A sweet little stool...

I've had this sweet little stool stored in the shed for awhile now, just calling out for a little makeover.

Such a fun project.  Quick and easy.  Just a quick wash and sand and a few coats of paint!!

I've been able to put it to very good use as a little side table on my front veranda.  Perfect!

Another little completed project for Lorea House.  It's always lovely to create another little area to enjoy.

Hobart....

Just spent a lovely week in Tasmania with my beautiful girl.  This week was our special celebration for finishing school.

We did a wonderful day trip to Bruny Island and sampled some beautiful food the island has to offer. The Day Tour group we used was great with a really good guide, Tim, who provided us with a lovely day out.

We enjoyed a really lovely day driving up through the middle of Tasmania and down along the east coast. So nice to wander in towns without any time constraints. Beautiful little antique shops and lots of bits and pieces to see, ducks to feed and coffee to drink.  

The boats on the harbour are just beautiful. There were two different cruise ships in during our time there as well.  Fish and chips by the sea. Lovely. 

A day at the Salamanca Markets was most enjoyable. We also found a really lovely farmers market as well. Truly delightful. 

The historic buildings and bridges in Tasmania are just wonderful. I love wandering the streets just looking at the buildings. We stayed in a delightful cottage built in 1890. A lovely little kitchen and lounge, a claw foot bath and a steep staircase to the delightful bedrooms in the attic. 

The Royal Botanic Gardens in Hobart are just beautiful. Filled with beautiful plants. I particularly enjoyed the roses and the beautiful border plantings. The vegetable patch was gorgeous. 

I think one of the loveliest places we visited though was Providore in Hobart. What an amazing store concept. Beautiful coffee, food and gifts all in an amazing setting.  

Absolutely love Tasmania and hope to visit again soon. 

Inheritence....

Today I am trying to get this lot sorted and somehow incorporated into my home...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overwhelmed much...

For the love of Vintage.....

 

I've been on the hunt again.  A little spare time on my way home and I find myself finding my favourite vintage treasure shops.

 

I have had to put my love of old and interesting bits and bobs on hold while our budget was so tight.  Thankfully, we are blessed with a little more in our budget through our newest work venture.

 

 

 

This little grouping is particularly lovely.  Two beautiful handworked pillow cases and a wonderful small table cloth.

 

I love to wonder at those whose hands have worked these beautiful items.  How does anyone part with them.

 

 

 Stunning hand crochet edging and tiny, weeny stitches.  So much love and thought. 

 

 

 

My fascination with hand towels continues - I must count them one day - or maybe not!!

 

I was on a mission for more - the ones above have been saved, too precious to cut up - only the raggy ones get cut and made into something else.

 

Old linens are a little hard to find where I live and so I continue to look and hope.

 

I did find some lovely ones in a condition not really worth saving and have had a lovely time creating once more. 

 

It was wonderful to be in my sewing room and just creating.  Yes, some late nights but oh so worth it.  You see, I am taking part in a market in a couple of weeks.  We are doing a joint stall with our bakery.  Beautiful Christmas food - cakes and puddings, white Christmas, rum balls, apricot balls and of course we will do some macarons. 

 

 

 

Three years between markets for Eleanor and Ruby.  I am quite looking forward to it.  However, the unknown side is a little daunting - maybe it will all come home with me!!

 

 

 

 Bracelets made with buttons made with vintage stitching.

 

 

Vintage stitched magnets.

 

 

 

Pushpins (thumbtacks) for the notice board.

 

 

 

Now to just get the next idea on the go - all in amongst the Christmas cake making!

Spring Decorating....

 

I've started tidying the garden and placing of lovely pieces around - not only for the judging, but to enjoy in the coming weeks as Spring gets into full swing.

 

 

I just love the beautiful vintage looking cage - purely ornamnetal.

 

I love the colour and the shape.   I will probably move it inside too - I love the little terracotta pots that are planted with white viola.

 

I can see it inside with lovely ornaments and vintage lace draped from the bottom shelf.

 

 

This beauty was purchased at a lovely shop here in Toowoomba. 

 

Teacups and Twigs is a lovely shop at 9 Russell Street, Toowoomba.  If you live locally or stop by Toowoomba sometime, please visit Jane and her lovely shop.

 

 

Jane also has a lovely blog which she updates with beautiful things available in her sweet shop.

 

Say hello and tell Jane I sent you along!!

 

 

The freesias which have been in the ground for a few years continue multiply and are stunning this year.  The perfume is divine.

 

Our sweet peas are also flowering beautifully.  The scent in our garden is just lovely at the moment with all these beauties putting on their Spring display.

 

A dear old couple who have entered the Carnival for many, many years kindly shared these seeds with us a couple of years ago.

 

 

Four years ago, I planted a Wisteria.  I have watched and waited each Spring for the first flower.

 

This year it has happened.  It is stunning - but not what I expected.  I thought I had planted a deep purple flowering one - I have a pale lavender tinged flower - I don't seem to have saved the tag - does anyone know if it will change as it gets older - or have I been duped!!

 

 

Nonetheless, it is still beautiful. 

 

It is planted in memory of my dear Nana, Eleanor for whom this blog is partly named. 

