A Work In Progress...

Well, the garage sale desk re-vamp has proven a little more difficult than I'd first thought, although I am having fun & my vision has now become a bit more focused...

...not that you'd know that by looking at these pictures...

Lazy Days...

It was heavenly to wake up to the sound of pouring rain this morning, knowing that we could snuggle down & didn't have to get up for school or work. 

You can't actually see the rain in this shot, but the sound was lovely on the tin roof of our shed...

Of course the boys don't sleep in, too much to do, too little time - even on holidays!  They've never been late sleepers, but they did keep themselves very quietly occupied in their rooms until a reasonable hour.

Until it was time for...

an early morning wrestle...

that didn't end in tears....for a change...

and at midday, most of us are still in our jammies...I think that's what I love most about holidays...

And now our preppie has taken off to the movies with Dad all to himself, while the rest of us (still in jammies) have no plans at all! Aaahhh, lazy days...

Garage Sales Galore!

There were so many garage sales around town this weekend, so after brekky we packed everyone up

and did the rounds....

We found this toy box which I have some good ideas for after a bit of a happy makeover, and this lovely little tin tray, perfect for serving a nice drink on the veranda I think...

best of all was this desk, just begging me to give it new life, I love the little pull out bench.  I can't wait to get started on this one!

For more good finds pop on over to visit Sophie at Her Library Adventure's...

Earth Hour...

All ready for Earth Hour...a nice opportunity to sit back, relax & chat without the distraction of television, computers & other devices that consume our days.

Not to mention an opportunity to give our planet a break...

A Ferry Ride...

We thought we'd make the most of the perfect weather yesterday, taking a trip on the ferry across to Sorrento for their famous vanilla slice...well worth the trip, heavenly, they never disappoint...

these goggles were an essential travel item, apparently...

a little concerned about being out at sea & chased by sharks...

safe and sound on the Sorrento foreshore...

this made it all worthwhile...

satisfaction guaranteed...

And then...

then some frolicking friends joined us on the way home!

Sadly, the school boys missed out, I think we may need to keep this one quiet...

My Creative Space...

I'm finishing off a couple of  little jobs I'd made a start on recently that for whatever reason I had set aside, perhaps out of boredom or of being struck with inspiration to start something new, or little people & their demands.  Anyway, they are slowly being completed...

Firstly, I finally put the handles on my cabinet.  I was going to paint it, but I actually really like the way it looks just as it is...

and time to stich all those knitted squares together for my nana rug, I'm thinking it needs some kind of boarder, but I'm just not sure what...

To join in, pop over to Kootoyoo for more creative places.

Sugar & Spice...

It's amazing what a little time apart can do for the soul...

After spending the weekend in the City with my beautiful husband, I feel rested, relaxed & rejuvenated.  Quite the change from last week, all worked up & worn out dealing with a 3yr old of the most challenging kind.  So as not to paint too dark a picture of our little guy, I must tell you, that after a weekend at Nan & Pop's he has come back to us all happy and sweet and  sugar & spice, he's embracing his 60% adorable side, the side that melts us & we can't get enough of. Phew! I just knew it had to resurface sooner or later.

I can't believe we are approaching school holidays again already! I have to say, I can't wait!  Our little Preppy is hanging out too!  Needless to say the whole school thing has been a massive change to his world, having to adapt to all that structure, time frames, learning & not so much play time... he's exhausted.  Hubby's on holidays too which the kids are loving already, and since he's a lot more interested in the kitchen than me, I'm loving it too!  Happy days...

A Happy Expedition...

My little guy & I stopped in at the op shop with some time to kill on the way to school one afternoon, you just never know your luck...

 a sweet crocheted cushion & jar cover, a stool in need of some love & $8 Country Road jeans!!

(you may have seen my stool makeover in 'my creative space' this week)

I have to tell you, I was extremely excited to find the jeans, I find them a nightmare to shop for generally.  As for this pair...firstly they are just my size & secondly they look really good on (if I do say so myself)!  Since taking on the dottie angel challenge of the utmost kind I was getting a little worried about my winter wardrobe, given that I can only buy second hand or handmade clothes for the next 12 months!  So... SCORE!!

To play along with this weeks Flea Market Finds pop on over to Sophie's.

A Little Weekend Away...

Hubby & I are off to the City this weekend for a belated wedding anniversary celebration - soooo can't wait!! As it happens, it's been a rugged week on the tantrum front, so this little respite is perfectly timed. 

In fact I'm already packed...

Have a lovely weekend everyone...

My Creative Space - A Little Love...

I was so impressed by some super duper stool makeovers over at May The Cloth Be With You last week.  So, when I found this little old gem at the op shop the other day for a whole $5, screaming out to me, begging me to take it home & make it pretty, that is just what I did...

Before...

After...

Sweet don't you think...

I haven't quite finished, I've only tacked on the trim, I'm not sure I want to keep it that way, but I do think it's pretty & it does tie in nicely with my refurbished lamp shade from last week...

To share in a little creativity pop over to Kirsty's.

Coming Up Roses...

I've been busy practicing my crochet.  

I want to teach myself the granny square but I can't seem to stop making roses...

I'm quite happy with the way this one turned out. 

I can't take credit for the sweet hat, it was made by a lovely lady of the CWA...

though, I do think they were meant to be together.

Practical Thrifting...

A few nice little finds this week...

some doilies & trim...

 floor cushions from the white elephant stall at the school fair...

alpaca wool blanket, sweet plate & noddy bowl...

