Crafty in the Med

I am here to enjoy meeting other bloggers and to share my love of craft ,mostly crochet, my thoughts and my daily happenings here in Alicante,Spain, my adopted country. I belong to a local choir because singing and music makes me happy. Flea markets and book shops are two of my favourite places to be. I read lots......sci´fi/fantasy,buried treasure, and off world adventures. I have a passion for history! I walk and walk and walk for about 10 months per year during the hot months I swim.

Saturday 22 August 2020

For Ages and Ages

 

 

 

 

 

For quite some time now I have wanted to spruce up the spare bedroom a little. It is now my Cookie baby's room (my grand-daughter) when she sleeps overI wanted to to give it a cheerier        19 year olds look but without having to revamp the whole room nor did I want to go to a lot of expense.                                                         For ages I shrugged it off telling myself I would have time to do it when I retire.  I retired just last April but it has taken me practically five months for the penny to drop or should I say for retirement mode to kick in hence my delay in doing anything to brighten this room.        Inspired by the impressive new looks that Julie at My Threadbear Life gives to lots of different items I thought I would give an old not particularly special full length mirror a cleaner,brighter look and hang it in Cookie's room. It was a horrible dingy orangery brown frame before and quite grubby with some rather stubborn glue marks on the mirror face!   I used several concoctions to try and clean the mirror of the glue but nothing would budge that glue. Sr P kindly offered to give the mirror a good scrub with a heavy duty green pot scourer ...oh! dear...thank goodness rubbing alcohol finally did the trick! I then cleaned the mirror again with a water and white vinegar spray.            It looks like a mirror again, in other words I can see myself in it now. I don't know much about how to paint things but I had about a quarter of a tin of white satin finish paint on hand and the time, so I thought I would have a go.

 

 

I should have taken a before photo but I forgot! This is the after photo and although it doesn't look like much it is umpteen times better than that ugly,dirty old mirror I had dug out of the spare room. All the same I felt it needed a little something extra...so I added a bit of bling...not too much just a little...in the top right hand corner of the mirror frame and also in the bottom left hand corner.  The gems certainly shine when the lights are switched on.

 

 


 I had some paint left so I decide to also give the scruffy looking bedside table a facelift . Another old piece of furniture in what I think is the Castilian style which was quite a popular style of furniture in the 60s here in Spain not so popular now. It became all white like the mirror and I added some gems to the kings' crowns on each table leg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 There are a few more changes I want to make in the room so I am not posting a full pic of the room until I get it all finished.




I know everyone is sick and tired of the mention of the pandemic and ME TOO!! I blame the media for this phobia...they are having a field day. However,our daily life at present is saturated with constant reminders so it happens I may mention it at times...this is one of those times because I feel quite annoyed.

BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!!  

 My sister, in the UK ,had booked her holiday with us for the beginning of June,she had to cancel that flight in June because Spain's borders were closed so she booked for September.  RyanAir has now cancelled that flight too so her trip is postponed until next year.  I haven't seen my sister in six years so I am quite disappointed!!

 

AN IMPRESSIVE CROCHET AUTHOR in our midst!

 Sue Perez has finally finished and published her Live Loops Cables in Crochet book....congratulations Sue! If you would like more details go to Mr Micawber's Recipe for Happiness and check out her acknowledgements page, we are all mentioned there.

 

You may be wondering why I have posted a photo of a crocheted cupcake!  One of the questions in Kathy B Compassionknit  August Q & A  post was  Have you knitted a  cupcake?  I replied "Crochet is my forte and yes."  I have crocheted a cupcake..several in fact. This one in particular I made a few years ago.         A chance to show it off😀😀😀   


More RAOCKs

I have quite a stash of RAOCK makes which I haven't been able to drop off because of the pandemic. I hope in September I will be able to go for my walks  and scatter some RAOCKs around the city again.  

This is one of those  RAOCK makes made in April during lockdown and waiting to go out. 

 

                                         A friendship ring bag fob.

