Time Worn Style

A touch of kitchen industrial...

For those who renovate their homes..

I'm sure you have the same trouble as me

Tradesmen

Those who quote and dont turn up

Those who win the quote and dont turn up

Those who say they will come in two weeks time to do it

So you juggle all your appointments, kid collections etc etc

and they dont turn up...

I mean I just wanted to get these installed..

So we can see what we are preparing in the kitchen..

I've had them sitting in their boxes for months and months waiting..

But this week we did have a tradesman who turned up

And installed a few lights and chandeliers

So I'm happy he turned up

He was good

Now all I'm waiting on is gravity

To straighten the cords..

Had a side of the road "EEEeek" moment this week.

Someone was putting in new carpet in one of the old houses down the road.

Someone didnt want their old carpet, it had found a new home on the side of the road.

I did, I do love an axminster..

I also love serendipity, I mean I only bought that trolley at a garage sale for $5 the day before..

It was meant to be

And that roll is folded in half too, there is lots of axminster...

And in my ebay store this week.

Blue Chairs and an Aussie Verandah...

A nice mild winters day today..

Did a little rearrange of the furniture on the wrap around verandah

Brought all my old blue cottage chairs together...

To sit under the old kitchen windows..

Always nice to have some spare seats handy..

I do love an Aussie wrap around Verandah

Some more lovely treasures in my ebay store this week, I think this is one of my favourites

It has a touch of that Aussie Verandah beautiful blue...

Petit Coterie cushion heaven..

Love love love this cushion..

 

It was made by Michelle at Petit Coterie

I was the very lucky winner at her giveaway

and

not only that

but Michelle also custom made this cushion just for me (as I am sure she could for you too)!

I wanted the number 5 to represent my family

so I am in cushion heaven

And I think our little spaniel is too (can you spot the spaniel?)

Oh and the burlap cushion at the back is also from Petit Coterie

I bought that one all the way up in Queensland at Simple Things Small Joys

The time is coming...

its getting closer and I haven't mentioned it too much till now

because

I didnt want to start too far away from the date

and have you forget to come..

Because as my kids used to say when they were younger..

It's going to be ROOLEY good..

And you wouldnt want to miss it

Trust me on that

If you love old stuff

and you follow this blog

and you live in Victoria, Australia (Melbourne suburbs)..

then this is for you

Because it is going to be in a big hall..

filled to the brim with absolute treasures brought to you by the lovely lady who has organised the whole thing

Tamarah from Shabby Vintage Junk

Along with Samantha from Shoestring Splendour

Andrea from The Pink Poodle

and of course Me ~ Alicia from Time Worn Style

But wait there's more wonderful people who don't blog (yet) but have the most divine treasures..

I'm continually gathering more together for the show...

Filling up my "practice booth"

Would LOVE to see you there.

TWO big days

Friday 13th and Saturday 14th August 2010

8am to 5pm

Be early to find the best of the best!

Ashburton Scout Hall

High Street, Ashburton

and I will pester remind you again a few more times so you don't forget

 

And in the meantime I just have to share this gorgeous Victorian Milk Glass Painting I have currently available in my ebay store.

Lovely!

Restoring a scrolly iron chair...

A little about this...

But first...........

Thanks so much everyone for your helpful comments regarding the dark coffee table in the last post.

Still deciding what I am going to do, my latest is whitewashing the table and the setting behind it.

Havent tried to paint an upholstered piece so am still thinking about what I am going to do

aaaah the decisions!!

Pink upholstery wouldnt be my first choice, would love to reupholster to a more neutral colour but thats not going to happen any time soon so will just have to sit down with a cuppa and pour through some more magazines (and cull a few more mags whilst I'm at it)...

One very pleasing thing I did find this week at the op shop was this sweet little Regency stripe chair for the TV room.

We always seem to be "one down" on a chair in that room so snapped this one up very quickly when I found it, especially at the super cheap thrift store price they had on it (yes they were clearing their furniture out on a sale that day).

