Lamp Upcycle

I took this old lamp I used to use as a prop in  my old shop out of the depths of the shed a wee while back with the full intension of giving it an upcycle...in fact now i'm not working on Superscrimpers this side of Christmas ive gone crazy crafting mad and am upcycling the back log of gems screaming out for love ive been collecting over the summer!....I promise ill blog it

 

So this is what ive been up to...starting with the "old lamp".

So, i super simply slapped on a couple of coats of regular household chalk based emulsion in tapestry green then a little varnish, covered the shade in a flippin adorable floral fabric, Cath Kidston for Ikea, cutting out the sections and sticking on using fabric glue.... DONE... so easy and looks a beaut under my stairs next to the toy chests/suitcases.



I LOVE a bit of upcycling and still to this day get a feeling of utter smugness with every home make!

 

HAPPY UPCYCLING!

 

Much love x x

About me and my little past...

I was told that i don't really give much up...about the 'real me'.
Well a little story about me (there is so many, not so interesting ones but a few 'grounding ones')
I usually keep this very close to my chest but i shall divulge this, mainly to expose this 'illness' and hopefully give a little hope to those in a similar situation...

I have had since i was about 18 a tumour in my pituitary gland (in my brain) it is (touching wood) benign and staying put, i was told that i would always find it hard to have children...this took its toll on me emotionally for so many years and stole waves of my tears, i honestly thought there was no hope, any road with drugs and the magic of the wonderful doctors at the Royal South HANTS hospital i managed to conceive my first...shortly followed by my second!

                                                                           

It all started when i kept on getting head aches (bastard head aches) that would just stay....and i was getting symptoms of a pregnant woman...mood swings, thick head of hair e.c.t....BUT i couldn't put an ounce of weight on!! So....i shipped myself off to the doc's for what i thought would be a diagnosis of being under weight and a smoking habit of 30 a day (i was a wisp of a girl) plus maybe just having my dads teeny stealth thinny thin genes!
I had a blood test, i was told 'they would not rule out cancer'....words that will still haunt me to my grave
I had a brain scan...MRI.... its was odd but ok
I then met a specialist who told me i had a tumour in my pituitary gland....... BENIGN!!! Holy shit was i relieved and they chucked me on a course of drugs....BUT i would  find it super hard to have sprogs and would more then likely only conceive with IVF, so after what seemed a life time of 'trying' Mr G and i looked into IVF... now.... it happens allot, apparently, you can't have kids yet so, look into IVF, buy a new extremely expensive car, buy a house on a street that's known as 'dead mans shoes', fill it with a load of shit that causes you a plethora of debt THEN...oh look what happened....the test says YES....YES....bloody YES!
So, 10 years along i have been blessed with 2 beautiful babies.... and I'm honestly aware that I'm totally lucky and lucky beyond words!

I know for a fact that there is so many woman that are at the cusp of this diagnosis and need to know that there IS hope and 'normality' can still happen.

Here's to all you beautiful woman who may be struggling to have family, i hope my wee story brings you a little hope, if you want to chat.....please do and if you want to know more the link is at the bottom.

Much love x

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Brain/Typesofbraintumours/Pituitarytumours.aspx

TWINKLE SHOES!!!!!!!

I popped a picture on Twitter @ the stunning Sophie Ellis-Bextor this week of my Glamtastic shoes i custom....anyway, cutting a long story short i have been asked to tell all how i do it...it's so so so easy, costs next to naff all, will take you an evening and looks AMAZE!!!!!

So here goes......

 

 

TWINKLE TOES AVEC FABBO FAIRY FEET!

What you need:

*Fabric covered shoes (Patent and shiny just don't seem to look as nice)

*Fabric glue (i use Hi-Tack glue as that seems to work the best for me and isn't uber expensive)

*DIAMONDS! I get mine from my local fabric shop for 99p for a handful if you dont have a local get eBaying!

*Wooden nail stick (Superdrug or chat up your local nail bar for a free one!)

 

 

What you do:

Now it all depends on how POW your feeling, do you want diamond smoothered heels...heels and wedge or THE WHOLE SHABANG!

Start at the edges and glue an area about the size of a pound coin, wet the end of the wooden stick (this makes picking up the twinkles easier) dab a diamond from your pile and pop it on the glue...keep going until you have a headache from all that sparkle!

