Slow process

The last few weeks have definitely had their ups and downs!

I've had my hands full so haven't updated progress pics in a while. There are some below, but I will have to do another post soon as the boys have since built more. Once we had the wood, it's been happening quite quickly! This might be a long post, as I'm playing a bit of catch up. So grab a cuppa! 

Big news is that now we are all sharing a bedroom in Mum's tiny flat (yes, all four of us). One Queen size bed and two mattresses on the floor.  Most importantly, we are sharing one wardrobe. Gasp!

Surprisingly, we fit. It's an adjustment, for sure. But we are learning how to respect each other's space more, and how to pick up after ourselves, though of course some of us still struggle with that. Learning how to ask for "space", has been a really interesting life lesson. I think that when we do move into the caravan, we might even find it roomy!

Finances have been tight. Income we expected has not arrived yet, and we've had to constantly compromise and re-prioritise, as the renovations are costly and Geo is having to put other work on hold to finish the van. It's time-consuming, slow going (as he is doing all the work himself) and expensive. The pressure to finish it gets too much sometimes, and I really feel for him. But it is AMAZING what he is accomplishing. He is so clever, he even surprises himself with what he can do! We do have a deadline though, and it is really fast approaching. If its not finished soon ... well, we'll deal with that hurdle if and when we have to.

The Boy has been Daddy's shadow, going to the warehouse each day and helping to build and measure and plan and design and construct ..... the list goes on. If it all gets too much he rides his scooter outside, or the bike. And there just happens to be a park close by. Handy, that. ;) And look, a roof! :) There were some sore arms after that day. I only helped with two panels, and my arms were aching!

The Girl sometimes chooses to go to the warehouse to help too, but mostly she stays with me at Mum's,  walks the dog on the beach and is creating a TV show on her iPad using her Sylvanian Family toys. She is also learning crafts - and has hand-stitched some pretty yellow curtains for her toy caravan ... so cheery! She is reading lots and writing lots too, and will probably have finished all her school workbooks by the end of the month, but as she says, "It keeps my brain busy". Love.

I have been sewing every chance I get - which involves unpacking and setting up and then packing away everything every time. I was spoilt before with my own space for crafting, so it has been good for me and I find I am even more keen to pull the machine out now... go figure.

Loving having my coffee down by the water ... its amazing how every single day it looks totally different. This was taken the other day and the water was CRYSTAL clear. Spectacular. 

I have finished the bunk bed curtains, the curtain for the door, the doona covers and several cushion covers. I have been using the cushion covers as a practise to remember how to insert zips - its been awhile! I feel pretty confident now, so when I get the green light to purchase the upholstery fabric I can whip up the new seat covers in no time at all. We are using aluminium blinds for the windows so we can make the most of the views, but also so we don't get too cluttered up with "booffy" curtains. Pretty sure I just made that word up. ;) 

 I have also made a cover for our bed's headboard out of old jeans - lots of pockets and tabs for storage and hanging bits and bobs ... Can't wait to show you that when it's finished. Also used up a whole bunch of denim offcuts and cut them into triangles, then made a patchwork denim cushion cover! So cool. My first proper patchwork too. It's a bit rough,  I guess. Not quite perfect, but like true patchwork, it was made out of necessity and what was at hand. I love the fact that I made something beautiful out of scraps. It took a day to cut out, and  a day to sew, but was so rewarding. Think I might be addicted to patchwork when we get back! 

Of course, I am crocheting too. And knitting dishcloths. I love hand knitted dishcloths and facecloths. I'll show you them when I have a nice stack. Meanwhile ...

Here's something bright for you. 

I crocheted this mandala the other day. One of those rare moments when I was left alone for the morning and was free to let the creative juices flow ... and when I finished, I still had an hour and a half left ... so I thought it might look good felted. This is the result ...  a perfect colourful trivet! Thick and fuzzy. Great to jazz up the plain grey bench top that will be in our caravan kitchen. Might have to make matching oven mitts ....

But the most wonderful project I've finished is this ...

I finished my Blooming Flower Cushion!

Actually, it only took a few weeks. I just hadn't revealed it yet.  I really enjoyed making it. I love the colours! It was really hard to stop at 30cm wide. In fact I think it is over sized. And guess what, I'll tell you a little secret! It is stuffed with wool! Balls of wool! Enough for a blanket! That's why I'm making cushion covers, see. They are really just ways to hide my yarn stash. But shhh! Don't tell.

I have a few little creative jobs I'd like to finish, while there's time, but my mind is already turning to what to pack, and how to pack it. It's going to be tricky. Especially for a craft packrat like me.

Here's a few progress shots to keep you all happy. I'll try to add more later. :)

Plywood on the walls - walls! Apparently the curves were tricky. I can only imagine!

