Kirsty Girl

Focus Photos {and Instagram}

2013-05-20T14:03:00.001+10:00

I am so happy with this photo that I decided not to do any touch ups or editing at all, a part of photography that I usually really love and enjoy but sometimes you get a special shot that just doesn’t need it. And for me this is one of them.

My lovely man, Andi, gave me a bit of a lesson in photography the other day. I have been using his camera lately, not one I am used to so I got a bit of a crash course. I needed some help getting the photos right for my new shop, Keepings, in order to get the tiny details to show in the jewellery and charms.

All of these shots are using high sensitivity settings and a manual focus. Which I love, it means you can get really close to the subject and still get the focus where you want it. With automatic you can never get close enough.

For this last shot, I couldn’t even have gotten this without having the sv settings and manual focus. I even tried just to see how good a shot I could get of the spider web using any of the automatic settings. Absolutely nothing, the web didn’t even show up once.

Have you played around with your camera settings recently?

While I have had an Instagram account for ages now, I never really used it. Well I am joining the ranks and posting there now! Please follow along with me, my username of course is kirstygirl, you can find me here at http://instagram.com/kirstygirl I FOLLOW BACK! <3

504 Main, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Coastal Charm, Common Ground, Cozy Little House, Crafts a La Mode, DIY by Design, DIY Dreamer, Green Willow Pond, Live Laugh Rowe, Lolly Jane, No Minimalist Here, Say G’Day Saturday, Savvy Southern Style, Serenity Now, Shabby Creek Cottage, Share Your Cup, Weekly Creative, Fishtail Cottage, Ginger Snap Crafts, Katie’s Nesting Spot, Sunday Showcase Party, Tatertots & Jello

Keepings by Kirsty Girl, Custom Bookmarks and Adventure Time Jewellery

2013-05-15T11:00:00.001+10:00

I am so super excited to announce that my new Etsy store, Keepings is finally OPEN! Woohoo! It’s been a long time in the making and I had a long day uploading everything yesterday so I would really really LOVE for you to stop over even just to say Hi! I definitely need to make some more friends over there and would like to follow all of you on Etsy too so if you have a shop or just an account let me know about it and I’ll be following along with you!

So far I have a couple of different types of products for sale though I have way more to come!

These are my customisable bookmarks for sale. I got the idea after searching for jewellery on Etsy a while back and wanted to be able to pick and choose certain charms from different listings but couldn’t. So I decided to do that myself! I think these would make a really great gift! I even made one special for my Mum last weekend for Mother’s Day! I choose white velvet with her name metal stamped on top and the little k on the brass heart that you can see above. I personalised it with a music note because she’s a huge music fan and the four leaf clover because she’s an Irish lass!

I also have Adventure Time Jewellery for sale! I love these guys, don’t you!?

Please come on over and say Hi if you ever use Etsy. Even if you don’t look at my stuff I’d love to be able to follow my blog readers over there too! Who couldn’t use more followers right?

Linking with: 504 Main, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Coastal Charm, Common Ground, Cozy Little House, DIY by Design, DIY Dreamer, Green Willow Pond, Live Laugh Rowe, Lolly Jane, No Minimalist Here, Savvy Southern Style, Serenity Now, Shabby Creek Cottage, Share Your Cup, Weekly Creative, Ginger Snap Crafts, Katie’s Nesting Spot, Sunday Showcase Party, Tatertots & Jello, Say G’Day Saturday

Decorate Your House on the Cheap {Guest Post}

2013-05-09T12:23:00.001+10:00

Disclosure: While I have done many features here at Kirsty Girl I haven’t yet accepted any Guest Posts. However, after I was contacted by Jenny Daniels, Freelance writer and author of this post, it fit in so well with my blog, the things I love and after checking the links and seeing they were all directed at websites and blogs that I would indeed read myself, how could I say no?

Just so everyone is clear, I would never accept a guest post from a poor writer or with links and/or information that I did not enjoy myself.

Decorate Your House on the Cheap

Whether you’re moving into a new house or simply bored with your current style, a makeover can give your space personality. If you’re ready to spruce up your house, you may consider hiring an interior decorator or a stylist. These people have an eye for fashion and design, and they can create styles that are unique to your house. Your house can literally become a showpiece. Unfortunately, professional help isn’t cheap and if your budget is limited, you may have to design the home yourself.

There are several ways to decorate your house on the cheap. If it’s time to update your present decor, here are five ways to transform your house without breaking the bank.

1. De-clutter your space.

Before you begin any home makeover project, start with de-cluttering your space. The less items in your house, the better. Oversized furniture and clutter can detract from the beauty of your house. Not to suggest getting rid of everything, but if there are items that you no longer need or use, donate these to charity. Go through your closets, shelves and storage bins.

