Just lately things have been difficult in our household. Money is extremely tight as I'm sure it is for so many others with the current economic climate being what it is. We have had to forego a lot of things and find new, more cost effective ways of doing others. Weekends had ceased to be a time to kick back and indulge ourselves and had become a time to batten down the hatches and clamp down on all spending.  I'd lost interest in the house and couldn't motivate myself to do anything crafty or creative. And I think that in all of the worry and our own little austerity measures we had forgotten to live in the moment or enjoy anything let alone each other and the simple things in life.

In the evenings we would gather together for a feverish round of 'Put Your Hands Upon Your Knees'

Sometimes you can start to feel differently even though nothing has really changed.  In the last week or so Ive started to draw and create again and I'm starting to feel positive and, dare I say it, even excited about what the future will bring.

Ive started to sketch again \0/

 I'm constantly cooking up plans for different parts of the house and I've started to tweak things and rearrange and primp and, in essence, love the house again.

This week I've repainted and made a new seatpad and seat cushion cover for this chair

I have no idea why or what kick started me once more because the situation is just the same as it was but somehow I feel better able to cope with it.  And it has to be said that when I'm being creative (regardless of the quality of what I'm producing) I do feel better - more like me. 


We had an idea that we would wake early as a family on saturday mornings and collect firewood together.  We have a wood burning stove and this is one way that we can spend quality time together and save money - as it means we dont have to fork out for fuel.  There is always a plentiful supply of freshly fallen timber in the three woods that we are lucky enough to have on our doorstep.  Its gentle exercise for us - an adventure for Alex and we can take the dogs for a run all at once.  Plus it means that we get the weekend off to a good, early start and can make the most of our time.  Its like killing six or seven birds with one stone - which you've got to admit would be a pretty neat (if not barbaric) trick.  So.. that's exactly what we did (collected wood - not the bird massacre)

There's something romantic about going out to collect wood for the fire.  Its like the Brothers Grimm fairy tales that my mum would read to me as a child - but with a happy ending and minus the decapitations...

I had cooked an improvised kind of chili (without kidney beans but with added courgette) so that we had hearty comfort food waiting for us when we came home.  Is there anything better than coming home to a good meal??

Not forgetting something sweet and sticky for afters:

Chocolate and peanut butter refrigerator cake

got a bit gooey when we cut into it but I can assure you that the taste was not impaired - sleep well my friends

We got all the housework out of the way first thing.  And I had spent friday night cleaning and rearranging my kitchen dresser (rock & roll!) as it had gotten very dusty and cluttered with things that probably had no business being on display (animal character plasters, dowel rods and false nail glue anyone?)

I love it when my dresser is in order.  Its just so nice to sit at the kitchen table and feast my eyes.

Do you like this little fella?  Alex made him at our local mum's and tot's group.  They paid for each child to paint one porcelain ornament and have it fired at a local pottery as an easter gift.

 This is me trying to take a picture of.. me in one of my recent creations: my button mirror.

Union Jack to celebrate Britain hosting the Olympic Games 2012

 After lunch - I decided to do a little baking...

Do you like this idea?  You've probably already seen it elswhere in blogland if youre an avid blogger.  I got it from the impossibly perfect Cherry Menlove's blog.  I think she is one of my newest girl crushes. 

 Finally I could sit down with a cuppa and a cake and stare with vacant wonderment at my dresser.  I dont know why I do this or why interiors and crafting have become like a kind of porn for me.  I have a subscription to an interiors magazine and when it arrives I hyperventilate a little bit and I make furtive little plans to squirrel myself away with it and drool all over the glossy pictures.  I know, I know but I cant help it!

Anyway... all in all it has felt like we got a lot out of our weekend so far.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow...

The reward for my baking endeavours...

I hope that you're enjoying a productive weekend and if not productive - then - a happy one. 

Bye for now folks..
Speak soon XxShellxX

The Dinner Game

1. Don your Armour (in this case a blue bib)

Excited jumping is optional

2.Choose your weapons

choose any two of the above

3.Snake your way up the 'game board' from bottom left eating as you go

Hidden treasure covered on top row

 4.Eating 'unlocks' the hidden treasures at the top of the 'board'

from bottom left: cucumber, carrot, broccolli, cream cheese, farfalle pasta, chopped tomato, olives, feta cheese, banana, apple, marshmallow, chocolate

 5.The aftermath...

