Finally.....for today!

The little key cupboard from way back when did eventually get painted!

Au Revoir for now. :D

Cupboards can be great too!

For a long time we have stored an old freezer kindly given to me by someone on Freecycle. We had a larder fridge in the kitchen but it seemed to go a bit crazy of late, freezing up and then thawing so consequently our food was covered in water or frozen!!

So we decided that it would make more sense to buy a fridge freezer and move the freezer on to another owner. A guy off Freecycle who proved to be very interesting in that he makes all manner of things from pallet wood, so I have ordered a couple of garden trugs which I will share when he brings them around.

So here is the freezer and the space it was in.

 

I got my lovely friend Mark to come round and build some shelving for me to utilise the space in a more sensible way. We did it on the cheap. Batons and we used a reduced set of laminate flooring which worked out a treat!

 

I am so chuffed with them. It means that all my gadgets (which I am an addict of too!) are now in one place and easily accessible. There is even a space for the vacuum cleaner which usually is hovering in one room or another. My breadmaker can be used in situ as there is a plug close by. Also my JML Starchef. I am very pleased with the result and it cost me £90 including labour so bargainous too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This last picture is of a piece of wood (maybe a bunk bed ladder found in the loft?) but I have managed to make use of that too. It is now a handy store for all my cleaning odds and sods.

 

 

 

So there you have it. My attempts to get organised are finally coming to fruition! Lots more to go though. See you soon.

I was welll chuffed with this wee cabinet.

I am completely addicted to small pieces of old furniture. I think it was called utility during the war times, but it seems to me, no matter how they cobbled it together, it was far superior and better made than anything you can buy now. Plus I truly love the "spirit" of older things, you know they have belonged to someone else and now you can add your bit of "belonging spirit" to the item.

So......I forgot to take a before picture of it but you can picture one of those heavily varnished dark wood items from the forties/fifties (not sure).

But here it is bought bang up to date.

 

You can see that in the gap at the top there was space for something, so casting my eyes around the house, I came across these baskets which I sewed together with some twine and made a little handle so you can pull it out. It is very satisfying to cobble together some items you have had hanging around just waiting to be united!

 

 

My son and his girlfriend now have it in their bedroom using for storage.

 

 

 

 



 



Sorry for the loooooooooooong delay in posting!

Hi

Yes it has been sometime since I posted. Unfortunately consistency is not one of my traits! This does not mean, however, that I have been idle (though there has been a fair bit of that too), but I have a few up dates. Oh yes, one of the reasons I delayed because I completely forgot my log in details, so when I had a spare minute or two I updated them so here I am back and ready to junk share again. :)

My newest and best Teasmade Ever

I'm not really sure if I have ever shared my complete obsession with Teasmades before. My family are certainly aware of it. You used to be able to pick them up at boot fairs for 50p or a £1 years ago, but now they are going on Ebay for a lot more. This sweet treasure cost me £38.50 plus about a tenner in postage. It was described as new and in the box which is why I treat myself to it. I currently only have 7 teasmades dotted around the house! ;)

Wot I got done this weekend.

Take a pine varnished plate rack and cover it in two coats of Wickes chalk paint, colour Grizzly.

Then rub the edges with candle grease where you want it to look as if it has aged. Then do two top coats of Wickes chalk paint, colour Harvest Moon.

 

 

Rub along the edges gently with some sandpaper to remove the painted bits with candle grease.
Then rub some clear wax varnish into the whole piece and buff off. Then voila!

I will be repainting my bedroom in a couple of weeks so will show you the finished article complete with junk and stuff! It's only taken me about 15 years to paint this piece, but it is very useful for hanging jewellery, bags etc. I am quite chuffed with it. :)

Au Revoir until next time.

My new computer chair. Love it.

I have been looking for a new computer chair and during a visit to Ikea, I spotted this sweet little chair which is just perfect for the space. It is nice an neat and a little bit different to your bog standard chair a la Argos.

Here is another picture of cute dog Flecki. How she manages to look like a puppy at the age of 13 is beyond me. Cute dog alert y'all!

I have been a bit naughty ignoring my blog, but there hasn't been much to say really.

One thing that has changed is that I have signed up for online dating. It maybe a little too soon as I am not six months out of a long relationship but I wanted to do something to get the old brain whirring again and though I don't really have great intentions of getting "out there", you just never know and they do say it can happen when you least expect it.