I use about 5 bags usually.

Leave to dry over night and wear with pride!

 

 

Now then....i'm not being funny BUT these little beauts all hand done by my me with tres love look allot like a certain designer and fashionolas dream shoes begining with a G and ending with a A... G*NA.... they wont cost you £600 but they will cost you about a FIVER! NICE!

 

 

Now flee.....flee to your local craft shops for glue and sparkle...and take this cry with you "POWER TO THE CRAFTER!"

Much love x x x x

Homemade washing powder

I really should have put this post up a couple of Wednesdays ago as the number of people who have asked me for the recipe since i tipped it on Superscrimpers is HUGE! so I'm sorry for leaving it a week and a half but here goes......

Now then, now then, this is a REALLY great and cost effective alternative to regular washing powders, not only does it cut out unnecessary chemicals found in regular detergents, but when also used in conjunction with an energy efficient appliance, makes for a more ecologically sound alternative.

Leading Bold lavender washing powder is £3.75 kg Mine just near a quid 50 for the same and personally i think its better, AND leaves you feeling rather smug too!

What you need:

1 100% vegetable oil unscented soap I get mine from Waitrose for (£1.66 for 4 bars)

250 mls worth Washing Soda Crystals

Essential Oil

A large pan

What you do:

Using a large pan with about 1 pint of water and bring to the boil.

Whilst the water is being brought to the boil, completely grate the bar of soap add this to the boiled water

 You must make sure that all the soap has been completely dissolved before taking off the heat.

Add 250 mls (made up to around 1 pint with water) of the washing soda crystals and around 20 drops of your chosen essential oil.

Bere in mind that lavender essential oil has been linked to hormone disruption in young boys and possibly pregnant women. (I never knew this before SuperScrimpers…no wonder my boys are crazy….i was mad on the stuff before i knew!) so i use lemon oil.

This will be more gloppy then powdery..so dont worry...

I would love to hear how you get on.....please see my post on homemade fabric softener too...UTTER SMUGGNESS FOR ALL!

TTFN x x x

Free wild flowers

As you may know I'm a bit of a hedgerow foraging fanatic!

My sister Emma (Below left... has an on par obsession to mine for foraging and scrumping) and i sent ourselves skipping down the lane with scissors swinging from our pinkies and wicker baskets in our paws, ready to find some special wild flowers to adorn our diners!

We found our hooters being punched by the pong of a giant Lilac Bush (or Syringa vulgaris....just to impress you!) they are AMAZING flowers, i remember calling them Butterfly bushes as a sproglett as they attract swarms of beautiful insects.....any road just pick as many as you can carry (don't worry as long as your not trespassing its not illegal) and shove them willy nilly in a vase/jug/bucket.

......now go, go on, get out foraging for Lilac right now....and do NOT let me darn catch you in Waitrose buying posies when natures florist gives us such a beautiful bounty this time of year!

TTFN x x

Elderflower Champagne

I've been off the radar for a bit as I've been working, planning and frantically thrifting for series 3 of Superscrimpers!

So on i go....... I love love love Elderflower, i love to drink it, eat it, sniff it, id roll in the stuff if i could, i simply cant get enough of those little white flowers for the short little snippet of the year it gifts us with its sickly sweet pong!

Ive been heckled to put up this recipe that my family and i use for THE most beautiful Elderflower Champagne........I know i know all the flowers have now gone...although if you are a true Elderholic like me you would have frozen some flowers to capture everlasting gloriousness of those little scrumptious blooms! SO..... please print off this page and keep it safe until next June, as soon as June hits, go out following your nose, sniffing the air for a sweet tea smell that makes your nostrils fizz when you shove your hooter into your newly found Elderflower bush THEN DON'T TELL A SOUL.....THAT SHRUB IS ALL YOURS! (well as long as it is actually on land that you have permission to pick from....if you get the nod, scrump away!)

This recipe makes about 4 litres, I'd suggest either using plastic screw top bottles (and let out some gas now and then) or those glass pop top bottles, and i always suggest keeping these outside or in the shed, while they are fermenting the can get a little excited and POP...i keep mine under the garden table...

