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

new house.

after a stressful few weeks and a long drive we are settling in well to our new house in the central west of NSW.
all the 'necessity' boxes have been unpacked. over a dozen boxes filled with crockery and kitchen ware remain taped up. I'm not sure when i'll unpack them yet.
my love has started his new job. a new career that has been a goal for many years.
I've visited some of the op-shops already and they are a treasure trove of vintage goodies... Ladybird books, floral sheets, glass Christmas baubles and retro dresses all came home with me.
I've tested out the new kitchen with a batch of cocoa nib cookies, carrot cake, roast and baked spuds.
the sewing machine is set up and I've attended to a few jobs... two sets of curtains and a fitted sheet from vintage florals. the thing with vintage linens is fitted sheets are a rare thing. I hope to make a few dresses in the coming weeks. the stinking hot days call for lose-fitting smock dresses.
we are missing our chooks. we gave them to a new home before we left. the long drive and the huge change of climate would have been too much for them to cope with.
Mitten is settling in well. sadly we farewelled our black and white cat Tillie before we moved.

after a forced internet break i'm looking forward to catching up with all your happenings. I've also joined instagram, you can find me at zarannehandmade

hope you're having a lovely weekend. x

a big move

 

our home is currently packed up in boxes, so many boxes.
in the next couple of weeks my love and I will be moving. to a new house. in a new town. a town which takes 12 hours of driving to reach.
we're both excited and a bit anxious.
this will be our biggest move yet.
I'm looking forward to unpacking those boxes and decorating our new home. to settling in to a new community. to lots of new photos and the chance to share them with you.

 

and so the adventure begins...

around home: the last days of winter

with the final days of winter here it's a flurry of activity around the house and garden. it really is a lovely time of the year for getting outside in the sunshine and for freshening and rearranging indoors.

the beautifully composted bottom tray of the worm farm has been added to the vegie beds all ready for spring planting. and the garden beds are full of worms too, with the mushroom compost beautifully rich and sweet smelling. there's grand plans for pumpkin and watermelon vines clambering over fences and the shed roof. tomatoes and basil and beans too.

an egg a day from the chooks is a very welcome addition to the menu (though two of the chooks appear to be a bit more rooster than chook so there may be some returns when the early morning crowing begins).

on the food front, there's a bit of a health kick happening. cutting out the bread and just simply sticking to the wholefood, back-to-basics idea. fresh juices and smoothies here I come.

on the bedside table at the moment are super grains: eat your way to great health by Chrissy Freer and the good life: four glorious seasons in my country garden by Sarah O'Neil; both of which I am enjoying.

as for sewing and setting up shop it's slow and steady progress. not much sewing this past week though I plan on getting stuck into it shortly. the whole shop idea can be a bit overwhelming at times.

how are you spending these final days of winter?

x

today.

after a few weeks of work worry (or worry of the lack there of). a couple of unsuccessful job applications later. and today it all changed.
a trial at a local doctors surgery with the most lovely staff. and i have myself:
a new job.
new opportunities.
new education possibilities.
new experiences.
in a positive, encouraging environment.
i really couldn't ask for much more.

i am so very much looking forward to starting.

x

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

a move.

 

 

the mantel is bare. the picture hooks hold no art. the kitchen dresser shelves once sagging under the weight of crockery are temporarily relieved of their contents.

yes it's happening. we are moving. it all happened pretty quickly once we made our minds up.

the collections are wrapped in vintage sheets and tucked snugly into boxes. the other half has done all of the packing so far. while i've been working. making the most of the last of my new grad year and full-time pay.

we have a new little cottage to call home in the southern tablelands of NSW. there's a verandah out the back overlooking the apple tree laden with fruit.

a new home for a new year. i'm looking forward to the change.

 

x