TinkeringTimes

rearranging

Finally started rearranging things around the house to make room for baby so...

Step 1: This sofa, now fully reupholstered, packs away and moves into the loft.
Step 2: This sofabed comes down from the spare room and replaces the first sofa
Step 3: The cot goes up in the spare room, now baby's room
Step 4: Just because we're in the mood we finally also put the mirror up that replaces the one I smashed - oops!

And for extra detail:


1. Frances, Eyore, Elmer, Skini-Bear, Bunny, Mouse and George move into the cot (tho those with buttons and badges are on a short term lease, moving out somewhere safer when baby moves in)
2. Nik's dinosaur moves onto the window - at least whilst I decide if its shadows are too scary...
3. Nik sewed this plane, I love it and so it moves onto the window too
4. Gorgeous blanket knitted by my mum is laid out in cot all soft and cosy for the little person.

So we got through quite a lot in a Sunday and we're feeling very happy with the results!

make something this weekend...

I was waiting to write something about my book group but our meeting got cancelled so instead I'm finally assembling various 'make and do' items found all over blogland to share, just click on the pink bits below for full instructions. The pointy kitty is one I made, the rest I'll hopefully get round to trying soon myself. In the meantime...



fabric origami flower :: felt flower brooch :: scrap fabric bauble ::
pointy kitty :: how to transfer computer print outs :: vinyl pencil case ::
Lightbox (looks complicated!) :: Japanese paper craft box :: Retro 50s star

fabric stash

Eek been at the ebay again! But look at what I bought - all from Australia so postage bumped it up a a bit but still, worth it. Believe it or not I was actually looking for 50s Festival of Britain type fabrics - Lucienne Day atomic type stuff and just got completely distracted...but fortunately ended up looking at more affordable pieces - phew!
So I ended up with 60s flower patterns (again...)



And I just couldn't resist this oh-so-groovy piece which I think we'll just mount / frame and hang in baby's room so he (and Nik) can stare at it and gurgle happily.

multitaskers take note...

quick extra post - just come across this article : what is a scanner? (don't worry its not some dull IT article, nothing to do with computers at all, promise)

it struck lots of chords with me as I constantly find myself wondering - is it that I'm really really good at multitasking? (yes of course!) or possibly just bad at concentrating (hmmm also possibly true...)

I can't be the only one facing this internal dilemma...

pink elephants on parade...

My sewing machine is fixed and back home, thank goodness I felt like I'd lost a limb. In celebration I have nearly sooo so nearly finished reupholstering our sofas at long last. And can make the lovely purses and bags again. The bunny purse just sold which I'm delighted about and it reminded me to upload the pink animals series here whilst I still have the complete collection...

finished bunny (sold)
deer work-in-progress
sparrow work-in-progress
finished ele

prophecy

Gosh it turns out I can see the future. Only a few days ago I wrote the 'one day I will be published' post. After a meeting yesterday it turns out that a 2 year research project I've been working on is to have the final report published. Not quite as glamorous as being included in the next Making Stuff book but equally as exciting for me! In case anyone has a burning desire to find out more about the state of touring exhibitions in the UK I'll post more details once it's all sorted end of April / early May time. Sadly I don't really have a lovely image to illustrate that point (which is ironic given the number of paintings and objects included in the touring exhibitions referred to in the report!).

So in an unrelated snippet I want to point you to the lovely new and improved One Good Bumble Bee online store. Oooh it's lovely, I have a strange fondness for all the gnomey things in the kids section, which is odd as I never really liked gnomes before. Not had a look at anything else on there yet but do have a quick peep if you get chance.

      

My only other bit of news is that my beloved sewing machine has gone wonky, boo hiss. In the middle of an etsy order for the ever popular japanese bird print purse, the tension in the spool went bonkers. It does from time to time and usually puts itself right after a little break from work (like the best of us) but since I have orders to fulfill I can't give it a little holiday right now. So instead I have sent it to a sewing machine spa and resort - ie having it serviced. I thought it probably deserved it after 15 years. All being well I should get it back tonight from the old man up the road who has it (how quaint and reassuring to know that such things can still be done by an old man up the road and not some huge corporate chain). I'm hoping it will come back all swishy, zoomy and smooth - fingers crossed...

yay first sale!

Ooh I'm so pleased, I just had the first sale from my little Etsy shop
It's such a lovely feeling to know that someone loves this fabric as much as me



And that they too think it looks so sweet as a little purse...



Also it's the first purse I've made - I'm really happy with how well it turned out so I think there'll be lots more variations on that theme coming soon.

So the little birds are now on their way to Canada, and in the meantime I've listed it again in the hope that another someone will love it and want one too