The problem with having about 40 ongoing projects is finding the time to document them all, something i enjoy doing here for interested others to but also as a kind of ledger of my (at times frenetic) activity. I thought, maybe if i group them by time, my blog output might improve. So here’s what springs has brought to The Gardens.

I bought this antique footstool at my first auction experience in Bo’ness. I’d say it was a classic first time buyer’s piece – paid too much, not in great nick, and sort of regretted since. However in Hailes Street it worked well as a wee perch for little people if they had a TV breakfast at the coffee table. Sadly the fine beadwork didn’t stand the test of time, and Kath and I spent more time hoovering them up than possibility benefitting from them through decorative appreciation and foot support. The new living room here appears to be moving in a pink direction so i decided to reupholster it and cover up the tired red.

I realised that this fabric is another Sanderson print, for which i seem to possess a homing device. I purchased a black binbag-full of it at a Stockbridge ‘colonies’ sale for £1, not knowing it was high quality stuff which had originally been made into a sofa slipcover. I combined it with some pink velvet, and  linen piping. Then its a simple matter of attaching it on using a staple gun (strictly speaking, not an upholstery technique, but a great shortcut.) The stool works well as a mate for the two window chairs.

Sticking with Sanderson, my vision for the living room, with it’s wonderful new sofa.com, is to create a laid-back but traditional floral feel. Here’s another Sanderson remnant i picked up in a charity shop.

Yes, i know there are too many cushions already, but i do have a longstanding penchant which sadly cannot be assuaged by mere logic alone.

Not satisfied, I made another one with the leftovers from the footstool.

I make most of these kinds of things at sewing night on Mondays with Kath. We used to do it at Hailes Street and have worked, at times against the odds, to keep it a regular commitment.

Vintage maps are fast becoming the must-have decorative item these days. Lucky for me, my husband loves maps so this latest wee project is something we can both enjoy. I found this 1961 map of Northern Ireland in a lesser visited but very delightful charity shop in Leith called St. Columba’s, where my pal Jules used to find all sorts of envy-inducing things when she lived nearby as few years ago. I handed over my 50p (everything is 50p…apart from on that day this rare Piquoware kettle at £65, which I unwillingly resisted). The frame came from the salvage yard, an ugly gold affair which i reincarnated with a lick of white paint. The map was pretty badly creased so I spray-mounted it onto the board. Whilst Malkie took great pleasure examining the alternative driving roots to the M1 which wasn’t then built, and the source of the River Bann, I admired my £5.50 design piece now adorning the hallway!

The other major work of April was re-arranging the kitchen to accommodate a dining table in the window. After a long but futile search for the usual rickety old victorian, turned leg, pine affair, I happened upon this Ikea offering. Having rid myself of nearly every other gratuitous Ikea piece within the house (apart from the actual kitchen, obviously!), it was with reticence that i went to buy this one. However i reasoned that it was the perfect size, was sturdy, had a mid-century feel, and an interesting bamboo top. One flat-pack later, and we were sunning ourselves at breakfast, feeling quite pleased that sacrificing the beautiful handmade oak shelves originally in their stead to the bedroom had been worth it. I have a couple fo Ercol chairs which bring it more towards the mid-century look. This week i am going to be pushing out the boat and painting the chairs scarlet red. I usually opt for fairly safe greys and whites for furniture painting, but at the risk of an entire house full of French Grey, i’m taking the plunge…