Dad

Brian Sapcote

A kind, gentle, funny man

a teacher, role model and artisan

24 Februay 1936 - 25 September 2010

I wanted to post about today but can't find the right words.  This was placed in the local newspaper after Dad died and actually it's perfect.



Lamp Light

Whilst on holiday in Cornwall I bought a lamp stand and shade to 'do up'.  I painted the lamp base with Annie Sloan paint in Paris Grey and then pondered what to do with the shade.  As usual I forgot to do a before photo. The lamp base was dark wood and the shade a coolie style.  I decided the shade wasn't quite right and when I got home I searched various charity shops until I found one in the right shade.  It cost me a whole 50p.  The base cost £1.  As I was deciding how to cover the new shade I thought I would take photos as I went along and do a tutorial of sorts.  So here goes:-

One shade with yukky trim

Old yellow glue and bad fringing

I prised the fabric from the shade it took some doing.

A naked shade

I removed all the trim 

along with bows and fringing

the shade was made from two parts so I carefully unpicked the side seams

I used some vintage barkcloth fabric and cut out the pattern on the bias for stretch when I make up the shade

I didn't cut out the scallops - too tricky.  Then I hand stitched the two pieces together.  I fitted it onto the shade and it was a little baggy so I took one side seam in.  I then carefully stretched the fabric down the shade and hand stitched the top of the fabric to the shade.

I then pinned and stretched the bottom edge of the fabric so I could hand stitch it.

pin and stretch

stretch and pin - few ouches

I then stitched tiny stitches to attach the fabric to the frame

This is how it looked when it was all stitched up

tiny stitches

I trimmed away the excess fabric

Ta Dah - one super grannytastic revamped lamp - ready for the dark evenings.

How pleased was I - very - I might add a bobble trim or some ric-rac around the bottom - I will wait and see how I feel about it in a few days.

Lamp light

Well not yet it's not got a plug yet or a bulb but they are only minor details. 

Total cost - Lamp base £1 - Charity Shop

Shade - 50p - Charity Shop

Barkcloth - £1 - Car Boot

Bargain and it only took me one evening to do.  

Please note this is probably not the best/correct way to refurb a lampshade and it probably doesn't meet Health and Safety regs - although K has just said that he thinks it will be fine with a low watt bulb.

Just for your information Lamp Light by David Essex was the first single K bought.  

A Perfect Day

Ahh I have had such a lovely, lovely day today at WORK.  Don't gasp I am fortunate to work, occasionally ,with my friend and very talented textile artist Louise Presley who is the proprietor of hopeandelvis.com.  Today was a tweed bag workshop where you take a man's tweed jacket and with a little bit of magic, a few tweeks, a little imagination, vintage buttons, ribbons, lace etc you end up with a fabulous TA DAH moment when you have made a bag - all by your own (as one little one once said to me whilst working at my proper job as a Nursery Nurse).  Today was a little different for me though as I met a bloggy friend who I have been wanting to meet for a looooooong time (actually there were several bloggers there and it was a pleasure to meet them all).  But today I met Diane. We had good fun having a chat 'in real life' I wasn't surprised when we got on and had a good old natter about this and that.  I also met Diane's friend Nic who was equally lovely and chatty and good fun.  What a small world it is Diane know's someone I worked with in a school and Nic knows friends of mine that I have known for years, she lived close by them when she was little.  Spooky.  I also met Wend of tickingstripes.blogspot.com and Lyn of everdaylife.blogspot.com - nice to meet you ladies. 

I didn't take any photo's of today's makes but Louise will be posting photos on her facebook page which you can access via her website - you don't have to have a facebook account to take a peek. 

What I did take photos of though was this.

A present from Diane.  An unexpected lovely present - just because.

Want to see what was in it?

Lots

A very pretty heart

A floral corsage with tiny beads in the middle - hands off Belle - she has already eyed it up saying it would look pretty on her hair.  It would look pretty but IT'S MINE.

Mermaid glass and sea worn pebbles and china.  Beautiful - also eyed up by Belle.

Beautiful dingle dangle ear-rings.

I also received a lollypop and some beauty products.

How very generous - thank you very much indeed.

I also received a little gift from K.  Another just because.  Want to see?

A newshiny thimble with a twist.

