Diane's Place

Holiday holiday!!

2008-07-08T11:25:00.001-07:00

Well only 3 more sleeps and I am away to Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt for my holidays, packing is almost done (I know its early but like to be prepared) scared I have gone over the weight limit as my scales need a battery so will have to see if neighbour has some I can use. How to airlines think us women manage on 20kgs!!!

Anyway I thought I would just pop in and post before I go, so I wish you all well and ((((hugs)))) to all who need or want one

Ta ra for now

Diane xx

June swap!

2008-07-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

I received my June swap from Sparkle bug today and I love it all, a homemade heart, some coasters with strawberries on, a little homemade purse and even a handmade card

Thank you Sparkle bug xx

I just had to open it!

2008-06-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

Well I decided to open my sealed tin, I was trying to save a £1 a day since January 1st for Christams but I have managed to get most of my pressies already as I am doing hampers this year for everyone and have bought bits and pieces every week

I opened the tin to go towards my holiday fund

I have missed a few days but it till totalled £163

I am thrilled that I have managed a way to save money at long last as I have never been very good at it!!

So there you go with saving all my £2 coins and doing a £1 a day I have managed to pay for a holiday in 6 months

Fabric giveaway

2008-06-26T12:46:00.000-07:00

GIVEAWAY1

I am going to do 2 giveaways. I have some left over fabric from these 2 projects of mine and have decided to give it away so please leave a comment and I will pick names out on 6th July.

Please start comment with GIVEAWAY 1 or GIVEAWAY2 and you are wecome to leave 2 comments if you fancy winning both...................Good luck x GIVEAWAY2

Saving money

2008-06-26T12:39:00.000-07:00

At the start of the year I decided to save all my £2 coins and not spend a single one. Last night I counted them as I decided I would put them in the bank to pay towards my holiday. Well I was pretty shocked they added up to £346!

I also try to save a £1 a day in a sealed tin I forget somedays but now I am tempted to open that too but it was meant to be for Christmas.................should I open it or keep it sealed??

Sharm........Here I come again!

2008-06-24T12:39:00.000-07:00

I have just booked my second trip this year to Sharm in Egypt, I went in April and had an amazing time so I'm heading back on 11th July. Its going to be so hot I don't even know if I will cope with the heat but I want to have a week away before the schools break up and prices follow.

I am so looking forward to it now and will be counting down the days!

CD cabinet

2008-06-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

My CD cabinet is now completed I had this in my spare room but have bought it downstairs to make room for my pine box upstairs

Not sure this will stay where it is but thought I would do a quick pic anyway

I'm a shabby "Flylady"

2008-06-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

Well what a busy 24 hours!

Came home from work yesterday and my gardener had been to clear my overgrown garden it looked so lovely I decided to pop to Homebase and get a few plants for my pots and then planted them up.

Then I moved into the house and started housework and de cluttering, did quite well and when I woke this morning I was raring to go again!

After manically tidying and throwing stuff out I decided to have a nap and when I woke up the sun was shining so I went outside armed with my sander and 2 pieces of furniture

I have managed to complete my desk, it dried really quickly in my conservetory as it was warm in there and I left the french doors open for the breeze too

The great de clutter challenge!

2008-06-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

I have pledged to de clutter my house by September

I will list things acheived on my blog as I go

I wasn't going to start today but I then managed my knicker drawer

I need to do this pledge both here and in the shabby cafe so I can't back out of it

We also have a flylady thread on the go too so that should motivate me to get things done even if its just 30 minutes a night

Wish me luck!

Boot sale bargains

2008-06-14T11:04:00.000-07:00

Had a great time at the boot sale today, had to go back to the car 3 times!

Basket for garden 50p and basket for a hamper 50p Teapot without lid 50p will use this in my garden with a plant in it tea for 2 £1, think I have started collecting these as I now have 5 and the cake stand £1

Not a good pic I'm afraid but this reminds me of my cat, and its so cute they are all in cups and saucers once shabbied up I will put it in my kitchen

2 wooden trays £1 each
And this butchers block was a bargain at £3!!

