tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12025565732659666312024-03-15T18:09:24.778-07:00Sew GracefulAnniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-47333256594966821112016-02-28T10:59:00.000-08:002016-02-28T10:59:47.797-08:00The long-awaited bathroom reveal...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QbFiSzfqHhDyBPncvS54La2AfrcAQKb9tLGHh9YMtHMBGUTcKdD9QdJHnJvvWd8u5qux92zcRvkhdVqCGn_1rZerdPgVWFGiGPsNPhj7RoBmtfbnrWCk3Vyw8krDUIaAQi1ime35qs3I/s1600/DSC_0164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QbFiSzfqHhDyBPncvS54La2AfrcAQKb9tLGHh9YMtHMBGUTcKdD9QdJHnJvvWd8u5qux92zcRvkhdVqCGn_1rZerdPgVWFGiGPsNPhj7RoBmtfbnrWCk3Vyw8krDUIaAQi1ime35qs3I/s640/DSC_0164.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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This blog has been quiet of late, but that is not to say that there has been no progress on the renovation front. Over the past six months I've been chipping away on changes to the cottage bathroom. With the other rooms in the house, I've tended to work industriously for a week to get all of the work done at once. Mainly due to needing to wait for tradesman availability, I did the bathroom work little by little...and I think that makes me all the more pleased with the outcome.</div>
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First, let's remember where this room started...</div>
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It was dark, but with a lovely original fireplace and edwardian style bathroom fixtures that I quite liked.<br />
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However, I was not so enamoured with the cobalt blue walls, the slate-effect lino floor covering and modern radiator.<br />
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Work started back in August of last year. I primed the walls which made a huge difference, and had a plumber install a more appropriate period radiator...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdvG44eeASpvpUEtH1Uny6LTzBHcZdwB_RaWHPMMVfrvAXzAz7AEAi5k5R_zTebOqT76ua6QUwksqpcIA1XHWay_uq43IEMfh_SdwN-IzirP_nv9FsJTwr5jZyBRngvLXRR6ji4ZEx4L_/s1600/Radiator+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdvG44eeASpvpUEtH1Uny6LTzBHcZdwB_RaWHPMMVfrvAXzAz7AEAi5k5R_zTebOqT76ua6QUwksqpcIA1XHWay_uq43IEMfh_SdwN-IzirP_nv9FsJTwr5jZyBRngvLXRR6ji4ZEx4L_/s320/Radiator+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then I started to work on the fireplace. This chimney is capped and I was fairly certain that I would repaint, but I did want to strip off the layers of yellowing gloss paint...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLnV1n2e08JbSOmaB7VSF3ptOuXfwNptjFkqxsmeY-YYV-a8hN7Vgj8W3jyyPLq8n_MsyRfx7RNNYXYYvVZ3I8oT6rUtO2kCmVuYrdJh8vU2GcXyWt7BrCT9_vRQl-SuKu3HtCIl-fO8d/s1600/photo+%252835%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLnV1n2e08JbSOmaB7VSF3ptOuXfwNptjFkqxsmeY-YYV-a8hN7Vgj8W3jyyPLq8n_MsyRfx7RNNYXYYvVZ3I8oT6rUtO2kCmVuYrdJh8vU2GcXyWt7BrCT9_vRQl-SuKu3HtCIl-fO8d/s320/photo+%252835%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Before</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XQDQleo9ogrSrlcCxiclP1jT9dc6HtUy9ZBurwljs2ytZOqg1far31B2Y2jNsNRmec0byYkzLhtTJ2nHsBzH7w-n1d5VP6kdgGKu7VFkIc_p4rbnkC07bp0mJKFYyAsNOlzp4lggWKbk/s1600/Fireplace+stripping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XQDQleo9ogrSrlcCxiclP1jT9dc6HtUy9ZBurwljs2ytZOqg1far31B2Y2jNsNRmec0byYkzLhtTJ2nHsBzH7w-n1d5VP6kdgGKu7VFkIc_p4rbnkC07bp0mJKFYyAsNOlzp4lggWKbk/s320/Fireplace+stripping.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">During</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VdEnzI7kiqwzMtbLxpPXhpP_KuRhTojIDu89UB6jkf_Kk3s9_R0YeKmP2VZcAEODBhu2zyth2Hoph94uTXxAFULqTAWnblqJwWZNSTZpM4SqRijlIb3OKjhpxRB_tT76oNZjkeZJBXKI/s1600/photo+%252838%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VdEnzI7kiqwzMtbLxpPXhpP_KuRhTojIDu89UB6jkf_Kk3s9_R0YeKmP2VZcAEODBhu2zyth2Hoph94uTXxAFULqTAWnblqJwWZNSTZpM4SqRijlIb3OKjhpxRB_tT76oNZjkeZJBXKI/s320/photo+%252838%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">After (before repainting)</span></div>
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The bathroom floor had been worrying me as it was quite bouncy in places. I wasn't sure if this just due to loose floorboards or a more serious problem with the joists. So I had a handyman come to lift the floor and check...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSiIbs7gozaT-CD9yKNCynBRpG5JXUUtNdl5Del4eYpK4yrb9G1m02pCcRqsAOpT_5Gmt3GaiELnMaTmjbTOW8Vc9VP2gk8RrwqgN2mdwOLinPVq7x2QSm2I5Jn-lXypf-HaHd6OZliEH/s1600/photo+%252839%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSiIbs7gozaT-CD9yKNCynBRpG5JXUUtNdl5Del4eYpK4yrb9G1m02pCcRqsAOpT_5Gmt3GaiELnMaTmjbTOW8Vc9VP2gk8RrwqgN2mdwOLinPVq7x2QSm2I5Jn-lXypf-HaHd6OZliEH/s320/photo+%252839%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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He managed to cut through a water pipe necessitating an emergency call to the plumber...the good news was that the boards and joists were in good condition. The floor was then ready to have a new, lighter coloured lino flooring laid.</div>
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The ugly bath panel definitely had to go, and I used tongue and groove mdf to make a new panel...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wIeyO2y25oad-7aZBBP5iczSzb2wRau9BENZQ3DViVB0oJMZoOo5t_CuhKGxOA_wAk4uruNHXnPT4fcmhXLpG_Rl5MD0pNktPlI6kaJKUeIpWUFphNZnDOnA84Wk2Yd3rDIL6paWiaiH/s1600/photo+%252836%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wIeyO2y25oad-7aZBBP5iczSzb2wRau9BENZQ3DViVB0oJMZoOo5t_CuhKGxOA_wAk4uruNHXnPT4fcmhXLpG_Rl5MD0pNktPlI6kaJKUeIpWUFphNZnDOnA84Wk2Yd3rDIL6paWiaiH/s320/photo+%252836%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBnTcGje9cixyFhxw3T6FgBC2Z4s-wRMQ236Xnur2D1RxZ66L0q_nbEbl1PTxK3TyB46luUI9emPq9RXWX7cwDqNTpvWhx8iibHoYi4gk1czrDOmZCzBBo5pC1pF4Ep58YWeuQMWg8qab/s1600/photo+%252843%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBnTcGje9cixyFhxw3T6FgBC2Z4s-wRMQ236Xnur2D1RxZ66L0q_nbEbl1PTxK3TyB46luUI9emPq9RXWX7cwDqNTpvWhx8iibHoYi4gk1czrDOmZCzBBo5pC1pF4Ep58YWeuQMWg8qab/s320/photo+%252843%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally, my lovely electrician returned and replaced the ceiling light and installed two wall scones for me...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAcjkL4DlH9ENFzKlxTqKXtCf4f0wXm3q9xjAILYIWozVTrlkpSBCbgBoplBoWYknPzddDXkIoKmP4qJcRlpozSajlg9LWvFmNuXBdd2A2JOppUVVrHUXWkZZhLVT6PlJwMTNhHeVI2jh/s1600/photo+%252845%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAcjkL4DlH9ENFzKlxTqKXtCf4f0wXm3q9xjAILYIWozVTrlkpSBCbgBoplBoWYknPzddDXkIoKmP4qJcRlpozSajlg9LWvFmNuXBdd2A2JOppUVVrHUXWkZZhLVT6PlJwMTNhHeVI2jh/s320/photo+%252845%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Before</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIa3ZwUymTeaieTpbsrAg-O0d4mGM3wnpRzlGGPwKzB0jwyTFlE4TktRMRSvHIkhJTAoG1XhHvjJGhpCqkyRjvvmKgqLsO-MC9QKGTzLvTIZ8WyMaEhxqmjzFaFAEUknKW4nOa4oF92ian/s1600/photo+%252844%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIa3ZwUymTeaieTpbsrAg-O0d4mGM3wnpRzlGGPwKzB0jwyTFlE4TktRMRSvHIkhJTAoG1XhHvjJGhpCqkyRjvvmKgqLsO-MC9QKGTzLvTIZ8WyMaEhxqmjzFaFAEUknKW4nOa4oF92ian/s320/photo+%252844%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">After</span></div>
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Finally, it was just up to me to paint and install new towel holders and robe hooks etc. I returned to my favourite <a href="http://www.littlegreene.com/">Little Greene</a> intelligent eggshell paint for the walls. I had intended to use the same colour as in the kitchen and main bedroom, but the slight pink-beige tinge to the wall tiles meant that wasn't possible. Instead I chose a pale grey with a warmer undertone (wood ash) that I'm very happy with.</div>
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So finally, here is the result:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupiKh1Kiqvj8deS72bHrXOxGVN2x-Iixbfgy-oqKl4Bpc2774Y5qUJoLOBK6t6ofUQjv8C7u9l9K47iZgkU3Sqc4jbXVYq0bF8yOuGglrUDpEipmCcsoyFr-3YHBnHWqfROZyhgt9EKgy/s1600/DSC_0195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupiKh1Kiqvj8deS72bHrXOxGVN2x-Iixbfgy-oqKl4Bpc2774Y5qUJoLOBK6t6ofUQjv8C7u9l9K47iZgkU3Sqc4jbXVYq0bF8yOuGglrUDpEipmCcsoyFr-3YHBnHWqfROZyhgt9EKgy/s640/DSC_0195.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmkw2j0VK5xbOkfj9OB2VffmYWLMn2H_vmkVt_rrRvKgg5L-7Y8iYEOjSW8KrxUCZiYcXOykhu9OYnRtll8SvURa-Xxs3TvMPwQu-2u6BEs7lrviVz7KcPiss6TKcCEYEZvqfpkUFN1YX/s1600/DSC_0196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmkw2j0VK5xbOkfj9OB2VffmYWLMn2H_vmkVt_rrRvKgg5L-7Y8iYEOjSW8KrxUCZiYcXOykhu9OYnRtll8SvURa-Xxs3TvMPwQu-2u6BEs7lrviVz7KcPiss6TKcCEYEZvqfpkUFN1YX/s640/DSC_0196.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXT7UWMrF-4xmNPwYQRjABDOJqezcnC0l3APuYr8roGynt8Q90pSIXdZBpy3M7UFfjHhDgeZ54W3JAxcqCuAKmJwY3L6tAV04M1och2O608ocLuIJPVPNGRsGrktcprRONh3gchkwlaaAm/s1600/DSC_0198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXT7UWMrF-4xmNPwYQRjABDOJqezcnC0l3APuYr8roGynt8Q90pSIXdZBpy3M7UFfjHhDgeZ54W3JAxcqCuAKmJwY3L6tAV04M1och2O608ocLuIJPVPNGRsGrktcprRONh3gchkwlaaAm/s640/DSC_0198.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And one final before and after...</div>
