Thermos Shelf

I was flicking through one of my favourite website - Design Sponge - and came across an old post about utilising old thermos'. The thermos shelf - check out the 'How To' - HERE.

Image courtesy of Design Sponge

I think this is such a gorgeous thing to do. You could use it just to store the thermos' you have, or pick up a load of battered thermos' with no lids and use as vases. I think it would also make a very attractive herb planter for the kitchen - that way when you need your basil you can just pick up the 'Basil' thermos and have it on the kitchen counter whilst you cook.

Design Sponge always do deliver fantastic ideas.
xx

Cows

The babies - more interested in their food than the camera

So my new routine at the moment is to get up at about 6:30am on a Tuesday morning, and head to the local community farm to feed the calves. They currently have 2 calves that are only about 3-4 weeks old, so still need to be fed milk in the morning and in the evening, along with a small amount of dry food. They are extremely cute but very demanding - 59 kept trying to eat my jumper today.

I said 'smile' for the camera 59...

So I have used my lovely little babies to inspire today's wish list:

Left hand side (top to bottom): 1 . 2 . 3

Right hand side (top to bottom): 1 . 2 . 3

I am now off to wash myself down as I smell like powdered milk and baby cow.
xx

Shepton Sunday

We had a fantastic day at Shepton Mallet yesterday. The weather was in our favour and we enjoyed wandering round, eating honey roast pork sandwiches with stuffing and apple sauce - yum, yum. I must confess that I was a bit out priced for the shop, naturally I have to give my purchase costs down if I want to make any kind of profit, and there were very little 'project' pieces that needed restoration work.

But we didn't leave empty handed, oh no! We left with this....

This is a 1960s chair all the way from America. It has had one previous owner, the gentleman who originally shipped it over in the 60s who has owned it ever since, and unfortunately he recently passed away so it was up for sale. I confess, I am keeping this bad boy for myself.

If it doesn't fit into our future home I promise to sell it.....but I love it. This is my very gorgeous other half cleaning it up for me whilst I cooked dinner, he is such a gem.

xx

New Item Friday

I am a bit later than I would normally like adding the new items to the shop today. I have had such a busy day running around everywhere that I haven't really had a chance to sit in front of the computer and get the work done. But I hate to disappoint, so here are some lovely new things to brighten up your Friday:

As there will be lots of parties over the bank holidays, Jubilee and Olympics, I have decided that we should all have lots of lovely plates to serve nibbles to our guests on. I hope you like the ones I have picked above. Head over to the shop - HERE - to check them out.

I have a busy day in Frome tomorrow and then I am bargain hunting in Shepton Mallet on Sunday, so if I don't get a chance to post, have a lovely weekend.
xx

Spout Troubles

I have a confession to make.......I can not open cartons.
That's right, the kind of cartons you have to pull the corner apart, and then squeeze the sides together until a small opening appears only the top edge. My attempts go more, I pull the the corner apart, I squeeze and nothing happens. I squeeze some more. An opening appears, but it seems to be running vertically down the side of the carton rather than neatly along the top edge. I have developed an alternative method, where I cut the corner so no pulling or squeezing involved. But you can never close them again properly, and the number of times I have accidentally squeezed the carton to fit it back in the fridge door and the contents have gone everywhere, you don't want to know.

This may not seem a big deal to the average person - just buy a plastic bottle, I hear you cry. But fruit juice, which I love, more often than not comes in cartons. And I want fruit juice! But the vintage gods have answered my calls and in the charity shop I came across this great little contraption and I am one very happy person!

Worried about me aren't you?

Well, another confession. I can't whistle either.

You can dis-own me now.
xx

Tutorial: Touring Suitcase

Hello.
I haven't done a tutorial for a while, this one is very similar to a blog I have written previously - HERE - but I wanted to show you the step by step process of covering a suitcase. You can get such good results using wrapping paper, and its perfect for the interior and exterior.

I have had this suitcase for a while. It has come with me to many markets, but it just won't sell. I have always thought it looked a little worn on the outside but the inside had its great original dog tooth patterned paper lining, which I just wouldn't want to alter. When I was shopping the other day I found some really great wrapping paper, and I decided that it would be the perfect match for my suitcase. So here's the how to:


YOU WILL NEED:

• suitcase
• paper
• decoupage glue (that can be used to adhere paper to any kind of surface)
• scissors
• scalpel
• brush
• bull dog clips
• damp cloth
• Paper
• Masking tape
• Spray paint suitable for plastic surfaces

METHOD:
1. Make sure the surface of your suitcase is nice and clean. I have decided to just decorate the front and back only and leave the sides their natural brown.
2. I used one large sheet of wrapping paper for this, which does make it more difficult. If you want to use lots of little pieces you can just use the glue and paste the paper on the surface, gradually filling the area until you are done, then go straight to step 7.

3. For the large sheet of paper, cut it out so that it is about an inch bigger on all sides than the desired area. Then start by spreading glue in the centre and lay the paper down, using the bull dog clips to keep the paper in place.

4. To make life a bit easier for yourself I would suggest not sticking right along the edge but just on the flat surface. This will be explained later.
5. Continue to paste and stick the paper on the flat surface, trying to keep the paper nice and flat with no air bubbles. Once the whole flat surface is stuck, crease the paper around the edge and use a scalpel to create a nice neat edge. I like to do this bit before I apply the glue as the glue softens the paper, causing the paper to tear when you cut.

6. You can then stick the edges down. You might want to create small creases in the corners before you glue, but the main thing is to make sure you apply plenty of glue. Don't worry if the glue oozes on to the rest of the suitcase, simply wipe this off with a damp cloth before it dries.

7. The last stage is to cover the whole area in a layer of the glue. You might want to add more than one layer to ensure it is all sealed in properly.

8. One final touch which will really finish off any suitcase with a plastic handle - colour co-ordinate your handle with the wrapping paper. Simply mask off around the handle using tape, and cover the suitcase with paper to protect it. I sanded down the plastic surface lightly so that the paint would adhere fully. Then using the spray paint spray the handle, applying thin layers, slowly building them up. Once dry remove the paper and tape.

And you are left with a very funky suitcase. Hopefully this will inspire you next time you are looking for wrapping paper for presents - use the rest of the role to liven up some of your possessions.
xx

Electric Fan

I may have mentioned this earlier, but the other week the other half and I bought a very cool (ha ha, I chuckle at my own joke) electric fan.

I think it is from the 80s, but I couldn't resist the blue fins and buttons. This got me thinking that we should all be a bit more prepared for summer. That may seem silly now, when it is raining so hard outside that I can't see the garden through the window. But the sun will come eventually, and then all us Brits will complain about it being too hot. The remedy? Buy an electric fan that looks so gorgeous you want to leave it on the side-board regardless what the weather is doing. And just to help you all out I have created a treasury list of all the best on etsy. Check it out - HERE.

Anyway, I'm hoping this positive thinking about sun will make the rain stop. Otherwise I'm going to have to resort to a sun dance in the garden - I don't think any one wants to see that!
xx