~Simple Pleasures - Rainbow of Cookbooks~

At breakfast I decided that I'd like to put my cookery books in the kitchen in colour order...

A    R A I N B O W   of cookery and baking books!
(Sometimes it's the little things that please you or cheer you up!)

~Easy Knitted Teddy~

Using this pattern from Yorkshire-based knitting yarn company King Cole, my spare minutes this week have been spent making a teddy for a gift.

King Cole Pattern  9008
3 sizes of bear on 1 pattern

I've used some cream DK soft yarn to make Alba Bear; a 1st birthday present for a friend's grandaughter...

I made her a cute Cath Kidston neckerchief - mainly to hide my dodgy sewing when attaching the head! I stressed a fair bit before embroidering the face.  I didn't want to make Scary Angry Bear and be responsible for giving a child nightmares, so I split brown embroidery cotton into 3 strands and think the result is less harsh than using wool. 

You've got to feel sorry for Small Dog however, who is trying to launch himself vertically at

the kitchen dresser to get at the finished teddy.  He is in love and would like to keep Alba Bear all for himself.

~I ♥ Standard Lamps Part 2~

Remember my standard lamp from eBay? The one that turned out to be faux mahogany and faux working order...

It's had a sand down, a coat of (substantial) undercoat and 3 coats of paint.  I mixed some paints I had already to get this mushroomy beige colour which has a nice matt eggshell finish...

It's the result of Craig & Rose 1829 Chalky Emulsion in Deep Sung Cream

plus

Farrow and Ball Estate Eggshell in New White

It had a good result and the paint is a lovely texture and finish.

What about the vintage lampshade project? I have to admit defeat on that score. I watched several online tutorials and looked at kits, then I bought an old shade and stripped it down. I ordered some self adhesive vinyl from eBay and set to work with my precious vintage fabric piece. Unfortunately it didn't work out - what my son would call an *epic fail*.

I shall consign lampshade-making to the same place that my crochet-fear resides. 

Well, I can't afford £50-£80 that handmade shades are selling for, so I gave in and spent some pennies (£10) on this shade from TKMaxx, then added some ricrac braid and a bobble trim. 

The shade is probably a tad too small, but I'm quite pleased with it anyhow as it looks nice with my new wallpaper.