It has feather filled cushions and is just the right size. Now I'm deciding about a slip cover for it or not. Might be a good idea with kids sitting on it all the time!

I just need to clip off a few threads where the previous owners cat decided to sharpen its claws.

That is why I don't have a cat....

I also finished another project this week that I have been meaning to get around to for a while.

The main reason I did was because I finally found a Clark Rubber store on my travels so was able to go and get some cushion inserts cut to size...

To finish this..

These old wrought iron chairs are from an outdoor setting originally I believe.

One I found on the side of the road, amazing how fast one can get a chair in ones hatchback, sometimes I think I set new world records..

The other from a friend who didnt want it.

In the beginning...

Some new seat bases were cut using the old one as a template

Took the template to a Clark Rubber (Australia) store and they cut some high quality seating foam to size. Not as expensive as you would think ~ only $9.95 each!

Next is the covering.

Now if you are anything like me, you like to change your fabrics around on a reasonably often basis SO what I always do when covering seat pads is to put a CALICO base over the foam first.

This not only allows you to change the top fabric easily but gives a nicer feel to the chair pad.

So I used some old artist canvas I had lying around which is quite thick but normal calico will do too.

Staple it on working from the centre outwards and turning it to another side each side you staple.

I actually fold a little hem under as I like it to look neat but you don't have to!

Trim the corner fabric when you get to it so its not so bulky to staple on..

Calico base fabric done!

Now to decide the fabric to the top.

I love florals but wanted a more subdued colourway...

So decided on an old SANDERSON ENGLAND print on an upholstery grade fabric..

I was going to do both chairs at once but have decided that one of them really needs a freshen up with some paint first as it looks much rustier than the other so have just completed the one for now.

Cushion pad screwed back onto the base..

Here is the.......

BEFORE

And

AFTER..

Always nice to tick another project off the list isnt it?

Some sweet items in my ebay store this week

Shipping is from Australia but I do send world wide!

 

And I've joined Coastal Charms....

I have a question..

I'm really in two minds...

I do love this coffee table...

I didn't intend to buy it but it came with that pink button back sofa...

They were a bit of a bargain on ebay Australia (as you know I don't like to buy new and expensive)

So the coffee table came home too...

but it just looks a bit big and heavy in this room ~ even though the room is large

So my question is ~ and its quite a popular question around blog land..

** Should I paint it ~ OR strip it back to a raw wood and oil it ~ OR leave as is?

Any opinions very much appreciated

Had to share a few pic of some lovely items going into my ebay store this week (will list them tonight so if they are not there already do check back!)

Totally gorgeous Pink Depression glass Cake stand

 

and the sweetest of Italian silk pictures in a scrolly frame (shouldnt cost much to send this pretty overseas!)

Typical Mountain day today, wet and foggy...

Got up early to go for a run but the weather is against me

Leaves time to go blog visiting instead!

Winter blossoms and layered mirrors..

Its a beautiful look to layer old linens on a bed, or even a few antique white cloths on a table. Or several different layers of curtains on a rod...

But have you considered layering old mirrors??

Beautiful day here on the mountain, a good excuse to get out in the garden even if it was still a bit chilly.

Took my old flower trug and found some Camellias to bring inside

I was surprised to see so much colour in the garden considering we are in the depths of winter...

A nice place to rest them on my Roadside find Wicker chair whilst I wrestle with the old front door. Seems the door likes to change shape with the weather, one day that leadlight is going to pop right out..

 

Found one of my favourite 1940's vases to pop them in..

Then it was time to start layering the mirrors....

there is a large oval wardrobe mirror at the base

on top of a large etched Murano mirror

and on top of this an Art Deco pie crust boudoir mirror...

The mirrors catch the light and push it up highlighting the flowers and vase...

I sorta like it

Its a focal point to the room...

My eldest came home today and said "gee the house looks tidy"

Seems like the layering may have worked!

(well I'll tell myself that)

Of couse I do have some yummy mirrors in my ebay store

Victorian RUBY GLASS table centrepiece

Or for some lovely little floral delights to display on a mirror, try these..

