I hope these photos will help anyone considering painting. This photo was taken today, 4 years after the paint job. I simply cleaned the tiles and used White King tile primer/base coat and tile paint.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Painted Tiles 4 years on...
As part of my laundry renovations I decided to paint the tiles above the sink blue. At the time, I was very concerned about how it would look and Googled photos of painted tiles unsuccessfully.
I hope these photos will help anyone considering painting. This photo was taken today, 4 years after the paint job. I simply cleaned the tiles and used White King tile primer/base coat and tile paint.
I'm still happy with the result so much so that I'll be painting some ugly boarder tiles in one of the bathrooms at our new house.
I hope these photos will help anyone considering painting. This photo was taken today, 4 years after the paint job. I simply cleaned the tiles and used White King tile primer/base coat and tile paint.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
546 days of sewing a "500 Days of Summer" denim skirt
How often have you fallen in love with a piece of clothing only to realise it was too late for you to have it? As someone who loves vintage clothes, ALL the time.
There are a few dresses in the movie, 500 Days of Summer I fell in love with including the baby blue dress worn by Zooey to the wedding.
But for my attempt to replicate something I thought i'd aim a little lower and make a denim skirt similar to the Built by Wendy skirt worn in the movie.
Day 7: After ruining my eyes searching for a pattern for the skirt I finally find one at a vintage pattern store on Esty.
Day 20: The pattern arrives in the post.
Day 20-25: I read instructions on pattern envelope including the amount of fabric required. It reads like an IQ puzzle. I think I have it figured out.
But for my attempt to replicate something I thought i'd aim a little lower and make a denim skirt similar to the Built by Wendy skirt worn in the movie.
Day 7: After ruining my eyes searching for a pattern for the skirt I finally find one at a vintage pattern store on Esty.
Day 20: The pattern arrives in the post.
Day 20-25: I read instructions on pattern envelope including the amount of fabric required. It reads like an IQ puzzle. I think I have it figured out.
Day 26: I purchase soft denim fabric (thick fabric is just too difficult to sew and could break the needle of my little sewing machine). I check with the shopkeeper that my reading of the fabric requirements chart is correct but she just looks me up and down and says thats enough.
Day 27-50: Decipher pattern instructions. No definitely, not plain English but what the hey, you just gotta jump in and try to learn.
Step 51: I cut out the pieces from the pattern relating to the skirt I cut inside of the size 8 line having determined (see photo below) that the size 8 would be too large (vintage sizes tend to run huge).
As there are various styles with each pattern not piece is needed. Also pros like my mum don't cut the patterns themselves but chalk an outline. I decide to cut cause 1) its easier and 2) there is no point saving the pattern to use again if I can't finish this skirt the first time around.
As there are various styles with each pattern not piece is needed. Also pros like my mum don't cut the patterns themselves but chalk an outline. I decide to cut cause 1) its easier and 2) there is no point saving the pattern to use again if I can't finish this skirt the first time around.
 |
| length options |
Day 52 - 257: pattern sits patiently as I enjoy the spring and ready made fashion.
Day 258: Pin pattern on fabric making sure the skirt is laid diagonally to the weave for a better drape.
Day 260: Cut fabric
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| my cut pieces with pattern still pinned on |
Day 280: Purchase iron-on stiff backing for waist band and false pocket flaps. Learn its called interfacing!
Day 285: Iron stiff backing on the pocket flaps and waist band. Trim interfacing.
Day 300: I overlock every pieces on mum's overlocker.
Day 350: Pin and sew skirt pieces together.
I try the unhemed skirt on and its still too big. I undo my work.
Day 353: I re-sew the skirt. This time it fits. I will never sew without measuring it against another skirt that fits me again.
Day 386: I sew the waist band after measuring it against my waist and cutting it to my waist plus a little extra for overlapping the button.
Day 391: I measure the waist band against the skirt. I sew the waist band to the skirt.
Day 402: Purchase zipper and button.
Day 403: Sew Zipper. Try to work out how to create a button hole. I need to download a program?
Day 515: Measure and cut button hole. Hand stitch the edges of the button hole. Its too big. I stitch it smaller.
Day 538: Sew the pocket flaps. Attach the pocket flaps with pins. Deermine that they don't sit right. Scrap the flaps.
Day 546: Measure length and take up skirt.
Day 350: Pin and sew skirt pieces together.
I try the unhemed skirt on and its still too big. I undo my work.
Day 353: I re-sew the skirt. This time it fits. I will never sew without measuring it against another skirt that fits me again.
Day 386: I sew the waist band after measuring it against my waist and cutting it to my waist plus a little extra for overlapping the button.
Day 391: I measure the waist band against the skirt. I sew the waist band to the skirt.
Day 402: Purchase zipper and button.
Day 403: Sew Zipper. Try to work out how to create a button hole. I need to download a program?
Day 515: Measure and cut button hole. Hand stitch the edges of the button hole. Its too big. I stitch it smaller.
Day 538: Sew the pocket flaps. Attach the pocket flaps with pins. Deermine that they don't sit right. Scrap the flaps.
Day 546: Measure length and take up skirt.
Vola!
Anyone can sew. Just take your time (preferably not 18 months but hey, slow and steady wins the race) and take manageable mini steps.
Friday, July 11, 2014
"You belong to me…NOT"
My husband recently did it with our daughter. He told her during his play time with her, "You belong to me." She in her three year old wisdom didn't feel right about it and responded, "Not."
In law, we speak of ownership only in terms of chattels and real property. No such concept exists in terms of people and with good reason. However, in private relationships we often express endearment in terms of ownership. When we do this, is it because we are trying to express a deeply held connection to the person and have no better words for it or is it because we feel we have have certain rights over them?