The pasta was replenished twice

I'm not a nutritionist so I'm not saying that this is how the tray should be layed out exactly.
I realise that there wasn't any meat and not an awful lot of carbs on there but he'd had rice crispies for breakfast, toast for 2nd breakfast and breadsticks for a mid morning snack.  He's making homemade salami pizza for tea... I'm not concerned.    I converted this from an idea I found here and I couldn't wait til monday.  The lady herself is called Michelle and what can I say... there's a pattern forming here: Awesomeness.  Just check Michelle Lorenzen's blog out as proof.  The author is my cousin and she's also called Michelle and she's cray awesome you guys.
Anyways.. gotta go lean against a wall and click ma fingers n be cool folks.
Later Daddio
XxmichellexX

Can everyone stand up and check under the cushions for my mojo?

I've lost my mojo. I dont know when and I'm not entirely sure where. I cant really describe it, its just what made me - me.
Ive seemed to have shifted from boho chic to hobo chic and from delightfully individual to slightly mad.

Mothers Day...on a budget!

So, yes,  I've been away for awhile and now I'm back yet again.  Just like the proverbial bad penny. 
I was offered a full time job in June last year and was unable to turn down the money so  I went back to full time work and learnt how to screenprint - which was nice.  Obvs I'm not some kind of Jedi Screen print Master yet but I can print two colours and adhesive and I loved every minute of it.  I did learn about screen printing at college when I was doing my graphics course but that was... well lets just say that it was awhile back.
Anyway I'm back on the scrapheap now and one of the upshots of that is that I can resume blogging! Yey!  I've missed the blogging community and being able to publish (even if noone reads it) and more importantly - catching up on my favourite blogs is something that I'm looking forward to now!

Anyhoo - its mother's day coming up in the UK and I'm seriously skint - I'm talking zero pounds zero pence - so I'm going to have to be creative.  Fortunately making something out of nothing is one thing that I'm good at - just ask my husband - he's always telling me that I'm making something out of nothing!  BOOM BOOM!... Ahem...

So here is what I'm thinking I could do....

1. bake
2. pick flowers
3. make mummy things  

 And I'm probably gonna do a combination of all three... here are some of the kind of things I'm thinking of..  

Sew up a cushion cover or cupboard door hanger

bake cookies and put them in a nice box/jar

A nice homemade cake...

         

 

 

 

 

pick a bunch of flowers from my garden

here are some pics of My Mum:

isn't she lovely.   What are you doing for Mother's day this year?  Something nice I hope.

Tata for now xx

Shell

Bathroom sneaky peeks

After quite some length of time living with a schizophrenic bathroom (not to mention the "part of your bathroom is nice..." comments from well meaning visitors) The DIY bug stepped in and compelled me to, at last, tackle the half finished job that constituted our smallest room.  And so ... I chose my weapons, picked me out a tester pot and set off - in high spirits and completely unaware of the perilous adventure that it would prove to be.. (ok maybe thats over-egging the pudding somewhat, but let me tell you that there was more than one point during this journey that I had cause to regret ever deciding to get involved)

first a reminder of the bathroom as it was when we took ownership of the house....

 

 

I had chosen a lime green tester pot for the top half of the walls.  My original idea had been to keep to a strictly monochrome scheme but as much as I loved how the entryway and linen cupboard turned out...

... I felt that it would be too stark and cold and needed just a dash of colour.  I had agonised over exactly what colour for quite some time when I decided to relocate a green plant pot (that we had inherited with the house) from our bedroom to the windowsill in the bathroom.  This was purely an act of mercy towards the poor houseplant that resided within said plant pot - as I thought that it had more of a chance of getting watered in the bathroom than in the bedroom.  And there it was... my colour choice.  Yes I know - lime green??  But it seemed to make sense.  I could visualise it.  It WOULD work..

I rushed home and tried out my tester pot and this is how it looked... be afraid...

 

The next job was for me to break out the sugar soap... I needed to sugar soap all the tiles as it was my intention to .. Wait...Are you sitting down? .. It was my intention to paint the tiles.  

