Pretty Nostalgic cleaning

Tonight I finally got around to making my Pretty Nostalgic cleaner from issue 11.  Inside there was a whole feature on cleaning products, and on what natural products would make the best cleaner today, aside from using chemical-based ingredients.

The winner from the tests turned out to be a mix of white vinegar and water which I decided to make myself and try.

Then I kept forgetting to look for white vinegar when I went shopping.

Then I needed to go to a certain Swedish store to buy a container.

Then Nicole, the editor of Pretty Nostalgic suggested that I could fragrance the cleaner, so then I had to order some lavender oil.

Today I finally put the whole lot together and made my cleaner.  Now I'm just waiting for it to cool!

If you fancy doing it yourself, I used 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts boiled water and added about 15 drops of pure lavender oil.

I think I'll just watch the tennis whilst it's cooling....


G x

Caravan paint woes

Oh I have an Agatha dilemma.

The intension was always to paint her on the outside; inside, aside from changing the fabric, I wanted to keep her looking original so nothing (except the loo and sink) is being removed.

Last year I chose paint.  Blue, grey.  My intention was to have her looking like a caravan that Sharon, from the happy caravan revamped.  This was my intention.

I cleaned the caravan today in preparation for her paint-job.  Hubby opened the paint, just to stir it and check the colour.

I do not like the colour.  It looks like the colour of a war ambulance.  I do not want Agatha van to look like a war ambulance.

In hubby's head, he is painting the whole of the side with the door on it (the side you can see from the house). 

In my head, we were only ever painting across the middle. 

I do not know what to do.  Caravan paint is not tres cheap and I can't really waste what I have.  I want her to look pretty, not utility.  (Hubby has pointed out that Agatha will be having a pretty decking area at the front of her (her wheels have now been removed and she is on bricks ready) so the paint will not make her look utilitarian).


I am stuck.


G x

p.s. thank you for all your kind comments regarding the horrid hayfever.  The eye mask is working and I am sleeping better - are they related, who knows, but I will continue nonetheless until it fails!

It's that time of year again!

And what time of year is that? you merrily cry.  Summer, that's what.  The time of misery and suffering - or at least for me it is.

Yes, hayfever is to blame.  Mine is usually triggered by oil seed rape, but since moving over the border 4 years ago, I've been relatively free of symptoms to the extent that I can use shop bought tablets and not have to resort to double doses as prescribed by a doctor. 

However, this past week has been a nightmare.  Sneezing constantly, permanently runny nose, itchy, red eyes.  Oh yes, the hayfever is back, and with a vengeance!

Last week on the advice of a pharmacist, I changed the hayfever tablets I take.  No difference.  Yesterday I was on the verge of going to the doctors to beg for tablets.  My brother intervened via Facebook.  Vaseline he urged.  Stick it on your nose pronto.

I did.  Whilst my eyes may still feel like they have been poked and scraped by many a sharp thing, I have barely sneezed since yesterday, and I'm not having to put extra strong tablets into my system.  I am trying to survive!

My sleep pattern, alas, is a bit rubbish - due in part to said hayfever.  I keep waking at silly o'clock and then finding the room too light and not drifting back off to the land of nod as easily as I would like.  Well, no more I cry!

Whilst the 5 year old was at ballet and the 7 year old was playing Sumdog, I got out the new sewing machine and had a quick whirl.

I now have an eye mask for bedtime which I'm hoping might work miracles!

I googled the template and this one is from a blog site called Dog Under My Desk.

I used two pieces of fabric, and a piece of felt inside them both for extra comfort.  I then added some elastic and sewed them together before turning right side out and ha
nd stitching the top together.



Inside

Outside

Let's hope it works!

G x


By the way - I've cut down on the biscuit consumption but haven't started any yoga yet.  I did buy the new Davina Fit in 15 dvd which I've done over the past few nights.  It's good - just 15 minutes of your time for a fab workout that really leaves you heavy breathing.  I can see results already - or at least I think I can!

Chloe Tells You How...To Sew

I've got a lovely new craft book to share with you today.  It's from the fabulous Chloe Owens, author of All Sewn Up which I love.

  Her new book is called Chloe tells you how...to sew and it's a brilliant reminder of all things 1970s from my childhood.

In some ways, it reminded me of a Twinkle annual with it's layout, and quirky cartoon-strip feel.  Not only are there craft activities in there, there are also games to play!

There are over 30 projects in the book to make.  I showed it to my girls, and they pointed out most of the projects that they wanted me to make for them.

So if bright clashing floral fabrics are your thing, and you fancy making a false beard, or felt ball garland, then like me, you'll love this book.  I'm off to make a few Jammie Dodger biscuits.  See ya!


G x