Shabby Pink Summer.

A few outdoor Summery pics and l hope you also enjoy reading a few tips l came up with for decorating with vintage finds, (most of them learnt the hard way:-)) and if you'd like to read some vintage shopping tips you can find them here and here

 

   

1.Be specific....Know what "look" you're after, whether it be Frenchy, Shabby, Scandy, Beachy....or any combination of these, (or something else completely). That way you'll only bring home things that fit YOUR style....there's a hell of a lot of old tat out there just begging to be hauled home by the unsuspecting novice:-) l should know l've done it plenty haha... so defining and refining certainly helps narrow down what you KNOW will work best in your space. Having only the things that truly reflect what we're about, makes for a more individual, and cohesive look. 

 

 

2. Be selective....in my experience it's best not to be bringing home things that don't work unless you (or someone) is motivated to fix it. Cupboard doors that don't shut, latches that don't catch, sofa's or chairs that need upholstering or bits that need replacing, all require time and skill.....otherwise we just end up with rooms and garages full of crap we'll NEVER use.....Of course if you can change or alter it so it serves a purpose then that's great, projects are a fantastic way to stretch our skills and imagination, as long as we know for SURE we'll get to do them.

 

 3. Be restrained....Having a similar colour palette throughout our interior walls gives a more contemporary and unified look to our spaces, each room will flow naturally and easily from one to another and it also gives our eyes somewhere to rest which is important if our collections are a bit chaotic, colourful or hotch potch:-))

 4. Mix old with new....some of the most striking rooms seem to have a lovely balance of contemporary pieces mixed in with the vintage. This doesn't necessarily mean NEW...(hell almost everything l own is vintage), but it just looks more interesting and "now" if at least some of the things in the room are modern and funky. The addition of vintage relaxes everything and just takes the seriousness out of it all....and we DO want to have fun with our decorating...It offers a more comfy, user friendly way to live in our spaces, not only for us, but our family, friends and pets as well. 



 



5. Keep it Simple....it's not ideal to allow our collections to grow out of  control, especially those we display. This doesn't mean never adding to them after they're a certain size, but if we apply the one in and one out rule, or sell on, or trade off pieces that no longer appeal (so much), our collections will remain far more manageable into the future. When fashions and trends change in a few months or years we might want to collect something else entirely and don't want to be stuck trying to get rid of oodles of things that no longer suit our taste or space.... even the most loved collections tend to grow old and stagnant, so rotate your collections, move them around and renew them every so often so they remain fresh and vibrant. 

 

 

6. Special considerations.....having said all of that, there will always be those star pieces we collect or inherit that are FOREVER keeps....those that truly resonate with our heart, whether it just be totally beautiful, sentimental or lovingly handmade. These are our future family heirlooms, along with their stories and memories that we can pass from one generation to the next, creating a sense of history for our loved ones for many years to come.

 



 

 

Forever New top with beaded ruffled sleeves......hope l get to wear it before the weather turns cold:-)

 

 

Stunning casual Summer catwalk looks from Roberto Cavalli.

 

 Well that's it for now.....have a wonderful rest of your week, thanks so much for stopping by.

 

Til next time,

 

Bron.  

 

New, Old and Antique

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend..... a bit of a mixed bag of photo's for you today, a whole lot of random's l've taken lately.



Old singer sewing machine drawers l bought at the market ($20), they were pretty rough when l found them, but was happy enough with them once they'd been mended, sanded and painted. l totally forgot to take a before pic as usual....but just think, dark and brown :-)

My ruffled bedskirt arrived from the States a couple of weeks ago and l was THAT excited to put it on the bed and see how it looked....PRETTY....



 Pink (my fave) Florentine tray l found while at my daughter's in Adelaide. The crown compact was bought at an opshop on the way home. Hubby patiently? waited outside while l had a quick? browse...haha!!

The art nouveau glass (circa 1900) was found at the opshop for just 10 cents....l love it. The barbola mirror had a couple of missing and broken flowers so l glued on a few matching porcelain roses l had to make it look complete again.  

Rachel Ashwell bedlinen.....so shabby lovely. 

  

 

 

 

Awsome bag, hardly used......new grey scarf from Cotton On, love the bit of fluro pink in the tassels.

It's Begonia Festival weekend in our town.....three days of events including an antique fair. Of course l went and checked it out this morning. The stallholders kindly let me take some pics of their stunning French Jumeau dolls. The  flower seller and the doll group are automotan's which the stallholder wound up so we could see them moving.

A new splattered painting l did for the art show which is also on this weekend. 

  

 

It was fitting l should find these old wedding cake toppers since hubby and l celebrated 30 years of marriage this week.....yeh l was a child bride....hahaha..

  

 

Our children sent us to the coast for the weekend as an anniversary present and this is the early morning sunrise captured on my iphone from the balcony where we stayed.

Thanks kiddo's we loved it...... 

 

 

Anyway....hope you enjoyed the post....thanks so much for stopping by.

 

Til next time,

 

Bron.

 

 

One More For The Road.