 

Time Worn Finds..

It's always a good week when you find a few of your favourite things. As I have been buying Antiques etc for such a long time now I've become much fussier about what I bring home these days... As you know from previous posts, I do have a love of those gorgeous old USA scales Being here in Australia there isn't a lot around so I can be seen doing a happy dance when I nab one (yes I am that crazy woman doing the boogey holding a set of scales over her head) Rusty, chippy, time worn, oh yeah that's the one... And of course, this week, I also made a visit to one of my most favourite shops here on the mountain Metisse To buy a beautiful Vintage French Monogrammed Tea towel It's exactly what I've been looking for to make a large cushion for our white slipcovered sofa.. And then whilst out and about delivering furniture in country Victoria, I found this beautiful, swoon worthy Victorian wire basket in a sweet little antique shop... Asking price was not much so I was paid up and outta there Have to share my latest project (besides the cushion which I will give a "how to" shortly) Besides the US scales, I'm having a little "thang" about Gramophone cabinets. Firstly because they are terribly elegant, ornate and delish and Secondly because basically most people dont want them. And that = cheap Yes folks this is the husk that I am working with in all its empty glory: And this sweetest of empty husks has been given a few coats of primer.. After sanding back the varnish on those sweet turned legs... Painted ever so carefully in the front entry of "Greystanes" Cause its raining and cold outside... Two coats of Dulux Antique White USA Now ready for a fabric insert. I'm trying to decide, an antique lace panel or another vintage fabric Not sure.. But its nearly finished, that old gramophone cabinet that no one wanted. With a couple of shelves and the lid back on ~ a storage cabinet that we do need.

Roses and Robert Gordon Pottery...

Hope everyone is going along well with the school holidays

I like school holidays

You don't have to rush

And you get to spend time with the kids (which is great in between fights etc..)

The down side is you don't get much else done

So my Rose wall in the front room is taking some time to complete...

But I did get this in place..

 

After all we had to go here first..

UPDATE ~ I have had quite a few emails regarding the location of this fabulous shop so here 'tis:

Robert Gordon Pottery

114 Mulcahy Road

PAKENHAM VICTORIA

and their website:

www.robertgordonaustralia.com

And browse all this...

and then Miss wanted to go in the Pottery Barn..

and do this...

(by the way what do you think of Robert Gordons new range of black and white delights called "Coco" if memory serves, shown above, I'm thinking very very nice)

So I did finally get back to Greystanes and get a few more sections of the wall done..

After taking some pondering time..

I think this wall is pretty well done.

Now I just have to organise the rest of the room..

Stay tuned!

And do check out Tracey's fabulous one year giveaway over at French Larkspur, its a beauty mate!

I mean who could say no to this:

photo: Dreamy whites

And thats only part of the giveaway ~ wow weeee!

And if you are liking old mirrors, look at these beauties I have currently available in my

EBAY STORE

Etched glass Butterfly Boudoir Mirror

Ornate wall mirror

Flowers in Fowlers & Interesting Insulators...

Found a big stash of old Fowlers bottles this week.

Some tall and thin and clear

Some tall, thin and amber.

All totally gorgeous.

I COULD make some preserved fruit with them

but I think I'm liking them as vases better.

the first of the seasons Jonquils from our local Fruit and Veg shop, straight from the grower

 

A touch of spring to come in the middle of winter

mixed with my latest favourites ~ Old Glass & Ceramic Insulators

And all the goodies surrounding that old Fowlers jar?

Ceramic electrical insulator ~ tip shop

Purple glass electrical insulator ~ Old shop out in the country

Glass drawer knobs ~ market

White Resin Bird ~ gift shop

Black & ~ Typo Knox City Shopping Centre

Antique Pewter Coffee & Tea pots ~ market

Silver Plate Tray ~ Op (Thrift) Shop

Antique Roses Print ~ Paddington Antique Market

Have I mentioned how I LOVE old electrical insulators at the moment (I think i have!)

I even use a large one as a doorstop

So simple so cute!