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It is such a pleasure now to walk into this room. Now onto the next project...</div>
Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com71tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-40691327346680181582015-12-19T08:17:00.000-08:002015-12-19T08:17:46.987-08:00Chatham, Cape Cod<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In early November, I went to Boston MA, for an international meeting for work. As I'd visited Boston in 2013 during my travel fellowship, I decided to spend a few days seeing a different part of the state. My colleague E and I left London on the Friday before the meeting so that we could spend the weekend exploring Cape Cod.<br />
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After collecting the car at the airport, we made our way south (old school style without a sat nav and just some printed instructions from the car hire company). After a few wrong turns when we reached Chatham, we finally found the lovely inn where we spent two nights.<br />
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The New England fall weather lived up to expectations with a beautifully sunny day...here are some scenes from our stay in Chatham...<br />
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<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-27994070920625234652015-12-12T04:44:00.001-08:002015-12-12T04:44:34.478-08:00Handmade Christmas decorations...using black(red)work embroidery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This year, I made some handmade Christmas decorations for my mother to give to her friends. In the summer I did a two-day course learning blackwork embroidery at the Royal School of Needlework. Although we were learning traditional blackwork techniques, we worked the sampler with red embroidery thread. At the time, I thought it would be a nice effect for Christmas.<br />
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Using one of the sampler patterns, and worked on white belgian linen, I embroidered each of the individual motifs.<br />
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Each of the decorations was backed with a red fabric with white stars.</div>
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And then stitched together with a 2mm satin ribbon loop</div>
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Turned the right-side out and pressed, ready for their filling and finishing touches</div>
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Filled, and a small ribbon bow added for decoration.</div>
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I think they look quite festive!</div>
Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-40674579070101351832015-10-14T22:12:00.000-07:002015-10-14T22:12:55.665-07:00Venice - St Mark's Square and Murano<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Part of wanting to re-visit Venice, was the opportunity to visit some of the places for which it is renowned and of which I had such limited memories of my previous visit. So early on Saturday morning, I left our apartment and wandered towards St Marks hoping to arrive before many of the tourist crowds. My route took me over the Accademia Bridge with the above view of the Grand Canal.<br />
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After about 15 minutes I reached an almost deserted St Mark's square. For anyone who has been to Venice, this is a rare occurrence...but at 8am on a Saturday morning, there were only a few other tourists and quite a few joggers.<br />
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St Mark's Basilica - the bench like structures in front of the church are the boards that are laid around the city during the aqua alta so people can still get around when areas of the city flood.<br />
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I had been into St Mark's Basilica on my previous visit, but hadn't been to see the Doge's Palace - which was my main destination for the morning. The pink and white marble exterior is exquisite.<br />
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The palace opened at 8.30, and so I was also able to explore without hundreds of other people. The palace also afforded some wonderful views across Venice.<br />
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After I left the Doge's Palace, I queued briefly to go into the Basilica. It feels far smaller than some other European and English cathedrals, but the mosaic work is incomparable.<br />
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As I left St Mark's Square the crowds were beginning to build, so I made my way back across the Accademia Bridge for views back towards the Doge's Palace and the Campanile.<br />
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I met up with my friends for lunch, and as the weather had become so lovely, we decided to hop on a vaporetto and spend the afternoon on Murano (with an obligatory gelati!)<br />
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My last view of Venice as we caught the vaporetto back to collect our bags and make our way to the airport. I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to return to visit after so many years, and explore such a wonderful city properly...Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-40596082802618156852015-10-11T12:44:00.000-07:002015-10-11T12:44:30.931-07:00Venice - a wander through the city<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last weekend, some friends and I spent the weekend in Venice. Earlier in the year I had been talking about how I had once spent 24 hours in Venice about 17 years ago. Unfortunately, that one day was in mid July, the temperature was well over 40 degrees, and we shamefully spent several hours sitting in a fast food restaurant as it was the only place we could find that had air-conditioning. Ever since, Venice has remained on the list of places I wanted to re-visit to explore and appreciate properly. After mentioning this over drinks one Friday evening, momentum took hold and our weekend trip was planned.<br />
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My friends had also been to Venice before, so weren't keen to visit the very busy tourist sites. So on our first day we simply wandered from our local area (we were staying in an apartment) across the city, trying to stay off the tourist routes, and exploring the less busy areas.<br />
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We stayed in Dorsoduro which is the university quarter. It was a great spot to stay in terms of local bakeries, cafes and restaurants...but we were also able to get a real sense of how Venetians go about their daily lives.<br />
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On the canals, we passed produce stores, garbage collection boats and everything in between.<br />
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Our footsteps took us towards the Rialto bridge which also afforded us our first daytime view of the grand canal. The local market was still in full swing, with an amazing array of fresh produce for sale.<br />
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After exploring the market, we quickly crossed the Rialto bridge and once again headed away from the regular tourist haunts to avoid the large crowds.<br />
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This last photo is actually a modern, functioning hospital! By the end of the afternoon we had walked over 8 miles, so we caught a vaporetto back to Dorsoduro and enjoyed an evening of enjoying more Venetian delights (Aperol spritz and cicchetti).<br />
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It was a lovely day and a wonderful start to the weekend...Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-18027192179209840902015-09-27T11:32:00.001-07:002015-09-27T11:32:17.493-07:00Getting started with the garage...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the biggest (read most expensive) jobs planned for this year's renovation tasks is to make some essential repairs to my separate 1960's garage. It is unusual to have off-street parking in this area, let alone a garage, so as ugly as the building may be it was a big advantage when I decided to buy the cottage.<br />
