NANNY and POPPY PROJECTS Archives - Page 3 of 6

Wotza Wednesday – Ribbon Storage

October 8, 2013 by Nanny 6 Comments

This week I have a question from Amy –

“Nanny what’s a good way to store my ribbons? I am so sick of them being jumbled in a mess!”

Well Amy, thank you for the question and I have to tell you, I have tried a number of things over the years from rolling them around strips of cardboard, rolling them around my fingers and putting a rubber band around them etc etc but when I took over the ‘dining’ room and converted it into my space, I wanted something simple, that stayed tidy and was easy to get at.

I guess the things you need to think about are:

How many ribbons are we talking about?

What space do you have?

How are they stored now?

What do you want of your storage? Decoration? Accessibility? Neatness? etc etc

I searched Pinterest for ideas:

Glass or plastic containers – they looked pretty but where would I put them and what if I want the bottom ribbon? Wouldn’t work for me…

Here

Hang them on a Pants Hanger – where would I hang the hanger? I don’t have a cupboard or a door. What if I wanted the middle one? Wouldn’t work for me ….

Here

Put them in a Basket – I had a basket but where would I put it? Wouldn’t work for me …

Here

Using house gutter – now that is interesting ….

Here

I had wall space ….. I had PJ and his skills …… he knew how to get to Bunnings…….

This is what we came up with:

I looked at a book stand my Dad had made me years ago

(Showing off my lovely diary created by the very talented Karen at Sugarbird Art)

and used the same principles – wooden ends and dowel.

PJ found these ends at Bunnings!!

I worked out where to put the dowel by sitting a ribbon reel on the board end and marking it! Too easy!!

We put a plain one in the centre for extra support and

you can see that I was too excited and didn’t let the paint dry thoroughly…. before I filled it up with my ribbons!!

I popped a hair elastic around the ribbons and I have never had it so good! (I didn’t even have to tidy them up to take these photos)

I am using my wall space, I can select which ever ribbon I like without worrying about any other, use it, slip the elastic back on and back into the rack! You can see on the left, that my rack will even hold small reels.

A perfect solution for me anyway! I hope this helps Amy and thank you for asking.

Don’t forget, if you have a ‘What’s a’ question for Nanny just email it to me at Nannynotes2u@gmail.com.

Until next time

Nanny xx

A Total Remake!

October 3, 2013 by Nanny 4 Comments

I thought I would share another Nanny and Poppy makeover today! In the furniture that we collected from my Grandmother’s house was this dressing table.

Unfortunately, it had a huge chip missing from the front corner of the top.

So, I had PJ sand a bit of the drawer front and wouldn’t you know – it was oak!!

The ends had oak ply inserts

So I started thinking……..

Remember the sideboard or buffet?

I looked at all the pieces of timber that made up the dressing table and looked at the sideboard and let my mind flow…

I looked at the design features :

i) the cut away corners on the top,

ii) the shaped thingies under the top (sorry about the technical talk) separating the

iii)drawers,

iv) the ply ends,

v) the ply doors and routed frames

and thought “We can do this!!”

I measured up pieces, drew piccies and ~~conned~~ asked my little brother to help out with his router and this is the result!

i) The cut away corners (that got rid of that chip!!)

ii) Shaped thingies to match – there I go with techie talk again

iii) and a drawer (I knew PJ could do it!!)

iv) the ply ends

v) Routing around the doors – yes, PJ had to make doors!!

and…. the total finish !!

I love the way PJ trusts me when I ‘come up’ with things and I love our little sideboard – what do you think?

Until next time

Nanny xx

Spin the Pins – Pattern Weights

July 11, 2013 by Nanny 6 Comments

When I decided I would like some pattern weights I found many ideas on Pinterest that other crafters had come up with like: some filled with Aquarium Gravel or others filled with Beans or Lentils, or others that used Washers and Covered Buttons!

I loved the ideas of pattern weights, but one thing worried me – when I wasn’t using them where would they be stored?

So I set my mind to the task and I love what I came up with and I hope you do too!