I had around 35 messages to sift through. One said "Thanks but no thanks" - nice - I mean why bother?? Wouldn't mind but he was no oil painting. My problem is that I take the worst photos in history. My son kindly says I don't look as bad as I do in my photos!!

So all but one message got deleted. I did get a message from a nice sounding man from London. I have replied to that so will see how it pans out. I am not desperate....repeat I am not desperate.

I also got a wink and a message from a pretty hot looking 42 year  old who reckoned I look sweet in my picture. He sounded lovely but I think looking to hook up with someone very soon. I only joined today so that will not be on my agenda right now. It was vaguely flattering though. :)

Au Revoir. x

It is all a bit embarrassing!

In my last post I did say that I had some time off and I intended to do some "stuff" to share with you.

The truth is, I have done very little over the past two days and now this being my third day off, am panicking a little.

I have experienced something this weekend which I think I have not for some time and that is a feeling of loneliness. Feelings about a relationship breakdown came to the surface and I had to face the disappointment, anger and sadness. Sometimes you do just want to blame another person for what has happened but there is a little whispering voice that reminds you of just how equal a role you did play in the dance. It is painful, it is bloody annoying, but it is the truth.

A phone call to an old friend turned into a shared rant about our partners. Mainly anger at ourselves for sticking around so long, due to fears, lack of self esteem and denial.

After this baring of the soul however, I felt a glimmer of hope, release and refreshment coursing through the old veins. A bit like refreshing the computer page, the old stuff remains but there is something to move onto.

So I trundled up the stairs and did something I had been avoiding for ages. Getting this little cupboard out of the junk mass and attempting to re-position it on my landing.

It has an annoying quirk, in that the lower shelf just meets with the top of the box double plug on the wall, so you are unable to use the plug nor push the cabinet against the wall, so it is a wobbling away from the wall.

I knew the cupboard/cabinet needed to be raised by at least 1/2 inch to clear the plug, so I cast around for something to achieve this. Frustratingly I could find very little, due to chaotic tendencies. In the end however, I chanced upon a peculiar looking saw (from Tchibo) and a slat for a single bed.

I managed, with much huffing and puffing, and the odd curse, to finally saw two equal lengths of wood to place under the cupboard. To my surprise (and relief), it worked!

I then relocated some baskets which fitted very nicely into the shelving area.

Now this cupboard is very old, hand made by a distant relative (or so I understand) and while I believe it would look nicer painted or at least lighter, I would feel a tremendous amount of guilt that I had spoiled someone's careful and very detailed work. This is it!

The Latest Weeny Blighter to join the family.

I have started to write stories about my little creations. Here is the latest Weeny who I made last weekend. 

 

I have a day off  on Friday so it is a long weekend. Hope to do something I can share with you. :)

 

Quick update, I have now lost around 8.5 lbs so the wheat baby belly is definitely receding. Very pleased with the progress which is a bit slow (we all want to lose weight quickly) but it is such an enjoyable way of eating that I feel it is worth it for the results.

A quick share!

I am aware that I have not posted anything for absolutely ages so here is something that was achieved today.

A sweet little cupboard painted by my niece. It was a bit difficult to find somewhere to put it and it is a shame about the shower switch but at least it is finally up on the wall.

Makes a nice place to display my little collection of trinkets and oddsies.

Not quite got all the bits in their right places but will have a go at the weekend.

Weeny B for Amy.

The de-cluttering continues and did a bit of Wheat B baking so have been quite productive.

Here is a picture of a Weeny B for a girl I know called Amy. We all have one in this house now!

My son's.

 

And finally mine, which went a bit wonky but I love it all the same.

 

 

 

 

We are all off to a classical music concert tonight so that will be relaxing and take our minds off life for a couple of hours.

 

See y'all later.

Not much crafting going on at present!

Hi

I really have struggled to fit in any crafting recently. Reasons

1. Doing this wheat belly diet involves a lot of food preparation (and washing up).

2. I have had a lot more energy so have embarked on a massive de cluttering exercise!

I am pleased to report that since January 16th, I have now reduced my wheat baby belly by 6lbs.

It all appears to have come off the middle which is great. I am really trying not to see it as a diet and more as a new way of eating. After struggling away at various slimming clubs and then back sliding, I feel so much more positive once I found something that I like and that is working for me.

