Showing posts with label reuse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reuse. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Tarting up Mrs Tiggy-winkle

Hello. Remember these two, they were unwanted, thrown out, destined for the skip. 
Mrs Tiggy-winkle has had a makeover. I was going to paint her in several different colours but I could see that it was going to be a fiddly job, so I opted for an all over transformation with subtle green metalic paint. Much easier to do, and she looks like brand new again, even better than the original finish.  

I went to the mobile library today and came across a book which might be very useful for my next project, ha ha.  Having a coffee break, I'll have a read and see what materials I will need.

Blooming hot today outside, I've trimmed my hair, done a load of washing, now it's tea time.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon. Toodle pip

Saturday, August 20, 2016

A big thank you

Hello. I've got some pictures sorted out for you, and to keep a record on my blog about the time my shed won the best Budget Category in the Shed of the Year. I could not show you this one of me and George before because I have my rosette pinned to my bag, and it would give the game away. I did so enjoy hugging him, now I'm not so sure which one is more huggable. George is taller, I like tall men, but I like William's cheeky grin and floppy hair. I bet George would look nice with a beard, he should give it a go. 


I've made a little video to thank everyone who voted for my shed.



Next are some photo's I took from the TV screen while Paul backtracked and paused the recorded programme.

Someone asked about the William picture. I was asked to do that by Plum Pictures the film company, they thought it would be good fun. I didn't want to do it because I am not very good at faces, I am more a landscapes, trees and flowers stitcher, but I said I would give it a go. I have added some stitching but it needs a lot more. If it gets finished it won't look like William, because I can't do faces. I am thinking of making it into a 'Wanted', poster, more of a joke that a portrait.



The ones with the blue button at the bottom of the screen are those that Paul took with his phone. 
 I must say that the Summer House/Beach Hut looks magnificent on a large flat screen. The colours were dazzling.

And this is what I won. A plaque which is now in my kitchen front window for the time being until I can decided where to put it permanently. Note the red lettering, I am customizing it. The dark letters are a bit boring, a touch of paint will brighten it up. 
A perfect rosette in pink.

And a mug for my morning coffee.

Ooooh William, I didn't know you cared. 
He's gone, I am alone once more. It was nice while it lasted.

That's it, it's all over.

Cheers, thanks to Janet and Paul, my best friends in the village.


When I stood on the stage at the end as George was about to announce the overall winner I knew it wouldn't be me. I built mine in about six weeks, some of them had taken a lot longer, and had a lot more work and detail in them. There were far better sheds than mine. West Wing was a very worthy winner, I loved his eco shed with the secret door. So pleased that Oliver's shed on the allotment won his category. I liked Povero, the artists massive shed with all his artworks. I liked the home made sheds the best, those that had been built from scratch by one person.

What next? Oh, I'll find something else to do. I've got four spare doors out the back and two pieces of poly roofing plastic, might build an extension. I'm pleased that so many people have been inspired by my 'have a go', outlook on life. It's true, you don't need loads of money to have a good life. The only limitations are those you impose on yourself. Have a go, and let's see more ladies in Shed of the Year, next year.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon. Have a nice weekend.
Toodle pip

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Shed of the Year is coming.

Hello. Not long now to wait for Cuprinol Shed of the Year coming on the telly. 
It will start on Friday 29th July at 8pm on Channel 4. There will be four programmes over four weeks. Each programme will feature two of the eight categories, four sheds in each category. At the end of each programme two winners will be announced.

My summer house/beach hut will be on the last programme scheduled to go out on Friday the 19th of August, so we have a bit longer to wait. At the very end of the last programme the overall winner of Shed of the Year will be announced.

If you watch all the programmes you will see me popping up in the audience, this is what I was wearing.

During the four weeks I will be publishing some of the photo's I have of the two filming sessions, so watch this space. It was fun to do, lots of fun ahead, not long now to see the results.

Enjoy your Sunday. Thanks for popping in. Thanks for all your comments on the health post, worth going back for another look because new comments came in this morning.
Toodle pip

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Please take a seat

Hello. I found these chairs in a skip last week, people moving house, they didn't want them. One of the seat cushions had a split in it. No bother, stick a piece of black tape over it, then cover them both. Polish the chrome, and they look like new. 
The fabric was a dress that my friend gave me. I tried it on but it didn't suit me. It's ideal for jobs like this, it's stretchy so it fits the seats perfectly.

