First-time house renovation

KT1985

jamtart6 wrote: »

i love kirsties homemade homes!!!!!! i am dying to try the envelope cushions, were they easy??

yep, I can make one in 25 mins now after making 5 (2 big, 3 small), including trims/buttons.

I don't measure, I guess by just folding the cloth over.

They are great- really pleased with how they have gone, bought cushion pads (duck feather) from Dunhelm Mill and some cream jacquard (2 metres for £4) and a red table cloth for £1.95 from a charity shop.

Think you have to do them on a sewing machine- would take ages by hand to do the stitches small enough.

jamtart6

mm i am definitely going to invest in a new sewing machine, by the time i have had the 1950's Singer machine overhauled, it will be cheaper to buy a new one probably!

KT1985

Bought a new one today- E and R NT22 from argos... really easy to use, and didn't cost me too much.

latecomer

I've been out to the garden to hang out some washing and found that the grass seed I'd given up on has finally started to grow. Actually made me really happy (which is rather sad) :j

On the job front I received the job spec last night and its for a more senior position than I've had and also leading a small team of people too. Mind you they obviously think I must be suitable or I wouldn't be going in for an interview. Alternatively perhaps they have misread my CV......

latecomer

I should have said thanks to everyone for all the messages about the job situation. Fingers crossed something comes of the interview tomorrow.

Andy - bathroom is starting to look good. And those bushes look great, hopefully the bushes I attacked the other week will come back in a similar fashion.

TM - sounds like you are making good progress, in fact I guess you are almost finished now

KT - well done on making cushions. Very money saving :T

Spicey

Midori wrote: »

thanks spicey for the buildings regs info, did you need to get someone in to give you calculations for the lintels? We need to put an RSJ in a wall we want knock through we think the rule is 1 inch thick per foot wide of gap. Do we need a structural engineer or can we just chat to the suppliers of the RSJ?

We are on a tight budget so I have been drawing up plans myself, but I think we definitely need someone in to help with the loft calculations!

Midori

We were not required to get calculations done. Just had to get agreement from inspector as to type of lintel and size before doing. But if we were not doing a bungalow or if we were going to extend into the loft then calculations would be a must. Which would have cost around £600.
Also councils have different rules as to where you live, some are more helpful than others, it worth a phone call to the inspector, if only to find out how helpful they are.
Also most of our openings are just widening or narrowing of existing windows and doors.
If you are planning on going above then I would def pay for the calculations.

I spent 9 hours yesterday soaking and stripping wallpaper, which I discovered was put up to hide a multitude of horror.
I have a steam stripper but am finding it easier and quicker to use sponge and water.

Jill

TomsMom

Wow Andy - that's almost a masterclass in growing a lawn from seed. Shame we don't have a lawn. What else do you know about gardening ? I'm a total beginner, a know-nowt! But I'm very good at giving snails flying lessons :rotfl: . No, they don't land in neighbours' gardens, they either land on the railway or the car park depending on how much oomph I put behind it!

By the way, your garden pictures are lovely. Regarding the cat poo, I belong to a craft forum where this subject came up and here are a couple of their suggestions

I have found that orange peel, cut small and baked crispish in the oven, then scattered round edge of garden area ( or all over if you have enough of the stuff) seems to work. Baked peel keeps its smell longer when it's out in the rain , I was told. Another thing is holly leaves.

Another one is plastic bottles, half filled with water, with the lid on, and placed around the garden. There is a scientific explanation for that one, it may work. Another one is pieces of bark in the flower beds.

You mentioned it happens at night! Well, the half-filled bottle, emits lights reflected from moon, lamps, traffic etc, and the cats do not like it. During the day it works with the sun, if there is any!

and someone linked to this and said it worked, I don't know as I don't have one but it is rather expensive.

Spicey

Andy- Thanks for the grow your grass info, my DH is insisting on growing the lawn from seed so will pass your info onto him!

Has anyone got any ideas as to what to do with the jumbo bags after we have emptied them?

Jill

TomsMom

Spicey wrote: »

Has anyone got any ideas as to what to do with the jumbo bags after we have emptied them?

Jill

Last time we had some (a few years ago at the other house) they went back to the builders merchant as there was a deposit on them and we got the deposit refunded. Not sure if this is what happens everywhere.

Spicey

TomsMom wrote: »

Last time we had some (a few years ago at the other house) they went back to the builders merchant as there was a deposit on them and we got the deposit refunded. Not sure if this is what happens everywhere.

These are from wickes, no deposit paid. We also had some a few years ago that we got a refund on when we returned them, from builder center.
Seems such a waste, so trying to think of ways of using them, maybe for compost.