Book wreath

This months Real Living magazine featured a book wreath in Alice Flynns beautiful home . I thought it was lovely , so you can imagine my delight when Belinda from The happy home blog featured a tutorial . I think Belinda did about 3 layers where as I did about 6 or 7 I think. In fact I might have even done more if I hadn't run out of hot glue.I think I used 21 glue sticks all up!

 I'm pretty happy with how it turned out , its Christmasy without being too much . I might even keep it up after Christmas ....what do you think?

If you decide to give one of these a go watch out for the hot glue ....I still haven't recovered.
Book paper wreath from very exy homewares shop $250
Book paper wreath from me $7.50 (includes hot glue) plus cost of skin grafts to replace my fingertips.

x michelle

Rubber band ball

One bored 9 year old + one pile of rubber bands =

This baby's huge and heavy! Seriously if you have a bored child /rainy day/kids watching too much telly get yourself down to the local supermarket and grab some bags of rubberbands .

Too easy!

x Michelle

A new painting

On the weekend we thought we would pop up to a little art exhibition that was being held locally by two women Jenny Asquith and Becky Guggisberg . We had seen an article about it in one of the local papers and the paintings looked lovely .

And this is what we bought. Isn't it beautiful . Its actually titled "they are all talking about us" ???  So the kids have decided that the green bird on the left and the one with its face closest to it are having a little bird chit chat and the other birds are talking about them . Anyway we love it , its pretty big so really brightens up the room.

And here is the newspaper article ...and look Becky's holding our painting . Cool huh!

PS Its not really centered properly on the wall but there was a hook there so for now that's where its going!

PPS  Do you like it too?

x Michelle

Amigurami pears

Just thought I would show you a little something I made the other day , it was a present for a little boy I know .These little pears are so easy once you have the hang of it . I even managed to teach two 14 year old boys how to make them for a school assignment . Hmm... that was interesting . Not something I want to repeat in a hurry.

Just before he went off to his new home I thought he might like to meet a few of his friends.

The pink one is a little strawberry, perfect for a girl. I only have boys so she lives in the bottom of the soft toy basket. If you want to give one of these little toys a whirl they are so easy and you can get your pattern here .

x Michelle

sweet little blue birds

Do you remember blue bird jewellery. I do. I had little blue bird earrings when I was a girl. Do you like this modern version of blue bird jewellery .I like it a lot .Its from Australian etsy store Jewelry Deli .

Aren't they sweet ( and quite a bit cooler than my earings in the 70's)

x Michelle

Meet Ollie AKA Birdo

He talks ....a lot! Sometimes too much. Sometimes he has to go into another room or be put to bed so I can watch The block or The Modern family. I think he knows when my favourite shows come on to be honest. But we do love you Ollie .

PS see his little beak ...it looks like a heart.

x Michelle

Moss inspiration

Speaking of moss ...check this out!

Pretty cool huh .
Yes its moss growing on the wall . Amazing! I found this via here and the very clever person who does this moss art is here . Her name is Anna Garforth. One clever girl.

Michelle x

terrariums

I've mentioned before how much I love terrariums so in the recent school holidays I thought I might make a few and see how they go . Its a lovely way to have a little green around ...without having to look after them too much .

I really liked the look of moss terrariums so I wanted to make some ...but finding moss is not so easy . I went to the nursery and well they don't sell it .....I know who would have thought! I finally found some growing in the local Franklins carpark!

So I got my nine year old boy to get it for me ...because picking around on the ground is what he does 99% of the time anyway and I didn't want to be seen picking moss from the ground at Franklins .
Now its growing like mad

Have a closer look ...its like a forest in there and actually not very mossy looking at all .

But I'm still really happy with how these turned out and would actually like to have a go at some bigger ones ...I just need to find some bigger jars first ...and more moss . Supplies were running low last time I looked at Franklins . Might have to check out Woolies or Bi-Lo .

x Michelle

Nana's mirror

My gorgeous Nan who is 90 has just moved into a retirement type village and subsequently has had to seriously downsize her belongings . The last of her things were taken out the other day and were on the way to the local Vinnie's by my parents ...when mum happened to mention there was a mirror and did I want it . One mention of the scalloped edge and I was hooked , so my parents dropped it in to me the other day .

Our staircase has a little shelf on the way down where I keep my antlers and so I just popped the mirror there ...added a candlestick that I picked up at a garage sale a few months ago ...

and I'm thinking this really works ......I'm loving it ....what I don't love is I keep checking myself out on the way down the stairs ...hmm botox anyone.

x Michelle

Bus scroll art

I just love those vintage bus scrolls that have been showing up in magazines for the last couple of years , but they are just so very expensive . So when I spotted a bus scroll tea towel in my favourite local shop nest a couple of weeks ago for only $5.95 I thought I might just whip me up a little bus scroll art for the kitchen.

