My creative space crochet

Hi there, it's been a busy week hasn't it.

We had school sports on Wednesday.

I love it, I am one of "those Mums" who go every year.

Wear the colours of my children's teams.

Take a thermos and sunscreen and jelly babies for the kids to share at lunch.

I tell you, I was so proud my heart nearly burst.

They put in such a good effort and more importantly,

were very good sports.

At night, now it is getting cooler,

I have been enjoying snuggling the couch and doing a bit of crochet.

I am making a cushion cover.

Inspired by the wonderful Lucy from

Attic 24.

And some other cushions I have seen on my web wanders.

Seeing the little piles of squares grow is extremely satisfying.

It's nearly finished.

I thought I would be done by now.

Unfortunately there hasn't been enough couch time this week.

I do find peppermint tea and dark chocolate are essential partners to crochet.

What have you been up to?

Linking up over at Our Creative Spaces

Seats V bullies in the school yard.

Mr M, has been rather busy with this load of timber.

He and big boy travelled out to a friends farm and collected the timber.

They have spit the big logs and sanded them smooth.

Then oiled them.

Look at the gorgeous red gum.

Isn't it beautiful.

They are going to be used at our kids primary school.

Mr M has been busy drawing up a garden design and part of it will include these gorgeous pieces of timber.

Each one will have a metal stirrups and legs attached to deter white ants and will be set into concrete.

Our Principal says there is evidence that there is a link between the amount of seating and bullying.

The more seating, the less bullying.

I should have asked him for a link to the research.

Fascinating!

I'll show you when they are in place.

Too many eggs in basket?

To be frank, it was a rather brutal day here in Moerkland yesterday.

Sundays often are.

There's the cleaning, the organising for the week ahead,

the paper to read and the dreaded Sunday grocery shop.

I don't generally mind shopping, most days of the week.

But, the Sunday shop, I resent.

I always feel it is eating into other time.

Time I could be snoozing, or crocheting or sewing or painting something with white paint.

So when Miss B found a pattern in the latest Spotlight magazine and wanted to make some material eggs, 

I agreed thinking, yep, some quality time early in the day might buy some peace later on.

(I know it's all about me, it is my blog after all!)

Then the boys, bless them, wanted to join in and make pillows and fake stomachs ( 8 year old is doing a digestive system project).

I sighed and huffed and puffed and helped between doing some packing for Easter camping.

Very ungracious of me.

Somehow despite all the pressures.

The eggs turned out ok.

Miss B was happy, the boys were happy.

And, I got my alone time,

Yep,

Ironing in the lounge room all by myself.

Non stop glamour round here!

Edited note.

I just re read this and already feel so much better. 

Got it off my chest.

2 favourite spots in my garden.

Some times when I collect the mail my breath catches in my throat at the sight of our garden. I know that is a little vain to say, but, it makes me feel happy to see the garden we painstakingly created growing.
After 12 years of drought, it is a wonder anything survived.
It has been so satisfying to see greenery around the place again, even if some of that green happens to be weed green!
I love seeing the brick path we laid curving up the gentle rise.
When the light is right I barely notice the weeds and the cricket stumps!
This leads me to my other favourite spot.

Sitting on the verandah, watching the kids shoot baskets or play cricket sipping on a cup of tea.
I am thinking of painting this setting the same colour as the window trims. Chalk USA, a creamy warm white. I know it is crazy as they will show all the dust, but, just imagine how good they will look when they get weathered and chippy.


Do you have favourite spots?  Care to share?

Can you work out this renovation?

There is an interesting renovation going on down the road from us.

A young family are adding a front extension.

Word on the street is that it is a bedroom and ensuite.

I can't quite figure it out.

They have put on a new tin roof and now there is this high front framework.

I think it is going to be interesting.

What do you think they are doing?

Would you like me to keep you posted on the progress?

Excuse me there's a birdsnest on your ceiling.

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"Excuse me but the birds have nested on your ceiling."

Well I think so!

I think these look out of place in such a formal space.

The image is from the Bergdorf Goodman restaurant in New York.

What do you think, hit or miss?

Friday Photo....Devils marbles

I love this picture, you can see way off into the distance.

I took it at the Devils Marbles in the Northern Territory.

We camped there after a very wet stay in Alice Springs back in 2009.

I was amazed with all the greenery.

I thought the centre of Australia would be dry and arid.

NOT when we went.

The Devils Marbles have an Indigenous name Karlu Karlu and it is a very important sacred site.

They are bathed in golden light and have an air of mysticism.

To see more photos of the devils marbles and to read my thoughts about them on our big trip through the centre of Australia and around the West Coast.

click here.

Pretty wallpaper

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It's been a busy weekend.

A long weekend.

We went camping with friends.

We stayed on a block with an old shack on it.

The shack is going to be tizzied up a bit.