 

 



Have a great weekend



Keep well


   Amanda :-)





22 comments:

  1. That is so neat that you are fixing up a special room for your granddaughter! I look forward to seeing it all done. We fixed up our two upstairs bedrooms for our two grandsons and it feels great that they consider them "their" rooms. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. I like what you've done so far with the bedroom for your granddaughter. When she sees the things you have done to make it special just for her I know that she'll love it.
    I know what you mean about the "spector in our midst." We have had to cancel so many travel plans this year, including a cruise and flying to London. Our son's wedding has been postponed because it's in London and our family is all in the US and of course, we can't get there right now. *sigh*. If I think about it, it really gets to be too much.
    I love your RAOCK that's waiting to go out. It's beautiful.
    I'm so glad you're back blogging again my friend.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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    1. Indeed Betsy that is too much!! In comparison I feel bad about complaining now! stay safe A x

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  3. It took me quite a while to get into retirement mode too. I've been retired for 6 years now, and still get that feeling that I haven't got time to do things! I'm sure your granddaughter will love her room. The gems are a great idea. So simple yet effective. The ROACK's are great too. It's nice to spread a bit of happiness, especially at this strange time. xx

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    1. I was a bit worried about using the bling stuff because my grand-daughter doesn't like fussy clothing or too much jewellery. I did not want to overdo it. Well it is taking me lots to adapt to having time and the lack of constant activity!! keep well A x

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  4. Loving the bling, loving the furniture - it looks fantastic and will be much appreciated, I am sure.
    Ryanair is being a pain right now, messing people about no end. I'm sure they think it is necessary but what a disappointment for you all.
    The bag fob is gorgeous! Lucky recipient.
    xx

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  5. Love the little touches you have done to the your grandaughters room, making it very special. So sorry for the cancelled travel plans. it must be very disappointing. We are certainly living in very strange times. Love the bag fob.

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  6. I love what you have done to the mirror and the table the bling really makes them pop, I have a chair I want to paint it's just a stool and it used to be my Dads, I will get around to it sometime. I have just looked back on your last post but for some reason my comment isn't there, I did leave one but this seems to happening quite a bit, very strange I hope you get this one, anyway I love your RAOCKs they are lovely and such a great idea. What a shame you that you won't be seeing your sister six years is a long time. Looking forward to seeing further bedroom renovations. Have a great week. xx

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    1. What!!! I have just checked my last post and there is no comment from you. How annoying!! Please see my email xx

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  7. Oh I do love a bit of bling and you did a great job on that mirror. The crocheted cherry ckae made Tony and I smile.. Calorie free too. It's a shame that you won't get to see your sister this year. Stay safe. x

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  8. Glad you like the cupcake.....he! he! perfect if you are on a diet then!! A x

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  9. Hi Amanda. The mirror looks amazing!!! I love what you have done & I love the bling you have added - sometimes they just need that "something extra". The table has turned out wonderful too. See how the paint has accentuated the detailing on the legs. I look forward to seeing the bedroom reveal - keep up the great work Amanda & thanks for the link to my blog. Your friendship fob is just beautiful too. Have a great week. Julie xx

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    1. The thing is I find I am enjoying it too and she likes the changes which makes me happy. Just a few more things and I will have finished it. A x

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  10. I think she loves the cookie's room very, very much! The most of our ladies love all kind of bling bling. You've made it so beautiful! ❤

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    1. Thanks! She does indeedn and just a little extra sparkle has given it a brighter look. A x

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  11. The bling on the mirror and table are gorgeous. Your creativity is spot on.

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  12. aw, I love your cupcake.. Work for grands room is darling. Nothing like sparkle and glitz

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    1. It is getting brighter...sparkle by sparkle!! LOL! A x

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  13. I am all for a bit of bling, in fact I love anything shiny. I must have got it from my Dad. My Mum always used to say 'don't let him get at the gold paint' because he wanted to put it everywhere, lol
    I have never heard of a RAOCK what are they?
    Briony
    x

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    1. RAOCK is short for Random Act of Crochet Kindness. If you click on the link on those letters on this post and scroll down to the end of the page you'll get more details. A x

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  14. I love the cupcake and the mirror. Sue's book arrived at my house this week, it is an encyclopedia of crochet knowledge, she is amazing. Stay safe my friend.

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    1. Thanks! I am being cheeky and waiting for Sue's giveaway to try my luck! A x

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Thank you for your comments. I do read them and try to reply to all as well.Please keep them coming. Amanda :-)