Ask and Thou Shalt Receive...Fern's crochet rug!

Howdy folks! I've been a little absent this last week from the ole bloggy world, I've been tail-down working on customer orders and trying to catch up! But I had to check in with you today: do you remember a couple of weeks back, I posted about my desire for a little crochet rug for Fern's boudoir? I put the call out there for anyone handy with the ole crochet stick (certainly not I, I have never ever crocheted in my life!) to volunteer to whip one up for me.... and somebody answered my call! Thanks Magdalene!

I am well pleased; both with Fern's new rug and the fact that it was handmade for ME!

Check it out:

I love it; its so soft underfoot and really vibrant... just the accessory for my darling daughter's room. If any of you are inspired by the rug and want to know where I got it, just leave me a comment and I'll find out whether any more orders are being taken for you! xx

Inspired by.... DIY Crochet Rug!

This morning I am wishing, not for the first time, that I could crochet:

I want, I NEED this rug for Fern's room! I found these images here, from this talented crafter who made hers from jerseys scraps... 

... but I can't crochet, not even at all!

I did an Etsy search and found this one I quite like:

from here, $70

This one is nice, too:

from here, $100

This one kinda gets my heart racing too:

from here, $59

What to do? I've been searching for the perfect rug for ages, but rugs are so darn expensive and I have never found that is just right for her room. I am loving the idea of a handmade rug, and these ones have given me some real food for thought! That last image in particular is giving me goosebumps... I'll let you know what I decide!

ps. If any of you can crochet and will volunteer to make me a rug like this, contact me! I'd rather pay YOU rather than a store!

x

Build a Vertical Garden!

Got an ugly outside wall you want to hide? Pressed for outdoor ground space? Want to add some 'wow' impact to your garden?

Why not build-yer-own vertical garden?!

All the celebs are doing it. Well, landscapey celebs anyway. I've seen the idea on TV and in magazines and it always looks amazing but it has always appeared difficult and - moreover - expensive to try at home.

But, flicking through a recent issue of Real Living magazine my heart literally stopped when I saw this DIY idea for a vertical garden! It was lust at first sight and I clipped the page out immediately, knowing this was a project I absolutely must have a go at!

My kitchen has three windows - two of which are at bench top height and one of which peers out to an ugly side wall, the next door neighbour's house and the dog kennel. Sexy. This space was screaming for a makeover!

Before:

yucko!

After:

better!

So happy with the result! And I am kinda loving that the screen is pretty much invisible from the rest of our garden because this is a sectioned off area at the back of the paved courtyard; its only from inside or from the clothesline (!) that you can see the new vertical garden, loving this little element of surprise!

Want to make one yourself? It's easy, folks(she says, although husband did pretty much all the work!)

You'll need:

- A pallet (we stole salvaged one from Bunnings)

- A roll of weed mat (about $4)

- A large piece of plywood

- Nails

- 4 bags of good quality potting mix

- Screws and bolts to fix to the wall 

- Staple gun

- Plants!

- Sharp knife

1. Nail your plywood to the back of the pallet as the backing... Unroll your weed mat into each side of the pallet so that you create a 'pot' for your plants to go into. 

Staple the mat to the sides of the pallet so it affixes (and won't drop out of the pallet once filled with soil!)

2. Lift your pallet upright and affix to wall using your screws (ask at the hardware for advice depending on the type of wall/ fence you are fixing to!)

3. Fill each side of your pallet with potting mix.

Note Dan's costume change... halfway through project, he went for a mountain bike ride. Then came back and resumed work!

4. Using your knife, cut holes where you want plants to go.

5. poke your plants into said holes (I chose little potted coloureds which will grow to 15 cm's and ideally cover a lot of the wooden slats you see, and mine are shade resistant because they are against a shady wall... but YOU could go to town if your vertical garden is in full sun! Strawberries, herbs, flowers... the possibilities are endless!)

6. Water in well. 

That's pretty much it, folks! Do let me know if you give this one a go, I'd love to see!

Additions to Fern's Room...

There were a couple of recent additions to Fern's big-girl room last week that I thought I'd share with you today... coupled with my guilt at neglecting the kids' bedrooms over the last 12 months while I've been busy setting up my business and inspired by the pretty girl's bedroom I shared with you the other day, I decided it was time to start redecorating my daughter's little space!

It started when I bought this piece on a whim...

I was driving past Preston Hunter Interiors and was having a little bo-peep through the window when I spied this little cane and wood side table... it's up cycled and vintage, it was half price and I luuuuuuuuuurve it. Done!

My daughter previously had an even more vintage side table that was more than a little wobbly and in desperate need of a revamp. That one is moving to my 'get round to it one day' pile! This one boasts a drawer, space to hold books and toys and can be painted any manner of fun colours; Im thinking turquoise once I tire of the white gloss!

