Bunk bed inspiration...

I know, there's definitely something wrong with the title, right? How can any inspiration be garnered from bunks? I'm not a fan. But we're about to buy some... to go with our new people mover! I don't know if it's the lack of options, or the memories of shared rooms and siblings feet pushing up on the mattress, that really put me off, or that I still adore Eden's bedhead. But, like with the people mover, practicality and space are trumping style around here.  So, I've been reluctantly searching for some (that are tolerable) for quite some time. A couple of years back I spotted vintage cast iron ones in an Australian magazine article and presumed they'd welded a couple of old beds together, I had no idea they were ever produced like that, until I found a set on trademe. I couldn't convince my husband that no ladder, no side rail, old wire bases were actually ok though, I guess it's a good thing aesthetics don't rule his decision making! Our children will be much safer for his sensibilities. As fate would have it, a mere 3 weeks later, look what I discovered...

Mocka Sonata Bunk Bed

Mocka I love you!!!! Just look at that side rail, ladder and (checkout link) solid bar bases.  There will be no resistance to these I'm sure.

I wanted to share some more bunk inspiration with you... but I couldn't find any! Feel free to link to any you've come across though, I'm sure I'm not the only one that's been on the hunt.

Sarah x

Toy smeg...

Check out her grin! I knew she'd love a smeg as much as I do, I even got an excited clap.  I've been looking at this wee oven for ages (years), thinking I should give it a revamp, I finally did.  Here's a few action shots, beautifully modelled by Miss Summer.

I had leftover paint from our front door, which was the perfect colour, and a high gloss.  The knobs were painted in Resene Stack (our doorstep colour), the elements a glossy black and the inside I sprayed with a can of chrome coloured spray paint.  New handles were from bunnings.  The smeg letters were from a gold coin shop, in the craft aisle, they're foam stickers and I sprayed them with the same paint I used inside the oven.   

The oven as it was.

My inspiration (via pinterest).  I had actually started giving the oven a new coat of white paint, but was feeling very uninspired by it.  This picture got me thinking about a colour, which led to the idea of going for a pastel smeg stove.

This was a fun little project, which I'm sure will keep Summer very entertained, win/win!

Sarah x

ps.  Belly baskets available here. 

Plants in kid's rooms...

Ben has just had the cutest little planter added to his shelves.  I'm not sure what the plant is, I nabbed a bit from an outdoor pot, but figured if it got a bit unruly, I'd replace with a cactus.  I love that it looks like a hair style.  He's pretty keen on it too, and his sister is pretty jealous!  The Wild things planter is available here.

I've gone a bit plant mad in our house.  It all started with the (must have) fiddle leaf fig plant, the resurrected maiden hair fern (I'd have sworn it was dead) and recently acquired trailing plants (that's another post).  They've spread themselves around our lounge, into the hall, bathroom and lastly, into our kid's rooms. I find plants don't often feature in kids rooms, but I've managed to find a bit of colourful inspiration for you, courtesy of pinterest.

Have a lovely weekend!

WIN a Homely Creatures banner!

Hello. I hope you're all surviving December madness.  There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day at the moment for me, so this is a super quick random post, just to let you know we're giving away a Homely Creatures 'To the moon and back' banner.  Just visit our facebook page for the post to comment on and you're in the draw, but be quick, it ends tonight!  Best of luck. x

Gaga over garlands...

If you follow me on facebook, you may have noticed I've been going a bit gaga over felt ball garlands... pink ones, black ones, pastel ones, blue hues... They're gradually getting listed in my store and on trademe, and strung all over my house in the meantime.  You may also have seen the one in Edens room, it's staying, but I'd be happy to make another. If you see one you'd like and can't find it, send me a message through facebook or via email and I'll see what I can.

The felt balls are handmade in Nepal and handstrung by me, here in NZ.  Each ball  is 2.5cm, with some larger 3.5 white ones and a few smaller grey ones.  Most felt ball garlands on the market are only up to 2cm, but I've gone for bigger and bolder.

Have a lovely weekend,

Sarah x

Edens room...

Here's some pics from Edens recently redecorated room (minus her large villa window, a mammoth restoration job,  it's still on the "to do" list).  I've chosen a palette of turquoise, pink and white.  These colours were dictated by the colours in a pair of vintage ballerina barkcloth curtains I bought many years ago, bought because I knew I'd regret not buying, even though I had no window to fit them, I don't think I even had a daughter at that time.  When we shifted I crossed my fingers they'd fit her window,  it wasn't to be, so  I unpicked the curtains and painstakingly lined up the print and made them into a gorgeous duvet cover.  I'd bought some plain pink sheeting fabric from spotlight, which would have done the trick, but I found a perfect retro sheet in my stash, bright blue floral that match the blues in the barkcloth, it looks amazing.  I also had just enough of the perfect pink piping to edge it.  I love it when it all comes together after a rummage through what I've already got.

I really wanted to finish the bedhead (remember I blogged about it here?) before I showed you the duvet too, as it all ties in together. I picked the colour Resene Hippie Blue for it as it was a good match with the blue in duvet. I love mixing vintage with new and bright, but find getting the colours right is crucial, too vivid and it can just make anything vintage look old and faded, but match it just right and it can look gorgeous.  I took the colour chart to a paint shop and had a batch of fast dry enamel mixed and put in a spray can.  He did an amazing job and gave me a little extra for those inevitable chips.  I cannot imagine painting it using anything other than a spray can, it would have been an absolute nightmare.