It's for a giant - lol.

Next to a regular sized one.  It made me laugh a lot - it is Pewter and Made in Sheffield - I like it lots.

Phew long post.  Going to sign off now as I am about to drop.  Since I got in I have put away lots of ironing, changed the bed, washed pots and made a crumble so I am now fit for nothing.  Have to be up early tomorrow - 10 hour shift to do at Nursery.  Double phew.  Night Night.



Dyl the Dane

Just a  pictures to make you smile.  Dyl had fun in the dressing up box tonight and decided to be a Viking.

Last nights funny.

Nellie 'mum you know that funny bug that was in the bathroom yesterday I searched for it for ages but I couldn't find it' (Nellie hates bugs of any description and likes to know where they are)

Me 'Oh did you love it probably flew out of the window' (code for - I have no idea where it might be now but I am not going to tell you that or you will spend ages looking for it)

Nellie - No Mum, I Googled it, I was trying to find out what species it was!!!

Me - Doh!!!

and Finally!

Me and my crocodile green Crocs - I don't know if this was an intentional photo or not but I like it.

A tiny lizard - well spotted Belle.  He was so cute. 

A pile of stones, we saw lots of these and also lots of stones balanced along with others.

A fabulous allotment/garden on the road into Mousehold. We always park just outside and walk into the village and the allotments are always amuzing.

Well I know I said finally BUT i'm fed up with posting now, the photos are not working properly - I don't know why - and they are taking an age to load so in the words of Arnie I'll be Back!! Only a few more now though I don't want to bore you tooo much.

Little Bit More

of our Cornish holiday.  I should live here because it is in St Ives which I love and because I don't drink.  It's true I very rarely drink alcohol.  One glass or two of wine and I feel sick think it's something to do with drinking to excess as a teenager.  The other reason is I become far too truthful when I have had a drink - honesty is NOT always the best policy.

BBQ on the beach - yum.

The path to Church Cove a great little beach with a tiny old Church by the side.

We wondered up the church path and went into the Church - as we do each time we visit.  It is really old and rather run down but still used and obviously loved by people from all over the world.  I know this by reading both the comments in the visitors book at the back of the church and the book that is always at the alter for people to write in to remember people they have loved and lost or to say special prayers for those in need.  Very moving indeed.  Me and Mum shed a little private tear as I wrote a piece for my Dad. Mum was enthralled by it as she didn't expect there to be a Church at Church Cove.  It was her favourite place.

I always have a stroll around the grave yard and I am always drawn to this grave.  It is the grave of a 12 year old boy who was evacutated to Cornwall in the war and he was killed, along wth a friend, whilst playing on the beach by a mine.  His parents were killed in the Blitz in London and are also remembered here.  Very moving indeed. 

Well its night nights time now - still more to post - will be back soon.

A pesky seagul in St Ives - they love to pinch your chips.

A Holiday of the Best Kind

We have just returned from the MOST fabulous holiday in Cornwall.  The weather was kind we had sunshine most days even if it was for only an hour or so in the evening.  We laughed and laughed and laughed.  We ate lots and lots and lots (sorry Diet Police - I have received your caution) will be back to being 'good' as from today.  I took more than three photos - last holiday my total photo take was three which was very poor. 

The girls enjoyed painting with water colours on the beach and achieved some fab results. Might have to have a go myself. 

Belle enjoyed a tractor ride.  I like to say we made this but we didn't.

This is a most exciting photo - dolphins!! Yes we saw dolphins swimming across the bay at Praa Sands whilst we were having a beach BBQ. It was so exciting.  I didn't think I would be so giddy on seeing dolphins but I was.  There were about 12 in total jumping up out of the water and generally splashing around having a good time.   They stayed around for about 20 minutes and then swam off into the distance.  Priceless and it made our holiday.  The Nannie was so excitited she phoned my two sisters to tell them all about it although by mistake she phoned her home phone and left herself a message.  Apparently the message is hilarious and she is keeping it for us to listen to later.  My LSJ has listened and nearly weed.

The Harbour St Ives

I have more photos to share but I am going to post those another day.  We are surrounded by washing, ironing and all the usual holiday stuff that needs sorting.  So I shall say bye for now and I will pop back shortly to show you the rest of our holiday