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About justelly1

I work as a chemist, because I love science. My fav TV show is Doctor Who (my profile photo has been made last year, when we went to the 50th Doctor Who Anniversary in London) Another hobby is photography. Unfortunality my time is very limited for hobbies :( No matter what, I'm starting with sewing

DIY Your own window seat (Tutorial)

I live in a small apartment with a sloping roof. This means that almost all walls are slanted at the top.
Unfortunately, this also means that you can hardly buy any finished furniture. That’s why I taught myself to build my furniture to match my apartment.
Today I describe how I built myself a bench under the window…

First you have to measure the place very accurately. And I mean VERY EXACTLY!!!
I used a laser measuring tool for this.

For the height, I calculated about 15 – 16 inch including the seat cushion.

Then you buy the wood panels you need. For the sides, the back and the bottom I used laminated panels. For the top and the front I used spruce or fir. I don’t remember because I made the window seat months ago and I’m just posting now. I bought the wood panels in a shop that had sawn the wooden panels according to my wishes.

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I started with the wooden front.

I wanted the front to look like it was made of three pieces. That’s why I sawed 2 lines into each front piece with my saw.

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I wanted the window seat to turn white, but no bright white. And I wanted to use chalk paint because it looks so matt. On the Internet I found a retailer in the Netherlands who had sold chalk paint white as “historical white”.
I had a little sample sent to see if I liked the color. The color was perfect for me.

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Sand between each coat after the paint has dried.

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Also paint the lid with the chalk paint. I painted the front and lid 3 times so that the white completely covers the wood colour.

Finally, you have to seal the paint.

The next step is to dowel the sides and the bottom together. I started with the front, then the two sides and finally the back part.

Here you can see what mistake I made in the first part: First I doweled the front part, removed the dowels and then painted the front. What do you want me to say? After drying the paint the dowels didn’t fit anymore and I had to make a new front part.
So first paint the wood and then dowel it!!!!

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When the glue dried, I strengthened the inside of the seat with metal angles.

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I have glued the edges of the laminated wooden boards with edgings.

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In the hardware store I found protection for the wooden floor that I glued under the seat. I can’t remember what it’s called.

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I attached the lid with piano hinge.

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I found the seat and back cushions at Ikea 2 years ago. They are designed for outdoors but they fit perfectly and are very comfortable. Under the pillow I put this one on the wood to prevent the pillows from slipping. It’s for carpets, but who cares

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Here the first window seat. I needed a total of three of them.ย  I also use them as storage for my tools and handicrafts.

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My window seat for Christmas. In the next post I will write a tutorial how I sewed these pillows ๐Ÿ™‚

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Spring and Easter. Yes I know. Too many pillows. Next year I won’t use all of them

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and today ๐Ÿ™‚ I love these pillows. I didn’t make the design, but I liked it so much that I copied it.

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Say hello to spring (photos)

This winter was damn long and cold!

Until two weeks ago I left the house in a warm winter jacket.

And it was 77 degrees today.

Yesterday I drove past my favourite park and saw that everything was colourful.

A good reason to take the camera and take pictures on a sunny day.

I’m about to start with my favorite flowers: Daisies ๐Ÿ˜€

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The next two photos look like I changed the color. But the tulip field really looked like this!
Many other visitors of the park took pictures with their mobile phones because the colours red, yellow, orange were simply amazing.

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I don’t know what kind of tree it is. But some of the trees with pink flowers are in the park and you can see the pink from afar.

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A lonely pansy at the house โค

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That dandelion reminded me of my childhood. After school, I used to pick dandelion for my hamsters in the meadow.

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Yeahhhh it’s 2018 !!!!

Welcome 2018

I wish you all a Happy New Year โค โค โค

This time I was lucky with taking photos of the fireworks. The last time it was so foggy you couldn’t see 2 yards away!

Do I have plans for the New Year? Not really hehe. Maybe do more for myself. Last year, I gave away at least 90% of the things I’ve done.

Everybody knows that for sure. You’re planning things, but then something happens ๐Ÿ˜€

Snowman jacket with a knitted tube scarf

This is my last DIY project this year for Miss M.
Originally I wanted to sew a jacket with Christmas flannel at the beginning of December. But I just forgot!
I have 3 different flannel fabrics which are related to winter / christmas.
So I talked to Miss M.’s mom and she picked out the snowman’s fabric. This jacket can also be worn after Christmas.