The beautiful art deco light shade was from the kids room in our previous home.  The pink electrical cord and cast iron ceiling rose were won from Ico Traders, who I highly recommend.  Miranda was so lovely to deal with, super helpful and friendly.  Thank you so much, I absolutely love it! My amateur photography didn't really capture the pink of the shade or cable, so check out their website to see the great range of colours available.

Washi tape, ceramic bunny handles, bunny led night light (back soon), pink wall hook, felt ball garland (in store very soon) and similar ballerina cushion, all available through missmollycoddle.

Sarah x

New book Tuesday: Belle and Boo bubbles before bed...

We received this gorgeous book as a gift a year or two back and although we enjoyed reading it, we saved the crafts and drawing activities till Eden was a bit older and able to enjoy doing them herself (you should see what she drew living under the sea!) or with some help from me.  We've been reading it again lately with the promise we'll make things when she has an afternoon with no preschool, and Ben is asleep (it's just easier). The Boo flannel puppet was our first craft activity and great fun.

We made a few adjustments, as you can see.  Eden traced the pattern pieces herself, that's the four of them top left.  I thought we may have some sizing issues (bless her four year old tracing/cutting skills) so I amended slightly when cutting (careful not to draw attention/offend). We used facecloth fabric for the soap holding pocket and rather than stitching right sides together, we did a short zig zag (applique) on the edges to avoid turning it out, as the fabric was too bulky and it would lose it's shape. This also left enough room for a wee hand to go inside and play puppets.  We also stopped embroidering after the face as I realised it was not my forte and Ben was up and ready for afternoon tea, our craft session was over!

The book tells the story of a bedtime routine and is interspersed with beautiful illustrations to colour in and crafts to make, including a dress up doll.  This will be a book we'll be treasuring, as it not only reminds us of snuggly bedtime stories, but is now full of precioius four year old drawings.

You can buy this book through Belle and Boo online, they ship internationally.

Sarah

Baking with toddlers...

I just had to share this little apron with you, it was such a happy accident.  I found the bodice in my cupboard already made and was just about to cut out some gingham (which also looks super cute) to make the skirt, when I glanced across the room and realised the fabric I'd just been making coats from was absolutely perfect! It really brings out the peach/coral pink of the floral Sanderson print and I had just enough left.  It'll be getting listed here later today, so some lucky little girl will be all set for baking.

Speaking of which, who honestly really enjoys baking with toddlers?  I want to. Some times I do.  More often than not I'm just persevering because I want it to be that wonderful mother/child bonding activity that I envisaged.  Think flour EVERYWHERE, tug of war over whisk, fighting over stool (if little brother is helping), spoon in mouth, fingers in mixture, mixture in hair, hair being pulled (if little brother is helping) and that pretty much sums it up, just add audio for full effect.  But, I will persevere, if not for my idealistic pre-children dreams, but for my hopes of an in-house baker.  My sister and I baked from a young age and in a family of 10, I'm sure it was a help/respite for my Mum.  Fed up with watching a whole slice devoured in one morning tea, Mum resorted to baking cakes in a large roasting pan, great big pans of deliciousness... still devoured in record time, poor Mum.  I'll leave you with a typical  image of a mixing bowl in our house, anyone for a cuppa and pikelets? Yes, that's a fairy costume for the occasion. The whisk is our super cute small size rainbow whisk, perfect for kids.  

I'm  off to buy a specially mixed can of spray for Eden's bedhead, I can't wait to see the end result!  Have a lovely day.

Sarah x

Come fly with me...

watching telly 'fly in' movie styles!

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with flying.  If I get a whiff of bad weather I can worry for days prior to flying, and my eyes are never open as we land (and I'm saying a little prayer that we will land...on the runway-not San Fran styles either-poor people), but  on the other hand, I love all that it represents, reunions, adventures, shopping etc...  I love the whole flight experience too (so long as there's no turbulence), and yes, even the in flight meals.  When I recently booked flights to Australia, for an upcoming wedding, I was appalled to discover the new budget flight options,  I'm afraid I'm paying the extra for my glorified microwave meal, and I'll enjoy every morsel (that I didn't have to prepare), and I'll wash it all down with my (not so) free glass of Sauvignon blanc... thank you very much!

While we're on the topic of planes (omit reference to Sauv blanc), I recently purchased this vintage quilt for Ben, actually i got two, so I'll be able to have matching twin beds when he gets his own room.  It's adorable, and looks super cute with his mobile, made by his lovely Aunty Est.  

Here's a few more aeroplane themed favourites for you...

my favourite themes always seem to make it onto my baby shoes!

flat out frankie plane

vintage plane decals, available here.

these would be cool for a kids plane themed party, or a farewell. Available here.

Have a lovely day and I'll see you back here soon x

Random things I'm loving...

Making rainbow celery, a fun use for left over celery when making soup, idea from this book.

(Still LOVING my fridge too!)

My $25 fragrance free (+free shipping) pack from Eco Store arrived today, bargain, especially since I use most of these products anyway. Sign up to get notified of future promotions.

3.2metres of vintage unused ballerina barkcloth arrived today!  Very pleased with this purchase.  Still has original shop tags, and unfortunately cellotape residue, though still heaps of it in pristine condition.  Can't wait to start making!

Our favourite biscuit recipe.  Poppet is a pro at choc button placement... a true lady, she can even multitask and caught up with Sesame Street on her own telly (made from a kids shoebox).

Some new stock.  I'm especially loving the ballet and polkadot combo and the circus pair.

Facebook love! Am having a wee giveaway to say thanks for liking, ends tomorrow, pop over here to enter. 

Be sure to pop back tomorrow night for 'a cuppa with'.... well you'll just have to pop back to find out.

Umm... that's all for now xx

ps. joining in here.