a bits and bobs week...

Feels like I've been away from my blog for a very long time again, must do better in future! This week has been a week of all sorts really. Have been working on some more magazine projects which obviously am not allowed to share with you yet, but I have also been doing all sorts of other bits and bobs too.

I had a massive clearout last weekend, filled 7 huge bags which went off to the charity on Tuesday. Also filled a good few rubbish bags... Oh I do like a good clear out every few months! I don't feel like I buy that much new stuff but I seem to just accumulate so much clutter so it is really liberating to give some of it away every now and again. Anyway with all the organising that came with sorting through everything, I also thought it was about time that I tackled another project that has been on my to do list since I bought them from a junk shop years ago... my old table and chairs.

 

They were bought out of necessity when we moved house one time and I've actually been using the them as my sewing desk (disguised with a nice table cloth) ever since. I've been wanting to pretty them up for so long now, but you know how it is, some things you just never get around to, but I decided the time had come for a makeover!

So I dug out my old painting clothes, sanded them lightly to give them a key, undercoated them and then gave them a top coat of cream gloss (plus extra touching up bits that I'd missed first time round.) This took 3 or 4 days in all, because both the undercoat and top coat were oil based - took absolutely forever to dry and stunk the whole house out!

But eventually they did dry and I then oilclothed the top of the table in a pale duck egg spot. I was originally going to staple the oilcloth onto the underside, but we actually used wide double sided sticky tape instead which seems to hold well and will make it much easier if I ever want a change!

So here they are... Ta-dah! What do you think?

I'm really pleased with how they turned out, so much nicer than what they were! (By the way this isn't where they usually live, in the middle of the living room but just where they were painted). I'm using them again as my sewing table for now but am hoping to get a new one soon - an extra long one - and these will be used as our kitchen table and chairs instead.

To be honest, I'm really glad I've finished them. Don't know about any of you but I always like the idea of revamping and painting up old furniture, but the reality of all that sanding, painting, waiting for it all to dry, touching it up, waiting some more... is always way more tedious than I imagine. So I may not be doing any more painting for a while, though I still have half a tin of paint left which I'm sure to want to use on something or other soon enough!

Anyway, apart from my table project, also had a little splurge on some pretty new fabrics this week (but it's alright - I'm a textile designer, so I always need new fabrics right??)

The top fabric here with the little birdies on was actually a charity shop find. It is a massive piece of really good quality cotton (it is actually a curtain, still has the heading tape on) but I was so pleased with it, and for only a pound! 

The big blue spot fabric below was also a charity find - it was a huge panelled skirt with so much fabric in you wouldn't believe, but the top had been cut off so it was only 50p! Have now cut it up into usable sections, and am very pleased with my finds!

Oh and I'm also now learning to crochet!! I've been wanting to make myself a granny blanket now for years and years but I have absolutely no clue about crochet. One friend at Uni did try and teach me but I couldn't even make a slip knot so she gave up. Since then, have been keeping my eyes open in charity shops but have never found one I like... So anyway after some encouragement from some lovely Facebook and Twitter folk, I have decided to have a proper go and make my own! 

I've bought a couple of balls of wool and a hook and last night I set about watching You Tube videos to try and learn the basic stitches. I have also bought the highly recommended 'The Happy Hooker', but haven't done much more than flick through it yet.

Anyway I gotta say crochet does not come easily to me! I was feeling so baffled with it all and it took me about an hour before I could even produce a chain! But I had the house to myself and persevered with it, and this morning, I was the proud owner of one wonky, uneven granny square!! Wonky maybe but nevertheless it is a granny square! 

I will evidently need a lot of practise but I think I've just about got the hang of it, so will be experimenting a bit more before I dare put up any pictures on here! I will also need to buy some more yarn - I have a colour scheme in mind so really looking forward to choosing my colours! Will let you know how I get on :)

Anyway this has been a very long post, so if you are still awake, thanks for getting to the end! Have a wonderful rest of your weekend, I will be back soon x