Rebel Blogging...

Round after round of lurgies swept through our family, just as one got slightly better another dropped ill.  Once we were all feeling slightly more human another bug hit the house.

And what started as a bloggy break from my family blog turned into a full blown 3 week Internet Vacation!!

I'm not returning a bronzed Goddess, not even a pastey Goddess; But I am returning a slightly more refreshed happier mama.

Not so much Rebel Blogger, more along the lines of over whelmed, tired, ill mama.

Real life creeps into blogging sometimes, not just the good bits but the bare bones of it.

This is not however a sad, poor old me post!

Ha you thought I was still whinging didn't you?

Well I am happy to report progress here.

Soooo...

Do you remember this?

Wouldn't surprise me if you didn't!  

I was doing a very poor job of trying to ignore and forget about it here.  

I uummed and aahhed over the fabric choice, worried without need over the cutting/sewing, shied away from attaching the sewn pieces to the frame and once that was done I popped it on a stand to check out the alignment of the seams and there it sat for simply ages.  Lighting up our dining room, casting a very lovely warm glow over the room...

but it was all the time quietly nagging me.

Finally I could take the nagging no more!  

Got of my derriere and went for the final push.

But then there was more choice...what trim to use, what colours to choose??

Should it be cream?

Pretty yes?  But not quite right {thank goodness I only pinned it on}

But then in a flash the decision was made...

Were you expecting that?  

I wasn't!  I thought it would be pale blue but after a few days trying to find the 'right' blue I could see it wasn't going to be.

Then I spotted the purple, it has two tones to it, neither an exact match but both happy.

Now you'd think I would be happy to settle with this, I thought I would be, but turns out like so many things in my life it was a 'feast of famine' thing.

So another old slightly tired lampshade that has been waiting for a bit of love has been put in the beauty chair and the transformation has begun...

This is the mock up...

what do you think?

Too late if you're not that keen as I'm halfway through now and it is looking very frilly and fru fru!  

It reminds me at the moment of frilly can can knickers!!

I have one last old lampshade that is in need of a dollop of TLC, I have a vision in my mind, whether I can translate that into the real world remains to be seen!

It's not been all sewing though, there has been a bit of painting too...but enough for one post.

Didn't expect to see the words frilly can can knickers here did you?!

Happy to be back and looking forward to popping in for a virtual cuppa around all my bloggy friends...

xxx

A show and tell Ta-Da...

Finally...a break in the clouds and a chance to snap a couple of photo's

Sadly this is what Im most excited about

my rescued bike/shopping basket...

I LOVE the colour

Simple things and simple minds 

This is the first time I've put the lampshade onto a base and Im surprised by how much I like it!

I'll explain...I thought it would be too high up on the stand, but although it is high with a 2" trim at the bottom I think it will work

I mentioned before that I had sprayed a couple of other bits...

Im planning a turquoise, red and white Christmas next year and sprayed the hearts to fit

And I have plans afoot for these...

***

The tutorial that I vaguely followed for the lampshade recover can be found over at Shingle Cottage Blog, as can lots of inspiring photos of very pretty pink things!

Seeing how....

well the recovered Vintage suitcase turned out I have the urge to play with fabrics a bit more,

which is handy seeing as it is so cold out in the shed for painting!

Having not found another Vintage case to recover I have been hunting out dusty and unloved {some might even say hideous} large standard lamp shades...

but you know what?  Even they are hard to source!  Yes I know you can buy the frames new but that really does defy the idea of what I want to do *shrug*

So I have managed to find the grand total of 2!!

1 is really quite dusty, grubby and unpleasant whilst the other is a plain white {and lined which is a bit of a bonus}

I have been tempted by this months Country Living magazine to turn them and others that might wander into view into an uber funky Christmas tree malarky....but the chronic lack of space has out a damper onto that idea {for the time being anyway}

If you've read any of my previous posts you'll know I have a bit of crush on Amy Butler fabrics and have the perfect ones lined up...firstly though I think I should give it a go with a good old fashioned sheet {save any expensive mistakes}...that said Im not known for my patience, I do like instant results, so will more likely dive head into chopping up some of Ms Butlers gorgeous fabrics!

Once again the lack of camera is making for very dull blog posts and the distinct lack of before n after photos'

if I do manage to get a photo I will add it at a later date

***

Vintage Suitcase...

Part 1

I picked this little beauty up at the last Vintage Fair...

Not sure whether to keep it as it was and use it or re-cover and either use or sell

It's taken a while to decide what fabric to use and just as long to find time to actually get crafty

{wet school holidays do not equal quality mama crafty time!}

So not able to wait for the big reveal...that might not happen for a couple of week yet if the weather continues to mock me

Here we have Part 1...the work in progress

It's been a lesson, the tute I found some time ago said to use the rotary cutter to tuck and trim, but that just wasn't working for me?  The Custards folded the sides under and that method is working for me

I blame Mollie Makes magazine {where I saw a lady who sells these online} and the tinternet {too many gorgeous blogs by very talented crafters}, 

show me a bit of gorgeousness and I feel the need to put my own stamp on a version

ETA
It was Ideal Home where I saw an article on a lovely lady who sells the suitcases
Lexi Loves