blackboards & messages

i always keep an eye out for old vintage frames and
paintings, because they make the best blackboards.

when it comes to using a blackboard, you are only limited by
your imagination.
they are great in the kitchen for shopping lists and menus,

for leaving messages for loved ones,

or keeping those never ending "TO DO" lists.

each one got a different colour

before....

you can see some of my other blackboard creations in these posts
here and
here.

Kate
x

linked up with a stroll thru life
homemaker on a dime
house of grace
a beach cottage

Antique Fair Visit

i was very surprised to wake to a day of pure sunshine yesterday
after all the rain the day before!
i headed out to Aladdin's Fair to see what i could find.

absolutely packed with vendors and keen shoppers!

my most favourite find.
an old Mason jar and Ball jar from the USA.
i learned that if i leave the purple one out in the sun for an
extended time, it will darken in colour.
how cool!

vintage leather belt

another suitcase to paint!

a cute mirror that has a stand as well as a hook for hanging.

bought these with my loose change.
perfect for making another teacup candle and the milk glass jar
will become a little vase.

i'm getting into the whole vintage book thing,
and found this one that really interested me.

a prize for a girl who did well in her scriptural knowledge
back in 1903!

"polishing the lantern"
what a sweet picture.
i'm not a book reader but i'm definitely reading this one.

lisianthus bought by Mike for me.

Happy Monday to you all.
I'm off to Ikea with a friend to gather supplies for my next project ;)
Kate x

it's raining...

it's going to be a wet weekend.
but it's very welcome.

here are some pics of my happy garden.

i am definitely no gardener.

as you can see, i only grow the tough stuff!

i've left my wet slippers at the laundry door.
it's the perfect "stay inside in your dressing gown" day.
happy weekend to you ;)
Kate x

shower curtain stool makeover

a friend gave me this cute stool that was in great need of a makeover.
i went through my fabric stash and decided to recover it in this gorgeous bright
floral Cath Kidston shower curtain fabric!
i love how vibrant the roses are.
i also gave it a few coats of white paint and a sand.
to get a watered down white washed look,
i just don't stir the paint as well.
and this is the result.
i made a wreath using some of this shower curtain last year. you can see it here.

i was also given this print, which looks so much like an original
oil painting. all it needed was a couple of coats of white paint to freshen it up.

the roses stand out alot more now.

stool before....

print before....

i think both pieces fit in well in my laundry for now :)
Kate x

linked up with a stroll thru life
a beach cottage

changing up the family room

hello and happy Monday to you all!
it's a little chilly here today, so pottering around at home, and spending some
time chilling on the couch with a cuppa.

here are my finds from yesterday's market.
a lovely tin mirror and some faux lavender.

Target had 30% off cushions this week, so i grabbed a few of their new french
inspired ones for the family room. it's amazing how changing around cushions can completely change the look of a room.

i have seen cushions like this in boutique shops for $80+,
so happy that all the cushions i bought came in at no more than $21 each.

my gorgeous old vintage 'Norco' milk box fits in well.

i think this colour scheme is perfect as we head into the warmer months.
you can see what this room looked like before here

Kate x
linked with a stroll thru life

overnight getaway

we have not been home long from a quick overnight stay on the Sunshine Coast.
today being the Show Holiday, gave us the perfect excuse to head up to the in-laws
straight after school yesterday. Mike picked the girls up a bit early as well, which made for extra excitement!

homeleigh house is a shop i always pay a visit to when up the coast.
it is full of beautiful homewares, candles, clothing and jewelry.
i haven't ever bought anything from there, but i accidentally did today ;)

here are my purchases.

we had lunch at Caloundra Coffee Club and this was our view.
of all the Coffee Clubs we have been to, this one offers exceptional service.
(Kace wasn't happy here, because the photo i had taken previous to this one, had cut her face off- being the shortest of our family, and taking it with my iPhone. she was not impressed lol)
and oh my goodness, my 13 year old is now as tall as me!

after a scrummy lunch, we headed to Shelley Beach for some shell collecting.

some cute critters that Em found.

we then drove around to Moffat Beach, and walked from there around to Dicky Beach to
view the SS Dicky.
it is an iron steamboat that ran aground during heavy seas many years ago.

Dicky Beach remains the only recreational beach in the world
that is named after a shipwreck.

love this! someone has woven old rubber thongs through the fence.

long shadows on the sand.
love it.

Kate x