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Monday, October 31, 2011

My Place and Yours

'Where I sleep'
Okay, so I made my bed and tidied up a bit for this weeks MPAY.
I packed away the pieces of lego on my bedside table and picked a rose from my garden.

When we built our home almost 2 years ago we bought this Orla Kiely doona cover. I love it just as much now as I did then. BUT...
I feel like I need an injection of colour maybe...or not? I know there needs to be another pillow and cushions!?? There is usually a white quilt at the bottom of the bed but it's in the wash at the moment.

I could have showed you the children's sleeping spaces because theirs are much prettier and more interesting. Very colourful! I haven't tackled our room yet because while I know what I like, I just don't know what to DO! I want something to complement the bedding, not compete with it.

There are 3 x windows on my side of the bed. Then the other three walls(white) are a blank canvas(with the exception of a white doily bunting that I am about to put in the little ladies room instead) Our carpet is a dark espresso brown. The bedside table on the Misters side is a white lack table from ikea(looking at the oppies for one that matches mine..or doesn't) My bedside is thrifted and needs some TLC. I was thinking a lick of paint, something bright but I just don't know. It all comes down to indecisiveness on my part.

If you have some fabulous idea or inspirational advice for me...please share. In the meantime, I'll keep ummming and ahhhhing and perusing Pinterest.

For more spaces, visit Vic at Punky and Me.

PS A special thanks to my Mama for ironing my doona last week. She popped in and saw baskets upon baskets of ironing and offered to help. I gave her only ONE thing. That king size doona cover!!!
Mum I owe you;)

PPS I know many of might tell me that I am nutty ironing a doona cover or nutty ironing at all! but what can I say... I am my mother's daughter:)

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Flea Market Finds

Here are my goodies from my visit to the community garage sale last weekend.
Not a huge haul but some things I liked and needed.

Some fowlers jars which will house sewing bits and bobs in my craft room, just a dollar each.

Some Johnson plates, 20c each how could I not buy them?!

Vintage scrabble $3.00

And this pretty cake stand for $2.00

As usual, I'm joining in here.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Untitled

Celebrating the ordinary and everyday

I wish I was one of those people that think of quirky, clever titles for their posts.

Bella's rose is blooming brightly. She is happy indeed!

Today the sky looks like this.
I've been spray painting some thrifted frames.

I just heard Ollie say 'Dadddddd, Bella just called me a guts'...Nice:(

I am feeling bit meh today! Can you tell?
I think the few hours of ironing I did this afternoon sent me a bit loopy.

Hope you are having a great weekend! We are off to our nephews 21st birthday.

Friday, October 28, 2011

50 years

Celebrating the ordinary and everyday

Last weekend my inlaws celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They celebrated by having a reception with 50 of their nearest and dearest. The Mr did a super job as MC and our children had the special job of handing out cut little cake pops.There was a lovely meal, nice speeches, a slide show of our family over the years, lots of special touches.
One of these was a gift from my inlaws to each of their children and partners. There were three gifts on the table and Grant, his brother and sister were asked to each choose one, a bit of a lucky dip if you like.
Inside was one of their wedding gifts. The gift came with instructions that we were not allowed to put it in a garge sale or send it to the op shop. (haha that's a different story)

We opened our gift to find these four milk glass beer steins inside.


My brother-inlaw received a lovely crystal bowl and my sister-inlaw received 6 pretty floral saucers and 3 matching teacups(the other three cups had been broken sometime during the past 50 years)

So did we hit the jackpot with our beer steins or did we luck out? A fun idea I think.

Congratulations Grammy and Grandy! We love you very much!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Celebrating the ordinary and everyday

Our big kids performed in a musical festival tonight.
Boo, in the choir and Ollie in Kindergarten Dance Group.
I am feeling like such a proud Mama tonight.

I have not seen Bella this happy in a long while:) She sang her little heart out and loved every minute of it.
I loved every minute of watching her joy.
We were not allowed to take photos during the performance but here's one I snapped before hand.