It is so expensive though! Nearly all my money is going on food because as we know good food costs a lot more than filler type foods, eg. bread, pasta and rice (not wheat based I know) but considered high carbohydrate.

In essence this is what I am eating.

Meat, fish, eggs, nuts, green veg, salads, berries, cream, olives, avocados. Oils and a little butter and cheese.
You also do any baking which I restrict to weekends only with almond flour, flax seeds ground, and coconut flour.

At some point, I hope to master some of the recipes so I can have some food that is made in advance.

Enough of that.

The decluttering is going to be huge scale as you know Ambers Alley is based on buying and hoarding other peoples' bits and bobs. It makes me think of how much money I have spent over the years on stuff I really did not need. That includes creams, potions and lotions.

Anyway it is the weekend and so I must make the most of it.

Au Revoir and enjoy the lovely weather. Hope all the flooded out people are able to sort out their lives now the levels are reducing.

My Latest Boot Fair Spoils!

 

Look at this little lot I got from the boot fair this morning, just £7.00 in total.  Look at the Weeny Blighters. They are loving it. This is right up their street. This is their era. From a bygone age when kids had yet to discover their I pads, I pods, tablets and gaming machines. I mean look at the book Bimbo and Topsy!  Nowdays a Bimbo is someone off the Only Way is Essex. I prefer Bimbo being a cute terrier.

 

PS. Not forgotten my projects, just being delayed by other stuff at the moment.

Me and My Wheat Baby Belly!

I would not wish to subject you to a picture of my wheat belly but I am about to embark on a programme to get rid of it.


For many years now, I have been suffering from acid reflux. It is a miserable condition which affects me mentally too. How I empathise and sympathise with fellow sufferers around the world.

Mine has got so bad after the last year that I have had bouts of waking up, literally choking with a burning throat and gasping for breath.

So I am about to embark on an experiment. Finally, I have had to accept that I seem to have an allergy to wheat based products and they are plenty and many in our world. Most products you buy which have been designed to have a shelf life have hidden wheat and of course it is in cakes, biscuits and anything with flour.

I am not going to go into all that too much but just wanted to share with you my journey of giving up these items to try and get back to digestive health?? With lent around the corner, it seems like a good time to have that as an added incentive.

Sadly my beloved chocolate, bar the very very dark kind, will have to go.

So I have the wheat belly cookbook, I have the right kinds of oils etc. I just have to buy some coconut flour which I will get on Friday and I will be ready to launch into a new life style of eating.

Also I am going to discontinue my medication and try out some natural remedies. I have read that some doctors believe people like me actually have low stomach acid and not high. Due to the lucrative market in antacids and prescribed medication, it is in Pharma interests to continue with the idea that people are making too much acid in their stomachs.

So this morning I have taken my very first Betaine Hydrochloride with Pepsin which is supposed to help people with low stomach acid. I wont bore you with too much detail as we go along, just to let you know how things are going.

My crafts will become much more important as my weapon against sweets and chocolate which I crave. I may share the odd recipe with you though if I am impressed.

Anyway, here I am signing out and currently with no acid reflux!!

PS. I will weigh myself today and then let you know if I lose any weight along the way.

My projects for this week!

I was fortunate enough to have a couple of mornings off last week and I was determined to clear out my cupboard under the stairs. It is pretty big, the kind you can walk into but we could not walk into it as it had reached a humungous record of chaos! It was so bad that I could not even open the freezer door so it was really annoying.

Job done. While I was clearing out though, I came across this little key cupboard which I have had for absolutely ages and I think it could do with some painting to lighten it up.

Why do I have two Haagen Dazs lids at the front of the picture? Well every time we have a pizza (not often!) and get some ice cream, I throw away the lids, but it always goes through my mind that they could be turned into something. The obvious thing is coasters and though I have plenty already, I will have a go at transforming them with some papier mache? I will show you the result when they are finished.

I had a bit of a lazy weekend. I did do a few little odd jobs but mostly spent thinking about doing stuff!

Au Revoir.

Someone de-cluttered this gadget and now it's mine!

I reckon this burger maker has to be from the Seventies, mainly because of the colours, brown and beige.



It is a nifty little gadget though as it makes your burgers look a bit more professional and even sized.


You have these little waxed discs of paper. You put one in the bottom. Put your burger mixture in.

