Category Archives: DIY home

Fabric Dye fails issue two

Posted in DIY home, embroidery by

Under advisement, I decided to try the iDye range of products. First attempt is the black. Follow recipe, even down to the time. It soaked it up a little too well.

Second is a lot more like I wanted. It’s pale & the only fault is mottling, which I think is down to either not pre-washing (I did soak) or that it was only in for five or six minutes at quarter strength.

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I think I’ll use the purple fail for Fairy Tales and without doing a floss toss, I think it should be fine for Raven Queen.

And as for the black, who knows?!

Fabric Dye Fails issue one

Posted in DIY home, Mirabilia, stitching patterns by

So I thought I’d dye myself a piece that would be (depending on the tonal depth) be for either Mirabilia’s Raven Queen or Rose of Sharon.

I picked up some plain white 32ct linen from Spotlight – they had it marked at $13.99 pm rather than per 10cm! – cut off a section and paired it with Dylon Elephant Gray. Which is clearly not that gray.

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Almost a complete fail. I was going for a 415 tone, not part way thru 341 & 3747! But at least it’s even, no blotchy bits!
I think I’ll list it in the up cycle group and try again.

Hi Five for Friday!

Posted in DIY home, grateful, High Five For Friday by

High Five

LISTENING: to Elise Joy podcasts about creativity, taking a leap, changing focus www.elisejoy.com or via iTunes

Elises Site

READING: blogs more than books. I especially loved this one from Carol this week, about the owls in Birmingham. I think public art projects like this are the bomb. I’m looking at the Warehouse this weekend for a little owl that I can use for my own version of Tea T Owl. https://aslightobsessionwithbooks.wordpress.com/

tea-t-owl_e

PINNING: Minion party ideas. See my “party theme” board on Pinterest. Yes, I know, the theme changed.

CRAFTING: Slooooooow progress on Tapestry Cat’s border, quick progress filling in her body. This is what she will look like when I’m eventually finished. Hopefully before 2020.

TC finished

DOING: Trying to catch up on six days of delivery errors while staying up-to-date with this week’s issues. I started out Monday with 361 emails, last night at 126. Plus all the reporting is done, including next week’s supplier reviews. WIN!

EXTRA! Check these pretties out!

Posted in DIY home by

I had to do a chocolate run (yes, I know!) and came across these in Countdown

alzheimers-biscuits.2000x700

Ten bucks with the downside being only 80c goes to the charity (I would like it to be more along the lines of a couple of bucks) but it’s a beautiful, solid little box. Magnetic front closure too.
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I brought the Tui one. He’s printed on there in a heavy, glossy ink with texture, and the inside is perfect for my plans to store my Mill Hill bead packs. With a slight design amendment by Bran 🙂 he needs these projects for his NCEA paper!

I’m such a good mum!

EDIT: this is kind of what I wanted. For now I am using the flimsy plastic that the biscuits were in and that will do nicely.
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Splinters in my fingers & sawdust down my bra

Posted in DIY home, family, house - gardens by

I didn’t do any stitching this weekend. None. Which is a concern given that one WIP is for a birthday this weekend.

But as the post title says, we were busy.

I now have two raised garden beds and a screen around two sides of the water tanks. And it looks good, if I do say so myself. Si has made it so sturdy and practical. I love it.

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But I’m not totally enamored with the drop saw. Yes it’s fast but oh so messy! Next time I should borrow a burka or wrap up completely before I start. Or leave it up to the Screaming Teen. Now there’s a plan.

Splinters in my fingers & sawdust down my bra

Posted in DIY home, grateful, house - gardens by

I didn’t do any stitching this weekend. None. Which is a concern given that one WIP is for a birthday this weekend.

But as the post title says, we were busy.

I now have two raised garden beds and a screen around two sides of the water tanks. And it looks good, if I do say so myself. Si has made it so sturdy and practical. I love it.

image

But I’m not totally enamored with the drop saw. Yes it’s fast but oh so messy! Next time I should borrow a burka or wrap up completely before I start. Or leave it up to the Screaming Teen. Now there’s a plan.

Manic Monday

Posted in DIY home, sport by

yesterday was not. It was Auckland Anniversary day (Happy Birthday, we’re 175 – which will make anyone English snort with derision) and “Strayla” Day (Australia, but I’ve helped you out with the correct pronunciation, you’re welcome) & chez ours is having a lazy day.

We are about 50% thru painting the fences; the front door area is revived with grey pavers replacing the indoor tiles at the entry. No more slip & slide, sorry. My shoulders & legs are killing me (walking like a sailor who has just hit land after 20 years away, on a roll) and everyone had enough. Z & I watched the NFL Pro Bowl all afternoon and jointly sulked that the Super Bowl is on while school/work pulls us away.

I didn’t clean the tank – but I found the Black Line Flying Fox. I had thought both of these had carked it two weeks ago (the first one lasted 2 days before I lost sight of it). It is all by itself an excellent cleaner-upper of the algae. I need more fish tho as the tank looks empty with the main school being the Lemon Tetras. All will have to wait as I have multiple sets of school fees to pay this week. Wah!

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Playground Progress

Posted in DIY home, house - gardens by

We are motoring along with the back yard, now that Si is better. The fence panels are getting to second coat, the playground is connected (complete with flying Fox, sorry neighbours but you’re welcome to play too), both water barrels are connected (this is so I can water the garden and fruit trees for free) and we are painting the timber for the screening panels. One garden bed is together and I need to get the garden mix in time for some winter crops.  I also need more bricks as I think that will look nicer than plain concrete for the mowing strip.
Today I’m really happy (albeit covered in black fence paint) and it’s not even nine thirty.

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Sunday Swim

Posted in DIY home, house - gardens, Project Life by

Today’s play time at the base pool was well earned.
*pantry cleaned out and reorganized (cheap chalkboard labels from Briscoes,  stampin’ up chalk pen equals revived tupperware)
*old laptop cleaned off and reset for Carol
*new laptop up and running for me, all software added and music synced
*tomorrow’s dinner cooked (roasting as I write this, but who cares if I call it in advance)
*two sets of Project Life cards culled to thirds, ready to send to my friend Paula who is about to start her PL adventure
*next year’s album purchased (half off at Harvey Norman) & I limited myself to only two card sets from there
*boysenberry checked, new shoots training to the wire on the post and fruit picked
*two Lego sets “supervisor status only”

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Phew!