O's bedroom

the first room that i wanted to get completely finished was always O's and it is almost done. just two more little things to work on which should be in the next week and i will be ready to show the little space i have created for my little man.

for now i just have two more sneaks into the bits and pieces that are included in his space. isnt the squirrel too cute!

images: sleepyking & vintagemagpie.

canine companion

we've been busy. and to add to all the new things we have going on we have a new addition to our family.

this is India and she is O's best friend. she is a beautiful two year old beagle that was looking for a new home and we couldnt resist her sweet face so she joined us over a month ago now.

now & then {kitchen}

i realized today that it has been two weeks since my last post and i was was supposed to be sharing more progress the next day. but here it is now.

the second project on the house was the kitchen. we opted to go with an ikea kitchen and M installed it all by himself with the odd request for my help. we finally have all the cupboards (one of the down falls of ikea, not everything is in stock at once).

it is a huge difference from where we first started but there are a few last things to finish up before i do the final reveal.

images: me

now & then {floors}

it has been a month since we moved into our home and finally i am able to share a few photos of the progress. the first project we tackled was the floors and since they are throughout the whole house it was a larger task then first thought but here is the before, during and a peak at the now. 

we wanted to go with a richer color for the floors since the walls will be all white and i am quite happy with the way it has turned out. 

there is limited furniture right now as we search around for the pieces that we need which means lots of space for O to run around in. i ll share some photos of the kitchen tomorrow as it is coming along quite nicely. 

images: me

cloth

another new discovery for me via one small room was the australia fabric designer cloth. 

the timing is perfect as i search for some neat new fabric for our dining room chairs. and the gallery images are such wonderful inspiration as we are almost beginning the fun part of decorating our home. 

images: cloth 

one room

in my almost daily searches on ebay for vintage furniture i have discover the most fabulous local home decor store and i finally made my way down there the other day. lets say that i was truly inspired by this little street doted with trendy clothing stores, cafes and one beautifully decorated shop called one small room.  



i could have bought everything in store but i just bought what we needed which were some great mid century dining chairs. they need a bit of new fabric to bring them up to date but that is just another project on the list to do.

images: one small room

disconnected

so it has been awhile since i have been here but i have good reasons. obviously first the move into the new house and the renovations that have begun and not stopped but i was also with out internet for a good few weeks which was somewhat interesting. i have lots to report but i am not sure where to start other than with some pictures and i have to dig out my camera cord so i can upload all before and nows to show you. 

so i am just popping into say that i will be back very soon so i can start sharing all the new news in our life and that we are in love with our new house. 

image: shaded memories

shop {old yarns}

breathing new life into old linens is done so nicely by old yarns. i just purchased some vintage flour sacks and will become pillows for O's room at some stage and this is some wonderful inspiration.

and the little scribbles on the photographs are a cute touch.

images: old yarn

earth

this is the most wonderful book that i have picked up in a long time. it contains so many useful ways to create a peaceful and rhythmic family home and is based on the waldorf philosophy. author sharifa oppenheimer also has a website with more information and reviews about the book.

my favorite part of the book so far are evening meal blessings to say with your children, it is a simple ritual that i have overlooked because i wasnt sure how to do it without it being based on a religious tradition.

it has also helped me with some more ideas with a bedtime routine. O has always gone to bed without too much fuss but i always hoped for something even calmer and very rhythmic. making a few minor adjustments is already making a difference and that will only get better when he has his new space in our new home. with all the changes that have gone on lately he has done so well with very few hiccups, children are resilient but i cannot help be a little amazed with my little guy.

image: amazon

teepee

O has always been one to hide behind curtains and spots in the house.

i think he would really enjoy a little space just for himself and this teepee that i found is such a great option.

of course i want to attempt to make one myself and i found a pattern that i plan to work from. mine will be a somewhat simplified version but fun for him just the same.

image: apartment therapy & old entrance teepees

shop {vivaterra}

i have liked eco friendly items at viva terra for sometime, i had wished they shipped outside of the us when i lived in canada but no such luck. but they do have some wonderful bits of inspiration that i can use to recreate similar ideas in our new home. their products reflect the style and feeling that i would like present in our new home.

those are just a few of my favorite items.

images: vivaterra

air

another easy gardening plant that i have started to see pop up around the place are air plants.

what could be better than essentially maintenance free plants in pretty containers.

list

in just over three weeks M and i have accomplished alot on our to do list. we got the house and now i have a car and a mobile phone too. i feel a bit more settled now that i have a few things that connect me to the outside world and as of wednesday when the car is dropped off i will be able to venture out by myself with O. i am very excited about the car, it is much more spacious than my last and has 4 doors so no more leaning over to get O in the back seat... my back will be saved. well aside from that i am thinking craft stores and thrift shops will be a good start on where we can go as i want to start getting a few more things to fill up the house since we are only two weeks away from taking possession.

we have also had to start planning so of the specifics for the renovations for our new home. we are going to be doing a bit of work before we move in and then continuing on the not so tricky things later on. the three big things on the list are refinishing the hardwood floors, repainting the whole house including trim and doors as well as a new kitchen. i think the kitchen is the most fun part for me because i really want it to be the center of the home and have dreamed of the style i wanted for sometime. to finally be able to get it. the feel that i want throughout our home is for it to be calm and organic by using natural and rustic materials.

stones

i am really into the idea of felting. i bought some beautiful roving from windrose and have been looking for as many projects to use it up.

i found this felted stone project from made in lowell and i have completed six stones so far. it is surprisingly easy and so much fun to do. i might end up with a ton more at this rate just want to wait and see how these look when they are dry.

