Shabby in Suburbia

Slipcover..My first attempt!

2012-05-23T20:48:00.002+10:00

I've always admired all the lovely slipcovered furniture on your beautiful blogs, so I thought I'd give it a go.

My neighbour had put out an old brown velvet lounge and ottoman out on the kerb,so I sent my boys to do a roadside rescue.

I didn't take a before,but trust me, it was UGLY..

I checked out youtube and found an easy tutorial and away I went.

I used a french blue toille quilt to make the cover.

I reversed the quilt for the top section.

I added some pretty trim to cover the seams.

For my first attempt I'm quite happy.

Add a french tray and some pretty roses and I'm a happy girl..

French Armoire

2012-05-21T16:47:00.000+10:00

Before

Today I finally finished a project that has been sitting in my family room for waaaayyyy too long.

This armoire was graciously given to me by my fathers friend, who's mother had passed away.

I've painted it a very pale french grey.

Papered the shelves with scrolly black and white birthday wrapping paper.

Added crystal handles and a tassle on the old key.

Inside I am displaying my birdcage candle holders,sweet topiaries and glazed birds.

It's the finishing touch to my loungeroom....I love it!!

Mothers Day

2012-05-11T20:09:00.001+10:00

Sunday is Mothers Day down here in OZ.
A day when all us mum's can relax and get a little spoilt.
My mum is jetting off to Europe tomorrow morning for 2 months.
She's 74 years young and I hope I'm as wild as she is at that age.
So I'm sending her my love as she lives it up on her european adventure.
To all you other mum's celebrating on Sunday,
enjoy the day because we seriously have the hardest job in the world.

Sunday Morning

2012-05-06T08:56:00.000+10:00

All is quiet in the house.

It's early Sunday morning in gorgeous sunny Sydney.

My little furry Winston is snuggled beside me and I'm enjoying a lovely cup of tea.

The perfect time to visit all the great blogs out there.

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend.

More tea please!

Thanks Diggers

2012-04-25T09:23:00.000+10:00

Thanks

To all those that have served our great country and to those who still are, we say, "Thank you"..

Freedom is ours because of all of you..

Hero's really do exist..

I will remember you..

A safe Easter to all..xx

2012-04-05T20:49:00.003+10:00

Wishing everyone a wonderful Easter break..

Be safe..

Be happy..

Be rejoicful..

Be thankful..

Be together..

It's a great day to be Irish!!

2012-03-17T08:36:00.004+11:00

Today is St Patricks Day..

A day to celebrate your irish heritage..

I was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland,43 years ago..

I'm proud to be Irish and yes I have the gift of the gab!!

I tell my boys they're Ausish-Half Australian and half Irish..

Whereever you are in the world on this fine green day,may the luck of the Irish be with you..

Dance a little jig and may your lucky leprachaun be shining..

Go mbeannai Dia duit

(may God bless you)..

Still here...JUST!!..

2012-03-06T12:28:00.003+11:00

Yes,I'm still around..

Have been popping around the lovely blogs ,but have been sooooo busy..

Work,little bit of home renovating, kids and life in general..

Thanks for sticking around..

I'll be back soon with lots to show..

Love this...Family...

2012-01-01T12:24:00.004+11:00

Whilst popping in and around the internet yesterday I found this beautiful verse..

It rings so true..

No matter what..your families love is always there..

I've placed this in a prominent place,so my boys can read it and believe it..

Always and forever,my love rings true..

Hope your New Year has begun well...

I'm ready..!!..

2011-12-31T10:07:00.004+11:00

So it's a big "see ya", to 2011..

Truly the year has flown past..

Where did it go????

2012, here we come...ready or not...

One son will start his final year of school,

The other is half way through high school.

This ending of the year business makes me think of all the changes I want to make in my life..

But NO....

2012, you will not force me to make promises and resolutions that I will not keep.

You will not lead me falsely into thinking this is the year that I will be....

*skinny

*rich

*wrinkle free

*Bikini ready by December...

This will be the year that I wake up on January 1st and realise that each day is important and it's up to me to either enjoy it or not....

So bring it on 2012......Ready or not here I come!!!!

To all my friends, may the New Year bring you all that you need..emotionally and spiritually..

