My Creative Space...

Slow progress on Cohen's disgruntled dino, but as our colds are clearing and a little clarity seems to be returning, disgruntled dino may receive a little more attention. If only I hadn't boxed up the hobby fill, along with the entire contents of the built in closet in the craft room, and sent it to reside at Grandpa's during the open house period!

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More Creative Spaces here.

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I was reminded, during a phone conversation with a friend, to be grateful for all I have. 

Like having lunch with my little boy. Celebrating Dave's birthday yesterday with sushi in the City. More news of expecting friends. New books to read. A line full of clean clothes. Chocolate arriving in the mail. Yum. And that it was only pencil Cohen drew on the walls with.

What are you thankful for today?

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With the exception of strange cats, I have been trying to be especially mindful of what I bring home from my thrifting adventures, since we may be moving. However, yesterday my sister was in fine form and spotted for me an over sized tablecloth, a sweet old pillow case, two meters of fabric and a vintage pattern, none of which I felt compelled to return to the shelves. I added to this haul a reproduction egg whisk (much like this one) and a bag of vintage crochet cotton. All but the egg whisk have been successfully hidden in my craft room for now. Should my husband make comment, I intend to blame my sister...

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What a lovely day! Our morning started with an early trip to Ikea, in order to buy one of these for our little person mountain goat. I got out of there quickly. How easy it would be to blow the budget. Then it was on to lunch with the family, which was followed by a bit of thrifting at three big old op-shops. I'll have to share my loot with you tomorrow. I managed to forget my camera today, so the photos of this wonderful old piano were taken on my phone. I'm sure the old dear is well past salvation, but she really was a beauty. Home in time to get some dough to rise for a dinner of homemade Margarita pizza tonight. Yum!

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On a recent op-shopping adventure my sister and I were taking note of the lovely and thoughtful people. It was raining as we got Cohen out of the car and into the pram. We waited in the rain, in front of the car, to walk across the car park to the shops. Two cars drove past us, a third, driven by an elderly gentleman, stopped and waved for us to cross. We smiled and waved as we ran across to the other side. An act of kindness like this really makes my day. Thank goodness for lovely people!

Someone holding the door for you, someone letting you in front of them in the grocery line when you only have a few items, someone picking up something your child has dropped, someone acknowledging your grumpy toddler with a smile. For me, they make up for those times when someone pushes in front of me in a cue, someone drives past me as I wait in the rain or someone one cuts me off in traffic.

Another thoughtful and lovely person gave me these doilies from her collection when she found out that I have quite a soft spot for them. Aren't they beautiful? 

Have you experienced any acts of kindness from strangers lately? Or perhaps you have been a kind stranger?

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'Thrifty Chic: Interior Style on a Shoestring' by Liz Bauwens & Alexandra Campbell

This title appealed immediately, upon our weekly library visitation. Cohen and I both have colds now, so we have been pottering around the house. Cohen has discovered that play dough sticks to the wall. Also, that Mummy will let you stick play dough to the wall if she is drinking tea and flicking through a book. Happy days.

There are some lovely ideas in this book for decorating your home using vintage and modern pieces. Although the information seems to cater more for the US and UK markets, many of the tips are adaptable to Australian houses. I found the images inspiring. Who wouldn't want that claw foot bath, the over-sized mirror, those green pitchers? The less is more approach is refreshing, as are the examples of everyday items being decorator worthy - such as that line up of gumboots. But like others, I noticed the repetition of the text and images and wondered whether there'd been a dearth of houses to photograph for the book. 

Overall though, it really is a charming book and one that would be a welcome addition to the libraries of anyone with a love of the old and an inkling towards interior design. 

Can you recommend any interior design books? What style of decorating do you favor?

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There's a new addition to the letterpress tray. Amongst the collections of shells, seeds and feves there is a creepy kitty of the porcelain persuasion. This diminutive cat surely posses some awkward colours. Brown, black and green coat, lolly pink nose and eyes. Not to mention that facial expression, part sad puss, part creepy kitty. Oh, if only you could see it in real life!


Though I'm not a 'cat person' per se. Defiantly not a cat person in that way that some cat people have calenders, magnets, purses, cushions etc. covered in cats displaying to one and all their love or loneliness. I do have a cat. A big fat old boy whom I love dearly, regardless of his endless ability to annoy me on a daily basis by befouling unattended items in the garage and using our 100% wool carpet as a scratching post. (Even the carpet cleaner commented that the cat has a lot to own up to. Yes. Indeed.) Still I found myself rescuing this cute/ugly kitty from the local charitable shop.

My husband is unsure what to make of it, and possible what to make of myself included. Perhaps I should scare him and start a collection? For now cute/ugly kitty will while away the time in the letterpress tray until we hopefully move and I can position him somewhere more apparent, while not scaring away prospective buyers.