What DIY have you done today?

[Jimmyneutronsforehead]

A thread to share the things big and small that you've started, finished, planned or conceptualised.

Inspired by the lovely posters on the What have you done in the garden today threads.

Looks great @Agapornis

Wow, that looks lovely @Agapornis!

I've done virtually no DIY recently (unless you include making cushions and hanging light fittings!), but will be helping DH fit joists to raise the floor in the partial garage conversion tomorrow and Monday.

Light fittings and cushions definitely count @LibertyLily

I agree and certainly requires time and effort, plus design and sewing skills.

We're at our caravan and the re-vinyling I did last year has held up but we've got some trouble areas like above the gas fireplace where the pressure sealed coating is peeling away due to age and damp over winter, and even with the best heat resistant vinyl in the world, the rising heat from the fireplace will make it shrink and peel, but we can't afford to replace the full fireplace.

We're also measuring up here so we can put those peel and stick tiles down here and freshen the place up a bit before we start re-letting it as a holiday let.

The sofas are also very dated, and I've never upholstered a sofa before, but I'll be measuring up for that and giving it a go.

I'm going to vinyl my bedroom door panels today, with a fun white bunnies in a meadow pattern.

Yesterday I wallpapered parts of the cupboard under the stairs (contains tools, the hoover, energy metres and other ugly things) because why not. I've decided it's also a great place for half used tester pot paints.

On Friday and Saturday DP and I built a bed. It was a full 2 day job, because the instructions weren't great and although it said only 16 steps, it was more like 127 steps plus some mystery bonus steps that they had forgotten to include, like drilling pilot holes for dowels and misnumbering specific key parts. I also put some privacy film on the bedroom windows but I'm not happy with the application so will probably re-do that at a later date when staring at the ripples and creases irritates me to just the right amount where I feel I can and should take action.

Where was the bed from? I need a new one and like to know which brand to avoid!

It was this one. After assembling it, I can see why it was on sale!

Annoying. Hope it's at least comfortable and usable?

It is quite comfortable and now it is assembled dutifully with additional screws, it is a very solid bed.

The last time one of us got a wooden framed bed though, the first thing DP did was knee drop onto the mattress instead of just sitting on it 🗡 so had to make an emergency trip to IKEA to pick up more slats and hoped they fit.

I'm not bitter about it though 🗡🗡🗡 even though that one also took all day to build 🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡 and it was years ago and I should just let it go 🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡

I pressure washed our permanent awning in the garden… use it as another room, found the patches I ordered last year to mend a couple of holes… tomorrow

I've been very busy. Full on this week as well. Does getting crap out of your house and taking it to the recycling count?

I hung a new lamp. Replaced the lampshade, pendant fitting as well as the ceiling rose. It now has Wago connectors - they're amazing, SO much better and less fiddly than the old-fashioned screw type. I have 21 connectors left so obviously I'm now thinking of replacing more lights. There are a few left here by the previous occupiers because they're ugly, considering I've lived here for 5 years I think it's time for something new.

I fitted a solar motion sensor light for the back garden. It has been sitting in a box by the back door for a month. Took me less than 10 minutes.

Very impressed with all the lamp jobs!
Not quite DIY, but DIY adjacent- fitted a piping foot onto my new and terrifying industrial sewing machine. Was a bit of a 'mare as the screws had been over- tightened. If DH had been around would have caved and got him to do it bit he's in Tokyo so had to woman up. Lots of snotty tears and wailing then HOORAY! ACHEIVED! V proud.

Not DIY per se, but have packed a lot of boxes today, whilst oggling some mid century modern lamps and looking up DIY and ikea alternatives.

Have collected my son's tin cans to line the large planter. Will do that tomorrow and make yet another trip to the recycling centre.

I have painting to do. Electrics and blinds sorted.

Have removed old sealant and re sealed the shower screen using clear sealant.

I put up some picture frames this morning. They're pinky purple with photos of my cats 😁 I only bought the frames a few weeks ago, so I'm proud that they didn't just sit around for months or years on end.

I bought new door handles and latches back in 2022, to replace the old ugly ones with failing springs (Georgian style brass - each to their own). But the bit around the new smaller rose then needed sanding, filling and repainting, and it was all a bit much. I've rediscovered the orbital sander at the back of the tool cupboard. Sanded and filled 5 doors, 2 to go. The doors are creamy white rather than the white gloss I have, and I don't have any yellow gloss, so let's see if pine varnish gets it to the right shade.

@Wilkolampshade good lampy username. What are you sewing, upholstery? My mum is thinking of buying an industrial machine the moment she retires. I've used one once for leather, they're amazing but yes also terrifying.

@Jimmyneutronsforehead what MCM style are you thinking of? I love the (currently hideously overpriced) German fat lava style lamps with a tall cone - my mum has one and I plan to inherit it! I've made a few lampshades, Dannells ready made kits are easy to use if you're happy with just sticking fabric on (as opposed to hand sewing a soft shade), and I think they're pretty much the only supplier anyway. I got lucky and found two kits in a charity shop. Sticky back plastic on a basic white shade also works.

We are big lava lamp people but we also really love the mushroom lamps and donut lamps. For christmas I ordered DP one of the mathmos classic rocket headed wall mounted candle lit lava lamps but he hasn't used it because he's afraid it'll shatter.

I prefer classic MCM and he would prefer something a bit more neon.

Sorry I meant the style in this photo, 'fat lava' refers to the style of glazing, prevalent in West Germany at the time. They're very OTT hehe

But yeah I also have two normal lava lamps, haha. Mathmos definitely won't shatter, they're strong things. I got a cloudy Astro off Gumtree for £15 and refurbished it, it's from 1990 and doing fine.

Can't have too many lamps, both get what you want.

That lamp is absolutely beautiful! That's my vibe.

The blinds we were given don't fit, so after being intensely watched through the window dancing by the NDN, we decided to DIY fog the downstairs windows.

Sent DP to B&Q for some tape, meticulously placed the tape in a lancet shape in the windows and rollered on some PVA, left the top bit unfrosted so we can still see the clouds and the sun.

It is a temporary solution until blinds arrive that actually do fit, but now I can dance badly in peace.

I'm doing my AMUSF stage 3. So we've learnt trafitional techniques but also modern. Currently sewing the tailored cover for my traditional chair. The machine is terrifying but once you get going soooo much sturdier and straightforward. Just eats it's way through anything. A real joy. I bought a Jukii 1181N and though expensive comes with a proper warranty to cope with snarl ups in the first year I'll be using it commercially . Any good dealer will demonstrate and let you have a go.
Buy a branded walking foot to go with. Jobs a good'un.