Reading together

Jasmine got her first reading book from school this week and she felt so grown up! No longer is it just Ben that gets 'big kid's' things like homework, spellings and a reading book with diary....Jasmine has joined the ranks. I just love that she thinks it's great because I know that further down the line, homework is likely to become a bore. Though of course I hope she continues to enjoy both reading and homework - Ben still loves to get a new book and read it - in fact he can't go to sleep at night without first a story (or two) and then reading a book himself after lights out (yes, I catch him most nights squinting at a book in the semi-dark). He's also good at doing his homework without having to be asked twice.

Project: Re-upholster dining chairs

Status: Complete!!!!

Yep, I just finished them. But it was quite a drama:

Attempt #1: It all started yesterday, I had a bit of a crisis in that a colleague's husband (who's an artist) said he would lend me his staple gun, but when I went round to collect it he couldn't find either of the two he had. Cue a mad dash around every feasible store in Witney.....first we went shopping in Lidl and then Sainsbury's (for food, but also to see if they by chance had a staple gun...), then we went to find the staple gun in Focus. They had sold out of the bog standard ones and only had a really flash electronic version. By this point the children were fed up of me rushing them around shops. I was fed up too - we'd gone from school, to my friends, to Lidl, to Sainsbury's, to Focus.... Ben and Jas ran around the aisles in that store like it was an adventure playground, and I, feeling my dreams of covering the chairs in all that beautiful fabric slowly slipping away, was feeling less than patient.... I'd already rang/texted everyone I knew to see if any of them by chance owned a staple gun, but no luck. Anyway, we're in Focus and I'm shouting for the kids yet again (they'd run off in the direction of the bathroom sets (they like pretending to sit on the toilets etc!), and told them we had less than 15 minutes to get to Screw Fix before it shut. Jasmine moaned, "why you keep dragging us round all the shops! I'm fed up!" A man pushing his well-behaved little baby around in a trolley grinned at me....."well, I can't argue with that" I told him with sigh and he grinned some more.

Next stop was screw fix. I pulled off some formula 1 style driving to get there in the nick of time, only to find that whilst yes, they did have them in stock, they were waaay more money than I wanted to spend on an item I am hardly likely to use again. Still determined, I drove past Argos hoping to dash in there quickly, but saw they were already closing. Let's just say I went home feeling quite deflated.

Attempt #2: Today I went into town with Sienna to have a wander round the shops (and find a staple gun!). I went to Robert Dyas and guess what? Yup, sold out of the cheap ones, only fancy ones in stock. It seems that Witney is in the grip of a major staple gun buying spree. And yet strangely, no-one I know has one (other than the lost one), or knows anyone with one. One person I asked didn't even know what one was! Arrrgghhh, Frustrating!

There was a very helpful sales lady in Robert Dyas who recommended fabric pins, so, two packs in hand I felt much better and went off to the sewing store. And then I saw it, some beeeauuutiful fabric that I just had to have!

Anyway, feeling that all was once more right with the world we went back to mine. And here's how it's done. Re-covering chairs that is.

Step 1:
Have some tea and cake - much needed fuel for crafting

Sienna does not like her picture being taken!

Step 2:
Remove seat pads

Step 3:
Remove ugly, old covers

Step 4:
lay seat pad on new fabric, stretch fabric taught and hammer in pins all around the edges (avoiding thumbs!!!). Make sure that the creases in on the corners are neat and not too 'square'.

I'm not sure what Jasmine was doing....

Step 5:
Pose for a picture with said pad

Step 6:

Screw seat pad back onto chair

Voila!

And below are all the finished chairs - as you can tell from the lighting, I didn't finish until quite late. It would have been so much quicker with a staple gun... I stopped after chair number 3 to finally cook something for the children...much later than usual I might add. (Emma S had stopped by briefly and helped out with chair number 1, Sienna had left after chair number 2 and Nick left for a game of poker whilst I was cooking dinner).

Straight after dinner I got on with the last chair. The poor kids were so tired they took themselves off to bed before I was finished (bad mummy!). Once I get into a project I get so consumed by it I am compelled to see it through, preferably on the same day I start. Patience is not one of my strong points. Must work on that.....

What's that I hear? They don't match? They're not meant to match, I wanted each one to be different. Living in a new build, rented house everything is so bland. I wanted these chairs to make a statement. And if I change my mind or we move and they look out of place? I'll just re-cover them of course! Simples.

Now, ask me, does anyone actually get to sit on my new chairs.....?

Let's get making!

