Restoration Man: Great Series on Restoring Historic Buildings TUBI

This is a screenshot, click to enlarge.

I love watching DIY anything. I always watch This Old House on PBS whenever I run across it while channel surfing. I have a channel on my antenna tv called DABL and I love watching George Clarke on a show where he runs across people who are repurposing or restoring small spaces. I recently came across him on TUBI and found this series called THE RESTORATION MAN

George Clarke is an architect who helps anxious homeowners restore and convert neglected historical properties all around the UK into totally unique dream homes. Many are listed buildings that have restrictions from planning boards that take way too much time to get permissions before work can begin. I just found this series and accidentally jumped right in on Season 2. When I finish it, I'll go back and watch Season 1 and I hope there's a Season 3. I really had no idea how unforgiving the UK weather can be in the winter, especially in Scotland. Let me know if you start watching and like this series as much as I do.

Happy Labor Day! xo, Rosemary

PS: I pulled all the poison ivy by hand in all the beds around my foundation. I was totally covered except for my face. I have a few poison ivy blisters under my chin but hopefully I started treating it in time with TECNU. Wish me luck.

March Lamb + Bathroom Repair DIY

March is coming in like a lamb at my house with a whole week of unremarkable weather. That means it will go out like a Lion!

I have been busy with a DIY repair in my bathroom that took the better part of Monday but ended successfully. I kept the original fixtures in my first floor bath, the corner tub and the American Standard toilet. I have never had a problem with my Kohler tub from the late 1930s but I have a problem with the other fixture on a regular basis. It's always the same thing. The tank ball. The rod gets bent, stuck, or something similar. This time another piece broke that guides the bulb's rod to the proper flushing place. I got a replacement ball at the hardware store and it was a perfect fit. Now to make it go up and down and stop in the proper slot without the broken guide. I finally got it to work perfectly without calling a plumber. It only set me back $4.25 and a chain I already had. The secret was to keep cutting the last bead at the end of the chain until there was no slack since the rod wasn't quite long enough. Success!!! I'm so happy I never give up.

This photo shows the work in progress.

There is another tool box involved that isn't in this photo.

A VALENTINE CARD to Make DIY Free Pattern

Hello February. My month of no holidays is over and there is plenty of time for making Valentines. I found this free download and I love it.

Free Valentine Pattern

Printing PDF instructions here full size.

I have always loved "hand in heart" Valentines. 

Send to someone you love. 

❤️xo❤️ 

Taking Apart My Vacuum Cleaner

The brush roller stopped working on my vacuum cleaner last week and I decided to try and fix it myself. I found a wonderful YouTube video that taught me how to take the base apart. There was one screw I never would have found by myself. I have it all apart but I cannot find my wire strippers anywhere. I called a friend who often helps me with my tractor and he's bring his over tomorrow. Fingers crossed it will work after this small switch is disabled by cutting the wires. Every video I watched said this was the most likely problem. So many people thanked this wonderful man for making the video and everybody was able to make this simple repair. xo

UPDATE: I did it. Vacuum cleaner is better than ever. Now the brush roller spins all the time but that's fine. I couldn't be happier. I made a template of the base out of cardboard and pushed the screws in the correct location as I took them out. This made reassembly a snap. I had to use three different screw drivers but I have a zillion tools so that was not a problem. I called my local vacuum repair store and he said Shark vacuums didn't have very many replacement parts. They want you to replace the whole base. He offered to look at it but I decided to keep looking for a tutorial and lucked out. I have lots of attachments and this vacuum cleans really, really well. It is a "lift away" and would still have worked without the base but now I have restored it back to better than NEW condition. xo

A Hare for New Year's Day

His artwork is amazing.

Be sure to visit his website.

https://www.james-lynch.co.uk/

H A P P Y ♡ N E W ♡ Y E A R

I found DIY instructions for making your own egg tempra paints in the link below.

https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/how-to-make-egg-tempera-paint

Scandinavian Christmas DIY Ideas for Next Year

I love the simplicity of these architectural  gingerbread cookies in a skyline arrangement.

Who wouldn't love a gingerbread house hanging on the rim of a cup filled with hot cocoa?

You wouldn't even need a pattern for this A-Frame gingerbread house! Start looking for a large heart-shaped cookie cutter. You could do the triangles from a paper pattern in the scale of the hearts ending with rounded ones at the entrance. More ideas here.

