Op Shop Treasures

I'm trying not to go op shopping today as I've just spent a ridiculous amount of money on groceries (necessary) and petrol (also necessary) and am feeling a bit poor (probably unnecessarily).

So here are some finds from recent times instead.

This little mosaic table came from the Salvos at Sandgate for $8.

I just love this tin! It's full of old cams from a sewing machine, which may not be much use, but the tin will be. It came from Deagon Secondhand.

I actually got this a couple of months ago and have barely taken it off since. It's a little rose from the Salvos at Sandgate and from memory, it cost around $5.

And the best find was the baby's bassinet, also at the Salvos at Sandgate. I love that store. It was $90, but worth every penny in my book. I just love it.

Rocking Reindeer

Blogging... I'm not sure why I still do it. I'm not much of a blogger any more. I hardly write anything, I rarely comment on anyone else's (although I do read them) and I don't participate in blog events.

I think I just mainly do it for myself - to spur myself to keep taking photos of my life and to keep documenting things I make and places I spend time.

But every time I feel the urge to post something, I go through this internal debate about what the point is. Then I generally post anyway.

So here I am, posting. I have no idea why.

Here is a recent creation, a play mat I made last weekend. It has a quilted underside and is quite cute if I do say so myself. Only thing is I forgot to pre-shrink the fabrics, so I just know that the first time I wash it they'll all shrink to different sizes and it'll get twisted out of shape.

I guess I just can't wash it. Babies don't make much mess, right?



In case you're wondering why Maisie is tied to the veranda, we'd just been for a walk and she was muddy and couldn't come inside. She also can't go in the backyard as she's worked out an escape route and Dan hasn't had a chance to block it yet.

So she's just hanging on the veranda, watching the world go by.



This here is the humble beginnings of the baby's room. Much work still to do, obviously. Six weeks to do it in.

The rug is yet another from the stockpile they're selling at Lifeline for $25 a pop (I've bought four now), and the rocking reindeer came courtesy of the side of the road - a friend picked it up on council pick up day.

I think it's amazing what people will chuck into landfill. Dan thinks it's amazing what people will try and salvage from it.

We just agree to disagree - and disinfect.

Royal

This is Royal, a little pup who came to stay with us recently while his owners were up the coast.



He missed them terribly and spent a lot of time hanging by the front door waiting for their return.

Maisie seemed to think he was a stuffed toy and kept whacking him on the head waiting for him to squeak, so I'm not surprised he was a little homesick.

Housewife

I was given a copy of Simple Sewing for Baby by Lotta Jansdotter for my birthday a couple of weeks ago.

In that I will, in fact, be a housewife in a couple of weeks (or, you know, lady on a year's maternity leave, whatever) the timing was pretty good.

I meant to save the projects for the six-week period between finishing work and having this baby, but I haven't been able to help myself.

This here is a rattle. It's pretty damn cute, if I do say so myself.

This is a change mat. Duh.

and finally, bloomers! Every baby needs bloomers, no?

Anyway, if you know anyone having a baby who also likes to dabble in sewing (but maybe isn't very good at it, or is a beginner anyway), I definitely recommend this book.

The projects are oh so cute and very simple.

Now, I'm off to make more rattles with the bells from around the necks of all the Lindt bunnies I've eaten so far this Easter.

My Little Heart Out

So, obviously, I haven't stopped by here in a while. But now, here I am - 31 weeks pregnant and already looking 'more than ready to drop', as a kind gentleman pointed out at an op shop yesterday.

Ahem.

But anyway, I do have a sudden urge to decorate. I guess that's the famous nesting instincts kicking in. I decided to put them to good use this weekend and booked myself a barge to Karra today (Sunday).

Yesterday, I went op shopping. I bought this fantastic tea trolley at Lifeline for $50. It was love at first sight.

Then, I stopped in at Deagon Second Hand Furniture, on Sandgate Road. That place is AMAZING, a treasure trove of goodies for great prices. I got this little table, the sign, some fabric and a magazine rack for $20. Score!

Throw in a couple of cheap rugs ($25 each, also Lifeline) and a Persian rug that was my Grandmother's and I was all ready for a few hours at Karra today, decorating my heart out.

It's definitely looking a lot cosier and more homely than it was before and I feel like I've done something more productive with this nesting phase than just folding and re-folding baby clothes...

Next weekend: the nursery!

Eau De Wet Canine

We're just about settled into the new place now, give or take a couple of boxes still to unpack and things to find homes for.

On Monday, Maisie had her first day at home alone here. I'd been pretty worried about her escaping, because the yard is not 100 percent Maisie-proof yet and we're living quite near the train lines now.

Sure enough, it was a stinking hot day, completed with a massive thunderstorm. Nothing freaks a dog out like a good thunderstorm.

She got out.

Luckily, a man spotted her on the road, pulled her into his car and rang me. She was soaking wet and shook that special wet dog scent all over his upholstery, bless her.

To his absolute credit, he parked and waited for Dan to come and collect her, instead of just turfing her out on the road in disgust.

Yesterday, I came home to find her still secure in the yard, much to my relief. We headed down to the beach in a quick break between lazy afternoon storms and she was able to work up another good case of Eau De Wet Canine.

Lovely.

Interested in Pinterest

I've signed up for Pinterest and am curious: who out there is also a member? What do you like/dislike about the site? Have you used it much?

I've only got one board happening at the moment, which you can find here.

If you're a member, leave me a message with your details so I can Pinterest stalk you and steal your cutest pins.

That's kind of the point, no?