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Sunday, 7 April 2013

Crafting on a Building Site!

Ok, so that title sounds a little bit more dramatic than things really are here at GF HQ, but not THAT far off.

We are having an extension to our house renovated - the extension was the bit of our house that housed the bakery ovens when our place was a working bakery. The ovens sadly were full of damp and falling down and right in the middle of the room, so had to be removed to make way for...... My New Workshop!!!! (Me? Excited much? Nah!)

This is the bit that's being renovated:


Last summer they did some work on the bottom floor and now, finally, they're raising the top walls, front and back and putting a new roof on. This also involved knocking a doorway through from the top floor into our existing kitchen.

Herein lies the rub.

Originally they weren't going to knock through until the very last moment, thus saving us A LOT of dust inside, but then someone twigged that if they don't knock through now, they won't be able to get a lintel into the new doorway because they'll be a roof timber in the way. So the knocking through started last week:
Steve, The Boss (who Seren is totally in love with!)

The start of the mess in my old airing cupboard which is in the kitchen!
So, now our whole house is covered in a layer of dust! Bless them, to be fair, the builders have tried to keep the mess out as much as possible, but for most of this last week it's been so bad that the kids & I have had to leave the house during the day - ideal timing when it's Easter holidays and it's been snowing!!

But I have managed to clean enough in the evenings to be able to make a pair of baby shoes for my Cousin's new arrival Baby Olivia:

Plain mint green & beige 0-3 month shoes

Mint & Beige 0-3 Month shoes with flowers appliqued on
I love making these baby shoes - they're so fun to come up with all the different colourways and embellishments to go on them :-) Both styles are now available in my Etsy shop.

Now I'm off with a cuppa and the last of the Easter Eggs (mine - honest!) to catch up with everyone else over at Handmade Monday.
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50 comments:

  1. Handbags by Helen7 April 2013 at 18:32

    Oo, how exciting, bet you can't wait until it's finished

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    1. Unknown7 April 2013 at 19:32

      It really is, for all my grumblings ;-) Simmi x

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  2. CatkinJane7 April 2013 at 18:38

    The building work looks so exciting!

    Coupled with those lovely baby shoes it took me back to arriving home from hospital with my first daughter to the extension from our kitchen being just knocked through! Memories of bathing a baby in the kitchen sink with just a sheet of polythene for a window between us and the new room the builders were working in!!

    Looking forward to seeing your new workshop :)

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    1. Unknown7 April 2013 at 19:33

      Ohhh crikey I bet you were glad when they were done! Thankfully we did the main bit of the house before the kids arrived and now they're big enough to help with the cleaning! Simmi x

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  3. Anonymous7 April 2013 at 18:40

    Hmm great timing indeed! Poor you as it has been very clod. It will be well worth it however so a bit of sacrifice is just about manageable? Really lovely little shoes - nice spring colours :)

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    1. Unknown7 April 2013 at 19:34

      Amazingly the temperature in the house hasn't been too bad, although I do feel for the builders up on the exposed roof at the moment! I am getting SO excited about the end result that I can cope with the mess for a bit longer ;-) Simmi x

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  4. Anonymous7 April 2013 at 18:49

    We had much the same thing happen with Dad's extension here. Thought we could leave the knocking through until last, but then couldn't! I sympathise about the dust - it gets everywhere doesn't it? Still it will be worth it in the end. Love the slippers - so cute!

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    1. Unknown7 April 2013 at 19:35

      It's amazing - I'd forgotten how dusty everything gets and last time, we had all of our furniture in storage so we weren't so bothered about the dust, but this time everything is out and getting messy! But it will be lovely once it's done :-) Simmi x

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  5. Planet Penny7 April 2013 at 18:53

    Oh wow! that's SO exciting! Have you got a history of the building? it looks amazing. Those little slippers are SO cute!
    Good luck with dust, it'll be worth it in the end!

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    1. Unknown7 April 2013 at 19:36

      Thanks :-) Yep, although it's quite confusing because we also own the cottage next door and they came as one with all the deeds muddled up, but both were working shop/bakery till the 1950s! Simmi x

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  6. Little Harriet7 April 2013 at 19:13

    Bet you can't wait for the building work to be finished!
    Love the shoes, they are so cute!

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    1. Unknown7 April 2013 at 19:37

      Thank you :-) I certainly can't, although I think Seren will go into mourning - she adores the buiders!! Simmi x

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  7. Ginx Craft7 April 2013 at 19:37

    The building work looks very exciting, and I'm sure the end results will be worth all the upheaval and dust. Really like the little felt booties.

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    1. Unknown7 April 2013 at 20:40

      Ahhh thank you :-) It definitely will be worth it in the end! Simmi x

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  8. Patchwork Fairy7 April 2013 at 20:17

    Ooh it's worth any mess to get your own special craft room!! You must post pics when it's all stocked out and ready to work in. I have a whole bedroom as my craft room as our children have left home and I love the feeling of it being my special space!

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    1. Unknown7 April 2013 at 20:41

      Ohhh I will - I'll probably bore everyone senseless about it ;-) I cannot wait! Just knowing where everything is will be a real novelty - at the moment I'm spread out over the whole house! Simmi x

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  9. Unknown7 April 2013 at 20:20

    oh wow wow wow Simmi!! every particle of dust is worth it - it will be amazing...you should invite the teamcb lot down to drool over it!! All the best with the work, know it's hard to live in a building site! xx

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    1. Unknown7 April 2013 at 20:42

      Hehe I might just do that - I'll certainly have space for a West Country gathering once it's all finished :-) Simmi xx

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  10. Natalie Jones7 April 2013 at 20:25

    How exciting! Building work is always awful to live through but always worth it in the end. And your baby shoes are simply gorgeous. Enjoy your chocolate x

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  11. Jilly7 April 2013 at 20:37

    Oh my goodness! I can totally see why you need to get out of the house. That is a mammoth job. No point in telling you that it will be worth it when it is all finished because that won't help you right now. It will be worth it though!