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However, unlike the quite robust build of the house, the garage is showing it's age. It needs a new roof, and has some quite large gaps in the brick courses. The builder who has come to look at it for me has identified that the issue is related to subsidence of the slab underneath the back wall of the garage that will need underpinning. This requires approval from two sets of neighbours (those at the rear and those at the side) for a party wall agreement to be put in place.<br />
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The rear neighbours (who will be the most inconvenienced) have been no problem at all - those to the side, who own the other attached garage, have proved a little more problematic. Their property consists of a small commercial shop and outbuildings that they now have planning permission to convert to 5 flats. Part of the redevelopment plans involve demolishing their side of the double garage. The owner informs me that they are in the final stages of selling the property to a developer, so will not undertake any discussions about agreed work. Here's hoping that the sale proceeds quickly, and that the developers are a little more accessible in terms of reaching agreement to progress this work. It would actually be better for me to wait to replace my roof once the other side is demolished...but due to the subsidence issue, I can't have this drag on for months.<br />
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When the builder came to quote, we also noted some issues with the wood trim on the front of the garage - with the paint in generally poor condition, and a bigger issue on the left side where the wood had started to rot. Based on our discussion, I decided that this was something I could tackle myself whilst waiting for the other works to be scheduled.<br />
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We have had the most beautiful autumn weather this past weekend, so I decided that I needed to make the most of it for outdoor painting. Here is where I started on Saturday morning...<br />
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The area where the trim had started to rot</div>
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You can see the poor state of the woodwork. Up close, the cream paintwork on the door itself had been badly applied. I think the door was originally white. So I spent the rest of the day washing everything down, scraping paint, sanding the wood trim and garage door, applying wood filler to repair the left side trim, and then repainting everything - garage door included.<br />
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By 5pm, the results were...<br />
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...weathertight for the coming winter. The colour of the door also now co-ordinates with the front door and fence.<br />
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And because I love a good before and after, these photos show the evolution of the front of my property...<br />
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June 2014 - in it's original condition when I completed on the purchase</div>
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April 2015 - front door and fence painted, and front garden landscaped</div>
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and today</div>
Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-33647149691768362852015-09-20T11:05:00.002-07:002015-09-20T11:05:22.142-07:00A barley-twist leg side table...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Continuing with the theme of furniture makeovers, this is the second item that has had a recent revamp. I picked up with little barley-twist legged side table the weekend I moved into the cottage last year from a nearby village for £5. It then sat in its original state for more than a year as other projects took precedence.</div>
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Here it is in its original state - no major issues, though it was quite heavily varnished which had started to crack on the table top. My plan had always been to paint the table, but like with the new chest of drawers I added to the sitting room, I decided to leave the table top as natural wood and only paint the frame and legs. I again used ASCP pure - though partway through painting the legs I was regretting not using spray paint!<br />
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Like the chest, I sanded the table top and then added a coat of rosewood stain and several coats of Danish oil.<br />
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I love the different grains and colours in the wood that are now able to be seen, and the fresh contrast with the white frame and legs...Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-84460671175470081402015-08-27T11:46:00.000-07:002015-08-27T11:46:57.975-07:00A new sitting room addition...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Over the past few weeks, I've managed to pick up a couple of items of budget furniture. This chest is a new addition and is doing double duty as both tv stand, and additional storage (holding DVD's and CD's), with a basket holding my current sewing and knitting projects underneath.<br />
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I had been using this Ikea stand for the first year in the cottage, and it had also served me well for the previous 5 years in my flat. My longer term plan is to have built-in shelves and cupboards made for either side of the fireplace - however, that is likely a task for 2016-7. I came to the decision that I could probably find something that was a little more attractive to serve this purpose in the meantime.<br />
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I found this lovely small chest on eBay for £40. It fit the space perfectly, and I also liked the fact that it had slender legs, so it would not feel so visually bulky in the space. The eBay seller had already undertaken a makeover of the piece in ASCP in paris grey. I would've been very happy to keep the grey, but I am not fond of the highly distressed look. So I spent last weekend giving the piece a small revamp.<br />
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To add a bit more interest to this room, I decided to strip the paint from the top of the chest. It received a coat of rosewood wood stain followed by several coats of Danish oil. The rest of the chest has been painted with ASCP pure (which is the whitest paint in the range - but typically does require an extra coat) - I used 3 coats for this. I also replaced the door pulls with small faceted glass knobs.<br />
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Although only a 'temporary' solution, I think it is nice to have a more unique and fitting option for this corner of the sitting room...Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-20741219970312304042015-08-22T07:46:00.000-07:002015-08-22T07:46:27.727-07:00Life lately...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, I didn't intend to neglect this blog for a month - work has been continuing on small jobs around the cottage...it is just that many are still only partly complete.<br />
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I did spend a weekend in Dublin at the end of July to attend a friend's wedding. I lived in Dublin in 2002-3, and used to visit several times a year to catch up with friends. However, it has been quite a while since my last visit. The wedding was lovely (if somewhat of an endurance event!). The service started at 1pm, and I left the reception after 1am and it was still going strong! However, on Saturday morning I had a chance to walk through some of my favourite streets in Georgian Dublin and have my fill of beautiful doors, before venturing into a very sunny St Stephen's Green.<br />
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On the home front, I have recently purchased a couple of items of bargain furniture, so the last few weeks have been spent giving them each a makeover. Two are now complete and so I will show you the updates very soon, and one is almost complete.<br />
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I've also started the redecoration of the bathroom. Unlike other rooms wherever I've done all of the work in one go, I am spreading this one out a little (both from an energy/inclination and a financial perspective). I've been sharing some of these snippets on Instagram, but to date I have...<br />
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Started covering the dark blue wall paint with white primer. It has had one coat so far, but I think I will do another before the final wall colour.</div>
