Classic finds

My style is, without a doubt, electric. My home is filled with treasures from different era's and different countries. But at the heart of it all, is a great love of the classics. I believe you must start with the classics and build from there. So, I was thrilled to bits yesterday, when I found 6 metres of vintage ticking and some small squares of Belgian linen in my favourite oppy. I have been searching for ticking for over 9 months; on-line, at flea markets and at far away op shops. I even considered Spotlight at one point. But the Spotlight fabric was not what I wanted, a cheap imitation of what I had in mind.

I am so glad I waited... because this, was, exactly, what I was looking for.

I know that there will be cushions for the lounge room and maybe the underside of a quilt for my bedroom, perhaps some draw string bags, maybe some napkins or place mats? I'm not sure what to do with the linen yet. It is in pieces. I really love with the print on the linen, I might try and work it into a pillow of some sort...

Now, if I could just find the time!

 

A bit of a breakdown

I have been avoiding my computer.

I've been having MAJOR computer problems for weeks now. Read: tearing my hair out! Technology can be great - but that's only when it is working.

This will be a quieter week, hopefully with a little more time on my hands to sort out these computer problems once and for all.



Here are some books that I got from a local church fete on the weekend. $2.65 the lot!

 .... my favourite, favourite.





Oh dear books, how I love you so. Such a reliable source of information. Always there when I need you.

Have you bought any good thrifted books lately? Or maybe your reading a new book?

For any of my family and friends who may have e-mailed me in the last few weeks, I am still without e-mail. I am not ignoring you, promise.

Pretty little bunting

While poking around in the craft basket in the back room of my favourite op shop last Monday, I found a little plastic bag of goodies. While some people might think that this was just a pile of tiny practice squares, good for nothing, I saw bunting!

I quickly snapped up the $2.00 bag, excited, knowing exactly how good this would look with our Easter decorations.

The bunting finally got hung on the evening before Good Friday. On Tuesday of last week I drove half an hour to a shop, that I was sure sold floral liberty bias binding. But when I got there, I was wrong. Instead I chose a large polka dot in a deep coral. It looked great with the colours of the little crochet squares in the shop, but the next day when I started sewing it up, the colour was just too dark. Once hung, all you would have noticed would have been the coral strip of the bunting top and the soft pastel colours would have just disappeared. So after school pick up, I dragged the kids to Lincraft, another half hour trip. I deliberated between a soft grey and peach for over 10 minutes. I am not a 'peach' girl. But the grey was just wrong.

On Thursday afternoon I finally sat down and sewed up the tiny bunting. More than once I thought that I should have got the wider bias binding, as sewing 5x5 cm uneven crochet wool and cotton squares was just a tad fiddly to say the least!

But in the end, it was perfect, it was exactly how I imagined it would look.

Have you given any thrifted crafts finds a new life lately?

This last week

During the last week I have....



Been surprised by my mother, she turned up unexpectedly at my door with this gorgeous bunch of flowers. It is amazing how much fresh flowers can lift your mood.

During a week that should have been all about her, she was thinking of me. Wow, that is why we love our mum's so much!


 I have started eating healthier lunches - outside, instead of in front of the computer.





 I have chosen the fabrics for two quilts. One for the girls.





And one for the boys. To snuggle under while reading or watching a movie during winter.

They will be made from vintage flannelette, a collection of flannelette from my own childhood and thrifted finds. A fairly ambitous project since I have never quilted before. I will be keeping it simple that's for sure. I would like to get these made before it gets too cold. Now all I need to do is work out a pattern (random squares - but what size?) and find the time.

Perhaps I don't need to stress too much, we slept with our fans on again last night!


I have baked three different apple cakes.

I ironed up all of my Irish linens for our St Patrick's Day dinner last Sunday night. I'll share my Irish recipes over at 'jelly, peaches and ice-cream' tomorrow.


My 'Miss Maggie Rabbit' kit arrived in the post. In truth, just in time for Easter. However, with one very busy week ahead and an already bulging basket of Easter gifts hidden away, I will sadly put this kit aside for now. Instead it will be made for Miss Moo Moo's birthday in September. She is bunny mad at anytime of the year.



I have spent some time helping out at my Mum's cafe.



I have washed up some of my new op shop finds.

I have finished sorting through all of our seasonal decorations. Our Christmas decorations were in four different places throughout our house, stashed here and there, some in baskets, some in boxes, but now they are organised. Six large plastic containers of Christmas decorations alone. I have containers for Easter, Halloween, Birthdays, Bunting, Fairy Lights and Australia Day.

This week, I need to make some pretty labels and move these onto the shelving in the garage. In turn, that means I need to sort out the garage, Arrgh! A job that might need to wait until after the holidays. But these must be moved, because right now, I have 16 containers in my entrance hall, no one can come in the front door. Oh dear. Yes, this week.

I have also been to a church fete, swimming lessons, and an 'eighth' birthday party.

I have caught up with a friend in the park for a play date, babysat for another friend and I have  enjoyed an evening by candlelight for Earth Hour.

What have you been up to this last week?  Have you had a productive, busy week too?

A little bit of Downton Abbey

I have been out and about a lot this week... and you know what that means: if I'm in town, I'm op shopping.

I've found vintage children's books and sheets, a few more bowls - a pyrex one with strawberries on it! I've found some glassware, a new dish rack, a pot plant holder and more than a few vintage suitcases (more about that later). I've found some beautiful tea towels and another tablecloth. But I think that this is my most favourite find of the week.

I'm not sure if I'll be wearing it too much - white! but it looks absolutely beautiful hanging in my kitchen.

Have you been op shopping this week too? What was your favourite buy?

Our February days

February always seems to fly by.

I find that it isn't until March that things settle down and we are able to find a rhythm for the new year.

What have we been doing over the last month? There has been lots of rain...

There were 'big bulk baking' days.



There were 'teddy bears picnic' days.




There were 'surprise package' days.



There were pancakes for Pancake Day.





There were 'library' days.


There were 'chocolate cake' days.

 There was a Valentines Day dinner out.



There were 'lego' days.



There were 'popcorn and movie' days.



There were 'op shop' days.



There were 'shopping for new babies' days



There was a Chinese New Year dinner party, just us. (you can read all about it here)



There were 'hot chocolate' days, even though it wasn't actually cold.




And there were 'de-cluttering and re-organising' days.

Well now, about de-cluttering and re-organising. Remember this post and all that talk about the 'year of the homemaker'. Before I am able to go to far down that path, I must de-clutter. It is paramount that I do this. To clear some space in both my home and my thoughts. When I am not feeling overwhelmed by 'stuff', I know that the other things I want to be doing (baking bread, making soap and focusing on my vegetable garden) will come easily.

So I have started de-cluttering and reorganising. The problem: I really have years of 'stuff' to sort through. But it has started, and that's a good thing. I'll give you an update when I can.

How have you spent you February days?