for 2015

Here's a little list of my goals for 2015. I'm joining in with Sophie over at Her Library Adventures.
I hope to check back throughout the year and be able to tick at least some of these goals off the list. let me know if you share your thirty goals too.

1. sew, sew and sew some more. I want to sew more clothes for myself and also get my little shop open and stocked again
2. gardening. this will be a bit of a challenge but I at least want to have a few herbs going and also get a compost pile/worm farm happening for all the kitchen scraps
3. get cutting and pasting in my inspiration scrapbook
4. continue with the ethical clothing pledge of 2014, I shopped my wardrobe, found some beautiful pieces while op-shopping and made a few purchases from ethical businesses
5. not buy bread, instead making our own. I'd like to get my own sour dough starter happening too
6. take pottery classes, I'm pretty sure there's a group in town
7. make more cleaning and beauty products including washing liquid, facial exfoliator, shampoo and conditioner
8. say 'no' to disposable coffee cups. I invested in a 'keep cup' each so now just the challenge of remembering to bring them with us while out and about
9. learn the art of macramé
10. get to know and understand the functions of my camera better
11. Try weaving. I op-shopped a little loom a while back so now just have to find some yarn to weave
12. Try screen printing
13. Make a strap for my camera
14. upcycle some of the silver cutlery collection.. I'm thinking jewellery
15. upcycle some broken plates.. yes the move did unfortunately result in a few Johnson casualties
16. use the cookbook collection and try new recipes
17. make a timber Christmas tree for December 2015
18. make soap
19. make a terrarium
20. buy groceries from locally owned small businesses rather then the big chains
21. keep the house tidier by doing a little cleaning everyday
22. blog at least once a week, maybe twice
23. send more happy mail
24. discover the perfect museli bar recipe
25. drink more water everyday
26. make more handmade gifts
27. cull more stuff.. kitchenware and craft room
28. buy based on quality rather than price
29. print and frame some of my photos
30. organise a wedding

things i'm liking now

a few of my favourite things.

dreams that turn into plans, that turn into reality... have you seen the amazing idea that Rohan and Kate have. It's called the nursery project. it will be a place where you can get in there and experience growing your own vegies, picking, preserving, foraging, hunting, cooking and eating. and you can contribute towards making this dream a reality. every little bit helps.

garden growth... there are so many baby apples on the tree. self seeded poppies and nasturtiums are blooming too.

a bouquet of rosemary.. the plants needed a good trim so in came the stems and into a milk glass vase they went.

op-shopping... I've scored some beautiful pieces of clothing lately- a denim dress, lace cropped jacket, polo shirts, a handmade skirt as well as milk glass, a length of linen fabric for sewing and floral sheets.

x

this weekend.

 

this weekend I don't have to worry about word counts, referencing or catch-up schedules.

no commitments.. no where to be.

you will find me in front of the sewing machine, pin cushion and scissors beside me, vintage floral sheet in my lap, and a new pattern to try out.

and when the afternoon sun hits the front verandah i shall be sitting out one of the new deckchairs ($5 each at a garage sale) with a copy of Hello May- full of pretty weddings. there's also plenty of beautiful images on the blog too. i do love a good handmade wedding.

(no wedding date set here yet but i'm always up for starting my inspiration journal).

what do you have planned for the weekend?

x

p.s Mezz of mezz makes stuff has a handmade card swap running, and there's still time to join in the creative fun. think stamps, pictures from vintage children's books, doilies, washi tape and water colours. pop on over.

vintage styling at home.

welcome to my home: filled to the brim with treasures of the vintage, collected, op-shopped and gifted variety (my favourites). i'm joining in with the retro/vintage inspired corner of my home hosted by Kylie of lucy violet vintage and Donna of hung up on retro, on this sunny autumn Saturday. & also a happy little coincidence that Kim of feather & nest has a second-hand styling link happening too.

so welcome... and come on in.

(tray: thrifted. pitchfork: thrifted)

 

(painting and easel: op-shopped)

the hall gallery...

(art: op-shop and garage sale)

reading material to your left.