    LOVE the little shoes with the flowers.

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    1. Unknown7 April 2013 at 20:43

      Hehe - thanks Jilly :-) I am so excited as we've had it planned out for SO long now! Simmi xx

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  12. Jan7 April 2013 at 20:52

    It looks a great place with a great history attached. Oooo maybe I should do houses with extensions :)

    Love the booties, I know what you mean about colourways, I love mixing different combinations.

    Jan x

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    1. Unknown9 April 2013 at 08:29

      Jan, you SO should :-) Thanks for the bootie love! Simmi x

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  13. Gertie7 April 2013 at 21:18

    I bet you can't wait until the building work is finished. I'm sure all the upheaval and dust will be worth it though. Just keep saying to yourself 'new workshop. New workshop...'

    The little shoes are so cute. I'm sure Baby Olivia looks lovely in them xx

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    1. Unknown9 April 2013 at 08:30

      Awww thanks Gertie :-) I've been a bit sneaky in that I've posted the pics on the same day as I posted the parcel to my cousin, but I'm guessing they'll be too busy with the new arrival to be reading my blog!! Simmi x

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  14. Free Spirit Designs7 April 2013 at 22:33

    Oooh that sounds like a project worth suffering the dust for :) It is a nightmare though isn't it... i hope the ordeal is over soon!!

    you're little booties are just adorable and perfect for a spring baby! x

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    1. Unknown9 April 2013 at 08:31

      Hehe - I'm not sure I'd be putting up with the chaos if it was for anything else!! Thanks Natalie - I just love that they're so little and snuggly :-) Simmi x

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  15. Anonymous7 April 2013 at 23:54

    These shoes are too cute! I love the color and the flowers!

    Navy Wifey Peters @ Submarine Sunday Link Party
    http://usscrafty.blogspot.com/2013/04/submarine-sunday-26.html

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    1. Unknown9 April 2013 at 08:32

      Awww thanks :-) Hope you have a lovely week. Simmi x

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  16. Christmas Pie Crafts8 April 2013 at 08:23

    It's really grim living in the middle of all that work, but so nice when it is all finished and you have lovely new space. Lovely slippers - such a pretty colour. hope you have a good, dust free, week.

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    1. Unknown9 April 2013 at 08:33

      Thanks Jill... it is grim, but thankfully most of the dirt seems to have stopped for a while :-) Simmi x

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  17. Unknown8 April 2013 at 09:11

    They are so cute! And well done to you - being able to create such beauties in the middle of all the building work!

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  18. Louise@ElsieMayandBertha8 April 2013 at 11:26

    It's amazing how far dust can travel! I hope you get settled as soon as possible so you can make more beautiful shoes.

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    1. Unknown9 April 2013 at 08:35

      Thanks Louise - you're so right though, it gets everywhere! Simmi x

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  19. say it8 April 2013 at 12:32

    Having just finished some house renovations I totally sympathise with you - the dust just gets everywhere! Really hope it's not long until the work is finished. I'm sure it will be worth it to get your own workshop :-)

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    1. Unknown9 April 2013 at 08:36

      Thanks :-) I've been eating dusty sandwiches and fruit this week, which takes some beating!! Can't wait to post pics of the finished workshop though! Simmi x

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  20. Janice Gill8 April 2013 at 17:04

    Those shoes are so cute. And I love your colour scheme :) My (in their late twenties)kids need to get a move on and make me some Grandchildren so I have an excuse to make things like this:)

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    1. Unknown9 April 2013 at 08:37

      Thanks Janice :-) Awww hope you have the excuse soon! I just can't believe that I didn't think to make them when my kids were babies! Simmi x

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  21. Highland Monkey's8 April 2013 at 18:46

    How exciting a workshop of your very own, no pain, no gain tho!! It will be wonderful when it's finished. Love the little bootees, they are lovely.

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    1. Unknown9 April 2013 at 08:38

      Hehe true! It is very exciting, I've been decorating it in my head for months now ;-) Simmi x

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  22. The Cookie Kitchen8 April 2013 at 20:15

    As soon as I read bakery oven my eyes lit up, albeit bright green with envy and then i read the rest...such a shame, I am sure you would have been able to put them to great use!

    Those shoes are too cute for words!

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    1. Unknown9 April 2013 at 08:39

      I know, we were gutted that we couldn't find some way of saving the oven! Thanks for the bootie love :-) Simmi x

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  23. stylesofcooking8 April 2013 at 21:42

    I dont envy you having all that mess around you. At least you managed some productivity this week, love the colour of the shoes.

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    1. Unknown9 April 2013 at 08:40

      Thanks :-) It's not too bad thankfully - compared to the renovations we did a couple of years ago, but we weren't trying to raise two small children and run a business from home then!! Simmi x

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  24. EleanorLucy Millinery9 April 2013 at 14:08

    It is my lifetime ambition to live in a beautiful house like that with my very own workshop, I'm trying to be pleased for you in between the intense bouts of envy ;) Hope everything goes smoothly, and the booties are adorable - gorgeous spring colours and some impressively neat and even blanket stitch too! :) x

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    1. Unknown9 April 2013 at 18:17

      Awww thank you - I am a very lucky girl! Simmi xx

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  25. Get Crafty10 April 2013 at 14:44

    Hi Simmi, we just visited your Etsy shop. Blue baby booties with train are adorable! Lovely to speak to you and we look forward to your next posts. Good luck! xx

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I really appreciate all comments made on the blog (it reminds me that I'm not talking to myself!) so just wanted to say thanks for adding your thoughts. Simmi x