The front porch makeover.

For months now we’ve been working on the front porch.  I spent many hours stripping back the layers of paint so we could have a nice smooth surface to work with.  It’s eventually going to be closed in with Plantation shutters and the front door will go.  But for the meantime we thought we’d use up the left over paint from the bathroom and give the porch a bit of a make over.

My mother added a trim of yellow ‘rick rack’ to the euro pillowcases

I brought at Adairs. And I brought the ‘home’ cushion from Adairs at Indooroopilly. I was tossing up whether to return this cushion as I’m kind of thinking that this decorating style using letters, quotes and words has been ‘done to death’.  I left the tag on the cushion and decided to give it a day or two.

The following day, I walked through the front door after a long day at work and saw the HOME cushion sitting on the sofa and said to myself  ahhhh… home sweet home. So Yes I decided to keep it.

In the latest issue of  Home Beautiful I spotted an outdoor rug that I thought would look good on the porch. It’s made from recycled polypropylene.  I was going to order one online but decided on Saturday afternoon to go for a look around the shops at East Brisbane and Wooloongabba and saw the rug for sale at adrift.  It was meant to be.

Window Decorations.

I’d like to share with you a very different style of ‘window dressing’.  It’s made from hundreds of cardboard tubes from toilet rolls.

The window is in the bedroom of the oldest son of my friend’s house  from work.   Like me, she also  has three sons .

Her boys have their own bathroom in the house and when  they’d used the last of the toilet paper they’d leave the empty tubes on the floor of the toilet.

My friend refused to pick them up and the boys rather than throw them in the rubbish would stack them into a pyramid which was knocked down by my friend every time she cleaned the floor but  rather than spend a minute throwing them out, they would spend ten minutes re building the pyramid.  This was a battle of wills.  I would have gone crazy!!!!!

Over time the pile  got too big for down beside the toilet so the pyramid of toilet rolls  was  moved to a corner in the bathroom then eventually  into the bath tub. This  took a couple of years to collect !!!

My friend who feels she is ‘pretty  tolerant’ had  finally had enough and it was” either in the bin or his bedroom” (the oldest son), so they were  moved into his bedroom window creating this rather interesting but if somewhat unusual window dressing.

At least she says, she doesn’t have to look at them everyday!!! He can’t close the window though so he has had some cold nights over the winter.  The coloured areas are cupcake patty cases.   Sooo, what do you think?  I think it’s cool!

Cushions.

On my home from work on Friday afternoon I went via DFO (Direct Factory Outlet) to look for some European pillow cases for the day bed on the porch.  Every six months or so I like to change them and ALWAYS manage to find a bargain at ADAIRS.

The photo above shows some cushion covers that I brought from Adairs last year (this years dust rags).

I never have to pay more than $5.00 each.  As we’ve just painted the porch dark grey, I was looking for grey covers. $49.95!!!!!!!! who pays this for a pillow case?????

 

I also spotted some cushions that were half price as they were shop soiled.  I decided to grab them too as I’m sure they’ll be looking twice as bad in a few weeks.

I’ve since washed them, the stain hasn’t come out completely but it’s on the back of the cushion, so it doesn’t matter.

I know, I know, they look wrong on this bench seat, I’m on my way to work and wanted to do this post before I run out the front door.

I also pulled out the sewing machine from under the bed and began stitching together this old tea towel for a cushion.  The machine started playing up so I finished it by hand.  It’s not perfect but I’m happy with the results.

Happy Monday!

Introducing mummy Possum’s latest edition.

Mummy Possum’s baby was getting too big for her pouch.  I’d noticed recently a leg or arm hanging out.  So now she’s back to carrying this years edition on her back.  I apologise for the quality of the photos.  It’s a very dark cupboard and I don’t want to freak them out with a torch in their faces.

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!!!

Happy Australia Day!!!

It’s been a very wet day here in Brisbane today, much to the disappointment of many Queenslander’s who probably had plans to spend it at the beach or at home with  family, friends, beers and a bbq.   We’ve had a very  hot and dry Summer so far so I’m enjoying the cooler temperature and the rain.

Because its Australia Day, I feel its only fitting that I post these photos.

Twice a week I drive to Ipswich for work.  For those not familiar with Brisbane, Ipswich City is approximately a 30 – 40 minute drive from Brisbane.  I pass some beautiful old ‘Queenslanders’ on my route and some that have seen better days. Sitting on a very busy road by some traffic lights there is a house that is a little worse for wear.  But if you look really closely you’ll see an Emu and a Kangaroo in the gable panel.  It is, I believe the Coat of arms of Australia. 

I found some interesting information about fretwork gabled panels on the The Woodworkers’ Company website.

 

You can still  buy something similar from timber joinery suppliers like the Woodworkers’ Company .  There are other designs available  too but not quite so Patriotic!