image: lil fish studio via flickr

corners

the idea for the felted acorns goes along with the nature table that i want to create in our home for things that we find on little walks and such. the nature table is a waldorf home essential that it typically changed seasonally.

on my search for some inspirational tables i also discovered the blog of soule mama who has her nature table in the front entry of her home. i think it is a wonderful idea to have it right at the entrance to the home so that it can collect wonderful bits of the outside. the blogs keeper is amanda blake soule who had two fabulous books both of which are on my list to get. with some many things to look at online i never get the chance to look further into little things that i find inspire me until it jumps onto my screen as amanda's blog did today. just never enough time to read about what everyone is doing when you have your own life to live but this blog was a welcome break today as i took a little look into her life as an author and mother of four.

image: soulemama

little boys

one thing that i have been doing for O is planning out his new bedroom, i am sure the decor element is not as appreciated at his age but some day perhaps. either way i thought i would share some of the elements for his room that i have purchased and am waiting to receive. i wanted to do a sort of theme but something that he can grow with. and of course the other focus will be handmade by me or others.

i have purchased the birch tree fabric from ink & spindle for some pillows. the horned owl pillows are from lolley land and i got the one in baby blue.

i adore this new growth print from ground work. it fits in perfectly to concept for the bedroom plus i love faux bois. one of my other favorite elements that helped inspire the room is a olive green knitted blanket than O's auntie made him for his first christmas. it is wonderfully thick and cozy which is much needed at night without the central heat.

some other crafty projects for me will include a bird mobile using the spool bird pattern. and some felted acorns using these cute acorn caps. needless to say i am excited to get into the house so i can start putting together O's room, it is the first thing on my list to do as far as decorating. now i just need to find some furniture for him as well.

cake

not much to report over the last week or so but we have had a few birthdays. well mine yesterday and O's today. i cant believe my little baby is no longer so little.

i am more than disappointed with myself as far as party planning because i have nothing planned. we are having our little family celebration, just the three of us tonight and then tomorrow something with a few more friends and family. i have stuck to my promise which was making O his birthday cake every year. it is nothing like the rocket ship wonder that i did last year but none the less i think it is special because i am taking the time to make it for him. i will excuse myself this year from having a real party for him but will have to make it up next year with a neat theme and all the fun to go with it.

image: chakrapennywhistle

shop {greenware design}

i feel so inspired to have some plant life in our home. i have attempted houseplants in the past with not much luck. i think the solution to that is low maintenance plants to start and along with the moss terrariums i believe succulents would be just as easy to keep alive. greenware designs on etsy do such cute arrangements in sweet little pots.

i dont imagine these could be shipped to australia as they are in the us but i think i might be able to manage giving an arrangement a go myself.

images: greenware design

rediscovering

another wonderful part of finally being together is that i get to cook for more than just myself and o. it helps that m like to eat and seems to very much appreciate the meals i put together. last night i made a sweet corn and chicken soup recipes from the newest real living and it was a huge hit. and yes i said chicken, the once vegetarian lifestyle is no longer. i have not switched over to eating huge quantities of meat but it has crept back into my diet over the past few months as i wasnt feel it as much of a health benefit as i once thought. i am finding a new balance with this addition but i still love my veggie food so i cannot guarantee non-veg in every meal. the ideal that i want to focus on and make sure o understands is more about being conscious of what we eat and where it comes from. i am really enjoying some of the new discoveries here in oz even at the super market. i pick up an organic yogurt that i thought looked wonderful and upon using it last night as a garnish to the soup realized that is actually not only organic but also made by a biodynamic farm in the adelaide hills.

the nicest part of some of these discoveries is having the time to explore them further and cooking is definitely on the top of the list. i used to get stuck making the same old things but now having a little bit more time for it i am really getting back into it. tonight i am making tacos but not just any tacos. some years ago on a trip to california we stopped at a little beach side taco stand and they made the simplest but most wonderful pulled pork tacos so you guessed it, thats what i am making. i dont follow recipes well because i would rather improvise but the general idea is create something similar to the ones i had back in the day. pulled pork topped with shredded red cabbage and a few fresh made salsas. i will probably throw together a guacamole as well just to make it a little more interesting.

image: real simple

to do's

we can officially check off one of our biggies on the to do list. we got the house!

we will take possession in about 4 weeks and then the renovating, decorating and such begins. but thats all the fun stuff so i am very happy.

it is amazing to me that when you really want something to happen by planting that seeding and really believing that it will grow it will come to be reality. everything is truly falling into place, one thing after another is happening rather seamlessly with just the odd bump or two. i have always been a dreamer and if i visualize things over and over as i do they happen. at times it can be very hard to stay positive when things stand it the way but keeping the dream at the forefront is so important to get through those times. right now i am only seeing the clearest of paths without a single obstacle in sight and i am going to enjoy this moment and all the wonderful things that are in the making right now.

images: every eskimo

real house hunting

we are five days into our lives today and accomplished a fair bit already. this morning we put an offer in on a house that we both love and obviously very much hope to get. so in anticipation of being able to decorate our new home i am going through the pile of fabulous australia design magazines real living and inside out that m got for me including a heap of back issues! i think most of the excitement is because i have no idea where to go to get the things that i want and it somewhat relieving to have some help from these magazines.

now i just have to patiently wait to hear back from the real estate agent about the result of the offer. the process is quite different here so that doesnt make this any easier. hopefully i will have good news by the end of the day.

images: inside out