Petal Garland - Revamping a former vintage buy

With Christmas around the corner and summer in full swing I wanted something bright and cheery to add to my home and found the perfect addition in this little lamb petal garland by Down to the Woods. Sometimes simple little additions can make such a difference to a space and this garland has done exactly that... I originally thought I would drape it around the Christmas Tree but it has found its place on my vintage tripod lamp. In the spirit of felt decor I've also made some bright mini pom pom garlands that I will post in a few days showing you how to create one for your own home, it is super easy!.

Vintage Revamp - Industrial TV Cabinet

A few weeks ago or perhaps a month ago I posted about wanting to paint my vintage TV cabinet... I found this piece at an industrial warehouse in Melbourne and it fits everything in it from DVD's to my husbands Wii games (yes he plays wii!) and beyond... although I desperately wanted to paint it white Mr.B begged me not to and while I'd usually just go ahead and do it ;-), I thought I'd honour his wishes this time!!.

So this was the compromise....

I bought a chalk pen (which I LOVE) for $3 and revamped the doors with a free hand fish scale pattern that has added a bit of dimension to its otherwise red block shape. I think I'll change the pattern in a few weeks... thinking a lattice Hollywood Regency inspired pattern for next time.

This was the fab product used - chalk maker by Mont Martre - removable, weather proof and leaves the look of chalk lines but functions like a felt tip pen.... you will usually see them used in a lot of cafes and shop windows. I'd always spot test your surface first to ensure complete removability prior to drawing on a design.

Have a great weekend

xx

Thrifting Time - Vintage Kitchen Canisters and Tins

This weeks thrifty vintage finds are all kitchen related... I love old vintage canisters and tins, to me they are kind of like works of art!.

I think these guys are a bit rusty for edible items but I though they could be great in the laundry!

$8 for the pair - thrift store

Pretty sure this Weet Bix tin is a revived design released as a limited edition not so long ago 

$5, Antique Center.

$3 thrift store buy.. such a cute little tin!

Have a great day!

xx

DIY Christmas Decorations - Simply Made Doily Lace Clay and Salt Dough Tutorial

With Christmas around the corner I thought I'd make some decorations for friends and family and have devised a simple DIY craft tutorial using both a salt dough and clay base.

I used vintage doilies to create the lace print

I found the air dry clay much easier than salt dough overall, no mixing, dried snow white and set within 24 hours as opposed to the salt dough which is still drying 4 days later and will need to be painted, but I did love the idea that I could use household ingredients to create these decorations.  

 Here are the instructions for both techniques including how to create the lace print using vintage doilies or lace depending on what you have around the house... 

Air Dried Clay Decorations 
I used White Fimo Air Basic by Staedtler

You will need

 (I made about 100 small decorations with this quantity depending on your cookie cutter size)

500g air dry clay

rolling pin

baking paper

cookie cutters

straw or chop stick

doily

twine or string for hanging

To make the doily clay just roll out your clay, place the doily on top and roll over again then gently peel the doily off and you are ready to start cutting your ornaments.

Using a chop stick or straw make a hole in the clay for hanging, just make sure its wide enough to fit your string... I bought twine but sadly it didn't fit so I substituted with white yarn.

You can also use letter stamps to create extra details

then simply leave to dry on baking paper for 24 hours and that is it!

Salt Dough Technique

I actually made half quantity of this recipe and that made about 50 decorations so the amount below would make approximately double depending on the size of your cutters

You will need

1 cup salt

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup water

mixing bowl

rolling pin

doilie

straw or chop stick

cookie cutters

baking paper

Mix your ingredients and knead to form a smooth dough then roll out, cut out your shapes, then pierce with a chop stick and leave to dry for 3-4 days.

Hope you find this useful!

Here's to a wonderful festive season!

xx

Also sharing on

Scandi Coast Home's gorgeous Saturday link party!

here

and

here

and

here

Vintage Thrifty Saturdays - ornaments a plenty!

A very happy weekend to you all!

I had a fun week of thrifting and found a couple vintage ornaments to add to the collection. 

This horsey ashtray was all of $5 at trash n treasure... I can't say I love the ashtray side of things but I couldn't say no to the gold paintwork.

old honey tin $3 thrift store Melbourne

 old padlocks, a gift from Mum.

Ceramic Garden Stools $40

Not a vintage buy but a bargain at $40 with a huge round of applause going out to the lovely Natalie of In The Night Sky who stumbled across these stools at the Reject Shop in Melbourne... I bought two for the courtyard and one to add to my brother's birthday present. They've just about sold through the lot but it's worth ringing around if you live locally and happen to want any. I should point out that the paint work on the top of my stools cracked in the afternoon sun so they are better kept undercover or inside.

Have a lovely day, hope you find some vintage treasure too!

xx

sharing on A Living Space

Christmas Time - Simple DIY Gift Tags and Christmas Ornaments

Just stumbled across this fabulous DIY project and had to share... with the festive season just around the corner I'm am thinking about things I can make for Christmas. Every year my siblings and myself make a gingerbread house each, there are four of us so it kind of makes a small village effect when complete and this year I'm thinking I'll also make some Christmas decorations for friends and family. Thankfully pinterest pointed me in the right direction!.

I found this cute little DIY decoration/ gift tag via Marley and Lockyer pinned by - of easy wind and downey flake...

The pin actually said they were made from salt dough comprising of 1 cup salt, 2 cups plain flour and 1 cup luke warm water mixed together then rolled out and cut to shape... as it turns out they are actually made from ceramic and sold through etsy but I thought they would be fabulous for the other diy-ers out there who are also planning their Christmas crafting projects and could easily be made from salt dough anyway.

Fabulous Gift Tags

Will post my DIY tutorial when completed... I will try both the salt dough and ceramic and report back on which I prefer... 

Oleander and Palm made these fab salt dough creations

Lovely

Lost In Translation.... Old Words New Meaning

A cheeky Monday to you all. Had to share this one spotted by my sister at a local Melbourne Auction House ... while the estimate was a humble $20-30 the true value is priceless, I shall let it speak for itself!.

Enjoy your day xx

Retro Cook Off - Sausage Puff mmm!!

The lovely Kylie at Lucy Violet Vintage and Donna at Hung Up On Retro are hosting a wonderful Retro Cook Off today and I am more than pleased to present this baked Sausage Puff dish by Mc.Alpins test kitchen as my contribution.... 

Warning: not for the squeamish!

I think of this retro culinary gem as a great way eliminate the hassle of hot dog and bun situation... here you simply set sausage into the bread and cook as one, then simply top with mustard and tomato sauce and you are done ;-)!!!. Truth be told the recipe calls for tinned cocktail franks but I couldn't bring myself to buy them, instead I used Chipolata's hoping the dish may actually be eaten at some stage today!.

what can I say.... this is the before shot!

and after

Bon Appetite.... if you're game!

Vintage Thrifting Saturdays - Boho Bonanza!

Welcome to thrifting Saturday... this week I was in a bohemian state of mind and found two vintage cushions and a cute wind chime mobile at a local thrift store. My favourite of the three would have to be the red, white and blue circular cushion.. it reminds me of those Moroccan Ottomans you see around the traps like the gold and white one I've been dreaming about for a few years now... all three totalled $8 and while I won't display the wind chime all the time, it will be nice hung above the outside table, flanked by tissue pom poms, during the summer bbq season!.

happy thrifting! xx