Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Hi Again.

Hi Everyone, I must apologise for my all too infrequent posting of late (actually for the best part of 2010!) but now I have my very own laptop, thanks to hubby for the best Christmas surprise ever, I will have no excuse for being so slack.

Thankyou too, to those who offered advice re my selling dilemma. I have had some recent success with ebay including the bedhead that I recently made over.







So I will soon be listing this cute little cupboard that Sandy at Paint Me White painted beautifully for me.




I thought I would show you just a couple of Christmas ideas that I did on the cheap before Christmas completely fades from our minds.
First... I wanted a novel way to display our Christmas cards (we seem to get less every year, sign of the times maybe) and spied this bamboo expanding garden trellis for around $5. I will probably paint it and use it to display photos once I have de-Christmased the house.



Next is this wreath which is just a polystyrene ring covered with a 5 dollar feather boa purchased from the childrens dress up aisle. I have another one to do and once again will use them in the house throughout the year.




Lastly, and I hesitate to do this as it's putting myself out there a bit, I have included a link to my Church website. It contains video of our recent Christmas Carol Service at which I sang a solo. I have done a lot of singing in the past but not so much in recent years so the old pipes are a bit rusty. If you can be bothered viewing I hope you enjoy the song and appreciate the message contained in it. I had a power point showing at the same time, mainly to deflect attention from myself, (although that was a bit hard given there was a blinding spotlight on me!) but it also really helped portray the meaning of the words.
Here's the link Reedy Creek Baptist Church Look under the drop-down menu of the heading "Resources" and click on Christmas Carols 2010
My song is the 4th on the list.

Angex


Monday, December 13, 2010

A Few Light Touches

Contrary to my non-conformist nature, 'cause I'm usually such a rebel (saturated in sarcasm that comment was), I have gone with the status quo and done a bit of Chrissy decorating...not too much mind you, but just enough to get us a bit more in the spirit of the Season.

































































I left the girls to do their thing with the tree and was pleasantly surprised...not much tweaking was necessary at all ;o)
Just missing the star off the top, oops.














Don't you hate it when you are anticipating a good TV show all week and then forget to watch it! Well I've been waiting 2 weeks for the next episode and tonight I am going to sit and enjoy To the Manor Bowen .......someone give Millie a pill please ;o)
Angex





Wednesday, December 8, 2010

A Couple of Before/Afters.

Just a quickee to show a couple of before and afters...


Ugly lamp but great curves (Before)






And After...... gorgeous!


Ugly chair, great curves (Before)




and After... Gorgeous!!!



Thanks Sandy at Paint Me White for the great paint job :o)

















Angex



Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Upholstered Bedhead Headboard

Well I am happy to say I am having a productive week.

I mentioned the free bedhead I picked up, in my last post. I have managed to reupholster it and am really happy with the result.

Here it is BEFORE.





and here it is AFTER...






I painted the woodwork black.




This fabric has been fantastic. I got it in a sale and have covered chairs, lamps (thanks Sandy) and now a bedhead in it.
I wanted to use double piping as that is what was used originally and it gives a professional finish but I have had a very difficult time trying to make it. I even ordered a special piping foot from the States but it hasn't helped me. Then I had the idea of painting the old piping that I had removed from the bedhead. Well it worked a treat.





So here she is in all her glory. I'm tempted to sell our queen-size bed just so I can keep her (She/he is a King-size).




I am not having much joy selling my projects on ebay so if any of you resourceful ladies have an idea where else I could sell, I'm all ears.
Angex




Friday, November 26, 2010

Projects Pending.

Before I show you all a couple of projects I have waiting patiently in the wings, I'd like to share my latest addition to my hallway/gallery. I painted this canvas for our previous home which had an abundance of large expanses of bare walls. It was barely noticeable. But our current home has limited wall space to accomodate such a large canvas. As you will see, it is almost floor to ceiling.




Okay, now my to-do list. Please don't hold your collective breath for the "AFTER" pics as I don't want to be responsible for your early expiration.








The bedhead was a freebie off the road-side. I thought it was a queen and was looking forward to having a newly upholstered bedhead but alas it is King size so I'll do it up and then sell it.


The following is some fabric I picked up today and I will be using it for one of the above projects. Can you guess which one?




I'm a little unsure which trim to use...





or this....






I just love the second trim with it's delightful little pleat around the bottom.

I will try and get on with one of these projects very soon. Now that my son has finished school for the year my computer time will be severely diminshed so I've got no excuses not to get on with some projects :o)
Angex



Monday, November 8, 2010

My Hallway

I can't believe that after somewhat of a break from posting all I can come up with is my hallway - but there you have it.



When we bought our house it was painted a very yellow-cream throughout. I have almost eradicated the cream with Dulux White on White with the exception of the aluminium joinery (argh).



I got Jake, my 16yo, to give me a hand with the final paint of the hallway before prettying it up with some of my amateur artworks.




New handles







Pretty mirror which helps open up the space.





Pretty light fittings which are diy so no electrician needed.





My wavey canvas made with some material I found at Bunnings that is normally used in the plumbing trade.





My 3 Koru made using tile adhesive to give lots of texture.





My Planet painting.






I used a hair comb to get the textured effect I was after.








...and finally an artwork done by my 13 year old daughter which will grace the wall as soon as I get it framed. She has been enjoying Art lessons but sadly her teacher is unable to continue with after-school lessons. She said of one of Danneke's watercolours that she had used the same technique as an artist and was most impressed with her work.










I have 2 great blogs to recommend to you all....


I'd love to do a big rave about Suzy and Meg's blogs but I have to dash off and get the kids from school so do yourself a favour and go visit them :o)



Saturday, October 23, 2010

Making a MESH

Just a quick post tonight as I want to catch the end of one of my fav TV shows...Monster Moves. Does anyone else watch this show?
So this sideboard was an ebay find ($50) and after I meshed around with it (in other words painted with Bristish Paints MESH) and did a bit of distressing, it was finished. Of course the plan was to on-sell it but even hubby likes this piece and we can always use the extra storage.


Here's the AFTER



and the BEFORE







I'm getting the hang of this distressing thing and can now be found walking around the house, sandpaper in hand....









Tuesday, October 5, 2010

I Wish I Was a Picture Framer

When I left school I was rather naive as far as what field I wanted to be employed in. My mind was not really open to the many and varied opportunities that existed. I ended up in an office, behind a desk answering phones and sorting mail *YAWN*. I wish someone had said to me, "Why don't you become a picture framer?". I guess it's never too late huh?

I have been playing around with frames and images for our lounge and here's what I came up with...





Above is the final setting.
Below, the 2 lower pictures add depth but the safari prints just aren't me.

Do you remember the following 2 pics I got for $5 each?
BEFORE....






and AFTER.....








The next 2 were from the same op shop,
BEFORE....










and AFTER....











I am really pleased with the way the room is coming together. I am having trouble finding inexpensive drumshades for the lamps so will have to be patient.
The sofa is on my "to-do" list. I want to upholster it in crisp white with large nailhead trim.







The blue and white duck is a recent 2nd hand find and is great for storing the TV remote.






Who spotted the fact that I've painted one of the lamp tables white?
I told you I wasn't good at finishing.