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How to chill out in the holidays.....

For over a year we have been planning to do a major refurbishment of The Workshop.  We need more space to store our fabrics, more space to display our stock and a better organised area to work in.  Following discussion with our very obliging landlord, it was agreed that the best plan was for him to clear his "junk" out of the attic and let us take over that space.
cutting table - this will store all our rolls and boxes of fabric

It took a while, but we finally got the attic cleared in November and then got the whole roof lagged and boarded with lights and sockets installed.  Early in December we had a carpenter come in and build us a bespoke workbench/storage unit. 

Things then had to hang fire a bit while we got ready for Christmas, but after a lovely few days with family and friends it was back to work.
Ben Wyvis - Thursday 28th December 2017
At this stage, we have not got heating installed in the attic, and I forgot to take out the spare electric heater from home.   Thursday was a seriously cold day.... -5°C, grey and damp - the kind of cold that gets right through you.   And of course the heating had been off for a few days.
after an hour of painting
I made a start on painting and got one coat of paint onto half the attic.  This included around the rooflight windows.  The secondary glazing panels we had put in had to be removed while I was painting, meaning what very little heat there was went straight through the metal framed windows.  I had taken a few breaks to let fingers and feet warm up, but after 4 hours I had had enough.

Beauly Firth - Saturday 30th December 2017
The next day was colder, but bright and sunny.  I got the second coat of paint on that half of the attic and again had to admit defeat after a few hours.
Room painted - looking towards the door
Today the temperature had risen to a balmy -3°C and I had remembered to take the electric heater with me.   I replaced the secondary glazing panels and made a start on the other half of the space.  I was pleased to find that I got it done in rather less time - perhaps something to do with being warmer.  One more session of 3 hours should see that part of the work complete, but it can wait till New Year.

I think I will leave painting the door until the weather warms up a bit as it will need to be left open while the paint dries.

Room painted - looking towards the far end.
doing the awkward bits - a bit of a tight squeeze
The Workshop will remain closed for all of January while the refurbishment continues.  When I have finished painting the attic we will move as much as possible up there out of the way to give us space to work downstairs.  Stock will be accessible so we can still send out anything that your might want to buy online - see www.annamacneil.scot but we will not be in a position to make anything new for the next few weeks.   It is going to be a case of "watch this space....."   But at least the remaining work won't be quite so cold, and in due course we will get heating installed in the attic.



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