Looking for a handmade gift for Father‘s Day? Here’s a guide to an easy and personalised tool hook project that you can DIY in under 2 hours. This project took 1-2 hours, so there’s time left if you’re looking for a handmade gift before Father’s Day. If your dad would forgive you for getting splinters,…
Author: Rachel
Upcycling charity shop decor to make a profit
Upcycling charity shop decor to make a profit Let’s start with the obvious thing. You aren’t becoming a millionaire by upcycling candlesticks any time soon. But they can be fun little projects in their own right, either to sell or to give your own decor a new look. Decor items or ‘smalls’ are important in…
Transforming a free bookshelf with a navy blue makeover
Transforming a shabby, free bookshelf with a navy blue makeover. The piece I got this solid pine bookshelf for free. Bargain. Although sometimes a piece that has already been painted is more effort than its worth. Not this time, fortunately. I suspect the previous owner thought this was a shabby chic paint job. Or maybe…
How to paint a layered cherry blossom stencil on a table
A guide to painting a layered cherry blossom stencil on a table Creating the stencil I bought this cherry blossom stencil from Etsy. Often I make my own stencils but frankly I didn’t want to spend the time on it. I paid £3.42 for a digital file with an instant download. A bargain, saving me…
Reupholstering a shabby footstool into a beautiful new piece
Reupholstering a shabby footstool into a beautiful new piece. This was a £6 charity shop find and could have been brought back to life with a wash and a nice stencil as it was in good condition. However, I had some bee-a-utiful fabric that I’d be waiting to use on something and this was the…
How to create a stunning floral chest of drawers
A guide on how to create a stunning floral chest of drawers using a transfer. It’s all about the piece, the prep, and sometimes problems. Beautiful beginnings Refinishing furniture can take a long time. If you start with a quality piece then you have a solid foundation on which to create something beautiful. I bought…
Welcome to the beautiful barn
I have a retail space at Homemade at The Barn, near Royston, Hertfordshire. It is a Grade II listed building and so stunning that I wanted to share some photos of the space with you. The Barn has been a site for artisans and traders for many years. You can see and feel the history…
7 hacks to paint better with items in your home
From playing cards to masking tape and syringes, here are 7 hacks to help you paint better with items from your home. 1. Cling film for easy cleaning Line a roller tray with cling film before pouring paint in. When finished, carefully pick up the cling film from the edges and throw it away. There…
Animal charity mirror raffle plus special bonus prize
Charity starts at home. Or in this case, Homemade at The Barn. So, this post is about a mirror raffle for an animal charity. The Barn in Royston, Cambridgeshire, is where I sell my furniture. One kind customer donated a table top mirror to raise money for charity. To help with the fundraising, I added…
A guide to decoupage – the easy way and the right way
A guide to decoupage – the easy way and the right way. Decoupage, or adding paper to furniture, opens up a whole new world (name that tune) to furniture refinishing. Imagine all of the beautiful wallpaper, posters and napkins out there for you to use to create jaw-dropping, unique pieces. Once you’ve found your amazing…