HO HO HO!!!!!!!!!

2011-12-16T17:08:00.002+11:00

Well it's that time of the year again..

Decorate the tree.. CHECK

Wrap the pressies...CHECK

Fall down a staircase?????...CHECK

Yes,that's what happened to me on Monday..

Face first down 9 timber indoor stairs into a solid timber door face first..

Two glorious black eyes, compressed fracture of my t7 vertebrate,bruised knee and hand and lumpy forehead..

The only Ho I can muster is HOly *##* it hurt..

So, I am appreciating my wonderful fellas who are helping me with everything around the house and I'm truly appreciative of God,because I really believe he was looking out for me because it could have ended a lot differently..

So to all my friends worldwide, MERRY CHRISTMAS to all and stay safe and for goodness sake be careful on those staircases..

The winner is....

2011-11-02T19:32:00.001+11:00

Thank you to those that entered my giveaway...

The lucky recipient is..

Mrs Tiff..HOORAY..

Hope you're all having a wonderful week..xx

The Giveaway...

2011-10-21T18:40:00.002+11:00

My giveaway has 7 days to go..

Scroll down to enter on the original post..

I'd love to hear from you..

This is why I love IKEA!

2011-10-15T16:55:00.003+11:00

I adore going to Ikea..

Just wondering around getting ideas and finding great deals..

Today I went a visiting..

This is why I love the place..

Sweet glasshouse and 3 laser lace cut tins..

Total spent $26.00...LOVE IKEA..

With roses from my garden, I think even Rachel Ashwell would approve..

Have you smelt the roses lately?

2011-10-09T20:30:00.005+11:00

My roses are blooming..

Bloomin' gorgeous if you ask me..

I've popped them in pretty vintage yellow jug..

So shabby and sweet..

I actually have stopped three times today to inhale their sweet perfume..

Sometimes our lives are so busy that we forget to live..

This week take time to stop and smell the roses..

Appreciate your life,we only get one..

Have a lovely and safe week friends..

P.S:dont forget my giveaway..

I'm having a giveaway!!

2011-10-08T09:26:00.004+11:00

To celebrate having over 200 fabulous followers,I've decided to treat one of you to something that is very special and personal to me.

I quite enjoy putting the odd quilt together and thought it would be nice to pass one onto you.

Now, I'm definetly no expert and if perfection is your thing, this ain't gonna do it for you.

But I tried my hardest,I really did!

This is the first quilt I ever made.

I made it into a wall hanging but you could just as easily have it as a table topper.

I made it 2006,so let's pretend it's vintage,well it is to me..

The imperfections are character building..

If you'd like to acquire this litttl gem just leave a comment telling me so and let me know you're following along.

I'll draw the winner on my birthday, the 28th October and it's open to everyone.

If you share the news on your blog or sidebar let me know also for extra entries.

Have a wonderful weekend..

Tallboy revamp..

2011-09-29T08:15:00.006+10:00

It's school holidays down here at the moment and I've got a couple of days of work..YIPPEE!!

Of course it's pouring rain, it does every spring school break..

Took the boys shopping yesterday and out for lunch,then tackled my bedroom drawers..

As usual I forgot to take the before photos..I just get to excited..

They originally started out as that awful orangey pine colour..

Two coats of white and we're looking good..

Lovely crystal handles..Almost complete..

A bit of sanding around the edges..

Then my favourite bit..

I printed of some french script words on my printer and copied them by hand onto the drawer fronts...So easy and effective.

A black marker pen was all that was needed..

Loving them...

Why it's a dogs life!!!!!

2011-09-26T16:35:00.003+10:00

I don't think I need many words to explain why Winston has a GREAT life..

Oh, to be a dog who is spoilt beyond reason..

I'll let the pictures do the talking..

Next life I wanna be a pooch!!

Back again..

2011-09-17T15:54:00.003+10:00

Wow..It's been ages since I've posted..

Work and sickness has kept me away..

I'm SO glad to be back..

Thouroughly enjoying our gorgeous Spring weather..

My garden is blooming..

Thought I'd share a few pretties with you all..

Hope you're enjoying your weekend..

Girls day out.