Some things I have learnt about painting tiles:

1. the mere mention of tiles and paint within the same sentence causes hysteria
2. tile paint strikes fear into the hearts and minds of the biggest, sturdiest and manliest of men
3. everyone (and I mean e.v.e.r.y.one) you consult about painting tiles will try to dissuade you using the most persuasive tools that they have at their disposal
4. The Good Lord giveth and if he could he would taketh away the tile paint
5. Tile paint is the Devil - not the work of the Devil but the Devil himself in D.I.Y form

So... armed with all the above information - I was determined to paint the tiles.  I could see how it would pan out:- I would be the one to conquer the almighty tile paint.  I would succeed where all the experts had failed.  I would write books about it.  I would start a tile paint revolution....

Firstly - I painted the remaining (un-tiled)  top half of the walls with the green then sugar soaped the tiles.  I had bought both white and black tile paint as the plan was to paint the blue border tiles in black and the pink lower tiles (everything below the border) in white.  After deliberating the best course of action - I decided to do the black tiles first. 

Some more things I learnt about tile paint...

1. It is viscous beyond the levels of all viscosity I had ever previously encountered
2. just taking the lid off a tin of tile paint causes hysteria in the immediate vicinity (i.e. Me)
3. The fumes from tile paint immediately locate and kill all brain cells connected with artistic ability and in particular - how to hold and use a paint brush
4. It bleeds
5. It drips for days and days and days
6. Applying tile paint with a roller does not result in a flatter finish

At long last I finished the black tiles... By this time I never wanted to see another tin of tile paint again.  It looked bad.
The next day I touched up the grout around the painted tiles - it started to look better. 
It started to grow on me...
I asked my very talented designer husband (graphic designer not versace) to make me some decals for the wall... it all started to come together. 

I repurposed (I believe that is the 'in' word in lifestyle circles) a vintage mirror that had been hung in the kitchen (I'd never really gotten attached to it there)

and fixed a wooden 'Love' plaque that is identical to the one in my living room - my two year old son had broken it in half and I'd kept it just in case..

I just need to paint the woodwork (doorframe and bath panel) white and dye some of my towels and my work here is done...  Watch this space for the grand unveiling within the next couple of weeks.....

Tata for now peepholes x

Where its at. (Because I'm "Street" dont you know)

Its a little hectic around here at the moment as I'm trying to set up my own business (in childcare), set up a sideline project (see my new blog), make things to sell (see my new blog) and look for a job in the meantime.  Then somewhere along the line I need to make time for Alex.  So I apologise for the delay in between posts. 
So you get the gist... busy, busy, busy.

Its a funny old time of year at the moment:  not quite spring but not quite summer (doing quite a convincing 'Autumn on some days!)  and thats how I feel I am at the moment - in betweeny.  I'm just desperate to get moving forward properly with my life and have a clear direction again.  Well I suppose I do have a clear direction but I feel like i'm sitting at some temporary traffic lights - you know the ones - you end up sitting looking at a red light for what feels suspiciously like an extremely long time then you convince yourself that the lights are broke especially since there hasn't been any traffic coming from the opposite direction... what if their side is stuck on red aswell... What if (oh horror of horrors) both sides have been sitting and looking at a red light all along..... Then - just as you start to try and find a contact number for the local Highways department - it changes and you feel like a tit (just slightly).  Anyway ENOUGH of the analogies!!

Here are some pictures....

we did some hand and foot painting.  This meant we had to wash up in the sink...

We ate homemade meatballs with spaghetti....

Which necessitated more cleaning up.

My Kitchen is really coming together and I'm loving it in here more and more x

Not much else to report back at the moment.. so I'll take my leave of you.  Bye for now xx

My newest makes

An ex Ikea extendable child's bed bought for 2.50 and painted with leftover paint

I saw the above in our local charity shop for 2.50 (in pounds that is - there isn;t a pound sign on my keyboard???) and I thought that there must have been some mistake.  I, of course, snapped it up and high tailed it out of there before they had chance to change their mind.  When I first bought it it looked like this:

this pic makes it look like it was in good nick but it was quite beaten up

 It had quite a few knocks and some pen scribbles.  I knew that I'd end up painting it but I wasn't sure what colour.. My husband suggested using the beige that we had left from painting the mdf panelling in the living room.  I'd kind of been thinking along the same lines with the exception of using the leftover cupboard paint from the kitchen.. Then I thought: "why not use both" and this was the result - I spent the whole day sanding it down then started with the beige.. It took 2 days and 5 coats.  I'd forgotten that I'd had a horrendous time with the beige when I'd painted the panelling!  Its only saving grace is that it dries very quickly and you can apply another coat after half an hour.  Its a Dulux woodpaint.. needless to say - I wont be buying it again.  In contrast the grey went on like a dream - as it had in the kitchen - only, it took a further 48 hours before it was touch dry (thank god for those 4 day weekends, eh?)  Anyhoo - its done now... almost... I have one or two finishing touches in mind for it and I'll post updated pics when its done... 