Nanny’s Magnetic Pattern Weight Flower Hanger

What you need:

Metal Washers x 7 x 32mm or 1and 1/4″ (approx)
Magnet x 7 x 2cm or 3/4″(approx)
Heavy Card to cut circles the size of the washers
Galvanised ant cap ( PJ and I went to Bunnings and this is all we could find to suit my plan) to cut 1 x 11cm diameter circle (this is a little larger than mine but will make it better!)
Buttons with a shank x 7
Fabric 1- enough to cut 6 circles (about 1 and 3/4″ diameter)
Fabric 2 – enough to cut a circle for the centre yoyo as above and enough to cut 2 x circles x 12cm diameter
Glue – PVA is fine

Let’s make it!

Make the hanger:
1. Gather the edge of the Fabric 2 large circles, put the card circle in before gathering edge over. Press the edge to form a crisp smooth edge. Remove the card.
2. Take one of the large fabric circles and the circle of tin. Cover the tin with glue and place it in the fabric circle, smoothing the fabric and gluing the fabric overlap to the other side of the tin circle.
3. With the other large circle, sew the rick rack around the edge, including a loop for hanging. Trim your card circle so that it now fits snuggly inside the rickrack and glue it down as well.
4. Glue the two large circles together and secure with pegs or hair clips till dry.

Make the weights:
1. Glue a card circle to each washer
2. Sew around the edge of the small circles and gather up to form a yo-yo, placing the washer/card into the yo-yo, washer side up, before gathering up the yo-yo and finishing off. Do this for the other outer yo-yos.
3. Take the small circle from Fabric 2 and make a centre yo-yo the same way.
4. Put glue on the back of the buttons and push firmly into the yo-yo till set. The shank will sit in the washer hole.
5. Glue a magnet to the back of each yo-yo.

I love the buttons I found (after a long search) They add a whole new dimension to the weights!

Use your Pattern Weights and enjoy!

When you are finished, simply return them to their spot on the hanger to create a lovely decoration till next time!

If you make a hanger following my tutorial, please add a photo to the Flickr page or send it to me at nannynotes2u@gmail.com

Until next time
Nanny xx

My Grandma’s Dresser

June 20, 2013 by Nanny 2 Comments

At about the time that we were doing the dining and lounge furniture, my much loved, bachelor Uncle passed away and PJ and I ended up with a garage full of my darling Grandmother’s furniture pieces.

Whilst Grandma owned nothing of real money value, I had expressed a desire to have one piece, if possible – Grandma’s ‘best’ dresser. This had sat in her lounge room and had housed all of her ‘special things’ – all of the little mementos accumulated while another of her sons toured the world in the Australian Navy, as well as photos of the rest of her family. Every Xmas, Dad, my brothers and I would go and decorate the lounge room for Grandma – she loved to have it nice for Xmas when other family members visited – so the crepe paper streamers, tinsel, balloons and Xmas baubles would all appear.

We would carefully wash and dust her precious items, photos of her other sons and their families, and the Council Certificates of War Service that hung proudly on the wall for three of her seven boys. We would polish her much loved ‘Alkoomie’ name plate at the front door, wash the windows etc etc.

Anyway, long story, but we ended up with the dresser – and all those wonderful family memories live on……

PJ knew how much it meant to me, so he virtually rebuilt the special dresser. It was hand built many years ago, and the years (especially since Grandma had passed away) had taken their toll, but the lovely Australian White Cedar timber responded to PJ’s loving care.

It now sits proudly in our family room, housing all of the games, puzzles and toys for our grandchildren to enjoy.

I know my Grandma would love that!

Until next time
Nanny xx

The New House

June 1, 2013 by Nanny 5 Comments

I mentioned in a recent post, that we had just shifted house when the photos were taken.

We had sold our home and moved here looking to buy. We were becoming more and more concerned as the market was changing and we couldn’t find a property that fitted our needs and budget. The agent finally showed us this house that, at the time, had not officially been listed.

It was tri-level. The front entry had a large bedroom/ensuite to the right and a double garage to the left and led to 8 stairs which brought you to the central level which was essentially a 2 bedroom home : kitchen, dining, family, laundry, bathroom, toilet and of course, 2 bedrooms.

