Of tables and planters

My friend Doris told me about this group that gets together fortnightly for....ya, you've guessed it....serious upcycling activities! I say it is serious because all of us put our hearts into our projects and if that is not serious, then what is?

Two other friends were supposed to go with me and I could do with some company on that long drive, but last minute plans prevented them from doing so. Michael had lovingly vacuumed my car and cleaned my little table with sugar soap.  I found a table at a shop in Kilkenny when I was there last month.

So I had a wonderful time at the club where I sanded and painted the table with Rustoleum Clotted Cream chalk paint. Since the surface was pretty large, I used a roller for the paint. Once it was done, I found that the roller worked far better then the brush. The paint certainly looked more even. The downside was, more paint was used.

After that I decided to stencil the top. I love the 'Champagne feel' because it reminded me of halcyon days in France.

I later distressed the sides and legs of the table by using a piece of sandpaper to reveal the original wood.

Having completed the table, I went on to decoupage a metal planter which I bought from Garden world in Limerick. Usually I'd use a primer and a compatible paint before doing the decoupage. In this case the planter is in a bright chirpy yellow and so I decided to leave it as it is. Now I think I'd go back and buy the green and pink planters too. The colours are gorgeous!

I've put the planter in my 'summer corner' next to the bear that I made sometime ago and another chair that I upcycled recently. 

Now all I have to do is to wait for the sun to shine brightly again....

Granny Square Quilt

My daughter Sonya will be here in July to work at the Midwestern Hospital in Limerick. So looking forward as she has been living away from me. pursuing her studies and working for the past 10 years!

Last December I bought some fabric cut out of a jelly roll from a stall at the Knitting and Stitching show in RDS, Dublin. I love quilts especially if they are handmade. You can buy ready made ones quite cheaply but then again they are never the same as the ones that are handmade with lots of love, effort and time.

In view of Sonya's coming over, I decided to turn it into a Granny Square Quilt with natural cotton wadding.

Now that the granny square quilt  is done, it will serve as a summer quilt for her as she blends into Irish life and Irish weather. Most of all she'll know that she's covered every night with mumsie's love.

Creative Upcycling

I was bitten by the Upcycling bug for the last few weeks and so Michael and I went hunting for furniture. We were in Kilkenny and we chanced upon a number of lovely pieces. There was a rocking chair that was simply fabulous but alas, it was too big to fit into the boot. So we went away with smaller pieces.

                                                    Before: A step stool from IKEA

                                                 After: A total makeover

Before: a dinner chair that has seen better days

After: A brand new look, with handpainted roses and a seat covered with Cath Kidston's Provence Rose Large Cotton fabric

A plain dinner chair given a total change with calligraphy ink

Still restless, I decided to turn some cans into colourful planters to remind me that summer is approaching soon!

Easter treats

Christ the King at Glen of Aherlow, Co. Tipperary

The month of Lent is a wonderful month of fasting and remembering what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us. Fasting is a beautiful act where we want to spend time with God to know His plans and purposes for us. If I were dieting, yes, I would feel very hungry. But fasting is a spiritual act and somehow there is added strength.

Life goes on as normal, cooking meals for the family. Am I tempted to eat? No. Do I get upset if others eat or drink in front of me? No. I can sit together with others who are feasting and no, I don't feel hungry at all, peckish maybe.

The power of prayer and fasting can never be denied. I see strongholds broken and captives set free. There are many things that we cannot wrestle with our physical strength but victories are made in the spiritual realm. God is no man's debtor and if we honour Him, He listens and acts.

So with the seconds and hours that I save when I'm fasting, I go into crafting instead. These are just little fun treats although bunnies, chicks and chocolate eggs have nothing to do with Christ's crucifixion or resurrection.

Felt bunnies all dressed and no where to go sitting in a decoupage tin filled with real chocolate eggs

Chick fridge magnets

Felt pouch for one single chocolate or hard boiled egg

A bunny card

Audrey's 21st Birthday

It's a lovely thing to eat out and having a good reason to do so makes the food all the more delicious. So we headed for Molly's to have a scrumptious evening meal as technically following Malaysian time (8 hours ahead of Ireland) Audrey would have turned 21 at 4 pm today!

