Harp in the Garden!

Last Saturday (31st May) I had a session in the garden and reclaimed a border from the weeds!

I obviously did too much as I fainted in church the following day!

I saw the doctor on Monday and he thought the mild headaches, tinnitus and ultimately the fainting was probably due to Labyrinthitis.

So the border had to wait until today for a visit to the plant shop and some gentle planting.

I got some Geraniums, Pelargoniums and some Begonias. I tend to only to get plants the slugs and snails don't like so it is usually just Begonias but I thought I'd be fairly safe with the Geraniums and Pelargoniums too.


Oooo is that a harp I see in the garden?

Well it was such a nice day, I thought I'd bring my newest harp out for a photo shoot!

Got quite a show of Alliums this year too.

I planted them in memory of my Dad a few years back as I'd seen them in the garden of remembrance one year.

So then my little stool came out as well and I settled next to the patch of daisies to play my beautiful instrument.

What a soothing afternoon.

Harp Stool - Upholstered

I started with a £7 pine stool from Ikea - Oddvar.

My husband made it up then chopped some 12cm from the legs to make it a good harp height. He then removed the top and varnished the base/legs of the stool for me.


He also supplied me with the staple gun although I was equipped with tacks, hammer and the like from doing an upholstery evening class half a lifetime ago!

I got some foam £6.75 from Cheam as someone had mentioned this foam shop on Streetlife. I took my stool with me so I could try the thickness of foam and the guy in the shop kindly cut the foam square to size for me.

I also got a remnant of cherry red chenille fabric for a fiver from there (enough for a second cover or replacement should I need it).


I got to work..... so far so good but what about the corners?

Hmmmm, the upholstery book was required for a little refresher. But where was it?

I finally located it in the loft, so glad all the boxes are sorted and labeled so it was only the 4th box of my books before I found it! Phew!


I used my tacks to stretch and re-stretch the liner fabric (from an old sheet!) which had the effect of rounding the corners of the foam which was decidedly square before. When the liner was stretched sufficiently I secured it with the staple gun. Don't think I have used one much before, enjoyed that bit!





Then to the cover, which I did in much the same way as the liner but didn't have to fight with the foam this time around. The corners are a bit bulky so I hope my husband can reattach the legs/base OK later!

So there we have it, one cherry red chenille stool top, fit for a princess!

And there it is on top of its legs, in the conservatory with my harp.

Just need to clear up and do some harp practice now.

How satisfying. I feel I have really achieved something today.

Harp Accessories

My harp is made from Cherry wood so some time ago I crocheted some cherries for it!

Also, I have been quite conscious that I have been perched on the edge of our sofa to play my harp and if I ever took it anywhere else to play, would I find the same height "sofa" to sit on? Could I take the sofa with me? I think not.

I have pondered getting a Harpist's Bench as sold by my harp maker Telynau Teifi, but at 12" high they are an inch too short for me really and they are jolly expensive too.













So I had a look in Ikea and found the ODDVAR pine stool. At only £7 each and with 12cm chopped off each leg, it is a perfect alternative.

Pondering making an upholstered cushion top, but for now the garden cushion is just fine.

The acoustics in our conservatory are great for harp playing too.

WOYWW #259 - Harpie

There wasn't much on my desk this morning but having taken a new crafter to our local craft shop this morning, I just had to get a few papers and some blue glitter paste. Well there was a space on my shelf for the latter and you know how it is!




Only crafty projects are my Craft Barn Q&L Challenge for last fortnight's word "Fame" which I blogged here.

Also the little DLP page I promised about my shoe dilemma. Thanks everyone who sympathized with my wide feet issue, I came that close to finding a supplier from our host Julia, but alas the shoe I liked only started at size 4 and guess what I'm 2 1/2 - 3!! So my little page has a background of the Cotton Trader shoes I wear with a stamped image of the sort after court shoe. In my dreams.

OK so my harp isn't on my desk this week but thought you'd like to see me playing it in the garden, plus the Rhododendron and Allium in bloom.

Happy WOYWW everyone. If you are wondering what on earth I am harping on about, go visit Julia's mega blog hop page.

So looking forward to next week's anniversary. ATCs at the ready, one for my partner plus a further 7.

WOYWW #252 - Easter Preparations

Happy WOYWW everyone, come join in the mega blog hop over at Julia's.

I got some new sentiment dies of "Easter" and "Anniversary" and, a bit belated, I got the Timmy lattice stencil and the spritzer thingy but haven't had a chance for a play yet.


I had my second harp lesson this week and made up a journal page of my first song.


Ashtead Craft Club last week was all about Easter and so the boxes and bags we made are still on my desk.



For the DLP prompt of "get someone to draw something and you finish it off". I spent most of Mother's Day trying to get my son to draw something but to no avail so I passed the paper to my husband and he drew a bicycle. I duly finished it off. Bit overboard with my new speckle stamp!


Oh and for those following my garden through the seasons, here's the Magnolia in full bloom, much more timely this year. The Wisteria (in the foreground) is awash with buds too, it will surely have a good show this year.

WOYWW #251 - Harp Teacher

Yay I found a harp teacher and had my first lesson on Monday and my next this coming Monday. Hence the harp on my workdesk today, thought some may have missed it last month!

I have also come across a great way to combine my harp and crafting from the latest post on the website, My Harp's Delight.

It's about playing from the heart and one way is to find a picture for your music piece, I have done that and will be doing a page in my journal with it and the music score.

I have Craft Club tonight so thought it about time to alter my project folder so this morning I gave it a good spray.
The book page is my first entry for their competition.

Just had a look back on my week and despite not feeling like I have crafted I seem to have managed quite a lot!

My Craft Barn entry for the last fortnight using the word "ART" - great hymn.


A Timmy Tag inspired page in my DLP

An art journal page in the round robin I have been doing for the past 2 years.

A scrapbook page from my last printed photos from last Summer (must order some more now).









Oh and 2 collage pages for Psalms 18 & 19.


I wonder what everyone else has been up to this week?
To join the mega WOYWW blog/desk hop, go to Julia's place.
(Oh and don't forget you can click on my photos to get bigger versions)

WOYWW #250 - Scrapping

Another week of more harping than crafting but I did push myself to get last Summer's photos scrapped.

I have done 4 pages and have 2 more lined up to stick. Only one more before I get to order some more prints.














I really ought to think before I order my prints as I always order too many and either cram them on a page or leave some out altogether.


I did buy some new Xcut dies last week, had been thinking of the egg for some time especially as Easter is round the corner but the paisley gave me ideas of that nature too. Hmm I wonder what...?


I finally received the DVD from the States to go with my Harp book. I am struggling a bit on the end of lesson 2 (English Country Garden) and lesson 3 uses TWO hands and I am all over the place with that! This could take some time!

Think that is me for this week, pop over to Julia's for more desks across the globe in the infamous WOYWW.

Pilgrim Harps

What else do you do on your 16th wedding anniversary but go to visit Pilgrim Harps! I guess I was slightly biased as I got a small folk harp a fortnight ago for my 50th and well, I have been bitten by the bug...

I think the 47 string orchestral ones are a bit too big for me, but the smaller 34 string lever ones feel just right. Although the one I have has only 19 strings which I am pointing out in the photo below!




My husband has hold of a soundboard here. He is well into sound so quite appropriate.

Seeing the workshop and the guys making the harps was just delightful. All deep in the Surrey countryside on a sunny day, coming home via the scenic route and we even went up Harps Oak Lane! 

Certainly a trip to remember.