I've also made this dresser:

I'd been keeping an eye out for a dresser top/shelving unit that would be small enough to fit on top of the kitchen radiator cabinet.  This was one that I found on Ebay but it didn't sell so I contacted the seller after the auction ended and offered them 20 quid (a fiver less than they were asking for).  They accepted.  I suppose that I could have drove a harder bargain but they were nice people and it was the nicest shelving unit I'd seen.  I'd done a bit of a deal and they got it taken off their hands without feeling like they'd been shafted... Everyone's a winner baby! 
It was a very dark wood originally.  I confess that I was so eager to get it spray painted that I didn't take a before picture.  Here's a closer pic:

 I was really pleased with the way it turned out - I've always wanted a dresser but with the way that the kitchen is laid out we didn't really have room for one in there.

I made Alex an Easter Bunny:

Sorry about picture quality - I still havent treated myself to a new camera yet...

 But the thing I'm all about at the moment is

 

Bunting... Bunting made from children's books.  I've made up three sets of this so far, two of which I've given away as gifts.  The nursery rhyme one above was intended as a gift but Alex is so taken with it that I've had to reconsider.  He just loves looking at it and reciting all the different rhymes.  I've bought lots of binding tape and lots of second hand (and in some cases vintage) children's books to make more.  I'm  hoping to sell it.  Which brings me to my big news... Ive set up another blog that is purely to showcase the handmade and vintage items that I'm going to be selling.  

It's called "Savvy Chic and Folklaw" (do you like what I did there??) Its my intention to mainly sell vintage clothing and homeware with a few handmade nicknacks thrown in.  I'm really nervous about selling the handmade stuff coz I always think "Is it good enough? Is it good enough??"  But if I dont try I wont know will I?.  Anyway I hope you'll follow the new blog as well as this one... check it out.. You might see something you fancy....

Bye for now. Shellxx

Easter and May Bank holiday

Well, its been a little while since I last posted on here and this is partly down to problematicos technicales.. I still haven't found a free way to blog from my ipad and seeing as blogging (or doing anything via the mac mini) requires lots of concentration - I only really do it when Alex is taking a nap.  Getting Alex to take a nap is not an exact science nowadays - sometimes he'll have 20 minutes, sometimes 2 hours and then other times nothing at all.  My getting to sit down and blog is a bit of a lottery at the moment.  But I'm here now and that's the main thing...
These last few weeks have been glorious and I've really enjoyed being able to spend plenty of time with my husband and littlest boy over the bank holiday weekends. 
My eldest boy is currently in on holiday in Portugal and despite the fact that we hardly see him when he's 'home' I'm still missing him terribly.  It was his 18th birthday a couple of weeks back and I have no idea where the time has gone.
We have spent some of our bank holidays exploring the woodlands that surround our village.  We've set off on a couple of occasions with no particular plan - just going wherever our whimsy directs us - I love exploring this way as we seem to stumble on so many little places that we would have no idea existed if we planned out our routes more.  I must take some pictures of the ruined building that lies at the far edge of Windy Bank Wood.  There is a very interesting subterranean room in it complete with bars on the underground window(??)
This Easter has seen Alex at his most entertaining as his personality is starting to blossom evermore each day and he constantly amazes us with his little outbursts and what appears to be an uproarious sense of humour.
I've been feeling terribly creative of late and I've completed several little projects in the last couple of weeks which I'll list in a future post.  I'm thinking of getting a little stall at a craft or vintage fair and seeing if I can make a few bob.. I think it would give me a great sense of achievement and since money is too tight to mention around here at the moment - it may also provide a welcome influx of funds. 
I'll sign off for now and get some shut eye - it is a school night after all..

Night all, sleep tight and sweet dreams x

What I've been up to.. sorry about picture quality!

 Just some quick pics to show what I've been up to.  My camera has died though so these have been taken with my phone and it shows.....

organising..

baking...

We had a picnic in the garden

Alex is a big boy now and can sit at the table...

We took Charley Bear on the train to visit Grandma...

I've made a quilt for my friend, Helen...

 

 

Bye for now... hopefully I'll have a new camera soon and can get back to blogging more frequently xx