Different furniture

Hi again,
I've been rearranging the furniture in the cottage, trying out other pieces. I haven't glued the front on yet, I really want to hinge it but just can't work out how. The front is rebated to fit the sides and I can't get a hinge to fit. So, in the meantime, the front is lose and tends to fall flat a lot if nudged...

However, I am really pleased with the brick effect. I ended up using acrylic paints to touch up some of the bricks so that they were a little less regular. I've noticed real brick houses are uneven in colour and so I think it looks better now. (The photo makes it all look a lot more yellow than it really is- I cannot get better lighting for photos at the moment, it is so rainy and gloomy we have the electric light on all the time and it makes for awful photo colouring.)




I have changed the cupboards around , I want to put some jars on the shelves and they fit better on these ones, though I think they are not quite so impressive to look at... Well that's the good thing about these houses, I can change the furniture as I please.




Until next time
Gillian

Painting the furniture

Hello again,
I've started putting some base paint colour on the bare wood furniture I bought. I'm using some left over wood stain from when we painted our garden planters. It went on well though I feel I need to do something else just to lift the final result. I also used some basic acrylic paints. These look good too, and give a deeper finish. More work is needed on both, but I like the effect of coloured furniture in the house.

Here is Thalia looking over her new furniture. I keep rearranging it at the moment but it now feels more like a proper little cottage fit for a young modern witch.



Until next time
Gillian

My little people

Hello again,
So the question is, who will live in cottage?
I found two pleasing little people who needed a new home.
This is Thalia- don't you love her name. It's from a character in a Rick Riordan book, the Heroes of Olympus, and it suited her straight away.




This is Maia, Thalia's best friend.



In the meantime I've also papered the floor with a tile effect finish. Then I cut a platform for upstairs and placed a dowel support at the corner, so now we have a small platform above where the bed will go. Maybe as a potions store, or as a place for an extra bedroom space with lots of cushion- I haven't really decided yet.

This is another try out photo...


Until next time
Gillian

Making brick walls

Hi again,
The next step for my cottage was deciding how to do the exterior walls. I wanted a textural effect so a paper finish wasn't for me. A quick google search led me to Bromley Craft Products and their realistic brick effect. Basically you apply the brick texture through a stencil to give a brick finish. My photo is a bit jaundiced (its difficult to get decent light for photos in an English winter) but I hope you get the idea. It looks much better in reality.








Over the past few weeks I've been collecting bits and pieces of furniture from Ebay. A couple just because they are brilliant as they are, and a few more as job-lots so I don't spend too much and don't have to feel guilty when I chop and paint them!
I still keep trying out the furniture. Not all will be going in this house... Some will be for other projects further down the line.
Until next time
Gillian

A new house

Hello again,
So, did you work it out? -no, it's not baking ( I do that often enough anyway). Yep, the house was the clue...
My other new house is...




This is a kit from Dolls House Emporium, the Garden Pavillion. I like it because it is small and pretty versatile. I am not the sort of person who will buy a complete dollshouse and furniture to go inside... Where is the fun in that? No, I'm going to do it all myself.
I've started with a kit and some bare wood furniture so that I can make my own style up. I'm thinking modern good witches cottage. I recently read the Modern Witch books by Deborah Geary and I want to fit in a world like that.
I plan to make a upper platform at one end of the cottage and will probably make other adaptions as I go. That is as far as my planning goes at the moment. This my dry build, a test of how it all goes together.




I also tried out the furniture to see if I had enough and to work out what else I might need- I think an cooker/Aga would be a good idea and a wash stand.




Until next time
Gillian

Another clue

Hi, Happy Christmas to you all,
Here is a Christmas clue to my new hobby...


... A project that includes many of my crafting likes and is very varied....

Soon to be revealed.

Until next time
Gillian

A new project

I have a new project that I have wanted to do since the summer... It takes me back to my childhood. John bought it as my Christmas present, but I have been naughty and, when he was in hospital recently, it "accidentally" fell open as I went by! Since then things keep happening, and a couple of additional bits have been bought, and I think it is sort of accepted that Christmas came early for me. Are you curious yet?

All will be revealed soon, I just need to take some photos in good light.

Until next time
Gillian

Autumn at Eden

We decided to go for an Autumn walk today, and as we have annual passes at the Eden Project we thought we'd go back there. It is the kind of place where there is something to see all through the year.


We particularly enjoy walking in the outdoor area, climbing the hill to the Wild Cornwall area. We had a lot of laughs here, as John has just bought the iMovies app and wanted to take some film clips to play around with... Sean and I duly obliged with some seriously crazy acting up- goodness knows what John can do with it but we laughed a lot and had great fun.


The outdoor area is spectacular, careful planting makes it all very natural. It's a quiet area, many visitors just focus on the biomes, but as in so many places, a little extra walk is well worth the effort.





Some new features are the sensory gardens... I found the water feature particularly relaxing.


