lovely knitted things.

This freezing weather has got me dreaming about the chunkiest knits you could ever imagine. I've been trawling through the net for inspiration and i want to make one of everything!

I think i'll start with a simple scarf but a girl can always dream... watch this space..

p.s if you like, you can't follow my lovely knitted things board on pinterest for inspo updates x

FLASH PROJECT: 10 minute tealights.

I was having project withdrawals so I had to do something and I had to do it QUICK.
I've seen in a few blogs and magazine articles that it's quite easy to spray paint glass to reinvent it. I had some old glasses lying around and thought i'd try to make them pretty.

YOU WILL NEED:
- as many recycled jars or glassware as you'd like to use (I used 2 matching glasses)
- spray paint in as many colours as you like (I used a light blue)
- regular clear sticky tape
- an old magazine to stand them on
- some big sticks or a handy place to put them out to dry (I used the corners of my veggie patch fence)
- disposable gloves (optional)

1: Make sure the glass is squeaky clean with no grime or oil on the surface. Use the clear tape to create the line where you want your paint to come to. Once you have a even line with no bubbles tape the rest  of the glass you wish to keep clear.
2: If you want to be super profesh (which clearly I didn't bother) then you can use a glass primer first before your colour. Your can get them from any hardware stores. Allow to dry before your colour coat.
( I didn't) but you can wear gloves if you like.
3: Now, it's time to spray! I wanted the bottom to be coloured so I sat the jars upside down on the magazine. give the can a good shake and do a coverage test on some paper first.
Evenly spray the jar surface from about 30cm away.

4: Once you have achieved an even coat, transfer your jars to their "drying posts". This will prevent them from sticking to the paper and making your life difficult. Make sure you pick them up from the taped section to avoid smudging.

5: I wanted mine quite transparent so you could see the candle light shining through but if you want a more solid colour then repeat steps 3 & 4.

6: Allow to dry for at least an hour or so (I only waited 1/2 hour and ended up with paint rings on my table). Chuck some tea lights in and bobs your uncle! 10 minute tea lights (not including drying time :P)

*TIP I got one or two smudges around my paint edge so I used some nail polish remover and a cotton tip to clean it up.

side table revival

When I picked up this little guy he was caked in layers of different paint and had a hideous, warped plywood panel where the wooden supports are. Unfortunately I didn’t take any before photos on my camera so you’ll just have to imagine it.

The first thing I did was bang out that plywood shelf. Then I started sanding the top with my orbital sander. I had the intention of sanding it back to wood but halfway through I decided I liked that “Half done sanding” rustic look.

Because my sander is a disc with a diameter of 18cm it was difficult to get into corners. Because I was making this piece rustic I got a flat head screwdriver and basically chiseled out the caked on paint from those hard to get to places. I would have to get a specialty tool for more delicate pieces because it left a few scratch marks.

Once I removed all unwanted paint I gave the whole pieces (not including the top) a once over with a fine grain sanding disc to create a smooth finish. I had to use hand sandpaper for the corners.

My boyfriend had some kitchen oil on hand that he uses for his wooden spear gun and this worked perfectly on the untreated wood. It just brought through the lovely colours of the pine and left over stain, particularly on the top, without over doing it.

Voila! Finished product and my first ever refinished piece! I feel and addiction coming on…

it's 2014 and the juices are flowing (creative juices that is)

2013 was a toughie. To be honest i'm glad to see the back of it.
2014 feels like a fresh start (as a new year always does I guess). There are lots of new ideas brewing backed with intention and motivation. Now all I need is a little execution!
This year i'm combining my two love. My dogs, Pippin and Otto, and my obsession with making stuff. Out of the two I have come up with pippin + otto creative studios where I will let things (hopefully) just happen & flourish.

Watch this space!!