News / Meet The Maker

Stripped Wooden Floors

Whenever I've gone quiet on social media and my blog it usually means I'm up to something in my own home. This time is no different! We've had to get works done in the house (damp coursing, fully rewired - the joy of an older house!) so while it was already a mess, I started uncovering this beauty of a floor in my kitchen! I had no idea it'd still be good under all the thick layers upon layers black paint. Lots of work to go, but I do love a challenge! 

We used some fairly potent smelling paint stripper - caution and lots of ventilation and a mask is advised! Our house is an old Victorian redbrick oozing with old world charm and loveliness, however being 120 odd years old, in places the paint is 120 layers thick! This floor was no exception, and again because of it's age we needed to be careful with sanding as there was a risk of old paint containing lead, and being our kitchen floor, with an open shelving style galley kitchen - it would not be a good environment to have tiny lead particles floating around in. I am also fairly sure that the final coating of paint was an industrial style garage floor paint, quite the mess to remove. It was black, layered on until all definition between board was lots and scuffed to bits, never looking clean and very dark in an otherwise bright kitchen. It had to go.

I have always wanted a painted wooden floor, and although my head says to varnish or stain to a darker wooden finish (after all it will help to hide some of that dirt amiright?), alas the heart wants what the heart wants. Painted floorboards are notoriously not as hard-wearing as a good old fashioned varnished one, and although this will be quite a high traffic area I'm still going to give it a whirl. This will only be a temporary solution until we save to get something else, and is our first house after renting for many years so its great to be finally about to do what we want with our own home. Those trusty converse have seen quite a few upcycles in their time! Check back in to see the progress. Wish me luck!

Sanded wooden floor

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Junk Kouture - Recycled Fashion Competition

Junk Kouture is an awesome recycled fashion competition held in Ireland for secondary level students to create their own recycled and wearable fashion items. What a fantastic way to get teenagers thinking about what they can do to help recycle and preserve the environment around them for their own and furture generations. Below is some amazing work by the kids in CBS Westland Row - all made from recycled materials! The materials they used were all sourced from Recreate Ireland. Recreate Ireland is a fantastic initiative that partners with businesses to recycle their waste for use as art & craft materials. Well done to the talented kids in CBS Westland Row, incredible work and all made from 'junk', some serious talent and creativity- best of luck in the competition! 

Recreate Junk Koutre Competition 1

Recreate Junk Koutre Competition 2

Recreate Junk Koutre Competition 3

Recreate Junk Koutre Competition 4

Recreate Junk Koutre Competition 5

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Meet The Maker

Phew! The Flea was such a whirlwind, what a weekend! Now for some well deserved sleep, which I am starting to feel very deprived of. The flea was so busy that I started running out of stock and had to come home in the evening and make and pack up more to sell! What a complaint to have. I may now sleep for a week however zzzzzzzzz

Was great to see so many familiar faces and meet so many more of you too, thank you so much for coming by my stall to say hello and helping to support my little business and my dream - it means so much to me! 

I had a real treat when Lights, Camera, Laura stopped by (thanks Laura White!) to have a little chat with me about my products and ideas. I am however not used to being in front of a camera as you can see by the result! :) 

Delighted to be able to showcase my little business. Meet the Maker behind The Makery - enjoy!
 

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