A collection of flea market finds over the years - the love seat I bought at a deceased estate a few years back for a whopping $2. I then set about re-covering and re-staining it. The lace cushion was from the local op shop for 50c. The side table is part of a nest for $5. The gorgeous crocheted blanket I found today at a local garage sale for $1. Not bad for $8.50.
Whilst at the Oppy today I also found this amazing tule. I have big plans for this and hope to show it off in my creative space later in the week.
Finally, my last purchase today was at a garage sale. I paid 50c for this gorgeous frame. I'm searching my house for the best spot for it.
Welcome to the first installment of the Handmade Christmas Challenge meme - a fun and easy way to share our journey of creating handmade Christmas gifts for our family and friends. Whether it be your own crafty creation or inspiration found within the virtual halls of the Etsy and Madeit stores, the challenge is on to hunt down the best gifts and share the love.
So to kick things off, I'd like to share with you... Exhibit A - The Aunty
My Aunty is impossible to buy for. Has everything. Needs nothing. Never gives you an clues. Thinks to do so would spoil the gift of giving. Every year I agonise over what I should buy her. Every year I leave Christmas a little despondent - did she really like it or was she just faking it. Oh, but this year, step aside Santa, 'cause Lou from Seaside Siblings has answered the call. If you've been following Lou's creative space posts lately, you've probably fallen in love with her gorgeous wrist warmers. Made from 4ply merino in a fine rib, they are warm enough to keep you nice and toasty and fine enough to wear whilst doing things. Lou's on-line store can be found here.
My Aunty lives on a farm spending most of her days toiling away in her garden or herding cows. Wrist warmers are an absolute perfect gift for her as she often complains how cold her hands get. This way, she'll stay warm and will be oh, so fashionable.
So, what creative gifts have you got in store? Simply join in using Mr Linky and post about your own creation or someone else's. If you are struggling for ideas on what to make or buy, put out the call and we'll try to help.
This week, my creative space is my hallway. For those of you that have followed my progress with my welcome wall and telephone table, will know that I've been procrastinating. I'm happy to report, I'm almost finished - I just have the handles to do. And yes, I did say I was just going to re-stain it but we painted it white instead. I recovered the seat with a lovely green fabric and white polka dots.
If you look closely, you'll see the most adorable little owl on the telephone seat. It was made for my 6 year old by my very talented and gorgeous friend, Mel at Little Ted Canvas. Hooty, as he is referred to, sits on the seat, looking at the front door, waiting patiently for the arrival of my little girl on her return from school each day.
In addition to the telephone table makeover, I've been playing around with a few vintage pieces that my mum handed down to me recently. My hallway is now full of colour and fun. I love walking in the front door to be greeted by my creative little nook.
Oh, and if you're looking for some fun to be had on Saturday, check out my Handmade Christmas Challenge meme...starts this Saturday. Hope you can join in!
For more creative spaces, head to Kristy's at kootoyoo.
What a defining moment for Australian history with the appointment of our first, that's right, our first female Prime Minister. Former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd stood down before a leadership ballot which was held early this morning.
Lets hope Julia Gillard represents us well ladies.
As for having ginger hair, a group of Aussies felt their support was best heard with the catchy little slogan - "We'd rather have a Ranga than a Rudd!"
{Ranga- colloquial term for those sporting ginger hair}
I speak of none other than Brian Andriola, Mr Interior & Still Life photographer extraordinaire. I'm loving his photo gallery which you can find here but I've found some of my favourites at desire to inspire.
10 points for anyone who can tell me how this gigantic branch is standing up in that small bowl on the floor. In the eyes of a 3 year old, that branch is fair game for all things Tarzan. I'd rate it as having about 0.0000001 second chance of surviving the hands of my children. Pretty, delicate but oh so impractical.
Brian appears to be a lover of all things green so he's already won my heart. Again, the ferns and hydrangea's in all their glory would be torn apart in a rather tortuous way, de-petaled flower by flower to make what my daughter's refer to as chunky soup!
Oh the serenity. Being in a convenient reaching distance for adventurous little hands, one of two things would take place in this scene - candle wax burns or setting the garden on fire. Either that or throwing themselves off what appears to be a steep cliff face.
So until my children get a hell of a lot older, I'll just dream about these beautiful images in the distant knowledge that when I am old enough to retire I could have the same but will be too old and grumpy to bother!
In the words of Petula Clark, Westlife or Backstreet Boys (trust me....I was just looking for a colour song...I am not a devotee to these artists)
Oh, you can colour my world with sunshine yellow each day!
Oh, you can colour my world with happiness all the way!
Just take the green from the grass and the blue from the sky up above!
And if you colour my world just paint it with your love!
Just colour my world...la la la la laaaaaa!
Hope your Monday is just as colourful.
Oh, and if you're looking for some fun to be had on Saturday, check out my Handmade Christmas Challenge meme....starts this Saturday. Hope you can join in!
I thought I'd share with you the second installment of my mum's garage sale haul. A few weeks back my mum found herself wondering into a garage sale of a shabby chic home where everything was on sale for less than $30. After a frantic call to me where I gave her the thumbs up to go forth and go crazy, she bought as much as she could cram in her car.
The yellow doily is from a recent Op shop find and the french provincial style flowers were for my birthday.
Oh, and I have a little announcement - I've just launched a new meme called Handmade Christmas Challenge. Hope you'll join me in sharing your creative handmade Christmas gift ideas.
I know, I know, it's nowhere near Christmas - or is it?
You see, winter puts us into a false sense of security here in Oz. We are so busy adding layer upon layer to fend off pneumoniathat we don't recognise spring approaching which by then leaves us 3 months before Christmas shopping. October we are usually in denial and by late November we're threatening relatives that if they don't tell us what they want, what they really, really want, we'll just buy them a hardware voucher because there's no time for playing coy and being mysterious. Christmas shopping is no bloody laughing matter!
