Red Stools

DO NOT GOOGLE "Red stools" if you would like inspiration on decorating second hand wooden sitting on variety 'red stools'. If you have a medical condition that entails vibrant descriptions of multi coloured poo, then go for it. You'll get all the information you need. Trust me....

These are the kinds of stools I had in mind. My gorgeous Mum found them at a garage sale next door to her house. She didn't even know about my desperation for two stools to sit under our wall mounted bench. I had been searching high and low, every opp shop and second hand furniture store in the area came up lacking. I'd put the word out to all my friends to keep their eyes open for me. All except Mum, who I'd not mentioned it to at all. That's the weird bit, the power of the Trojo. (Treasure mojo, mentioned here)

So when I almost fell over with envy at her recently acquired stools, she said the four words I was secretly (maybe not so) wanting to hear "You can have them". Then I went from almost falling over with envy to almost peeing myself with excitement.

Before

After
Sprayed gloss red by my spunky hubster and cover made by yours truly.

I paper pieced some different scraps of corduroy, thrifted curtains and cottons into hexagons and quilted the top. Using the old cover as a guide and the piping from the old covers, I made this snuggly fitting, removable cover. One down, one more to go. I think I'll change it up and do something different for the other one.

Handmade Heaven : Litterally

There once was a little piece of heaven that fell down to earth, it fell from a creative angels workshop. It now resides as a building and draws in all things handmade, it's known as Handmade Heaven. Here are some of my favorite things from there, and a giveaway to so that you or I, may have our own little piece of handmade heaven.





To enter the giveaway, click here.......here......no here....... no really here.....gotchagen

Back to school.... Wardrobe solutions

Check out these babies! They take me back to when I had photos of the hubster and I in our early years taped inside my locker getting me through my school days, thinking of when i'd see him next. Fast forward about ten years and here's me, having a classigasm (like a thriftgasm but from a classified add). $30 for a double AND people A.N.D two singles!!! They were all going to be for the kids room but when I picked them up and saw the double locker I just knew it needed to be painted cherry red with white inlays behind the doors. Can you see it, I can! I have just the spot for it in my lounge/entry/computer/craft room.

Why do cats always have to inconspicously lick themselves in the background of photos? It's like they go "hehehe the human won't notice until she goes to post the photo on her blog and then it'll be too late. She won't be bothered to take another one, lazy humans bwahaha". Maybe not but if you knew our cats, you would understand the mind games they can play! We have a knack of always ending up with the crazy animals.

Now to steel wool, prime and spray my little excited heart out! Stay tuned.

At our house

I'm playing along with Buttons By Lou Lou. This week has seen me baking bread for the first time. I love the smell of hot bread and a big fat slice with heaps of butter and homemade boysenberry jam is even better.

The yeast doing it's thing, like magic.

I get to use my thrifted sifter (try saying that ten times in a row with your mouth full of marshmellows)

Here she is, my bum loaf baby in the oven ready to cook after lots of kneading and two risings.

mmmmmm can you smell that warm bread aroma?

first slice is for the cook, the yummy crunchy crust laden with artery clogging butter (I'm a risk taker) and Pa's Boysenberry Jam purchased at the local farmers market.

Bon Appetit

Flea Market Finds

They come from many places, Flea Markets, Swap meets, Opportunity shops, thrift stores, second hand stores, hand me downs, side of the road, junk yards and hard waste collection days. They are treasures, more valuable to me than their sticky dot or hand written price tags say.

Her Library Adventures has invited one and all to share their Flea Market Finds and I am sharing some things I found at my local this morning.

A funky little plate for my wall plate collection that will eventually, actually go on a wall. An old ice cream scoop with worn out handle, imagine how many scoops she's got under her belt! A corer that I intend to use as a holepokeroutera for jam biccies and last but not least, a pot strainer. I had a moment when I saw this, a thriftgasm if you would.

An enamel now to be fruit bowl in my favorite cherry red.

A lovely little tin that once had fudge, but will now sit on my dressing table for my jewelery. Perfect little roses on a teeny pillowcase. All this for $3.70!!! Heaven.

Simple Womens day book: Week 4

There must have been a nasty cat loose in our house for our mouse died. I never knew how much I loved our mouse, it just sat there with it's long tail and little infa red light blinking. Now we have a new mouse which I won't take for granted.

Simple Womens day book: Week 4

Outside my window... Soft mist blanketing as far as the eye can see.
I am thinking... Of being left with only one baby today, the big kids are at kinder and school. The opp shops are calling my name!
I am thankful for... Our teeny tiny little house full of character, shoe box it may be but it keeps us warm, sheltered and close.
From the kitchen...My first batch of tomato sauce from my home grown cherry tomatoes, basil, oregano, onion and garlic.
I am (going to be) wearing... Jeans, big snuggly cardigan.
I am creating...mucous, and lots of it. Achoooooooooooooooooooo
I am going...To do the school run (and oh, look at that, there's an opp shop on the way home)
I am reading... The bridge to holy cross and The summer garden. The latter was emotionally enriched, I was laughing, crying, swooning, hoping and lots more. Beautifully written and thoroughly irriputadownable.
I am hearing... Muuuuuuum, can I have Jelly slice for breakfast???
Around the house... Grouting tiles in the kitchen.
One of my favorite things... morning bed (why is it always so much comfier in the morning rather than evening. So hard to leave)
A few plans for the rest of the week... Most of the above, again and again and then some.
Here is picture I am sharing... Birdie stitchery using Cottage garden threads 'Spring Gully' and 'Ixia'

Something new...

I'm trying something new and I hope it goes okay. I'm setting up an ETSY shop!