After a mocha and Danish pastry we were ready for the Tropical biome. For the first time on one of our visits the high viewing platform was open. It is 50 feet above the canopy and is closed as soon as it gets too hot to be safe. I don't like heights or wobbly bridges so left John to go up alone... It scared me enough watching him... He is the person to the right of the three going up the steps in this photo... Rather him than me!!!





It's the little things that make your day! I discovered this outdoor pipe glockenspiel while Sean was exploring... Of course it wasn't long before he wanted a go too...


What a lovely autumn day, lets hope that we get enough good weather over the next couple of months to visit again before winter. How lucky we are to live so close.

Until next time
Gillian

Getting older

Each birthday means I'm another year older and I've been thinking- do I feel older? I have aches and pains more often now, and I definitely need glasses to read with, or much larger font size, but overall...?

In my teens I didn't like to follow the crowd (OK so theres not much change there). In today's language I would probably be called Emo, with purple jeans and long outrageously patterned skirts. Thank goodness I can't find any photos!

In my twenties I went from graduate to worker to wife and mother, a lot of change in just a few short years, and it was certainly a lot to go through!

In my thirties I was still primarily a mother, but one who was studying part time for the degree I'd always wanted in Earth Sciences. I was so tired and constantly busy.


In my forties I now work full time in the school term, I am still a mum but whilst it is still intense, it is not so all consuming. I now make time for me (even though life still feels too busy most of the time) to read each day, and for a variety of hobbies. I have more interests and, frankly, more friends who know me well (and still like me!).




So do I feel older? Biologically and physically yes; but emotionally no. Definitely not. I'm happier and more settled than at any other time in my life. I'm busy and still tired a lot, but I'm in control and I like that. I do what I want and just enjoy life more. I have more fun than ever before and don't think I'm ready to properly grow up yet!

Until next time
Gillian

Places to visit in Cornwall

When I tell people I live in Cornwall I usually end up talking about places people have visited, so today I am sharing some of my favourite places to visit in Cornwall.

Most people think of the beaches...


Or the rugged coastline...


And, of course, there are so many iconic images...


But there are so many fabulous places...

1. Eden project


2. Lanhydrock House
3. St.Ives- beach harbour and town



4. Falmouth- harbour town and Pendennis Castle
5. St Michael's Mount
6. The Minack Theatre


Others worth seeing
1. Truro- town and cathedral




2. Coast and Country crafts at Perranworthal ( for anyone who sews or quilts/patchworks)
3. Boscastle- now restored after disasterous flash flooding a few years ago- a gorgeous fishing village and harbour
4. Explore mine engine houses by the Bissoe cycle trail
5. The hermitage at Roche- to describe this as a small building on top of an isolated rock doesn't do it justice

These are just my favourites, every year we discover more..Cornwall really is a place of contrasts, moor and woods, rivers and parks, coast and beaches, gardens and country houses, towns and theatres. That's why we love to live here...

Until next time
Gillian

Problems

I've just updated my iPad to ios6 and have had heaps of problems getting it to publish using blogpress so please look again soon as I hope to get it sorted ASAP.

Until next time
Gillian

Birthday wool

For my birthday John and the boys are getting me wool. Well, I saw some I liked and they said they'd get it for me... so I chose the colours below...



The wool is Special by stylecraft (100% acrylic double knit). It's quite soft and the colours are amazing. I always choose acrylic- its better for making amigurumi and costs a lot less than pure wool blends (£1.69 per 100grammes).

The colours and reference numbers are as follows:-

1091 cloud blue
1023 raspberry *2
1026 apricot
1065 meadow ( green)
1067 grape *2
1080 pale rose
1081 saffron (yellow) *2
1082 bluebell *2
1083 pomegranate *2
1132 shrimp
1188 lavender *2
1259 bright green
1302 denim
1316 spring green
1432 wisteria *2

Rearranged into colour clusters-


Oooh, I feel some more granny blankets coming up soon, and maybe some bright little wool monster amigurumi. Oh I'm a lucky girl!

... And best of all I can use it straight away as they all know I hate waiting for surprises.

Until next time
Gillian

Oh what a week

Its been quite a week. The first full week back at school, and to really cap it all, a no notice Ofsted Inspection after just five days back. All quite exhausting! We can't say the result but we are all pleased...

So this weeks plan to cook properly each night has not been quite as I wished. A couple of nights became "can you get a pizza on your way home?" nights. John is working long hours at his new school so he didn't mind, and the kids have never complained about having pizza! Proper cooking and healthy eating resume next week... Well apart from the birthday food... Both John and I have our birthdays in the next few days... Ummmmm, cake and scummy treats await!

To keep me sane and stress free I've been working on my crochet granny blanket whenever I can. It's growing quickly and I love it. I'm using up odds and ends from my stash, and being quite random about the colour placing. The overall colours seem a little pastel/cool to me but it just all works (I hope you agree).