 

 

Last weekend hubby and l did a road trip to Adelaide (600 ks away) to visit our daughter. Usually it's her who comes to visit us and when l think about it, l guess she has to blend in with OUR usual routine.....but it was a different ballgame staying at her place and blending in with HER routine and as it turned out she had quite a bit planned for us. First up she and her partner had booked us in for dinner as it was Valentines day when we arrived. Interestingly they'd decided on a funked out...(not McDonalds:-) American style restaurant where mine and hubby's meal was served up in an enamel dish....you know the sort your Mum used to make apple pies in....and if that wasn't enough, THEIR meals came out served on a huge slate tile, which totally "floored" us haha!! After stuffing ourselves silly it was time to push on to the dessert bar.... a DESSERT bar.....something we'd never heard of...it was decked out all industrial style, where you have the (dubious) pleasure of perching atop a two step ladder and where your dessert is served on a bread board.........not ONE piece of china did l see all night....not to mention my daughters' dessert came out on FIRE!!!

Apparently we don't get out much:-) 

 

The next day we were whisked off to do a wineries tour....something we've NEVER done.

We visited different "cellar doors" and they served lots of different wines to taste (free?) in the hope we'd get so drunk and hand over the credit card, slurring.....l'll have a DOZEN of everything......mind you it kinda worked....the wine was bloody delicious and a couple of bottles possibly made their way home with us:-)

Then it was off down the coast for a touristy peek at all the lovely shops and where a couple of opshops were also open...(my idea of heaven....hubby's NOT so much), we had a good old fashioned lunch at the pub...before heading back along the coast road and we were able to drive along the actual beach which l've also never experienced.....it was an awesome few days and we loved how much thought and planning went into making it that way for us. 

  

 

A few years ago l found a 1950's dress pattern at an antique fair and have been wanting to make it up for ages.... Finally got around to it, using all vintage fabrics except for the ribbon sash, l just didn't have the right colour so l had to buy the velvet new which is a bit of a shame.... but l'll be keeping my eyes peeled so l can replace it with an old one. 

 

 

Six layers of ruffled tulle in the overskirt. 

 

Found this weird little mesh purse at the market, like keeping your money in a cage....could be handy.

  

 

Mum's Sister recently gave me this picture of my grandmother....aged around 20, which used to hang in their family home. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting vintage room at one of the wineries.

 

 

Thanks so much for popping in ....hope you all have a great weekend coming up.

 

Til next time.

 

 

Bron.

 

Happy Valentines Day.

Loves and Passions.

To be with someone special on valentines day is a beautiful thing and something worth aspiring to....however l don't believe romance, love and passion are feelings limited to all those loved up couples .....after all, in the real world not everyone's fortunate enough to even MEET their "soul mate" let alone marry them and live "happily ever after"....yet most of us have something in our lives we're totally passionate about.

Whether it's a job we love, the call of adventure,  family, or our pets .... each and every one of us desires and NEEDS a passion that gets us out of bed each morning.... one that inspires and energises.....and this LOVE is found inside all of us, and doesn't need to be sought externally....and when we SHARE this love freely and willingly, we cement our sense of place and belonging in the world.

 

  

....and this love drives each of us forward, whether it be by creating a loving and nurturing home for ourselves and our family.... a haven to retreat to, from a sometimes harsh and demanding world, where we can feel comforted in a space that's authentically and uniquely our own. 

 



 

.....or maybe it's a garden that brings us joy.....where pruning, planting and watering are not considered effort, because we simply delight in the results and live in anticipation of each passing season.

 Or maybe it's art and the expression of colour and form that motivates and inspires.   

 

But whatever that passion may be, matters not.........all things done with love is what makes our world such a fascinating, interesting and inspiring place to be.   

 

Gorgeous romantic frothy frock found here  via pinterest.

 

So simple and so true.  found here.

 

Beautiful romantic bedlinens. bellanottelinens 

  

Love may be perfect, but people certainly aren't....revealing letter written by Jacqui Kennedy.

(Same link as small things).



 

 

Wishing you all a wonderful, magical and love filled Valentines day.....doing whatever works for you :-)

 

 

Til next time,

 

Bron.

 

 

  

 

Updated TV Unit.

Today l thought l'd share with you, my new TV unit....l'd been on the lookout for another one for ages but just couldn't find the right thing....The one we had, useful as it was......was never to my taste, you know the kind, brown, dark and chunky.
This one l found at the salvos ($100)  had a previous life as a dressing table. The mouldings and carved legs are what sold it, but l also love that l can hide the dvd player and other attachments on shelves (hubby made) inside the central cupboard.
I gave it a coat of paint and was pretty happy with how it turned out. You can see the before at the end of this post.



l used three paint colours and the brown of the underneath timber to achieve the different colours and layers.  l also reused the original handles. The dvd's stack nicely into the drawers and are much less hassle to find.

l finished updating my inspiration board so l could prop it up in front of the telly.



Lovely new book from Jean D'arc living...... Brilliant Reuse.

  

 

 

 

  

A couple of Christmas pressies. Angel, vase and hanging trinket.... all new, but made to look old.

Of course l was already well into it before l remembered l might need a pic....oops:-)

If you'd like to see my other dressing table makeover....it's here, it lives in our family room.

Well another week's almost done.....hope you enjoy what's left of it and have an awesome weekend too. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Til next time,

Bron.