But only sewing the jacket without appliquรฉ would be sooooooo boring!!!!!
First I thought about taking the snowman from the flannel. I like the flannel fabric but I didn’t really like the snowman for the jacket.

On the internet I found free cliparts with snowmen and printed one of them.

The idea with the scarf came to me very late and I was afraid I would not get the delivery in time.
But luck for me, the knitted tube came on Monday ๐Ÿ™‚

Here’s the jacket from the front. I’ve stitched a few snowflakes on it.

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Here you can see the flannel lining. I like it very much – otherwise I would not have bought it – but I don’t like the snowman so much to apply it.

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I didn’t apply anything to the back of the jacket. At first I wanted to do the snowman too, but unfortunately I didn’t have enough time.

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Now a closer look at the snowman. I have sewn the scarf only in a few places to make it look more real.

Snowman jacket 1a

6th December – Saint Nicholas Day tradition

Did you also put your boots in front of the door on December 5th in the evening? And there were candy in your boots in the morning?

Or did your parents order a Santa Claus in your house who always knew what you had been doing all year? And fortunately there were always small gifts anyway?

When I was little I was terrified of Nicholas because he knew all my secrets!
Later I found out it was a friend of my dad’s hihihi ๐Ÿ˜€

Even though I have been too old for Nicholas for a long time, I still love this tradition.
That’s why I sewed a panel and hung it on the door this weekend.

Santa Panel

 

Let it snow, let it snow (photos)

ย  I woke up this morning and it was all white outside. Snow everywhere!!

All I had to do was to find my woolly hat and gloves (it happens to me every year. One is surprised by the cold season hihi)

I took my camera and made photos.

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boats are waiting for the next summer

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here you can see how little snow has fallen. But enough for a snowman โค

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here are my so-called ugly shoes ๐Ÿ˜€ . They don’t look nice but my feet stay warm and dry

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Sweat jacket with bunnies and dot dot dot

And another jacket for Miss M.
A few months ago I sewed her a skirt with dots.
I found the lining fabric on eBay and the mushrooms with the dots brought me to the idea to sew a suitable jacket for the skirt.

I didn’t have to think long about the motive for the application. I copied a piece of fabric and printed it in different sizes.
Okay, the colors are very spring-like but I hope she’ll like it anyway when she gets it tomorrow ๐Ÿ™‚

Here the front of the jacket

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a better view at the pockets

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mushroom and bird on the chest

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the back of the jacket

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On the beach – photos and sound

The last days I have been on vacation at my favourite beach โค โค โค

One night I recorded the sound of the sea with my mobile. It was a little windy as you can hear ๐Ÿ™‚

I’ve taken lots of photos

The next photos are made by low tide

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The sheep ensure that the dikes are firm. I think they just eat and sleep hihi

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I don’t know what these things were used for before the sea destroyed them

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Sunset – more people took photos there instead of in daylight hehe

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Dancing on the beach โค โค โค

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DIY nautical hooded jacket

When I’ve sewn the girls dress with the school supplies I found remains of french terry fabric I used for a hooded jacket. Not enough for another jacket for myself, but enough for a little girls hooded sweat jacket.

I’ve made 6,7 or 8 hooded jackets for myself but this small jackets are way more complicated hehe

I started with an very easy jacket, Nothing special! I used the dress fabric as lining for the hood.

Here my first jacket for Miss M ๐Ÿ™‚

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My next jacket has been more elaborated ๐Ÿ˜€

I used this jacket to learn how to applique

Remember the maritime dress with the paper boats?

Burda dress 01.

I had more than enough fabric left overย  when the dress has been done.

First I searched the net for drawings of a paper boat. I printed my found in different sizes and sewn it on the back of my jacket

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The front got a paper boat too. This time with Miss M’s initials. I also made piping with the lining fabric

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For lining the hood and the front I used the dress fabric. For the back lining I took the pocket fabric

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Front of the jacket

Yes, I know. The pockets are a little displaced

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Back of the jacket.

Unfortunality I put the paper boats a little to high on the back. The hood is covering part of the boats ๐Ÿ˜ฆ

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