I just might be rubbing off on my 6 year old son...he came to me last weekend and asked if we could eat our dinner outside on the back deck. So after much cleaning and scrubbing of said deck he then decided that it would be nice if we set the table and had a special dinner ready for when Dad got home...this is how he set the table for us. He picked some roses from the garden and I supplied all the items.
I think he did a pretty fabulous job.
My husband looked at me strangely when I whipped out the camera to take this photo...but they just looked so cute sitting on the sideboard I couldn't help myself.
Look who is on the move...now to just go and make the house baby friendly!
Hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas and New Year...January is just flying by and I am determined to get a few of my many projects done!
I have had some time recently to get back to my favourite blog reads and the before and afters have especially inspired me to get a move on with my own projects.
Yesterday I discovered a new nursery over near my parents that has a small decorating section. They had 50% off and I picked up this lovely little teapot, creamer and sugar set. They are porcelain but made to look like old enamel ware...so cute.
I really need to get some curtains...maybe a trip to Ikea next weekend is in order!
Whilst out and about today we found a huge garage sale where I picked up this cute little children's chair which looks similar to a brentwood chair. Just needs a little clean up and will be added to my ever growing chair collection!
With my mother-in-law's 60th birthday in November I thought I'd try my hand at making some cupcakes...well the cupcakes I've made plenty of times before, but wanted to try something a little fancier for the frosting on top...this was my first attempt at piping and I cheated a little with store bought pre-made icing roses. I was really happy with how they turned out but will keep practising (and not give up my day job just yet!).
This cute little cupboard, which I'm thinking is a medicine cabinet (although have not seen this style & size before), was given to me by my mother's best friend...I am storing my ever growing collection of doilies in it for now.
And because I know I will not get back on here before Christmas, just wanted to say I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Year and thank you to everyone that comes to visit and for the lovely comments left.
Maybe my New Year resolution will be to....post more often!!!
And because I know I will not get back on here before Christmas, just wanted to say I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Year and thank you to everyone that comes to visit and for the lovely comments left.Maybe my New Year resolution will be to....post more often!!!
5 months old already, someone please find a way to stop time.
On a totally unrelated note, just want to say how thankful I am that my Dad came through some pretty major surgery recently (he had a quintuple bypass) and is doing really well...Love you very much Dad xx
Took myself, Zoe and Mum off to the markets on Sunday morning early. I hadn't been to these markets for years and was imaging all the lovely things I'd find however we were sadly disappointed. There doesn't seem to be as many "junk" stalls as there used to be, mostly plants and clothing. I did find this cute little man just staring up at me and felt sorry for him so decided he had to come home with me. A little clean up and he now looks happy up on my wall...I wonder who he is??
I looked up the studio on google and discovered that the studio only operated from 1908 to 1913.
Mum has finished off the cot quilt for Zoe's room and has almost finished off the bed quilt as well. Hard to get a good photo, but looks lovely in person.
Anyone with some good ideas that will incorporate all these functions would be appreciated...even better...if you know of anyone that would love to come over and actually just do it would be appreciated even more!
It is finally Spring here and there is nothing like flowers picked from your garden to brighten up the house. My son keeps picking these beautiful Camellias and I've put them all through the house. I'm loving the red against all the neutral.
We recently had a family photo shoot that my sister did and these are 2 of my favourite photos from the day. Of course Zoe slept the entire time and only woke as we were leaving.
We recently had a family photo shoot that my sister did and these are 2 of my favourite photos from the day. Of course Zoe slept the entire time and only woke as we were leaving.
Just look at the hair!! Hard to believe she is 3 months old tomorrow. 
We also have another new family member...Silver. Ryan competed in the recent Mounted Games at Terrey Hills and received a fourth place ribbon for his efforts. 
Bit of a family post today. Must get stuck into crossing off some of my Maternity Leave List, as of next week I have several things to paint so will put up some before & after shots.
I seem to be acquiring a little collection of jugs...isn't it funny how collections have a habit of sneaking up on us.
