Sampler

I have a few projects on the go at the moment, none of them are completed, some are not even started yet. I am very much an "ideas person" rather than a "doer". However I am trying to get my act together and recently even took the huge step of purchasing a sampler pot of duck egg blue paint for a toy cupboard I am planning to paint. The colour is really gorgeous but probably a little pale for the terror it is going to suffer at the hands of my little rascals. However, I did put it to good use on a few other, littler projects...

First was this lovely shelf for the boys' den. I didn't have the foresight to take a "before" photo (bad blogger) but it was an ugly brown and pretty faded and patchy. It's lovely now and the display pieces change daily according to my sons' whims, one day it's dinosaurs, next day half-chewed sandwiches (ugh).

I posted about this little shadow box last year, it was part of a fab market haul. Well, sixteen months later and it's finally gotten its makeover.

A couple of coats of paint and some Cath Kidston patches of fabric (from swatches I got in the Dublin store) and it's now a cute little display box hanging up in "le chambre des munchkins".

I love this little corner of the boys' bedroom. The vintage car illustrations were a recent market buy, $2 each.

And with the remainder of the paint I gave a few op shop kitchen finds a new lease of life. Again, no before photos, but the kitchen roll holder was ugly yellowish pine and the cake stand was brown.

Now I just need to find the perfect paint colour to tackle the toy cupboard, oh well, what's the hurry?

Earth

I really love finding pottery pieces to display in our kitchen, there is something so earthly and wholesome and organic about unique handmade pieces and even factory-made pieces that use natural materials such as clay. I just realised looking around our home that I am building up quite a collection and thought I'd share some recent finds...

These 2 pieces go beautifully with the little collection of earthenware I posted about here. The bottle was $1 at a market and the little covered bowl was $3 in Vinnie's.

A pair of retro milk jugs, little and large, they are Royal Doulton and cost $3 and $2 respectively.

I love the gorgeous blue hues of this Pontesa covered bowl - $3.

On the lookout for a salt crock / salt pig for ages I finally came across this one, I liked the shape but it was a really ugly unglazed brownish-beige colour, a couple of coats of pale duck-egg blue paint fixed it right up - $2.

Within a couple of days of course I came across another salt pig, and have seen several since (isn't it always the way). This one cost $1.50, it is made by a company called Ecology who use environmentally-friendly practices and materials to make a lovely range of elegant, simple kitchenware. This costs $15 in David Jones, so I saved 90% ;-)

This cute little jug cost $3 at a market, the colour is so much nicer in real life (I am having camera issues, I dropped my SLR and broke the lens and am using a compact point and shoot for now).

A set of 4 cups and saucers, Staffordshire Iron Stone - $6 in total.

This beautiful casserole is made in France by Arcopal. I love the vintage elegance and simplicity of the flower pattern, $2 in Vinnie's.

A tiny cute pair of bowls, perfect for toothpicks, 50 cents each.

And finally, a set of lovely duck-egg blue canisters for the kitchen, again the photo doesn't do the colour justice. These were $10 at a market.

That's all for now folks, I am on the lookout for a new lens for my SLR, wish me luck!

Perfect Baby Shower

I would like to share a very lovely website with you today.

A friend of mine is a partner in Perfect Baby Shower, a beautiful online store specialising in everything you could possibly need to host an unforgettable baby shower as well as adorable baby gifts, gorgeous hampers and gifts for mum too.

It is a beautifully designed website, easy to navigate and to be honest, after browsing all the teeny-tiny baby loveliness I'm feeling all fuzzy and clucky :-)

Look at the beautiful stationery, tableware and decorations, how wonderful would it be to host a baby shower for a family member or close friend and for her to arrive and see all this?

So many beautiful gifts to bring to the shower or order after bubs is born.

If you're thinking of throwing a baby shower, feel like pampering a pregnant friend (or yourself) or would like to go shopping for a little bundle of joy you can visit Perfect Baby Shower here.

They will also have a display at the Baby and Toddler Show this weekend in Sydney, so if you're there pay a visit and check out all the baby loveliness in person :-)