I will be selling Cottage Garden Threads, Patterns, some ready made things here and there, kits and mini kits.

But, be patient with me as I work it all out :)

Introducing...(Drumroll please)
NEEDLEYE

There are now 65 delicious threads in the range, so yummy it's hard to pick a favorite!

I have also been delegated the job of running a blog for Cottage Garden Threads so pop by and see what's happening.

If you'd like to see the threads in action, check out some of these links...
Leanne Beasley - Down in the garden
Brenda Ryan - Fairies with Attitude
Brenda Ryan - William Morris Roses
Me - Keep calm and mother on.
Jan Kerton - Pears, other pears
Gail Pan - Pretty things
Natalie Ross in stitches - The flower pot people

Simple Womens day book: Week 2

Simple Womens day book: Week 2

Outside my window...Gold kissed clouds, birds chirping and *cringe* there goes Freddy, cockadoodledooing his little heart out.
I am thinking... Of my dentist appointment this morning.
I am thankful for...Living in a blessed country.
From the kitchen...Anzac biscuits for breakfast.
I am wearing...jeans, singlet, very fine knit long sleeve top and ugg boots.
I am creating...Stitchery of a busy mum.
I am going...To the dentist at nine.
I am reading...Waiting on the second two novels in the bronze horseman series to come in the mail.
I am hearing...Mum, I can't find any dry knickers.
Around the house... I'd like to see the floor again today.
One of my favorite things...A cup of peppermint, lemon balm and lemon thyme tea I'm about to pick from my garden.
A few plans for the rest of the week...Getting ready for the big first day of school next week.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Mia, Mac and G-pa

Simple Womens day book: Week 1

Whilst cruising my morning blogs and sipping my morning tea, I was inspired by Cinderberry Stitches to start a Simple Woman's day book.

You could take this one of two ways: That I am a simple woman or that it's a daybook about simple things. Either way, this will be fun!

Click here to join in

FOR TODAY
18/01/10...

Outside my window...raindrops twinkling like gems on tree leaves
I am thinking... wake up wake up wake up
I am thankful for...having cuddly sleep in's with Mac
From the kitchen...a strange smell coming from the fridge
I am wearing...dressing gown and ugg boots
I am creating...a border for my embroidery design
I am going...For a cuppa with a girlfriend so the kids can have a play with her kids
I am reading...Just finished the Bronze Horseman and am still moved by it. Very endearing and I was unable to put it down for three days. I'm going to be seeking out the Authors other novels.
I am hoping...for a calm day.
I am hearing...MUM MUM MUM MUM MUMMMMMMMMMMMMMY
Around the house... Must clean out the fridge
One of my favorite things...a hot shower that I'm about to have
A few plans for the rest of the week...creating, enjoying and loving
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

It's been almost a year

Introducing Rita

My marvelous Nanna gifted me her mothers little elna sewing machine. It makes me very happy to know I am connected to my great grandmother through sewing. I hope she is watching over my shoulder proudly.

This little machine is amazing! It fits my needs perfectly - small, easily packed away so little fingers don't get at it but still able to be left out, it's own little tool box AND people, it fits my different feet from the janome!!! I needed a name for the elna that justifies her small but feitsy nature.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce ....
Rita


I had a spurt of inspiration while putting a milk bottle in the recycling bin today for some bling for Rita. Within three minutes Rita and I had matching pincushion bands using a bottle top, scrap, ball of wadding, ribbon, a couple of snaps, old tape measure and tarzan grip.

This was so quick, so easy and so giftable!

I only had one bottletop so I thought I'd make it intersnappable.

That weird drawing...

For those of you who were wondering what this drawing was actually of.....

Liesl of Hoppo Bumpo has let me steal this picture of her adorable son to solve the mystery. She totally inspired me to draw when she sent me a gift just because. Isn't she the sweetest!

Life List

I am a list maker. There is a list for everything. To do list, to make list, to call list, to see list, Christmas list, birthday list, chores list, grocery list, I could even write a list for all the different profanities you can throw about in a day - if I really wanted to but I am down to my last roll of toilet paper. Usually things that I don't really like doing (eg: paying the bills or cleaning the toilet) get crossed off and the things I like to do (sewing, reading) get a tick. Once a task from the list is completed, whether ticked or crossed I feel a little swell of accomplishment.

With my renewed enthusiasm sparked by the new years eve fireworks I have decided I am going to make a list of things I would like to accomplish in my life. My Life List. If I can get a swell of accomplishment by crossing off "fold washing", then I want a Tsunami from ticking tasks on My Life List.

This list will be ever changing. I know that things I may want to do now will not hold as much ground as the things I will want to do in the future, the plan is to get them done before I reconsider.

I invite everyone to write your own life list, there are never enough things to achieve in one lifetime and never enough lifetime to achieve enough things. Let me know if you do, I might even steal some of your ideas ;)

My Life List

• read one hundred books every year.
• write a book.
• illustrate a children's book.
  
• build a house.
• have a honeymoon.
• volunteer for a charity.
• Learn another language.
  
• Study something.
• Learn basic car mechanics.
• Become familiar with world geography.
• Get my dream tattoo
  

I've been Hoppo Bumpoed

Thankyou Leisl, you are one of the gold nuggets I was talking about in my last post!

I had a scribble as soon as I received the gift you sent me. The sketching pencils are heaven to use.

This is for you and if you would like it, it's yours. I haven't quite plucked up the courage to post it to you yet.

Another little doodle
This is a quick sketch of Mia while she was sleeping in front of the telly, but she woke up before I could finish it.

Handmade christmas #3

I started this present with just an apron in mind but it grew to be a whole little cooking set for each of my budding chef's. I can't wait to see them in action.