The special order Toy box is ready to go

and I have really enjoyed painting this

I have painted it in the 4 Cath Kidston colours, Red for the Train and the lid, Green for the bottom and sides of the framework, Pale Blue along the top and Linen for all the panels with a couple of my acrylic paints for the smoke and detailing.

I don't know if the photo shows it up but I painted one of my MDF Train shapes and fixed that to the side of the toy box with wood glue. Along the bottom I have run all around with my SU Train Track Roller in Dk. Brown

I have cut all of the different carriages from scraps of card by simply cutting an 8 x 8cm square which I have shaped by trimming the sides at an angle, I cut the wheels on my Cricut in Black card at 1" The trucks run 4 along the front, 2 on the side, seven along the back and a single one on the far end. The first truck has coal which I cut free hand from Black card and highlighted it with a white gel pen.

I also cut the letter of his name on the Cricut with Plantain Schoolbook at 2" in Dk Red and shadowed them in Black, I added 7 trucks along the back of the toy box and added his name to the 5 centre trucks.

Last was the smoke, you cant have a steam train without smoke. Into a mixing dish I added a small dollop of Ivory paint and a drop each of Dk. Grey and Black acrylic and just stirred it together a little, not enough to mix it properly then using a large brush I dipped the brush randomly to pick up the paint and applied it by moving the brush in circles.

I was really undecided about the lid but chose to paint it in just one coat of the red, you can still see the grain of the wood and it looks more like a colour wash than a solid paint which looks really nice.

So another order completed, my next big project is another table and chair set but this time with a transport theme for a boy.

Off to draw up some designs for hubby to cut out, I need to make a start on my Christmas list as I am already getting asked for Christmas stuff at craft Club.

Please feel free to leave a comment so i know what you think of it
Bye for now

A special order

from a lovely Lady who came into the shop.

First she wanted one of these with the name Ellis on it

When she came to collect that she ordered this height chart to match it

Then when she came to collect the height chart she bought the chair

Now she has asked if I will decorate this toy box to match

So that is what I am starting today, I am using Cath Kidston paints to decorate it in Green, Red, Blue and Linen. I intend to add the train design to one long side but not sure of the other long side or the ends yet but I am sure something will come to me as I do it. Any suggestions?

I will post the pictures of it when its finished.

Whats everyone else doing today?

The Sunday Project is finished

This is what it started off looking like

and this is what it looks like now

It looks so much better now and the Ivory paint certainly shows off the beautiful jars.

I wonder what project I will start next Sunday

The table and chairs are finished and ....

...SOLD!!!!!

Now thats not bad going, put on sale yesterday and sold today.

On with the next one now, just bought some rather nice striped fabric from Laura Ashley for the next one.
I will take photos of the fabrics and paint to post tomorrow.

The table is finished....

... and very happy I am with the whole set.

Here it is with the chairs

A close up of the table top

The photos dont do the set any justice even if I say so myself.

The set will be for sale from tomorrow so fingers crossed I sell it as I have another set to do now, they have a rather nice bolt of fabric in Laura Ashley with Dancers on it or shall I do it for a boy? not decided yet.

Please leave me a comment to let me know what you think

The Sunday Project

I came up with an idea for this as I always try to get something done on a Sunday; its normally something with fabric as my sewing machine is at home and not at the shop, something I can re-vamp at home and normally something bought from a car boot sale.

Well here are 2 of this weeks finds from the car boot this morning

I think I will start with the spice rack today and see what I can do with it.

The chairs are finished

Aplologies for the poor picture, I cant seem to get the colour right.

The chair has been painted in Laura Ashley paints, I used Ivory for the main colour, Pale Peony for the top rungs and Pale Amythest for the bottom rungs on the legs. The seat was painted in a new colour, Willow


    Complete witth seat pad

You know I showed you this board yesterday

Well now its finished and looks like this

Just the table to paint now which I am hoping to start today, I intend to take elements of the fabric design to paint onto the table but that will depend on IF I can copy it ok.