$2 volleys for the little guy!

My hubby's always been quite proud & more than just a little impressed with my thrifty ways, and he's partial to a bit of a fossick around the odd garage sale or op shop himself every now & then.  It seems though, over recent weeks, that there is a very slight look of concern on his face as I head off on yet another thrifty adventure...at what point do you decide enough is enough?  Or even enough just for now...

I do know that I have one very certain rule to keep me in check...

THRIFTING RULE: 

What I find must be practical, something that can be of use immediately & not just put away in the hope that it may be needed one day. 
I think I do well sticking to this rule...I'm sure everything up there is already being used...

I also wanted to share with you this adorable piece from
dottie angel...

enough said!

For more thrifting pop over to Her Library Adventures.

Rejuvenating...

Another gorgeous day down here on the beautiful Victorian coast!  I'm happy to report that I have found my 'domestic mojo' ! I know, it was a very short lived state of laziness & flying by the seat of my pants, but I must say I found the last 4 days a little disturbing & just a little manic .  Thanks for the kind words, it sure did help to reduce the guilt factor.  So, now I'm back into the swing of things, at least inside the home, we'll tackle the outside on the weekend...

I've also managed to get busy with this great crocheted trim I picked up for $1 in the op shop yesterday, there's about 8 metres of it...

just the touch this dull little lamp shade needed!

and new life to this scarf, the first thing I ever knitted!

Looking forward to a quiet night in with the boys, catching up with Hubby's insanely hectic week, a delicious casserole that's been slowly cooking all day...

I hope you've all had a lovely Friday.  Enjoy your weekend!

Seriously Lacking Creatively & Domestically...

A quiet day at home after a lazy morning pottering about the op shops - the last place I needed to be today with all that needs doing around here.  I've been terribly slack with household duties of late.  Completely uninspired in the kitchen & just getting the bare necessities done about the house. We've had one of those weeks where you clean out the freezer till there is not a single left-over in sight, all to avoid a trip to the supermarket.  Ironing pile is mounting, kids are getting more than 1 day's wear out of a school shirt, garden is slowly being taken over by weeds, and every corner of our back deck & front veranda have become home to many a spider, webs are everywhere!  Now here I am blogging & reading everyone else's very Creative Spaces, feeling just a little ashamed...but for now, sun is shining & I am out to enjoy it!  The guilt will get the better of me in the end, I'm sure...

I look around with nothing to show for my self imposed free time, and I see the little guy is content drawing, building, flying... & no one else seems to have noticed that the roof is caving in (almost literally after the storms & the build up in our guttering), so you could say I have been particularly creative in disguising my laziness...couldn't you???

happy...

It's so nice to see those once loved vintage blocks being loved all over again...

and as for me, some more of this before I have to dash off to pick up the school kids...

Dinner?.....we'll worry about that later...

Too good to be true...

I was out having coffee with a friend yesterday and while on our way home we spotted an awesome cabinet on the side of the road.  Is this an apparition?? Why would someone just dump such an amazing piece??  With a bit of love, some sprucing up, it could be stunning!  Needless to say, we stopped we drooled, we checked it over & decided '...hhmmm maybe not...'. Anyway I got home  to get the little guys bathed & fed, told my dearly beloved about this fabulous discarded piece while he looks at me rather pitifully & then to my surprise he says "OK let's go!". So, quick as a wink kids are in the car & off we go to claim the treasure.

Sadly, upon further inspection, this very dear old cabinet that was once a most loved  & well used work bench was also once ridden with white ant! Agh! What a shame...we discussed the possibilities, we tapped, we tipped, we turned & unfortunately had to make the most difficult decision which was....we just can't take the risk - our home being made of wood & all...could be a potential disaster! 
Oh the woes of thrifting.... 

Thrifty Finds...

We managed to get to a couple of garage sales today, always a lovely way to pass a Saturday morning & a very worthwhile effort as it happens...

perfect for our kitchen with the addition of some sweet door handles...

enormous basket - apparently he was sorry he had to charge me a whole $8 for this but it is an antique!

and at $2 each how could I go past these little gems...

and of course Mr Plod & yet another Buzz who apparently was calling out for us to take him home to join all the other Buzz Lightyears we have picked up from op shops & garage sales!

Hope your all having a very happy weekend!

What a Buzz...

I never tire of that feeling, when someone compliments my work or purchases one of my pieces, I always get such a buzz out of it, it's like an adrenalin rush!  I have some of my canvases going into another store (Yay!) & I'm so thrilled!  It's really exciting to receive an order or to make a sale & it makes me happy to be able to create something that other people can enjoy.  Not only that, it's actually quite therapeutic...creating...

Time to get Creative - Here Goes...

Ok, so I'm attempting  to make a quilt! Not one of those fancy and very clever patchwork quilts that so many of you talented crafters make (I wish!).  I'm taking baby steps trying a simplified version, a quilt for dummies, if you like...

Anyway, I plan to make it out of these sheets & a few off cuts I've picked up.  I think it'll be ideal to use as a little picnic throw, nice & light & easy to wash.  So, fingers crossed...

...Ok, an hour in and so far the hardest part is deciding the order of the squares, it's doing my head in already, I've just spent an hour moving fabrics from here to there & back again!  Perhaps I'm over-complicating things...the plan was to keep it simple, time for a break...

To see what everyone else is up to pop on over to Kirsty's.