2. Freshen the paint.

Giving your walls a fresh coat of paint is a simple and cost-effective way to give your house personality. White walls are bland and boring. Even if you can’t replace your furniture and bring in new decor, a fresh, vibrant color can give your house a warm cozy feel. And the best part, you can often purchase a gallon of paint for around $30. A little paint can go a long way. Freshen up your kitchen cabinets, your bathroom cabinets, the baseboards and your doors. To save on home improvement supplies, search coupons at NerdWallet. This is an excellent place to locate coupons for Home Depot and other home retailers.

3. Look for inexpensive decor.

Maybe it’s time to upgrade your furniture and household decor. There are plenty of ways to accomplish this without going broke. Shop online with a West Elm coupon and save money on furniture, bedding, bath supplies, lighting, decor and other items for the house. You can also locate cheap home decor by visiting local secondhand shops or frequenting yard sales. Secondhand products for the home can include photos, lamps, side tables, vases and perhaps mirrors.

4. Trade with your friends.

Your friend or family members may have a piece that works well in your house, and vice versa. Before throwing out old furniture and home accessories, get with your friends and suggest trading items. This is an effective way to bring in new decor without spending a dime. For example, you may take a friend’s side table or throw pillows, and she may benefit from your old lamps or mirrors.

5. Refurbish furniture.

Another person’s trash can be your treasure. Drive around your neighborhood the night before trash day and look for old pieces that you can refurbish. These pieces can include dressers, chairs and tables. Often times, these items are in fair condition, but they may require sanding and repainting. If you’re crafty and love a project, this is a simple way to decorate on the cheap.

Don’t let lack of cash prevent a home makeover. Even if you can’t hire a professional designer or spend money on lavished items, you can spruce up your home and create a more comfortable space.

Linking up with: Live Laugh Rowe, Daily Cup, No Minimalist Here, The Shabby Creek Cottage, French Country Cottage, The Charm of Home, Common Ground

Treasures

2013-05-06T16:40:00.001+10:00

I hit up the local “Trash and Treasure” a couple of weeks ago and I was lucky enough to find myself many treasures! There were a couple I missed out on because I wasn’t quick enough but all in all I definitely came out a winner! I found this cute little jug for only $3! We also found a nice glass coffee plunger for a steal.

My favourite are my new vintage sewing scissors for $8. I love them. They’re beautiful and they actually work too. I also picked up this cute little thimble for my Nanna because she collects them and I thought this one was a bit special. But maybe it’s just because I love ducks so much. Speaking of which we also picked up this one for only $5! Yeah!

This beautiful nest was found in our garden after a very blustery day. Don’t worry, there were no eggs!

Today I’m linking up with: Sunday Showcase Party, Knick of Time, Cozy Little House, Lolly Jane, Coastal Charm, Ginger Snap Crafts, the DIY Dreamer, Savvy Southern Style & Green Willow Pond.

Hanging Kitchen Planters

2013-05-02T17:16:00.001+10:00

This was the first project that involved any drilling into the walls of our new house so it was a bit exciting! We painted the hangers white, originally they were a shiny green like the planters themselves but stood out far too much. They’re pretty heavy duty and designed for outside use but they look wonderful in the kitchen all shabby white now! Plants always make a big difference to any inside space but I didn’t realise how much!

I love them!

In the first pic we have some salsa chilli’s… they look too yummy. We also hung some blue and yellow flowers and made a herb basket with coriander, parsley and thyme, some of the herbs that get used a lot.

Linking up with: Katie’s Nesting Spot, Live Laugh Rowe, No Minimalist Here, PoPP, Time Washed, Ginger Snap Crafts, Primp Junktion, Green Willow Pond, 504 Main, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Common Ground, The Charm of Home, LambAround, Serenity Now, Fishtail Cottage, the Rose Garden, Tatertots & Jello, The Weekly Creative, diy on display

Hemp Stamped Necklace

2013-04-23T18:43:00.001+10:00

For Cookie’s birthday I made her this necklace out of eco friendly hemp, green and copper drop beads and alloy charms that I stamped the letters of her name in to. I am working on a line of hand stamped items and jewellery for my new etsy store. While it’s not up and running yet it should be very soon! I am excited! I will be listing items for sale here too so stay tuned!

What do you guys think?

Sharing at: Knick of Time, DIY Dreamer, Primp, Green Willow Pond, DIY by Design, Cozy Little House, Ginger Snap Crafts, Live Laugh Rowe, No Minimalist Here, Share Your Cup

{How To} Make Money Using Pinterest

2013-04-08T12:08:00.001+10:00

This is in no way a paid for or sponsored post. I’m just letting my readers in on a new way to make money using Pinterest. How awesome is that!? Viraliti is a new site that provides you with ads (OF YOUR CHOICE) to pin. And just like Google AdWords it’s paid per click. Each ad has it’s own price attached, which you can see and unlike Google AdWords, you choose which ads you pin. Personally, I only pin those that I actually like, that are relevant to my posts and pin boards and that I think my followers will enjoy. That is probably the most important aspect of Viraliti, the fact that you only pin the ads you want.

At the moment, just like how Pinterest started, Viraliti is invite only. But I AM INVITING YOU! If you’d like to join, click here. It’s easy easy to get started and fun! Start now.

