An Award For Me And You

There are 7 Kreativ Blogger Award Rules to follow;
1) Thank the person who has given the award.
2) Copy the logo and display it on my blog.
3) Link to the person who has nominated me for the award.
4) Name 7 things about myself that people might find interesting.
5) Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6) Post links to the 7 blogs I've nominated.
7) Leave a comment on each of the blogs to let them know they've been nominated.

Thanks Ange from http://chairup.blogspot.com/ a real thrill and a great start to the weekend.

Seven things that you may not know about me.
1) I started my working career as an apprentice hairdresser.
2) Have been married for 15 years to a wonderful man and have two fantastic children.
3) My furniture addiction started when I was 18 and I bought my first chest of drawers from an old farm house. It was cedar and I paid $20 bucks for it - an mazing piece.
4) I cannot leave the house without all the beds being made and vacuming.
5) I almost got locked up on my hens night (wont tell you why).
6) I don't like confined spaces and being in situations I cannot control.
7) I was a real tomboy growing up - had my own BMX Bike and would rather hang with the boy across the road and ride my horse than play dolls .

I would now like to nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers:
Simone: http://beachvintage.blogspot.com/
Katherine: http://theoldboathouse.blogspot.com/
Natasha: http://silverthreaddesign.blogspot.com/
Cate: http://ellaandbaba.blogspot.com/
Andrea: http://thepink-poodle.blogspot.com/
Katrina: katrinachambers.blogspot.com
June: http://laughingwithangels.blogspot.com/

An Ashwell Moment

Having the day at home today and decided I needed a nice nook to read a mag this afternoon. Got out my Rachel Ashwell pillow cases, floor rug, ottoman which I had made from roseblossom fabric, the standard lamp i made from roseblossom too and my gorgeous Ashwell quilt. Think I am set now.

Coastal Living Friday

I love everyone of these images, the chippy finish is just perfect in every way. The white walls and white ceilings is a great way of making the space appear larger.

Mid Week Find

Whilst I was at work yesterday I headed out to the Post office and stopped in at the local op shop. Found this beauty sitting down on the floor in all her french glory. Could not leave it there and cannot wait to hang it on a beautiful bathroom wall. Don't you just love a find like that.

Home Office

My old home office

Many people have the luxury of having a seperate home office. A place you can escape to and have your own little room to dream and read blogs of course. In one of our last homes (top photo) I had such a room. I am hoping my next house is going to be big enough that I can convert one of the rooms into a beautiful office or play room as I would call it.

I have a dining table the same as this but never imagined it as an office table.

The rains are here

I have never prayed for rain but these last few weeks I think everyone in South East Queensland has done so. Last night we heard it and down it came. We were on the verge of having to buy water and thats not a nice feeling from someone who has always lived on town water. Maybe not enough to fill the tanks but at least the garden was watered and the air was cleaned. We are expecting more today so bring it on we say.

Vintage Quilt

You always wonder how such beautiful hand-made items end up not being appreciated. I picked this up in the op shop this week for a few bucks. Love the thought that someone has spent hours and hours working on this beautiful piece. All washed and ready to use as a throw.

We all Love a Good Rose Painting!!!!

Don't ever part with many of these - looking forward to displaying them all in my new home one of these days.

An auction win!!!!

An op shop find and a Gail McCormack painting

Linda Chrystall painted this beauty and I have all her other paintings as well.

Can you believe I found this huge painting at the op shop many years ago. First thing I do when I get them home is take it out of the frame - thats if the frame is not spectacular.

Dining Tables

I have a habit of collecting dining tables. Ok if you have the room I guess. Love being able to change from a french sophisticated table to a shabby vintage look in a weekend. These tables all look beautiful in each setting and I would love to have dinner at either one of these.

Latest Project

I am no upholster but could not bear to look at this revolting fabric any longer on these beautiful chairs. Took the advice from Ange "Chair Up" and stripped all the chairs myself, thought this would save me some $$$ as its so time consuming. Was definetly not the easiest job but I was NOT going to let this get the better of me. Now I just have to remove the staples and they are ready to upholster. Oh before they get upholstered I am going to paint them white of course. Still can't decide on fabric but its like buying a new home "when you see it you will know".

For the Love of Ashwell

I am just loving the new Rachel Ashwell book is anyone else. I just cannot put it down. I can't believe she has built a barn in her backyard. Love the less is more look and the fact that I see pieces that she has kept the whole way through all her home reno's. Like us she has her favourites, the ones that cannot be parted with. Do you have pieces that will stay with you forever would love to hear about them.

Painting Preferences

Firstly just wanted to say thanks for all the comments on my furniture. I get many of you asking if I hand paint or spray. Lets just say that I did try the spray thing once and it was not ideal. I set up a section at the side of my old house where I had a booth style set up, lots of drop sheets around and I could spray until my heart desired. Hard part was the maintenance on the spray gun. You continually got blockages, hard to just chop and change colours and washing the thing was a pain as paint would get stuck in the machine. What seemed like a good idea to me was really a waste of time. I did think it was great for outdoor pieces though and just a once off thing. There maybe a fantastic spraygun out there (let me know) but I think you would have to spend quite a bit on a good spraygun to get good results. I stick to the paint brush and always buy an expensive one so you have less brissles falling off. Nothing worse than a cheap brush and you have to pick out the brissles in your new paint job.

In regards to paint - best to find the brand and the colour that suits your pieces best this can sometimes be trial & error but use a good quality paint (Dulux or similiar) and finish off with a sealer that protects your pieces. I recommend Porters All purposes sealer in clear finish which gives your pieces more durability. Happy painting xxxx