If you leave your Christmas decorations up until 

12th night, you might still want to keep 

baking and making! xo

Side Table with Blue and White Platter

This tin box on a stand has a top that rusted when one of my potted geraniums overflowed and I didn't notice right away. I have always admired Staffordshire platters on custom-made stands. I remembered I had a rectangular one and it turned to be the perfect size for this stand.

I thought my photo above was somewhat boring so I made three different "watercolor" versions using the Waterlogue App and I like each one. Have you downloaded it yet? It's free!

Isn't technology amazing? xo

My DIY Compost Bin

I have had recycling kitchen scraps on my mind for a very long time and a week ago I ordered a countertop bin and I love it. I have tried other methods with an old copper cannister and coffee cans but they were harder to use when chopping veggies and wanting to dispose of the waste and stuff got slimy and stinky before it was time to empty. This little item I bought lives on top of my double bin step-on garbage on top of the side I seldom use. I can open it even if my hands are full and the lid opens and closes with a one-finger touch. There was no odor after 5 days of refuse I dumped in my compost bin yesterday. It is the perfect size for me and I hunted down every single kitchen scrap that passed me by. I filled it almost to the brim in 5 days while I scoured the internet for the perfect DIY to make from a plastic storage bin. I already have two large old bins that were empty and waiting and more filled with junk in the loft over my garage. The one I used is old enough to be marked Made in USA rather than China. I would have looked for a black one if I were purchasing new but this is a win win way to recycle the bin I already owned.

I drilled holes on all sides and on the bottom for air flow and drainage.

I searched so many DIY sites and decided on this size holes because I felt some of the other sites used holes much too large. I have brick-sized blocks on the bottom to keep slime from forming. As I mentioned before, there are random holes drilled all over the bottom too. I put a metal tray with sides to catch the overflow after a rain. I bought it years ago from a lady who used it for pizza but it was too big for my oven or under my sink. I am finding uses for all my junk this year. I put my bin outside my basement door in the shade. If I had put it in a sunny location, it would have dried out too quickly.

I followed this funny lady's suggestions except for the size of the holes. Her little dog made me laugh. There were many, many other DIY sites that used holes the size of mine. I have a plug-in drill and it worked perfectly. The tub was much harder to drill than I expected and I was glad I had the power of an electric drill. I honestly didn't even know I had it until I discovered it last week in my garage while I was organizing there.

Here is my original Google Search for DIY Compost Bins. The first one that caught my eye had big holes drilled in the lid and bottom only. I opted for the holes all over approach. I can't wait to open it to see what is happening inside but will wait until my little kitchen bin is full before I do. Then I will stir things up before adding my second batch of stuff that is appropriate. Here is a pictorial link for the things I can  and cannot use. I was surprised to see dryer lint and hair or fur are allowed. Now I can clean out my hairbrushes too and leave some of my DNA in my finished compost. 

Little bin atop my step-in garbage. It comes in white too which I would get white if I wanted it to live on my kitchen counter. The gray one is perfect here and within easy reach when I want it on the counter.

My first layer in my newly-drilled bin was dried leaves. My second layer was dirt. My third layer was my first load of kitchen scraps that I covered with fresh grass. I am new at this and will keep you posted. xo

Return Home for Updates & New Posts

DIY: Cat Window Perch by Martha Stewart

This is the greatest cat window perch I've ever seen. It's not surprising that Martha Stewart designed it and provided DIY instructions here, is it? Let me know if you decide to make one. It actually looks pretty simple after you get the wood sized to fit your cat's favorite window.  You could also start your flower and vegetable seeds on a "greenhouse" shelf like this! xo

Wonderful Cat Video

Wonder how this photographer got this shot of his cat? He was under a glass top table, and he had spread something delicious on the top for the cat to lick.

I just finished watching all three seasons of "detectorists" on Acorn TV. It is also available on Amazon Prime. It is full of charming characters and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this award winning BBC production and hope you will too.

Gorgeous Holiday Wreath

This is absolutely one of the most gorgeous Holiday wreaths I have ever seen. I would leave it on my door until spring. via Denise mentioned a DIY video on YouTube for a similar wreath. Thanks, Denise!

Christmas Tree Ornaments

I wonder how many glass birds are on this Christmas tree? They are so beautiful!

Pinecones are always a good idea. This is definitely a DIY project using ribbon and twine or string. via

Evergreen Garland

This looks simple enough to make. There should be a tutorial womewhere. I'll look for it tomorrow. Good night all. DIY instructions here. Have fun making them this weekend. Easy.

