MIAM

MIAM

Friday 19 February 2016

Five On Friday

We've had a few nice days this week, the sun has made an appearance and there have been glimpses of blue sky .....well, it's galvanized me into action.  I've been aware for a while that Chez Moi has been looking tired and was in need of a shake-up, (rather like the owner) a few changes here and there and a deep clean of several manky cupboards

Here are five things that will make a difference

1. Daffs
The addition of a 90p bunch of daffs always brightens the place up and gives a whiff of spring...what's not to like?




2. Dresser
I recently came across this dinky dresser in a damp draughty poly tunnel, it had a covering of moudly 'bloom' and was looking rather sorry for itself.  When the proprietor told me he only wanted twenty five quid for it I snapped his hand off. It's perfect for a narrow area in my kitchen/diner, I've had my eye out for a small dresser for years, but you know me, I didn't want to pay proper money for it.  It's drying off in my conservatory before I give it a paint job. I'm considering chalk paint which I've never used before, so if any of you have any tips or advice about it, I'll be glad to hear them.


3. Welcome sign
Last year my garden table fell to bits, well it didn't owe me anything...it was a Wilco job that I'd had for over ten years but I didn't want to chuck the wood away.  The table top now conceals my compost bin and I asked my dad to saw other bits into smaller pieces for me... he looked at me as if I was barking when I said I wanted to make a sign with it.  Here's what I did.





It's not quite finished yet, it needs sanding down around the edges and I may drill a couple of holes in the top and add some wire to enable me to hang it.  I painted the word with a tester pot of emulsion and then sanded over it...not bad for nothing eh?


4. Upcycle
 I've been trying to come up with ideas for my conservatory, so that it looks less like a dumping ground and more a chic garden room.... without spending a shed load of money.  Ha!   'Upcycle things you already have' thinks I,  so I took an old faded box frame of seed heads and updated the background paper with a wallpaper sample.  I've got more ideas (thanks Pinterest!) but until the dresser has been painted and moved, they'll have to wait.


5. Bulbs
 I bought two trays of bulbs in Aldi for a fiver and have planted them up in small baskets I already had.
Some will be given as small gifts when I go to lunch at friends homes, (I've several invitations looming)
the others will provide more spring colour and fragrance to Muddle Towers.

Hopefully these small things have a positive impact at home and help to create a cheerful, homely ambience.
   I can't tell you how glad I'll be to see the back of this winter and the interminable grey skies.
 I've a few other projects going on at the moment, some crochet and a small stitched bit of nonsense that I will show you another time.

 I'm linking up for the first time with Amy's Five On Friday 
  Have a wonderful weekend!
























22 comments:

  1. Five of the best there lovely! It's definitely that clearing, cleaning and tarting up time of year isn't it. Daffs are always a pick me up and I love the dresser-well rescued. I also love the welcome sign. Brilliant.
    Have a top weekend.
    xxx

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  2. Hello! I love that phrase "it doesn't owe me anything", I find I use it all the time! That dresser is an amazing find. I've heard mixed reports about chalk paint. Farrow & Ball is worth considering too? Welcome to Five on Friday :-) Alison xx

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  3. Hello! I love that phrase "it doesn't owe me anything", I find I use it all the time! That dresser is an amazing find. I've heard mixed reports about chalk paint. Farrow & Ball is worth considering too? Welcome to Five on Friday :-) Alison xx

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  4. Well done on the dresser find - £25 quid, an absolute bargain and with some chalk paint I'm sure it will look stunning! I agree with the daffs, they lift everything don't they? We have fields of them everywhere at the moment with lots of workers picking them ready for mother's day. I am sure at night there are a lot of mums already going out to pick them for themselves!! Have a wonderful weekend xx

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  5. So many things of lovely!!! I love your sign, a lovely welcome to your home!! Chalk paint works well from what I know of using it only once, so give it a go, I am sure your dresser will be great! Thank you so much for joining in the anniversary of Five On Friday, I really do appreciate it so much! Have a good weekend! xx

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  6. Oh My. It looks as though the Goddess of Good Deals is smiling down upon you. Lots of lovely stuff. Daffodils don't grow naturally here in California. It's just too darn warm and sunny. Drat. So I have to pay quite a few pennies more than you do for them but it is well worth it.

