Category: Craft
Staircarpet and Cellar x
I finally grasped my courage with both hands and, bored of lifting boxes, fitted the stair carpet down to the new cellar.
Taking things seriously, I invested £40 in a heavy duty staple and nail gun (I’m hoping there will be options for more uses…like the main stairs). It worked really well – you have to use two hands which just means reduced chance of accidents. The only downside was I initially bought the wrong staples – even if the packaging/name looks the same, read the small numbers on the staple box carefully, otherwise it’s a return journey to the DIY shop to buy the right ones. I used 12 mm staples.
I also ordered some carpet grip from Ebay (the sort of stuff you lay under rugs to stop them from slipping). The thought process was that I wasn’t worried about slippage from laying the pile in the wrong way, as there was no pile, but I was aware that kilim is a thinner type of rug and wanted to give it some support regarding pulling from the staples and feet.
Then it was the simple matter of laying a piece of underlay with carpet grip and stapling it into place.
For the carpet, I pencilled off on each stair where the carpet should run centrally (7 cm on each side for me). Then the lines in the design were a big bonus, helping to keep everything straight and on track.
Finally it was the simple matter of stapling under the nose of the riser, in the middle and at either end. And again where the step meets the riser and working down. The last bit of kilim was folded up, tucked under and stapled away. Job done.
The cellar itself has changed considerably as boxes have been unpacked.
It’s now probably one of the most relaxing places in the house..time takes on a new dimension here..if only I could hide it away from the kids…
Laters, Kate x
Spoonflower x
One of the truly great things about living in the IT revolution is how it has brought down the cost of printing, whether it be on paper or fabric.
There are now companies out there that for a small sum are ready to take your designs and turn them into usable art – we’re talking fabric, wallpaper and wrapping paper..and you don’t even need a large print run…one roll or 1 metre will do it. What’s more, if it’s good, you can earn money from other people buying your design…win, win.
It’s something I’m keen to explore and play with. I’ve found this website that gives a clear, basic tutorial. about pattern repeating.
And Spoonflower seem to be the biggest/best website for printing…and they also have lots of ‘how to’ videos.
Now to pin down the design…
Laters, Kate x
Collecting projects for the summer..
Sensi x
Poor kids. Summer uniform became compulsory on Monday, all light cotton and ankle socks…and it actually snowed here last night. Not like an alpine blizzard but it actually settled…cars were covered. It’s an issue: Within one day we can experience a years weather: Spring, summer, autumn and winter…it certainly makes for interesting times.
An ideal outfit would be this dress from Sensi Studio for the summer sun, teamed with a pair of wide legged trousers for the autumn drop (replace or remove as required)..and a duvet for the cold.
Sensi Studio is a new label for me…I like the fact it utilises Ecuadorian artisans and their many skills with simple lines and interesting additions.
Love!
They also make mean raffia bags and panamas.
(All pictures Sensi Studio and Net-a-porter)
One to watch.
Laters, Kate x
Top design x
The children are on holiday which always make for an interesting dynamic: There’s the eternal conflict between my projects and their needs which sometimes overlap…but not always. The mornings are usually my time to write, organise and plan whilst they learn to squeeze every ounce from the fruit of boredom. Which sounds desirable, except Charlie, like a heat seeking missile has the unfailing knack of finding me just at the most concentration-needed moment. Yesterday I was writing a letter to Building Control (he’s here right now..spooky) and there he was at the study door. ‘No!’ I said, holding up my hand, ‘not a step further…do not say a word…you have to give me ten minutes.’
‘But Mummy…’
‘No..I have to get this done NOW. I cannot speak to you’
‘But Mummy…’
‘What part of no am I not making clear? I will not speak to you..yet you are forcing me to speak to you..so I am now getting cross and feeling like a hamster in a wheel because we’ve had thIS same conversation SO many times. Except now the hamster is dead..no no.I didn’t really say that – ignore me..it’s just I don’t want to formulate words to you, I want them for this – I need to sound like a rational human being. GO!’
‘But Mummy..I don’t want to speak to you..I want to look in this mirror and see how cool I look…’
Hole. Ground. Open up.
Todays project is a crossover and one for all of us….to tidy up Charlie’s room…which looks like a nuclear war zone. If I were Olga Kostina living in Kamarchaga in the Siberian Taiga his rubbish would probably provide the most wonderful creative outlet. Her work with 30,000 bottle tops is sheer genius.
Except I’m not.
Blood could be spilt.
Laters, Kate x
The Kitchen..