2011-07-28T09:38:00.005+10:00

This weekend my dear friend Annette and I are off on a girls adventure..

We are heading to the Southern Highlands..

A gorgeous part of New South Wales..

We will be antiquing,talking,bargain hunting,chatting,oohing and aahing,gossiping, eating,verbalising,tea swilling,chattering and you can bet we'll be laughing..

Did I mention we, LOVE to chat!!

First stop historic Berrima, then off to beautiful Berry.

Thelma and Louise have got nothing on us..

No boys allowed,just two girls who could talk the leg off a table..

I'll be sure to show you all the goodies we buy..

Tick Tock..

2011-07-21T16:11:00.004+10:00

Time has certainly flown since I last blogged.

I've been so busy lately..

I have been visiting all your fab blogs though..

Thought I'd share a couple of photos of my new clocks..

I got them both at ALDI..such bargains!!

I love the french duck egg blue surround..I gave it a little sanding to shabby it up a little.

Now it graces my loungeroom wall..

This one hangs in my kitchen..Perfectly chic..

They say time flies when you're having fun,so I must be having heaps of fun because I don't know where the time has gone..

Is he serious?

2011-06-24T17:42:00.003+10:00

The other night whilst watching TV the phone rang..

Up I sprung to answer it..

It was quite late so I was wondering who would be calling.

The conversation went like this:

"Hello"

"Hi mum."

"Jake, is that you?"

"Yeah it's me."

"What are you doing son,are you crazy???"

"NO.I'm thirsty! Can you please bring me in a drink".

You see,he was in his bedroom,wrapped in his quilt watching T.V in the comfort of his electric blanket.

He didn't want to get up because it was to cold!!!!!!!!!!

Needless to say, I did not get him a drink and haven't had any phone calls since..

Seriously, some mothers do have "em..

Winter pretties..

2011-06-22T17:48:00.003+10:00

The chill has definetly arrived..

It has been snowing up the Blue Mountains..

We have had ice covering our cars most mornings..

My plants are still having some pretty displays..

Last year this was deep pink,this year a pale shade..go figure!!

I love planting in vintage containers..

I've tried for my garden to have the look of an English cottage garden..

I'm trying really hard..

These are my neighbours wild roses peeking above the fence..so lovely..

Winter may be cold but my flowers warm my heart..

Winston worries..

2011-06-19T09:28:00.004+10:00

Oh boy,having a puppy is like having a toddler all over again..

Making mischief and putting things in their mouth that shouldn't be in there..

This very thing happened last night at about 9.30pm..

Our sweet Winston (7.5 months) found a little packet of ratsack.. (mouse bait)

I don't know how he got to it as it was behind a fridge in the bar area and I can't for the life of me remember how long it's been there..

The handyman spied him with it and immediately removed it from him and then we went into emergency flight mode..

The chemicals in ratsack can be fatal..

So I'm trying to locate an emergency Vet and can you believe it, not one of them answers their phone!!!!

We take him to the Animal Referral Hospital which is about 40 minutes from our home..

They induced vomiting and checked it all out and the GREAT news was that they don't think he ate any..YEAH...

Our poor little man.He is on a 2 week course of vitamin K tablets to protect his liver (just in case) but he seems to be just fine..

SO,$210 later,we took him home and all agreed it was worth the money just to be sure..

Winston,you are definetly one of the gang and we love you to bits...xxx

Sarah Beeny

2011-06-18T08:25:00.008+10:00

I've recently told you how much I like Kirstie Alsopp,well here's another favourite.

I adore Sarah Beeny...

The english straight talking property developer,wife, mother of 4 boys, author and T.V presenter.

She's not afraid to get her hands dirty and mixes it with the best of them.

I've been watching her show: "Beeny's restoration Nightmare",where she and her cute husband Graham renovate a centuries old country mansion: Rise Hall.

I love how she doesn't glam herself up for the cameras:she's a jeans and t-shirt girl.

Calls it as she sees it and is a great mum all at the same time.

The finished Rise Hall is glorious and a wedding there would be beautiful.

I hear she may be pregnant with her 5th baby ,but I don't think it will slow her down one little bit.

Sarah Beeny I salute you for being a strong and assertive woman..HIP HIP HOORAY!