Though unplanned, we all ended up having fish. Fish cakes and the salmon florentine en croute were really mouth watering.

For that someone special, it is always very satisfying to make something special. This is what I came up with.

The little key (on the card) has bloomed into a big key. (hanging on the tub). 

The card came with an ang-pow. (monetary gift) Undeniably a bit of extra on the side is always very much appreciated anytime.

I filled the tub with Reese's chocolates and all the adjectives that describe Audrey because she is one very good daughter. The only restriction to the number of adjectives used was the size of the tub. 

Every mother thinks the world of her child. But to have other people actually affirm how wonderful your child is, is another matter altogether. In this area, there is no lack. 

In fact I got a card recently that read

 ' Audrey is mature beyond her years. You are due a congrats for raising her this way. She relates to people very well and goes on well with our children. She's always a pleasure to have around....'

They say there is no manual for parenting. But I choose to defer. All I can say is that the Lord has blessed me with three great children and He has guided me and taught me how to be a parent.

So on your birthday Audrey, I wish that you will continually....

1. love and be faithful to God and live a life that is worthy of Him 

2. respect and love your parents and siblings 

3. attain great achievements and be courteous at all times

4. be in the state of contentment (this is beyond happiness which is ephemeral)

5. be in great health

6. live the dreams that you have

7. look beautiful: inside and outside

8. find favour with the people you are with 

9. enjoy and use your talents and giftings

10. know that you are made of more (Psalms 139)

................ with love from mumsie and dad.............xoxo............2015

Countdown to Christmas 2014

Snowmen made from pasta jars

 The Snowmen looking out of the window

In early December, I thought I would start the countdown to Christmas by posting something that I've made everyday. It was a great idea because I found myself very busy and very happy doing the things that I like, going places, meeting loads of friends and making new friends along the way.

Fresh Christmas wreaths

My friend Phil informed me that there would be a wreath making session at Southill Area Centre

hall so I went and made 2 fresh wreaths - one for a relative and the other for my mother-in-law's resting place. An added bonus was making a new friend Mary who introduced me to the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA) - Limerick Guild

Together with new friends at Southill Area Centre.

So I went for the ICA meeting and learnt how to make a centrepiece for the Christmas table,

From the ICA facebook page, I discovered that the women had created a lot of stuff for past Christmasses. The one that caught my fancy was the quilted bauble so I tried my hand at making one and gave it to a good friend.

Went for a workshop at Killaloe Community Centre and made two tree ornaments

Then it was time to decorate the house and get it all ready for Christmas

                                                 The fresh Christmas pine tree

                                       Hand sewn new cushions and patchwork quilt sofa throw

                                 Some bears and a cat that I made earlier this year sitting on
                                              a cross stitch quilt that I made last year

                                        A Christmas quilt I made two years ago

Two more new cross-stitch quilted cushions

And in-between the sewing and crafting, I was invited to a number of parties and celebrations!

Christmas party at Carrygerry country house - International Women's Organisation

Made some cupcakes for the

Christmas party at Woodview Hotel Limerick - Busybees Organisation

Theresa's party where we feasted and made music with a variety of instruments, beautifully coordinated by the very talented friends from the Music Faculty at the University of Limerick.

                 And not forgetting the beautiful Christmas candlelight service at Abundant Life Christian                                                                                 Church, Limerick

The holiday spirit  would not be complete without some form of  travelling........to London Christmas Market and I bought a paper shoe making kit.

                    ( I gave this away to a good friend who fell in love with it)

And a Sainsburys Commemorative Chocolate bar from the beautiful 2014 Christmas Advertisement based on Christmas 1914 during WW1. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWF2JBb1bvM)

And finally this is the little boy I brought into the world 24 years ago, wishing everyone a very blessed Christmas and a great year ahead!

Samuel at 6 months