Chez Larsson

Garment Protectors

After we started to use fitted sheets for our beds we had lots of regular flat sheets left over and I decided to repurpose them and among other new uses I've made some into garment protectors. 

We don't have huge amount of closet space in our house so the seldomly used garments (like Martin's tux and tails) are hung underneath the stairs  to the basement.

 

This is a simple sewing project. Lay two sheets on top of each other(or fold one), use a hanger as a guideline to outline the top of the protector with a pencil (making sure to add for seam allowance) and then add as much as you need in length. Don't bother about the hole for the hanger just yet. Cut and simply stitch along your outline. Zig zag and hem the bottom.

 

Get a grommet which is big enough for the hanger to pass through, punch and insert according to package and you're all set. One garment protector at your service! 

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I got a really good start on taking photos for my book today (bought a tripod last week as the light is still poor) so I'll probably continue shooting this weekend and doing some writing too. I can see it all coming together. Quite exciting! I hope your weekend will be exciting too!

One More Headboard

As we are on the subject of head boards, here's an easier one to make which requires very little carpentry. None if you ask the lumber yard staff to cut the board for you.

We chose to make ours the width of the bed and added about 5 inches so it wouldn't look to narrow when the bed is made. I can't remember exactly how I decided on the height, but usually I consider things like, is it comfy when sitting up as well as lying down? I used chipboard as a base because we had some left over in the garage. You can use any board or even a wooden frame, the kind you buy in art stores and stretch canvases onto.

 

I added two layers of batting to make the board soft to lean against. This was stapled onto the back of the board  and on top of the batting I stretched the fabric and stapled that on as well. I have to say I love my staple gun and I use it probably every or every other week on different projects. It's one of those tools you should have regardless of how small your tool box is.

  

To finish off I propped the head board against the wall, pushed the bed against it and it was ready. As simple as that!

Grommet Head Board

 

Carol (who has a gorgeous home!) asked to see the head board we have in our bedroom up closer after seeing it in this post.

 

Like most self built pieces in our home we used trusty old MDF. The grommet idea came from a Martha Stewart Living issue years ago where they used the technique on folding screens. Here it allows a little bit of air to escape from the radiator should we ever turn it on. We never have that radiator on though because it would get to warm in bed (according to Martin).  

 

Because the bedroom is so tiny, Martin can barely put down his size 11's on the floor beside the bed, we built the shelves to the sides and added the windowsill top. The actual head board part is simply another MDF board cut to size. We left a gap at the bottom, again in case we do need to turn the radiator on for some resaon. The gap would prevent some of the warm air to get trapped behind there.

 

This is the view of the board from the back where you can see the drilled holes for the grommets to be inserted into. We used grommets which are meant for sewing and simply skipped the back bit. If I remember correctly we put some glue in each hole and then stuck the grommets in there.

 

The board is simply propped against narrow battens which are screwed to the top and sides. The bed keeps the board from tipping forward.

 

There is also a cut out in the windowsill where air can circulate. But like I said the radiator is never on. 

In hindsight we would have used double thickness for the MDF for the top, it would look more substantial that way.

Carol, and any others who may have wondered, I hope this helps and good luck!

Sixteen Random Things

I've received quite a few awards from fellow bloggers and have been tagged several times but I've been such a poor participant. I'm so sorry for not playing along but I have to blame it on lack of time. Thanks so much to all of you who have been so sweet and shame on me!

To remedy at least part of that I've gathered sixteen random things about myself and a lovely photo for you to enjoy.

 

Mustache courtesy of The Spy's Instant Disguise. I'm sporting "the Painter". Secret Agent, Cowboy, Pirate, Jewel Thief, Policeman and Detective are also available. 

1. At the age of sixteen I changed my citizenship from Finnish to Swedish because I considered applying to the police academy.

2. At an even younger age I wanted to become an air hostess until I realized I would just become a glorified waitress.

3. My dad had high hopes of me becoming a diplomat. I am so not a diplomat. Sorry dad!

4. I grew up with Greyhounds and Salukis and love dogs but have become a cat person.

5. I hate shopping for clothes. I only ever shop when I'm abroad and have nothing better to do.

6. I'm the tech queen of the household. I'm also the resident plumber and electrician. I don't attempt any major jobs but the simple obvious stuff which usually entailing cables, wires and gunk. Neither being favorites.

7. Work wise I wish I had trained as an apprentice in a job requiring crafts skills; conservation, upholstery or such. Now I just dabble in everything.

8. My goal is that Wille will know what choices  are available to him later in life and that whatever he chooses to do whether it's academic or blue collar I'm behind him 100%.

9. We don't see ourselves living in Sweden for more than ten more years. Somewhere warmer and sooner than later sounds like a plan!

10. I speak Swedish, English, German and French. I studied Italian too but am at the very beginner level of only being able to order pizza, wine and a Coke for Wille in Rome. The wine was for me!

11. I would call myself artistic but I'm not an artist. I can't stand any "art" by myself. Martin is the artist and Wille his disciple.

12. I can't sing. At all. I'm so out of tune that I mime when I sing Happy Birthday.

13. I have a very sweet tooth. I could live on cookies, cake and chocolate alone but having IBS I try to eat more balanced than that but find it hard because I find food to be so boring.

14. I haven't worn a skirt since going to a wedding in 1998. Even then the bride, my former colleague, was surprised I had legs.

15. I get into occasional exercise frenzies, like biking to work all spring and summer long and then just dropping it and not move again unnecessarily for six months.

16. Tina and Irmeli are my middle names. I used to be embarrassed about both but now I think Irmeli is kind of cute an Tina is ok too.

In Print

 

I'm kind of excited! I'm published. On Christmas Eve no less I was contacted by a freelance writer for Singapore Sutra magazine who wanted me to collaborate on a story on organizing for the February issue of the magazine which is out now.

   

Here you have it. Photos by me and text, although I haven't got a clue as to what it says exactly. Supposedly my top ten organizing tips. Wish I could read Malay. Credit for having my top ten tips translated, for setting the story up and even making sure I get payed a fee goes to Tasneem Noor. Thank you so much Tas!

It's really nice to see something in print! If you have found me through Sutra, welcome and please make yourself at home!