A Watering Can, A Wheelbarrow ............... & A Hen !!!

Greetings dear friends & readers

When I returned from my trip to Mum's I noticed that my sister in law Leonie, had stashed an old tatty watering can 
in the boot of my car.    
She asked me Please would I paint it for her?
It had been sitting outside with weeds growing in it & was in a sad looking state.

I gave it a good scrub & then let it dry by the fire before attempting to paint it.

Leonie's request was for red so I found some red paint in my supplies & proceeded to paint it on my kitchen bench, drying it by the fire between coats.
It actually took 4 thick coats to cover the black & used up the whole test pot of paint.

Leonie had given me a transfer she had purchased from The Joy Within so I applied this before waxing it.
What a transformation !!! 

A couple of swing tags tied to the handle & it was complete 💕
Leonie is going to sit some white cyclamen in it - I have suggested she just sits the pots inside on something 
& doesn't plant it with soil.

This wooden wheelbarrow below had long been languishing in my woodshed.

We had used it for many years when I worked in town in the Gift Shop to hold "specials" at the shops entrance way.
My friend Gail had decoupaged some gollies onto it at some stage & I think she had painted it brown.
It was in a rather sorry state of affairs!

After a really good scrub & a hose down, I dried it by the fire.
After I had done the first coat I realised I was going to have to sand the decoupaged gollies as their outline was still showing through quite clearly.
I used The Mr's Orbital Sander & gave it a thorough going over.
I felt much happier with it once this was done. 

3 coats later & I was able to apply the transfer I had purchased from Paint Me Vintage

Front & Back Views

I cut a piece of a cardboard box to the shape of the bottom, glued some wadding to this & then covered it with a 
scrap of vintage Sanderson fabric I had.
I affixed this to the base with double sided tape.

For now I have filled it with some lap quilts & some vintage embroidered supper cloths, though I am unsure/undecided of the perfect display for this wheelbarrow.   Perhaps some dried hydrangeas ??
Any suggestions would be most welcome dear readers 😊
I am just so pleased I "rescued it" & it's no longer residing in my woodshed as a home for spiders & other rodents.

My friend Elaine sent me through some photos of a Vintage Cane Hen Carrier she had purchased.

Elaine asked if I had a pattern for a chook or a hen that I could make to sit inside the Hen Carrier by the mesh inserts.
I dug out my rather old & tatty copy of Hettie Hen - this is a doorstop pattern & it has been many years since I have made Hettie now.

Though I used to make them in hessian - Elaine & I decided you would not be able to see the hessian through the mesh so we settled on lighter greens & pinks instead.

I had a pretty green polka dot fabric that I made the body from - this doorstop is weighted with a half a brick so she is good & heavy.
For the shawl I used some gorgeous Tilda fabric 💗

Elaine collected her Hettie Hen last week & was just so delighted.
She sent me a photo but told me she hasn't the heart to put her away in the Hen Carrier, out of view  ......  so for now Hettie gets to sit beside it instead.

I have had my eldest grandson for part of the school holidays - we got some puzzles out of the Library to do as 
he really loves puzzles - he was so proud we were able to complete this 300 piece one.

On one of the days that Sid was also here it poured with rain all day long.
I put an old shower curtain on the floor & bought the sandpit inside for them to play.  
They played really well together but like all boys ... they certainly "had their moments" 😉

No this is not Miss Pippi ...... though I'm sure she would like it to be  !!!!

Thanks as always dear friends, for your visits here today,
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend - I think the sun is even going to make an appearance here for a change.
With much love & friendship to you all,
Julie & the furry ones x0x0x0