New Year, New Room

 

I’ve been blogging for so long. My babies have become little women. Which is very topical as I just lent Daisy my copy of Little Women, a wonderful hard-backed book given to me by my step grandmother in my 14th year. I only read it because one of the colour-plates was labled ‘she loved to enjoy the quiet and society of a pet rat’ and as you can see from the before and after room photos, so do my lovely girls. 

I might tell you about my first rat. If I do, I will be sure to find a picture of him.  

It’s not for Halloween ...

I like skulls. I suppose given my pending face related surgery, I really ought to have at least a passing interest. Jaw surgery blogs and Facebook pages appear frequently in my comings and goings about the internet. 

This lovely specimen is a Childs toy who’s head broke when he got dropped and was glued back together with Sugru. I love that stuff. 

In order for the paint not to crawl, I’ve treated it with ESP which is another fabulous product that no one asked me to plug. So that’s vinyl wall plaint slapped onto a plastic skull. 

But it’s not for Halloween, it’s for always. I will show you where it’s going to go, on permanent display, soon! 

A new kid on the block ...

Lately a lot of over-made-up dolls are getting a younger, fresher look. I decided to have a go myself. I can paint, I just wasn't sure about having a steady enough hand! But I found this Alice Moxie Girlz doll for 50p and she came home with me ...

With a few pieces of magic eraser, and a lot of nail varnish remover her make up and fat lips disappeared! Well ok, those lips still looked pumped. Some careful painting would take care of that. 

With white acrylic I shaped new eyes. And with a gentle pink and some 12-year-olds front teeth those lips have changed!

After that point I was on a roll. I do believe she needs some hint at eye lashes, but I'm really pleased with my first attempt to create a doll that looks like a real person!

Simple clothes next, but in the meantime, I found a hat for her to wear. 

What do you think her name should be?

Beetle makeover

Mike has a beetle and I like to sew ...

Having previously made patchwork curtains together, he wanted to cover up the grey linings, but don't worry. The originals and still safe underneath. If you like grey ...

A little of my handwriting slipped in where Mary sits ...

I don't think he bought her to match the house and garage - or my clothes!! 

Drawer fronts ...

Here are collaged, over painted drawer fronts for the dresser. We put back the existing handles without removing any of the chipped white and gold paint. 

Here they are back in place, I'm really pleased with them. Mike says they look old and girly!

Next I get to age the cabinet part, and decide what to do with the top, which will be covered in a piece of glass. 

Steampunk goggles finished!

These charity-shop biker goggles came up really well. When I saw them I knew they would be perfect for wearing in my hair instead of flowers....

I have added one flower and I had fun with acrylic and glass paint. 

I need these for a special event next month!

Hooked on collage?

Time to paint the porch which has always been original bricks. But now that the house is painted, demanded a makeover too! 

An inexpensive set of hooks has been used for children's coats, but I couldn't bring myself to put it back on the wall without a makeover of its own, so I covered it in cute paper. 

A wash of gold guache adds a special something and looks aged. 

The edges of the paper have been sanded. Difficult to photograph but looks superb! Try it next time to are altering furnature and so on ...

The plated hooks are gently worn from use but that's fine for my purposes and I screw them all back on with glee!

Finally back on the wall! Hooks that make me happy and suit all the little coats that get hung here ...

Mirror mirror ...

My friend Jenny wanted me to makeover a mirror for her and I found this shabby chique number at the brewers quay ...

I took the shelf off, and neatly covered the mirror in vintage cotton fabric, by soaking it in PVA. 

A sharp blade cut the edges nearly, and also freed the centre to reflect again! I covered the top of the shelf with fabric too. 

After the shelf was screwed on, gold paint was added, giving an ageing effect and helping the fabric sit well, sort of visually embedding it. 

I hope Jenny likes it, do you?

House Work - IKEA Hack

I like those simple magnetic boards from IKEA. I had planned to cover some in cotton fabric and put up in the girls room but instead I covered three in papers and two have ended up here so we can all have some fun!

Do you like steampunk?

I picked up these folding biker-goggles in a local charity shop for 99p. I have a little steampunk project in mind ....

After priming with good old ESP, I painted the frames with acrylic and the lenses with some glass paint which is more shiny!

Such fun!