Ollie decided he did not want to be a firefly afterall and stuck to my leg like a little barnacle instead. His beautiful teacher peeled him off me and I gave him a big smile before walking away anxiously. The teacher in me knows with all my heart that children settle quickly once their mama is out of the picture but the mama in me was  heartbroken. It's such a  horrible feeling to walk away from your upset child when all you want to do is  hold them and not let go. I sat in the audience wondering if he would be on stage... I didn't mind if he wasn't...but out he came and he buzzed around with enthusiasm. He got to keep the torch so he was very happy about that!
I'm so happy he had fun with his friends and the opportunity to shine!

Do you have a child that gets stage fright or do you have one that loves to be centre stage?

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The Bunting Swap

Fun and Creativity

I have received three more lovely bunts in the mail this week, all with a little something extra special on them.

The pretty floral with gorgeous crochet trim has been made by Leonie, the spotty bunt with the little cluster of sweetness and some special handstitching from Rachael and the gorgeous corduroy bunt with mustard crocheted doily handmade by Jek. I adore each of them! THANK YOU SO MUCH:)
I am getting rather excited about assembling my bunting.
And  as everyone should have now recieved their bunts from me, I can show and tell a few of my creations.
I used some pretty floral vintage sheeting for these ones.



Tuesday, October 25, 2011

My Place and Yours

I'm joining in once again with My Place and Yours. I loved having a stickybeak at everyone's shelves last week!

This weeks theme is 'my pincushion'.

I'm showing off my brand new pincushion.
When I broke my most perfect piece of milkglass a couple of weeks ago, I rushed out to get superglue that night. Who knew there were seven different options to choose from? I chose the Tarzans Grip for no other reason than it had a big muscly man holding open a lions jaw. I thought that would glue it for sure.

I superglued it back together-BADLY but I just couldn't throw it out. A revamp was in order... maybe a candle, or pop a succulent in it and then I thought... pincushion! While I really wish I didn't break my most perfect piece of milkglass, I think my new pincushion is probably the next best thing.


Check out stacks of lovely pincushions at Punky & Me.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Ajanta

On Saturday morning BF and her big sis picked me up early for a drive in the country. We went to the Coolamon Community Garage Sales. I very quickly lost count of how many garage sales we visited. We all managed to bring home some goodies but the highlight of the morning for me was morning tea at the very beautiful 'Ajanta' Cafe. It is the most beautiful old building and it is a treasure trove of gorgeous handmade clothing, stunning jewellery, artworks, things for the home and beautiful giftware.





There is so much to see. Beauty in every nook and crannie.
I will be visiting again very soon when 'the buy nothing new challenge' finishes up:)

A little taste of Ajanta's beauty...








You might recognise this rustic old chair(LOVE).

This is how it looked before I restyled it by swiping these beautiful roses from the table:)

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Vintage Sheet Giveaway

In the name of FUN I have a Blogtoberfest Giveaway.
I am having a wonderFULL weekend so I haven't much time for blogging-hence yesterday's lame attempt at a post. Nice photo though, yes?!)
I would like to giveaway 5 fat quarters of gorgeous vintage sheeting found on my op shopping adventures, to two lovely readers. Plus some extra bits and pieces(I don't know what these will be yet but I promise you'll love them.) I love a good surprise.

If you would like to throw your name in the hat, please leave a comment on this post.
Everyone is welcome. If you are visiting from Blogtoberfest or if you've lurked but have never commented before, now is the time to say hello.
Hope your weekend is wonderFULL too:)

Giveaway open till the end of the month:)

Friday, October 21, 2011

Weekend wonderful

A couple of months ago, I went away with my bestie for a weekend full of wonderful. It was the second weekend away from my children in almost 10 years. The first one was disasterous. I bawled my eyes out on the plane and cried half the weekend(hormones).
This time though I was ready! I really needed this break and I enjoyed it whole heartedly.