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  7. I love the new dresser you bought. The curved top is so pretty. Maybe you will share a picture of it after you have it painted? Spring flowers are always a joy to see blossom. Wishing you a wonderful weekend, Pat :)

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  8. Feel free to head on over and have lunch, the idea of getting given a basket of flowering bulbs appeals to me!! Dafs, I love Spring flowers, but I will h ave to wait quite some time before I see mine again, and the chickens have been scratching in the patch the bulbs are sleeping in. Cannot wait to see what you do with the dresser, good score there.

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  9. Overwritten up a few posts about chalk paint. Have used it a lot over the years. My favourite and lesser known chalk paint is called Autentico. It's totally superb. I much prefer it to the Sloan range which I find too thick.

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  10. I really enjoyed this blog, so nice and cosy and Bright :-)!
    Love from Mirjam.

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  11. Hello Fiona - visiting from Five on Friday again, although I missed last week. Your home looks beautiful and bright and I like all your creative ideas and new makes. We have the same dresser! Mine was inherited and I was fed up with the brown wood so got some Annie Sloan chalk paint (Paris Grey) and then waxed it with the special wax. I've done the same with other pieces of furniture. If you want to you can click on my side Labels for "furniture makeover" and you can see for yourself. Have a good weekend!

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  12. Daffs and spring bulbs are such a pleasure at this time of year and bring son much joy. I love the dresser, it is such a pretty shape and hope to see a picture of it when it is finished. The welcome sign is a brilliant idea and think I may have to hunt in the garage for a bit of old timber. Have a good weekend.

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  13. Well, you've cheered me up! You are so clever with your sign and your upcycled picture and your daffs - very inspiring. And your entry does look welcoming, with or without the sign. The dresser was a great find - I hope you'll show us the finished product/project when you're done with it.

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  14. Wow! What an inspiring post!
    Love that you've saved your Wilkos table and made it into something pretty and the dresser is fabulous! xxx

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  15. Oh yes, daffodils are a reward for making it through winter. They're like sunshine in flower form. Always welcome. Fabulous upcycling there with your welcome sign and I reckon you're going to transform that dresser into a thing of beauty. My house looks a bit tired now you come to mention it, I might have to take inspiration from you, you clever thing. Xxx

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  16. Worth holding out for a dresser, looks like a perfect size and shape, and what a steal! Only used chalk paint once and painted it straight on, which I think is what you're meant to do? Was less faffy. Love all your clever upcycling - the table sign is inspired! x

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  17. So many great ideas for sprucing up our homes as we look forward to spring. Loving your bulbs...they always make a spot cheery. And your Welcome sign is terrific...especially since it was free!
    Mary Alice

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  18. I popped over to see Linda P's same dresser that she painted with chalk paint. It looks amazing! I think you should definitely give it a go with your dresser. The Welcome sign looks great, especially when it was all free. You've added such nice little accents to your pretty home :)
    Wendy

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  19. Nice use of the old wood! I like the idea of bulbs in a basket, I have baskets, just need some bulbs.

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  20. You're on fire, love! Look at all that creativity and skill, I love it! Can't go wrong with Spring bulbs and a bit of using what you already have. Mind you, I can also see just why you wanted that dresser - I love the arched top, isn't that lovely? Great job with the welcome sign and picture too. Clever girl! xxx

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  21. You've been busy Fiona. The arrival of spring will do that to a person. And you've struck gold with the dresser! Looking forward to seeing what you do with it.
    Amalia
    xo

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  22. I love the shape of your dresser but I'm afraid I'm not a fan of chalk paint! Looking forward to seeing what you do! xx

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