Rain, rain, rain......

Will it NEVER stop raining?

The gale force winds have finally abated but the rain has been relentless.  As I write it is coming down in sheets.  The whole garden is completely sodden, our patio is starting to flood as there is just nowhere for all that water to go, and even Small Dog sinks into the lawn if she stands in the same spot for more than a few seconds. Not that she's terribly keen on setting paw outside the door as the torrential downpours soak her to the skin in seconds.

My long-awaited weekend of doing nothing hasn't exactly worked out the way I expected.  It was all going well until I sat down yesterday afternoon in front of the TV with my laptop.  One thing led to another and before I knew it I was deep in the bowels of three sets of new kit instructions, which I've been putting off for weeks.  Don't know why I decided to revisit them, but I'm glad I did, as the mental block which has prevented me getting anywhere with them miraculously disappeared and I managed to get all three sets knocked into shape and ready for the step-by-step photographs.

So. Result.


If I'd set aside tomorrow morning to work on them I just know that after 30 minutes I'd have been tearing my hair out.  Strange how doing something when I've pledged not to do anything is somehow much more productive.

However, the thing I should have been doing, ie making inroads into my Christmas shopping, has fallen by the wayside and I am completely bereft of inspiration.  

My own Christmas list is also currently in preparation.  What I would really, REALLY like is one of these






I've blogged my desire for this before, but Father Christmas must have been on his holidays at the time because I definitely didn't get one in my stocking.

Perhaps he's embroiled in a spot of fiscal realignment as they are a tad pricey.... £995 for the humungous Workbox and a marginally more realistic (but only by comparison) £595 for its smaller, slimmer brother.  Also, if I'm to be brutally honest (and we all know honesty is the best policy) neither are really perfect for my needs.  They are primarily designed for storage of scrapbooking supplies, paper, card and the like, and the canvas totes look a bit flimsy.  

Despite my heroic downsizing efforts in the workroom, I will still need storage for small plaster molds, fabrics, trimmings etc, so the storage itself needs to be a bit more sturdy.

So I've been trying to design an alternative which would fulfil all my requirements.            Some time ago, PP discovered THIS website, which is a treasure trove of DIY projects, designed specifically with the non-woodworker in mind.

I'm particularly taken with this project, which has many possibilities as craft storage.  I'm thinking of a standalone cabinet, with doors just like those.  Foldaway work surface, built in lighting, integral electric sockets, bespoke storage in the exact sizes I need.......

*sigh*

 I'm going to put it on my wishlist and carry on with drawing up plans.......the perfect antidote to a very, very wet and miserable Sunday afternoon.