So I started off with a piece of board I had laying around

And I just used some thumbtacks to attach it to the back . Too easy .....Ok its a little wonky if you look real close but no one has noticed yet ...or they're too polite to say!

Nest also has an online store if your interested ....seriously go take a look . I could happily move right on in to this shop ....there's even a bed upstairs.

Get your Tea towel here



Michelle x

Green chair love

A couple of years ago, January 2008 to be exact Home beautiful featured the stunning home of Interior Designer Kate Sacks . This home is right up my alley I love everything about it and I guess I have a similar thing going on here as Kate does . Well almost ...

timber floors check ,

same freedom coffee table check ,

white walls check ,

touches of wicker check ,

two boys check,

house in Byron Bay check.... Ok so that's a lie but I did live there for 6 years so its kinda true ,ok not really . Anyway my absolute favourite thing in Kate's house were her green chairs.




Oh how I loved those green chairs , I dreamed about those green chairs and wished I too had a Aunt that would pass on to me some green chairs just like these. So I kept my copy of Home Beautiful and would often look and sigh at the chairs but had given up the hope that one day I would have green vintage chairs too .

And then something AMAZING happened ....

while driving down the road to pick my son up from school a couple of months ago what is sitting on the side of the road , homeless and waving at me was ....TWO VINTAGE , VELVET GREEN CHAIRS .

Now let me tell you , lucky for me I drive a van I screeched to a halt ....and well those chairs and I locked eyes and well.... its been love ever since .

Let me tell you these babies weigh a ton! They may not be perfect they have a few marks...

And they were a bit grotty...

And they may have had a lot of rubbish down the sides......

And my house may not be as beautiful as Kate Sacks's home..

But I love them .....and one day I will recover them . And what will I recover them in ....well green velvet of course.


x Michelle

Dog sitting

This weekend we have been looking after a friends two little dogs , so with four doggies there has been lots of walks along the beach . Here are a few snaps that the kids took along the way . I hope you've had a lovely enjoyable weekend too ..

x Michelle

Pizza

I've tried lots of different pizza recipes in the past ....until this one . Its seriously so good and pretty easy though you do have to start it early in the afternoon.

Base

500 grams plain flour (I use 1/2 plain and 1/2 wholemeal , but whatever you prefer really)
325 grams water
10 grams salt
1 satchet yeast (7gram)

Sauce

1 can tomatoes
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp oregano

Put all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer for about 15 minutes , set aside to use.

How to make the base

Put all ingredients in mixer and mix slow for 2 minutes and faster for 5 minutes , using dough hook .

Cover and let rise for 2 hours in a warm spot ( I pop it in the microwave NOT turned on ofcourse).It should double in size .Now punch down and form into 3 balls . Don't roll them in your hands kind of stretch the dough over the ball pinching underneath




Now pop them on a floured plate and put back in warm spot for another hour .

About half an hour before you want too make them turn your oven on to its hottest setting and put your pizza stone in to heat up . Now stretch out your base try not to overhandle , don't roll out . Throw in the air if your game !


Make up your pizza with your ingredients , I use just sauce ( leave a little edge so you have a crust) , basil and mozzarella cheese because I really feel less is more with pizza . Brush some olive oil over crust ,and drizzle some more on before you put in the oven, put some flour on your pizza stone. Now bake for 5 or so minutes and your done .....enjoy . My whole family loves this ...Oh except the 9 year old he doesn't like much at all though so he doesn't count.




x Michelle

Garage sale art

Some people say to me , oh you must have good garage sales where you live . But its not true there's a lot of dodgy ones too . You know the sort when you almost feel embarrassed for them and you wonder why they just didn't go to the tip instead . But sometimes ...just sometimes there are great ones , ones that you feel excited when you pull up the car and see something you love . Well this is my latest find ..apparently its by an Irish artist that draws them on the street or some such thing . But you know I wouldn't care if it was done by Joe Blow that lives down the end of my street ...the main thing is with art is that you love it . And I love this ! And how much was it I hear you ask a whole $10 . And you gotta love that .

xMichelle

Table Tonic's First giveaway !!

I am clearly very excited by this.... as the heading says Louise at the wonderful Table Tonic blog/shop is having her very first giveaway and if you have been well.... like living under a rock or something and haven't heard of Table tonic you better get yourself over there and become a follower and hopefully win a prize !!! Above are a few of my favourite things at Table Tonic .

Cool little terrariums

So terrariums are back in fashion and so much cooler than the 70s .

I adore these ones that are for sale on 'made it' .....I want one or two or three . Please ....pretty please. You can get them here

x Michelle