Remove seats, cut a circle bigger than the seat. hem it all the way around and thread elastic through it. Screw seats back on. Will find a new home for them.

I went to the 20 21 Arts Centre today, they have a new exhibition, some amazing sculptures made entirely of felt. I'll post some picture next week.

Off to do my walk now. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Thinking of extending

Hello. Look what I've got in the back of my car, four solid wooden doors with all the glazing intact. There is a man doing a house up on the route I walk, he previously gave me some bricks. I don't see him that often because he has always gone by the time I get there, but yesterday I went earlier and he was filling a skip with mostly rubble. I stopped to chat, and have a nosy at what he was throwing away. Well I couldn't let these doors get chucked, could I? There is nothing wrong with them, and surely I could find a use for them. Me being an expert builder with doors, ha ha. 
So, they are stored at the back of the garage, covered over with plastic sheeting, until I can think of a project for them. Hhhhmmmm, I have two plastic roof panels spare, maybe I could add a veranda to the summer house, that's a thought.

He also gave me these tall slim metal shelving units. I like these, they could be placed side by side or used singly. They can go outside or inside. I will think of a use for them, or give them away.

I just had to rescue Mr frog and Mrs Hedgehog before they went in the skip. A scrub up and a coat of paint and they'll have a new lease of life, in my garden.
It's been a good day for freebies. I think I'll ease off collecting for the time being, I've got enough projects to keep me going. I am scoffing a plate of steamed veg as I type. I have to get ready to go out shortly, I'm doing a WI talk tonight, got to entertain the ladies. I'll say cheerio for now and we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Happy food, and happy skip diving

Hello. It's a bit blustery today, but as yet, no rain. I have just eaten this happy meal, so I am very happy now. The face is a cheese and onion bake, two in a packet for £1 from Tesco. I didn't bake it, I grilled it. Fridge almost empty again so I'll nip to town this afternoon for a top up shop. 
I thought I would get my three miles done early today in case the weather turns nasty. Half way round something stopped me dead in my tracks, a skip was being loaded outside a house, the occupants are moving on. Had to have a nosy. Two chrome bar stools snaffled, and a wooden picture frame. The stools will be cleaned up, seats re covered, and I will find a good home for them. I will remove the picture, it is a bit grubby, sand the frame and paint it for my own use. Quite a good find I thought, I like skip diving. I was reluctant to dig any deeper into the rubbish because there was a strong stink of dog poo, yuk, it was 'orrible. 
I need to finish off my walk now, as I made a diversion back to the house to get my car and pick up the chairs. I need to go and do a bit of shopping in town, then have a bath, and tonight I need to be at  Radio Humberside studios in Hull for 9pm. No, I'm not on the radio, they are going to link me up with a TV station in Australia for an interview on their morning programme, Sunrise. They originally asked if I could do it at 11.30pm so it would match up live with them, they are 12 hours ahead. I said no, too late, so they are recording it an hour or so before it is due to go out.

Right better crack on, things to do. Thanks for popping in, have a good weekend..
Toodle pip

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Finding a use for scrap

Hello. I've made a start, but first I had to devise a way of working on a large picture, 3ft x 2ft, so I can push the needle through both ways. It needs support around the edges but I need to reach underneath it. The small office chair tucks underneath it nicely so I can reach to the middle. 
It's a good job I didn't throw this away, I knew it would come in useful. It started life as a shelving system, these pieces are the supports, the shelves are in the garage. Then it was covered in plastic and used as a cloche protecting small plants from wind. I also used it to house a baby blackbird which had been abandoned, and later took it to a wild life rescue centre. Now it is the perfect frame to support my picture.

The backing is a piece of foam, it's pinned onto a wooden frame, this will be removed when I work close to the edges. The wood was from a flimsy paste table which I took apart and dumped the saggy ply top.



A lot of work to do, but I have a few ideas.
I am running out of food and need to go shopping soon. Yes, I've got rice and pasta, but I need something to add to those. This is my last banana, with two slices of bread from the freezer. I like a banana sandwich. I've just eaten the last two eggs and the last of the cheese, so I suppose I'd better make the effort and fill up the fridge and freezer. Running out of dog food as well, a trip to town I think, but first I will vote.
Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip