Crafting and horse riding

I've been busy today, I thought I'd finish off all those odd jobs I've been meaning to do for ages. I'm trying to recreate the distressed look that I did with the French shelf with my horrid Ikea pine bedside table. I bought some cheap French grey emulsion sample pots in the sale at Laura Ashley and I managed to put two coats of paint on the bedside table and one on this gilded mirror that my mum gave me. I've done a wash over the mirror because I want the gilding to show through so that it looks like an expensive antique mirror. Once the paint is dry (in about half an hour or so) I'm going to sand down all the leading edges of the bedside table so that it looks battered and old, then I might put some bees wax over it, I'm not entirely sure yet. Anyway, I'll take some pictures of the result when I get back from my horse riding lesson (yes, I finallt got round to taking it up!).

Here's the pelmet/cafe curtain that I've just made for the kitchen. I bought a metre of the fabric for £9 in the Laura Ashley sale, I think it softens the window and makes it look more homely.


The horse riding went really well and I've decided to have lessons every Sunday afternoon. Fortunately I have all the kit because my sister used to have her own horse and has kind of given up riding so I've pinched some of her jodpers. I've just finished the mirror and the bedside cabinet/table but I'll wait until I've received the new ceramic handles and then I'll take some pictures. I'm hoping to start painting all my chest of drawers over the next few weeks too just to bring all my modern and old furniture together. I really hate modern pine so I can't wait to paint over it! and I'm too thifty to fork out for antique chest of drawers.

I popped into my favourite shop, Nutley Antques, to ask if they are expecting any antique wardrobes. We have built in cupboards at the moment but I want to get rid of those, reinstate the fireplace and get some nice old cupboards either side of the chimney breast.

Sarah from Ethel and Edna's tea room - if you're reading this then I'll post your winnings tomorrow, if not then it'll be a nice surprise for you when it arrives! :-)