The Work Goes On

I have said this so many times on this blog "Where does the time go?"  Time just seems to be flying by and although we start the day well there are not many jobs getting finished this week.  It is very much one day at a time at the moment but hopefully we will see some great results soon.  In the meantime I will share some half done jobs.  A start has been made on painting the wall around the front garden, it is about half done but looks so much better already.

 

We did manage to dig the path out and also the steps leading up to the road, it is so rewarding seeing the old stone and reflecting who may have walked over them in bygone years.  We did manage to get the grass down at the front but the borders have yet to be weeded, once we have worked out what there is in there.  The gate has been repaired and stained, the second gate is still in the process of being repaired.

 

 

At the back once again a start has been made and we have hacked down quite a large area.  Sadly rain stopped play yesterday so it was back to indoor pursuits.

Mickey found a dinosaur lurking in the long grass, it has now become a treasured possession and takes it everywhere with him.

I have got a crochet project on the go but it is slow going at the moment as I always seem to have the sewing machine out making something for the cottage.  I am making a baby blanket.   The bathroom is still a work in progress but today I have managed to make a valance to dress the window.  I am quite impressed with the overall finish, using some leftover lining fabric from the lounge curtains and a remnant of fabric from stash that I had bought on a whim.

The wallpaper that was used in the bedroom has come in useful once again, this time used to make a template ready for the bathroom windowsill.  New blades were needed for the saw so now that we have been into Stornoway we can cut out the anchor and the sill.

 

I wasn't happy with the overall finished look of the wreath, so have added another thicker bow which really does make the difference.

 

 

 I have finally finished the bedroom having painted and covered the chair.  We managed to find some curtains that we liked on our trip to England and as only 3 curtains are needed we used the 4th one to cover the chair.  The remaining fabric will be used to make some bags for storage.

 

I have run out of heavy duty staples, which is a bit of a pain, making it necessary for another trip into Stornoway.  Sadly, the local shop does not stock them.  I had wanted to cover the seat pads for the dining area now that we have finally chosen the Harris Tweed.  The bonus is that I will once again enjoy the stunning views on my way to town and back.  It is a spectacular drive encompassing everything that I love about this wonderful Island.  Each turn of the wheel showing a different view.  I hope I will never tire of its beauty as we go through the seasons.  I have visited this Island many times and fell in love with it many years ago it has not disappointed me.  It has cast a spell over us both, long may that last.

 

See you soon.

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Our little cottage is beginning to have the cosy feel that I was aiming for, a little bit at a time.  The front porch has now had a new valance added to the window and a wonderful bell screwed onto the wall.  A wonderful find from an antiques fair when we were away.  The chair which was an abandoned treasure from the outbuilding has been painted and recovered and now is the perfect seat for getting boots on and off.  I have also added a wreath to the door, another rag wreath this time using some remnants of Harris Tweed.  It was made sometime ago and brought with us but looks perfect in its new home.

 

Before...with Mickey who is never very far away.

 

 

...and after, given a new lease of life.

 

 

 

 We are slowly working on the lounge with the addition of curtains, throws and a table runner for the newly painted trunk.  I have also added a burlap bow to the rag wreath which was made using the left over fabric from the soft furnishings nothing was wasted.

 

There is still some work needed to be done to the fireplace, we have already sourced the tiles.  The stove does need to be serviced and given a good clean out, but we are getting there.  Rome was not built in a day...I sure wish it was at times.  Although in fairness, I am enjoying the process of making this little cottage our home one step at a time.

 

I have been missing our old garden a little, particularly the produce for the kitchen.  We have got plans to grow a few bits once we have the outbuildings done but it won't be this season.   We did pick up a couple of bunches of Sweet William to add a bit of colour to our little cottage and to inspire us with our list making for what we want in our new garden.

 

 

Time is flying by so quickly, we are already into June and Summer is very soon upon us which brings lots of outdoor projects needed to be done.  The little wall needs painting, the gate repairing, the exterior of the cottage painting...the list goes on and on.  This little cottage which we now call home is definitely where my heart is.    Where does your heart belong, have you found your little piece of heaven?

 

See you soon.

 

 

 

Craft Update

We had a wonderful time at the soup and pudding event, there were so many different desserts it was difficult to decide which one to have.  So many friendly people made it so easy to chat, making the event even better than we could ever have imagined.  Gerard enjoys football so went along to the local match last night and again was made to feel very welcome.


I have been trying to catch up with some of the craft projects that needed finishing.  I started a wreath sometime ago but couldn't finish it because some of the things that I needed were packed up ready for our move.  I have since unpacked and was able to finish it off.

The bulk of the work had already been done, just needing buttons and all attaching to the ring.  I love the end result.

Although I loved it, the colour combination was perfect for the lounge I did feel it was a little small and didn't have the impact that I wanted.  So, I set to work with a wire frame and some fabric left over from the curtains and lounge furnishings and made a rag wreath.  I think it is quite striking and fits in with the character of the cottage.

I may add a large burlap bow, if only I could remember where I put it when  unpacking.  My small crafting space is taking a little getting used to.  The smaller wreath will be a wonderful addition to the bedroom.

I have trimmed a top sheet with some vintage lace, again adding a little character and age to the room.

I have finally finished the furniture in the bedroom using a roll of wallpaper found at the car boot sale for £1 when doing the tour of the family. 

I have also added a couple of hangers made using a stag stamp and adding a bow using some ribbon from my stash.

Hope everyone had a lovely bank holiday or weekend, apart from a little rain yesterday evening the weather was good to us here.  As always I thank you for your comments and e-mails I will get back to you all as soon as I can.  Take care.

See you soon.