Look what the cat dragged out... finally!

This dining setting has been sitting in my garage I'd say, for about 3 years! Why do I leave things sit so long? I don't know, but finally hubby and I dragged it out of his garage, to his relief and joy I might add, so I could get started on it .  I purchased this on ebay and even though it wasn't really what I was originally looking for, as I wanted a more french provicinial Queen Anne, Rachel Ashwell looking one (get my drift..lol!), I really liked the look of it all and imagined how lovely it would look white!  Now these are all before pics so not so pretty, but we have to see the ugly first.. right, and please excuse the mess in the background. This is actually my lounge room which is a dumping ground at the moment!

I really love the look on the back of the chairs with it's curvy lines up top and timber applique. I actually wrecked one with the blow gun as a small piece came flying off (oh, well..) as this is what I used to get all the dust off first, then a wipe down. They were filthy. I also love the cut out on the back. Ofcourse, it's not perfect as some of the beading has come off, if I can find some to replace it I will, but it really doesn't worry me.

I think what won me over though were the legs on the table! Love the shape and the ornate piece inbetween. It may take me a while to do as when I purchased it, it said nothing about the springs on the seat pads being wonky so I got rid of them. Hubby will cut out timber inserts to which I'll add foam and cover them with calico. Then make pretty removable fabric covers... a must in my household!

I think this will make such a difference to my dining room, I can't wait till they're done, even though it may take me a few weeks as I have some more orders to work on too. So stay tuned.... take care, Maryann

Latest creations...

I have been working on an order for a lovely lady and she wanted 4 shabby pillowcases. Since she said she had so much fabric I ended up using hers so it wouldn't go to waste. She sent me a lovely selection of Rachel Ashwell fabrics and some others to work with which all looked so pretty together.  She explained the style she wanted but left it up to me how to arrange the fabrics. I divided them into 2 groups as she wanted 2 matching pairs.
I thought these would make lovely soft pink pillowcases..

and these would make a bolder statement with the greens in the Charlie Brown and the red's in the grandfloral.

and here is the finished product.  I am very happy with how they turned out. I really love seeing something come together!

I hope she likes them! take care, Maryann

Devonshire tea at Hume Cottage..

Well ladies, this morning I had the best time ever! I was invited by the lovely Lucinda from Hume Cottage for devonshire tea in her shop.  Meet Lucinda, she is so sweet and set out the prettiest tables with the yummiest food!

Not only did I meet Lucinda for the first time but I met a whole group of lovely lady bloggers for the first time too and as luck would have it 2 gorgeous ladies, Mandii from Shabby Vintage Dreams and Kirstie from Adeline Country Cottage,  who live in Melbourne, were up for the week-end too! How lucky was that!

From left to right, here is Vicki from The Silver Teapot with bub on the way, and Sarah from Sarah Jane

Kirstie from Adeline Country Cottage and Mandii from Shabby Vintage Dreams

Lucinda with her friend Heidi who doesn't have a blog .... not yet anyway! Lucinda did a post on Heidi's gorgeous home not long ago if you want to have a look.

Delcie from delcie-teapartyland and her friend Susan cameall the way from Katoomba.

Lucinda has the most wonderful shabby shop, Hume Cottage, in Mittagong. Sooo many pretty things to pick from..

Group photo of all of us,, I'm on the end.

I had such a geat time meeting and talking to everyone, I hope you take the time to visit their blogs as they are such lovely and talented ladies. When I first started my blog I was a bit hesitant..... as I thought who would want to read about me, but I'm so glad I did now as I would never had met these gorgeous ladies. I wish I had more time on my hands as I had to leave a little early, I think I could have talked all day!  thanks Lucinda~

I love vintage..!

There is just something about a piece of old furniture, an old hat box or just a piece of vintage jewellery that has come from days gone by. Have you ever wondered what previous owners they've had and what stories they could tell.

In these modern times, with so much hustle and bustle, there quiet presence in my home give me great joy and a sense of a time when life was simple yet filled with such beauty.  Perhaps they hint to me of a time when my parents were children,  of old Doris Day songs and elegant ladies and real gentlemen. Sometimes I wish I had a time machine and go back 100 yrs (true!) even for just a day, like Meg Ryan did in that movie with Hugh Jackman. I also wish I could remember what it was called!

So perhaps that is why I love going to garage sales, thrift shops, antique malls and swaps. The thought of finding something new to transport me back again and again is just tooo alluring!!!!!!!    take care, Maryann

Flooring dilemma...

If you have been following my blog you will probably know that we recently added on a small extension to our home. It sits at the front of the house and is made up of a hallway in the middle( with front door) which now takes you into the already existing home. A 'formal' lounge sits on one side of the hall and a bedroom on the other. Just 3 rooms. I have been searching for timber flooring to match the rest of my house but as 'bad luck' would have it they no longer make it and to my disbelief can't find anything that matches. So I have hit a bump in the road and come to a standstill. Now I do have enough timber left over from before to do the hallway so my biggest dilemma is.. do I use another timber.. or go for carpet like hubby suggested. I really don't want carpet as I've been there done that and with kids and living on acres I know I will regret it later.

The other problem is that I already have another type of timber in the kid's bedrooms so this would make it a third type of timber in the house.  Admittedly the new timber will be in the lounge on top of which I would have a big rug anyway, and in my bedroom, so a lot of the furniture would cover the floor .. so I would love to ask you, if you have the time, what would you do?????? as this is driving me totally nuts!!

I cannot wait till the floor is done as I'm aiming to have my home finished inside by Christmas. I have been purchasing some pieces though along the way,  to put in lounge room.

I'm pretty sure you know which way I am going with this.

I have had these oil paintings of Paris for about 15 years now. Someone came knocking on my door at night selling his paintings and I really liked these. I like the one with the Eiffel Tower in the background the most but of course being a Libran I had to buy another one matching to have a pair. I've had these in storage for the last 10 years now. I'm so glad I kept them but I will be changing the frames though to more vintage ones.

Please excuse the junk in the background, at the moment my lounge room is one big mess! See the floor still waiting to be done.

 OK better go as I have dye in my hair and it's been in there for way longer than what it should be... God forbid someone should knock on my door... which did happen once.. oh... the... embarrassment..!!
take care.. Maryann

Declutter = Ebay listings

 I've  been doing a bit of decluttering lately and unpacking a few boxes I had in storage while we were doing our extension and came across my teddies. Yes, I had started a bit of a collection but am uhming and ahring whether to keep them or not. I also have a bit of a collection of antique baby dolls but they're still packed for now.  So i decided to keep some and sell some as you can see here and are now on ebay....

I also have this pretty stool listed..

Sometimes I don't know what possesses me to buy certain things.. I think it was the quirkiness of them!! Prawn napkin holders!! What was I thinking?????

I made these shades a while ago and never really found a spot for them so out they go too!

 

A couple of weeks ago I purchased this antique pram, yes I have a thing for them too!   well I needed it for my dolls see so I had a pretty good reason to buy it..even though I have another in storage..

but what the??

I see ginger has found it and made it her bed.. ok she can have it for now till I clean it up.

Hope you're all having a good week,

 take care, Maryann