A Quick Tidy Up

My house has a little nook under the stairs which is one of those little nooks that often ends up in the too hard category when deciding how to fill in a space. After much debate and consultation with our cabinet maker (the banister and stairs have a slight curve making it problematic to fill in) we decided to, for the time being at least, erect some Ikea tables with several cane baskets which hold odds and bods like my sewing, the dog's stuff and sun hats. Instinctively I knew if this space was left without a semblance of order it would become a dumping ground for everyone's junk.
Yesterday I had a little tidy up and declutter. After one year in the house I couldn't believe how crammed the baskets were becoming.




While sorting through my vast collection of cottons from the sewing pile I rediscovered many which were passed to me from my mother who was a beautiful sewer. I have about eight containers of different colours.




Some of the reels are decades old. I'm not a hoarder and I declutter regularly but when it comes to cotton reels and buttons I find it difficult to let go. One never knows when one will need bright red thread or an odd shaped button.




During the tidy up I was reminded of an intricate cross stitch I started twenty five years ago. What are the chances of me ever completing it?
A new pair of eyes would help!

Annie xx

Ikea hunting and gathering and Orange

Do you enjoy visiting Ikea?

Have you trekked to Ikea and vowed Not to purchase, only browse? 

I took a girlfriend along once and the willpower she displayed was phenomenal! Didn't purchase a single solitary item. Unlike moi.

So Mr redroses and I hauled ourselves down the motorway on a hunting and gathering expedition to buy a few things, one being a fold-out sofa bed contraption for visitors.

I'm one of those people who is tactile with a capital T. I must touch and visualise and in this case lie on the bed to feel the vibe. And hope any relatives who sleep on this will be comfy. A gentleman and his wife were trying out the bed next to us and he gave us a giggle by saying it pays to not give visiting rellies anything too comfy or they'll never leave.
Slogging it out at Ikea also requires sturdy walking shoes to navigate the maze.

I'm not ashamed to admit to blog land that this place does my head in but I'm learning to deep breathe and hasten with caution when deciphering the catalogue, measurements and Swedish model descriptions. Mistakes happen.

Sustenance is vital to the whole experience and I don't know about you but I must have fish and chips and two large mugs of tea while we recuperate in the cafeteria before hitting the self-serve docks.

All in all I like Ikea but do find you have to work hard to achieve the end result. Especially when it comes to the biggish purchases and flat pack jigsaw puzzles. Good thing Mr redroses enjoys the notion of a challenge. Providing he gets a restorative coffee at half time!

Now onto a bit of fashion...orange is everywhere and many bloggers are writing pieces about it in the fashion world. Recently I bought home another frock and this one is totally orange. I have never been drawn to this colour but have decided to live dangerously and so I couldn't pass up this little cotton number.
I'm also in awe of talented seamstresses who run up creations, like Patricia from Red Cardinal. Pop over and take a peek at the lovely orange shift dress she's produced.
Trouble is I was taught to sew from a young age but have never enjoyed the experience. Nowadays I only do the odd alteration.
Plus I've never meet a sewing machine that tolerates my impatient technique!

Do you belong to that clever camp that can conjure up a fabulicious creation from a bolt of cloth?

Annie