 

In around 1940 she planted a Wisteria at our family home at Iffley, Goomburra.  This is the beautiful home she was prepared to sacrifice to allow her sons to further their farming dreams on the Darling Downs.  I believe from recent information that this Wisterial lives on today.  I think I may have to take a drive!

Corner of my Home..........

A quiet corner at the entrance to our home.

Beautiful Sweet Peas from the garden...........

The Treasure Hunt...

Last Saturday morning, I ventured out into a freezing cold morning to a wonderful garage sale.

It was held at one of the beautiful old churches in the centre of Toowoomba.  

I was quite hopeful, as the last time they held a garage/hall sale I found some wonderful treasure.

And treasure there sure was........

The beautiful old stool was a wonderful $15.00 find.......

A really lovely Pyrex jelly mould ........... $1

A lovely English cake plate.......... $2

and a sweet little sandwich tray............   $1

At this stage the stool will receive the paint treatment and join the new chairs in the outdoor area.

It was certainly worth venturing out into a very cold and frosty morning.

The Potager Sink

The ongoing fascination with the 'Potager' continues for me.  I love my vegetable garden and the joy it brings to me.  Especially when I am picking produce and providing for my family.

For what seems like an eternity I have had an idea.  I found the most wonderful vintage cast iron hand basin in a wonderful pink.  I knew the instant I saw it, what it was going to be for. 

I love the idea of a potting table come wash up area within the vegetable garden - or as you are well aware by now - what I will refer to as my Potager - whether it is a true Potager or not, in my imagination it will be!

So, the hunt for the perfect table became a focus.  I have hunted high and low, to no avail.

I started to think I would never find my perfect table.  Too small, too big, too good, too expensive, wrong shape!  Everything but the one I needed.

A few weeks ago I went to a wonderful Op shop, one which I keep forgetting about.  

Down a little back street hidden away.

I had hunted around, when up in the back corner it caught my eye.  'As Is' $35..........

Perfect in every way, the right size and wonderful.  I will admit though, that I am still feeling most guilty for painting the beautiful timber and sending this lovely to live outside.

But it is going to be wonderful and beautiful and so worth the wait!

This lovely little table has now had two coats of lovely Antique White and looking most positively stunning!  But then again I am totally biased.

The final unveiling soon I hope.

Our Roadtrip.........

Over the school holidays we have had a lovely roadtrip.  4000 kilometres in total.  It was a full trip with lots of lovely places and things to do.  We headed south into New South Wales.  Our first two nights were at the very lovely Mantra at Salt Beach.  This was our wonderful prize from our Carnival Garden last year.  We would have never afforded to stay there, so it was certainly extra special.  We were right on the beach front and watched the whales migrating from the window.  Such special creatures.

We ventured off the highway near Tamworth. When we saw the sign to Nundle I announced to all that there was a quilt shop there!!! Such a lovely spot to have such a lovely shop! Nundle is certainly very lovely and I would like to go there again and spend more time. Also in town is a sweet shop called Odgers & McClelland which sells the most delightful homewares. It had a wood stove burning in the middle of the store - so cosy on a very cold day.

Further south still and Bathurst was a morning tea stop over.  It was freezing - 3 degrees at morning tea and I'd hate to think what the wind chill was.  We were not brave enough to picnic in the park and use the public amenities so we headed to a shopping centre.  Of course, Bathurst is home to the wonderful Hatched and Patched.  What a treat that was.  Alexandra and I had the most lovely time there while the boys went out to Mount Panorama and pretended to be race car drivers.  I think everyone's idea of Bathurst was definately satisfied.

This was a holiday on a budget and my birthday money that I had saved all year was all but gone in Bathurst!

Further south still and into the State of Victoria is Beechworth, a wonderful historic town full of beautiful shops and cafes.  We spent the whole weekend here and had a most lovely time.

We had Sunday lunch on the verandah of the Beechworth Bakery and enjoyed the live jazz band.  Great fun!

From here we headed over the mountains and into the snow.  The kids (big and little) had a wonderful time playing in the snow.  We didn't have proper clothing, so when everyone's gloves were wet and they had snow in their ears and down the back of their clothes, they had, had enough!!  It was fun though. 

At that point we headed east to the coast and then turned for home.

Being the scheming traveller that I am, Foxglove Spires was also on the list of places to visit (I was driving at that point, so they had no option but to stop because I had the keys!!).  I really don't know where to start.  It was the most enjoyable and beautiful place to visit.  I so want to go back in the Spring.  Even though it was in the height of winter, with all the trees bare, it was still stunning.  I am so glad Brendon agreed to go through the garden, because he enjoyed it too.  Such an inspiration.

The cafe looked beautiful and the little shops were just stunning.  I so wish I had a full wallet and an empty car at Foxglove Spires.  This is one place that I hope to to back to one day.  I have a feeling there will have to be another post about this beautiful garden.

So homeward bound and further north we headed into the Southern Highlands,  Berry with its beautiful shops, especially "Sew and Tell" - stunning (no website) and then onto Bowral - once again, no money and a full car (although I did manage a couple of little bits).  I will definately venture there again sometime as there is so much to see and do. 

A lovely trip all in all............