Then you twist on the top (see back of burger maker) - you then push that down a bit to squidge the meat and then you press down a bit and the burger rises to the top.


These burgers are from the Takeaway Book. I made a batch, but basically each burger is


2 oz pork

1/2 tsp sage

pinch brown sugar

salt and pepper.


I grilled them to get rid of as much fat as possible. They are meant to taste like the sausage patties from McDonalds. They are a very good replica. Only to be eaten occasionally though.


Back to the burger maker. I cannot see a date on it but it still has a sticker on showing it cost me 50p.

 I think companies like Lakeland have updated the look of them but I am ok with my bargain one as it does the job.


Au Revoir.

 PS. The burgers were very nice with some scrambled eggs.

Preparing for Dispatch.

Just a quick post for you, with a couple of photos of the two Weeny Blighters on their way to their new homes.

One for a weeny boy.

And one for a weeny girl.

 

I do hope they like them!

Voici Le Table!

Here is the table. I am pretty pleased with it. It took two coats and I waxed the top but left the rest as even if it does get chipped I think it will just add to the look.

I went out with my sister today and bought the lampshade. It is very muted in colours which I like. Calm and restful is the order of my day as I am all jumbly and chaotic inside.

I like the vase on it. It has two little brooch roses in it which I got from the British Heart Foundation, oh about 16 years ago but I like them. They have little bits of glue on them to look like morning dew.

The vase is actually French and I have had it around 25 years now. I will probably replace the clock with something else but thought I would just show how it turned out.

I also want to get something to put on the bottom shelf, a basket - or storage box as I don't like to see the wires trailing plus it will be more storage for all the "junk and stuff".

I went to see my dear niece's little house today. How charming it was. Don't you just love to see other peoples' stuff.? I know I do. I am sure I seem a nosey old biddy but really I am just admiring the way someone else puts their things together. Anyway it was a lovely day but have indigestion from a delicious chocolate brownie. Serves me right!!

Au Revoir. x

OK - That is It For Today!

Well I managed to make this little one this evening. I must say my neck is aching a bit now from all the concentration. Each time you make something you look at it with a view to improving the next one you make. I am learning as I go along, but I do love this material. So seventies.

I did manage to get one coat of paint on the little table and it looks so much better. First time I have used Annie Sloane paint and I can see why everyone raves about it as it is so easy to paint with and apart from giving the table a bit of a clean, I did no preparation and it adhered very well.

I do want to have a go at making my own chalk paint too. Will show you the finished table tomorrow if I get a chance.

Au Revoir. x

Still Sewing Away.

I have made these little beings over the last couple of days. Two of them are sold! Now that is flattering that someone would want to buy something I have made. The other one (with the ears). I made this morning and it involved me plucking up the courage to use the applique stitch on my sewing machine.

For some this would mean nothing, but having always been a bit nervous of the sewing machine (goes back to school days I think, with a yelling teacher) it is quite an achievement for me!

I do hope you are all safe. The storms last night were awful. My wonky old shed is still standing which is a miracle really, considering it was put up by Bodgit and Scarper!

Anyway, I plan to paint this table either this afternoon or tomorrow. Someone gave it to me and it had a big split in the top which was being held on by a nail. I did not want to buy wood glue or filler so I had a root around and came up with the idea of filling it with some cotton wool and pva glue. Bit messy but it appears to have worked. Yes, it looks like I have done a bit of Bodgit and Scarper myself, but I am sure it will look ok painted up.

Bliss at Home - Part II

I have the day off today and it is wonderful. I was expecting someone to come and do some painting but they have not showed up as yet and it is nearly 1.30.

Apart from that though I am in my little abode, musing on life and utterly contented to be pottering around achieving a little bit, but not a lot.

It really is my favourite thing to do.

I am however fully aware that my fellow men and women in certain areas of the county are suffering beyond belief because of the dreadful weather we have had. This takes the edge off my contentment and I am supressing anger at the way our governments seem to consider the people in this country unimportant compared to others. That is all I will say as I don't want to go off on a rant!

It is not the purpose of this blog and me ranting achieves nothing productive.

Anyway, that's all for today folks.

Bliss at Home - And I Made These.

First of all I picked up this little pan from the charity shop yesterday for a £1.00. Not bad when my son was going to buy me a skillet from Argos for £14.99 but this is exactly what I needed to try out a recipe for some flat breads which I had never heard of.