Ingredients

4 litres hot water

700g sugar

Juice and zest of four lemons

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

About 15 elderflower heads, in full bloom

A pinch of dried yeast (you may not need any but i always have had to use it)

What you do

* Put the hot water and sugar into a large container (i use my sons toy bucket after its had a swish of fairy liquid)and stir until the sugar dissolves, then top up with cold water so you have 6 litres of liquid in total.

* Add the lemon juice and zest, the vinegar and the flower heads and stir gently.

*  Cover with clean muslin (I use old shiny clean muslin squares from when children where babies) and leave to ferment in a cool, airy place for a couple of days.

* After a couple of days have a peep and if it's not becoming a little foamy and obviously beginning to ferment, add a pinch of yeast.

*  Leave the mixture to ferment, again covered with muslin, for another four days.

*  Strain the liquid through a sieve lined with the muslin and decant into sterilised bottles

*  Seal and leave to ferment in the bottles for at least a week before serving, chilled. The champagne should keep in the bottles for several months and gets better by the week. don't forget DO NOT to store it in the house...a sticky champagne mess after one has popped is not a nice thing to be cleaning up.

If you cant wait until next year, pop over mine, i have 26 litres of champagne bubbles ready for the ice!

TA TA!

Homemade fabric conditioner...super quick!

We all know that washing powders and conditioners cost heaps...its an expense that we could all do without...but just cant do without!

Here's a way to make your own at a fraction of the price, its kinder to your purse, kinder to your skin and kinder to the environment....WINNER!

What you need

* 3 cups water

* 2 cups white (clear) vinegar

* 1 cup of any (i use Superdrugs value brand) hair conditioner

What you do...

Firstly a cup is a cup, if all the ingredients in a recipe are measured out in ''cups'' then you can literally use a cup, so no need to go out buying any measuring equipment for this one!

Pop all your ingredients into a bowl and give i a really good whisk until is all combined, funnel it into a bottle or pour it into a storage pot and use it in exactly the same way you would your regular (a billion times more expensive) fabric conditioner! How easy was that!

THIS WILL NOT MAKE YOUR CLOTHES SMELL OF VINEGAR....PIGGY PACKED PROMISE!

TA DA!

Now go wash and be happy! x

Free Wallpaper Samples

I AM LOVING a bit of free sample wallpaper....i'm smack bang in the middle of building a collection of FREE samples to make a floral patchwork wallpapered wall......so OBSESSIVELY IN LOVE!

Here's a few ideas to set you in the mood for a bit of wallpaper sample thrifting.....maybe see you tomorrow in the home section of Cath Kidston! ;0) *Reaches for large shades and head scarf*

..............and maps.....old maps!!!!! Oh the charm!!!

TTFN x x

Quick kid proof upcycle

I've been looking for 6 non matching all wooden chairs for AGES so i can paint them in my long standing obsession (Annie Sloan chalk paint) can i find any.......... NO!

So until such time i find some i'm just going to have to make do and mend...i did a little upcycle that's perfect if you have fabric seats and kiddies, pets and/or are ridiculously darn clumsy with red wine (side eyes)

I used mismatched oil cloth (wipe clean heaven) found in the bargain bin in Cath Kidston, stapled the fabric on to the seats making sure the edges are folded neatly. Easy as that, took me literally 20 minuets and has certainly stopped my eye from twitching at all those stains!

In the mean time...if you happen to see 6 pretty awesome wooden dining chairs for sale/swap/trade/steal .......just hola! 

Ta Ta x x
 

 

Bathroom cabinet made SUPER EASY!

Howdy!
Sorry I've been off the radar for a couple of weeks.....I've been giving my house decorating a real full on attack while slotting a bit of skiing (or falling with no style) in the middle.


I've managed to build up a plethora of upcycling goodies of late and I'll be blogging about them, so keep 'em peeled.


First things first....


A quickie upcycle for you


BATHROOM CABINET CHEAPY CHEAPNESS!

 I've been hunting for a couple of cabinets from car boots, charity shops the tip shops for yonks. FINALLY i thought i had better chuffing well put my years of upcycling to good use, get off my ample bottom and make some!


As i have made it pretty clear i have an unnatural love for anything wicker, i have it hidden and stacked up in every crevis of my house, any road, i took two (rescued from Little Arthur's AKA Thumpers room).

