Things To Do With Jars
Sorry for the hiatus folks, I’ve been working on a couple of exciting projects which has left OHD a little bit neglected! Rest assured I’m back, I’m inspired and I’m ready to blog! After the B&Q AW14 press day earlier in the year, I was really impressed with their attention to detail on the home furnishings front and the little extra touches. One of my favourites was this large jar which can fill a multitude of purposes! When I was lucky enough to be given the chance to choose my favourite piece from the collection to post about, the jar was a no brainer. What I really love about this…
B&Q AW14 Press Day
Fresh from Glastonbury, on Tuesday I headed down to London to the B&Q Aw14 Press Day. On a lovely sunny day I was greeted at the door to the event by Father Christmas – all quite surreal in July! B&Q are aware that they’re currently perceived as a destination for practical help and advice rather than for interior style inspiration and their Christmas collection really demonstrates the work that they’re doing to try and change this. I dove right in to the full Christmas experience, first viewing the new collection of Christmas trees. The range this year has expanded from the traditional imitation trees to include more pre-lit and pre…
Glitter and Washi Tape Decorative Pegs
Having recently converted our box room into a craft room (I can’t really call it a sewing room anymore as I do so much other stuff in here), I’m still looking for cute ways to decorate it. This make was done with items I already had in the house, I didn’t need to buy anything new at all which makes a nice change! This idea is definitely not a new one so I can’t take any credit but it’s so effective and useful that it’s worth sharing! I got these postcards from Ikea a while ago in a pack of five, only two made it into a frame and these…
Cover Up: Covering A Binder with Fabric
This is a really quick and simple one, add a personal touch to plain old ring binders by covering them in fabric. It’s also a good way of using up leftovers – you may recognise this fabric from the latest boiler screen. 1. You will need: A ring binder Fabric Scissors Spray mount 2. The fabric needs to be large enough to cover the binder when it’s laid out flat plus an inch or so allowance round the edges. Cut to size if you have too much. Mitre the corners for neat edges. 3. Spray the outside of the binder with the spray adhesive and then lay it flat in…
Another Boiler Screen
This one’s for a friend of mine. Her boiler is against the wall on one side so only needs two pieces. The fabric, ribbon and upholstery tacks are from Dunelm Mill. Hinges and wood from B&Q.
Sewing Room Decor Part 1: Desk Revamp
This desk was made by my step-dad’s dad, it’s really solid and a super surface for sewing on. Luckily for me, when I bought the house from him it was too heavy to move. Unfortunately, it was pretty ugly. My solution? I spent a Sunday whipping it into shape! First I used my trusty Black and Decker mouse sander to scuff up the surface. Then I wiped off the dust with a damp cloth and let it dry. I painted it with plain old Matt emulsion. I was planning on buying multiple tester pots as a whole tin would be far too much but I discovered that in large B&Qs…
Best Dog Bed Ever?
I bought this vintage steamer trunk off eBay for £20. I had to buy a large one as our Bassett Hound is pretty sizeable! I had to measure his existing bed to make sure I bought one he’d fit into. It was important for me to give him his own space in our newly decorated shabby chic lounge but normal dog beds always look a bit rubbish! I saw this in a magazine and immediately thought it was perfect (as you can see, Horatio agrees!).
Create Your Own Fabric Wall Art
This was a really quick one that I copied from the Ikea showroom. All materials are Ikea: Berta Ruta Grey fabric £7/m Rosmarie fabric £6/m Ung Drill frame £25 I had the grey checked fabric left over from the curtains and cushion covers I’ve made for the living room and thought this was quite a good way to tie the whole room together. The rose fabric was an offcut so I got it cheaper than the per metre price – all you need is one full instance of the three roses. I cut the check fabric to the size of the oval – I actually pinned the paper insert from…
DIY Boiler Screen: Covering up the Ugly
I hate how ugly my boiler is. It’s scratched and the plastic flap has yellowed in the sun and it’s just generally unsightly. In my eyes, when on display, it made my kitchen look like a crack den. I’m pleased to say that the idea for the screen was all my own and after being inspired by a pin board tutorial I realised I could make it a practical as well as aesthetically pleasing solution. PLEASE NOTE: Not all boilers can be covered – please check the manufacturer’s instructions to confirm if your boiler requires ventilation. Start by measuring your boiler on each side. You will need to add approx…
Owl Be There: Crochet Doorstop
Here’s my latest crochet doorstop. This one sticks pretty closely to the original pattern but uses ombré wool instead of two different yarns. I used a 5.5mm crochet needle and the wool is Patons Colour Works Aran in shade 82 both from Dunelm Mill. His eyes are beak are felt and the stitches are hand embroidered and he’s stuffed with wadding and a 1kg bag of rice to weigh him down. Thinking about making a hippo next – will soon have my own doorstop zoo!