Well, perhaps that's just me? Last year, I left my run so incredibly late that I was running around like a nutter trying to find presents up until Christmas Eve and let me tell you, there was no Christmas joy in that!
So, I've decided to start my shopping early. But this is no ordinary shop. I've decided to make a pledge in support of all those brilliantly crafty bloggers out there by purchasing gifts that are only handmade.
In addition, I'm sticking my limited crafty neck out and pledging that I will create (and sometimes borrow) some wonderful gift ideas to wrap these perfectly thoughtful gifts in.
Every Saturday I thought we could use Mr McLinky and share something that we are creating for Christmas, a gift idea we've discovered or something we've spied on Etsy or the Madeit Shop. When I'm struggling to find the perfect gift, I will post a profile of the person I need to buy for asking for your recommendations.
If you'd like to join my Handmade Christmas Challengehere's how to:
Step 1: Register your interest by leaving a comment on this post Step 2: Become a follower so you recieve an update each Saturday
Step 3: Grab my button if you like (you'll find it on the top right column)
Step 4: Come over and visit on a Saturday where you can register your Handmade Christmas Challenge creation (either something you are making, that you've recently discovered or wish to buy for a loved one for Christmas)
Dust off those Bing Crosby CD's and start getting into the Christmas spirit my friends because this year, the gift of giving is going to be happiness in a handmade hamper!
The Envelope Project is catching...last I visited Pip had 122 eager bloggers pledging their creativity towards this fun project. I'm number 102 and its my first ever join in thingy. I'm not yet talented enough to join the ranks of an apron swap, pin cushion swap or even cut vintage material squares and put them in the post. BUT, I can do envelopes! So, I'm giving it a crack and hope to come up with some wonderful little things to add to my envelope. If you'd like to join, head over to Meet Me At Mike's!
Do you ever get into a rut where you start several projects at once, only to lose steam half way through? Over the last 6 months I have re-painted, re-stained and re-arranged up to pussy's bow, and now I'm plain tuckered out. I thought I'd share with you my projects hoping you can spur me on to finally finish them and show you the end result.
Let me begin this journey with...
The dreaded blue couch
I loved this blue couch when my husband and I first got married (10 years ago) and bought this for our home. Two kids later and I cringe at the stains and dirt that have turned this once fine looking couch into a uni student special. On the up side, its foundations are really solid, the cushions are stuffed with 100% duck down and it's like a sleeping pill to lie on. My children are still too young to lash out and buy a brand new couch as they'd trash it within a day. So, the next best thing is to recover it - however for the cost of reupholstering it, I'd be better off buying a new couch. A conundrum I hear you say! Yes, but I have found a solution. I’ve sourced some material to drape over the couch.
For the cushions, I found this gorgeous print at Spotlight.
As you can see from the photo, have tacked the material to the frame of the couch but cushions are yet to be done. Trouble is, I’m not even a novice sewer – I have a sewing machine but haven’t yet given it a spin. So, have sourced a local to assist but it’s still pretty expensive so will aim to get 3 – 4 cushions re-covered each fortnight.
Kitchen stools
I brought these two kitchen stools a few weeks back. Lovely husband of mine has sanded back and painted stool to the right. Need to source some more foam for the seats as they are too hard to sit on. Once this is done, I have material ready to cover it.
Telephone Table
I brought this telephone table from a friend months ago. I’ve finally recovered the cushion but have been undecided about whether to paint or re-stain it. I posted about this back in April and many of you provided great suggestions on how to liven it up. We’ve decided to sand it back and re-stain.
Thanks to my lovely husband, the sanding is almost complete. Now I just need to re-stain it.
So that’s the honour roll of all DIY adventures rendered incomplete! Wish me luck in delving deep within my creative soul to muster up enough energy to complete these worthy projects.
I've not had an ounce of sleep and I'm struggling to put this post together but it was all worth it for the Love Boat party was truly magnificent. Attended by 60 guests, we were greated by
Captain Stubing and the Doctor with Man Overboard cocktails and maritime 80's music.
The host had put so much effort into the night from the cabaret singer
to the dolphin ice sculpture
A fabulous night was had by all which ran into the very late hours of the morning. My dancing feet have suffered and I am very weary but I am delighted I had the chance to sail the Love Boat on its final voyage.
Op Shopping on your own, discovering rare gems is one thing, enlisting your mother to scout on your behalf is another. Without any prompting, my mum found herself at a garage sale in Mentone where everything was for sale. To her delight, the whole house was decked out in shabby chic furniture, with nothing over $30. A few frantic calls to me, and she'd managed to fill her boot full of fantastic buys for my home. So this week I thought I'd share one my favourite pieces of furniture that has found a new home at my place.
This is going to be the single most exciting thing that's happened to me all year. I'm prepared to right off the rest of the year knowing that nothing will compare to this one single event.
My gorgeous friend in Melbourne is turning forty and he has decided to celebrate this milestone by transforming his house into the Love Boat. He has removed all furniture from his home and has produced a set design that recreates the inner sanctum of the ships entertainment deck. He has invited 60 of his closest friends and family and has instructed us all that we need to arrive dressed as a Love Boat guest from the 70's.
Thank goodness for google as I found a guest roll 200 long of those that featured on the Love Boat and whilst I was an avid watcher of the program, the only guest that I knew was.....
ZhaZhaGabor!!!
My girlfriend in Sydney is going as ZhaZha's sister, Eva and together we have spent weeks hunting and gathering 70's kitsch couture for this night of nights.
I'll be sure to capture our transformation into 70's glamour and our journey to Alcopoco whilst sipping champagne and mingling with the guests on the Love Boat.
