Face masks

As the pandemic lockdown begins to lift in the UK I thought that I had better get organised. Imagining that there will probably be some situations where face masks are required to be worn and with medical standard masks in short supply and, rightly, reserved for medical professionals, care workers and vulnerable individuals, I decided to make some.

A few weeks ago someone shared a link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website - an organisation in the US.  Not only do they have a very helpful section on how to properly put on, wear, and take off a face mask safely, but a few ways that you can make one.

There are a number of no-sew options but I decided to give the version that required sewing a go - not least because it gave me a good excuse to dig out all of my fabric!

In the end I made 12 masks but only had appropriate elastic for three.  I have posted four masks to my parents as my Mum said she had some elastic so I'm now on the hunt for suitably narrow elastic. I guess I could always repurpose some elastic bands but don't relish the thought of getting the rubber caught up in my hair (ouch!)

With an outing scheduled for Saturday where wearing masks is compulsory, it seems that my project was completed in the nick of time!

Becoming resourceful

Have I really not written a post since January? Where has the time gone?

I originally started the year with the ambition to find more time to get creative, not least because I had 5 months to create the wedding day of all wedding days. Well, something like that anyway. I also wanted to spend more time at home. Yes, you can laugh at me now but it seemed like quite a challenge back in January!

I was making fairly good progress on wedding preparations but slightly hesitant at sharing things here that I really wanted to hold back for the big day. But then the coronavirus took hold and the landscape has changed.

Firstly, the wedding has been put back by about 6 months in the hope that social gatherings will be both permissible and safe by then. Secondly, I'm fortunate enough to have a job that can, it turns out, as easily be done at home as in the office, so the daily grind for 5 days a week has continued but without the daily commute, saving me around 8-10 hours a week. So, although I am busy for the best part of 5 days a week, I have not only got my wish of spending more time at home but also have an extra 6 months to complete everything that I had planned.

With the pressure off and the sun out, I have very much been tempted out into the garden. And with a new potting shed and a packets of flower seeds purchased last autumn, my evening and weekend obsession has been created.

Things started out deceptively modestly...

... but I'm clearly more green-fingered than I thought as after about 4 weeks the seed trays were looking a little crowded and so I decided to do a spot of potting-on.

But became a little overwhelmed by the result...

... particularly when I began wondering where the next stage of potting-on would go since we don't actually have any flower beds and, because it's a rented house, we can't really dig any in.

But this is were things got fun, and we became resourceful!

I have raided the garage for anything that could possibly be turned into a flower tub (more of which in a later post). We also found three pallets around the side of the house. You know the sort used for large deliveries...

Inspired by a friend, a little dismantling and putting back together occurred ...

... and what is being called a living wall planter was created.

Well, two in fact but we only had enough paint for one of them. Hopefully more paint can be sourced before too many plants get big enough to need permanent outdoor homes. But for now I'm really enjoying the satisfaction of something being made from seemingly nothing or at least things we found lying around. 

Many of us hope that life won't go back to exactly the way it was before the pandemic as we've begin to appreciate the slower pace of life. I know I'm definitely not going to be automatically reaching out for the new before I've exhausted all possibilities of what I can find lying around!

I hope you are staying safe and well and finding as much enjoyment in the small things as I am.

2019 round-up

2019 was a year of change for me. I think the only constant thing has been the contents of my wardrobe. Even the wardrobe changed. Twice! The year has been wonderful and exhausting in equal measure.

I have certainly had less time to get creative and when I have been creative I have rarely also found the time to write a blog about it, hence the rather low number of blog posts. However, as I browse through my photos from the year I thought it would be a good opportunity to do a round-up of the things that didn't quite make it first time around.

I'll start with the jewellery board I made for my soon-to-be-step-daughter for her birthday in July. She had been admiring mine so it seemed only fair to make her one of her own, including some very special buttons from one of her Dad's old uniforms.

Next up was to treat the spare room bedside lamp to a new lampshade. I say 'new' but I have to say I don't think I ever saw it with an old one! The fabric was a gift from some friends of friends and I'd been desperate to turn it into something for years.

In September we decided to do a big furniture switch between houses. The goal was to give me a space to work and create in. This meant swapping a double bed for a futon and a desk. The bed had been swathed in fabric and I soon found out why. A certain small girl had covered it in pony, football and knight stickers many years ago!

Liberal use of 'Sticky Stuff Remover', a quick sand, the application of some black satin gloss paint found in the loft and it was a bed transformed!

I also finally decided to take the guess-work out of trying to find hats, gloves and all things required for a dog walk, with the natty use of some hand-crafted felt labels.

And before we knew it, Christmas was upon us. This year's Christmas tree decorations were sewn and dispatched...

... and I even found time to make a cake and decorate it before the family arrived for the festive season.

And I couldn't possibly not make a wreath for the door.

Whilst a new pom-pom was made for someone's Christmas jumper, just in time for the village outdoor carol concert.

Finally, but most definitely not least, I'd like to share with you my two favourite hand-made Christmas presents. Firstly, the fabulous Secret Santa gift I received of these make-your-own soup pots. Not only do they look gorgeous but they are a doddle to cook and taste great. One was made for the family over Christmas and the second has just been cooked up ready for some healthy packed lunches.

Secondly, my wonderful new potting shed. I have a pile of seed and bulb packets just waiting to get planted so I had better get my wellies on!

May 2020 be a healthy, happy and creative one for you!