DIY Fisherman's Bottle

DIY Fisherman's Bottle

Hello and welcome,

It is definitely no hidden secret that I love to style with bottles; I love them because they look so elegant and can make any nook or corner look layered with much beauty. I was out to dinner recently and spotted a traditional style fisherman's bottle at a restaurant, it was loaded with memories of all things coastal, beachy and old and ever since I have wanted to do my own version of a DIY fisherman's bottle. I found this particular DIY thoroughly enjoyable because it is super simple and took no time at all to do!  

Requirements

Bottle

Twine

Buttons and Feathers 

Method

Make net style knots to create a fisherman's bottle holder. 

Decorate as per own individual taste

Instructions 

Wrap twine around your bottle, just below the neck and knot tightly. I did a double knot and snipped the ends off. Repeat this step for the base of your bottle too. This knot will eventually be hidden so do not worry too much about how it looks.

 

 

Using your twine doubled over in a loop, measure 2x the length of your bottle and snip. You will need to cut 6 of these double lengths!

Using slip knots, attach your 6 x loops to the twine around the neck of your bottle as seen below. Space these evenly around the circle/ neck and try to hide the original double knot if possible.

Slip Knot

Based on a net style knot, using one strand of twine from each knot (yes you want to split them apart) join it to a single strand directly next to it and complete a double knot. Continue doing this evenly around the entire neck of your bottle.

Split strands and complete a double knot

You will see that you are forming little diamond shapes. Continue down the length of your bottle!

I joined my last series of knots to the base twine using slip knots and a figure 8 knot to finish off. 

Double knot and figure 8

Decorate your Fisherman's bottle in your own style/ way... If you do try this DIY I would LOVE to see
 your interpretations sometime!

I will be visiting the following link parties Natasha in Oz, Bramble Berry Cottage

and Shabby Creek Cottage, Scandi Coast Home and No Minimalist Here. Thanks Guys!

Road Trip to Boonah

Templin Historical Village- Love this fab old Arnotts chair

Not so very long ago, like practically yesterday ;-), when I was only 18 years of age I moved to the big smoke. I remember wanting to immerse myself into the jungle of inner city living. I craved knowledge, inspiration, change and excitement...  Sydney is a big city and it delivered all that and probably more.
 Over the years I've learned that I really do love city life and all its fabulous-ness. I love being able to eat at a great restaurant, catch a movie, buy a decent pair jeans, be inspired by a lovely shop or visit the art gallery. These are activities that make me feel alive and I definitely believe that I will always want/ need distractions like these. Ha, could still be wearing skinny jeans when I am 70 ;-)!
Now that I am a little older (but still VERY much a young thing ;-)) and have a family, I do find that I miss attributes about country living. Things like the fresh country air, the beautiful open spaces and the simple way of life. I do believe one of the reasons why I love all things handmade, artsy crafty and creative is because it helps me keep life simple and somewhat connected to my country roots.
 So I woke on Sunday morning craving a little country air and we decide to venture on lil road trip to Boonah. The lovely Boonah is located in the heart of the Scenic Rim, South East Queensland and is about an hour's drive from Brisbane. It does sound kind of ragged but it is actually a beautiful, luscious and hilly green part of the world. One of its tourist attractions is Templin Historical Village, my boys Oliver and August loved it! They had seriously never seen so many old things before.

Templin Historical Village- A family with 7 children grew up in this house. Ok, perhaps not craving it this simple!

Templin Historical Village- Love the wooden box!

Templin Historical Village- An old Starch Advert

Linking up here Bramble Berry Cottage  

Funked up Ceramics in Neon Yellow

 

A Thrift find- Ceramic jugs

I found these great ceramic jugs whilst on a little thrifting expedition with my friend Sophie of Cirque Du Bebe fame (one of the cutest sewing blogs around so do check it out!). I love ceramics and I do see that these jugs are quite beautiful just as they are. However I had already introduced a snippet of yellow into our open plan dining area, see my garland post from last week and I was really keen to layer that yellow theme some more. So I thought here is a little opportunity for some up-cycling and perhaps this may even be one of those "funk up your junk" moments as design experts are now calling it ;-). 

Funked up Ceramics in Neon Yellow

Painted Fish Sauce bottle

Now before I go a quick word if I may about fish sauce bottles. Glass fish sauce bottles have the most gorgeous glass detailing as far "non-vintage bottles" go and are perfect for inside tinting/ painting. The neon ceramic marker worked best on the outside of its glass rim too. I am quite happy with the result and I definitely love going all yellow on you...

