Roma and Leah

Dear Friend...

My what a whirl wind of a week...
We had yet another dust storm yesterday and I do start to worry about the state of our little planet when weather changes so dramatically....
How is the climate were you are...Are you warm and summery or cool and wintry...
Since blogging I find these things now amuse me more than they every did before...
Seeing pictures and chatting to friends who live so far away bring these things to light I suppose...

My mind has been busy with so many happy thoughts this week as well...
Seeing the new painting by Leah of my sweet pretty Roma, has brightened me no end...
I know you love caravans and vintage as much as me so I realize your heart would be in a flutter too..
So here is a beautiful photo just cause I knew you would want to see it as much as me...

(Click on image to visit the lovely Leah at flickr)Photo courtesy of Leah...
Or Here to see her Etsy shop...
Leah has a amazing style about here painting...
I think you will agree...For me her work reminds me of true
Brady Bunch Architecture...
The look of that era, the clean lines of architectural drawing but the thought that something
more lies within...The perfect house yet is it the perfect family?
I could delve deeper into thought but I will not as I really would like to see what you think?
Of course it is ovious that I am insane about caravans so that does help loving here work...
But after checking through Leah's etsy shop I did spy some very cool pool scenes...
I think I am liking them more and more...
Maybe something to do with my new found splashing abilities...Yes giggle...giggle....

Now I have, as you know been a tad crocheted out...If that is possible...
But as you realize dear friend when has that ever stopped me...
so yes I did find time to set to work on a few Christmas gifts...
Here is a photo enclosed of what will be finding it's way here...
I really kick myself for not starting my Christmas gift organizing sooner...
But every year I do the same thing....
Leave it all to the last minute...
You would think I would learn but no...Slow in that department...
Now other exciting news is the new cottage will be all settled a week before Christmas...
That gives me a week to get it stripped and painting...
I think I will be just visiting on Christmas day as I can not see me moving furniture and family in as well...
But I did find out some interesting things about the cottage...
That it is 155 years old...How sweet...
And that it was originally a school principals residence and class room
way back then...and even later on a parsonage for a Methodist priest...
Intriguing...
and the original side gate is still there entwined with ivy and the like...
Fancy that....

Now as much as I want to write some more I have to dash...
But as always there is more I need to fill you in on...Like the other project!!!
so I will write very soon and share more...
Till then Dear Friend...take care...
Michelle...

Loving The Vintage...

My Head Is Swimming

Dear Friend...
My head maybe swimming but am I?
Well the answer my dear friend is this...
I wouldn't quite call myself a swimmer...
and there isn't too much chance of me drowning in this pool as the deepest end is 0.9metres...
But I would say I am a sinker so that's why I wade in the "middle size"pool...
I flail, I splash, I have been know to hold my nose and even submerge... but swim...
I really don't think it is officially classified as that...
But there is a very good reason behind why I am becoming a permanent
fixture at the local pool...And no dear friend they don't have a
Johnny Depp look-a-like instructor....I dream...
No I have made an astonishing realization
that by taking my kids too the pool every chance I can get...
They are overjoyed and I take my oh so comfy fold up chair
and my new favorite crochet bag and crochet till my hearts content...
It's a stroke of genius and I really can't believe that I didn't think of it sooner...
So 60 odd Grandma Twinkles and a few Grandma Trees later and the kids are still happy...Yeah...
Now I think by mentioning two little tutorials you may now know why my head is swimming...
So a huge "thank you" and a big "your are so sweet" goes out to all my dear friends...
Including you...

Now I know there is more to tell you and yes dear friend you have been oh so patient with me...
For I should have written much sooner...and I do have a tendency to get side tracked...
So I shall brighten your day and give you a glimpse of what will one day very soon,
be my new laundry...Yes the laundry that I really will love to go too...and why you ask...
Well if you take note of one of the photo's I have enclosed for you and you will see a
very untidy, slightly dusty and a fraction cluttered laundry...
But keep looking closer can you see it now...I know you can! you are so much like me,
you probably saw it the second you took a look...
yes they are the real deal...Concrete wash tubs!!!
Yes this very room was the first room I looked at before I saw any other part of the cottage...
and I fell in love...
I have visions (good ones) of my newly made garland hanging across the room...
I saw vintage washing baskets and rustic stands...I saw...Concrete wash tubs!!!
and that was enough for me...
Now I would love to share more but until the time comes that I have the key in my
hand we will all have to wait...and waiting will be worth it...But I can give you a hint...
Wood stove...hmmmmm...

Now dear friend I did mention in my last letter the need to gush...
and I do so love too...My perfect parcels in the mail were from two lovely friends...
Tif has the most amazing goodness happening in her shop it's hard to pick a favorite...
But I did manage to grad a set of her "everyday unordinary tags" and two sets of her
"every eventuality cards"...one of the sets I will be framing and putting up in my new abode...
Now don't forget her shop update in December...It is sure to be full of "Glee"...

and the other parcel was a most magnificent cushion, that I think is so me.
Helen from Helkatdesigns has amazing designs and gorgeous coloured fabric
and the workmanship is just beautiful...
And looks pretty impressive on my bed I think...I have enclosed a photo for you to see...
Her shop is full of Christmas goodness I find it hard to choose went I take a look...
But I know after you have finished this letter you will have to jump up from
your cozy chair and take a look...

