Life at number 2

tats

2011-07-23T15:41:00.003+10:00

I don't have any tattoos ...I'm very indecisive ...its not uncommon for me to have a sleepless night over choosing what colour to get the new clock in the kitchen (yes I actually did that this week)and I only had to choose between black or silver!!I know and then when I decided I thought I still made the wrong decision. Yep that's me, so it makes sense that I shouldn't do anything really permanent like a tattoo. BUT if I was going to get one I'd get this one. How cool is it.

Michelle x
PS My sleepless nights could be due to the fact that I'm going in a running race tomorrow, its 11km! Eek!! I'll be able to make decisions again on Monday, maybe.

image from here

Thinking about cushions

2011-07-13T14:33:00.000+10:00

Lately I've been thinking a lot about new cushions. Is it winter that does this ...the need to cosy up and add some colour to our dreary days.

I'm loving this one

Its from my favourite local shop Nest Emporium, seriously this shop is so good if you are ever down this way (Thirroul) you need to check it out, and of course they have an online shop too. So anyway I'm thinking a couple of these babies on the bed.

Also I just bought this one last night on made it to go in the 10 year olds room and it was only $15 ...I know so cheap! And that was with the insert too. His room is having a massive clean out! Out with the toy box and about 10 tonnes of plastic/battery less toys and in with some cool things like the cushion.

And I'm thinking maybe one of these also from nest emporium

Except his will be a N (Noah)

Also have painted a wall with chalkboard paint too so its all coming together .You might remember this blanket that I made it is his too so that will be in there.Do you get the need to change things around in winter too, spring clean /chuck out?

Michelle x

Love poster

2011-04-26T14:25:00.002+10:00

I finally got around to framing my LOVE poster by Jen Ramos of MadeByGirl. I know you have probably seen these everywhere but you have to admit they are pretty fantastic and don't you just love the red. I am really trying to be adventurous with colour. I would never have chosen red in the past so this is big for me .The fabric panel behind the bed is Marimekko and I've had it for a few years and it was the first bit of colour I actually let come into my house, took me about a year to stop looking at it and couldn't decide if I loved it or hated it.Now I love it. And the gorgeous home sweet home cushion is from Aunty cookie

And just before I go look what I found at a garage sale on the weekend , isn't she lovely . I couldn't leave it there when someone had obviously put so much work into painting it , and it was only $15 ..I know bargain.

Here is a close up ...I wonder who she is?

Sorry the last shot was a bit blurry and I couldn't be bothered getting another.
Michelle x

Check out my awesome golf ball lamp.

2011-04-06T16:40:00.003+10:00

So the other day I was out shopping and saw this cute little lamp for the bargain price of $20 and I thought it would look sweet in the bedroom , so took it home and quite pleased with my little bargain lamp I had it sitting in the lounge room when teenage son came in and commented on my 'golfball lamp'!!! What! What golf ball ? It doesn't look anything like a golfball ! And then I took my rose coloured bargain shopping glasses off and well....it does kinda look a bit like a golfball. But I seriously had not seen a golf ball before he mentioned it .And like father like son , hubby came home and he liked the 'golfball lamp' too. Oh Bugger.

Anyway just thought I'd show you a few other awesome and rather stylish golfball lamps too.

Wow real golf balls..cool

Golfballs and fake grassy stuff in a jar lamp, awesome

Giant realistic looking golfball lamp , a personal fave.

Funky green and white chandelier , I am so getting one of these babies.

Simple and stylish with an actual golf green and golf stick, makes me want to take up golf.

And a matching pair of ginormous golf ball lights...umm...bedside tables??

So well yeah ....things could be worse.

Michelle x
PS If you do own a lamp like these please don't take offense ...each to their own I guess.

I've been busy

2011-03-27T15:10:00.000+11:00

Four weeks ago I started making a blanket using Lucy's pattern for granny stripe blanket from Attic 24. If you are into crochet you really must have a look at her blog it really is so lovely. Anyway I can't tell you how much I have loved making this blanket. So much so that I have nearly finished it.

This is how I can be found most nights.

I only bought a few balls of wool the rest were from a bit of a stash that my mum no longer wanted. I really wanted the colours to be bright and cheerful and I am so happy with how its turning out.

Only two more rows to be done now and then I have to sew in all those ends!! And then onto the border. I have until Wednesday as I promised Noah that it will be on his bed when he gets home from camp. Nothing like a deadline to spur you on and the promise to a nine year old.

Michelle x

BBQ decorating

2011-03-17T14:51:00.000+11:00

We recently had a little bbq for my mums birthday , it turned out to be such a hot day so the tropical theme I went with looked so pretty.