(mostly op-shopped)

(pottery: op-shopped. shears: markets)

 

into the dining area. yes the milk glass collection is still growing.

(dresser: clearing sale. milk glass: op-shopped and gifted)

a teacup or two atop the LGB stash.

(tea cups: op-shopped. Johnson ware and LGB's: op-shopped and gifted)

(canisters, trivet and milk glass: op-shopped. measuring cup: the essential ingredient, Orange)

into the kitchen and I shall put the kettle on. the KitchenAid has been busy...condensed milk and chocolate muffins.

(Raspberry Ice Kitchen Aid: 21st birthday gift. bird t towel art: handmade)

 

sugar in your cuppa.

(placemats: handmade. silverware, sugar bowl and table: op-shopped)

 



make yourself at home.

(basket, blankets, lounge, patchwork quilt: op-shopped. t towel cushion: handmade from thrifted finds. cowhide rug: Lucknow skin and boot barn)

 

(foot stool: op-shopped. coffee table: gifted)

(grinder, crockery, milk glass and fan: op-shopped).

 

so there you have it. a few little corners of my home.

would love to see your vintage and retro inspired homes, the more the merrier I say.

x

 

retro & vintage inspired corner of my home

&

second hand styling

 

 



 

vignette it.

 

 

little vignettes from around the house.
yesterday was inspection day so a good excuse to change around the decor (and give all those surfaces a good dust).
with all the op-shopping and collecting there are very few bare shelves, tables or cupboard tops here.
but i like it that way. i love being able to display pieces, to change them around as the desire strikes. to make new vignettes with new favourite pieces as a starting point.
for me the most aesthetically appealing vignettes feature:
- objects of differing heights
- a natural element: a vase of flowers or a sprig of herbs, foliage, a birds nest
- an uneven number of pieces
- layered objects for interest and depth
- a variety of textures
- connection: a theme: floral, kitchen, colour

think outside the box when putting your shelf/table/desk/cupboard top display together:
- jars full of feathers, seed pods or buttons
- prints, magazine images, postcards and washi tape
- trays and plates
- twine, ribbon and string
- teacups and milk jugs as vases
- favourite books (stacked to create height & a platform for another object)
- framed artwork and photos

do you have a favourite vignette in your home? did the objects just 'come' together when grouped?

our new home.

 

 

 

we've moved into our new little cottage.
the vintage sheets are bursting out of their cases (the thrifting search begins for more vintage cases).
with one less bedroom and short a sun room this house is certainly more cosy than our last. but i like it cosy and my thrifted vintage pieces look more at home here.

i'm busy displaying the collections. the milk glass has a new spot as does the Pyrex. i'm trying new little vignettes on nearly every flat surface: counter top, book shelf, timber ladder. bringing pieces that have been stored away out to be enjoyed.

i'm keen for new ideas.. i would love to see & hear about how you display collections throughout your home

coming up... milk glass display.

 

be still

 

1. magazine reading in between cleaning

2. milk glass addition ($1.50) and display inspiration

3. thrifted Geoff Riddell dress ($4). & it has pockets

4. rhubarb potted up and ready to move

5. picked up the keys to the new place today

6. going to miss this little cottage

7. & its character

from 2012

To those who follow along here, who've stopped by, left kind and encouraging words throughout the year, a big thank you from me to you. This little space here brings such joy to my heart knowing that I am amongst like minded creative, baking, making, gardening, thrifting and photographing people.

2012 has seen...

 

a move to the central west of NSW

full-time work as a Registered Nurse

attending our first farm clearing sale

the first birthday of Zaranne Handmade

my 23rd birthday

plenty of thrifting

a bit of vintage floral sheet bunting and tea towel cushion sewing 

new kitchen toys to play with

beautiful book purchasing

new blog discovering

attempting to live more simply and sustainably 

a new vegie garden

first snow

the expansion of the milk glass, Pyrex, silver ware, floral sheet, LGB and Johnson ware collections

and a bit of relaxing with my favourite one in between

 

 

 

so thank you and may 2013 bring happiness and the realisation of hopes and dreams your way

x