* Some decorations and my advent candle are still in boxes in the garage from when we moved in June *big sigh* I am such a bad, disorganised mother :{ In my defense I had to help out a friend for a couple of days so my housework has stacked up and my to do list has got longer.  I should get cracking but I haven't got the energy.  I have things I need to get off my chest but I won't say too much.  Things always work themselves out...I hope so. :)

Another problem we have is that DS's room has a damp corner which we can't get rid off so he's sleeping on his mattress in our bedroom floor :}

Nothing much to report in diy front but I have a few pics to show.
 
The stairs is having its 1st top coat as I write

I saw a cushion cover made from a shirt so I have go myself and was quite please with the result :) Dh has had a clearout of shirts.

The cabinet is finally cleared out and the top separated from bottom.  And I'm working on priming the inside first before doing the outside.  I am making progress albeit very little :)

Another go in the patchwork, table mat this time appliqueing? labels and tags from clothes.  Too ambitious! Not happy with the result, wonky...lol

 

I feel slightly better now so must do something useful before I lose it again...enthusiasm, I mean :)

Happy Monday!

Perfect day for sewing!

What a  miserable day. Wet and windy all day but the sun did peep out for a little while this morning.  Someone collected my glass dining table set this morning.  A little sad to see the chairs go as they were so comfy but we have this regency style dining set in the shed that I bought for a bargain price of £20...specifically bought to make over...Dh likes the dark wood but I scratched the top when I was trying to put it together (unintentionally, of course!   ) Similar to this one from gumtree.  The chairs are not the comfiest so I plan to put foam before recovering.  Oh, yes I did DD's high chair because the cover of the chair was torn apart and padding picked by a curious toddler. 

   

I would like to turn them to this:

 

Photo from Eb@y

 

It's a pvc cloth from Laura Ashley, £12.50 for a metre and something from their bargain bin. So unlike me to spend that much on a material.  Looks good though and just what I was looking for so I guess it was worth it. It was tricky to get the back smooth as it is slightly curved so had to glue the pvc first before stapling. I would like to sand this high chair/table one day too. 

It is a perfect day for sewing or any indoor activity really.  I sewed a smaller cardi for DS from DH old golf cardi.  Not happy with the result. I didn't get the neckline right and the shoulders could've been narrower.  I don't think DS will wear it though.  I got this £4 size 20-22 pj bottoms in Asda in the sale rack, fabric feels nice so I decided to buy it and managed to make 2 trousers for DD and DS.  They can't keep still long enough for me to take pics though...lol

 

A little vest from my old pj top.  Following this tut by Craft Gemini . The head was too small though and it won't fit through DD's big head...haha But I enjoyed making it and will definitely make again.

Remember the apron, I added a frilled pocket to the front.

And made one too for my miniME... :0)

 

Linky parties:

Sew Many Ways... 

Blissful Bucket List 

My 1st Ever Follower!

I am so excited that someone has actually signed up to be my follower.  How cool is that! LOL

Thank you Emma Kate of painted style. One of my favourite blogs.  An esteemed member of the Shabby Chic forum in MSE. 

While I'm here I thought I'd mention the sofa cover that I whipped up and forgotten about.  We have a chunky black leather with 2 lazyboys? both end.  We don't want to get rid of it but it's black so I made a cover from one of those kingsize bed in a bag from primark.  It was an old one so I thought I'd use it before using a proper fabric so it wouln't matter if I mess up.  I can't find the tut I referred to but this Sofa cover tut by honeybearlane looks good for instructions so am going to save for my next one.  The very first easy envelope cushion cover I made in the sewing class. (below)

Sewing catch-up!

A couple of things ticked in my sew: to make list;

Tie-backs - First time I used interface, because the blue fabric is so thin. It made it a lot stronger/stiffer.  I think I will be using it a lot more.  I bought the one that you iron-on for £1.50/pm not sure if it's the cheapest but it's a local craft shop that I go in often for a browse. I think it looks too short and wide but it looks fine when up.  I want to make another one for DS Chelsea curtains so that one will be slightly better or maybe just a rectangle shaped one. Waiting for Dh to drill and put hooks.



reference:
https://sew4home.com/projects/curtains-panels/modas-half-moon-modern-sewing-room-tab-top-butterfly-curtains

Fleece trousers - my first clothing project. Both are blankets to start with. 1 for 2yr DD and 8yr DS.  They were really useful, DD wore hers over her tights and it didn't matter when she kept falling/tripping in dirt/mud :) DS said his is very comfortable. I need to make the next one slimmer as this was a little wide. And learn to do pockets.

I have a problem with my machine.  My thread keeps breaking and stitches skipping. Is it because it's fleece and it's thick.  It doesn't do it when I sew cotton or thin fabric, just fleece.  Maybe someone can help? Do I need to do adjustments and change needles or something?

 

This lady has some great tutorials for kids clothing:

http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-and-pattern-kid-pants-the-basic-pants.html

Apron  - A friend was looking for an apron when she did my washing up for me :) so I searched for a simple tut. The same fabric as my curtain, basket liners, and peg bag.