Monday, August 12, 2013

The weekend and projects

Hello! How was your weekend?
I loved hearing about everyone's DIY projects on my facebook page. 
My weekend was a mixture of lovely times with family and friends and some project frustrations. 


Lovely family times included doing our regular grocery shopping at Orange Grove Markets (including beautiful fresh heritage chicken eggs as our chooks have stopped laying), walks in the park, lovely meals together, sitting around chatting around our fire pit, visiting friends and their new puppy (who is our dog Charlie's younger sibling) - my kids were w..aa..yy over excited but he's so adorable that it's understandable, and also some gardening. I even went for a run. It's a start!




The project frustrations were nothing significant but enough to make things tiresome (and me a bit cranky!) 
  1. having trouble achieving an even sheen with ASCP Soft wax - I finally re-waxed the whole surface and it's looking good now.
  2. loosing one small but significant part of one handle on a whole chest of drawers which means that I am now searching desperately for a matching vintage handle or I will have to replace all the handles of the chest of drawers. I know I had to to start with and I thought I'd put them all together but now I am missing one part. grrr... I hate that I don't take more time to put things where they are meant to be. Who else is like this? Tell me I'm not the only one?
  3. That it took me 3 hours to cut out the fabric and lining for Sasha's Holy Communion dress. Each part of the skirt is cut on the bias with the fabric grain in a different direction so it was just tedious and fiddly to cut out. I will start sewing it later today and hopefully it will not be too difficult.
  4. Finding a veil (!!) for Sasha to wear to Holy Communion. The church has asked that the girls wear veils. I am struggling with my little girl looking like a bride! I found the ones in the photos below at Spotlight but none were suitable so I will go to a special Catholic shop in Leichhardt today to see if there is anything less bridal. I am not Catholic (my husband is) so I'm not really sure what is the norm for this event. If anyone has advice I'd love to hear it.




Last week I found this desk and I am picking it up today. I will be stripping (big job! That current finish is disgusting) and refinishing the top and painting the base for a friend. I am really looking forward to transforming this piece as it is a lovely shape but looking not too good now.



So wish me luck with the sewing and the dress. Sometimes I wonder why I DIY but hopefully everything turns out as planned. 


Fiona x

25 comments:

  1. Fiona,
    So sorry to hear of your project frustrations. Rarely have I done a project without some kind of glitch...and waxing has been a major stumbling point for me. You once sent me a note with some tips on waxing...which helped. However, I tried MissMustard Seed wax and am having better success. Not sure if they sell it over your way, but if so, perhaps it is worth a try.
    I can't wait to see your magic with your next project. Your transformations are always such an inspiration!
    Robin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks Robin, it's always the way with projects isn't it. I have also used MMS wax - will have to give it a go again. I have some still left over. have a good week
      Fiona x

      Delete
  2. Hi Fiona! Sorry to hear about thos drawers! How frustrating! We had Gabriella's Holy Communion in June, and she wore a veil, it was very simple, not as big as the one you've pictured, it had a comb that sat at the top of her head at the back and it was lovely and soft around her shoulders, it was a quite small in comparison to the one in your pic. I got it from Angelic Moment in Castle Hill. Good luck! Mx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Marita - thanks so much for that info. I found a little shop in Leichhardt today (of course). the woman had the most beautifully sewn garments I have ever seen. Dresses up to $4000. glad now I made my own! I think i'll make the veil and not worry too much about it. I have left over tulle from the dress lining ruffle so will sew that onto a comb. let's catch up when things calm down
      Fiona

      Delete
  3. Hi Fiona,do you ever stop...you seem to be on the go all the time.I love the idea of a little veil for your daughter and cant wait to see how the dress turns out-love dee x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks so much Dee, the dress is almost finished (i think)
      I almost never stop but I am thinking i need a break soon!
      LOL
      cheers Fiona

      Delete
  4. good luck with everything!!! i can't imagine seeing my daughter in a veil!!! AAAH!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know!! thanks Cassie - feeling slightly calmer today

      Delete
  5. Not sure where Catholics get their confirmation veils from. We aren't Catholic, but when the kids at my son's school do confirmation they don't wear dresses and veils. They wear unisex robes they throw over their clothes. Makes it easier for parents, but a lot of people miss doing the whole shebang. I think you will do a great job on the dress, can't wait to see it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phil did the same in dubbo with the cloaks -not so here at the church in Leichhardt. I think it's going to be pretty full on! Dress is coming on well - about to put the zipper in, then hem. - the fiddly bits
      have a good week
      Fiona

      Delete
  6. I have those DIY frustrations ALL the time! Sometimes I think I'm so excited to get five minutes to work on something that I jump straight in and loose the bits and pieces... or paint and then see that I should have noticed there would be massive bleeding and done and undercoat.