We had a great time painting the walls as a family. Lil and I did the cutting in, the boys did the rolling. So much fun. And of course, we finished it off with a family swim at the beach - with rainbows overhead! Magical.

Back to painting and sanding, sanding and painting. Meanwhile the old vinyl glue is still painstakingly being scraped off, piece by piece, using a heat gun and a scraper. Slowly but surely....

 This is known as "hamming it up" for the camera. :)

White and fresh! Ready for the floor.

Geof and the kids installed the floor. They said it was like a big jigsaw. Vinyl planks that looks like wood. Gives it a beachy feel, I think. Will be hardwearing and hide the dirt too. I just love it. And look, bunk frames and wardrobes, wiring is ready for the light fittings, and the oven frame and kitchen lower cabinet are being made in the photo below. All from scratch. Amazing. Geo, the builder. What can't he do? 

Promise, more pics to come soon. 

Finally, no more vinyl!!

This last week has been a bit of a roller coaster.

Mum came back for a week and it has been lovely spending time with her.  Unfortunately though her health has had a bit of a setback and we have been running to and from doctors all week. Thankfully it looks like we have everything sorted now and she is off again on her cruise to SE Asia! Oh! to be retired. ;)

Geo and his trusty sidekick "J" have been stripping out, sanding, and cleaning off all the old caulking around the windows that had dried and hardened, and pulled up all the vinyl from the floor. This involved using a heat gun and a scraper - during our hot and humid weather it was NOT a fun job and seemed to take days.

But eventually the vinyl disappeared! And so did the windows and the door and the aluminium strips (seams?) that hold the caravan together.  

And inside the van (well, what's left of it!) is a network of cables and diagrams that is so far beyond my understanding .... but I have faith in my Geo. :)

We have been looking at lights - trying to determine where in the van we'll need them, and choose the type of lights that will suit. We both believe in task lighting - it will be rare that all the lights are running at the same time. Instead, lighting over the table, over the kitchen area and above the wardrobe/dressing area are the main places for lights. We will add some downlights for ambient lights over the lounges and probably reading lamps for the beds. We are a family of bookworms!

I am a big fan of these LED lights from Ikea. We've had them before, and they are great! Energy efficient, cool, and long lasting. I reckon they'll look great under the cabinets above the lounge.

We have a few days to get everything ready for the final wiring stage, and then later in the week we will start putting the old girl back together! We have been trying to figure out the van's name. She is definitely an old girl, and we have been throwing around lots of names like "Millie" and "Audrey", "Pandora" and "Phoenix"(for obvious reasons) but she hasn't quite developed her full persona yet. I'm sure that once she has come out the other side of her "surgery" we will have a better idea. 

Geo's Nissan Patrol is called Humphrey, as we used to have a large stuffed camel called Humphrey in our lounge room that the kids loved riding around the house, and when we bought the patrol they remarked how the car felt like it was lurching around like a horse or camel. And the name stuck. I am sure that the van will make her name known soon, too. :) Of course, suggestions are welcome!!

I have been sewing every chance I can get, and have nearly finished all three duvet/doona covers. Here's a few sneak peeks ...

I have also chopped up my denim collection and have grand plans to turn them into a wall hanging storage solution. Also, all the offcuts from the doona covers are going to be pieced together into curtains for the bunks. Might even sneak a few pockets into the curtains too - great for hiding secret treasures and trinkets ... ;)

Found this old denim dress and had a fabulous crafty break through moment! Will show you the result next week...

I have really been surprised at how much I have enjoyed sewing these patchwork covers. I just love putting all these bright and colourful squares together and seeing how they turn out - much like my addiction to crochet granny squares!!  

 

I hope that your week has been full of crafty adventures and breakthroughs, too.  But for now,  goodnight and may you dream sweet dreams. 

Fumes and sprinkles!!

Today Geo started removing the old Lino from the floor. This involved a heat gun and a scraper, a dust mask and a whole bucketload of sweat!!

Our rubbish pile from the van is growing bigger ...

Geo has also pulled out all the windows and stripped them down, then cleaned all the aluminium until they were nice and shiny again. He scraped off all the ancient putty around them that had hardened and cracked and has bought new weatherstripping and will eventually reseal the windows with a flexible sealant like Sikaflex. 

The fumes from all the thinners and the Lino glues were making him dizzy though, so we may have to take a fan to move the air around more!!! 

I finished the top of Lily's cover today so am pleased with that!! 

All in all a productive day!

Oh, and we also baked cupcakes in honour of a friend's birthday who I can't be with in real time but we will definitely celebrate in spirit with her tomorrow. xxx