Until next time
Gillian

Garden furniture

A visit to our favourite garden centre for some pots ended up with some great buys in their end of summer furniture sale.

All summer long we have been looking for a good replacement for out now very rickety picnic bench. Until today nothing was quite right. Then we found these...


We bought two sets so we could have four chairs and two tables. They are lighter than they look, being aluminium, but I hope they will last a few years at least. A real bargain too, with 60% off their regular price. We already ate tea out in the garden on them this evening, and they are quite fabulous, and surprisingly comfortable.

I've always wanted one of those porter trolley-shelf units that you often see in shops. So, when I saw one in the garden centre I was almost delirious with delight... A bonus was that it too was half price - it must have been my lucky day!


I think we will paint it in the same blue colour as our trellis boxes and then I will use it for small painted pots of plants. I think it would be particularly good for succulents that can endure being outdoors in the summer.

We've worked hard on the garden this weekend and have just a few things left to do before winter:- A few seedlings still need planting, particularly some echinacea, coleus and silene. The lawn needs weeding and patch reseeding. That then leaves the final tidying, composting the vegetable plants once they are finished, washing pots ready for next year and general tidying. We just need a couple more dry weekends and it should get done. It all looks so good, we had no idea that we could achieve so much in our first year of proper gardening. And who would believe that we would both end up loving gardening!

Until next time
Gillian

The garden

We've worked really hard on our garden this year. A lot of weeding and removing bits we didn't want ( eg our ginormous geranium that overwhelmed our front garden just had to go) and generally doing a lot of planting and tidying.

Our front garden- we've planted lots of home grown perennial seedlings, and put in a lot of bulbs.


The perennials are already spreading and should make a good display next year and in the future.



The bottom of our back garden, and our treat to ourselves, our fabulous arbour (note the cushions I made the covers for last month). The pots hold a variety of perennials and small shrubs, including Honesty which is the first plant I really remember being special as it grew in my Grandads garden. I even bought a small eucalyptus plant last week- the first time I've ever seen one on sale. I really like the stepping stones - they look great and add a touch of class.


The forecasters are now saying that at last the weather is turning sunny and warm, possibly for the next month, so we hope to spend plenty of time in the garden finishing the planting out and getting ready for winter, with, hopefully, plenty of time for relaxing too... Let's hope they are right!

Until next time
Gillian

Some finished projects

A striped crochet shoulder wrap/ lap blanket. I used random odds and ends do wool found in my stash. The ends were simple tied and trimmed to the same length (they look better in real life than in the photo).


Three gorgeous cushion covers to use indoors and outdoors in the arbour seat. I bought the fabric as a remnant and was really pleased how well they turned out.


The back- a simple envelope closure makes it vey quick to make


I love the script theme of the fabric... Very sophisticated!

Until next time
Gillian

My current w.i.p.

I'm better at starting projects than finishing them. I don't have the discipline to do just one thing at a time. I much prefer to do what I like when I feel like it. I therefore end up with lots of things on the go at the same time.

Here's a little magical friend I'm making... Just the arms and legs to go. Do you recognise him? He should be finished before the end of the month.


I started this granny blanket nearly a year ago, I've made 120 squares, each unique, and am in the process of making the final row and joining as I go. I really like the result so far. I left this project alone for ten months but I am working on this one daily and want it finished within the next couple of months.


I love the colours of this hexagon granny blanket, but it is stuck at the moment. I have ten blocks of seven hexagons each already made and joined, plus some loose hexagons, but honestly don't think I'll work on this until some of my other projects are finished. Maybe the colours are more suited to winter, but right now I want to use bright colours instead.


I much prefer this blanket. The brown stripes are my linking theme, but I basically am using any harmonious wool to add new squares, joining as I go. This is the most basic pattern and yet I think it is amazingly effective.


This photo doesn't do the colours justice... It really is very much more vibrant.


I just wish I had more time to crochet...

Until next time
Gillian

August Bank Holiday 2012

For a change I'm showing my holiday weekend in photos

Thursday - Afternoon Tea at Trelawney Garden Centre - a real treat




Friday- Lands End







Saturday - bought some new succulents, just 84 pence each - a bargain!



Also - made some scones, individual sultana and round of cranberry scones.



Also - painted and varnished terracotta pots



Sunday- made a proper afternoon tea, with smoked salmon and cucumber sandwiches, pâté on water crackers, Cornish Cream Tea (clotted cream and jam on scones) and cakes.



Monday- gardening, planting bulbs and weeding, focussing on the rockery


And repotting my Coleus seedlings



Tuesday (OK I know this is no longer the weekend but, well, I've had a lovely day and want to share it) - repotting my old and new succulents, with the introduction of some sweet little gnomes I found at Lands End.






My favourite ones:-









The gnomes in situ:-











It's been a lovely weekend and I've enjoyed every minute.

Until next time
Gillian