Hope to be back with the finished table in the next few days, watch this space!

Have a great day

The sewing bit of the new project is finished, well nearly!

I have finished the sewing bit of the new project I have been working on and it didn't take me as long as I thought it would, I love working with fabric but wouldn't call myself a sewer.

These are the fabric I started with, they are both Laura Ashley fabrics

This is what I have made with them

Frilled seat covers

On the chair

2 x seat covers for the little chairs which are still waiting to be painted and a rectangular cushion cover which just needs 3 buttons sewing on to hide where the Velcro has been sewn on

I still have some fabric left with which I intend to make another cushion cover, square this time and maybe I will have enough for a draw string bag. I have to say I have enjoyed the sewing part of this set but cant wait to start the next bit which will include something to do with this

Should have photos of this completed by the end of the day then onto the painting bit!

If you happen to stop by please leave a comment so I know you have been here and I hope you pop back to see the next bit completed, bye for now

It's a good day today

Today my hubby and I celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary, to say we have had a few ups and downs along the way is a bit of an understatement but we are still here together so we must have something going for us! Whilst he can be a pain sometimes he is also very supportive so 'Thank You' for the last 24 years and here is to the next 24!!

I had a good weekend as well, I made a start on the new project,

 I am hoping to have that finished by the weekend but we shall see.

I am also considering some new ideas for the shop, new lines and collections but they are still in the planning stages.

I have also started to compile a list of Christmas workshops we shall be holding in September, more details to follow, sorry to anyone offended by the *C* word whilst the sun is shining.

You know I showed you this chair?

The lady who bought had also ordered a height chart with her Son's name on it to match the chair, well she phoned me this morning to ask if I could decorate a wooden toy box she already has to match the other items, of course I said to bring it so I can see it but if it is still plain wood then that's another job on my order list.

Off to continue with the new project, hoping to have some pictures very soon. Enjoy the rest of your day!

A glimpse of my next project

All of these are for my next project which will include some sewing as well as painting

I am hoping to have this completed for next weekend but we will see if its the sewing that slows me down!

Another little something I am working on for the shop are these

Not the best photo of them and I am still working on the packaging but they are flowers made from a pair of sock and 2 pairs of scratch mitts, I will take a better photo tomorrow.

Off to get the sewing machine out, don't you just love starting a new project? I do!

I will let you know later how I get on

You know I showed you...

this chair on Friday?

Well today I sold it and the lady who bought it wants a table to match, just need to find a table now

Something different....

I have always loved revamping things; is revamping a proper word? anyway whatever it is called I have always loved the idea of taking something old or just shabby and giving it a new lease of life so when I saw this child's wooden chair I couldn't resist buying it.

This is the chair after it had been sanded down

Then I gave it a coat of Cath Kidston paint in Linen

Then I did this to it

The train has been painted using more of the Cath Kidston paints in Blue and Red and some acrylics, I then painted the legs, the front two are Dk. Grey acrylic and the back two are Cath Kidston Red.

I intend to personalise this when it is bought with the child's name, I am really pleased with it, just got to sell it now and paint the other 3 chairs and the table I bought as well

Some new stock lines...

I love flowers of any shape and size, I love flowers whatever they are made from, I suppose that's why I trained as a florist.

I am constantly looking for new ideas so when I saw these Kanzashi flowers I wanted to give them a go and I am rather pleased with my first attempts at them.

I love the colours in this one, it has been fastened to an elastic headband

Another using the fabric above but teamed with a small polka dot fabric.

This one has a vintage feel to it and has been made by gathering the fabric.   

                                 

Teamed with beads to give a little sparkle

This is one of my favourites, it has a large Prima in the centre

Pink and White, a lovely combination.

A mix of fabrics

Well what do you think? I am so happy with them I plan to make some more using all my bits of fabric up.