It's ok, Ive got it covered....

I always say,

 'If you're going to do a job, do it properly'!

Well,I think I did a brilliant job of covering everything in this office/craft/spare room....dont ya think??

Yeh, it has been a while since Ive been able to do anything in this room, and what's worse, it is in full view when we open the front door...My plan backfired!! I thought by having it close to the front door, I would keep it clean and organised, yeh right!

Ive made so many attempts to empty it out and start fresh, but I stand at the door, then walk away....but this afternoon, my eldest daughter gave me the nudge I needed!

Mind you, these photos are an hour into it, Ive dragged out alot of furniture as you can see, into the hallway and living area.There's actually some good stuff in here, shame you cant see it, I couldnt even close the door, clothes hanging all over it!

 Hubby is away thank goodness, but back Monday, so it has to be finished by tomorrow afternoon....hahaha, and here I am blogging about it!

I better get back to it, I guess.....

Come back soon to see the tranformation!

To di-ne for!

One of my many collections consists of vintage linens and doilies. I have them hanging on ladders and my antique dresser doors,

over baskets, on and in old cupboards, protecting tables, and filling my favourite piece of furniture....yeh, I have a problem!

So , I am parting with some that I will never use(just kept because they are so pretty), and some doilies I have in abundance! Into the studio they go! 

I now have room to fit all my laces,ribbons and trims into these drawers in my new office/craft space, which is still a work in progress!

Funnily enough, Im finding it hard to fit everything in,lol.

Australia Day, and Enough is enough!!

Happy Australia Day on the 26th January, for all the aussies out there! Some are enjoying a long weekend, and some of us have to work today, but tomorrow, we celebrate like there is no tomorrow!

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And the saga continues! I have nearly completed the room swap, and will share the after photos soon....

My new office

Ryan's new room

So when is enough, enough?

 When do you draw the line at collecting, after 3? 10? Or maybe when you have filled a room and then some! Well as you know I have a few collections, (a few hundred to be honest), and I didnt include fabric. I wouldnt consider it to be a prized collection I would hold dear to my heart, but it has been confirmed as of today....Im seriously having to cull some of the 'not so favourite', which would be in a few of my 8 suitcases. I dont like to throw away any scraps leftover from projects, you never know when you might need them! But I managed to wittle down to 6 cases, phew!

Oh, and did I mention the cupboard full??

These vintage fabrics I adore, and love to have them where I can see them daily. I found this perfect 'oldie', and knew they would look gorgeous displayed in there.So I cleaned it up, removed the door and painted it to match the room.But somehow I got distracted and never fitted the shelves! I thought I might do it after the room-move, but couldnt resist filling it straight away! Mmm, hopefully I will get to them eventually!

Here they are for you to admire....

1.The cupboard, with cute queen anne feet.2.Selection of fabrics I have quilted with.3.Barkcloth.4.Polished cotton, curtain remnants.5.Soft velvets.6.Vintage theatre curtains.7.bedspreads and covers.8.quilts I have made.9.Ta-da!

Note to self...If I put shelfs in, I will fit more fabrics in!!

All at once...as usual!!

A familiar statement to us all!

 Like many of you out there, we like to organise, redecorate, shuffle heavy furniture around, and keep things moving. But do we like to do it all at once, in every room in the house?

Well, I for one am overwhelmed with my 'improvements and redos'!

Distractions get the better of me everytime, if it all gets too much, just walk on out of the house, and head for the garden....

And look, a baby is born....

As you know from previous posts here, possums (and Toby) love my veges, I have yet to see a full grown tomato, and you can forget the broccoli, zucchinis, and carrots! But look at this little baby, there are actually quite a few on the vine but they dont seem to make it past this size, can you tell me why? I heard you cut back the vine so that it puts all its energy into growing the pumpkins, but still, they disappear! There arent any signs of grubs, moths or any other critter....except Toby, but surely not! I may have to put out some video surveillance!