Here are a few pics

On the table I just filled jars with bougainvillea from the garden and also tossed around some little cocktail umbrella's, the lanterns are from freedom

The Martha Stewart pompoms are so very easy and were a first attempt so I was really happy with how they turned out and they hung quite well from the bananas in the yard ( except fourteen year old nephew asked why I had put bath sponges in the trees....sigh)

No I hadn't forgotten the laundry tub...that was used for the cold drinks. Don't they come in handy for a million uses I really must get some more .
The bbq turned out a great day if a little hot at around 40 degrees ...but as far as decorating goes the whole thing probably cost about $10 which I was pretty happy with .

Do you like it ?

Michelle x

Day bed makeover

2011-03-10T14:16:00.001+11:00

Our daybed on the front deck was really starting to look a bit tired , we had already chucked the mattress off it because it was starting to fall apart and I really felt it needed a freshen up, it was annoying me everytime I entered the front door.So after a few coats of white gloss this is how she's looking.

much better ...I was over the balinesiness( ok so I know thats not a word) of it anyway.

Sorry about the ordinary photos I realised I hadn't blogged for ages and hastily took these shots just a few moments ago and would you look at that pillow on the left !I'll blame the kids for that one ...they must have touched it . Anyway just thought I'd share.Hope you like.

Michelle x

Wax paper chandelier

2011-02-15T20:18:00.003+11:00

How clever is this

You know I love a bit of craftiness

No its not capiz shells at all ...its made from circles of wax paper , yes the same stuff we wrap our sandwiches in and line our baking trays.I know who would have thought!

Plus one of these hanging planters

look how much they look like the real deal, cool huh

If you think you might want to give one of these a go here are the instructions .Its made by Brenna at paper and ink blog

Thankyou design*sponge , for introducing me to such a great blog and to Brenna for the idea ...too clever.

x Michelle

Trash or treasure?

2011-02-07T14:38:00.000+11:00

So last night I got all excited and clickety click what do you know I bought this baby on ebay.

I haven't even picked it up yet so feeling a little ...you know is it a really cool vintage set of school lockers or what the hell were you thinking!!

Will have to wait and see I guess....Ok so the man said they need a couple of pot rivets?? Hubby said no problem so that's good. Isn't it?. The plan is that they may look awesome in teenage sons bedroom. So that's the plan...I think.

x Michelle

Butterfly art

2011-01-05T16:02:00.000+11:00

Look what I found in the op shop when I went To Bright just before Christmas . I know scored big time!! I was so excited and its vintage and homemade too which makes it even more special don't you think.

And your not going to believe this when I came home I went into another op shop after my new found enthusiasm of finding the green butterfly and look what I found!! I know freaky ! A yellow framed butterfly.

This one is smaller and not vintage but pretty all the same .

And they match. I can't tell you how long I have been admiring butterflies just like these in a local shop but they are pretty expensive and so they have always well...stayed on the shelves.

So fingers crossed next time I go into an op shop they have another ....I'm thinking blue would be nice. Is that too much to ask.

x Michelle

In the garden

2011-01-04T16:38:00.000+11:00

Look what we grew . We actually planted about 20 seeds but these two were the only ones that seemed to thrive on neglect.

I've been working on the vege garden quite a bit lately so hopefully will have some veges to show you soon

look at our pretty faces

Look how tall we are.

x Michelle

School holiday sewing

2011-01-03T15:39:00.001+11:00

Yesterday I asked Noah to draw a favourite little guy that he likes to draw pictures of. This is what he gave me. He then went through some fabric scraps and chose some fabric. Which we then copied his picture on to.

And then I helped him to sew it all together. What a cool little dude.

Look twins!

I did ask Noah why his eyes look like that !! And apparantly its because he has been spending too much time staring into the computer.

This is such a great school holiday project and the kids really love to see their characters come to life.

xMichelle

PS Don't by shy I love comments! And when I get to 50 followers I will be having a giveaway to celebrate! x

Our Christmas .

2011-01-02T14:52:00.000+11:00

Ok so I know its January 2nd but I just realised I didn't really show any photos of around the house apart from the book wreath, so here's a couple of pics.

The Christmas stockings are from Ikea a few years ago and the baubles are mercury glass and from a garage sale. The candles are from Domayne and they are those battery operated real wax ones.

The perspex JOY is from a little gift shop in Bright, Victoria .

This is our old faithful tree , we've had this one for about 15 years and it was my mums before that so yeh...getting our moneys worth (well mums money)

A little bit of a reindeer woodland theme going on (who knew we had so many in the toy box!!)

There's also a moose thrown in too...just cause he's cute.

Umm , yep old tree taken down two days before Christmas when we fell in love with a real Norfolk pine in a pot. Most decorations packed away as anything heavier than a cotton ball threatened to break his branches!

Christmas morning breakfast table.