What Mr Renaisanc and I have over Dot is guardianship not ownership. "You are my daughter and you're special to me" is what he should have said.
Our kids are just passing through and our job is to equip them with the best possible skills to be good and happy citizens. Yes, at three she has to listen to us but not because we own her. I'm not sure how Daddy is going to handle Dot's inevitable push away from us if he feels some sort of ownership over her. Psychologists believe that the closer a child is to a parent the harder they push away and this push is an inevitable part of growing up and forming their own identity. I imagine to a parent who feels ownership over their child the push away would be just or perhaps more jarring.
Why do these assertions bother me so much? Isn't it romantic when the handsome leading man finally overcomes all obstacles and takes the beautiful-yet-relatable female lead in his arms and whispers in her ear, "You are mine. You belong to me," before kissing her passionately?
Maybe to some but it could be better. Apart from the fact that statement is just wrong in reality, the guy is expressing feelings of ownership which just reminds me of the mistreatment of women. At its most subtle, its what the boyfriend, who thinks he has the right to check his girlfriend's phone without her permission, unconsciously feels and its most confronting, its what the human trafficker thinks.
Those assertions don't seem quite so romantic anymore, does it? "You are special to me. We belong together," sounds better and doesn't contribute to normalising the view of human ownership on any level.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Resolution: stop yelling!!!!
Obviously, I'm a yeller.
Until recently, I didn't think there was anything wrong with it. I thought it was normal to yell and had never entertained the idea that I needed to change. In the house I grew up, we frequently yelled; we yelled when we argued; we yelled when we were excited; just to stress a point in a happy conversation; in family debates about religion, politics and who shot Mr Burns - just to get a word in. Neighbours may have heard us yelling to each other about what time we were leaving for the restaurant instead of walking to each other to have a normal volumed conversation. Half of us had hearing difficulties - whether the cause or the effect, I can't say.
Maybe because yelling hasn't always been a negative thing for me I've never given it much thought, that is, until now. Now that I have one spirited three year old, a opponent with so much less power than myself (not to mention the rapid move towards high densely housing) that what I thought of as just my un-demure tom girl nature I now see as a bad habit I must change quickly.
If you were at my house today, you would have covered your ears to:
"Don't cover baby's face with a blanket!" "Don't lie to me!" "Respond to me when I talk to you! Don't just stare at me when i ask you if you want to get out of the tub! I asked you nicely three times. Do I have to yell before I get a response?"
I think the answer is yes if I make it so. I don't want my little Dot to think that only when I yell is what I'm saying important or for her to have to break a habit to properly parent her little ones or for her to be considered loud and unladylike.
So I'm writing this post to resolve to the world I'm going to quit yelling.
When I told my friends about my yelling woes and started reading the forums I was so surprised to learn that there were households where no one ever yelled. I don't think I've quite gotten over the shock cause I'm writing about it here. How do these folks manage their anger?
Anyway here's the plan:
1. Not withdraw from 'patience bank' for the following things -
- House renovation work (limit to Wednesdays only)
- Dirty dishes and clean house (except Fridays and Saturdays cause we have open house)
- Resentment for skipped meals, unbrushed teeth cause you think you don't have time
- Requests when exhausted (say no and stay firm against whinging)
2. Increase my patience bank:
- Find time to get a hair cut when needed
- Have monthly facials
3. If Dot isn't listening I'll put my hand on her shoulder and wait for eye contact so I don't need to yell.
4. Stop being physically lazy and physically assist instead of barking orders like a mad woman.
Well, we shall see how I go.
Until recently, I didn't think there was anything wrong with it. I thought it was normal to yell and had never entertained the idea that I needed to change. In the house I grew up, we frequently yelled; we yelled when we argued; we yelled when we were excited; just to stress a point in a happy conversation; in family debates about religion, politics and who shot Mr Burns - just to get a word in. Neighbours may have heard us yelling to each other about what time we were leaving for the restaurant instead of walking to each other to have a normal volumed conversation. Half of us had hearing difficulties - whether the cause or the effect, I can't say.
Maybe because yelling hasn't always been a negative thing for me I've never given it much thought, that is, until now. Now that I have one spirited three year old, a opponent with so much less power than myself (not to mention the rapid move towards high densely housing) that what I thought of as just my un-demure tom girl nature I now see as a bad habit I must change quickly.
If you were at my house today, you would have covered your ears to:
"Don't cover baby's face with a blanket!" "Don't lie to me!" "Respond to me when I talk to you! Don't just stare at me when i ask you if you want to get out of the tub! I asked you nicely three times. Do I have to yell before I get a response?"
I think the answer is yes if I make it so. I don't want my little Dot to think that only when I yell is what I'm saying important or for her to have to break a habit to properly parent her little ones or for her to be considered loud and unladylike.
So I'm writing this post to resolve to the world I'm going to quit yelling.
When I told my friends about my yelling woes and started reading the forums I was so surprised to learn that there were households where no one ever yelled. I don't think I've quite gotten over the shock cause I'm writing about it here. How do these folks manage their anger?
Anyway here's the plan:
1. Not withdraw from 'patience bank' for the following things -
- House renovation work (limit to Wednesdays only)
- Dirty dishes and clean house (except Fridays and Saturdays cause we have open house)
- Resentment for skipped meals, unbrushed teeth cause you think you don't have time
- Requests when exhausted (say no and stay firm against whinging)
2. Increase my patience bank:
- Find time to get a hair cut when needed
- Have monthly facials
3. If Dot isn't listening I'll put my hand on her shoulder and wait for eye contact so I don't need to yell.
4. Stop being physically lazy and physically assist instead of barking orders like a mad woman.
Well, we shall see how I go.
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