Im in the middle of finishing off the curtains to our laundry cup'd, though Im not happy with them, so I need an opinion , or two! I think I have decided which ones I will go with, but Id love some support!

So whilst 'deciding' on those, I decide to rearrange the family room office(my hubby's area), Im always trying to make it look more appealing, as it is in the same room as the kitchen , family, and dining room! Yeh, I know, ridiculous to say the least, but we have no choice at this point! No photos to show you, but trust me, it is crowded, but functional, for now...

OPTION 1

Last but not least, the saga of the room swap(my son's and my office), is slowly coming together.I painted in my 'soon to be' office/craft room, and am just waiting for a couple of days where Ryan can sleep in the loungeroom,then I can just go for it! It is easier when hubby is away with work, so it wont be long.

Anyway, besides all of that, this month, and February, we have 11 birthdays to contend with in our families, so a bbq is in order this weekend to celebrate a couple of them, my parents. Then Tuesday is ,as we aussies know, Australia Day. Did I tell you my mum's birthday is on Australia Day? It will be another great day to celebrate!

Be back soon hopefully with at least one complete room makeover, and the results of my very important survey...

Option 1 or option 2?

OPTION 2

As frivolous as this post seems in this time of need in 'Haiti', my thoughts and prayers are with the people and their helpers. I have shed more than a few tears, but we all have our own coping mechanism, we do what we have to do to get through these tragedies.We may feel helpless, out of reach, and unable to give, but sharing our thoughts and showing respect for them as people, will help fill the void. They hold so much strength and hope, more than I could ever have.

Pre Christmas confessions!

I usually confess to things Im not proud of prior to the New Year. It helps to celebrate with a fresh and guilt-free approach, and hopefully surrounds me in good karma!

It doesnt seem that long ago, when I moved my office into here and here. But over time, it has filled up (surprised?) and I have a hard time putting things away sometimes, so now it has gotten to the point where I can hardly walk in!

My son would like a bigger bed for his birthday(end of Jan), but his room is too small to fit his desk, shelves,bst, and the bed. So after much thought, I suggested we swap rooms, as my office has a bigger wardrobe, and the room is longer. Hmmm, I couldnt believe what was coming out of my mouth, cause then I realised Id be moving my office into a smaller room!

Logic raised its eyebrows...it will keep me more organised, I will have to put things away, and the room can also be seen from the loungeroom (big incentive to keep it tidy when we have guests).

So guess what Im doing for the month of January??

Please dont look at these pictures too closely, Im ashamed it got to this point!

So stay tuned in the New Year, as I share the photos of my new ,organised space, and my sons room!

Speaking of my son Ryan, he has officially finished school, and moving on to Tafe to start an apprenticeship in Carpentry in February.He has been wanting to do this for a few years now, and with his skills I have shared with you, I think you'd agree, he will succeed!

'Photos from his formal'

As happy as I am for him, I cant help feel the home nest is looking a bit empty, family time is slipping away....

After 3 children, 17years of school books, reports, school meetings, uniforms, bags, lunches etc etc, those days are over.

Next year I will have all three children (young adults) in tafe, so things are changing, some adjustments to be made!

2010,Two thousand and ten, twenty ten, 'Ten, however you like to say it, will be experiencing some new beginnings here,in the home, and also in Junkstudio.

I cant finish this post without sending out well wishes to my dad, who after 12 months ago, was diagnosed with bowel cancer, is waiting on results from the hospital, for the 'all clear'.
Also to dear friends of mine who are sitting by his dad's bed in his last hours.
And to a new friend and neighbour, who will be attending their dad's funeral today, so sad.
Please give a big hug to all the dads out there.....

 I look forward to sharing more with all of you, whether you like it or not , but for now Im signing off for a while to take in some of that Christmas spirit youve all been talking about!

Be safe, and enjoy all it has to offer, keep warm, or cool, where ever you are in the world.

