PAINTING THE DAY AWAY

I had a very relaxing day today cleaning out the office while the kids did some painting. They did marble painting as well as some drawing. I am doing a photo/picture wall and told them that they could each contribute a painting to it! Flynn's marble painting turned out pretty good; I think it's the best he will come up with for my wall. The twins are still thinking about their 'artwork submission'. 

Whilst cleaning out I came across a small blank canvas so thought I'd get amongst it and try painting something abstract... Ok for my first attempt?? I'll keep at it! It was good practice for when I do a large painting for the house. I will frame that one it IF it works out!

I have actually moved my desk to a different room to make more of an office space rather than a nook, turns out it was a bit squishy for my liking, so all that hunting for a small desk and chair wasn't necessary after all, oh well one day I might upgrade. This is the new space and I have just plonked the furniture for now but am going to start styling the space soon, I'll keep you posted!

my painting

Have a great week!
Carla

QUOTE OF THE WEEK...

I pretty much live by this, when I'm making things but also with decorating, every part of my house is useful!

Carla

A LITTLE BIT OF 'DIY'

I have recently made beautiful thick padded bed heads and painted my own chevron pattern lampshades for the girls' shared room. A new house with a new bedroom called for a different look! It’s starting to come together now. It just needs a bit more white linen and cushions… you can never have too much of these.

I had the girls' existing timber bedheads to cover and had already chosen the coverlets but finding the perfect fabric to compliment the coverlets was challenging. I was thinking yellow and white stripe but couldn't find anything with the right shade of yellow or the right width stripe... I am fussy! 

I decided I would have to buy the fabric online as the range and quality at spotlight just wasn't doing it for me. However on the day I decided I was going to this project, (when I get in the mood to do a big job like this I have to run with it ON THAT DAY) I still hadn't ordered any fabric, so another trip to spotlight was made in the hope that they would have something new... they didn't have anything new but hiding in the mess of rolls was this pale yellow stripe that would work perfectly, I couldn't believe it! And there was only enough left on the roll to do my job so it was 'meant to be'. I used spray adhesive glue to stick the foam to the face of the timer, wrapped the fabric around, the fiddly part was the corners but managed to get that right and then stapled the fabric down at the back with my electric staple gun, (couldn't live without this thing I LOVE it!) They were heavy to work with  and had a hand from hubby but worked out perfectly.

Later I was in target and spotted 2 yellow lampshades, the exact colour of the fabric. I already had the bases so grabbed two of the shades and thought I would paint on my own chevron pattern. I measured up the pattern and used painters masking tape in blue and white (whatever I had laying around) I noticed on the docket the other day I was only charged for one lamp shade $10... bargain! Whoops... I secretly love that! 

Other things in the girls’ room I have decorated with are tissue paper pom poms from Lark, coverlets from Bed Bath ‘n’ Table, curtains from Ikea. Their beds face end to end (they have a very long room) and each side is the same! To finish off I am thinking new feature cushions, these were slapped together for the photo with lots of white linen showing under the coverlet.

2 cute yellow shades

I measured and taped them up, this was time consuming!

Painted on white acrylic paint from the craft store

once dry peel it back, this was the fun part!

voila`! I am on the lookout for some skinny white bedsides but at the moment
this cute stool I painted 12 years ago for their nursery does the job!

old bedhead

stick on the foam

wrap around fabric and staple

the bed head is about 5 inches deep

pom poms from Lark

maybe these cushions from Kas Australia

I am joining in on Emily A. Clark's (one of my favourite bloggers) link up party 

'Working with what you have'...

click here to see the link up

I hope you all had a very nice weekend!

Carla

FRIDAY'S FLOWERS

My husband picked me a rose from our garden whilst mowing the lawns the other day (bless him!) I didn't even realise we had any. We had pulled and chopped everything out to start over, but this one rose bush survived the slashing (loved it) and started blooming, these are the first and only flowers in the whole garden since we moved here in December. I have since picked more roses from it and love having them in the house. I am going to try and transplant the rose bush; I can't kill it now after it has given me so much joy! 

Talking of gardens, I plan on getting out in it very soon, so today I bought myself a pair of really cute gumboots. I couldn't resist the floral pattern on pale blue when I saw them and they reminded of my roses back at home, so snapped them up! They come in yellow and pink too, I think I should go back and get two more pairs for the girls! Isabella put them on straight away and went outside to give them a test drive feeding the guinea pigs. I think they will come in handy around here this winter between us girls!

beautiful pink blooms

MY new gumboots (I wonder if I will actually get to wear them haha)

Big brother 'Buddy' wanting to be picked up for cuddles (and he was of course!)

and little 'Marvin' our smooth albino and 'Gus' our dark rough haired

I dedicate this post to my lovely Auntie Dulcie who passed away this week, I have fond memories of riding my bike to her house for lemonade and minties! xx

THIS AND THAT

I had to add a few more photos from my last post of rabbits, I got them on the weekend, they are made from fake moss over foam, they are just gorgeous! The moss pad is so real like, the bunnies though... well I've never seen green ones but I do like these for the garden next year. Flynn wanted to arrange them for me so the baby rabbit was eating the egg; he thought they were pretty good!

