Resolute in my Resolutions!

I don’t usually do new years resolutions.

When I do, they are never made with very much conviction.

But on Dec 31 2012 I made six. I numbered them, put them out there on Facebook and meant it.

1. Make

2. Thrift

3. Never spend more than I have to.

4. Learn something new as often as possible

5. Say what I think more often and bottle up less

6. Accept that you don’t always fit in and be ok with that.

When I set these down I had not decided to start writing and I had not really planned how I was going to achieve these vague, open-ended resolutions. But I did know that I was going to do it.

The decision to start writing a blog a couple of months later made sense as it covered all the bases.

At first people I knew and loved sort of looked askance at me, not really sure what I was doing or trying to achieve. In fact I wasn’t really sure myself and felt almost apologetic when I posted my early pieces.

I am a can’t do kind of girl. I have always tried to find reasons not to do things, always worried about how I will be judged and always assuming the worst.

Blogging has opened my eyes to the fact that, maybe I do have something small to give. That people are not as quick to pass judgement as I always expect and that I do have a voice and an opinion. It has given me a confidence in interacting with people that I had somehow lost years ago.

My world has opened  in ways that I hadn’t expected. I have made more new friends in the last 12 months than I have made in the last 12 years and I have re-connected with old acquaintances.

Weirdly coming to accept that I don’t quite fit has kind of freed me of an over cautiousness and awkwardness that has held me back in the past.

This year has been a tough year but blogging has given me a structure, a focus and forced me to be positive where I would otherwise feel stunned into silence.

As for learning something new as often as possible….

I have taught myself to do this for a start. Just working out how to add a link to a post was a challenge to begin with. But I have done it.

I have also learned that no one is perfect. Kirsty Allsop hit an all time low when she tied dyed pants last week.

Leather look jeans are not comfortable. I need to sit down more than I used to so wearing trousers that don’t allow you to do this is folly. Exchange for a sensible jumper.

I have learned that I am a very bad waitress.

I have taught myself to upcycle a Bureau and made over a desk for The Bo. I have re-purposed old bedding

I have made gifts of chocolate and roses and maps.

This blog won’t win awards or  change anyones life. It is not the biggest or the best but it is mine and I love it.

All in all I think I have achieved what I set out to do on 31st Dec 2012. Lets see what 2014 brings.

If you have taken the time to read, I hope you enjoyed it and thankyou for stopping by

Merry Christmas and a Happy new year XX

 

Re purposed Vinage Maps Revisited

In a previous post https://hannahphilpott.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/vintage-map-re-purposed/ I talked about how I had found a very appropriate vintage map and given it a new lease of life as a gift for Dad.

The wooden coasters have sat staring at me. They didn’t look finished but I hadn’t quite decided what I was going to do. I knew that they shouldn’t be actually used as coasters. It would be a real shame for them to end up with coffee rings on them. But what to do?

In true Blue Peter style it was time to bust out the string, staple gun and tape measure.

I measured the coasters so they were and equal distance apart,  laid my string along each side of the back and then fired in some staples. Very satisfying. My staple gun is my new best friend

There we have it. Re purposed map for Fathers Day on a shoe string (sorry), white parcel string.

Vintage Map Re-Purposed

Dad’s favourite place to be is Snowdonia. My favourite place to be is Snowdonia.

It is its wild beauty, remoteness and unforgiving landscape that won my heart before I could even talk.

We always went there for our holidays and even as a child, I can remember as we would drive across the border all my anxieties would just melt away.

In the middle of nowhere we could just be ourselves. I never worried about what I was wearing or what other people might be saying or thinking.

We had so much more freedom, running around like feral children across the ancient slag heaps, exploring old ruined farmhouses and factories. Spending hour upon hour in the stream fishing, skimming and building dams.

All actually really dangerous, but we just loved it. It is the only part of the world where I feel completely comfortable in my own skin.

Over years I have gone there when I needed to recuperate and to take stock. I return feeling cleansed and re-invigorated.

I have never asked him but I think those things are why Dad loves it too.

So when I found a 1966 vintage ordnance survey map of Snowdonia on a flee market, I just had to get it.

I’ve had it for a few weeks now but couldn’t quite decide what i was going to do with it. I knew in some way or another it would be Dad’s Christmas present.

In the end I just decided to simply frame the beloved area.

I had plenty of map left over so I decided to pick out a few other favourite places and Mod Podge them to these lovely wooden coasters.

I think I might somehow string these together so that they can be hung one above the other on the wall.

So the map cost me £2.99, the coasters cost £1.99 and the rest of the stuff I already had. I think this makes a pretty thrifty but very personal gift. Hope he likes it.

Flee Market Treasures

This is my first free Saturday in over a year and after a disastrous trip the cinema with the family Mr B has taken the children swimming.

Lovely little markets are always on Saturdays which is never any good to me as I am usually working. I feel like I always miss the little treasures. So as I am on a mini sabbatical I took myself off down the local flee Market. It is only on once a month so by the time the next one comes around I will probably be back at work. Bittersweet!

It was right up my street. Lots of tables full of little treasures and vintage pieces. It is easy to end up spending a lot without realising it, so armed with only £10 I had a rummage.

I managed to get myself a large embroidery hoop for £2 which I will use as a picture frame. A little Vogue postcard for 40p which will go perfectly in my kitchen when I frame it.

Lastly I found a 1966 ordnance survey map of Snowdonia National Park which will have so many uses. I have plans to make Dad’s Christmas present with bits of it. So I may have to get over my fear and break out the Mod Podge.

The question is whether to frame parts of it, make it into Mug coasters and place mats or something else.

I shall be scouring pinterest in search of ideas.