Boot sale Bargains continued

2008-06-14T10:26:00.000-07:00

2 cushions £1 the pair

2 wooden trays £1 each

Basket 50p, garden candles 50p each, 2 small wicker baskets 50p each, vase £1 and flowers 20p 6 glass candles holders totalled £4

I got 2 of these for my garden £1 each

2 lilac stripey sheets £4, wooden letter rack £1, big cup and saucer £2

Sideboard for conservetory

2008-06-06T11:47:00.000-07:00

Well here is the latest project completed, a sideboard for my conservetory. This is painted in Dimity again as my downstairs is quite open plan so I think its nice to have the same furniutre throughout

Is this going to be the June bargain of the month?

2008-06-04T15:02:00.000-07:00

It actually comes with 4 chairs!

£11.18 how amazing is that

This is the starting point for shabbying up my garden

Can't wait for the gardener to get started! I can't do it myself because of my back so its rather overgrown at the moment. The gardener is coming on Friday to give me a quote hope he is affordable!

In remembrance

2008-06-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

Of my dear Dad who would have been 68 today..................Missing you x

My pine box is completed

2008-05-31T11:33:00.000-07:00

I have finished my pine box today, this is to go in my spare room to house my towels. I used a Dulux Heritage paint but to be honest I don't like the finish on it, much prefer my F&B

The fabric was a remnant from Dunelms £4.30

Look what I found at the boot sale today

2008-05-31T11:28:00.001-07:00

She is a beauty! Just took her for a spin and made a couple of cushion covers, she purrs like a pussy cat unlike my Mums machine that clonks along! This is also nice and heavy again unlike my Mums machine that moves across the table!

And the price................£8.00

I am thrilled to bits

SATC!!!

2008-05-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

Was great i really enjoyed it, lots of highs and lows...........good night out

Sex and the city

2008-05-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

I am off to see the film tomorrow night and really looking forward to it

I think most of us can relate to one character but I think I am like Miranda but with a bit of Samantha thrown in for good measure lol

Which one are you most like?

Please enter your answer on my poll

I will opt for Miranda on this one

Table mats

2008-05-27T12:19:00.001-07:00

I bought these table mats off Ebay, they came with 4 coasters too and they just sum me up a treat! I just love them

My little sewing box

2008-05-27T11:43:00.000-07:00

Here is my completed sewing box

Shabby swap

2008-05-26T07:10:00.000-07:00

My shabby swap partner for May is the lovely Leamadzw and the theme was something "beachy".

As you can see my gorgeous picture did not survive the postman! I still think with all the effort Lea put in this needed a little mention.

My swap to Lea is ready to be posted tomorrow and I hope she likes it

Looking forward to the June swap now which is themed Strawberries and Cream..........and mine is already to go!! Just awaiting my swap partner on June 1st

I have been tagged!

2008-05-26T06:57:00.001-07:00

Apparently I have been *Tagged* by Angel .I have to answer 6 Questions (although I can only find 5!and give Honest answers.
1, what were you doing 10 years ago. Struggling as a single Mum bringing up my 2 Daughters, making lots of mistakes along the way
2, 5 things on my "To do list today" Make cushion covers (tick)
Change bed (tick)
Clear up kitchen (tick)
Meet a mate (may be stood up haven't heard from him!)
Start on sewing box (tick)

3, Snacks I enjoy. Chocolate, cashew nuts, cheese
4, Things I would do if I was a millionaire. Make sure both my girls have a flat of their own, then buggar off!!!
5, Places I have lived. Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Somerset and Bedfordshire

Now how do I tag someone else??

My magazine rack

2008-05-26T04:14:00.001-07:00

Painted this a couple of weeks ago and planned to line it but hadn't got round to it until today

I am pleased with the end result

I sewed 2 pieces of fabrc together and was going to use velcro to attach but I bought a glue gun the other day so thought I would give it a go, if it doesn't stay stuck then I will go back to plan A

I'm going to be in trouble

2008-05-21T05:55:00.000-07:00

I have taken the day off work today because my shoulders and neck are playing up probably because my posture was bad while using the sewing machine last night, however I am not one for just sitting around so I thought I would cut out the fabric for another cushion, well once I has it all pinned together seemed daft not to just wizz it through the machine

I am going to go back to bed for a little nap now...............promise x

2 more cushions completed

2008-05-20T12:15:00.000-07:00

Well played around a bit with the sewing machine and managed to get it to work again and tonight I have knocked these up, listen to me I almost sound like a professional!!

