Mattress Is Covered.

Hubby was the foam cutter for the mattress but I was the one that had to do the covering...
The quilt cover that I bought to do the job was plenty big enough.  I basically just measured the foam, added the depth of the foam and cut in from the edge.  That meant I only had to sew up one side for the 2 bigger pieces and the 2 sides for the skinnier piece.  Too easy!

And here they are finished and on the bed.  They look good but that doesn't matter as once the bed is made up they won't be seen.

Window Covering.

I have finally made a couple of curtains for the back side windows of the van.

A long time ago, like nearly 10 years ago, I bought some material to make curtains for a daughters bedroom...well I never got around to doing that (sorry L.), a couple of years ago I rescued this material from another daughter (bad T,) trying to dump it and kept it here in a bag under my bed until a few weeks ago.  I love the material, red with silver stars and I knew I needed it and would use it.  Sometime.

The time came this week when I spread it out on the shed floor, measured the windows, spent a couple of coffees time thinking about how to make these curtains and finally just did them.  They are not *proper* curtains, they were gonna be too complicated and I am not a sewer so I measured from top to bottom, doubled it over, sewed together and threaded through some elastic wire that I have hooked into the van.

Looking inside from the back door.

View from outside.

The double material is better as the material is thinnish and as a singe layer could be seen though from outside.  By doubling it over it adds privacy, keeps out a bit more sun and was easy to do.




Bug Screens.
I have also been needing to make some bug screens for the front windows and last night I finally got around to doing those.  I spend more time worrying about how do to something *right* than just doing it and getting something up...
I was looking at something called "window sox" that kept out the sun and the bugs but they were more than $50 each, for ones to fit smaller windows but I liked the idea...and a few years ago we bought some old curtains from an op-shop to use in a trucks windows to keep out mozzies...so...the idea was planted.


A while ago I measured the windows, up and over then around the door...but the door was an angle, a lot narrower at the top than down lower and how far did I need to come down anyway and it all seemed too complicated so the making was put off for a couple of weeks...

Yesterday, I had the old net curtains out , the machine was still out...I measured again, up and over and around.  Folded the netting over at 27 inches and cut it the length of the curtain.  Which was a few inches longer than I needed for both but I was not bothering anymore and it would just mean that it would be a looser fit and I just wanted it done.   Cut that down the middle, sewed the edges of them both, hemmed them then threaded elastic through the bottom and I have 2 net screens for the front windows that stay on when the door is opened.  I like them.

Door is open.

Drivers door, shut.

They are not as neat looking as the bought ones and wont keep the sun out but they will do the job.  This corner piece is what I was worried about , that it might *ruin* the whole thing.   It doesn't.  They work good, look OK but most important...They are done!!





Why do I waste so much time worrying instead of just getting in and doing...sigh...

And...while I was wondering about covering windows...I cut up some cardboard, painted it black and will use that in a couple of windows where I don't have a curtain and can't easily put one now as the shelves are in.  This will work OK and will keep the sun out.  I may eventually make some for all the windows if I think I will need them next Summer. 

Cupboards.

We've been working on some cupboards over the last few days and they seem to be coming together nicely, as planned.  That could be because there is no plan...it could be because we are clever...either way, there was no plan and they are coming together nicely.

The idea was to have a bench type thing that I could use a small stove on for heating water or food in the van if I needed to.  Some shelves to keep stuff on.  Something that didn't take up too much room.  Didn't cost a lot to make.

We had some bee boxes, a couple of old speakers, some leftover shelving...Put it all together and I have a setup that will do the job I want it to.





Take it out of the van and give it couple of coats of paint...Talk nice to Hubby a bit more so he will put it back in the van and make it secure for me.

I think it looks good.
Left is looking from front drivers side and right is looking in from the back.
We can add shelves later if I want some but it does work as is.




I will give it a couple of days to allow the paint to set before I put stuff on it.  That will give me a couple of days to work out what the stuff I want to put on it is...

Leg or Arm?

Hubby has been busy and today he made up a corner leg for the bed, the final bit for it.








 

When the extension frame is pulled out the frame sits on a part of the shelving but the corner near the front needed a bit of extra suport.  The leg he made slides into the framework and is strong enough to suport that part of the bed.

 We remove the leg when the bedframe is back under the main bed but I wanted somewhere to keep the leg when it wasn't being used as a leg that was easy to remember and within easy reach


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As it happened I  also needed something to keep the loo from sliding forward if I happed to drive a bit less than smoothly.  Hubby gave it a bit of thought, welded a bit of the square tubing to a saddle clamp and screwed that to the bedframe and there you go...An arm to keep the toilet secure.  It doesn't impede the use of the bed or the loo and it is either in one place or the other so wont get misplaced.

 

Found Some.

Well I found some material, not exactly what I wanted but I think it will look OK.  I need to figure out how to make the covers, in an easy way as I am not a sewer and complicated will do me in.


The material is a big quilt cover so should be plenty to work with. 
One side is white with big black flowers and the other is black with white specks through it.  I'm thinking I'll make the covers reversible as well.

It cost $3 for the cover and a sheet, not a set, that I will also use in the van.  I couldn't buy material anywhere for that price so very pleased with the cost.

"On My Mind" is Mattress Covering.

I've been reading the Down To Earth blog this morning and as it's Friday she does a "what's on my mind" post so I thought that as I've been thinking of this all week that I'd join in with this one today.
http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/


I need to go into town today and check out the op-shop.  I'll even ride the bike in so I can write about it on my other blog...
I will be looking for some sheets, curtains, material...something suitable to cover the mattress that Hubby has sliced into 2 for the van.

 They WILL BE covered this weekend!!  I do have some spare sheets here that I could use, and will if need be but I was thinking something red or grey or black...the main colours that the van will be inside.
The bed will be covered anyway but if I can find something red to cover the foam that would be better I think.



A set of red sheets would be the perfect thing but what are the chances of that.  Though I do have 1 red sheet here so even 1 from today would make the pair so that would work too.

I *know* I have some stretchy grey material that would be just the thing but as I haven't seen it for a few years and it could even be at the other house I figure that it would take too long to find even if it is still around. 

So...garden and chook stuff until 9 then ride into town, op-shop vist, ride home again, clear off the table so I have room to start....