Pink and gold

Playing with air dry clay. I would definitely do this again, but I would use Rustoleum Craft Enamel (used here for the pink) for all colours next time: the black was meant to be chalky grey but was a sticky gloss black.

Shedding a little light

A very satisfying weekend of making.

I used leftover scraps from one of the Boy's upholstery projects - the lovely Sanderson dandelion clocks in 'slate' - and this easy peasy lampshade kit to make a drum shade for the spare room pendant. I did something similar for the front room but using a 1911 map of Lower Walthamstow - when it were nobbut fields (well, market gardens) round our street.

See just how easy here:

I defy you not to get addicted and remake every light in your place ...

Bring a little hygge to February !

Shed's dead, baby, shed's dead

We've killed the monster shed. 

When I say "we", obviously I mean The Boy. And when I say "killed", I mean smashed to smithereens with a massive sledgehammer. And when I say "monster", I mean 15ft by 9ft. I exaggerate not.

Feels so good. I can see the back fence now. Can't wait to get planting, but that's a way off still. Next spring.

Paper memories

In a burst of doing-it-himself, the Boy has uncovered some very sweet old wallpaper in the communal hallway.

Of course, I love the idea of all those other lives remembered in the layer upon layer of paper. And those lovely bright red berries ... Or are they buds?

Refining my taste

1. kitchen shelves, 2. kitchen shelf, 3. newly painted kitchen, 4. kitchen cabinet blinds, 5. Green kitchen + white cabinets + red accents, 6. kitchen, 7. My Vintage Kitchen Stove, 8. redoing the bathroom/laundry room, 9. the kitchen

As the boy toils away on the bathroom transformation - cue sawing noises, crashing and occasional swearing - I have moved on in search of inspiration for the kitchen renovation.  

I'm finding the home deco groups on Flickr a fantastic source of ideas, and while the sheer number of images available is a little overwhelming - argh, how will I get through them all and what if I miss something amazing - the volume certainly helps to refine my taste and create ideas about what might work. 

The images above seem themed around pale greens, wood worktops and lots of clever pretty storage. Although I was also drawn to strong, vibrant blues:

1. Kitchen corner, 2. kitchen, 3. 1963 Geneva steel kitchen

Thinking caps on...