On the subject of collections, whilst playing house, I've also realised I have a chair collection happening or more like a little obsession...can't seem to go past a lovely old chair without wanting to take it home.
The chair below belonged to my husbands grandfather which I saved from being thrown out.
The chair below was my grandmothers and has a lovely waratah & flannel flowers carved into the top panel.
I would like to be able to say I've been extremely busy thus no updates on the blog however I'll confess I have mostly been sitting around watching Zoe sleep in my arms. What an absolutely wonderful time waster!
Hard to believe she is already a month old.
I did take some photos for you from around the house. Whilst I'm on maternity leave I do have grand plans and have written out my list of things to do...mostly getting stuck into the front gardens which have been neglected of late.
And of course have to include some photos of little Zoe Grace. The second photo is of my Mum (although she will probably kill me...but I love this photo).
So happy to be home! Just thought I'd pop in with some photos of our baby girl Zoe Grace. Everything went really well and Zoe is settling in...and sleeping a lot. The outfit in the photos below was the outfit I wore home from hospital that my Grandmother knitted. My mother made a new bonnet and booties to match. She looks like a living doll don't you think?
Only 1 more sleep to go...and I'm still playing around in the baby's room! My mother made these cushions...aren't they gorgeous? She used up scraps of the fabric that have gone into the cot quilt and the single bed quilt she has almost finished. 
And aren't these cute...
Mum's birthday is the same day the baby will be born (8th June) so I had a small family lunch for her yesterday to celebrate and decided to have a go at these cute pom poms. My first one, the white one, actually turned out better than the second one. I followed the Martha Stewart instructions found here.
I've been in such a panic for the past few weeks as nothing seemed to be happening with the baby's room but all of a sudden everything is coming together. I spent all day today (although now can't quiet walk!!) finally trying to set the room up and am quiet happy with how it is turning out. Still need a few more things like the beautiful quilt my Mother is making and the trim to finish off the curtains and maybe a few more things for the walls.
I haven't set the cot up in the room yet, only the bassinet for now until she is ready to be moved into the cot. Saves on space as well. The bassinet was mine that my Mum handed down to me as is the cot I've got.
With only 3 weeks to go I'm getting very excited to meet our new little bundle.
Two of the cushions above were a present from my very talented mother for my birthday in April and the other was a present from my Nan.
The picture over the bed is something that my Mum made for me. She made it in 1977 when I was just 2.
Have been busy, busy, busy and absolutely exhausted! We have almost finished painting the baby's room and I've been busy gathering "baby" things in preparation for our new arrival which should be in 10 weeks time. I've been on ebay again...this chair is one of my latest purchases and am now on the look out for another similar to go in our front lounge.
This was also another ebay purchase but for the baby's room, a lovely reproduction wrought iron bed. My mother is making the quilt below for the room and I've also been collecting little vintage pieces. Can't wait to put it altogether.
Another project that is almost finished is Ryan's room and am quiet happy with how it is turning out. Although I'm not a fan of themed rooms for kids, we were having some issues in getting him to sleep & stay in his own room so I thought I'd try involving him in the decorating, he of course wanted dinosaurs, dinosaurs & yep you guessed...more dinosaurs. I must say that involving him has worked a treat and he absolutely loves his new room.
With only 4 months to go (and the fact it takes me so long to do anything) I really need to get started on the baby's room instead of looking at all these gorgeous images...or can this qualify as a "fact-finding mission?"
source
source unknown
source unknown
I'm finally back in the land of electricity! We had an absolutely wonderful camping trip with our whole family and friends of the family. We stayed at friends of my parents called Elm Grove Mountain Retreat and it was magic. What I call a real holiday, and I didn't even miss having no electricity (or flushing toilets!!!).So back to reality...work, preparing Ryan for "big school" on the 2nd February (or should I say - preparing myself for Ryan starting big school!) and for my exciting news that I alluded to in my previous post...
These might give you a small clue...
Yep...new baby on the way...
