Boatshed Bliss

I've just found some images of our boatshed that didn't end up in the Country Style magazine article two years ago. I think I prefer some of them to those that were published:

What do you think?

Images from this website.

Spreading the (Cushion) Love

Remember this cushion I made a few weeks ago?

I decided the fabric would look better in another setting, so here it is looking very different on a chair from Ikea in a city apartment:

I put another one on the couch in the apartment:

I was so happy with the result I made another, larger one, which is perfect for this 70s chair in an 1890s house:

And one for the bed, which lifts the white bed-linen. Fairly economical considering all four cushions came from three metres of material:

Remember these ones that I made from some Ici et La fabric?

They have found new homes in the 1890s house:

I think they look great on the dark timber of these chairs, don't you?

And with a bit of leftover fabric, I covered a chair cushion for the bedroom:

Oh, I almost forgot, I made a cushion for a chair in the house above the boatshed as well:

These last four came from one metre of fabric!

Top Ten Valentine's Day Destinations

It's really difficult for me to decide on my favourite Valentine's Day treat. Maybe High Tea at the Windsor Hotel, Melbourne:

Or a picnic on the banks of the Seine, low-key but nonetheless highly romantic:

Visiting the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles is to surround yourself with a vision of romance and beauty:

The view from Cortona in Tuscany is breathtakingly romantic and the food is unsurpassed :

Balthazar's in New York is where you feel like you're in France, but you're in New York so it's fantastic anyway:

The Chateau les Reynats outside Perigueux has the most spectacular food this side of a Michelin star and the waiters are sweethearts:

Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como is so romantic that James Bond went there to recuperate while in love with Vesper Lynd in "Casino Royale":

This table for two in the cafe at the pink villa of Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild on the French Riviera has a view which is one of the most romantic in the world:

The White House at Daylesford is my favourite romantic destination in Australia. This bed makes you want to jump in immediately:

Le Grand Colbert in Paris is so romantic that it was the setting for the reunion in "Something's Gotta Give". And the "best roast chicken in the universe" really is:

Or maybe I'll just sit at home with my special valentine and ponder this view:

Happy Valentine's Day wherever you are!

Recycled Art

Two of my New Year's resolutions are currently shaping the look of the boatshed. The first is that due to lack of storage I need to start using things. The second is to try and limit the number of objects in the boatshed which are newer than forty years old. Both of these resolutions have been supported by the two market stalls I have had. While searching my storage space for usable things, I came across these pieces of art which I found at the op shop a few years ago but didn't put up on the wall at the time. I consider this art deco mirror an art work because of its lovely scallop shell shape:

The frame of this oil painting was quite hideous and detracted from it, so I took it off:

This bird is print is a real favourite of mine. I love the frame and the bright colours:

This print of two sisters is my absolute favourite. It looks very old and the frame is beautiful:

The days when I could pick up so many treasures at the op shop are long gone. I think I found the bottom three in the one day. I still pay a visit every so often just in case.

Summer Boatshed Projects

Lately I've been a little bit "over" a couple of pieces of furniture in the boatshed because the timber was a bad shade of brown - namely this stool I covered in Amy Butler fabric:

And this glass-topped table:

So, last week, I finally had time to haulthem outside to be repainted:

Now that that wrong shade of brown stain has been painted over, I love them:

Another project was sewing cushion covers. Just looking at them makes me feel summery:

Upcycled Cushion Love

During my recent stay at The White House at Daylesford, I fell in love with Lyn Gardener's beautiful French linen cushions:

She has loads of them all over the place and they look so understated and elegant.Unfortunately when I've seen them for sale they are way outside my budget. So I upcycled a teatowel and voila!:

While not as professional or gorgeous as those at The White House, I'm quite pleased with my cushion that began life as a teatowel.

I Love This Book

My lovely friend Belinda gave me a copy of this book a few days ago. It's compiled by Frankie, which I think is a great magazine:

The book provides plenty of interiors which have a vintage, eclectic style, such as the Vintage Espresso cafe at Mermaid Beach, Australia:

I love the combination of vintage fabrics and wallpapers in the home of Tif Fussell, who is behind the Dottie Angel blog:

This is the London flat of Barny and Becky who own The Peanut Vendor store:

But my favourite images are from the house and shop of Emily Chalmers, who owns Caravan in London. I went to the shop earlier this year but she was there and I felt awkward about asking to take photos. Now I have a record of the shop interior:

It's the kind of book I love, where every time you dip into it, you see something else fabulous. I thoroughly recommend it.

Images from this site.

Boatshed Christmas

Something Sewn:

Something Picked:

Something Baked:

Something Steamed:

Something Cute:

Add up to a Perfect Christmas. I hope you all had a lovely day!