reusing a duvet cover

making use of the popper fastening... turning the bottom of a childs quilt cover into a cake stall banner

at the start of Refugee week in Queens Gardens Hull UK

a UNHCR worker looking at the tent...he was asking people to sign up to #WithRefugees petition asking all governments to
Ensure every child gets an education
Ensure every refugee family has somewhere safe to live.
Ensure every refugee can work or learn new skills to make a positive contribution to their community.

this is so true....

This is a decommissioned refugee tent from Jordan which has been home to a Syrian family for a number of years, it was acquired by Kate Daudy, Artist, who also bought the crochet circles from the women there who make them to sell to earn money to buy more than the basics.
She has put messages and words from the women themselves on the tent.....

Bottle top play

got side tracked with strips of fabric....50% vinegar and water...and crushed bottle tops...I also played with bottle tops, teabags and lining wallpaper.... None of which I can show you as I cannot acces my photos and I cannot see what I a,
M writing ! Which is why I'm not blogging ! It's so dammed frustrating !!


OK this is happening and l'm leaving it like this.....I cannot find the pictures of the fabric strips....no doubt when I click post they will appear by magic......

 the above are tea washed paper and bottle tops giving an almost instantanious reaction.

these are just teabag stains on lining wallpaper

the above are offcuts of curtain blackout lining.I tried the vinegar and water spritz and bottle caps, small bent nails....on both sides of the lining to if it would take an image, the plastic side took best.

 as for this messy post I don't know what l've done wrong or if its the technology.... but it puts me off blogging
I am alive and kicking....I just keep having problems with pictures and blogging so I delete and try again and delete................................................................and bingo....something at least

smocks at the mill near Hardwick Hall

Stainsby Water Mill near Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

Hand worked Millers smocks

handmade Suffolk button

sack barrows outside the mill

Worth a visit if you are in the area...for the mill and the needlework !

next stage...of furniture bashing/ recycling

The bottom and middle shelf removed, and the whole thing turned upside down. The original doors will form the seat base. They have the same carved motif on as the "legs". The shaped piece resting on the top was originally the bottom trim of the cupboard. I'm hoping to refit it at the top on the back. What is now the top of the side cupboards had the leg extensions removed and need a flat piece cutting to fit.
The wooden flower plaques keep moving... to the back...to the cupboard door on the side.... not decided yet where they will end up.....found some green floral material for cushions. Stuck now, waiting for two strong men to lift it into place to finish it in situ...

Upcycling / furniture bashing

As a child I often saw ArtDeco sideboards in homes and loved the narrow cupboards on the sides... A little while ago I bought one ...I started to paint it... And wallpapered the insides with cream and red Chinese style paper...But it didn't seem to be going right...it didn't fit where I'd put it, it wasn't as useful as I thought it would be.
I still loved the side cupboards...I could take them off...but what to do with them /where to put them /how to use them...
No No it seemed to say to me...then I saw it...in the bay window of the back bedroom where the wall is covered in collaged wallpaper...
I got a friend to come and help...we dived in and got started and the top cupboard with sliding doors was off, the drawers out and the main cupboards doors off before I remembered to take a picture...
OK now when I click on photo it's not letting me access them...gerrrr.
Hopefully when I try again it will be in situ...in its finished glory. OK its letting me now...seems I have now to jump through hoops to photos now its upgraded its self...
Clever computers and simple humans like myself don't get on very well.....sigh...

I've come across some wooden plaques in my stash...l got them for something I never made...they may now have found a place to go.........

I just need two strong  bodies to carry it upstairs so I can finish it in situ...

getting excited !

hidden secret

I acquired 200 ish wooden coat / clothes hangers....some vintage and hand stitched.  I wanted the fabric off this one, Look what I found hidden underneath the fabric and old tights padding ?

"Padded and covered by Olive Leonard & sold in aid of Pocklington Canal Amenity Society 1985" One of the many enthusiasts and helpers who had a vision...
The old canal was lovingly restored through lots of fundraising and hard work to turn it into the visitor attraction in the East Riding of Yorkshire, that it is today. You can go and have tea and cakes or take a trip on the canal, what could be pleasanter on a sunny afternoon.