Sweet memories and souvenirs

Inside these bottles are dried remnants from a beautiful bunch of flowers gifted to me on mother’s day. They were from Magnolia Flowers in Ashgrove, my favourite florist!

 

I adore their flower arrangements and Magnolia is also one of my most favourite names ever!

Keeping flowers has long been a tradition of mine; it was something I did even as a teenager. I guess I just love the gift to last and like finding ways to remember thoughtfulness. They are my souvenirs to remind me of a sweet moment and I think they also look great as decorations scattered around the home.

Sometimes, the greenery is the best part to dry out and keep! They look great hanging on a wall, dangled around a bottle, or as part of a wall vignette

What souvenirs do you like to treasure?? xx


Hooking up at Ivy and Elephants

A vintage meat safe restyled

 This old meat safe would have many stories to tell... I do like that attribute in a cupboard!

 

A girlfriend of mine, spotted this fabulous gem! She could see that it was very worthy of a revamp/ restyle and helped me rescue it from a road trip to the tip. It was all kinds of apricot and its doors were lined with old-style frosted glass...

Do you like to give old things a new lease on life? I do! I particularly appreciate the hard work and craftsmanship you see in older style furniture. It’s rare that you see that kind of love in modern day, mass produced furniture. It is a huge, huge shame!

I sanded it back and painted it with a Dulux Antique white. I lightly distressed it for a very conservative, shabby chic look. I felt that it already had oodles of character and didn't need me to go overboard with a more dramatic look. I removed the glass inserts/ chipboard from the cupboard doors and for a more textured look lined them with chook wire. To achieve a sweet vintage-style finish, I also stencilled numbers on a few of the door knobs. 

There is something about this cupboard that I find very inspiring. It is the new addition to our office/ creative space; it will be a props cupboard of sorts and I love that it has already resolved some quite major storage issues around here. It does so make me smile!

 

Hooking up over at the Say Gday Linky Party

Happy Mothers Day!

This is how I spent Mothers Day, last year. This year, I spent a good part of the morning on our couch.... both were very lovely ways to spend a Mothers day! I do think it's nice to enjoy a lazy rest every now and then.

This is me, looking very sunny and yellow... Love!

I must confess I haven't yet sent my own mum a mother's day card... it's going to be a belated one this year, I do hope she understands. Instead, we have had a good chat on the telephone. It is a shame we don't live closer to each other, I could pop over and take her out to lunch. I would like that! 

For the record, I have never done juggling or acrobats with either of my children...but I do love and appreciate his imagination for thinking so!

What are your plans this Mother's Day??

Rach xx

Vintage Style Adventures

Oh Hello,
Thought I would share my latest thrifty adventures. How adorable are these vintage style finds? I love them! I do believe these treasures are going straight to the props cupboard… Although I honestly think I could find a special nook for this sweet vintage trophy if I persist! And I also love the autumn colours of this breakfast tray, be so gorgeous for a lil morning tea extravaganza. Orange and green palates do look so fabulous together!

Can you believe that my hubby found the above two vintage bottles (far right) on Anzac day? I thought it kind of timely and special! I think, I was also just very surprised to find some history in my own backyard... as everything is so very modern these days. As you know, I do love a vintage bottle or two and I adore how rustic they are! Have you had any Antique/ thrifty adventures of late?? Do tell me about them!
 
Rach xx

The irony behind "A Dunny with Dignity!"

 

I will take any progress I can get, Yay!!! 

As a general rule, I like to keep my blog posts mostly about all things interiors and inspiring if I possibly can; it is the voice that I am truly passionate about and the one that I am motivated to use... but please, allow me a quick whine (or wine is good too) if I may. The past week and half of our bathroom renovation has felt like an eternity. For many reasons (including our little family in tow) it is exhausting and I cannot wait until it is finally finished. I don't mean to sound dreary, just attempting to be at peace with life’s ups and downs, I guess. Maybe you also get the feeling that I am not really the outdoorsy type?? Yes, camping (i.e outdoor loo loo's and showers) for an extended period of time is possibly not for me!

 I realise this time will not last forever; it will pass and will be worth every ounce of pain. However I think the hardest thing is and as crazy as it sounds, I actually feel a little homeless without a bathroom in my house. Word is that I am a blessed creature of comfort and I think it’s quite true! Imagine if I were born pre 1950's where in-house toilets were uncommon, or even if I was actually homeless? Would I cope?? I don’t know; I hope so! What I do know is that I am indeed quite blessed to be finding this a difficult time in the first place and I see that! In the meantime, I am trying to enjoy the funny side to our outdoor living situation, and I hope our neighbour’s, bless them… will see it too ;-O.

Some random, possibly even helpful facts about about Portaloo's and showers.

• Portaloo's need to be within 10meters of kerbside so that they may be serviced/ hmm emptied... however it is quite possible that your visitors may actually knock on both your front doors ;-). 

• Get used to venturing outside during the night and try to not wake up too much so that you are able to get back to sleep more easily.

•  Portaloo's and Portashowers have no electricity, therefore your entire family will need to shower before dark and invest in VERY fancy robes/ dressing gowns.

• Outdoor showers are more suited to private areas ok; just saying a high fence is a sensible idea and preferably away from your neighbour’s entertaining area...

• Although the slogan is "Dunny's with dignity", bear with me... I am yet to discover the D for dignity in our outdoor dunny just yet!

Rach xx

Bathroom palates and big commitments

 
Tadaaaaaaaaaaaar! 
 As you can see, I am sharing the colour palate that I have chosen for our new bathroom renovation. Can you tell that I am getting just a little bit excited about it?! Just a wee bit ;-). I have also been busy choosing bathroom accessories... most of these have to be organised before the tiles are laid so there are lots of decisions that need to be made early on. 

I am still searching for a bathroom mirror and I am not feeling any of the modern ones that I found so far. I want the mirror to be a feature piece so am specifically after one with hmm... oodles of style and character. I would preferably like it to be rolling in that stuff! Fingers crossed I may have spotted a little something on gum tree, will let you know how I go.

I do heart white and olive and especially texture! My thoughts are that interior fashions will come and go but if I stick with what I love then I should be content for a very long time. What do you love most about your bathroom??
Rach xx

Vintage glam for wine time

Hello to you lovely ladies, 
This week most of my projects are on hold... well, that is until I finish the current one I am working on. Boy oh boy, this one is taking some discipline not to wonder to some other needy "nook and cranny" of my house! I am not going to lie to you, making a couch cover is just no fun. Yes, the rewards will come when I get to enjoy the fruits of it actually being finished but until then, between you and me, I am not really feeling this job at all. Believe me, when I say that I have searched high and low to purchase one but unfortunately for our couch (yes it had to be our couch) it could not be done. Unfortunately, I have learned that some household styling/ renovation jobs involve some pain and one must grin and bear it.

Until, I can post you a big glossy snap of my lounge room looking all divine-ish, I will post this picture of my latest trash and treasure find instead. Can you imagine the stories that this vintage ice bucket could tell? Yes, I did sneak in a quick vignette during a weak moment of distraction... A girl has got to take a little time out to play hasn’t she?? I am thinking it will glam up wine time with the girls quite nicely! Do tell me what projects you have going on this week? Rach xx