Showing posts with label upcycling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label upcycling. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Christmas Mantelpiece - Simple - Elegant

On a dull, wet, Auckland Spring day I tried to get some photos of my Christmas mantelpiece.  I'm not so happy with the image results, still waiting for that elusive upgrade camera, "I know, ya..ya.. you have heard this before". However, yet another Christmas I have had to make do with my point and shoot, so please excuse the fact that I don't have a wide angle lens, and I had to work in poor light.  I am a perfectionist at heart and would rather wait until I have that perfect camera, but I realise, if I wait for perfection, my readers would too. I am thankful for photo enhancement to add some light to the images, although I may have over done it slightly.

I wanted this years mantel to reflect nature and elegance, and to include items of mine and my mothers. For nature, I chose Orchids, I adore them and they flower for such a long time, I knew they would see Christmas and New Year too. My pair of porcelain Cheetahs complimented the white orchids and their black pots and added to the symmetry.  I then  up cycled a vintage fruit salad glass that belonged to my mum. I had lots of old broken pearl necklaces of my mothers and placed these in the bottom of the glass, adding a simple white candle. I finished off with a delicate garland of tiny silver stars to swag across the mantel and voila!... Simple but definitely elegant, don't you think?





























Poppy was totally miffed yet again at being dressed up, she is giving me her, "sad dog" look.

If you want to see my mantelpiece from last year, please visit "here" or if you still haven't planned your own mantelpiece and want more inspiration see my previous post "Christmas Mantelpiece Decorations".

Later this week I'll be sharing more images of my living room makeover decorated for Christmas and next week my Christmas tablescape which this year is a touch of "vintage". I'll  be using all the beautiful vintage items I have inherited from my mother to create a pretty vintage Christmas tablescape.

Last years tablescape of mauve and silver can be seen "here"

Have a wonderful week, start to plan your Christmas day meal now so you won't stress.  If you haven't thought about gifts yet, you might want to check out some of my  gift ideas "here", its still not too late to order on line.
















Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Inspiration From The Blogasphere Wk 10 - Interiors, Upcycling, Recipes

This week has been a long week of back and forth to mums, still sorting out but also sanding and painting. The house is really starting to look refreshed, I'm replacing old floral wallpapers with a fresh, clean neutral paint, Resene Ricecake, and painting mouldings, skirting and ceilings in alabaster. I used these colours for my own home too. These neutral whites with a touch of warmth help create a sense of  light and space and are perfect background for hanging artworks.  I'm still struggling parting with a lot of mums possessions but this week made a break through sending 5 more huge bags of clothing to the Mercy Hospice shop as Mercy were so wonderful to both of us the past few years, without their help I don't know what I would have done. I also have two bags for the SPCA (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Mum loved animals and I know she will have felt good about contributing to this worthy cause too.

Consequently this week to prepare this post I've had to rush around the web gathering  inspiration to share, a little rushed but found some great ideas, I hope you'll enjoy today's picks....


Free printables from Graphic Designer and fellow blogger Kristi at, "I Should Be Mopping the Floor". Hop over to Kristi's blog to download a sheet of various size labels in your choice of colour. Click "here" for her link to download. Print them out on self adhesive label sheets for your kitchen storage jars or on a slightly thicker paper as gift tags. Thanks Kristi for sharing such pretty designs...

How about a little "upcycling" with vintage china. Ideas from stylist Paul Lowe at country Living, step by step directions to the Lamp can be found at the link below.  PS...If an annoying advert pops up when you land on this page just hit the "x" on the ad, I found it a little intrusive, however, certainly worth hanging around to read the full instructions if you can dodge this ad which was a bit of a cat and mouse game for me :)....

 
 find out how to turn this box of old china into a unique lamp, step by step directions at Country Living

More ideas with old china, aren't these sweet, also Paul Lowe at Country Living...

I just LOVE blue and white,  if you'd like some more blue and white inspiration, check out my Pinterest  Blue & White Board, lots of fabulous images to be found. You can also see some of my own home blue and white collection in a previous post "here".

Oh...and a great idea of transferring plate designs onto fabric....

Iron on technique found "here"

And now for a little sweetness...