Here is the YouTube tutorial Jean Ellen sent in the comments for trees that look like the ones above. Thanks so much.

xo

My Homemade Fabric Face Masks

These are my home sewed masks that I have finally perfected after many attempts.

There are only 3 seams. I use a piece of 8-1/2" x 11" computer paper as my pattern. What could be simpler than that? If you are working with a printed fabric, you must place the pattern where you want the design on the front of the mask to be featured. You can make a pattern from a large gallon size zip-lock bag. The front of the mask will be at the bottom half. Cut your fabric and fold in half lengthwise, right sides together. Sew a bottom seam and turn right side out. Press. Fold over each side and sew a seam for the cording. I always insert my cording before sewing and don't catch the cording with any machine stitching. Raw edges are fine, nobody will be any the wiser, I have been working with 19" lengths of cording for each side. Now for the hardest part, the gathering. Pull the cording so both sides are equal before you start pulling. Gather the fabric as tightly as you possibly can and tie off with a knot on each side. Now fold the folded edge in half , gathered ends together, land make a small 1/8" tuck with about five locked stitches or so to mark the nose area. This is not a tapered dart, just a straight tuck. You can leave this part out if you like but it helps to have it. This is the most comfortable and breathable mask and I can wear mine for long periods without having to keep touching it because it stays in place. I just happened to have this cording in my stash of sewing and gift wrapping supplies. I think you could use bias tape that has been sewed shut too. Or any braided twine that would be comfortable over your ears. I have not tried elastic because I didn't have any.

I posted more photos on my Instagram for you to study. Just click on the arrows to see them all. Feel free to ask questions if I have not made the instructions clear. You can turn under the two sides before you start sewing if you want a finished underside rather than a raw edge but this just adds to the bulk. You could also overcast if you don't want a raw edge. You can whip these up in no time. 

They are tight to get on once you have your ends tied off but worth the effort. I use a square knot that says in place: Left over right and right over left. 

I don't know if hair ties would work. 

Foolproof Pie Dough w/ Video Tutorial

I always look at and read recipes for pie crust but have never found one that is foolproof. I think this one might be it. The recipe makes two crusts. It looks pretty simple and straightforward and I plan on making one pumpkin pie and freeze other round of dough. 

Jump straight to the recipe and print it here.

Read the lengthy article and watch the video tutorial here. There are lots of delicious pie recipes at the end as well. This is one-stop-shopping for pie ideas. Enjoy. xo

Painted Floor with Diamonds

Big Black Diamonds.

I haven't seen a good painted floor in a while.

Until Now.

via

Tree Removal at My Cottage

I was up early on Friday morning having my coffee when I saw County trucks arriving to deal with the fallen tree on my property that came down during Hurricane Isaias a while back. I live on a county road and the Shade Tree Commission came to my rescue. It was a big job, done quickly and cheerfully by skilled workers. I worked for two days straight mowing and raking to get my streetscape back in order and today I shall rest. xo

First Mowing Yesterday

I fired up my trusty walk behind power mulching push mower and filled it with gasoline leftover from the fall and it started up on the third pull. I worked until it ran out of gas and was tempted to fill it up again and do more but decided to call it a day instead. I still want to go deeper into the rear but will do the front first. I never do lawn work on Sundays and it's very chilly with rain on the way so I'll just stay inside instead. Enjoy your day whatever you decide to do. xo

Handmade Buttonholes

These are the most beautiful buttonholes I have ever seen and are definitely a lost art. They are too lovely to even cover up with a button. The twine is gorgeous! via

My Old Clothes Line with Webster

As I mentioned in this old post, I lost all the trees to the right of my garage/barn after Superstorm Sandy but I still have the white pine on the left. Webster the Wonder Dog used to love watching me hang out the wash. All I need is a new post and I could have a clothes line again. I still manage quite well with drying things outside on wooden clothes racks and my balcony railing so all is not lost. In the winter, the clothes racks are perfect in my furnace room for all but large top sheets which I dry on my balcony. I love sleeping on sheets that have been dried outside and I can honestly report that sunshine leaves an aroma on them like no other. When I enter my bedroom after putting on clean linens, the whole room smells like sunshine. The items dried inside have no aroma at all because I use a detergent with no scent.

The sun can kill the Corona Virus bacteria that can live on fabric for 6-12 hours. Normal laundry detergent should kill it on items in the washing machine. Winter clothes that can't be washed can be put out in the sun to kill the virus. Continue to wash your hands often and be smart about being out in public. xo

PS: I just found an easy recipe for DIY: Homemade Hand Sanitizer