op-shopped

Fire King mug in a design I haven't seen about before now ($1)
pretty little teaspoons
mustard floral tablecloth ($3)
Actil sheets ($2 each)
3 new scarves for the collection. 2 Ken Done's and one that reminds me of a Liberty design ($1 each)

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a floral dress and tooled leather bag

so with the delightful Spring weather here finally I've been able to wear this dress. I made it back in the autumn but didn't get much of a chance to wear it as the temperatures were rather winter-like.
the fabric is op-shopped upholstery type fabric and I used a Style pattern 3671 for the top and a simple pleated skirt.

dress: handmade
tooled leather bag: newly thrifted from the tip-shop ($2)
belt: Oroton snakeskin, op-shopped ($2)
tan clogs: Lotta from Stockholm

home-made shaving cream

one of my hopes for 2014 is making more beauty and cleaning products myself. so when my other half finished the last tube of shaving lotion I didn't buy a replacement. instead I made a batch and it was a success. all it requires is 5 ingredients, most of which I already had on hand.

1/4 cup coconut oil
2 tblsp cocoa butter
2 tsp bi-carb soda
1/4 cup liquid castile soap
2 drops tea tree oil

gently melt the coconut oil and coconut butter together in a large bowl, either on the stove top or the microwave.
add the bi-carb soda, castile soap and tea tree oil. whip all the ingredients together with a hand mixer/stand mixer until thick and foamy.
store in a jar or recycled container.
I decanted it into two jars. one for the bathroom and the other is in the fridge where it will last for several weeks. this shaving cream is lovely and thick with a delicious chocolate scent from the addition of the cocoa butter.

recipe based on this one from Healy Eats Real.

 

do let me know if you try this recipe. I'd love to hear what you think of it.
do you have any favourite homemade cleaning/beauty recipes?

thrifted thursday

 

sharing this weeks op-shopped goodies...
pyrex- $1 for the small, $1.50 for the medium and $2 for the largest.
3 pillow slips (half price sale at Vinnies- 25c each)
double bed sheets in a sunny yellow floral ($4). this is my current favourite design
pink floral sheets (half price at $3)
and 2 woollen jumpers. one for me and one for my love ($3.50 each)

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cushion give-away

looking back it's been over a year since my last little give-away. so I think it's about time for another.
to thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my blog I've made a cushion cover just for you.
in my usual style.. constructed from a tea towel and backed with a vintage floral sheet and thrifted zipper.
this is one of my favourite tea towels from the stash. its pure linen, Made in Ireland and the most vibrant sunshine-y design.
simply leave a comment and i''l draw a winner at the end of September.

florals, milk glass and bark cloth

the past couple of weeks has seen some rather good op-shopped goodies...

another still in its packet Brazilian sheet set. in a rather different design to those already in my collection ($2)
a silky bird scarf ($2)
two floral tablecloths ($2 each)
the softest flannelette sheet. this one went straight on the bed. I may as well get some use from it while the nights are still cool ($4)
fancy binding tape (50c a packet)
I almost squealed when I spotted this stack of milk glass at Vinnies. 7 little bowls and the pear dish for $5
when I first spied the label entitled 'retro fabrics' I must admit I was a bit nervous as to the price they'd attach to it, gosh was I happy when it was $3. inside were 2 sets of hand sewn curtains. one in the prettiest of bark cloths and the other a sunny retro print.