Sunshine, Flowers and Dress Rack.

So recently l've been thinking about all the connecting we do, and that's because the other day l got to cuddle a teeny baby, hug and talk with a friend who's almost 90, chatted on the phone to my daughter in another state, visited mum and made phone calls for her. Sent texts to a couple of friends and relo's, commented on a few blogs, read and sent some emails, and had my son over for a meal.....and l mean we're ALL doing this kind of stuff EVERY day.... it's amazing really, and l was thinking with all this interacting going on.... its a great opportunity to spread the positive vibes, and in my case re-think the grumping about things (like the crappy weather:-).....Any way here's my input for the day.....l hope these pics brighten and lighten up your day:-)

l found a proper vintage dress rack at the opshop..... l'm guessing 50's. They were selling quite a few of them and replacing them with new steel ones....this one is wooden and has copper castors so it can be moved around easily.....and l DO like to be moving things around:-)

  

Some of my old frocks....just hangin' round:-)

  

Blossoms from the neighbours trees that spill over into our garden. 

 

 

 

Love the cover on this book from around 1920.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by and l hope you all have some relaxing down time over the weekend.

 

Til next time.

 

Bron. 

 

 

Spring Busyness.

They say there's nothing in life that's either good or bad, it's just our attitude towards it.....and Seasons are like that aren't they. Now l LOVE Spring.....it's awesome after a long Winter to have warmer days and sunshine...and FLOWERS after months of nothing....but Spring also comes with hay fever, and male MAGPIES... l copped a stealth attack on my walk yesterday that almost re-parted my hairline as it lurched in for the kill.....When my daughter was young l remember her returning from a ride pretty shaken up, and with a perfect beak shaped hole pierced into her bike helmet...!! Who knows it could even be the same magpie since it happened in almost the same spot and they live for around 25 years.

 The past few days l've forced myself to do a bit of Spring cleaning.... well more tidying and sorting really.....Way too much stuff has been coming in and not enough stuff has been going out but this morning l was able to load up the car and take quite a few bags off to the opshop, and l feel heaps better that it's gone.....There's still a bit of excess furniture but l'm working on getting that out too.

.....anyway..it hasn't been all work, l've also been dying fabrics, sewing and painting, and have also been out and about doing some non-retail therapy (junking) which is where l came across this fantastic set of Ralph Lauren scent bottles from the 80's. They're totally my thing but l was strong and took them straight out to the Mill to be sold....wah!!

 

 

Son's old room is now the guest room, white linens, and a few new additions to the wall for a change. The once white (and flaking) basket was updated with a coat of silver spray paint.   

This is a couple of the washy Spring paintings l did and a cushion l sewed.

 

  

Hope you're all having a great weekend whatever you're up to.....thanks again for stopping in.

 

Til next time,

 

Bron. 

 

Blossoming Blooms & Budget decorating.

We Ozzies can almost smell Spring in the air..... pink cherry blossoms are common street trees around the inner city streets near where l live and they're bursting with flowers everywhere.....These days all the new estates are planted out in natives, which is as it should be, and great for the wildlife, but they're just nowhere as pretty as rows of blooming trees. Yesterday l took my secatuers and a basket in my car, l was on a mission to find a cherry blossom street and do a bit of "pruning:-)" 

Since Spring is the perfect time for a bit of cleaning, clearing and redecorating l thought l'd share a few budget friendly ideas to rejuvenate and revive Spring freshness in your house, and one of these days l might even try out a few of these tips myself..haha..

  

A good starting point to me is always paint....it's cheap and easy to master. The colour range is huge and makes the most impact in a space...the paint idea isn't limited to the walls, it's great to have a few cans of your favourite coloured spray paint on hand so you can do over your furniture as well...maybe a side table, dresser or chair/s....you might like to try some of the metallic paints. l recently painted a dresser white with silver drawers for my market stall. The silver came up great and very little paint was needed for good coverage. 

