Wednesday 30 January 2013

buying handmade


Arounna at bookhou (maker of perfectly perfect bags, papers and more) wrote a touching piece about buying handmade last week.

It prompted a discussion about how we price and value 'handmade'. Isn't it lucky that we all thrive on the joy, the satisfaction, the frustration, the promise and the peace we find in creating handmade objects and art... because it's rare that anyone does it for the money.

You can read her thoughts and all the beautiful responses here.

Sunday 27 January 2013

more old house

Downstairs is taking shape. Beautiful wall hooks in yellow and grey from Chocolate Creative, Bridesmaid dress was my mum's and Christening dress is The Lovely One's great, great grandmother's. Memento watch from my big sister last year to remember the search for the pale oak floor.


Thursday 24 January 2013

dinner

'Do more of what makes you happy.'

We bought this table about 9 years ago. It was made with reclaimed timber but had been painted with bright orange estapol. It entertained many an event at our old place on the back verandah. I think it was dirt cheap because it takes a couple of weight lifters to move it anywhere and I suspect they were happy to see it leave.

Of course we didn't have anywhere to put it in the old cottage, nor did the garden have any undercover space, so it has been left rather neglected in the garden for the last 5 years.

This week The Lovely One downed tools and did more of what makes him happy, furniture restoration. Many hours of cleaning and sanding and a few coats of beeswax later and it's now starting a new life as our beautiful dining room table. Thank you, thank you ... always.

New pebbles print on wall behind. 

Wednesday 23 January 2013

splish splash


Girls bathroom is heavenly. After five years with four of us sharing the original squidgy bathroom we have now converted the old kitchen into a great big bathroom with enough room to actually have more than one person brush their teeth at a time. Penny round tiles on the wall above the big Kaldewei steel bath (one of the few splurges we made and just delicious to soak in) and two vanities have made it complete. Happy, happy.

Tuesday 22 January 2013

old school

I love the summer holidays and I'm starting to feel sad that we've only got a week left until school returns. I have loved quiet mornings, no school lunches and activity and homework free afternoons. Girls have relaxed into the long summer days and this week they put away all things digital and made paper boats to race in the pool and discovered my old cuisenaire rods to create gorgeous pictures and enormous towers. 

Return to school also means a return to the tools and house renovation for me. I'm going to try and finish things in the first 6 months of the year... we'll see... I'll keep you posted on the progress. 



Wednesday 16 January 2013

pebbles

A new year treat just arrived in the post. Beautiful. Thank you Garima Dhawan and Society 6.