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This actually resulted in a bit of indecision regarding wall colour. While the walls had been dark blue, I was convinced that the wall tiles were white. It transpires that they are actually a beige colour (with a small hint of pink). So my extensive range of Little Greene colour pots came out, and I think I've decided on Wood Ash (top right swatch).</div>
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The plumber has been and replaced the modern towel warmer with a more traditional style radiator. </div>
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And this weekend's task is to strip the paint from the cast iron fireplace. I think I will likely re-paint this, but it had so many layers of poorly applied paint, a lot of the detail was ill-defined. The test will be tomorrow when I try removing the peel-away paint stripper.</div>
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In other (negative) news I had to call out an emergency plumber this week as I arrived home on Tuesday to find that my water-tank in the loft was leaking, and dripping through to the upstairs landing. The plumber was able to come within a few hours but I have sustained some damage to the hall ceiling and the ceiling in the second bedroom. It also must have been more water than I thought as I discovered yesterday that the water had also made its way down to the bottom floor through the hall floor as I have damp stains on the dining room ceiling. So I'm giving it all a chance to fully dry out, and then some ceiling re-painting will be added to the 'to-do' list.</div>
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But in other (positive) news, the UK food network channel has started showing some HGTV programmes - you may recall I became a little addicted to HGTV when I spent a month in the US two years ago. So, I can now have a daily fix of Rehab Addict and Fixer Upper - which both certainly help to keep me focused on getting on with my own projects...</div>
Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-5486737028145716842015-07-18T04:55:00.000-07:002015-07-18T04:55:31.864-07:00Main Bedroom - adding some finishing touches...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Over the past few months I have been adding some finishing touches to the main bedroom. <a href="http://sew-graceful.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/bringing-serenity-to-main-bedroom.html">This post</a> and <a href="http://sew-graceful.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/the-main-bedroom-adding-some-much.html">this post</a> describe the initial transformation from pink 'delight' to tranquil grey and adding some much-needed storage.<br />
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The most needed element to be added was curtains. Last month I finally found time to make full-length white linen curtains. I was delighted to finally pull down the curtains from my old flat which had been a temporary solution that had lasted for far too long.<br />
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As much as I love the serenity of the grey and white scheme, I wanted to add a few touches of warmth. The pink/gold accents came about after discovering the three Australian wildflower prints on Etsy. I initially found the print of the flowering gum - which I loved, as there is a beautiful flowering gum at my mother's home in Sydney which is always in bloom when I am visiting in January. I then decided to include the waratah and grevillia prints. The prints form a lovely reminder of my childhood.<br />
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Fortuitously, the <a href="http://sew-graceful.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/developing-crewelwork-at-royal-school.html">crewelwork piece </a>I embroidered at the RSN last summer had the same hints of colour. I used the same pink in the prints to make a cushion cover to tie the two elements together.<br />
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I will likely add a few more layers and personal touches into the room as time passes, but for now I can call this room complete!<br />
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<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-10825205120284979622015-07-11T13:47:00.000-07:002015-07-11T13:47:50.973-07:00Braving the lean-to....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I moved into my home last year I opened this little door, and very quickly closed it again. Finally, a year later, I have braved the mess that lays beyond this old door with its peeling paint.<br />
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This brick-built lean to is at the back of my home - it is part wc and part a small pantry that can be accessed from the kitchen. In the long term I hope to knock down the lean-to and extend the kitchen out into the garden. So, I've no plans to 'renovate' this space...but I decided that I at least needed to clear it out and ensure that it is maintained in a reasonable condition (in order to protect the integrity of my home).<br />
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So, this was the sight that greeted me when I opened the door:<br />
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This is what was left in the space by the previous owners. Pieces of broken up old furniture, an old radiator, and the remains of their wood pile. It was also housing copious amounts of spider's web and the spiders themselves.<br />
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I pulled everything out so that I could sweep out all of the dirt and mess. This is the pile that subsequently made a trip to my local council recyling centre.<br />
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Hideous, I know...<br />
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But, whilst this space is never going to win any decor awards, it is at least reasonably clean, and can function as a wood store until I am ready to plan a future extension.<br />
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It was a satisfying, if somewhat unedifying job - so I'm pleased I finally completed it.<br />
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And to ensure that this post contains some slightly more attractive images, here are my hydrangeas coming into bloom in the garden.<br />
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I had long planned a garden with white hydrangeas, so I'm delighted that it has come to fruition.<br />
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And in other, completely unrelated news, I spent last Saturday morning baking. I've made friands several times before usually using a citrus and poppy seed recipe. This time I tried a new Mary Berry recipe, which resulted in these delicious raspberry and almond friands...fortunately, I took them with me when I visited a friend that afternoon, otherwise more than would have been advisable would have been consumed!<br />
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<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-28608796267478783362015-06-05T09:31:00.000-07:002015-06-05T09:31:24.147-07:00House tour...one year on<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This weekend marks the first anniversary since I moved into my 1901 semi-detached cottage in Kent. I thought it would be interesting to look back over the first year and projects completed to see the changes...and set some priorities for the next 12 months.<br />
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I've tried to do some side-by-side comparisons - the left-hand photos are from just after I moved into the cottage, and the right-hand photos are the most recent photos I have of each space.<br />
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<i><a href="http://sew-graceful.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/first-impressions.html"><b>Front entrance</b></a></i><br />
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Complete! One of the most recent projects I've completed. Over the 12 months, I've repainted the masonry and front door, painted the picket fence, had a landscape gardener remove the pebbles and lay turf and planted two new garden beds.<br />
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<i><a href="http://sew-graceful.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/spring-in-garden.html"><b>Garden</b></a></i><br />
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Partly complete: I did an awful lot of work in the garden during last summer. I'm pleased with the basic evergreen structure that is in place, but I now plan to add some more planting in the two side borders to ensure more consistent interest throughout all seasons.<br />
