This week l've reached a couple of milestones.....Today l'm posting my HUNDREDth post, and have been blogging for an entire year. It's been a such a great distraction from the "real" world.....meeting and sharing ideas and snippets of lives with all you awesome laydeze in blogland. Thanks for being there......your visits, encouraging and uplifting comments have been the best reason to get my A into G somedays.
l so hope you enjoy this second visit to Mum's place....at the very least l'm pretty sure you've never seen anything like it (and may never again... lol). If you'd like to see what you missed the first time you can check it out here.
Mum's always been the creative sort but after being widowed (at 36) she moved to this house where she was really able to expand and refine her talents, since she could please herself what she did....she DOES have a dog but he doesn't mind what goes on as long as he's fed. Once all the kids left she had the time to continue in earnest (and peace). Vintage collections and recycling are at the heart of all she does.
Mum's home could be described as a cottage but l think her sister summed it up perfectly when she came for a visit recently, calling it the Fairy house. Everywhere you look are things she's created with those amazing hands. Long evening hours are spent doing lots of handsewing, crocheting and knitting, she's said many times that craft has been her lifesaver.
Above pic....Lady bust wears a multi beaded hat.
Throughout the house are daddo rails and almost every wall is decoupaged to this height using magazines, calenders, old cards, pictures from childrens story books and anything else that takes her fancy.
A wreath is covered in different fabrics and is finished off with a collection of brooches.
Rarely is anything ever wasted, or thrown away. This (previously vinyl) lounge chair which was bought in the early seventies, along with it's matching couch have been given a revamp recently.The fabrics were simply cut and glued on (with a flour and water paste). Doilies of crochet and velvet fabrics have been added in a creatively random way. The seat cushions are fabric and new covers were also sewn. Of course the sea chest was decoupaged many years ago but matches perfectly.
The mantel shelf has on it a long runner which she made from yo yo's and then each one was crocheted around and joined together. The artwork was made from part of a tablecloth which was stretched to size, attached and painted, lots of colour...... No monochromatic, all white themes in this house.
In the past few days the twigs in the vase (closest) have been covered in a white satin fabric which has been shredded, frayed and glued on.... the ones in the matching vase on the other side will be next. There's always a few projects on the go.
Decoupaged fabric basket and bowl chock full of porcelain roses and small ornaments.
This is a corner of her bedroom. The walls were painted bright yellow... her favourite colour though lots of it has been decoupaged over now. An old iron bedhead has been painted and attached to the wall, it holds multiple scarves and pieces of jewellery. The main wall is decoupaged in much loved calenders ... old framed prints hang along the daddo rail.
Bags that have been sewn and knitted hang on the hallway wall... making it easy to grab one on the way out the door.
Right. The roses on this wreath were fashioned from an old bedsheet which was torn into strips and hand dyed, it too hangs in the hallway.
The entrance to her bedroom, the walls (to daddo rail) are covered in a patchwork of lace all of which was tea dyed then glued to the wall. Fairy artwork canvas and numerous stitched items all make up her eclectic, interesting home which is constantly a work in progress.
When Mum moved here she couldn't bear that it didn't have a wood stove. She rang a salvage yard...they only had one and this was it, after measuring the space she realised it would fit perfectly.... Although she does have a gas cooker, the wood one is lit most days in the Winter and cooks amazing pavs for the grandkids Birthdays and foot high scones for visitors. Naturally the brickwork surrounds had to be mosaiced...it took quite a long time to gather all the suitable china but it was eventually finished earlier this year, though you can't see it from this angle there are lots of mirror pieces that shine at different angles.
Homely touches..... tea cosies and old tins covered in buttons to hold tea bags.
In the bathroom the pedestal basin's been adorned with roses that have been made from paper clay dyed pink or mauve before shaping.
No surface has been spared and the centre panel of these built in robes have been mosaiced in bowls, plates, marbles,and other bits and bobs. The doors are covered in a patchwork of fabrics overlayed with lace.
The back porch window is the place for translucent beads and small items of leadlight....all to let the sun shine through.
Since our last visit the outhouse (outside loo) has been mosaiced, she had a little help from one of the neighborhood boys and the grandkids, they loved getting involved.
The wisteria grows thick and strong over the old clothesline. The clothesline pole shows the beginnings of a new mosaic work. From branches hang bottles, jugs and china.
Mum was sooo excited to show you what she's been up too, and l hope you've had as much fun looking at it as l have bringing it to you.
Til next time. Have a wonderful rest of your week.
Bron.
