I Made a Lampshade

 Yonks ago, I saw this project in a Real Living mag. It stuck in my mind as something I'd like to make one day, so I'd always kept my eye out for lamp shade frames when op shopping. My lucky day came when a friend had a garage sale and her Mum sold me the perfect frame for five bucks. All I had to do was choose some yarn from my hand-me-down stash, and get weaving! Jane would be so happy she no longer had to abide my naked light bulbs. All good things come to those who wait...

The inspiration

I got by with a little help from my friends ;0)

And 'twas done!

Let there be light!

Actually, I was just thinking, a way you could probably cheat with this, is to use a plant hanging basket frame. I might do this for those naked bulbs in the hallway!

A Bit of Tidying

A little bit of tidying goes such a long way, don't you think? It feels like you've cleaned a little part of your brain, as well. Freed up just a small compartment of mental space.

Until you go into the next room....

Welcome, Autumn

Autumn days are finally here! Even though the changes here are subtle, I love autumn. Not many trees turning yellow or red, but lots of flowering paperbarks. No squirrels collecting nuts but we do have beautiful dappled light, cool mornings and crisp evenings: beautiful sunsets followed by lots of stars. Not many blustery winds swirling fallen leaves, but macadamia nuts are ripe and delicious. And I love the cosy, longer evenings. A great time to start learning how to crochet, me thinks!

The beginnings of our autumn table. I made this outrageously easy vase-cosy out of a child's jumper from the op shop. I just snipped off the sleeve and slipped it over a jar with a missing lid.

Just having a nice little space like this cosies up my nights beautifully. Kiss everyone goodnight, a hot shower and warm flannelette jarmies, candlelight, a cup of tea and Miss Marple. I'm in heaven.

Now, I just need a little handwork project to work on...

Spring Corner

It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like ...

Spring time!

A very happy Spring to you!

January's Finished! But I'm not.

Hallelujah! I have stuck to my guns this month and am slowly, but surely, getting some satisfaction on the cleaning and tidying front. I'm glad I gave myself a month, because I've needed it. Insides of cupboards, under beds, the dreaded "upstairs room" - and there's still a lot to go. Looks like February's going to be "Cleaning Month" too. I might as well just make it the whole summer. Last night I don't know what I was thinking, but I stayed up sorting out an ancient filing cabinet. Mercy, what a task - my eyes were stinging by the end of it. And my favourite show, Outnumbered, wasn't even on because of the Cyclone Yasi updates. (How inconsiderate.)

Anyway, as Martine said, (CONGRATULATIONS MARTINE!!) it can be very tempting to have a little look around the op shop when one is dropping off donations....and she was right! But look what I found - something to aid my de-cluttering! This silky oak chest of drawers is exactly the same as the one I had as a girl and is still at Mum and Dad's, so of course I had to buy it. It even has the same stamp in the drawer: "European Labour Only". I'll have to find out more about their history. Anyway, this chest of drawers has transformed this corner into a cobwebby-unused-toy-and-miscellaneous-item area into a refreshingly tidy little spot for art supplies. I feel like this poor corner can breathe again, and it's done wonders for my mood! And guess what? Some of the drawers are.....empty! I wonder how long it will last....

It's now more accessible for Jimmy to chop off palm fronds with pliers. Hmmmm.

All You Need is LOVE

Shameless craft hussy that I am, I have brazenly copied this banner from Nick of Collecting Feathers. I hope she doesn't get mad at me - this banner was her idea, all hers! I fell in LOVE with it at the BrisStyle Eco Market but I had already spent my money on this gorgeous cushion she made (above) and also, I thought it would be really fun to make, and it was.

I spent some much-appreciated alone time eating toast with goats' feta, basil and tomato and cutting out the letters. Cutting out! It is sooo relaxing! It's been too long. When I am cutting out paper....it feels like I have plenty of time on my hands. Things slow down. I got the stencil letters here, for free, then spent a lot of time faffing around at the Post Office getting them the right size, while the kids made a nuisance of themselves and I kept apologising.

The fabric is mostly vintage sheets and pillowcases; some of the sweet pillowcases I found very hard to chop into, but took a deep breath and did it. The backing was an old wrap-around skirt. And I don't know where those pom-poms came from; mostly in the craft cupboard and under it in dingy, dusty, hairbally corners. But they scrubbed up all right. And the kids are on pain of death if they dare pull them off. (You can see on the cushion above that little hands already got started on the pom-poms before I noticed. Ahh...So that's where the white ones came from! Uhh.)

At this stage, the banner refers to Family LOVE, because Matt and I spend most... okay, all...of our nights sleeping with either one of the cuddly children, but I hold out the hope that one day it will, once again, refer to Romantic LOVE!

For a Moment of Peace

I recently enjoyed this post on Sugar City Journal: what is twenty minutes of peace worth to you? How I ever get any blogging done is a mystery to me, but while I was doing a sneaky blog post this morning, this is what was happening quietly in the toilet. I only found out because he called me when he got stuck!

Cushion Month

I have finally taken up the challenge of "Cushion Month" and I'm only about six months late! It took me ages to find an idea for cushions that felt right and fit in with our daggy old couches, but I am really happy with these! Years ago, on holiday in NZ, I was leafing through a lovely house magazine and they featured a very groovy home where the owners embraced "Kiwiana" and made it look arty and cool. This always stuck in my mind and inspired me; I was wondering if Australiana would ever become cool instead of cringe-worthy? Well, the jury's still out on that, but I'm getting into it!

In these photos you can see the fronts and backs of our new cushions. I got these great old tea-towels from.....can you guess? Of course, the op shop. Sadly I had to buy the spotty backing new, but I really love it. My favourites are absolutely the rainbow lorikeets; I'm not as in love with the map or the brown birds, but if better tea-towels present themselves I can change them later. Actually, they're not quite finished because I would like some big bright buttons to hold the backs in place. Anyway, it's great that these cushions are multi-taskers: you can sit on them, lie on them, hit each other with them or .... dry the dishes with them. ;0)

Warm Colours

I LOVE WINTER! No more sweat bath and no more mozzies! Hallelujah. Goodness me, I just can't get enough of that cold wind and these beautiful warm colours. We're in the subtropics and deciduous trees are pitifully rare; how I yearn for a proper autumn and winter with glorious seasonal changes. I recently read a compelling theory which argued that many of us recent (just a few generations) immigrants to Australia are still adapting to being in the "wrong" hemisphere. Our genes have seasonal expectations that aren't being met! Perhaps that's why I feel the urge to fill my home with orange, red, brown and yellow, and seek these colours when we're out in the lovely fresh weather. In a sunny bedroom...

at a romantic sunset wedding...

or smelling marigolds at the Botanic Gardens...

or stopping by the op shop (for a look - ha!). These were my purchases the other day and I am in love with this little lady. I don't love this word, but I have to say: isn't she adorable? She is a sweet little wind-up music box from 1973, the same year as my car. You just can't beat that old-school stuff for cuteness. I know possessions shouldn't make me so happy. ;o)
I would love to know what's warming the cockles of your heart this week? How are your genes adapting?