French Inspired and Handmade

Just completed these little French Inspired Lavender Pillows.

Perfect for a gift to a special French-loving friend.

I decided I didn't want to use up all of my antique French Mangle cloth. It is just too precious in my stash...

So I made my own!...Well sort of...

 It doesn't make it French or Antique... more like an original take on my favourite fabric I guess.

I used up some beautiful left over natural linen that I bought from Thea and originally used for another project.

I love this linen!

Stencils, masking tape and fabric paint and there you have it!

Handmade and hand painted lavender pillows.

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I love intentionally fraying the edges natural linen. There is just something about it!

Oh yes, another important part...

Stuff them full of freshly dried lavender buds.

The scent is divine.

Give them a squeeze and the scent

 permeates even more so...

DIVINE.



Easy peasy and a very quick project for 'time poor for craft' people like me.

Have a fabulous day on this very sunny  and very warm Brisbane morning.

Pam x

Orchid Education for Dummies

Having never had much to do with orchids, I think I am slowly falling in love with this one.

It seems to look better and better every day.

It has been on the dining table for a month now and was wondering what I have to do with it?
I have watered it a couple of times and made sure that it does not sit in any water, but that is all.

I am in need of some orchid education for dummies please!

Pam x

Cushion Number 30 Something.

You may remember here I posted about a gorgeous vintage tablecloth that I had received from Simone at Beach Vintage. Well... it has now been re- purposed into a cushion for my lounge. What else?

The colours are stunning, bright and happy for summer.... yellow and roses. Mmmm!

This past year I have completed a lot of handmade projects. Sewing cushions and pillow from vintage fabrics, tapestries and tea towels was one of them. Yesterday, I counted them - I really don't know why! I stopped at 30 pillow slips and cushions covers. I am using them all and they are everywhere! 

 The odd new cushion cover I have bought was not included in this cushion calculation! Aaaaargh!

There are a few more vintage tea towels and fabrics waiting to be chopped up and re-purposed. I think I may just take a break and admire them from afar for a while as they are stacked in their neat little piles.

Have you done a cushion calculation at your home? You might be surprised!

A CK Floral Find, Stripes and Circles.

A solitude rose plucked from the garden this morning and a few finds this week.

A gorgeous Cath Kidston Rosali (Ikea) doona cover from the local op shop.

When I saw the tag I was more than happy that it was a single because I knew it was destined for the day bed out on the back deck anyway.

Brought it home and discovered it was actually a double in size. Yay! Needless to say there was a little tucking-in  happening around here this morning.

A few new cushions.

 Totally mis-matched with florals, stripes and circles. A touch of rebel and spontaneous personality one would say?? Love it anyway!

The vintage stool, still in original condition was found up north in an op shop for about $3. The cane planters are big and heavy and were $2 each.

It is always a mix of old and new around my home.

Have a lovely weekend. x

Come Aboard Our Vintage Yacht.

As promised, here is our vintage yacht in all her glory.
Essentially, she is in fairly original condition, apart from general maintenance each year.

She is a  Herreshoff  steel ketch, 36 footer in the Nereia design.
 Designed in 1947 and built in Hobart in the 1970's.

 

Welcome aboard our little beauty, complete with original brass fittings...

...Gorgeous warm original Tasmanian oak hideaway cupboards...

Masses of books and DVD's to while away the hours and masses of cushions to nestle in to.

You may remember here, I posted about making cushions and covering the seats on board. The cushions were made from from tea towels and vintage fabrics, the seats with new upholstery fabric.

We always see lots of these out of the water...

...and in the water...

...and this weekend copious amounts of youngsters learning to sail were out and about.

 

A weekend away is not complete with a magical sunset...

...and this weekend did not disappoint.
I hope you enjoyed a tour of our little vintage yacht!

Pam x

Doilies at Home...

Just wanted to share with you an unfinished project that I am trying to complete, but at the moment something else always comes up. The simple 'busyness' of life and work is getting in the way!

Yep, I have been inspired by the look of all of those doily curtains out there!

The doilies have been pinned on as you can see, and probably will stay that way for a while.

At least I can move them around as I continue to re-arrange them...just getting them in the right place ready for sewing!

There is one downstairs.  It also has doilies pinned on even though you can't see them too well in this photo.

...and one in the kitchen.

Even though it is looking a little sad and not yet properly finished YET, I love it.

This curtain covers only one side of the sliding door, so the house still retains it's natural light...and the room is not overpowered with doily mania.

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Going sailing this weekend, so this curtain will continue to be unfinished for the time being.

Oh well, have a lovely weekend!

Designer Tea Towels

 

When is a tea towel not a tea towel?

 When it is too good to use, I'd say.

 Our tea towels were well worn and looking a bit shabby, so.... it was time to replace them.

Looking for something different, something bright and fun, I came across All Tea Towels UK  designer linen and cotton tea towels. So many to choose from!
 I was a very happy customer, especially when I discovered that a free towel was included in my package!

I chose plenty of florals and a gorgeous French inspired wine label cotton tea towel.

I have washed them.

 I have ironed them.

The problem is that they look far too pretty to use. I think I am just going to look at them for a while.

 

Would you use them?