My mind is buzzing lately with all things crafty. I've been scouring the internet for inspiration and been collecting unwanted furniture like it's going out of fashion! Which admittedly, some of the items have ;-)

First off I have been organising Jasmine's party, for which I have decided on a Hawaiian Luau theme...... I've had the invites designed and printed (by my good friend and colleague Dan, in exchange for some homemade, organic apple and elderberry Jam, yummm!), ordered in the scene setters, blow up parrots, leis and tiki girl cut outs, ordered colourful paper and crepe for the door streamers and hanging flowers and lanterns that I have yet to make and decided upon a design for her cake (something that does not involve ready to roll icing - I have only bad experiences with the stuff!). Whew!

Next on the list I am re-upholstering some dining chairs that I got for free on netmums. We lost two of our dining chairs to the floods a couple of years back and have been using the landlords ones since we moved in to this house. Before that, the kids sat at their little table whilst I and Nick used the remaining two chairs. If guests came for dinner we got out the camping chairs!!! The problem is that it costs as almost as much to buy a set of dining chairs as it does to buy a whole new table and chairs set. I like our table and anyway, we can't afford the expense of a whole new one anyway. So this find on netmums had me all excited and I sent Nick off to Bicester to pick them up straight after work last friday. And they aren't half bad either. What's more, I bought my first ever lot of fabric from a site I found and have been drooling over for a few weeks. They are so pretty, and the idea is to have an eclectic mix that don't match.

my beautiful fabrics!

I'm making it sound like I am completing these projects in an orderly fashion, but that is waaay too structured for me! I am actually doing a bit of each at any given time. In fact I am also in the middle of making a hanging feature for Jasmine's wall, and have almost completed the birds. I ran out of red thread for the beading on the red bird last night so that is on hold until I get to the sewing shop at the weekend. I also just made a quick picture for her wall out of a pretty flyer I found in a local shop and a wooden frame from Ikea that I painted white.

Ben wants dinosaurs for his version......I made these from Jasmine's old clothes

All this activity means that the scarf I am knitting for Jasmine may well have to be a Christmas present instead of a birthday one as originally intended. And the booties I have been knitting for soon to be born Leo, after having to unravel and start again approximately five whole times, I am resorting to plan B - Alex, you'll just have to wait and see, but if all turns out as planned (and as per the picture and instructions), little Leo will not be disappointed!

ooops, forgot to rotate this one - oh well, I am in a rush....should be making dinner not blogging!

Oh, and did I mention the ugly nest of tables I got off freecycle? I am using the middle sized one for a hall table and have decided to cover it using the 'decopatch' method.......

It is ugly now, but you wait until I'm done with it!

I will post all of the finished projects as and when I complete them....and if I don't get sidetracked by yet more ideas.....do you know I sometimes can't fall asleep because of all the ideas buzzing around in my head......ermm, that actually sounds rather weird. Think I'd better go cook now....

Dogs and rewards

Theo and Emile* have a new dog. She's called Miley and she doesn't like Luna. Luna is the family cat and she is having to be protected from Miley who likes to chase her. Jasmine thinks Luna should be put on a high shelf so that Miley can't get her (which she told Karen on the phone - Emile and Theo's mum that is), but of course this isn't a great long-term solution. Theo thinks they should get rid of Luna. Very Long-term, but not very fair seeing as though Luna has been around longer than both he and Emile.....
Jasmine and Ben went to Theo's party this weekend just gone and met Miley for the first time. They think she is great, as they now think all dogs are (as long as they let Ben and Jas call the shots that is, and don't jump at them). A conversation with Jasmine yesterday went like this:

Jasmine: Mum, I double dare you to get me a dog!
Mum: You really want a dog?
Jasmine: Yes. And if you don't give me one I'm not going to give you this money (she opens her hand to reveal a 5p and a 1p)
Mum: I think I'll manage somehow. We are NOT getting a dog.
Jasmine: D'ohhhhh

* Theo and Emile are Nick's little brothers

Today I decided to try and tackle the playroom, which has been getting dustier and messier by the minute it seems. I called the kids to me and made a suggestion.......if they tidy the room properly (and they know how to do this by now), then I will give them a whole 5p each which they can put towards some sweeties from the shop by the school after school on friday. And if they want to buy more sweeties, they can help mummy with some other chores throughout the rest of the week. Personally I think this is a great way of introducing them to the idea of working for what you want, and instilling in them a sense of resposibility (or you can call it shameless bribery. I prefer the first option). Ben, in his never ending quest to improve upon the rules or conditions of any game or challenge, made a suggestion too. "And if we tidy up without you asking does that mean we can have 10p?" He's so funny, and so enterprising :-) I thought this sounded like a splendid idea and agreed that if he did some tidying up without being told, he could most definitely have 10p for it. Personally, I'm not convinced that even the lure of 10p will be enough to actually motivateeither of them to tidy up of their own free will.....we'll see.....

