My new rainbow board

April 11, 2016

Just before we put the finishing touches to our porch Teacher Boards got in touch and offered me the opportunity to review one of thier new range of Rainbow Boards. The two events are related, because if you remember the "spare" pigeon shelf that we didn't use in the porch after all, was destined for my soon-to-be craft room. Well, I got to thinking that a pin board in that room would be just the thing, so I was keen to see what this range could offer.

I chose the smallest size of 0.9m x 0.6m, but there's six sizes available with the largest at 2.4m x 1.2m being huge and would probably cover the whole wall in my study-cum-craft-room! With the size sorted, all that was left was to choose a colour - there's nineteen to choose from - and decide whether to have a frame or not.

In the end I choose not to have a frame and after receiving some samples choose light blue over teal and turquoise. When it arrived I knew I'd chosen well as it was a similar shade to the wallpaper we have used throughout the house as our base colour palette.

I was surprised though to find there were no holes. But that was easily sorted and it meant that I could choose where they would go, so they were easy to add. Marking the four holes one inch from each edge I delegated the actual hole drilling to MOH, who let's be fair relished the chance to use some power tools.

Above you can see the fixings that were supplied. Because we (yes, the Royal we again) were drilling into a plasterboard wall MOH made substitutions that were appropriate - I left him to it. What I did think were very clever though was the white screw covers which, I think give a professional finish and mean I don't have to look at the screw heads. Clever hey?

So with my new rainbow notice board on the wall, there was only one thing left to do - decorate it.

I've added the sample charts that Teacher Boards sent so you can see the range of colours available against the Light Blue that I choose.

I've also pinned

a yellow party popper I had hanging around,
a heart left over from my Valentines craft,
a cerise and white polka dot tray I've made
a brass and (fake) pearl name pin,
my first paper cut out testing my new die machine
a spring garden picture
a yellow fancily decorated egg hanging on ribbon
a small bag containing some perspex stamps
one of the bows I made a while back
plus some paper flowers I keep meaning to use, but I'm not sure how yet.

I'm really pleased with my board. It arrived promptly, was good value (this board costs £36.19) and it was easy to put up despite my initial concern about the lack of holes! I think it looks good, and I'm looking forward to using it to provide inspiration for my current and future craft projects and to brighten that corner of the room.

The study's transformation to my craft room just took another step closer!

This is a collaborative post with Teacher Boards who provided me with this board for the purposes of this review, all opinions are my own.

Let's talk wood flooring

March 21, 2016

Today I'm combining two things I'm passionate about: quality wood flooring and a strong family business - it sounds a truly winning combination. Let me tell you more, although the wood flooring speaks for itself, just look at these stunning installations:

ENGINEERED WALNUT FLOORINGPhoto credit: JFJ WOOD FLOORING — ENGINEERED WALNUT FLOORING
Photo credit: JFJ WOOD FLOORING

'SUPREME' ENGINEERED OAK FLOORINGPhoto credit: JFJ WOOD FLOORING — 'SUPREME' ENGINEERED OAK FLOORING
Photo credit: JFJ WOOD FLOORING

JFJ Wood Flooring have a long history in the timber industry and can date this back to 1853, which is pretty impressive. They supply both solid oak, engineered oak flooring and walnut wood flooring to all parts of the UK. But they believe what makes them different is that they work with their customers to provide flooring that meets their needs and they deliver that to a high quality.

They're proud too that their business has been built on word of mouth over the years. I know from the experiences we've had redecorating our house that I'd much prefer to work with craftsmen that people I know have worked with and recommend. It's an easier and more reassuring way to have some certainty about the service you'll receive.

As I've been chatting to them by email I can see why they've lasted so long, they're personable and knowledgeable, proud of what they do but also interact with you in a way a larger, more corporate company often wouldn't. JFJ Wood Flooring are based in Devon and not that far from family we have that way, so we spoke about a shared connection of the narrow country lanes and lots of "backing" - which is inevitable on the often single width lanes, and where one driver reverses so the other can pass. I know in our journeys around Devon it feels like a massive win if we manage even the shortest of journeys without this - small things, hey?!

They're looking to the future too and are in the planning process to build a new 'eco' type workshop, which sounds fantastic. And of course they're planning for it to be cedar clad - what else? - and they're hoping for a grass roof and solar panels and for it to be more pleasing on the eye than their current, very old workshop.

So if you're after some wood flooring do check out JFJ Wood Flooring as, as well as their products they've some useful information and tools - like their flooring calculator - to help you get the results you want.

And for a traditional family company, what's great is that they're on social media too, so you can connect with them on Facebook and Twitter

This is a collaborative post but all opinions are my own

Let's talk Gates...

March 17, 2016

Everyone has them right? Erm, well no - I don't.

With no side access and a shared driveway I'm lacking gates in my life. I'm coping ok, but I do wonder if that's why I end up being drawn to them - and photographing at least one or two of them - when we're out and about whether that's at National Trust properties, cycling around Norfolk or other places we've visited.

I snapped these Norfolk gates on a cycle one day, they couldn't be more different in style and while I wouldn't say the ones above are plain, next to the Sandringham Estate ones below they certainly look it.

Yes, the gates at Sandringham are pretty impressive aren't they - and probably a bit larger than the ones you might have yourself.

But even so all of the gates I've included in this post do have something in common, and it's not necessarily ironwork - although most of my photos do seem to be of iron gates, I did manage to find a picture of a white painted wooden gate too so that's at the bottom of this post to prove it exists.

Gates get a lot of use - they are after all the way in and out of a space. I'll concede those grand gates at Sandringham may not get as much use as some of the others I've shown but every gate needs maintaining. If it's wooden then a coat of paint or varnish will having it looking new in no time, for iron gates painting might take a little more time depending on its detail but it'll look a million dollars afterwards.

But it's not just their looks that we need to take care of, it's their moving parts too. A gate that is hard to open, or opens too easily or creaks isn't ideal either so it's a good idea to check the hinges, catches and closures, Barrier Components have replacement parts if yours are beyond repair.

I'm sure we've all heard a creaking gate in our time, and wished we hadn't! How do you look after yours?

This is a collaborative post but all opinions are my own