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<i><a href="http://sew-graceful.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/the-kitchen-refresh.html"><b>Kitchen</b></a></i><br />
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Complete! This is one of the first projects I tackled late last summer. All of the kitchen cupboards were painted, walls were painted and the glass mosaic tiles were replaced with white subway tiles. In December, the builder completed the last item which was to replace the sink and tap. In time, I plan to knock through the back wall to extend the kitchen and have french doors leading directly out to the garden...but this space is so much nicer to live with in the meantime.<br />
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<i><b><a href="http://sew-graceful.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/bringing-serenity-to-main-bedroom.html">Main Bedroom</a></b></i><br />
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Almost complete: The other major project that took up my time last year was redecorating the main bedroom. The dark pink paint was banished, plantation shutters were installed, and the builder added some much needed storage with built-in wardrobes. I also tried to add a little bit of character back to the cottage by reinstating the fireplace. I'm in the process of completing a few finishing touches to this room - curtains and artwork are currently being added.<br />
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<b><i>Sitting/Dining Room</i></b><br />
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Still much to do: I've yet to really make an impact in this space. I did re-paint the walls late last year and the dark olive green has been replaced with grey...however, I've decided that it is a shade too dark and plan to repaint. I've also finished reupholstering new dining chairs. Still to do is to make a new slip cover for the sofa, and make a roman blind for the dining room window. Art work needs to be hung and I'm considering a rug for under the dining table. In the longer term the carpet will be replaced with floor boards, and built-in cupboards will be installed on either side of the chimney breast in the sitting room.<br />
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<b><i>Projects for the coming year</i></b><br />
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1. Repair garage and replace roof - My little garage needs some work asap - some cracks in the brick work are widening, and the wooden window and side door desperately need replacing. The roof is old corrugated asbestos sheeting which also needs to replaced. Nothing pretty about any of this work, but this is the next renovating savings target.<br />
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2. Finish the redecoration of the spare bedroom - as you can see below work has started on this bedroom. I spent the Easter weekend stripping wallpaper and repainting. However, the room is still full of boxes that I am in the midst of culling before I can put the finishing touches on this room.<br />
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3. The bathroom - I think I must have become immune to this dark blue paint as I can't believe that I have lived with it for a year! But, it will definitely be changing this year.</div>
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Most of the work is cosmetic - I've already had plantation shutters installed at the window. Still to complete:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Paint walls</li>
<li>Replace bath panel</li>
<li>Replace radiator</li>
<li>Replace ceiling light and install wall sconces</li>
<li>Replace mirror</li>
<li>Refinish fireplace</li>
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I will need to book visits by the electrician and plumber to fix the lighting and radiator, but the rest will be up to me. I want to at least have the radiator replaced before it becomes time to turn the heating back on in the autumn.</div>
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4. The hallway - like the blue bathroom, I have been closing my eyes to the colour of the walls and carpet. The walls will be painted, carpet taken up and stairs refinished, and the banister on the upstairs landing will be stripped and refinished.</div>
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So, a busy 12 months...and an equally busy year to come...</div>
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-16367702233933419402015-05-29T10:19:00.000-07:002015-05-29T10:19:33.523-07:00Sissinghurst Castle Garden...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The last weekend in May was a bank holiday in the UK and I finally took the opportunity to visit <a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden/">Sissinghurst Castle Garden</a>. Sissinghurst is a National Trust garden, and despite moving to Kent a year ago, this was my first visit - shameful really, as it is only 30 minutes away.<br />
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The weather has been a bit changeable, but Monday dawned with sunshine and blue skies, so off to Sissinghurst I went...<br />
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In the middle of the beautiful Kent countryside, Sissinghurst is famous for being the home of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicholson. The couple moved to the estate in the 1930's and set about creating the wonderful garden rooms that you can visit today.<br />
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Sissinghurst actually dates from the Saxon period where it started life as a pig farm before being developed into a moated manor house. Throughout the intervening centuries the estate went through a number of iterations, including a renaissance rebuild in the 16th century, and period as a prison camp in the 18th century.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Oast House - a common sight in this part of Kent</span></div>
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The property was bought in 1932 by Vita Sackville-West (poet/writer) and her husband Arthur Nicolson (diplomat/author). Harold undertook the architectural planing for the series of garden rooms that you can explore today, while the planting schemes were designed by Vita. Most famous for the 'white garden', each room is beautiful, ranging from restful blues and purples to one filled with fiery oranges, reds and yellows.<br />
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Vita's designs are still the inspiration behind many garden designers of today - I spoke with one staff member at the site who also said that the white garden is under redevelopment at the moment to bring it back to the planting scheme initially designed by Vita.<br />
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While the peonies and many of the roses were only still in bud (I think another visit in a month or two is in order), the gardens were a riot of colours...and the smell was divine.<br />
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And there was beauty wherever you looked...</div>
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Given my plans to add planting to my own garden for year-round interest, I hope to re-visit Sissinghurst each season for inspiration...Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-30141269928359725622015-05-25T01:10:00.000-07:002015-05-25T01:10:26.907-07:00Spring in the garden...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few weeks ago I posted about the changes I had made to the <a href="http://sew-graceful.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/first-impressions.html">front garden</a>. Over the past few weeks it has also been heartening to see that the work I did in the back garden throughout last summer and autumn is starting to come to fruition.<br />
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After stripping out all of the overgrown shrubs, I was left with some quite bare garden borders and an unwell looking lawn...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">September 2014</span></div>
