Think Pink.

Well it's been a bloody headless week and that's mostly because l'm the unorganised type:-)) but also partially cos my Mum had a mild stroke (the weekend my daughter came home) and can't drive for a month. lt seems that the whole putting her old dog down had more of an effect than any of us (or even she) realised....hence this small stroke. Of course it's prob'ly a bit unfair to "offload" here... blogland should be a place of serenity (and escape)  but when you blog about your home, family and life like l do...everything is so intertwined that it feels unauthentic NOT to mention the bigger events that affect daily life....Anyway she's doing fantastically well and is totally enjoying all the extra attention from everyone and all the outings to appointments.....(stopping at the odd opshop along the way:-))

 

On the weekend there were numerous events on around town in celebration of Spring....since l had to work both days l figured l wouldn't get to see much of them, but l lucked out when l got a late start....only an hour, but at least l could manage a quick whip around the Sunday market, there were lots of interesting stalls and it was so early (7.30am) l found a couple of treasures.

This lovely pink patchwork quilt....l have one similar already but it's almost worn out and the pink is so much prettier.

  

l had to try it on the bed.....

 

 

Then l threw it over the table......Also found the large (euro) cushion..not exactly the same colour but still goes well enough with the quilt.  

 

The tutu painting l've been working on may not yet be finished.... but it matched in so well with the pink theme l've got going on l took a couple of pics anyway.

 

Made this rosette ages ago with three layers of tulle (pink, white and beige). The cameo hasn't yet been sewn onto the centre...l'm sure l'll get around to it someday:-)) 

 

Found at the opshop yesterday morning and just HAD to include it in this post.....Infant Jesus of Prague dome...very kitsch but awesome with the rest of my religious collection. 

 

 Infant Jesus of Prague is a 16th century (Catholic) wax-coated wooden statue of child Jesus located in a church in the Czech Republic. It allegedly holds miraculous powers, especially among expectant mothers.(Thanks Wiki).

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by and for your lovely comments. Have a really great weekend coming up.

 

Til next time,

 

Bron. 

 

 

 

 

 

Family, flowers and fabulous finds.

We took a trip to Melbourne Saturday to meet up with our daughter and her partner....a little girlie
shopping was in order..... strictly for bonding purposes.. haha!!The guys were having NONE of that and took themselves (quick smart and in a hurry) to the motorbike shops.
We only had the day, as they were off to Phillip Island Sunday to watch Casey Stoner bring it home (one last time), but Monday they travelled here to stay with us overnight, before returning to Melbourne to catch their flight on Tuesday...it was hectic, fun and all too short, but l keep reminding myself that it's only 6 weeks or so before she's back for Christmas:-))

Hope you enjoy the pics l've put together this week, a few vintage finds from the last couple of months....Charles and Di mug, $2.00 at the market (it contains my very first Spring rose).... clear jar with hen motiff lid $3.00 and some vintage linens.

 



.....and l also wanted to share a couple of small projects l've worked on. 

The garland of hearts was put together from the necklace below...it came in a bag of broken bits....though this was fully intact l'd NEVER wear it, but it's been all handmade so l wanted to use and appreciate at least some of the components.



 

 

l cut the holding twine and unthreaded the hearts...each one was painted with griplock primer and when dry they got the white spray paint treatment. They were then threaded onto string... to which l added some wooden and torqouise beads.

 

 

Hubby occasionally agrees to do jobs in small country towns and it may be necessary to take a drive there beforehand to check it out....sometimes l'll go along for the drive and might be lucky enough to come across an (open) opshop or garage sale l can trawl. Which is how l came across these fantastic linens at a garage sale...$10.00 the pair. They're marked pillowcases but are actually sheets.

 

 

 

This embroidered table square was found at the opshop. The lady who served me told me how she'd taken it home to mend a couple of teeny holes and launder it....what a woman!!

l thought the embroidery might be a B (for Bron) initialled onto it...what do you think, l guess it could also be an R. 

  

Whites and mercury glass.

 

The beaded "belt" still had the swing tag attached. It has a number of adjustable holes so can be worn at the waist, or slung low on the hips, or maybe even around the neckline.

The tulle flower was made from a long (approx 80cm) strip of vintage tulle....on one side l cut petal shapes (arches). It was then gathered and stitched into rose form..A diamente button was attached to the centre.  

 

Crosses and keys.... interesting pieces l can use "one day". 

 

 

In the spirit of Halloween l thought l'd include this pic of me in ghoulish makeup as "Miss Haversham"in tattered wedding gown and tainted tiara... dressed for New Years Eve (party) - year 2000. (yonks ago). 

You can't really see but l'm covered in cobwebs and spiders....fortunately l have trusty batman..s

to "rescue" me...hehe.

 

Have a fantastic rest of your week, and thanks for popping in.

 

Til next time,

 

Bron.

 

 

 

Moving Forward.

l passed on your kind and caring messages to Mum through the week and they really helped her feel better, she wanted me to say thank you and  to let you know that she's going ok.... and there's a bit of a story along with that.
 For a couple of years now Mum's had eye problems, a dryness and irritation so persistant that it's been almost impossible for her to do the fine craft work she'd previously enjoyed so much.... putting it down to the chemo she recieved about 3 years ago... and her age, she's even had two new pairs of prescription glasses in two years....but... a couple of days after Fergus died she said her eyes were feeling SO much better..... and now a week and a half later she's back to crocheting, fine stitching and reading small print again,...she said even if she'd known he was causing an allergy she wouldn't have done anything differently.... but now says she feels like she's been REBORN... and has already knitted a couple of scarves and crocheted a doyley for her Sister.... and is now knitting a bag... WHEW!!!... Amazing.

