We're All Going on a Summer Holiday ....

You're singing, aren't you?

We're off to the land of cream teas, surfers and King Arthur (Cornwall) tomorrow, so I won't be posting for a few days. Seem to have spent most of the last few days cleaning and tidying - so much for time off! One of the disadvantages of working full-time is that there's never enough time to keep the house properly clean and tidy. Never mind, one day I'll be a housewife and DH will keep me in the manner to which I'm accustomed. Yeah, right!

Good news though, the hallway is nearly finished: just need to put our pictures up and books back on their shelves. DH had to buy a new drill in the end as we just couldn't find the right battery pack for his other drill.

See you when we get back!

P.S It is also my birthday on tuesday!

Oh dear...........

The refurbishment of the hall has hit a bit of a snag - hubby's cordless drill battery pack has gone to tool heaven and we couldn't find a replacement. The shelves are on hold until we can get a new one, which will probably be when we get back from Cornwall.

On a lighter note, I found a nice duvet cover and 4 pillow cases in the charity shop on Thursday for £4.99. Was definitely a Cath Kidston one, I think it was one of the ones she designed for Ikea a while back.

Rosali Duvet Set

£39?! Maybe I should sell it instead. Should have bought the other one as well, which was a king size and sold that!

Just this article, I'm sure my fellow Shabby Chicers can relate:

Times Article

Didja Miss Me?

Didja, didja?!

I know you've all been on the edge of your seats waiting for the next instalment.

After various calamities, the house is more or less in one piece and we are half way to a new hall - it's been plastered and painted, now need to sort out the skirting boards and put some wallpaper up as 'feature wall'. Pressure is on to get it all finished this weekend as my Mum is coming to house site while we're in Cornwall for Bank Holiday week.

Charity Finds...

Have had a couple of hours wandering around the charity shops today. I have about 10 shops all very close to me, although I only went to a few today. I found a little egg-cupboard for £2, some gorgeous M&S curtains for my bedroom for £4.99, a pair of pillowcases for £1.99 and a nice large picture for £3.99. I'll post pictures at some point, but DH has the camera at the moment.

The Full Monty

After a disappointing start and nearly a whole can of paint stripper later, I've finally managed to get rid of a load of the old varnish off one of the sideboards. It took some experimenting to get the right amount of coverage and the best way to hold the scraper. With luck, I may even finish it before the Autumn comes and DH wants the garage back.

Busy Doing Nothing....

Well. I'm not very good at this blogging lark am I?! At this rate I might make it to double figures by Christmas!

I have been so very busy, you see! (yeah, right)

No really, I have.

We spent the entire weekend before last trying to put up wallpaper on one small section of the hall and it still doesn't look great. We have done the sensible thing and are going to 'get a man in' to redecorate. But we're going for the slightly cheaper option of stripping the existing paper and replastering, then painting.

I've given up with the sander and have brought out the noxious chemicals to try and strip the varnish off the Original Sideboard. It kind of works, but it's still hard work getting the crud off. However, neighbourly relations will hopefully improve as the sander is having a break. Mind you, at least my sander doesn't go on all day and evening, unlike a rather annoying yappy Yorkie terrier whose garden backs on to ours.
I have also make progress with the Little Chair - it now has webbing on the seat and it's foam back. I'll have a bash at the seat pad and sand down the legs tomorrow. I hope to start covering it at the weekend.

In the meantime I have three pairs of curtains to make, 4 chairs to sand down, repaint and sell on, a bedside cabinet to paint and sell, a tv stand to paint and sell and the other sideboard to lovingly paint and keep all for my very own. Oh and the cake stand too!

I'm going to be very busy for the next month or so. I may have something coming up that won't leave me a lot of time for shabbying, but I won't say too much at this stage in case I jinx things.

Bargains Are Like Buses.......

You wait ages and then three come along at once!

I just realised that I haven't posted for ages, but I haven't had much to say. Which is unusual for me!
Have been back at work this week so there's not been much time for chicing. DH is busy writing a paper to present at a conference next month, so I will have most of Saturday to get on with furniture things. Providing my car doesn't need loads of work to pass it's MOT tomorrow, I may also be able to buy some odds and ends.

Having moaned about the lack of bargains to my forum friends, I then went and won these on ebay:

Sideboard

TV stand

Cabinets

I also got this, which wasn't so much of a bargain, but will be nice, none the less:

Cake/plant stand

You see, I'm great at buying things - but not so great at actually making them over! Never mind, I've resolved to try at get on with at least one crafty thing a day. it's all part of my plan to give myself a big kick in the direction of starting a BA degree course next year. I didn't get the chance to go when I was younger and it's something I really want to do.