After painting, a bit of decluttering will make a room feel more spacious and light.... it costs nothing except a little time and discipline.  While you're decluttering assess your furniture, can it be upcycled or parts of it reused, or made into something else entirely. The kids' old single beds are great turned into daybeds or made into part of a sectional sofa by taking both bed-ends off. Dressing tables make great tv units, l've done this twice already, see here and here. 

 Next would be to Spring clean what remains and then add a few pieces to funky up your room. You may want to buy, make or reinvent pieces to make this happen.

See what's trending at websites like Ikea, Anthropologie, pinterest and instagram. or check out your favourite décor shops and magazines for inspiration. Hardware stores and reclamation yards are generally budget friendly and contain a wealth of decorating ideas.

 

Scented candles or burners can change the mood of a room entirely, nothing too overpowering which can just give you a headache, but a little background fragrance is lovely. Open the drapes and the windows as well, bring in fresh flowers or branches, or invest in some potted greens. Now it's time to pull up a chair and have a cuppa and enjoy the fruits of your labour:-)

  

 

 

 

 

Have a happy weekend everyone and thanks so much for popping in here.

 

Til next time,

 

Bron.

 

 

Happy Monday,

 

l really thought as l got older and was doing less  paid work, l'd be just cruising around, doing pretty much whatever l wanted....when l wanted, but l'm starting to realise that's not about to happen...or at least not any time SOON...haha!!
l'd be great to tell you l've been out partying, kicking up my high heels and making mischief, but nah.... nothing that exciting:-) however l did visit my daughter who lives interstate for a few days and that was fun....anyhoo yesterday l had the chance to snap a few photos and here they are....now maybe you're looking at them thinking....really Bron.....but hey....it's Winter, it's DARK and there's not a decent flower within cooee of my place, so what do you do:-)


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Fabulous frothy frock found here. 

 

 

Hope you all have a great week and thanks so much for stopping by.

 

Bron. 

A Touch of Spring In Winter.

Happy Weekend Everyone.

While many of you are sunning yourselves around beaches, lakes and pools all over the Summery Northern Hemisphere spare a tinsy thought for all of US freezing our butts off here in the land of Oz.....l've been totally OVER grey days so l set about doing a little something to lighten and brighten things around here.....l tied ALL the drapes back from the windows, and if l'd had the be-bothered's l would have cleaned them too, but that was just a little TOO ambitious:-).....l lit the fire and then some candles....l covered those old burgundy couches with white linens and added comfy cushions and pillows.... The flowers  had to come from the supermarket but what can you do when there's nothing much out in the garden worth picking.....anyway it was nice to have things looking like Spring even if it isn't:-)


lt's also hard getting light, non wobbly photos......lucky these days we have photo editing:-)

Don't you love these soft drink cans l found at the supermarket last week, just a few dollars for 12 cans....Now creaming soda's ok on a stonking hot Summer's day, but these cans were bought solely for their awesome pink and white graphics....l confess to tipping most of the drink out, though l did save some to put the roses in.......Roses in pink bubbles....l love that:-)



MUST paint that armoire in Spring....



Beautiful old German jug which has a crack in it..... but "problem solved" by popping a small jar inside it to hold the water for the flowers.

 

Spiritual books are amongst my favourite things to read and l couldn't wait to get Proof of Heaven home (by Eben Alexander)......it was a fascinating read since Eben dies and goes to heaven and then lives to talk and write a book about it:-) 

 

 Also thanks so much for your kind words regarding Mum's recovery from brain surgery .....she continues to do great and has been walking the kilometre or so from her house into town and back most days....even though we'd rather drive her this weather she insists the exercise is good for her and helps her sleep at night, which l guess is fair enough!!

 

 

 

Here's hoping you get to have plenty of fun whatever you're up to......thanks for stopping by.

  

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is. Albert Einstein. (1879-1955) From Eben's book.

 

Bron.