My 60 minute makeover!

2008-05-20T09:59:00.000-07:00

I'm sure this little project took me about an hour all in all and I just love it, this is what it looked like when I bought it for 2 quid at a boot sale (took legs off before pic and couldn't be bothered to put them back on again)

Its just perfect for me to put my feet up on when I am sitting with my lappie and killing time on that "shabby chic cafe" forum lol

Sewing machine hell

2008-05-19T13:18:00.000-07:00

I have had so much trouble with the sewing machine tonight that I have given up! Will have to tackle the rest of the sewing when I am less tired and more patient (not one of my strong points). Anyway thought I would show you what I have managed to do already

My future projects

2008-05-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

I picked this little beauty up last weekend And tomorrow I shall be picking up this (I got one Bibbly!!)

And this

I intend to paint them all

Hopefully re-line the sewing box and with the blanket box make a nice seat for the top

So what with these, my sewing projects and my dresser still to paint I am going to be a busy girl!

This is completed now

2008-05-17T10:19:00.001-07:00

Do you remember this?

Looks like this now but not sure if I am going to keep it yet

Couldn't add these to the post below

2008-05-17T10:09:00.000-07:00

These were £2 for the lot
This is a foot stool but I have already taken the plastic, yes plastic legs off. I am hoping with a bit of melamine primer some paint will stick! I plan to cover this. £2

And this lovely lamp was £4

So all in all I think a good day!

Please continue with the post below to see my other bargains

Do you want to see my bargains today?

2008-05-17T09:33:00.000-07:00

I had been looking forward to going to a boot sale all week and was a little worried it maybe cancelled as rain was forecast but I got up and went anyway. As I was appraching where the boot sale was held I could see it in the distance, the adrenalin started to pump (My shabby chicer friends will understand this). I was lucky to get a space right near the front and off I went with my trolley! Here are my finds......

This was £1

This was 50p

This nice big basket was £1

These were 50p and £1
And how could I refuse this wall plaque for 50p

And a kind old man gave me thid for nothing as I need some repair I thought if I can't be bothered I could always send it to Bibbly, she would love and look after it

Me sewing!!

2008-05-14T12:55:00.001-07:00

I haven't had a sewing machine out for donkey's years but I painted a chair a friend gave me and decided to make a new cushion pad, this is far from perfect but hey ho I had a go!

It's finished!

2008-05-08T11:15:00.000-07:00

At long last my most difficult project to date is finished! I found this really hard work because I had to crawl into the table to do the slats and it totally killed my back, there was a couple of times I could have put in onto freecycle!

Anyway I do think my perseverance has paid off and I quite like it now

This..............................

Now looks like this..........................

And do you remember these old wooden boxes I had to store my books in?

They now look like this..................................................

So I have no decided when my dresser finally turns up I'm going to leave it a couple of weeks because I am maxed out with painting and I desperatly need to clean my house or Kim and Aggie will be making an appearance!!!

Saturday's bargains

2008-05-03T15:57:00.001-07:00

This is what I managed to pick up today

This pretty duvet was £3.99 and I am going to make some cushions with it

The cup and saucer was £2.99, small dish 99p and also the trinket box

The white perfume bottle was a fiver but its so pretty, the tulip tea light holders £3 from Tchibo and a couple of hooks 50p each

A trip to Dunelm and I got these goodies, 4 checked mugs £2.99, small pictures reduced to £4.99, sundae dishes 99p each and the jug £1.99

Magazine rack £2.50

I also got the vase pictured on my chest of drawers for £2.50

So the wally trolley came in quite handy as I also bought myself a new duvet cover in Tchibo and Ethel Austin is closing down so got a few bits in there too for hampers and holidays!!

My chest of drawers

2008-05-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

Hi

For those of you that are following my journey in transforming my home here is the next installment

This ......................
turned into this................

If Jennifer from Buttercups and Roses ever pops in to my blog I would like her to know she is the one who gave me the inspiration and I would like the give her a big thank you x

My hampers

2008-05-03T02:02:00.001-07:00

Since joining MSE in January I have started to give my friends and family hampers, here are some of them. This is sweets in a mug I did at Easter
These are huge cups and saucers I bought in the Whitards sale, I did these for my Sisters for Easter

This one was for my Nephew for his 13th birthday, I didn't want to wrap in a bow and came up with this idea

This one was for Sophie for her 21st, she found a nice wad of money in the jewelery box!