 

l hoped you might like to see the armwarmers l made a couple of months ago, of course it's coming up Summer here so with any luck l won't need them for a while:-)) but maybe for those of you going into Winter the idea might be useful.... The sleeves were cut from an old jumper and as the cuffs weren't too tight they became the upper arm end. The "new" (raw)  wrist ends were overlocked and decorated with various pieces of lace and ribbon, as well as the ruffles l pulled from an old cushion cover...After all the bits were sewn on, the sleeves were reshaped and sewn. They were to match this lace top which also got a bit of  a revamp with the ruffle and ribbon treatment.

 

 

This beautifully hand worked tablecloth came from the market..... all ribbon embroidered onto a type of hessian which has been joined together with crochet... just $25.00 (new) all that work...l didn't even try and haggle.. 





Last week l finally took away the old black screen from the brick wall in the garden room and replaced it with the white one...nice and light now....since everything got a bit of a clean as l went l thought l may as well take some pics.

Found a few of my floral cups and saucers...lots of single pieces l've accumulated.
The cherry tree l showed last post had a few rogue branches so l  pruned them and used the blossom to pretty up the room.

 l know we shouldn't wish our lives away (and l'm not really) .... but our daughter who lives (interstate) about 2 thousand kilometres from us, is travelling to Melbourne this weekend....which means we'll be able to catch up in person for the first time since last Christmas....so you can imagine.....I'm a wee bit excited!!!

Take care and have a wonderful weekend, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy days and lives to stop by.

Til next time,

Bron.

 

 

Seasons and Changes.

Well it's been a busy week here and a little bit sad....my Mum had to make the tough decision to put her precious old dog to sleep...Things are constantly changing aren't they, usually it's so slowly we barely notice, but then an event will happen that marks a place in time and the end of an era.

 

....so with change it's great if we remember to record a few things....even if it's just the little things.     l eagerly wait for my cherry tree (Japanese weeping) to flower each Spring....checking almost daily to see if there's a bud open, then l know it's not long 'til she looks like THIS.... Sunday the sun shone so l hung out some old japanese paper lanterns.....l DID hang other colours but this picture was my favourite even though there's only pink ones showing.

Found this Laura Ashley doona cover at the opshop recently, smothered in magnolias and such pretty colours.....just $3.00 WITH matching pillowcases....but that's it, l'm not looking at linens ANYMORE...enuffs enuff.. haha!!.

 

 

Droopy roses, but still kinda pretty...Part of my vintage frock collection.... Pale blue and white.

 

 

Old mirrors are always on my to buy list....l've always felt this one was a bit OTT to hang.... but as it happens.... useful for these photos:-))

 

Another opshop find....necklace made of beads, chains and all kinds of crosses.

 

 

A couple of weekends ago we visited a fantastic Botanical art display at the art gallery of ballarat featuring Australian plants by Australian artists from first settlement, until present day.
If you're into plants and paintings it's well worth a look if you're in the area.

After my visit to the art gallery, l was all inspired and pulled out the water colours...l had great fun painting a couple of colour cards and a hibiscus branch.... photographed with botanical pages from an old diary.


l hope you all have a great rest of your week and a happy weekend coming up.
Thanks for your much appreciated visits and kind words.

Til next time,

Bron.


 

Bird on a Wire.

l've been putting another moodboard together.....it seems to me almost therapuetic, choosing the pictures and their layout.... the adding and rearranging... and even the deciding, WHEN to stop:-))

 

 l guess we hope our creative processess will be inspirational,  both for ourselves and for others, after all .....inspiration is what makes us WANT to create.....and l wonder if we absorb many ideas subconsciously or whether there's just something like a "creative ether," 'cos seemingly out of the blue we'll create something we think has NEVER been done... and then here we are,  flicking through a mag, reading a book, or maybe looking at a blogpost and we'll find something almost the same.  

 

This is pretty much what happened to me when l fashioned this bird wreath from wire, strips of fabric and vintage flowers....although the one l came across in a magazine looked nothing like this one... the idea was exactly "mine".

Maybe this actually happens a lot and is what makes things - of their time...similar ideas constantly evolving and changing.... from day, to month, to year.....eventually creating era's...anyway just thinkin'.

  

Old cardboard doyley holder , books, roses and some sketch paintings l've done, you might notice the "trial" Marie Antoinette painting for the cushion l made (here). 

 





  Selina Lake's latest book Homespun Style which is full of gorgeous colourful vintage decorating, she's currently working on another one called  Pretty Pastel Style.

 

Lots of pretty magazine pics, tissue paper rose, wristlet made from wire and vintage flowers, patchwork fabrics and vintage jewellery....with a cute puppy, the centre of attention:-))



 

More shuffling and rearranging after l found this old round sidetable for $20.00 at the opshop last week...it's wobbly and a bit of a mess ....could be up for a MAKEOVER:-)) 

 

 

 

Such a pretty table setting...blog.hwtm.com

 

 

Hope you've enjoyed this post as much as l have putting it together for you...Have a fantastic rest of your week..... thanks so much for popping on over.

 

 

Til next time.

 

 

Bron.