week end finds..

Hi ladies, went to a couple of garage sales over the week end and this is what I found ... a great wicker basket for my laundry, which I want to paint white so it matches my clothes basket , some pretty floral fabric, a small square tablecloth and some great cook books. I love buying cook books and for a dollar each who could resist! Not that I need anymore,  I've way too many already..

and I was so pleased to have found something I have been on the look out for a while..

it will either be a desk for James or maybe a computer table for me. It all depends how it turns out and if Sir James approves with the final result or not.. kids.. they get so picky after a certain age!

Anyhow, I'll be pretty busy for the rest of this week preparing for my son's 21st birthday party as I will be making alot of the food. In all honesty I am looking forward to it but will be glad when it's all over. Then it's a race till the end of December to get ALL my projects done before Xmas! I am having all our family (and it's a big one) over to my place this year and would like to get as much done as possible. So hopefully, you will get to see quite a few 'afters"  (finally, you saY!).. and somehow I still need to do a bit of sewing in between. Ok, talk soon.... take care girls.. Maryann

Lisa's yr 12 formal..

Lisa had her Yr 12 graduation and formal just a couple of weeks ago.. My how time has flown. She has grown up so much..

She was so excited preparing for her formal.. what dress to pick, jewellery and shoes.. especially shoes, she definately has a thing for them!  I have to say, she looked beautiful, not that I'm biased or anything ya know.

These pics were taken at a local park..

She wanted a picture of the back of her dress so I made them do a 'pose'

and here's Ryan and James. Ryan will be turning 21 on the 20th, just a few more days. He'll be having some mates and cousins over so I will be a little busy with that too!

She's just applied to TAFE to do a Children's Services course, that is she wants work in a preschool or daycare centre. She tried it for work placement at school once and she loved it. I can really see her in that line of work. She has such a lovely temperament with little children. She hopes to then, later on, go to uni and become a primary school teacher. Looking at my children now, I think where have the years gone? They grow up so quickly these days. They really are my pride and joy.. take care, Maryann

busy bee & hutch makeover

Hi ladies, I hope you are all doing really well!  I have been one busy bee lately. With the onset of spring (my favourite, favourite, season) sunny mornings and a warmth in the air I feel truly revitalised and ready to go!

So lately......... I have been maintaining this...

planting out this...

                                                   building this ...  with hubby ofcourse!

making over this...

and revamping this... I purchased this quite a while ago from a garage sale and yesterday was the day it got it's makeover! Yes it's done.. have a look.. This is the before.. first gave it a light sand..

Now primed ...

painting done.. yeah! Now to distress and decorate..

Here she is!

I had so much fun with this painting it green. I love white but thought I'd have a change! I love a green piece of furniture in a room. Soon I will show you the room this beauty now graces! I am so happy with how it turned out.. take care,  Maryann

forever changing...

Do you have one particular spot in your home that you just can't seem to get right? Well for me right now it's this big black blob of a fireplace!

I have a tendency to keep moving and changing things on it in an effort to make it look good. Being black it really stands out from the rest of my decor. I have had flowers in vases on it, lamps..etc. but I've never really been happy with the look. I can't get rid of it though as it is a definite must where I live.

So for now it looks like this... still not 100% happy with it but it will do till I find the perfect piece to compliment it..

I am thinking a lovely birdcage maybe and have been on the lookout for one, but haven't found one that I REALLY like. So what would you put on it.. any other ideas?

take care ladies, Maryann

Latest lamp & a gift in the mail!

Have been working on this and finally finished it! Yay! It's now on ebay. Hopefully this will be the first of a few lamps where I will be using ~linen and lace~ instead of the normal floral fabrics. Ofcourse I will continue to make my shabby roses lamps as they will always be my favorite but it's nice to make something different.

I thought I would keep it simple and let the frilly flounces take centre stage. It has a double frill, one in linen and the top frill in vintage lace. Hopefully it won't take me as long to list other ~linen and lace~ lamps and also matching cushions!

Well a while ago I met up with some gorgeous bloggy ladies at Lucinda's shop in Mittagong where I met Kirstie from Adeline's Country Cottage and just before I was leaving I wanted to get there websites down so I took out an old vintage note book, that had a cover made from old cards with pretty flowers on it. Well Kirstie was immediately drawn to it and I couldn't believe how much she loved it. So I gave it to her. No biggie really, she obviously appreciated it more than what I ever did.

Well, guess what I got in the mail yesterday..

Oh my! how gorgeous is the wrapping! A part of me didn't want to open it as it was too pretty as it was and the other part of me couldn't wait. This is what I found..

Wow Kirstie, what can I say they are all sooo beeeautiful and you are so so talented, I love them all! They are too pretty to use as gift tags, I think they will go on my Xmas tree this year or I might just attached them here and there around my house, they are just too cute! Thanks so much Kirstie ( you naughty girl!) I believe Kirstie is now making these to sell on her website so go on over and have a look!  Have a lovely day everyone, take care, Maryann

Spring...

What can I say.........

BRING IT ON.....................!