This was for my friends first baby

And another baby oneThis one was for my friends 40th

I have done more but forget to take pictures

My wally trolley

2008-05-03T00:28:00.000-07:00

I had a really nasty fall at work in October and have been having physio and Alexander Technique since

I am a real shopper, love picking things up in the charity shops but also seem to buy a lot of stuff for hampers along the way too. I find I have to make a couple of trips back to the car because the bags are heavy and bulky at times and it kills my back to carry them.

So I made the decision at 44 to get myself a wally trolley!

I am tall at 5 foot 10 and also wear a heel so I average about 6 foot, so I had to get myself one that was taller than normal so I wasn't spoilt for choice. I wanted something a bit different too. Anyway I found this one below on Ebay and ordered it but everyone is laughing at me, my colleagues at work think its hidious and Emily (my youngest) refuses to shop with me, although to be honest if she came too then I wouldn't need it as she is excellent at carrying shopping and taking stuff back to the car.

So I plan my first outing today, to a town where hopefully I won't bump into anyone I know!

Would you laugh if you saw a cuddly six footer with this???

This is Sophie

2008-05-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

This is my gorgeous Daughter Sophie

Next projects

2008-05-01T07:16:00.001-07:00

These are 3 boxes (although only 2 showing) that are pretty ugly but good for storage of my books, decided to give them a coat of paint but I haven't used F&B because of the cost, I used Dulux satinwood in Southern Stone (will post pic later) This trolley I got from Ebay for a tenner

This is my lovely dresser

And finally my chest of drawers which I am today in the process of painting, the drawers have had their first coat and the knobs have been wire wooled, waxed and buffed but the unit is still at Mark's, can't wait to get it home. I have been inspired by Buttercups and Roses chest of drawers and hope mine comes out looking as gorgeous as hers

A little bit about me.....

2008-05-01T06:04:00.000-07:00

My name is Diane and I am a shabby chicker in the making

I have 2 Daughters, Sophie who is 21 and Emily 18. Sophie moved out a few months ago and decided to rent a house with her Auntie, they moved themselves in and were just getting settled when my ex (Mark) moved in with them after the breakdown of his marriage, so poor Sophie can't seem to escape her parents!

If you are a member over in the shabby cafe then you will know that me and Mark have quite a good relationship now, he fetches my furniture for me and does a few manly things around the house, so I get all the good bits without the washing, cooking, "marital needs" and arguing (me and Mark are good at that lol). We have been split for over a decade and for most of that we never spoke, however after spending some time talking about how we made each other feel we managed to be able to draw a line under the past and move on, hence the friendship we have now

I also have my little cat Tickles, she is typical of cats and only wants a cuddle when she wants it and the thing that drives me mad about her is she is so vocal in the mornings when she wants her breakfast!

I work full time as an Accounts Payable Manager, this stresses me out most of the time but painting furniture seems to relax me

Anyway thats enough about me for now

Di x

Recent finds

2008-05-01T05:47:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my recent finds, I will update with pics of them after their makeovers when I find some batteries for my camara, that reminds me I do need to invest in some re-chargable one's

Sorry some are a little blurred, I need to learn photographic skills lol

My first project

2008-04-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

Here is my TV cabinet before I got my hands on it

And here is the finished results

I used Farrow and Ball Dimity paint which I love!

Wednesday 30th April

2008-04-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

Hello

Well today is the first day after my 44th birthday so I am celebrating by creating my first blog

My reasons for starting this is simple.....since January I have been on the MSE site and more recently joined my shabby chicker friends in the cafe forum

I have been inspired, firstly doing hampers for my friends and family this year as I felt last year I had hardly put any thought into gifts, so by doing hampers I now put lots of thought, effort and love into them

Secondly realising I was bored with my home so its out with the beech and in with the pine! I have discovered Farrow and Ball paint and have a few projects to complete.

So this blog is a journey on how I am changing the look of my home and I will also post pictures of hampers along the way too

Thank you for joining me on my little page

Diane x