We took heaps of before photos.

I can't wait to show you.

One of the features was ghastly orange wallpaper.

So I decided to post these wallpapers today instead.

I am not sure which is my fav.

One minute it is the red, the next, the soft pink, then

the green.

Which is your fav?

Guest Post:Decorating Modern with Granny's Furniture

Good day everyone. 
If you visit Let's go Moerkabout every now and then you might know I have a fondness for bringing out my "inner granny". 
Well today, the lovely Kelli from Luxeyard is going to share with us some of her tips for decorating with Granny's furniture. I would love to hear if you have inherited or repurposed some Granny furniture.

..................................

All things old are new again!  What’s more wonderful than having furniture that one remembers from their childhood?  Pieces may be re-purposed or may be so great to begin with that they are timeless and useful as is.  Here are some tips to create a warm and comfy home full of fond and beautiful memories.

Eclectic Is Always In

Many styles return after a time or never really go out of fashion.  Today’s eclectic styles can be a mixture of old and new.                                           

Sitting right next to that sleek new couch could be an antique side table in a rich wood tone or covered in a fresh coat of paint, depending on what look you are going for – shabby chic or more traditional.

Re-purpose

Just because you already have a dining table or matching end tables, doesn’t mean you can’t make use of pieces that are from your family’s past.  Many people today work from home and need an office within their living space.  A good option for your computer might be a roll-top desk or Grandma’s old kitchen table. You could even add old tins to hold pens and pencils.  A single Dining Room chair may look lovely in a corner with a side table or at your desk. Add a cushion for comfort and/or color, if desired.  How about using that Hope Chest as a coffee table or at the end of your bed for extra linens?   Stacking old luggage may also be used as an end table.  Who doesn’t need more storage?  Be creative.  Think beyond the “box” or table, as it may be!

Reupholster or Not Reupholster?

Some of Grandma’s upholstered pieces may be worn out or not to your liking.  Furniture can appear updated by a simple fabric change.  While this can be an expensive option, fitted furniture covers work well or sometimes just arranging a throw over the piece can make it fit into the room better.  That doesn’t mean you use some old unwanted blanket, however!  A lightweight throw or a quilt with pleasant colors that match the rest of your décor will work well.

Final Touches

Now, what do you do with those little items?  Antique cigar or jewelry boxes make great remote holders and small china bowls work well as soap dishes.  Treasured heirloom knick-knacks used either in groups or as a single piece may be mixed in with your current items and will add to the warmth of your home.  The possibilities are endless!

Anything goes these days so decorate with what makes you feel comfortable.  Remember, it’s your home!

Kelli McDonald is a hard working writer for many blogs about interior design and home furnishing. She also works with LuxeYard on changing the way people approach home furniture shopping.

Do you need a Girly fix?

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With a house of 3 boys and only 2 girls, I can be excused for needing a girly fix now and then.

A bit of time on Pinterest, 

away from footy boots and basketball socks

is very refreshing.

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If I had long hair, 

I would be doing this.

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Eating girly food out of these lovely bowls.

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I probably wouldn't leave the house in these.

Imagine the look on my boys faces.

But,

I will ask my daughter to read this.

And hope she gets it.

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What to you do when you feel like a girly fix?

Do you wonder about your colour scheme?

Do you sometimes come across blogs that just make you swoon?

I felt like that when I found this one.

It is called Where your heart is.

I stumbled across it when I was looking around on pinterest

Boy is that a time gobbler.

I was looking for pictures of crochet poufs. To show you what I might do with my great market find.

These pictures are so pretty and the light is lovely.

I look around my house and see way too much brown and dark timber.

The light doesn't seem to bounce around.

I embrace neutrals, but some days I do wonder how things would look with such a white backdrop.

I love the pops of pastels and the odd splash of red.

all pictures where your heart is

Then I remember boots covered in mud and chicken poo, shaggy scruffy dog and little boys with dirty knees and I think maybe I can live a little longer with the neutrals.

Although, it is nice to dream and to have lovely blog homes to visit.

Do you do that, do you find yourself questioning your colour decisions, or is it just me?

Pouf.... market find...

I scored this old pouf on the weekend from the market for $4.

Bargain.

Actually Mr M. spotted it.

He knew I had been looking for one.

Big boy did the bargaining for me.

Team work is good!

I am planning to do something like 

this

via flickr whereyourheart is

Or this.

as art up via with love linda

When I saw this one.

I peeked inside and was pleasantly surprised.

Further investigation revealed colours I can definitely live with.

It is a little worn in one patch.

I think we will live with it like this for now and when it wears through I will put the calico liner back on and then make a new cover.

It fits in nicely with my shabby patchwork throw rug.

And is even passable on the rug!

Our burly blokey neighbour said it was "very retro and he didn't mind it".

A fine endorsement.

I tend to agree with him.