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Over the autumn I planted ten hydrangea bushes which have come into leaf and three standard roses. The grass has also mostly recovered, with a few uneven spots on which I am still working. I'm pleased with the basic structure of the garden, but while there are a few lovely signs of spring (not least the lovely crab apple in the back corner), it has also helped me to plan the work I wish to undertake this year to ensure earlier spring interest (bulbs....lots of bulb planting!). Heidi, of the lovely <a href="http://adelaidevilla.blogspot.co.uk/">Adelaide Villa blog</a>, has also suggested that I can help reduce the impact of the expanse of somewhat ugly fencing by painting it a dark charcoal. I am quite keen to do this and have pinned many pictures for inspiration - however, after the 15 hours of painting that was the marathon involved in painting the front picket fence, I think I need to rebuild my motivation and energy before I do so...</div>
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Here is how the garden looks as of two weekends ago...</div>
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...and I eventually decided to pull out the brightly yellow coloured but very spiky berberis and now have a lovely camellia gracing that space instead...Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-14715278247979084182015-05-18T22:48:00.000-07:002015-05-18T22:48:11.180-07:00A gardener's shed...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">June 2014</span></div>
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This is my first home with a garden, and hence my first need of a garden shed. Luckily, the property came with a shed at the end of the garden when I bought it...unfortunately, it was a fairly unattractive shade of bright blue...<br />
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Last summer when I did most of the major changes to the back garden, I also painted the outside of the shed, so it had less of an obvious presence at the end of the garden...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">September 2014</span></div>
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While the outside had improved, the inside was not somewhere I wanted to spend any time. It was dark, dusty and fully of seemingly hundreds of spider webs. I used to go in and out as quickly as possible to retrieve what I needed.</div>
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At the beginning of spring, I decided that the time had come to pull everything out and make it a more functional place for storage (and somewhere I was happy to venture). I forgot to take a photo of it in its cluttered and spider-infested glory, but here is how it looked after I pulled everything out, swept it from top to bottom for dust, dirt and spider webs and liberally applied insect spray...</div>
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It actually looks a lot brighter in these pictures than it ever felt in actuality. I decided to whitewash the ceiling and walls, add a potting bench, some shelving and a tool rack. It is still just a serviceable garden shed but it is at least now easy to put my hand on what I need (and no longer scary to enter!)...</div>
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Just in time for the garden-oriented activities of spring and summer to begin...</div>
Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-23320310813158058232015-05-10T07:44:00.000-07:002015-05-10T07:44:21.608-07:00New dining chairs (and my first attempt at reupholstery)...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The popularity of faux-bamboo Chippendale style chairs has been in train now for quite a few years - and I've always liked the thought of how easily these chairs lend themselves to so many different colours, fabrics and interior styles.<br />
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Although I have a lovely antique oak dining table, I have been living with some basic ikea dining chairs for the past 6 years. Whilst perfectly serviceable, they were really a make-do option until I found something I really liked.<br />
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Over the past year I have intermittently searched ebay and gumtree for dining chair options. While the faux-bamboo chairs seem to be quite easy to obtain in the US, they are very rare here in the UK...unless you want to buy new, and then they retail for about £600 each. So, I had put the thought of these aside and was focusing my search on antique bentwood chairs. However, they brought their own issues - by the nature of their construction, and their age, they were often not the sturdiest or most comfortable chairs on which to spend several hours sitting over a leisurely dinner.<br />
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Then in February this year I found the unexpected on gumtree - not only that, but they were actually located in my own town in Kent. I quickly became the owner of four of these...<br />
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The chairs and upholstery were in good condition, but a renovation project beckoned. I read many blog posts of others who have done this before me...essentially, it wasn't too difficult - mainly an exercise in perseverance and endurance (and not to mention blisters) in order to remove hundreds of staples.<br />
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Over a rainy Easter weekend, I turned my garage into spray-painting central, making repeated trips out to apply layers of white paint.<br />
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A few evenings with a staple gun to recover the chairs, and a glue gun to apply the trim, and the chairs were complete...<br />
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Of course, now that these are finished and in place in my dining room, it has highlighted the changes I still want to make to that space - so a few more tasks have been added to the to-do list...Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-89705908898594757162015-05-03T12:28:00.001-07:002015-05-03T12:28:11.125-07:00First impressions...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Back in the cold and damp days of February, the project to revamp my front garden began. After a good three months, and not to mention the work I did last summer, the front entrance to my home now finally gives the first impression that I had hoped...<br />
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When I first started looking for a house, I was hoping for a Victorian or Edwardian home - something that had character. So, when I found this 1901 Victorian semi-detached cottage in my price range I was delighted. However, although the Victorian bones were there, the front entrance was really not to my taste.<br />
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As a reminder, here is where I started last June:<br />
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The picket fence was weathering at different rates, resulting in mismatched colours, the front garden was very straggly and even the lovely lavender had become very woody, and I was definitely not enamoured with the blue front door and expanse of pebbles in the garden.</div>
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In August I completed some essential work to repair the cracked and peeling paint on the window and door architraves - and taking the opportunity to change the colour of the front door. I also pulled out all of the existing shrubs (that had been trampled while I worked on the bay window) and started to plant the structure of the new garden...</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">August 2014</span></div>
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In August last year I started to get quotes from landscape gardeners to come and relay the path to the front door and side gate, remove the pebbles, build some brick garden edging for the window garden bed and a new garden along the front fence, and finally, lay turf. Having found a lovely, and reasonably priced landscaper, I then had to wait until February of this year to find a slot in his work schedule where he could fit in my work.</div>
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So, in mid February, work finally started. Here are the before pics:</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">From the side path looking towards the front fence</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The old and decrepit side path</span></div>
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After a few days, the garden was starting to take shape. All of the pebbles had been removed and both paths had been re-laid with pale grey sandstone. My neighbours also decided to have their front path replaced, so we were able to make this a joint (and consistent) effort.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Paths complete, brick garden edging laid and ground prepared for turf.</span></div>