Today is the last day of my six-day break; I'm back to work tomorrow but am looking forward to it... I am revealing a design consult to a client that I hope she will love!! I am really blessed to be able to do what I love for my job. 

We had a really lovely Easter with family and friends and got home late last night. I have done most of the unpacking but got a little side tracked when the girls decided they would like to FINALLY paint their letters they had picked up for $1 each last year. So out came the plastic cloth and paint! We decided on a pale shade of grey, their taste has changed to somewhat a lot like mine over the past couple of years (I'm teaching them well), thank goodness, no more bright pinks and purples for everything! They did 2 coats and then when they were fully dry I sanded them back a bit, Victoria was most impressed that they looked old! We hung the letters on their bedroom door and they love them, so do I!! 'B' is for Bella & 'T' is for Tori.

and our letter project...

What craft projects are you doing with your children over the holidays?

Carla

HAPPY EASTER

I can't believe it's Easter already! Rewind please... I haven't done nearly as much around the house as I was hoping by this stage. Easter this year for us is also my Son Flynn's birthday (on Easter Saturday) so it will be toys and chocolate this weekend all round except for the girls' they want skateboards for Easter instead of chocolate (go figure)! I have succumbed to the idea but am now regretting it, what is Flynn going to think when the Easter bunny doesn't come to them?? I am going to have to come up with a story! I'm sure they won't miss out from grandparents though! What are your thoughts on presents instead of chocolate?
I haven't really done any Easter decorating around the house this year. Usually I have an Easter tree and eggs on sticks in pots plus more. I have been working a lot and haven't found time, also because we are going away for the long weekend so usually when we go away for the holidays I don't put as much effort in being it Christmas or Easter ... All poor excuses!
Anyway... When I was a little girl I used to collect rabbits (not real ones but I wish), I had quite a collection of the ceramic and stuffed variety. I have only kept a few favourites. I will still buy the odd rabbit when I see one I absolutely love and my Mum does for me too. When my twin daughters were born they got beautiful stuffed rabbits for their snuggle instead of a typical teddy bear and I have bought some very beautiful antique type ones over the years as well. Here a few 'new' bunnies I have had put away that my Mum bought for me last year. These are all that got put out this year as they were handy nearby, the rest is all still packed away in the garage.
I have added little eggs on pegs to my wreaths in the front entry, these wreaths are so versatile and I use them all year round, stay tuned for a little project I have in the future for these wreaths.
The bunny beside my bed, this is a special one and she has been living here for a quite a while already!

Sitting on my bedside is one of my favourite rabbits I have.
Also my 'new' lamp I bought not long ago.

This cute little ceramic guy is sweet and simple!

A tin rabbit from bed bath 'n' table, they always have great easter decs

The Easter wreaths in the front entry, and my new doormat... I am moving it to
the back door entry which everyone uses, meanwhile its been good
catching the draught, it's so thick!

eggs on pegs

and finally today's sweet treat flanked by 2 more new little bunnies,
I usually always make something sweet on a Sunday!

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and holidays, for those travelling keep safe x Carla x

BIRTHDAY FIX!

My twin daughters turned 12 yesterday. We are very proud of them and how they are growing into kind, mature and respectful young ladies, settling into college and becoming more independent and responsible. They had a lovely day... before school with presents from us and more presents from gorgeous friends at school and then after school spending time with some beautiful friends and more gifts x Very spoilt. It's probably the first year they haven't had a party or sleep over or something to celebrate their birthday. But we are going away with friends for the weekend so that was going to be a bit like a party 'substitute' and we will celebrate there too!
Then at the last minute I decided to throw a little family party this afternoon with aunties, cousins and grandparents. I had some cute party 'things' in the drawer and just popped out to the supermarket to get some supplies. My wonderful sister- in-law made Isabella and Victoria's favourite choc ripple cake too! I love putting together kids parties and really enjoyed this stress free 'mini' party and still got to bake and decorate after all!

I bought these gorgeous pink chevron treat boxes from Larkmade

When I saw these sprinkles in grey I had to have them!

I couldn't resist these cupcake toppers but used them for the fruit!

My beautiful niece enjoying the cupcakes!

Family x

I'm very lucky to have daughters this beautiful!