So there you have it our Christmas.

x Michelle

Happy New Year and a new camera case

2011-01-01T17:36:00.000+11:00

Happy New Year ! Today has been such a hot one so after taking the boys to the beach for a swim I decided to set up my new sewing machine and make something. I don't have much fabric so thought this camera case might be nice to try. I actually changed the pattern a little as I didn't have any cotton batting but wanted to put something in to protect the camera .So I actually sewed some small bubble wrap in there! Yep , is that weird cause I don't really know ..sewing has been pretty limited to sock monsters and soft toys for the kids. Ok and while I'm letting you in on my little secret the elastic actually came from my husbands board shorts. I don't know how successful it will be but at the moment its great . I really love the colour and am pretty happy with how it turned out .

Tutorial from here

X Michelle

Book wreath

2010-12-13T16:58:00.001+11:00

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

2010-11-16T16:40:00.000+11:00

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

2010-11-15T14:31:00.001+11:00

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

2010-11-12T18:08:00.000+11:00

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

2010-10-19T13:45:00.008+11:00

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

2010-10-15T14:51:00.008+11:00

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

2010-07-28T14:06:00.004+10:00

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

2010-07-27T14:18:00.004+10:00

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

2010-07-12T16:16:00.012+10:00

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

2010-07-11T18:00:00.011+10:00

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

2010-06-20T10:22:00.012+10:00

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

2010-06-14T13:38:00.010+10:00

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

2010-06-12T13:37:00.016+10:00

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

2010-06-10T12:34:00.011+10:00

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 !!

2010-06-09T10:25:00.014+10:00

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

2010-06-06T18:15:00.015+10:00

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

Little lemon tarts

2010-06-06T15:39:00.011+10:00

I absolutely love lemony desserts and so do all my family . So with the sunny weather continuing for another day and family popping over for brunch to celebrate a birthday , I thought it was a good excuse to whip up some of these lovely little tarts . And they are so easy!

Ingredients

12 premade pastry shells

2 tsp finely grated lemon rind

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup caster sugar

40 g butter

2 eggs + 1 extra yolk

Fresh strawberries or raspberries

Method

Combine lemon rind and juice , sugar, butter and eggs in a small saucepan over low heat . Cook stirring for about 8 minutes or until curd thickens , I use a whisk.

Remove from heat and put in bowl , cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge to chill ( you can do this the day before)

Spoon curd into pastry cases and top with berry of choice. Enjoy.

These are so good .....and OK I probably shouldn't be admitting this but I ate 4 !!

x Michelle

Hello Sunshine

2010-06-05T14:43:00.005+10:00

I can't tell you how lovely it was to wake up today and see the sun shining outside . After what seems like weeks of rain being able to get outside , and feel the sun if only for a few short hours was bliss. This is a little peek out my window , I never tire of the view of the trees ....just lovely .

Enjoy your weekend and hopefully it stays dry!

x Michelle

A parcel

2010-06-04T16:26:00.014+10:00

Don't you just love parcels in the mail ? I know I do , so I was a very happy girl today to find a parcel waiting for me at the door of number 2 when I got home. And even though I knew what was inside it was so very lovely to find it like this . All brown paper and string .

And what was inside ....well it was one of these little guys. I've wanted one for ages and seeing as I had to order something else ...somehow this happened to pop into my cart too . What a shame.

And what else did I order...... it was this , a laser cut Noah's ark for my sons room . If you love cool things , gifts , cards etc you really have to have a look at pulp . The service is fantastic too .

x Michelle

Woollen winter lamp makeover

2010-06-03T10:48:00.020+10:00

Just wanted to share something with you that I did a couple of months back and its seriously so easy that even an 8 year old could do it ...oh thats right an 8 year old did do some ! Unfortunately I don't have any before pics of the lamp because that was pre blog days when I didn't photograph every minute detail of my life , pre blog days being anything before yesterday actually.

Anyway back to the lamp , it was just a basic white drum lamp shade that had seen better days , it was faded and actually the white bit was even coming away from the metal rings at the top and bottom and I was just about ready to toss it out when I thought what can I do with this old thing .....Hmm a makeover ??

So remembering I had a few balls of green wool that I happened to pick up at Spotlight for only 50c a ball I just started to wrap it around , tying first to a metal bit inside the shade . Ok so you just wrap and wrap and then wrap some more( this is when 8 year old boys come in handy) until the whole thing is completely covered remembering that if you need to tie a new piece on its on the inside .

So you could do it like I did it , really neat or I guess you could even get a bit crazy and keep overlapping kinda messy like for an organic look its up to you , just don't go too wild and go near the light bulb because that would just be well....dangerous.

So, easy peasy and doesn't it look all cosy and warm for winter .....and yes it does still emit some light .

Finally

2010-06-02T12:29:00.000+10:00

Ok I've finally done it ....I've taken the plunge head first into blog world. Whats taken me so long....well silly as it seems I couldn't think of a name . So decided to go simple , very simple . I know i don't have much imagination so" life at number 2 " it is . Here I will write about all my favourite things , mostly homey house stuff , a few recipes , and just generally what I've been up to at number two. I hope you enjoy it .

x Michelle