Daily Funny

This morning Jasmine came up to the bedroom, came over to me and sang really loudly 'Elderberry, elderberry, ederberry, POP!', which she accentuated with a loud clap. Naturally I blinked, and she announced 'Ha!, that means you're scared of elderberries!' with a big grin on her face. She sang it at me a few more times, but was unimpressed that I was able to keep myself (just, mind) from blinking. She turned to Nick and did the same, he of course blinked (really exageratedly though) and she was once again pleased with herself. I asked her where she learned the song, thinking that maybe she'd picked it up from the other kids in the school playground. 'Nowhere,' she answered, 'I just imaginationed it.' How sweet! I I think I may just use that myself sometime :-)



Speaking of funnies, I remembered whilst writing this post, that when we were in Devon, Nick spent the Sunday watching football (that's why we didn't go anywhere until the evening!) In an attempt to inspire some team loyalty in the kids he told them that they are 'Gunners' - that is, Arsenal Supporters. But no, the kids decided that they wanted to support Manchester United instead. Anathema! Jasmine, however, couldn't quite get her tongue around that one and so spent the week talking about 'Francessica Noonited'!

bye bye baths

My two school-aged children are also too big for baths now. It's showers from now on don't you know!

Friday treat

Matthias and Zoe came over this afternoon and the kids played, ate pizza (or rather chicken nuggets for Ben, which he then didn't eat either) and french fries, then ice-cream for dessert. Afterwards they settled in the living room with a big bowl of homemade popcorn and watched 'The Incredibles'. Well, some of the time they watched. And some of the time they bounced around the room. They were all just so excited that it was getting dark and they were all still together, with no-one being dragged off home!

don't they look entranced!

Earlier in the day......

Jasmine told me she wanted to go into class all by herself. Naturally I protested as I like kissing gher and hugging her and helping her to get settled. But Jasmine is a big girl now, who has older girls at playtime that 'look after me' as she puts it. Mummy is surplus to requirements it seems.......At least Ben still wants me to deliver him to class every morning. And I'm sure Jas will want me next time.....

Jasmine's 1st day at school

It was Jasmine's first day of school today and she was sooo excited. To be honest, I was quite nervous about it. I was even nervous taking Ben back for his first day since the holidays. I worried that he'd be able to pick up with his friends where they left off before the summer, that he'd settle back in ok overall. I needn't have worried, he was absolutely fine.
Last night I found myself going through Jasmine's school uniform trying out different combinations.....should she wear the pinafore and blouse? Or maybe her pleated skirt? And should she wear tights or socks? Her blue buttoned cardigan or her red zip up cardigan? I finally decided only this morning on the black pleated skirt, blouse, tights and red cardigan! I put some new hair clips into her pigtails - and asked her to promise not to take them out and lose them (I gave up years ago trying to put pretty clips in her hair as she always lost them). She promised to leave them in and I believed her, she seemed to be feeling really grown up about the responsibility of all this going to school thing. And she looked so grown up, yet so small all at the same time. It feels extra strange becaus now both of my children are school-aged. I almost have a case of the 'empty-nest' syndrome - strange to believe, but that's kind of how it feels.
When I took her this morning I expected her to be a little nervous, but she was her usual confident self. It didn't hurt either that most of her classmates were also at nursery with her. Like when I took her for her taster day, I stood around, hovering, feeling quite superfluous but not ready to say goodbye. She just joined a table of her friends nailing bits of wood into a cork board. I asked her if she needed me and was told, '"no". "you mean you don't want me to stay?" I asked, and got a resounding "no", followed by "but your still my mummy though!". That's good. I left for work feeling somewhat mollified.

After school I asked her how it went and she told me all about PE days and the fact that she 'got no homework'. She seems keen to have homework....I wonder how long that'll last! Ben was a little upset because he had gone looking for Jasmine at lunch so they could play together, but she didn't want to play with him, cause she wanted to play with her own friends! She also said that it was because he wanted to play tennis and she doesn't know how. As the weather was so beautiful we went to the park......

And after all the activity of the day, the desired result was achieved(and by 7:30 nonetheless!)....

Funny of the day: We had stir-fried aubergine with jasmine rice for dinner. Ben wasn't impressed (though I swear he has eaten this before and he did like it!), but Jasmine, aware that she gets a lot of praise for being so good at trying new foods and having a broad range of tastes, said she liked it. But it came with conditions: "I like it with lots of rice though, so I can't taste it" was her verdict. Well, what can I say to that?!