'Photo from middle child's 18th birthday'

Join me in the New Year,Sue x

Playing in the dirt!

This time of year is so pretty , the colours are brighter, and my garden still flowers!

Ive been playing in the dirt, and enjoying the gorgeous sunshine on these beautiful Autumn days!
Id been thinking of making a vege garden, and have been following the sun at different times of the day, to find the perfect spot. I know, I have so much time on my hands, I sit and watch the sun all day! So anyway, now I have lettuces, cabbage, broccoli, snowpeas, some herbs, and Im planting carrots soon.Watch this space, hopefully in 8-10 weeks, I'll have plenty of veges to eat!

Movin' on out, hubby that is!!

I've claimed the whole office space, well it was only a matter of time....Do you remember how much he had anyway? I moved his desk out into the family / dining room. Miss Ris, our 17yr old, is hubby's secretary / sales consultant, and she prefers the desk there, it is closer to the fridge!There's already too much furniture and 'stuff' in there, but it will have to do until we have a better solution. Hubby suggested I throw out some junk, and there would be plenty of room for 5 desks! HOW RUDE!! He's probably right, but I would never admit that to him! ( Im sure a few of you can relate).

So I set to work, and reorganised my mess so I could finally have a work space, and desk. When Im creating indoors, I tend to rummage through fabric, and it rarely gets put back. Im thinking of having shelving in the robe area to store my fabrics so I can see them.The suitcases might look good, but are definitely not practical.I always find what Im looking for in the last one, why is that?

I have been busy cleaning and reorganising everywhere, kind of like a springclean you might say, but in the middle of our summer. I found plenty to put in my ebay store, and Junkstudio. I love clutter, but sometimes I just need to let go of some things, I am sick of cleaning them and fighting for space to cook, and sit, and sleep, truly!

Sue is coming up for the weekend so we are junking, and shopping for chooks! We are heading over the mountains to Little Hartley.It is a cute 'little' town, slower pace, friendly people, and definitely great junkshops!

I havent really been junking for a while, I have so much here, and Im sure, no, hubby is sure it breeds! Though I did come across some gorgeous tablecloths I just had to have.One is embroidered linen, absolutely perfect, the other is vintage, the colours are just devine. I also bought this shabby chic curtain, it is sheer and the roses look so pretty! Ive decide to sell this one, as it doesnt really suit my decor, so it will go into Junkstudio. These timber stands were also a recent purchase which will come in handy in the studio, and at $10 for the two, I cant go wrong!

I managed to throw together a stand for 'Curvy Lady', consisting of a gorgeous piece of turned timber, maybe from a chair or railing(found it in my collection of bits), and the bottom part is from a birdcage stand...so now we are ready to decorate!

Our daughter arrived safely in Ghana, Africa, and after orientation, will meet up with her host family she will live with for the two months. We have spoken a couple of times, it is hard to believe she is there, a wish come true! So keeping busy will help pass the time!

And now , to clean the studio, and prepare for customers!

NOT...QUITE....FINISHED!!!

Ok, I must have been kidding myself, when I thought I could fit everything in to my daughter's old bedroom for my office...including a space for hubby!! Well, it's a challenge, but Im up for it! It just might take a bit longer than first thought!

Mmmmm, if I could just get to my sewing machine...do you like my sewing table? You probably cant see in the photos, but I have 8 suitcases under the bench on the right, full of fabrics! Im looking forward to creating in that department soon!I did say this room is mainly mine didnt I? This is hubby's corner, he just needs a dumping ground for paperwork! I ,on the other hand, need creative space, so Im more important!

As far as my studio goes, Im having the power connected next week, and then the fun begins, painting, cleaning....and then pricing, and decorating, and filling and....opening! Hopefully!Oh, and removing those possums! Im stressed, but very excited!

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Here are a couple of my best buys for the week! Of course, they will have to stay here for a while, I need to make sure they will be suitable to sell! A few months should do it!