So another room to start working on. The following are my inspiration pictures for the babies room.
source unknown sorry
I have had the one above in my favourite image file for awhile. Take a look at Katrina's take on this...fantastic.
So there you have it...a very busy year ahead for our little family.
Hope everyone has a fantastic year ahead.
Didn't realise I had been MIA for so long! But this is what has kept me occupied...the dreaded "wall" room from my previous post. In hind sight it might have been easier to completely remove the wall and put up a new one. But I persisted and the following are some sneak peeks...yes the room still isn't completely finished! Just need to get the carpets cleaned and then decorate but almost there. 
And I will be back soon with some very exciting news...
Old homes are so much fun! What I thought was going to be a quick make-over for my son's new bedroom has turned into a major job. We discovered some old water damage which we fixed up, then painted undercoat to smooth out the walls. The next day we found a huge bubble covering half the wall...needless to say this is now what the wall looks like (after a few hours of hand scrapping...thus the mess on the floor!). Back to bare plaster, and of course it isn't the normal gyprock but the old fashioned horse-hair plaster so can't be sanded to much. Will be back (hopefully) with some pretty pictures of this room soon.
Onto much nicer things...my lounge is missing something. I keep changing it around but just doesn't seem to feel right. I am going to get rid of the wing back chair and replace with chairs similar to the ones below. I am also on the look out for a lovely Aubusson rug. Some curtains would also be good. Does anyone have any suggestions for this room? It isn't used every day but is the first room you see when you come in the front door.
Don't you just love chalkboards...I finally finished this little project after admiring all the images that have been shown on some lovely sites/blogs, and with my shocking memory I thought this would be a great idea to put on the wall in the kitchen for reminder notes and dates...although my little man thinks it is also fun to draw dinosaurs eating the flower I drew on it!
A few more things to finish off in this room and then we are done...onto the next!
Gee even on 2 weeks leave I couldn't find time to maintain this blog! But I have managed to get so many things done and have enjoyed every minute of my time off. It is so much fun playing house, changing things around and spring cleaning.
Even the sewing machine came out. Thought I'd try my hand at making this simple little cushion out of hessian (my favourite thing at the moment). Actually turned out ok for my first try! Next I'm going to attempt a ruffle and some sort of detailing.
Spring is definitely here...twin goats born on the farm at my in-laws. 
Such a nice way to spend a Saturday, morning tea of pikelets, jam & cream followed by lunch and then a spot of shopping at our local nursery. Even managed to plant some new vegies and my super fantastic parents bought some plants for our new garden at the back. Thanks for everything Mum & Dad...I hope they know how much I love them x.
We went for a lovely Sunday drive up the Blue Mountains today to drop off my niece who stayed with us the weekend and also to pick up this lovely little piece. I am loving the the colour of this little cupboard, it brings a little something to the family room that is mostly neutral, black & white. Will most probably change the handles but apart from that nothing else will be changing. Gotta love Ebay...
We have just had a very hectic weekend here, well the week leading up to the weekend was even more hectic with a few midnight bedtimes but that aside, my little munchkin turned 5 so we organised a Reptile Party for him and some friends on Saturday. Steve from Walkabout Reptiles was fantastic and I highly recommend him. So Sunday was clean up day and I potted around the back yard, digging in the vegie patch and created this little spot on the back verandah, just in time for a well deserved rest.
Can't wait for Tuesday night...the final of HomeMade. I have gone for Jason Sullivan, one of the finalist, since the show started, the following are some of the rooms he has designed.
Progress made on the back garden...finally! Hurry up and grow little hedge...
I can not believe how fast this month has gone, to keep it short and sweet here is what I've been up to...we went away for Easter, camping at Nundle which was a lovely little country town (and have already booked for next year), had a birthday (although am trying to forget them now!!), finished painting the hallway and a few other things around the house and pretty much working my butt off at my day job. The word exhausted doesn't even cut it!!Thank you to those that responded to my Kitchen door knob post...I went with the dark ones and what a difference that little change made.
Thought I'd share some photos from our around the house today.
