Shelf Re-vamp and Re-cycle

After taking stock of the clutter at Clutter Towers, we needed extra display space!

I had this little shelf unit in the shed and now is the time for an up-cycle and repurpose to let it shine.

As usual I was so keen, I forgot to take a before picture! Lets just say it was orange wood and filthy!

First a good clean and a coat of  Rust-Oleum chalk based paint, in Anthracite.

After two coats, old Ordnance Survey maps have been applied to the bottom of the 

shelves with Modge Podge and given a coat of Americana Decor matte varnish. 

The woodwork was given a coat of natural wax.

I hung the shelves upside down so the curved edge is at the bottom, 

from the sofa you can see the maps, much nicer than the bottom of bare shelving.

Now a place for all my twinkles!

I'm not normally a fan of painted wood, but can see the benefit when the items are just cheap and need a new lease of life. Much better than ending up in landfill.

I'm really happy with the way this turned out, so easy!

A week away - part one

This is the first proper holiday we've had in a long time, we normally do day trips or the ocassional overnight stay in a hotel. We were rather excited! 

Our accommodation for the week was a converted stable in Musbury, which isn't far from Seaton in Devon.

On our first night we found refreshments in the Lion Hotel in Lyme Regis

Monday was peeing down with rain but we'd done a little research and found out an auction would be on when we were visiting. Lyme Bay auctions, hold one a month and have two auctions running simultaneously on two floors.  I have to say this was very dangerous and I wish we'd had a van.  I had to leave so many bargains behind!

The sun finally shone and the wind was blowing when we revisited Lyme Regis on Tuesday. A little retail therapy in Seasalt and a relax on the beach was just what the doctor ordered. We found this abandoned Sandcastle which I thought was worthy of a photo. 

Wednesday we found ourselves in Weymouth.

I love "Flying Horses" these were on the seafront in a bandstand style seating area and couldn't resist a photo.

We took a trip to Exeter's Historic Quay Side on Thursday, and once we'd finally negotiated the traffic and fairly confusing road system, we could finally relax and enjoy the craft shops , glass blower, iron monger and antique centres. 

With plenty of choice of places to eat, it was worth a visit. The more adventurous could hire bikes and kayaks, we just bought an ice-cream! 

Our adventures as always, were peppered with little pit stops!

Burnt Jam Hearts

As a couple we don't do roses or go for a "special" meals out to celebrate Valentines Day, we're more of a large bar of chocolate with a cuppa tea and a homemade gift kinda couple. How could I forget my love heart roll that was so heavy and hard it never went mouldy and was kept for years or my love heart jam tart that I forgot was in the oven a burnt so badly it welded itself to the baking tray? You don't get that kinda quality gift from the supermarket do you? (!)

So after fifteen years I tend to stick to cards and non-baked goods!  Whilst dusting (!) today I found a few of my most recent efforts wedged between some books in our dining room. Some sewn, some paper cutting and even a little vinyl and wire work too!

 None cost as much as a shop card just a little time and effort which is what Valentines is all about x

Happy Valentines Day! Do you make your cards and gifts? I'd love to see them!

A Year of a Twiggy Pom Pom Tree

Last year I made some twiggy trees in jam jars to decorate the tables at our office Christmas party. Dog wood twigs from the garden painted and sprinkled with glitter, topped with red wool pom poms created the tree framework. With cheapo star battery lights from Poundland woven through the twigs, a Happy Christmas garland made from ink stamping, bakers twine and an old book completed the look.

After the party I gave each of my Pom pom crew (the girls helped make the pom poms) a tree and took one home for myself, adding a vase in place of the jar and my twigs have gone a full year and decorated our table and mantel with each season.

Christmas 2012

Easter 2013

with the edition of handmade fabric eggs

Summer 2013

Multi coloured poms and a robin!

Christmas 2013

Silver mini baubles in place of poms, a feather bird and glitter festive greeting (lights still working!)

Now 2014 

Loads of feathered birds and a pom to match each one, adding a little colour

on these wet, windy days.

My twiggy tree has made me smile with happiness all year, not sure my OH would agree though!

The birds came from Tiger (2013) and only cost a few pounds 

The lights - Poundland £1!

Multi Pack batteries for lights ( I had originally 6 sets of lights) Poundland £1

Paint, Glitter and Wool for Pompoms - already owned.

Missing in instagram

Has it really been 4 months since my last post? Shame on me! The Summer weather was just too good to miss (no excuse) When we last spoke I was just about to go to my home village fair,  which lead me to meeting friends and villagers I haven't seen for twenty years or more. These chance meetings lead me to a builder (husband of friend) who then did work on our house, we also had new windows & doors as well as painting the outside (TOH) did that and a great job he did too. 

All of this is fairly unglamourous, but has been punctuated with nice things too

So in pictures a few of my adventures in my missing months. 

The Village fair, bet they regretted that idea!

Make London for a lovely hen do!

a bit of making!

re-hydration (hu-hum) options

Vintage buys

sunny days out

spruced up house...

Bath wedding, I made the Lucky couple a vintage tea towel bath peg bag - oh the glamour!

Birthday boys old and new

and now here we are moving into Autumn getting nearer my favourite month of all,

can you guess which one it is?

Some of you may have seen some of these photos as I have been on Instagram all summer, youcan find me @katysclutter come and say hello!

Being Crafty

I recently had a week off to be lazy and have some crafty "me" time, it didn't really go to plan but with a inspiration from fellow bloggers, crafty magazines and a little trial and error I finally managed to get crafty!

My Nan used to remove all buttons and zips from clothes before throwing them away. Whilst watching a film one evening I twiddled and twirled one of the zips into this floral'esque brooch, which I rather like.

My friend Alison, a print artist and social media teacher and I had a pop at making some earrings, rings and hair slides. We've been collecting unusual objects to continue this idea most of our beads came from Japan which, Alison sourced whilst on a photography project. 

This little mosaic was a birthday gift and made a pleasant afternoons distraction to the pouring rain,

plus I have a shiny new coaster!

finally my sewing machine saw action after a little inspiration from Lazy Daisy and 

Mary Jane Baxter.  I finally made some head bands from vintage buckles and some vintage pillow

cases as well a some modern cotton. Just for fun I knitted a bow hair slide!

after all this creativity I needed a little rest!