Eclectic Country Kitchen (Red and Blue)

Well since I am gradually falling more and more in love with the beautiful aroma of coffee, and the kids drink rooibos tea each day...I seemed to be forever heading in the opposite direction of the kitchen to get the cups, then the other side of the kitchen for the coffee and sugar and then back to the other side for the kettle.  So after recently accepting the fact that I live in an old country home and that I don't really need to keep the walls free from nic nacs, prints etc.  I do not plan to put in a new kitchen even though the one I have may be over 20 years old...it is soft blue, all hardwood and decorated with my kitschy reds and polka dots, I think it is cute.  I also can think of other things to spend my money on than a new kitchen. 

A vintage spice rack that had a ghastly fake leadlight front window and was brown.  I painted it, modge podged paper to the back and put in mesh.

A red vintage jug from an op shop

Anyway I have recently embraced the fact that my kitchen is little, cute, cosy and definitely has an eclectic feel to it with my vintage buys over the years and homemade decor......so I went ahead and screwed in hooks in every convenient spot.  I now have a wine rack above the sink so I can grab a glass with ease......a spice rack above the bench, my beautiful vintage silver serving tray above the door AND my tea/coffee station above the beautiful wooden chopping block, directly above the kettle.  It is not fancy and just a pine shelf, but I have covered it with doilies and it works fantastically and looks cute enough for me.

I also have had these for ages and painted them both creation blue and put them on the block too. 

So a Vinnies cup holder, painted blue and a Vinnie serving tray painted blue.  I (of course) also found the melamine sugar dish (I keep my garlic in it), the sugar dispenser and the red Harrods tin at Vinnies too.

The last two mornings my son has actually offered to make me breakfast in bed...so he is now enjoying the tea/coffee station too.  What a great job he did too!

More peeks of my kitchen...

A vintage jug, just the right size for berry sauce and a vintage money bank...

The bread bin that I grew up with, (below) was brown and very unsightly and I snatched it from mum before she threw it out....Phew...I modge podged on this paper, spray painted the ends red and added some scrapbooking stickers, and now it is perfect for my kitchen....a great size, great history and a great colour now!

Our mate's little doggie jacket (UPCYCLED denim vest)

Well our sweet little mate today was shivering, because it is getting quite cool.  I have been planning to make him a doggie jacket, and today was the day.  Going through my stash of fabric, I decided this 15 yr old vest of mine teamed up with jumper stretch fabric and an old mattress protector would be spot on.

I traced around the reindeer outfit that we bought our little mate for Xmas and used that as the pattern.

I had to adjust the pattern little bits here and there to keep the pockets on the vest in tact.

Yucky old mattress protector cut up.

He is happy, the kids were excited to see him all dressed up when they got home and he sure got plenty of cuddles from my littlest sweetie in his new toasty warm coat!!

Recipes TO DO board

I bought a pile of cork board recently at the thrift store for 50c and I plan to cover them in coordinating fabrics for the office, but thought one wouldn't go astray in the kitchen area with recipes that I plan to cook.

So here it is...I just hotglued the fabric and letters on.  I used old (only one left) earrings as the push pins and decorated them with jewels or ribbons. I also used a bobble (top off a broken hairband for one)

I also picked up a cute vintage jug recently which is just perfect for my kitchen.

Easter Hat Parade

In honour of the Easter Hat Parade, I tried to keep things simple and small this year, and I think they turned out better than ever.

The chef hat, was part of this weeks work at school, so we incorporated it into the easter them....hat already made!!!! Just add easter pictures, glitter and bow and YUM!

simply chic treasures: Getting In On The OMBRE Trend!

simply chic treasures: Getting In On The OMBRE Trend!: I adore these ombre dresser, or anything ombre...these colours are gorgeous.

Dressin' up a t-shirt

I have a cheap frill sleeve shirt in the cupboard, but it just doesn't thrill me, so picking up the (nearly matching) doily at Vinnies recently I thought I better get to and sew it on...

I love it....

Little rosette headband

I purchased some beautiful apricot and aqua lace and pom poms recently and I haven't yet done anything with them....so two days ago I made this headband and now both girls want one the same....

 Of course there is a policy at our place of "No Jumping on the Lounge Chair".....evidently this time it wasn't adhered to!!!