I love coffee and cake and my favourite Saturday morning indulgence is said coffee and cake usually at La Cigale market but this week I decided to DIY (saving pennies), and I've found a couple of special recipes to share. First an Apple Walnut Delight cake, and secondly Meyer Lemon Coffee Cake with Apple Streusel,  both from Liren at Kitchen Confidante. You'll find the recipe links below the images. The first one is "easy peasy", the second one takes a little more time but well worth it...



Ending this week with a sneak peek at this gorgeous apartment in Sweden, all the remaining beautiful images can be seen at Inspiring Interiors 




This week I was excited to introduce my first guest blogger, Sierra, who from time to time will be posting  fresh ideas on interiors and fashion. I would love for you to support her first post  here Nursery  Inspiration by leaving a comment. Sierra is a writer and blogger who I know will bring some fresh young inspiration to Lee Caroline - A World of Inspiration.

We hope you had a fabulous week, we are well into Spring now in New Zealand, the Peonies are in bloom and I hope to take some great shots over the next few weeks for future paintings.

Oh....and Poppy wanted to say hi today so will leave you with a parting farewell photo from her, she is one year old now but I still think the cutest little thing ever!


Sharing this week with:





Friday, September 21, 2012

Inspiration From The Blogasphere 8 - Recipes, DIY & Interiors

Lots of inspiration this week starting with a tour writer/artist/blogger/entrepreneur Jen Ramos fabulous Las Vegas home at her blog "Made by Girl"...


Amy Butler Hand Tufted Wool Rug Coventry
A rug can subtly blend in with its surroundings making it more cosy under foot, or make an artists statement such as the one above. Interior designer Lisa Ferguson of Decor Mentor has put together a fab post on tips for buying the perfect rug, room size, shape, colour etc, check it out at  Layla Grayce.

A delicious Fall recipe....

A lovely, rustic desert from Jenny Steffens Hobick - Raspberry and Blackberry Crostata using store bought crust/pastry.

And for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere with warmer days on the horizon....
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A thirst quenching lavender lemonade from a delightful blog discovery,  "With a Grateful Prayer".  Please visit Lorraine's blog for her recipe to make this refreshing twist on home-made lemonade.


And now for a little "vintage" upcycling...

Burlap Pin Cushion in Ornate Vintage Silver Plate Cup
Turn a pretty antique egg cup into a pin cushion with a little burlap. The original idea comes from Cloth and Patina a lovely  Etsy store.  

Pretty tea cup candles, for instructions please visit Georgica Pond

Antique napkin rings and an old light bulb makes for a sweet vase, this idea comes from a lovely blog called "Charming Recycling" where Hanna  explores ways to re purpose vintage items.



Saturday, September 8, 2012

Inspiration From The Blogasphere 7 - Interiors, Recipes, DIY, Upcycling

Fellow blogger Kifus of Inspiring Interiors, shared this beautiful home on her blog this week. This fabulous 15th Century home is inspired by nature.... See the original post and images "here".
Photobucket

A sneak peek at "Hazed" the new Kiwi on line Indie Mag...

I love Cush & Nooks blog and regularly receive Vic's inspirational design posts. This week I was excited to see a new on-line magazine, "Hazed" mentioned in Vic's latest post.  Hazed Magazine is devoted to NZ Indie products... there's lots of ideas, recipes and inspiration, so pop over and read the inaugural issue "here".

What about a handle with a difference....

A cute idea from "Country Living". A short time ago I posted an idea of my own for up-cycling vintage cups and saucers into mini cake stands. You can see the post and step by step instructions "here"

Upcyled glassware creating some lovely cloche's - See "here" for instructions.
Also spotted at Country Living...Who doesn't posses a watch with a broken watch strap, hiding away in a draw, now you can re-cycle your watch face with a vintage or trendy scarf.  If your watch face is antique, you could use a pretty piece of  lace or organza ribbon.  



I can't end this weeks inspiration without a couple of delicious recipes, this week both are from Liren at Kitchen Confidante...
Who doesn't love a Margarita, but have you heard of a Margarita slice? - Hop over to Kitchen Confidante for Liren's  yummy non alcoholic version.



Apple Spice Cake" from Kitchen Confidante

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