    Good luck finding a veil, and with that table! Looks interesting, but bet it will be beautiful in no time :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Man that is me too. just diving in and not being neat with my tools or supplies.
      The desk is coming along but difficult. Hopefully it will look a million times different
      Fiona x

      Delete
  7. I had those exact handles not long ago so I can see how it would be easy to lose a piece, very frustrating! Can't wait to see what you do with that desk, the shape is gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks Alison - the desk is more trouble than I expected. Ha ha when will I ever learn!

      Delete
  8. Your little Sasha looks radiant trying on veils. Our girls wore white party dress for their baptism, no veils. Whatever the tradition, we welcome her into the body and family of Christ.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Can relate to the losing a piece frustration. Had 7 handles back on a set of drawers this week and had one tiny piece missing for the last. Thankfully managed to find the lost piece after much searching. The dress looks like it is going to be lovely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't find my missing piece but luckily had two handles similar in my stash. i need to be more organised.
      Fiona x

      Delete
  10. Hi Fiona. You have been a busy girl! You live in a lovely part of Sydney - I lived for a short time in Haberfield. With regards the "veil" for Holy Communion - it is not supposed to be called a veil, merely a head-dress - white symbolising the Baptismal colour. Head-dresses used to be worn at Mass as a sign of respect and generally all girls/women wore them once they received Holy Communion at Masses thereafter. In today's world of glamour and materialism, families tend to go overboard dressing their daughters (and sons) for this ritual which is not necessary. The head-dress just needs to be simple and white. I hope this helps. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks Petra - that is a great help. I thought it must have been symbolising marrying the church or something! I have decided to just do some tulle from a comb at the back of her head. it will be very simple and the dress is coming along. I also love Haberfield. Such a beautiful suburb. thanks for commenting and being so helpful;
      cheers Fiona

      Delete
  11. I admire you taking on a holy communion dress, you're very clever. I bought my daughter's dress in a shop in Haberfield but I saw the other day a Holy Communion dress shop in Victoria Road in Drummoyne or Great North Road in Five Dock. Sorry I can't remember which!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks for that Becci! I will check them out. much appreciated.

      Delete
  12. Hi Fiona,
    The dress looks divine. I'm sure she will look beautiful. Good luck with the preparations.
    I have a few questions, I hope you don't mind. Where did you get the gorgeous crown shown in this post. Have noticed it before and loved it, is it made of plaster?
    Also, the little turtle pincushion, did you make it? My daughter's best friend is turtle crazy and they do a sewing class together - she would just adore something like that.
    And finally, in the post about the World's Most Magnificent Cabinet (KEEP!) you spoke about keeping some furniture in the house it's natural colour to anchor the room I think you said. I wonder if you could talk some more about this idea - would love to hear your thoughts. When you have spare time from all of your projects, that is!
    Thanks so much for all of your inspiration. LOVE what you do. That sideboard/TV cabinet was absolutely divine!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Mary, thank you for your lovely comment. The crown is a gelungan that I bought last year in Bali, it's the finial to a Balinese temple. I love them. It's terracotta and pretty brittle -I think just sun dried so i bought it home very carefully. the turtle was my mum's - it's just meant to be a toy but I like it as a pin cushion. Mum died last year and was an amazing sewer so I thought it was appropriate. I found it with mum's stuff so I'm not sure if she made it or bought it somewhere.
      I will talk about wooden furniture and darker pieces sometime soon. thanks for your interest
      Fiona x

      Delete
  13. I think the veil was a bit too big for her and you're right, it made her look like a bride. The halo type veil though is perfect for her since she is so lovely and has an angelic face. :)
    - LaceAndGraceVeils.com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to comment! Sorry if you have trouble commenting, you can always email me at lilyfieldlife@bigpond.com