 One had a bit of a dodgy lid so i ripped that off and got painting with some white bathroom paint, fitted a little shelf (some sweet Cath Kidston packaging i just couldn't chuck), a pretty curtain (used from some left over window dressing courtesy of the alps.....we'll chat about that next time)
and some little "stuff" pots in the form of vintage jelly molds. You can go to the bother of putting lots of shelves ect in but as im a little lazy and impatient so i use little Tupperware boxes...works a treat! TA DA!!!!

 



Hope you like, im super happy with them and they cost me NAFFIN!!!!

                                                         XXX HAPPY FRIDAY! X X X

Bleach Print T-Shirt MOUSTACHE STYLE!

I've been meaning to give bleaching a t-shirt a go since i saw it being gloriously "tipped" by Gem on Superscrimpers, then a couple of days ago my Niece was doing the same thing for her home work ( i know... home work's got cool!) So ive decided to give it a whirl...


Of course the I LOVE MOUSTACHE thing isn't just a craze for me *side eyes*, i DO love a moustache, my Daddy (ledge') has a moustache and I LOVE MY DADDY!


So heres what Clairey did next;


you will need;


* A dark color tee

* Card

* Scissors

* Chalk or a fabric pencil

* Bleach

* Cotton bud

* An old magazine or newspaper

* Fabric pen (optional)


What you do;


* Lay the t-shirt flat

* Cut out a template using the card.

* Mark your motif on your tee with the chalk.

* Pop your magazine or newspaper inside the t-shirt to stop the bleach printing on the back

* Carefully paint the bleach on to your tee with the cotton bud.

* Now wait a bit...i takes a while.....maybe take some tea!

* When its reached the color you like, fling it strait in the wash.

* If you like when its out and dry, add little detailing with a fabric pen...up to you!


TA DAAAAAAAAA!!!


I'm off the look after Mr G, he had too many Ribenas last night x..............

There he is look...say hi Daddy! x

Vintage China Jewellery!

IT'S UP!

After toying with the idea for months of making my oh so much loved vintage china wearable, ive finally done it!

These little beauties look utterly fantazmic for summer and I CANT WAIT to team mine up with my little white vintage dress, Mums snake belt and my old lady chic loafers! BYE GUM ILL FEEL SNAZZY!

I've listed a handfull of my collection and they are beautifully quirky and scrummy! Im particually in love with the blue poppy bracelet and the yellow flower ring!

Here's the link.....  https://marketplace.asos.com/seller/vintagefairy/collection

Any hoo, i hope you approve.... ill be listing more in the next week!

Off to take a late dee caff Tea Pig x x x

Baking with Archie - Yogurt cake

I'm possibly running away from my blog genre with this post but I just have to share!
My son loves cooking with me and at any given chance will drag his chair across my slate kitchen tiles *eye twitches* to help me bake and cook (Archie style)
I stumbled upon this recipe that literally can't go wrong (i say this as i'm crunching on egg shell) and is perfect for any budding baker to cook all on their own, it's called Yogurt cake as that's what's in it but also the main ingredients are weighed out using the tubs.....hence it's perfect for mini bakers!


You will need;

2 tubs whole milk yogurt (individual portion sized, about 126-175g each) fruity, non fruity it doesn't matter.

2 eggs

2 tubs of caster sugar

1 teaspoon of Vanilla essence

Just under one tub of vegetable oil

4 tubs of plain flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tubs of fresh or frozen fruit or even choccy chips (optional but Archie used fresh blueberries and it was delicious!)

What Archie did next (with a little help from mummy with the hot bits);

Preheat oven to 190 degrees Celsius, grease a loaf tin or 9-inch round tin with a little veg oil.

Pop all of your wet ingredients in a bowl and give it a good mix then add your dry ingredients and mix again, Archie found using 4 spoons and a triceratops very helpful in aiding mixing, and then add your fruit or choccy....or a tub of both!

Tip all the batter into your tin and (with help from a chosen big kid) pop it in the oven for 35 mins, possibly an extra 5 mins if it fails the knife test

Finished!!!

I've vowed to let Archie take control of the kitchen every Saturday morning to whip up a storm.....so watch this space!

TA TA from Archie Bear x x x

I'm so sorry for forgetting to take a picture of the finished article....I'll try harder next time!

Share a little inspiration and happiness...