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February is not the best time to lay turf, so I had to wait another three weeks or so until the worst of the overnight frosts had passed before Leo returned to lay the turf. After much dithering, I also decided to paint the front picket fence - I had received conflicting advice about this, but in the end decided that I really didn't feel that the weathered wood look was what I wanted.</div>
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Two weeks ago we had a nice batch of dry weather, including a weekend - so I decided to make the most of it. Thirteen hours of painting later and the worst of it is done (part of the side section still needs another coat...but they are predicting dry weather tomorrow, so I hope to have it finished then).</div>
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A last bout of planting in the rain last Sunday, and the front garden is finally complete...now I just need to wait for the new plants to grow and fill out - but that will be a much easier task to watch and enjoy.</div>
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The After...</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The bay garden has two standard myrtles, some lavender and aquilegias (to remind me of my grandmother). I've just planted an edging of Japenese Holly - this is gaining increasing popularity here in the UK as it is very similar to box, but not subject to box blight which seems increasingly prevalent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The fence garden has a standard white lilac in the centre of the bed, flanked by choiysa ternata - these will grow into hedges that I'll keep clipped to around fence height.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The much improved side path</span></div>
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It took a long time to reach this point, but it is now a real pleasure to come home and see the difference...</div>
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-16975129714329210892015-03-29T12:51:00.000-07:002015-03-29T12:51:10.783-07:00Scenes of Cambridge...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As my current projects around my home remain only part completed, I did have a lovely afternoon a few weeks ago wandering around the college quarter of Cambridge. As Cambridge is only an hour from London, I'm quite embarrassed to admit that it has been at least 8 years since I was last here. Like Oxford, it such a lovely place to wander.<br />
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Although it is technically spring here, it was still a cold and gloomy afternoon...but touches of spring were apparent in some of the window boxes, if not yet in the actual temperature...<br />
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So much history, so much beautiful architecture, and a great number of lovely tea shops in which to warm up with a cup of tea and a scone with jam and cream - a pretty perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon...Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-82450333830875697582015-03-02T09:50:00.000-08:002015-03-02T09:50:54.120-08:00Customising bathroom storage...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the rooms I plan to redecorate/lightly renovate this year is the bright blue bathroom. I've been gradually collecting bits and pieces as I've seen them that will be added to the room. The new vanity mirror, wall sconces and ceiling light are ready and waiting.<br />
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I spent months stalking ebay for a glass-fronted cupboard to add much needed storage to the room. The bathroom has an Edwardian style pedestal sink, so there are no other places to store/hide the clutter of bathroom essentials. While I was in Australia I finally found a cupboard that was the perfect dimensions to fit the space, and at an equally perfect price (only £20!). I collected it once I returned and it is now in place ready for the other elements of the room to change around it.<br />
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One of the problems with the use of a glass fronted cabinet, is finding pretty storage options for what will go inside it - those that should and shouldn't be seen. When I was in Home Sense last week I found this nice metal storage crate. It had the perfect dimensions and I thought it would be just right to store spare hand towels and loo roll. However, I was less than impressed with the rough canvas insert.<br />
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So, using fabric I had left over from when I made the kitchen blind, it now looks like this...<br />
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Much better - and with some pretty cotton lace detail as well. Now I just need to get on with making plans for the rest of the room...Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-19619663710549732682015-02-18T03:12:00.000-08:002015-02-18T03:12:07.205-08:00Paisley crewelwork at the RSN, Hampton Court Palace...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am belatedly catching up with and completing some embroidery projects that I started in the latter part of last year. One weekend in November, I returned to the <a href="http://www.royal-needlework.org.uk/">Royal School of Needlework</a> to do a two-day course in paisley crewelwork. The tutor for the course was Florence Collingwood who I hadn't learnt from before, but whose teaching style I very much enjoyed.<br />
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This was a very enjoyable piece to work as it included such a variety of stitches, including some of the very traditional Jacobean elements such as trellis. It also included stem stitch, block shading, long and short, satin stitch, bullions and french knots, single and double seeding, herringbone, cretan and vandyke stitch, and finally some whipped and woven wheels. A number of these stitches were new to me, and for others it was a good refresher.<br />
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Paisley designs are inextricably linked with the town of Paisley (near Glasgow in Scotland) which was one of the major centres of shawl manufacturers. Originating with weavers in Kashmir who had produced exquisite cloth shawls for centuries, shawls began to be brought to the UK through the movements of British travellers, troops and merchants. With increasing popularity, the silk and cashmere shawls became covetable fashion items. Local industries then set out to produce similar items at a lesser cost to meet the growing demand. Paisley shawls were manufactured in a range of textiles including woven cashmere, embroidered wool and printed silk. One of the most common motifs used in paisley work is the tear drop design.<br />
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Of course a trip to the RSN at Hampton Court Palace is not complete with at least some time spent admiring the beautiful grounds from the vantage point of the RSN classroom windows...<br />
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The first day was one of those beautifully sunny winter days we do get on occasion here in England - however, the long, low shadows certainly indicate that winter was definitely approaching (and from memory, the second day of the course was misty, cold and damp!). However, the Saturday was still revealing some late blooms in the rose garden...<br />
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I spent a bit of time over the past weekend finishing off the design. It was the first time I had embellished my embroidery (other than when I did the goldwork course), but I like the effect that adding the vintage buttons and a few sequins provided - I think it gives a bit of whimsy to the design. I plan to frame this piece (along with some of the others I've completed at the RSN) to line my hallway.<br />
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One of the reasons I wanted to complete this piece is that I'm off to the RSN again this weekend where I am doing another Jacobean crewelwork course. But it is nice to tick one of the 'unfinished' projects off my list!Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-7205366390619868352015-02-17T00:36:00.001-08:002015-02-17T00:36:27.743-08:00Sydney sojourn...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I recently returned from three lovely weeks in Sydney...although I have no photos to show for it, apart from this of the lovely flowering gum in my mother's garden which always times bursting into bloom with my visit.<br />
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As usual, the time seemed to go past so quickly. Three glorious weeks of spending time with family and catching up with friends (including a quick overnight trip to Brisbane) and before I knew it, it was time to head home to the UK.<br />
