tidying and paint and shopping

 On Sunday we (Carrick Artists Collective) started sorting the gallery ready for re-opening on 28 March.

It was supposed to be a cleaning day...but first came the Spring Declutter!!

I ended up taking four large plastic bin bags of assorted rubbish and recycling...and a few bits that I'd Wombled...I know....but not rubbish, bits that will soon be used!....and a very dead and smelly fridge. I am the only one with a car that you can just put "under counter" white goods straight in without lying them down...and our local recycling centre takes them with no bother...which they did first thing....well, 9.20...You book a twenty minute slot...and leaving home at 9 means no rush for breakfast!

Monday became sorting out the house day...two lots of washing in and mostly dry...and the greenhouse...vaguely tidied and onion sets planted.

this will get them started without worrying about cold wet soil and preparing the ground...

Tuesday morning became housework as well...including all the ironing....but it does smell so good!! and then waiting for a delivery....an unbirthday present from my brother...a phone!!...that arrived well after 4.30 in the afternoon...not much having been done, as I didn't want to miss the delivery!

Apart from testing the shortlist (of two) of red paints in different lights...shade and sun to start with

The decision was made when the curtains were drawn and lights turned on...

the top one, "dusky berry" looked brown...

so "hot cherry " it is!!

Today became Hunt the Paint day....

the shop where I bought the test pot doesn't stock that colour. The Big DiY shop would mix that colour for another £9....

I looked for stockists locally...and there is a Johnstone's trade paint centre where anyone can go...and they use their own trade quality base...for the same price as the Big DiY store....I treated myself to a pro quality brush as well...with a wooden handle!!

As I was out anyway...and in the car...and Kilmarnock is only another ten miles away...

I went to see a household shop there...that used to have a decent fabric snd haberdashery.  It is very poor now...but...I found wadding/batting....cotton polyester mix which matches the top fabric of the Shirts quilt..and a cushion pad to make a cover for with the zigzag patchworks.

And....these were the old kitchen lampshades

In the same shop, drastically reduced, were these metal shades...easy to clean...and now the kitchen is nice and bright!!