Make me Smile Monday- Turquoise

Some pretty pics in various shades of turquoise that make me smile on a Monday...

My favourite- stunning much!!! image from here

image from here

image from here

image from here

image from here

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image from here

Fabric Swatch Portraits

I first saw this idea on The Purl Bee around 2 years ago and was hooked! I had intended to do this project straight away but of course had 2 dilemmas.

1. what fabric to choose
2. where to display them

They don't sound like hard choices to make, but here I am 2 years later and I have the hoops and I have a plethora of fabric to choose from but of course cannot decide on anything!!! aghh! the one thing I have decided is I am going to put them in my baby girls room on the wall above her cot/change table.

Her room accessories, decor and soft furnishings are pink, red and white but I tend to get too matchy matchy so I wanted to "go crazy" (as crazy as I get), and go with some different colours. I have narrowed down the fabric choices to the below bundle...

Now I just have to chose which 2-3 fabrics to go with...

Love this combo

Mauve pattern, Amy Butler floral (from Midwest Modern collection), turquoise and white small spot

Amy Butler floral & pink honeycomb (from Midwest Modern collection), Turquoise and white small spot- am leaning towards this set...

Fabric swatch tutorial (and other fab crafting, sewing, knitting tutorials, ideas, pics) from The Purl Bee here.

Skinny Jean Joy!

We all know how good you feel when you fit back into your "skinny" jeans. Remember the confidence boost Miranda (sex and the city) has when she fits back into her "skinny" jeans for the first time after having Brady?

Well today I was having a skinny day and decided to try on the elusive skinny jeans that I haven't worn since before I was pregnant with my 8 month old (I put on 30 kg while pregnant)and low and behold~*Success*~.

Not only could I get them over my thighs but I could even do them up!

Yeah! thanks to my hectic schedule and lack of time to eat (admittedly and unhealthily not due to exercise- I am EXTREMELY lazy), I can now fit back into my skinny jeans!

Excited much?

yes!

Paper (and Made by girl) Love

Who doesnt love anything to do with paper and stationary?

I know I am not the only one out there to simply love, love, love the paper goods and blog by Made by girl but ooh la la... I could lurk on her blog and online store for hours (and do). Such delicious eye candy!

I have just been eyeing off her new collection which is oh so pretty and girly.

Here are my faves...

Happy Housewarming

Merci Friends

Love Roses

Sheep Blue Lace

I think I may be purchasing a few of these goodies...I just need to choose

I am thinking to frame and display somewhere..hmm???

decisions decisions...

Button Much?

Some of my ever growing covered button collection, made from vintage and new fabric scraps

oooh I do love a pretty button...covered, coloured, textured, vintage, new, flat buttons, buttons with shanks...

And the endless possibilities for button uses! Phew...makes my head spin!...hair clips, bobbies, broaches, clothing adornments, jewelry, and the plain boring functionally as a fastener....

Colour coordinated buttons

I so adore covered buttons- besides how pretty they are to look at, they are fantastic for making use of that massive collection of fabric scraps that keeps growing but you just can't bear to part with. I just love looking at them all bunched together- it makes me smile...but what to do with them? who cares? I will just keep on acquiring, covering, smiling at and loving my buttons...

Make Me Smile Monday - Pink

Some pretty, pink eye candy to make me smile on a Monday...

All images via weheartit.com

"The Holiday" part 2- THE tent

Pics do not do this gorgeous room justice!

I have been scouring the web trying to find some images of the stunning "tent" set up in Jude Law's character's daughters rooms, alas to no avail. In my desperation I pulled out the dvd and took photos while I paused the movie-hence the terrible pics.

As soon as I saw this delicious girls room I knew I wanted to create one similar for my daughters (I only had 1 at the time but was determined to have another- I love little girls and everything pretty & girly that comes with them!). I cannot wait for the time when A is out of her cot and sharing a room with M so we can get started on this little project.

I just adore the various linens, ticking, lace, sumptuous cushions and pillows, lamp light and trails of flowers as well as the layers of sheer, pink and cream fabric draped to form this special place. The lovely handmade glittery stars hanging from the centre really make this an enchanting haven for any little girl (as I am a bit anal it will take some restraint from myself to not take over and make cookie cutter perfect stars myself instead of letting the girls create their own probably slightly less aesthetically pleasing ones).

Another little project to add to the to do list...

"The Holiday" {sigh} cottage of my dreams

Images via Hooked on Houses

Need i say more...

"The Holiday" is on tv tonight, bliss...one of my all time favourite movies.

I just adore Iris' English cottage. Cosy, charming, quaint. It makes me want to curl up with a good book and hot chocolate on a cold winter's evening- on her plump overstuffed sofa by the fire of course. Or like a pretzel in the bath tub... or suggled down under the duvet... or in the library...anywhere would do...

ahh...

Finally, items at the {Bits & Bubs} store!!!

Jaynie's Jammies in "all wrapped up"
$24.95 (4 piece set)

Sadie's Smock in "I'm a little teapot"
$22.95

Sissie's Singlet in "Vintage Holly Hobbie"$9.95

Well today I finally managed to add some items for my {Bits & Bubs} store on madeit.com.au. Check them out!

When decisions are made...

• I am pregnant & nesting
• There is a strict deadline
• I have had too many red bulls

These are pretty much the only times when I can hardcore make decisions and I go into overdrive.

ie when i was nesting while pregnant with A, my partner used to call our lounge room was a sweat shop due to the amount of sewing I would constantly pump out- and I mean constantly. For example, I couldn't just make 1 quilt, I had to make 3. I couldn't make 1 pair of baby cloth shoes, I had to make 6 in various colour and fabric combos etc etc...

Other than these times I start and stop, start and stop and never seem to complete anything!

Another example is our house, which we bought 31/2 years ago. We gradually did bits and pieces (it is a renovator). But the majority of the decorating was only just completed (and still not all of it mind you) as we decided to sell. Interested buyers visit here .

Out came all the bits and bobs I had been hoarding from thrifting, ebay, markets, shopping, items I had restored etc etc you see I like to collect these things but I can never decide where to put them, what colours to paint them, fabric to use and so on and so they stay packed away in either the top of my wardrobe or study. My sister loves to come to my place and fossick around in my goodies- she even unearths things I totally forgot I had!

So instead of making my home all pretty for myself and family, I have done so that someone else can benefit when they buy our house. (This also happened with our previous house).

Never again i tell you! The next home we buy will be decorated for our enjoyment!

Here are some pics of our home ready to sell...

Master Bedroom

Pillows and bedhead made in 3 hours after debating choice of fabric etc for around 6 months...

Entrance- Clocks and mirror sourced from ebay, chandelier from ikea

Kitchen

Lounge/Dining Room

Nursery

Unfinished quilt made from Amby butler fabric, cane ottomans -my first roadside find!