Back on track .....

I'm not going to dwell on the weather of this last week, but if I see another snowflake I will scream !!

Things are back on track now, - although it's Easter weekend and all everyone really wants to do is stay at home and eat chocolate.

Despite being a self confessed chocoholic Paul has been on site yesterday, and this morning too - placing the glass into a couple of the window frames  -  I've just popped along, to see how things were going.
It's looking good, - it's surprising the difference it makes standing in a room with real windows !!

Saw something strange and unfamiliar .......  then realised it was the sun !  yes quite a nice day today, and Chipping Campden is the busiest I have seen it in a long time.  Is this the start of the tourist season maybe ???? - better make the most of it, and start marketing the cottage !!

It didn't take me long to dart back home and knock up some posters to stick on to the new glass in the windows to grab people's attention and hopefully gain some interest in the cottage.   - directing anyone and everyone to our website, although its still very basic - at least it points people in the direction of this blog :-)

Really "chuffed" with my marketing strategy 

 - as I was sticking the posters on to the window, some passers by stopped to read them :-) !!!

Today gave me the opportunity to get more of a feel of the place,

I can now imagine where to put furniture, and lighting .....  can't wait to get started :-)

I have been collecting a whole hoard of stuff at home - mainly kitchen things, 

but have recently added a lovely comfy armchair  which I imagine beside the log burner in the cottage,

although at the moment it is in the corner of our lounge at home - and Paul has sat in it every night this week ??!  - so we'll have to see whether it makes it to Crafty Cottage or not!!

Action shot of Paul with insulation !

Went in search of 2 coffees - which I found at 

www.thecampdenpantry.com 

such a great welcoming place, - just a stones throw from Crafty Cottage,

despite being a "local" I can't believe I've never been in there before !!

I only bought 2 coffees "to go!"

but could have easily been persuaded to sit down and have a panini and tuck into the lovely bowl of olives which were looking up at me screaming "eat me ... eat me!"

This was the first time I had been along since the roof had been put on,

This is the kitchen in all its glory

... I left Paul adding the glass.

Work continues Tuesday, after the Bank Holiday.

.... will keep you posted :-)

S

Crafty Cottage Facebook Page

Amost there!

Visited the site again today, after a "business" meeting with my friend Trudi in The Eight Bells over lunch !

Trudi and I went to school together, - Trude born and bred in Snowshill, and myself in Mickleton we met at Chipping Campden School in the good old days :-) I have never forgiven her for tying me to the chair in a music lesson, by the woolly belt of my navy blue cardigan! - and every once in a while I remind her of it !!

Trude has been an amazing seamstress since leaving school, - and I am very lucky that she will be making the soft furnishings for Crafty Cottage using William Morris fabric design, - The Strawberry Thief (crimson/slate).

Everyone was working hard, - the gable end needs building up as soon as possible. Trude and I decided against measuring up the windows, - partly because it was a bit dusty from the stone cutting, - and thought we'd wait for stairs in preference to the ladder for the bedroom windows !  -  this delay will of course perhaps mean another pub lunch to discuss, - but "hey ho" ...!

Max helping with the stonework

Only took a few photos today, - but things are going according to plan thankfully, - even the weather !!

Side view of Crafty Cottage

Trude and I popped into "the gallery at the guild" which is in the Old Silk Mill behind the cottage.  A wonderful display of local artists work, sculpture, paintings, furniture, cards, - a very convenient place to explore for any future guests staying at the cottage and visiting Chipping Campden.

www.thegalleryattheguild.co.uk

*interior news....  - my side of things :-)
Thanks to ebay - I have acquired an antique treadle sewing machine table
which will be restored & used to make a dining table for the cottage.

....  will be keeping you up to date with things.

S

Crafty Cottage Facebook Page

Almost "in the dry" !

1.45pm and just arrived home from visiting the site, - after wanting to leave things for a few days so I could see the roof for the first time in all its glory - and savour the moment!

Had to persuade Paul and Max to pose at the top of the ladder for my "blog" photos, - their reward to be a warm chicken and leek pastie ... yum yum !

The weather today has been almost "spring like" !  such a change from the past couple of days - but the sky did look a bit grey,  ...  as though it had something in store for us shortly!

I was helped up the ladder, - the very long ladder! which when you're not used to it like me

- did seem a bit shakey ... or was that my nerves shaking! it's difficult not to want to stop on each rung and look at the amazing views of the surrounding rooftops,  but I had to concentrate for my life :-)

Everyone else zaps up there like lightening,  - and there's me feeling so pathetic and girly !

Once on the scaffolding, the confidence returned and out came the camera once more !

Roof to the front - waiting for tiles

The "upstairs" taken from above !

The shape of the bedroom,
ceiling height will be 10.5 ft  !
.... i'm thinking nice big chandelier :-)

Current street view

I stood beside the van chatting with the guys inside, eating their pasties!

... then it started to snow!

Crafty Cottage Facebook Page

Rain ..... Rain ..... go away !

OK,  -   the roof trusses have arrived !  .....  that's the good news :-)   The bad news is weather stopped play :-(       ....  woke to a very miserable foggy morning, which just continued to get worse as the day went on ...    It's so frustrating!  ....  I just want the roof on and the walls plastered so I can get to do my bit and make it look as good on the inside as it will on the outside.

Went down at around 10am with sausage sandwiches for Max and Paul who were grabbing a quick coffee in the "lounge" !  .... pointless to do much on site today, - it's so muddy & wet - hopefully the trusses can be put in place on Monday - although "wintery showers" and cold temperatures are forecast to return again - looks like the winter's not over just yet!

Took a few photos, - hopefully more to add next week ....

action shot of Paul eating sausage sandwich!

view from the front door onto the garden!

The site in all its glory!

Back to keep you posted next week,

(hopefully of the roof, - and won't be showing any more "snow" photos!)

S

Crafty Cottage Facebook Page