So I shall end my letter this time on a most interesting word...
A word you know and have come to love as much as me...
"Caravans"...
Yes all will be unveiled very soon but it will have to be in another letter...
A letter all about friends, team work and the world of art!!!
Till then dear friend...stay well and cheery and full of imagination...

Regards your friend...Michelle...

Loving The Vintage...

Dear Friend

I am going to try something different...
and hope that you can get a better idea of me by it...
You see I can write to a person, friend, real thing...
but I find only having a idea in my mind
of who is out there reading this I just have washy posts...
Very to the point and not too personal...
And I am not like that...
I am as most around me know a "have a chat"...
Chronic actually...
So my post is now written to you...
Yes you(no need to turn around)
It is you that I want to talk to...
and describe the day and things on my mine....
So I shall begin...
Dear Friend...
I was going to write you earlier but you know what I am like...
So much crap happening my head is spinning...
But I wanted to tell you so much I fear I will burst if I don't...
Tuesday as you know I had to have my op shop fix...As Tuesday is the only day to go...
They always put the good stuff out and the town swarms and nothing is left by Wednesday...
Plus with "little miss" at pre-school it is always a little me time...
But I am getting ahead of my self as usual...
I of course drag myself out of bed...Hmmm nothing seems to change there...
And as I get "little miss" ready I walk past "my shadows" bed,
first pulling the doona to the floor...
Yeah like that works...
and the several other times with words of encouragement...
Like "if you don't get out of bed I will get your father"....Yeah like that works too....Not...
"little miss"as you know is ready and in the car like a flash...
She would be early if she could and as I scream(encourage) once more to "my shadow"
that if he is not ready by the time I am back...Well Yeah he will be late again...
Like he seems to care...12 is such a hard age...for me that is...
Once all are at school my day begins...I know it is the same for you...
Funny how are lives are so close yet so far sometimes...
I head like a flash straight for the thrifty goodness...
And yes bless their cottontails they have just wheeled out the "new stock" rack...
It is nearly to much for me but I can't appear to eager that would be wrong...or would it...
I find the most amazing skirt...with added lace and bits of ruffles...
I think you would call it a petticoat because I know you would think that is a prettier name...
and half way down the rack I spy the dress...
Now if there was a girl out there who owned the dress and meet
the girl who owned the petticoat they would be friends just so they could borrow each others
and have an outfit as Divine as this...
but yes I do realize that this miracle is something that can only happen in op shop heaven
under ideal conditions...with the wind just blowing the right direction and the sun is high
and all that who ha!!!But I know how much you love who ha!...
So as I head home with a smile on my face I pop into the post office because I just love to collect the pile of envelopes with the little windows in them...
and I think if I get them on such a fine day it will all seem less intense...
And as I scoop up my pile I am presented with two parcels...For me...

Two parcels of lovelies for me...
I will have to write about them in my next letter as I want to gush and I could end up with a letter so long that you fall asleep reading it...only joking...
I know you are not like that...
But I have to have something to write about next time...

But back to my day...
I went to visit my new house...What! you say...since when...
Why hadn't I told you sooner...I know,I know....
Sorry I haven't had the chance...till now...
I should have it all wrapped up just after Christmas...
But I understand how much you will want to see more...
So I have enclosed some photos for you...And at least one to have you think for a minute...
The first one is the pergola...You know where I will sit in the shade of the grape vine and be having dinner parties with lots of fairy lights strung up...
Ok,Ok when a new one is built where this one stands...Had you for a minute...
The second photo is the "chook house"...you can see that can't you...
Squint a little bit more....now you have it....
The third is the swinging bridge...No... not part of the cottage...
but too nice not to take a shot in front of...
and it gives you a good look at the thrifty divine outfit...

And the last photo I enclose for you is this....

Something that I dream of having but it just isn't time yet...

maybe one day...

It is all alright thou because my new little cottage is just waiting for me...
With buckets of white paint at the ready and lots and lots of vintage goodness...
And I know like all dear friends you will be there wanting to hear more
and me wanting to hear from you...
So I shall finish my letter and hope that it arrives safely to your door...
Wrapped up in lace and twine and a little sprig of lavender...
I know how you adore the smell of fresh lavender...

Regards...your friend Michelle...

Loving The Vintage...

Update in shop at last

Shop update...
Grandma Dear and a few more treasures are in store now...
Thanks for everyone begin so patient...
To bed to rest my weary hands...

Loving The Vintage...

Whatnot and Devine Intervention

While sewing and admiring my new 3/4 finished
Whatnot garland...
Which I will add is a very important part of the tutorial
and you will find all the details HERE...
I realized that I needed a few more
doilies to add to the charm...
Call it what you may but I had a immediate need to
grab my purse, jump in the car
and head straight to the op shop...
While wandering aimlessly around the shop
I thought that the pickings were very slim...
very slim indeed ,not a doily in sight...
and pondered the thought that I must have been wrong
and maybe I just needed to have a few minutes away
from my sewing to get perspective
or something like that...
As I reached the counter to pay for my very unexciting shirt find...
There it was!!!
Hiding behind the counter with a price tag on it...
I held my breath for a second and let out the ever so faintest...
"Is that for sale"
The lady took a look and said...
"I think it must be, it has a price tag on it...
I think it has been out the back for,
well as long as I can remember, it does seem strange that
suddenly they are getting rid of it"
My response...
"I'll take it"
I popped it in the car and ended that sentence with a
"THANK YOU"

Loving The Vintage...