Another 8 stairs then took you to the top level : lounge and main bedroom/ensuite.

I was really concerned about the stairs and my back but was also really mindful that we needed to find something – and soon. On the second inspection, as we were coming down the stairs, I spotted a wall hanging that said simply “Take Courage” – so I did! We purchased and moved in.

The house had been built in 1980. All the trims were dark brown and the walls a stark white. The floors in the entry, kitchen/family and bathrooms were tiled in highly decorative tiles and the rest of the house was covered in that ‘pub red’ carpet!!

The windows were heavily curtained and the light fittings were interesting to say the least.

I was not in a ‘good place’ emotionally at this time – I had finally realised, but not accepted, that I could no longer hold down a job with my chronic pain and fibromyalgia and things like that carpet really played with my mind -so to get on top of it, I set about making this house our home.

I can’t remember the exact order of progression of the transformation, but I have found some old photos and I will take you with me as I reminisce……. I will attempt to take a photo now of the same area as way of explanation.

The front entry: Yellow, patterned glass, heavy dark creamy/yellow and dark olive green tiles, dark brown trim around doors and on stairwell

We replaced the glass with glass bricks, re-tiled the floor in a terracotta tile and painted out the brown

We ripped up the carpet and found a lovely timber staircase which we decided to leave natural. The dark brown staircase is now white!

We jack hammered up all the tiles and put down a layer of marine ply and then a floor of 19mm black butt boards. This is much easier on my back and much warmer in winter and it looks gorgeous!!

The Kitchen: The kitchen was the original kitchen, finished in white laminate. The cupboards had white(now yellowed) plastic knobs and the bench tops were marked and stained. The splash back tiles were large, thick and brown. We didn’t want (or need) the expense of a new kitchen so decided to do a ‘simple’ update.

We replaced the tiles, curtains, knobs and bench tops Oh and the fluorescent light that you can’t see here.

Laundry: The laundry had a broom cupboard that had seen better days, so it went and was replaced.

I had the cabinet maker who redid the kitchen bench tops, build a cupboard to house the dryer and he finished it with the same blue laminex. I added a cupboard on the wall above.

The laundry floor tiles were the only tiles that we left – they were terracotta , matched in well and were the right height to match the new timber floor ie no step/ledge to trip on. We removed the swinging door – it took up so much room – and replaced it with a cavity slider.

Bathroom: Oh the bathroom…….

The bathroom was completely covered in the tiles you can see above. The huge, oval spa bath was chocolate brown as was the hand basin. The large mirror and all of the taps were gold and the soap tray in the shower and a large shelf beside the mirror and the towel rails were dark brown plastic. The vanity was a light olive green. (yeeew – the memories)

The spa bath had to go – I couldn’t reach the windows to open them without climbing into the bath! We gutted the bath room and I re-designed it to make better use of the space. The vanity moved to the opposite wall, the new spa bath is where the vanity was (and I can get to the windows!!) and the shower recess was enlarged. It is now large enough to accomodate a shower chair if required and can hold all the grandchildren at this stage!

We are currently doing a repaint throughout and the laundry,main bathroom and toilet are all that remain of the sandy colour – we have now painted in Antique White USA

The Toilet: I just HAD to show you the frog green toilet seat and cistern! (and more of those bathroom tiles!!)

Upstairs: We continued the timber floor up into the lounge area as well and we plastered over the exposed beams (they were rough, the spiders loved them and they were too high to reach)) and the large laminated beams. We considered keeping the laminated beams but it would have been a mammoth job to get them to a satisfactory state – it was easier to cover them!

The balcony

The dark brown,wooden railing structure needed to be replaced and we re-tiled the balcony, the entry and the back area that just happened to be painted with dark green cement paint (off the kitchen) all with the same terracotta tile. We also enclosed this area with Midgie mesh which has made it into a great space where we can have a BBQ, watch the golfers go by and ~~snigger~~ really feel for them when we hear the’ thwack’ that means a tree hit!

I hope you have enjoyed my little tour – I’m going to take my coffee out now to enjoy the wonderful back view across the golf course (and wait for the next thwack!!!)

Until next time

Nanny xx

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