If you know me, have met me, chatted to me or have read my blog, you will know that chintzy china tea sets make me swoon!
I have been working my size 6 socks off on a very secret and yet to be revealed jewellery range, so I thought I would let you have a little sneaky peaky into what has been giving me MASSES of inspiration... I promise in the mean time to carry on working on my new deliciously delectable jewellery range, so it's ready to adorn your limbs sooner then you can say "one lump or two"
Now lets see if we can get you heading for your tea sets with this little bit of high tea heaven.....

x x x

Vintage Tea For Me!

Got a text from my friend that read; "mum has two tea chest boxes. Any good to you for creative purposes?" ..... Eeeeeeeeer does a Bear jobby in the woods!?

They where delivered quick sharp to my front door, upon seeing them I wizzzzzed with excitement (much to my friends step dads amusement.....yet another gentle fellow who doesn't get my love for anything knackered/vintage/old/retro and or grotesquely unique!)

I've been looking for a "something" for the wall behind the table for ages and the giant pile of wicker just wasn't cutting it!

So as from this day forward my "new" 1973 Assam tea boxes abode in there new home, looking splendiferous, smothered with original markings and instructions..... I LOVE THEM!

{ a sneaky beaky told me they know where there may be more...I have no more room so I'll happily divulge if your interested! }

TA RA x x x

Vintage cake stand lovage!!

I have a love for all things china and all things vintage, it's part of my "old lady chic" mentality!
One of the first things I upcycled for hard cash was a three tier cake stand made from vintage tea plates (before they became all the rage!) they are so charming and super sweet and they look adorable plonked on the table, piled high with cakes and finger sarnies accompanying afternoon tea and Elderflower Champagne (my own homemade hooch)
I sell them by the truckload to blushing brides over the wedding season and it's such a joy knowing they are attending someones life changing day!
I was asked to get making this weekend by a very special friend who wants to use one in the celeb gifting lounge at London Fashion Week (Giggles like a girl with delight!) although it has to be 4 tiers (I'm kicking myself for never doing this before) and I'm so impressed I shall be making more for your summer teas! (although you can't tell my friend....she may want a cut!)

I'm now off the watch myself embarrass myself on Superscrimpers!

X x x

One for the girl who has way too many rings!

I don't know about you but i have a RIDICULOUS amount of statement and sentimental rings and for practical reasons (like accidently poking your children in eyes and getting them stuck in your hair) they never seem to see the light of day for at least 6 months at a time...


Anyway, long story short i was having a bit of a clear out and came across masses of my much loved statement rings. So im gazing at them, piled high on the dresser twinkling gloriously in the winter morning light, i was about to brutally shove them back in to the black whole that's my dressing table then thought, how lovely it would be if i could actually get some use out these old beauties.


Then it hit to me....why not pay ode to my other jewelry obsession (statement necklaces...ooooooo i do love a statement necklace!)


So heres what Clairey did next...........


You will need:

* A bunch of your statement rings....as many as you like....GO CRAZY IF YOU WILL!

*A chain, necklace or ribbon


What you do;

* Shove them all on the necklace in a random fashion.



DONE.............EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZY!

Please feel free to a moustache on the dodgy looking bird in the photo


TA TA x x x x x

One mans trunk is this girls treasure!

Yesterday was terrifically "tip shop Wednesday" now, to be 100% honest 50% of the time I'm well and truly disappointed and find diddly squatt BUT yesterday i hit the jackpot twice!!!


Some may and some may not know this about me but i have an absolute obsession with vintage luggage cases, i literally have them in every room, piled higher then my nose, filled with an array of "gotta keep junk".


Well i happened to see these giant trunky beauties hidden away in the corner of the tip shop storage unit...i look and see and £20 sticker on both "THATS £40, IM NOT HAVING THAT" i utter to my Daddio (whom 5 minuets previous I'd happened to bump into at the tip, which added fuel to my suspicions of where i get my pirate scavenging genes from!)




So..... i haggle, then haggle some more, flash a smile, even call one of them James Bond, FINALLY walking away bagging them both for £5 each. 75% discounted......... BARGAIN!


They have been spit spot cleaned and now house more of my every growing families toys and look tremendous...what do you think??


So now its got me thinking....i don't have any more room for any more of my oh so loved cases maybe i could UPCYCLE future luggage finds!............



MR G HAS JUST ROLLED HIS EYES IN DISPARE

TTFN x x x