It turns out that these pans are pretty expensive and considered very good quality. De buyer - I have never heard of them before but it feels very solid with a good heavy bottom.

The flat breads are called Socca in Italy but it seems they are called a variety of names throughout the world.

Anyway they are made from Besan flour (chickpea) which I got from Morrisons for just over a pound so that too is a barg.

I watched a video on Youtube and off  I went.

The measurements were up to you really but she advised one measure of the flour, a bit of olive oil, some salt and a half measure of water. Salt is added for taste but I expect you could omit it. You mix it up until it resembles a batter and then leave for half an hour.

I made enough to make four little panckies.

I did mine on top of the stove but some people bake them. I was too impatient for that!!

I added a little of onion granules but in future would be a bit more experimental, maybe some fresh coriander and some cumin seeds?

It was actually very nice and dead cheap to make.

Apparently if you make a thinner batter and bake it in the oven you end up with something more crispy.

The pan behaved beautifully and I was really glad I bought it as I did think it would be more "junk and stuff"!

I actually made something today!

Remember the Teamaker that I bought at the boot fair last week? Well, at that same boot fair, I bought this skirt for £2.00. I was on the look out for some material to make my "Weeny Blighters" - which are little whimsical animals and people.

This is the skirt. I really liked the material. Also it was a large size which is always good.

 

 

This is the Weeny B that I made. I am quite pleased with it. My niece who has a very successful selling page on face book said she will put one in a picture, just to see if anyone would buy one?

 

 

I am hoping they look a bit old fashioned and the kind of thing people made with scraps years ago.

 

 

 

 

Wonky Dog!!

I was wondering just what I could share with you today and then as I was leaving the supermarket I spotted this little sweetheart waiting for its owner.
 
He/she was a most peculiar shape. It does not really show in the photo but the dog had a really long body with little short legs. A cute mutant if you like!
 
As I took the photo, I felt a little nervous - after all I did not have permission but I do hope the owner would not mind as I thought it was so sweet.
 
It reminded me of the dogs we used to see on holiday in Greece many years ago. They seemed be a peculiar shape too.
 
Anyway, whatever the shape of this darling dog, I would love to own it. A sort of cross between a beagle and a terrier. Wonder what his/her name is?

Like Buses - You don't see one for ages and then three come along at once = my posts. :)

"It's a little bit funny
This feeling inside,
I'm a Teamaker addict
And I just cannot hide"

To the tune of Your Song by Elton John.

The thing is "I am Coming Out"

It is true. I am a teamaker addict. This is my latest addition to a collection which I will share with you over the coming weeks.

I picked this one up at a boot fair last Sunday. £3.00. I got home and had a snoop on Amazon and they are priced between £60.00 - £80.00 so I got a bit of a barg there.

I was able to download the user manual off Tinternet and off I was setting the clock and alarm very easily. Normally I am a bit nervous of manuals but it was easy peasy.

The downside to this dream machine is that it makes the tea taste a bit peculiar. It seems to be a feature on quite a few reviews so I am gradually flushing the machine through with bicarb and failing that will buy some descaler as suggested.

All in all though I am quite pleased with the latest addition to the Teamaker Family, even if it is a tad modern for my tastes (sniffs).

It really is the darndest thing!

 

 

But here it is.

 

Trying to take a picture of a mirror without getting one's ugly mug in it!!

The mirror that started this blog off. In the end I did not like it and the little girl never received it as due to my procrastinatory nature I never did finish it in time. Now there's a surprise!

Not sure about it now. Hmmm. Whatever - it needs varnishing and a hanger putting on the back.

It's Only Taken 20 Years!!!!

My sister gave me this gorgeous papier mache lamp shade about twenty years ago, maybe more?

I could never seem to figure out how to attach it to anything and honestly being a bit lazy ended up wrapping it up carefully and then it just disappeared into the Ambers Alley Junk Trunk.

Well last Sunday I went to a boot fair. Been trying to avoid them really as the level of junk had reached epic proportions, but in a way I am glad I did as I picked up this lamp stand for £2.00.

It was attached to a wicker type lampshade but I thought I would take a chance and see if it would do the trick. It is not perfect but until something else turns up, it will do. I think it looks lovely.

It was my lovely niece who said she had missed my blog, so here I am again only a year later, but hey better late than never eh?? ;)