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I have a few projects stacked up here for which I need to start developing an action plan...<br />
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<li>After months of searching on ebay, I have finally found the perfect size glass fronted cabinet for the bathroom. Soon to receive a new lease of life with some ASCP.</li>
<li>The surprise purchase of four dining chairs - I have long planned to update my existing ikea versions, but was undecided as to what to choose (I toyed with the idea of antique bentwood chairs for a long while). A fortuitous search on gumtree just after I arrived home resulted in the acquisition of four faux bamboo Chippendale style chairs. So, in addition to repainting, I will also be trying my hand at re-upholstering for the first time...</li>
<li>I have another embroidery course coming up at Hampton Court Palace this coming weekend so have been busy finishing off one of my other projects.</li>
<li>Finally, after many months of waiting, the landscape gardener is coming this week to rid my front garden of all of the horrible rocks, and build some proper garden beds for me. Hurrah! Just in time for some spring planting.</li>
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Now I just need to get started...</div>
Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-7266332538518314302015-01-15T11:07:00.000-08:002015-01-15T11:07:41.528-08:00Developing crewelwork at the Royal School of Needlework...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In 2014, I attended another three short courses at the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace. Somewhat ashamedly, I have only just managed to complete the first project, despite actually attending the 'Developing Crewelwork' course back in August.<br />
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For two lovely summery days, this was our view from the teaching studio...<br />
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Part of me thinks that the view is worth the course fees alone...<br />
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During the course we were taught how to transfer our design onto the fabric using the prick and pounce method which was new to me.<br />
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And many months later, here is the finished product - well the embroidery is finished. I think I will likely make this into a cushion for the sitting room...but first I need to definitely come to a decision as to what final colour accents I will be using so I can chose a toning backing fabric.<br />
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As ever, the teaching quality of the RSN programme was excellent - if you are UK based, or here on holiday it is such a lovely way to spend a day or two...Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-39030463145855395712015-01-07T22:49:00.000-08:002015-01-07T22:49:25.165-08:00The main bedroom - adding some much needed storage...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just before my sister came to visit in September, <a href="http://sew-graceful.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/bringing-serenity-to-main-bedroom.html">I spent a week</a> banishing the dark pink walls of the main bedroom, and replacing them with an altogether more serene shade of pale grey (Shadows by Little Greene). However, what this room still lacked was any decent storage for clothes.<br />
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One of the jobs I had always intended to do from the time I bought the cottage was to have wardrobes built-in to the alcoves on either side of the chimney breast. To bring back some authenticity to the room, I also wanted to reinstate the Victorian fireplace.<br />
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Joe (the builder - but actually a carpenter by trade), spent a week custom building wardrobes for me. They are predominantly made from mdf. He completed all of the woodwork, and then I spent a weekend repeating multiple coats of primer followed by a satinwood finish (Pure Brilliant White Satinwood by Dulux). He also installed a simple cornice all around the perimeter of the room to make the finished robes look seamless.<br />
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I'm delighted with how they have turned out - and it is a novelty to be able to store clothes in the bedroom!<br />
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I chose a simple shaker style for the door trim, and added small glass faceted door knobs to tie in with the curtain finials and the chandelier...<br />
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For the final touch to the room he also installed an original Victorian combination fireplace that I had found on eBay. This chimney is one of those I had capped in the summer, so it was never intended to be a working fire - however, it does allow for positive air pressure to flow from the room into the chimney breast and prevent damp from occurring.<br />
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It is nice to bring both some much needed utility and some character to the room. My next job is to finally get some curtains made for the window, and then start to think about the finishing touches in decorating the room...Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-21095688521451526722015-01-01T08:34:00.000-08:002015-01-01T08:34:00.802-08:00The kitchen refresh...the final touches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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2015! A happy new year to all!<br />
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Back in mid-December I had a builder spend the week here completing the first round of small building work I plan to undertake around the cottage.<br />
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Part of his efforts was to add the final touch to my mini kitchen refresh. I finished the repainting of walls, cupboards and the re-tiling back <a href="http://sew-graceful.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/the-kitchen-refresh.html">in August</a>. However, there was one glaring element that was beyond my DIY skills that I couldn't wait to change...<br />
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The original sink (image above) was made of dark grey/black moulded fibre-glass. As well as not being to my taste, I just felt that I was never really able to get it clean - this was mainly due to the difficulty in removing the existing lime scale staining and build up (this is a problem in this part of the UK, as it is a hard-water area).<br />
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But, thanks to Joe's efforts, I now have a lovely alternative - a white ceramic sink (Reginox) and a new mixer tap (ikea).<br />
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It is actually now a pleasure to wash dishes!<br />
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And, until such time as I embark on the kitchen extension, this is the first room that I can say is now complete!Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1202556573265966631.post-44126853147842861542014-12-20T10:21:00.000-08:002014-12-20T10:21:07.609-08:00The first cottage Christmas...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So it is nearly Christmas - the first for me in this little Victorian cottage. The last three weekends and weeknight evenings have been spent finishing off the last bout of re-decorating for the year. Consequently, there hasn't been a great deal of Christmas trimming completed. But the essentials are in place - a wreath for the front door, and a tree.</div>
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The wreath is from Home Sense, to which I added the burlap ribbon....</div>
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In the past few weeks I've managed to banish the dark olive green paint that used to grace the sitting room. It has also received the Little Greene treatment - this time I used Inox (224). There are many elements to still work through in the room, but at least there is now a neutral and relaxing background.</div>
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I finally had the chimney sweep visit two weeks ago, so now I'm in the process of learning to light fires that manage to burn longer than 30 minutes - its an evolving process.</div>
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It certainly helps to add a festive element to the sitting room...</div>
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679330736258413827noreply@blogger.com0