Hard to believe..but the kitchen is actually in!! We have a fully functioning oven, sink, taps, hot water tap and fridge-freezer!!!…having said that, it’s still needs it’s handles (they’ve been in various solutions to age them over the weekend and are due to go on today – until they do, there’s no way to open the dishwasher which has sat there, tantalising us…) There’s also the painting of the skirting boards, splash back to be fitted, removal of builders equipment, the addition of a table….and then there’s unpacking the old kitchen. But ignoring all of this – it’s a triumph!! Proper pictures will be taken rather than this sneak peak – but doing a reveal now feels like sending out an opera singer to Covent Garden in just her underwear…chances are it’s been done..but would you want it to be done??!
But all the lights are up and deserve closer scrutiny – this is the brass chandelier as talked about here, now hanging low over what will be the dining room table, opposite the fireplace/mirror. It’s on a dimmable switch which really brings out the details of the edison style light bulbs when they’re dimmed down. I like the austerity of it’s shape with the bonus that if you want to add glass droplets – or ivy at Christmas, you can.
This ornate number is in the hall. The idea is that the intricate ironwork relates to the black of the crittal glass doors arriving soon, but softens the harsher straight lines.
This is one of a pair of wall lights above the fireplace and either side of a large mirror. The design is very simple but the shadows if gives are beautiful. Again, it’s on a dimmable switch which turns the glow to almost candlelight for cosy, shadow dancing evenings.
And these are my unique and gorgeous babies – I commissioned them from the highly talented master canal artist Terence Edgar, they’re proper, original milk churns that the builder’s have cunningly adapted into pendants by removing the bottoms and putting a hole for the flex in the lid, and then hung with brass chandelier chain. I am a huge fan of folk art and feel very privileged to have these stunning examples of canal art as the focal point to the kitchen.
The light they give is magical – like beams of sunlight on the work surface below.
Though they all have similar features, each one is subtly different: On one side is a word..
On the other is a typical canal art scene.
And the three are hung so that ‘love’ and ‘live’ face out..
But laugh always belongs to the cook..
Laters, Kate x
The Underworld x
As the kitchen has been progressing, so has the cellar..the bookcases are finished and the faux fireplace/black-box-storage-facility now has fancy detailing..
(We bought these terracotta plaques nearly fifteen years ago on a very memorable trip to Sicily involving climbing volcanos, exploding boats and great friends)
They’ve been waiting all this time for the perfect place to shine…and now they will forever make me smile.
The carpentry on all the storage cupboards is also complete.
And the stairs are done – it just all needs a lick of paint now…and will be the next room to be decorated. Time to re-cap on the inspiration shots..and start buying paint samples.
Not long…
Laters, Kate x
The Kitchen’s Arrived!
And all hail the Gods of colour…it’s a lovely dark….GREY! Not a hint of brown in sight…
Phew. Phew. Phew.
And it looks pretty dramatic against the white…
Now it’s the simple matter of getting it all fitted…
Plus some of the other little extras I’ve been waiting for. New coat hooks?!
Laters, Kate x
The Quiz..
Our school quiz is a major fixture in the yearly calendar – it’s a good life in a bonker’s world, where winning the costume prize is the greatest accolade: It’s go large or go home…
So amongst the paint pots and drill bits the costumes were all handcrafted with love and terror and pinned, primed and pimped for the big night.
This year our theme was horror and freaks (who needs costumes some would say?)..
I was a killer-mer-maggot…carried by a zombie
Su was Freak girl carried by a scary friend..
The Husband was a head..being eaten by Hannibal Lecter..
We had Sweeney Todd complete with pies (how often as he been photo-bombed by Donald Trump?)
And we had a vampire baby with a taste for the heavy stuff..
I didn’t get a good pic of Sandeep – he was the body in the bodysnatcher’s sack..
And this is my best one of Steff..
It was interesting dealing with such characters..Hannibal was permanently hungry..
Death was having a love-in with David..
Even though David kept telling him to f-off…
And guess what..we won!!!
It was a huge hurrah for the mad and happily twisted..
Laters, Kate x
Projects x
I read an article once that said it was only ever possible to have two out of the three of the holy grails of building works: Cost, quality, time. I think the similar principals apply to children at halfterm…happy children, messy house, cost…only ever two at one time..but at least acknowledging these salient truths makes wading through the detritus of my present house so much easier. Which is a good thing, because added to our layer of general chaos is the fact we have the school quiz next week – this was last year – so why should this year be any different? We’ve started working on the costumes..and discovered a new creative product – ever come across thermomorph moldable plastic before??
It’s amazing stuff. You add these little plastic balls to boiling water.
And wait 2 minutes till they go clear.
Then you take it out and wait just long enough so no-one will get scalded.
And start molding…into anything you want.
It’s amazing stuff – the time line between being soft and hard is quite short – but you can just drop it back in the boiling water to soften again. And they dry totally opaque and white. What we were making I can’t say…except all will be revealed next week…
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 