I've been quite busy this week without actually going very far, I decided that I wanted to repair and paint my oldest son's bedroom ceiling but then of course I had to paint the whole room. Fortunately we always put away any odds and ends of paint in the garage so I had the white paint for the ceiling and some masking tape. I also had the two colours left that I originally did his room in a couple of years ago, a mint green and a sunrise (opposite walls).
As I was on holiday from work I decorated over a few days, I did the ceiling one day and coving, the orange walls the next and the green walls today. I also scrubbed down all the fitted wardrobes, the window surround was done last week. I always try to something like this when I am off work, last holiday I rubbed down the living room and dining room floors and varnished them. This ensures I don't have to pay anyone to do jobs I am quite capable of doing myself and by breaking them down they don't feel as daunting.
Earlier in the week a neighbour also gave us load of purple slate that he wanted he rid of because he had taken all he wanted out of the bag. This was great as we have that on our garden but it is wearing thin. (You know picking up after dogs, you always get a bit of slate with it!) So I carried that around the back bucket by bucket as the wheel barrow won't fit through the gate. I'm really pleased as we were going to buy some, he wouldn't take anything for it either. Earlier this year we gave him some vintage computer games that were my brothers a big box and a bag full and he was really pleased with those so nice gestures do flow around people.
Back to the decorating and I was going to say that when I decorated youngest son's bedroom I had some white paint left and I just bought some tester pots in a bold blue and made a really good shade of blue for his room, not free but nearly. However people always have odd tins of paint left so if you are in need I am sure a few relatives may have odd leftovers of white left that they may be happy for you to take and if there is a colour in there why not experiment? Paint is such a difficult thing to dispose of and not great for the environment so it is really for the best that we use every last drop once it has been manufactured.
Anyway after the DIY not a lot of sewing going on this week. I did resize the charity shop dress that I bought...
I altered the shoulder by this much.
I have taken it in by this much at the sides but forgot to take a picture as I wore it Easter Sunday straight after I fixed it.
I made a new little coaster as my youngest dog keeps eating them as this is apparently a really fun game, quick chase me I have your coaster!
A bit of elephant fabric there for binding, remember I use every bit.
Oh and a birthday card, recycled bits of course. Fabric from previous projects, the ribbon from inside a blouse (you know those annoying hanger tabs at the shoulder) button from an old shirt and recycled envelope and newspaper. It has a green insert to write on.
Other things I have been up to this week; I have just finished 'Miracles' by C.S. Lewis, as a friend of mine said he is hard going. I enjoyed it but I feel I will need to review it again, quite heavy stuff but so well written.
I am loving listening to Switchfoot the band, I have heard them before but lots of listening this week while decorating and now I am a huge fan, with a CD on order. ( I know such a mum ordering a CD but I like them for the car.)
Also watching a new series 'Department Q' BBC Four, only three of them but all feature length, Danish and very good acting. Only watch if you are interested in crime dramas as they are quite intense in parts. Maybe I will get more sewing done over the weekend.