But when we installed the table I realised Fern needed a little light for next to her bed. I looked online and considered one from fellow Madeit seller Lulu's Lamps. Her lamp shades are handmade and divine but I couldn't find quite the fabric I was after, so I decided to make my own.

I found a base and shade at good old Kmart for a whopping $15:

Then Fern and I went to a couple of fabric stores and chose this fabric:

... and then we made this with it:

... loving that the whole thing cost about $20 so when we tire of the fabric or when Elliott breaks it ;) it is easily replaceable! 

So now that wall of Fern's looks like this:

... and Fern and I are happy! So pretty. But I have other plans for my daughter's room in the pipeline, so stay tuned, folks!  

Did you get up to any DIY over the weekend that was? 

Way to Brighten up a Dreary Day

When it's bleak outside I get a little depressed... I don't like the cold. Or cloudy, dark, dank days... I like sunshine. Blue sky. Warmth, friends! We all know Summer was a little tempestuous, to say the least. There was an awful lot of gray and rain, and not nearly enough opportunities to appreciate the outdoors I reckon!

A few days ago when Fern was at preschool, Elliott and I took matters into our own hands and decided to brighten things up a little. We hit the nursery. And bought these trinkets:

a bright lime green hanging lantern

bright pink flowers for the table

A new Adirondack chair (from the Jamie Durie range)

A set of three tables (bargain $20 each from Freedom - not intended for outdoors but powder coated metal and at that price, who cares if I only get a year out of them?!) 

New tables close up - sorry, sun ironically shining as I snapped these pics!

... and I felt instantly happier! Nothing like a bit of colour to brighten MY spirits! What brightens YOURS  when its bleak outside?

Like the Book? Buy the Fabric!

One day recently as I was idly browsing Amazon for crafty book inspiration, I spied some eye-candy in the form of this tome:

If pictures speak 1000 words... need I even go on? Needless to say, I bought it. Immediately.

Girl's World by Jennifer Paganelli offers some glorious sewers-porn in the form of patterns: girl's dresses, fairy skirts, hair accessories, cushions and all things girlie. All beautifully photographed and presented in a hard-cover complete with hot-pink ribbon tie. With the most divine fabrics to drool over on every page.

I mean.

Jennifer is American though, and I've never even seen this gorgeous book on local bookshelves. You can therefore imagine my excitement when I discovered today that new local online Fabric Emporium Fabric Traders stocks Jennifer Paganelli fabrics!!!

The best thing is you can mix and match from pretty much any in the range and you can't go wrong...

Pretty reasonably priced too at $14 a metre; and I'll be grabbing these ones to make some Summer dresses with for bm3... and for Fern too.

Do your eyes glaze over at the sight of fabric swatches? Or do you too look at colours and patterns like a big juicy hamburger?! Do tell!

Happy weekend.....

My Living Space Today...

Hello! Today I thought I would share with you my living space:

i wish...

... in my own head, anyways. Mine is not quite this vibrant. Or styled. Or void of children, grubby fingers, strewn toys, remote controls, and bits of chewed apple... 

my reality...

That first pic summarises what my living space would look like today in my idea world! It features all my favourite colours (turquoise, pink, pistachio green, white), and I am loving the eclectix mix of furniture, the mismatched cushions, the floral artworks... I'm feeling my own (above - and pictured on a day my home was styled!) needs some more colour! Lately, I feel like I've lost all my energy where my home is concerned. It's Winter, and I can't seem to get inspired! I think its time to inject some colour; some life back into the place!

Where should I start?!

Dream Creative Spaces

Hello to you, did you have a nice weekend? Sunday was 'family' day, and with the sunshine beaming upon us we all kitted up in our cycling gear and went for a spin around the waterfront cycleway, stopping once for a play in the park and again for some well-earnt fish and chippies! Yummo!

Today I am surrounded by scraps of fabric, shards of lace and tulle, wayward buttons and an overwhelming desire for a creative space that is not shared with the children's rice bubbles. Ok, I know Peter Alexander started his business on the kitchen table, but let me tell you the novelty wears out real quick! Ours is but a humble three bedroom home and those kiddies of mine insist on sleeping in their own space. Downstairs we have a largish 'rumpus' room that will one day be magically transformed into a fourth bedroom with separate little sewing nook... but it is currently unloved, uncleaned, and currently a holding bay for all our outgrown and unwanted household items, home to the odd little field mouse (gross gross gross) and altogether not a place I can see myself being creative in. Sigh. One day........

I dream about having my own little space. For me and my sewing machine. And all my bits and pieces. Old buttons and rolls of ribbon thoughtfully stored in little jars on open shelves. Inspirational artwork and beautiful fabrics adorning the walls. Soft pinks and lemons and aquas and greens. White furniture. A bit like these gorgeous little morsels; my dream illustrated in the following amazing images.  I'm filing them all away while I save. And dream. One day, folks!

from here

from here

from here

from here

from here

Do you have your own creative space? What do you love about it? If not and you are dreaming like me, what would yours look like?