We headed off on a little road trip to Daylesford for the weekend.
Never mind that it took us all day to get there.
We left about 9.30am.
First stop... this little country op shop at 10am! Yes we did not get very far.

We stopped at a number of op shops along the way, there was much chitter chatter, some 80's music, a wrong turn, a narrow dirt road, foxes, and the most beautiful countryside.

We arrived in Daylesford just after dark and found a lovely place for take away.
We enjoyed a few wines and the most delicious pizza, pumkin risotto and greek salad.
We stayed in this quaint little cottage.

It was up bright and early the next day and out for breakie before hitting the op shops. I'm sure the oppies are well thrifted by the local stallholders at Daylesford Bazaar. Despite this, we still managed to find a couple of treasures.
Next it was off to Daylesford Bazaar.
Lots to see and rummage through.

And then... onto the Mill Markets-AMAZING!
You need a good few hours to browse here.
I loved these TH Brown stools and if there were three, I would have been very tempted.
Yes the cute orange vase on the right is the same as the one on my shelf. This one was priced $35 and I picked up mine for $13 at a local second hand store. Chuffed.

Sooo many beautiful vintage wares to see, gorgeous vintage clothing, some a bit pricey for this thrifty girl. 
I did however find a little bargain but that's another post.
We also discovered a little 'trash n treasure' happening at a local church and of course a visit to Daylesford wouldn't be complete without some shopping at Lark would it?

And the perfect end to the day... a hot shower, jammi's,  we poured some wine, and devoured this for dinner.

Ahhh yes a weekend full of wonderful. And I didn't cry once!


Tomorrow bestie and I are heading off to a community garage sale. Have you ever heard of such a thing? I hadn't! The little town of Coolamon will be buzzing with 40+ garage sales.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

My creative space

My creative space is all about binding today.
I've been cutting and stitching strips of fabric to make the binding for Lulu's vintage quilt.

I've used a beautiful flannelette sheet I thrifted at the oppy for a couple of dollars.
It is all worn and snuggly and I think it makes the perfect binding for this quilt.
There are some patches of the very same yellow floral throughout the quilt, only they are cotton and came from a thrifted pillowcase. Can you spot it?

When I saw this flannelette sheet, I just knew it was my binding.


PS I'm joining in today with this creative community.

PSS Thank you for your lovely comments on yesterday's post. In answer to your questions...
Mel, I used a 4 inch square template. I picked the quilter's business card up at my local quilting shop ages ago. Some stores will have a machine quilting service as well. My quilter is also in the yellow pages. She has a huge and gorgeous studio(shed) at the back of her home.

Sophie and Kylie, the machine quilting for this king single size quilt cost $85.00!!! which is a GREAT price. I dropped it off without getting a quote(they can quote you if you give the measurements) and was told it would be somewhere between $100-$130(which is what I have paid previously at another quilters). When I went to pick it up she charged me $85.00 Very happy indeed!

Because all the fabrics were thrifted sheets and pillowcases, that really kept the price down as well. I have quilted myself previously(just sewing straight lines or not so straight lines) but as this quilt is Lulu's first quilt for her big girl bed I wanted to make it a bit extra special by having it quilted professionally.

I am very much a 'beginner quilter'. This is my third quilt and I was expecting the smaller squares to be a bit tedious but they actually came together pretty easily. I didn't follow a pattern. I just grabbed a square-any square and stitched it on.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Lulu's Vintage Quilt

Creativity

A while ago I started making Lulu a quilt for her big girl bed. It was a labour of love. I cut all the squares and just sewed them together now and again. I recently found the perfect purple floral backing and so I finally dropped it off for some fancy schmancy machine quilting.

Yesterday I got the call to say it was ready so this morning I picked it up. I'm SO happy with it and I adore the feather design that I chose for the quilting. I have the perfect yellow floral put aside for binding so onto that tomorrow I think.



Here's to hoping I can show and tell a finished quilt in the next couple of weeks. Can I do it?
Wish me luck!