Rach xx

Linking up to Brambleberrycottage and No Minimalist Here

bound to be full of exciting projects!

DIY Garland Project

Garland Nostalgia Project

When I was a child, garland streamers hung like curtains in doorways; they were so very much a part of the normality of Australian living. They were also the only Eco friendly way to keep the flies out of the kitchen or the local fish and chip shop. They made this wonderful flapping sound in the gentle breeze... oh boy, a little garland nostalgia for you!

This garland is mostly inspired by nature, specifically made to style the dining area of our open plan living room. 

 

I wanted to use dried leaves because they are readily available and because it’s difficult to beat nature at its best. I added feathers and faux flower centres. I wired these together with florist wire. I also made my own flowers from feathers and Milner's netting, simply by cutting small squares and wiring them together on the diagonal with flower centres.

Handmade Flowers and Feather Buds

Garland- Horizontally suspended

Garland- Vertically suspended

Now I really am quite torn as to which way I should hang this?  

Rach x

Hip Brown Homewares

Hello and how has your Thursday been??

Thursday is one of my favorite days because 
it is usually my uninterrupted work day
 and it is "almost Friday"

This makes me smile, really big!

I have been busy with orders 
and doing a little cake decorating 
for my big 7 year olds birthday today

Hmm don't look too closely, 
I have nooooo wish to be a cake decorator 

I have also been working on a collection
 of product shots of all my wares
These pictures/ collages are a work in progress
I think I will always and forever be trying to capture
 the perfect product shot. 
Bye for now 
Rach xx

Lavender Decorations and Bamboo Dishcloths

Hip Oli Belt

Hip Cowboy Belt

What I did for Mothers Day!

I phoned my mum
Ran an 8k run for the Mother's Day Classic in 50mns
 Put a load of washing on our Hills Hoist... I know, so vintage of us

Enjoyed a Lamb Roast cooked by my husband

Had a glass of vino

+ A sneaky one with our neighbours out front
 Almost enjoyed a little bit of shut eye however had to settle for a lovely rest and a window view instead

Hoping you had a great Ma day if you're a mum or maybe you just enjoyed sweet thoughts of your mum instead

Rachael x

DIY handsoap and detergent holder tutorial

Ooh hello! Here is a quick and slightly quirky DIY tutorial to brighten your day! These holders are super easy and came about because I needed to zhush up the hand soap and detergent bottles in our kitchen... as you do! Yes, totally agree that one option is to tuck them away preferably out of sight however am truthfully thinking and just saying, OK well that's no fun at all! x
 

Requirements: 

1 x hand-soap or detergent bottle 

Approximately 30 cm of vinyl; or place-mat/ oil cloth (basically any fabric that is easily wiped over for an easy clean)

A Sewing machine is required for a simple straight stitch
Tape measure and scissors

Adornments- I used cotton rope, pom poms and a vinyl swing tag.

Other suggestions might be vintage lace, ribbon, garlands and fabric.

Pattern:

 Measure around the width of your bottle at the widest point (the little belly)

Allow 2cm for a seam

Measure the length of your bottle

The length and (width + seam) measurements = approximately the amount of vinyl that is required for your bottle holder 

Method:

Place vinyl on the wrong side and measure it around the width of your bottle as shown below

Pin seam "very firmly" down the length of the bottle

Mark the height of the bottle at the neck and base of the bottle on both sides.

Gently remove the holder from your bottle, try not to lose your pins 

Cut straight across the width of your vinyl at the neck and base markings (these edges will not be hemmed so the more professional cut the better your holder will look)

Straight stitch down the length of your bottle holder, do zoom straight over your pins

Cut extra material (the hem) off at seam

Cut off loose threads at each end

Slip holder over your bottle again (with seam showing on outside)
Place seam at the back and middle of bottle

You may need to do little tuck's/ pin shoulder seams at the nape of the bottle if tapering is required: It will depend on the shape of your bottle however I needed to do this step for both of my bottle holders purely because it looked much better

Remove holder from the bottle again and sew diagonally across corners where pinned (these are the little shoulder seams)

 Turn holder to right side of fabric and place over bottle

Adorn your bottle holder as desired

Hand-soap holder with a simple rope looped over knot. This one is my favorite!

DIY detergent and hand-soap holders

Best be off, have big plans to link up at the following parties at Shabby Creek Cottage Transformation Thursday and DIY Project Parade