What a lovely lamp

After 60 years my Nana's old lamp has had a well deserved make-over. It was one of those things on my 'to do list' and I love it.

Apart from painting it my favourite token 'white' I covered a Freedom shade in this groovy fabric from Fabric Traders in Brisbane. The fabric literally arrived two days later. No waiting for overseas post to arrive.

before

Genoa chairs before and after

We finally got our Genoa arm chairs back from the upholsterer and they look amazing.

They were my mother-in-laws who at 82 years of age says they are the only chairs she remembers as a young girl in her mother's house - so do the calculations on their age...

It's so nice to have something handed down and they are incredibly comfortable.

We went for a really clean classic look.
I so wanted to be brave and choose a print but knew deep down that if I went plain I could pop a punch with a nice cushion or something and not tire of the fabric.

We ended up choosing a lovely neutral colour with a hint of linen in the fabric and a off white piping trim.

For the time being I used the painting I had done previously and added a hint of red into the canvas using elements from the cushions. I think it looks O.K but I do have a very nice painting in mind. I just need to find the time.

AFTER

BEFORE

Simple storage solutions

Who would have thought the simple plastic tub could look...well...so good!

I had a heap left over from a move several years ago and was shocked to find six that matched.

Some funky cherry red decals and hey presto, large tubs to store kids toys not in use.

In our case, the toy storage tubs were placed up high on the side part of the kitchen. We can identify what's inside when the kid's want them down to play.

Loose couch covers

Ho hum. I am having a few couch dilemmas at the moment. I need two new ones but not sure what to do. We have a naughty cat who is scratching the daylights out of one that was recovered a few years back and the other isn't bad - I just hate the print so I have covered it with a off white canvas couch cover. Also with little vegemite fingers, do we take the plunge or wait a few years? Everyone says go leather but I am afraid I am a bit of a fabric girl. Anyhow, here a few nice photos of very loose covers (almost throws) on couches. Mine is the one at the bottom.

source unknown

pale and interesting

atlanta bartlett

our lounge

and the naughty culprit!!!

Can't remember what I called this one. Roughly 120cm wide x 60cm deep.

I did this one for a friend at Graceville with these colours in mind. She also likes dots

Connect 4 and Bubbles

Some more grown up paintings...

The three piece painting is 160cm wide by 40cm deep.

The blue bubble painting was done for me to match a couch in the lounge.

Red, white and blue

*This the nursery.
*It's still a work in progress.
*I ended up going with navy, red and white instead of light blue.
*The queen bed takes up quite a bit of room but for the time being it has to stay put.
*The star theme was a last minute thing but I am happy with it.
*Excuse the white curtain rings on the timber rod - above the cot. I haven't got round to changing them yet...

Red and white

You just can't go by red and white polka dots. I'd ideally like to peg them to a string of fairy lights. I have so many Christmas ideas but at 36 weeks pregnant the spirit is there, the energy is not. Next year...

Partridge in a pear

This was a bit of a fluke...

I popped my print down until I could figure out where I could hang it when a friend said it looked cute where it sat. Without thinking I placed my ornate pear in front of it. It took a couple of days before I realised I had a pear in front of a pear AND it was Christmas time...

Pregnancy hormones I guess.

Bedroom revamp

Pretty much finished bedroom 1 and now ready to start bedroom 2. VJ walls have been gap filled and painted and brand new beautiful high quality carpet installed. Hard to imagine it's the old bedroom (aka sleep out). It's amazing what white paint can do. Behind the bed is the lightest of pink feature wall - not my choice but it kept Miss B very happy. At least we were able to introduce more red and a lot less pink than before.

My only tasks are to now repaint the white wicker, make a few butterflies for the mosquito net and I think that's about it.

Now, if only we had built-ins...

Window treatment

How cute are these! My mum brought them back from a recent trip to the US for my daughter's birthday. Her bedroom has the old smokey bumpy glass windows so they have gone on to the kitchen windows...for now.

Nook

I lost my work area to make way for a new bedroom. It's not ideal for doing craft but it is cosy enough for computer work and out of the way by the stairwell. I have a few frames to hang up but this is the general idea.

Little sweetie

I am always promising to do love hearts for my 'sweet special one' but alas store or internet orders take up my time. So, today I finally sat down and did a love heart and circles etc on Illustrator and then glued on buttons, punched paper and sequins. I 3d' some of the larger circles. See cards below also.

I am now over the love heart phase. It didn't take long.

Nursery

Starting to close the gaps on the VJs, then paint the walls (and any furniture) white for the two side bedrooms (originally sleep outs). New carpet to come. Monday I will be starting the curtains in the lounge. We know what we are having so I have to change my mind set to what I have been use to. I am thinking raspberry and beige but will probably go with light blue and camel. Very coastal and fresh.

Starting to nest

Still having a break from making stuff for stores and website etc (I think) but starting to get ideas around the home. We moved here in September 08 and I still haven't had the chance to do anything. I am somewhat limited in what I can do (biggish belly) but I am thinking 'next stop' is...curtains. I am moving away from white blinds (not all the rooms) and this style of house lends itself to curtains etc. I have done some other stuff - just a matter of taking photos. If you are interested. Pop back!

Having a bit of a break

I am endeavouring to have a bit of a break from prints and canvases. I am a little tired and suffering from yucky morning sickness. I am going to continue to work on a card range but in the meantime I kind of just want to nest and make and paint and find stuff to tinker with (and maybe do a little graphic work). I have posted below a few little things I have made for the house.

Dolly pegs

I was playing around with some old dolly pegs and lined these ladies side by side. They kind of look very 1920s.

Paper mobile

I saw this idea in the window of kiki.K around Valentines day and just loved it. We needed an afternoon project one rainy day. A few months later we replaced the hearts with butterflies. Will try and locate photo.

Fabric mobile

Another easy as...
Purchase a macrame ring or hoop from a craft store for about $1.95 and cut strips of fabric and ribbon. Tie over ring.

Flower Power

Flower power...
Easy as.
Just buy the MDF cut outs from Bunnings $1.95, undercoat (if fabric is light), draw outline on back of fabric. Cut out. Spray glue board and glue carefully. I just blue-tac'd these flowers to the door.