Goodbye rotty rot rot

Finally we have a rot free wall! Quite a major part of the structure of your house is the top plate (apparently). But not so flash when you can poke your finger straight through the timber... Somewhat unstructurally sound in fact. So the lot got ripped out and replaced. Not the smallest job in the world either... Involved ripping off all the exterior cladding (plaster over meshhy business) and the inevitable... Exposing more rot! Weeeee. Nothing phases gaz though, so out it all came and she's as sturdy as new now! Flagged repeating the original swish effect plaster coating this time though. Trusty dave did his normal overamazing helping for a day again and by the time you can say "10 sausages and a box of beer"... the whole gable end was recladded with hardy board and a flash coat of texture paint slapped on by Simon :)
I must say the wall was the most obvious from the road so it's nice to have a lovely looking wall with nice new wood :) had to introduce the child to building so up the scaffold she went too!

Thanks to everyone the helped! Dave you are a star! And even the scaffold was donated!

I am a sewing MACHINE

I think I have an addiction... Doesn't help mums aunty carol sent me a heap of merino to play with. So whipped up some pants, a cute dress, more pants and a top to help the child keep warm through the freezing Wellington winter! And that's not to mention the ridiculous amounts of bibs I have been making and selling!

New boards...

Hi blog. Its been too long!

It's funny when you work full time you feel so busy all the time. Now with no job, other than a little sprog to run around after, i feel alot busier! And so i apoligise dear blog, i've taken my busyness out on you in the form of neglect. Some things have been happening in the house of Ramikins. Maybe not at the same pace of childless 2011 but i still have the most motivated hubby in the world who gets things done regardless of how useless his wife is! Back with the goods shortly!

Clean air. Well, inside anyway.

For a very long time the extractor fan above the gas cook top has been doing an excellent job of sucking up gasie fumes and pumping them back around the kitchen. Not so ideal, some might say rather friggen pointless.

Finally my loving husband wanted an excuse to buy himself more car parts... so in order to keep his wife happy he made it work proper like. Well, it now pumps up into the ceiling which is also less than ideal but 'it works'. He also came home with parts to make it go outside so i believe soon all gas fumes will be pumped out which will be even acer.

So here it is for reals

My jewellery now for sale online.

This parenting thing is working a treat. Whilst child sleeps.... Jute makes stuff!

Jewellery is my latest thing and have made some awesome pieces which i almost want to keep and wear myself! The theme carries on from Ramikins Renos and uses old found building materials and objects to create wearable pendants.

The range is called Found Jewelry and is now for sale on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/foundjewellery Wohoo, hopefully they get snapped up as i have millions of ideas awaiting!



And in other geeky news.. Paige's bassinet project is now featured on a site i frequent for more eyes to see! Heres the link: http://betterafter.blogspot.com/

Plummms! PLUMS for africa!

Our plum tree pulls through with the goods after 2 years of harsh pruning and false hopes!

Note: please dont laugh at my rather large garden ornament in the photo above. It has acted as a great ladder for picking plums. And just In case Gareth asks.. i have most certainly have not been climbing on the roof of his lovely old car...

So many fricken plums i don't know what to do! I've exhausted my sugar stash making shitloads of jam. The yummiest jam EVAH might i add. Have tried giving lots away... but they just keep coming.

Now i am battling with fruit flies and the fricken birds... just lucky i have my BB gun nearby!

My espalier apple is not far away either.. and not to mention the strawberry bed lego has adopted, a passionfruit plant thats double in size, fejoas just warming up and a machine of a lemon tree about to deliver. Just call me Jute the Fruit.