Linking up with: Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, 504 Main and Share Your Cup

Sunset Over the Bay

2013-04-05T13:32:00.001+11:00

Just a shot I took last night of the Sunset. Had to share.

Linking up with: 504 Main, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Common Ground, No Minimalist Here and Share Your Cup

Birthdays, Beginnings, Butterflies & Bird Baths

2013-03-28T13:18:00.001+11:00

The other day I had my Birthday and I got super spoilt! It was great of course! What I am really excited about are these metal stamps and tools that I received. I have been practicing and I can’t wait to begin creating. I have a lot of ideas! There are some exciting things happening over here at Kirsty Girl. Stay tuned!

Check out my gorgeous new bird bath too! It’s under my bird house.. can you spot it?

Linking up with: The Shabby Creek Cottage, No Minimalist Here, Share Your Cup, Green Willow Pond

DIY Twine Wrapped Glass Jar

2013-03-21T13:22:00.001+11:00

I am such a saver of glass jars. Do you guys do that to? I have been experimenting with them recently and have a few projects to show you. This is my first though. I needed something like this for the bathroom and I didn’t want to sit just any old boring glass container on the bench. This is super easy to do. All you need is glue (I used wood glue), twine and any old glass that you have sitting around. I used a garlic jar, cleaned first of course! Paint on a thin layer of the glue using an old paint brush and slowly wrap the twine around the glass. Starting off is the only tricky bit, once you get it going it’s a breeze and will be finished in no time.

You could do this to practically anything, old tins, vases, anything you have handy that needs a re do!

Linking up to: Share Your Cup, No Minimalist Here, Time Washed, Savvy Southern Style, Primp Junktion, 504 Main, French Country Cottage, the Charm of Home, Common Ground, the Shabby Creek Cottage

Shabby Mail Holder

2013-03-14T14:02:00.001+11:00

I couldn’t even tell you when I got this mail holder. It has been sitting around my junk bits ever since I was a little kid. It came to me as a completely blank canvas. Over the years it has been blue, green and now white. I painted it with a really old tube of white acrylic and sanded down the edges and corners. Now you can see all those old colours showing through. Not only does it look great in my new kitchen but it has been doing it’s job and tidying the bench up excellently!

Linking up with: Shabby Creek Cottage, No Minimalist Here, Savvy Southern Style, Primp Junktion, Time Washed, Diy Dreamer, Cozy Little House, 504 Main, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, French Country Cottage, the Charm of Home, Common Ground, Share Your Cup, Green Willow Pond

1930’s Vintage Kitchen Dresser

2013-03-07T12:59:00.001+11:00

Andi and I picked this baby up after finding it on Gumtree the other day. We weren’t after anything for this spot or a new cupboard but once I showed Andi, we both had to have it. After getting it home we scrubbed it down. The last person to paint it didn’t do a very good job and the paint work was sliding right off it. We may paint it again down the track but for now we’re just enjoying it as is. So is Duke. He will never sit still for a photo but he decided to pose for me. The dresser matches his eyes.

Yawn! Of course I love this shot. hehe

Linking up with: Knick of Time Interiors, No Minimalist Here, Savvy Southern Style, Under the Table & Dreaming, the Scoop, Coastal Charm, Cozy Little House, Primp Junktion, Pearls & Lace, Share your Cup, Green Willow Pond, French Country Cottage, Common Ground

Walk Around the Bay

2013-02-28T11:54:00.001+11:00

The bay is too pretty not to take photo’s of so I still did even though I only had an old phone. I do plan on taking a good camera one day to get these shots but for now I had a lot of fun trying to do up these.

Linking up with: Romantic Home, A Delightsome Life, The Charm of Home, Common Ground, French Country Cottage, Folk Lifestyle, No Minimalist Here, 504 Main and Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Looking for Photographers? Go to www.photographers.com.au

Vegan Scones and Cream

2013-02-12T14:29:00.001+11:00

The other day I realised how silly I’d been not posting my recipe’s here with you when I am always posting them on my other website www.VeganTasmania.com so from now on I’ll share them with you too.
This is one of my favourites. And yes, even though they’re vegan they taste BETTER than the non-cruelty-free versions.

Scones

2 cups plain flour
2 ½ tsp. baking powder
pinch of salt
3 tbsp. maple syrup
½ cup soy milk
2 tbsp. lemon juice
⅓ cup non-dairy margarine

Glaze

splash of soy milk, lemon juice & icing sugar to taste

Cream

½ tub tofutti better than cream cheese & icing sugar to taste

Recipe

Preheat oven to 200°C or 400°F
In a large bowl whisk the dry scone ingredients together. In a smaller bowl whisk together the maple syrup, soy milk and lemon juice.
Add margarine to the dry mixture and combine until there are no chunks of margarine left.
Pour the wet mixture into the scone mix and knead with your hands until it forms a soft dough.
Pat down onto a well floured surface to a 2cm thickness, or ¾ inch slab. Using a cutter or glass top around 5cm or 2 inches cut out scones and place on a baking paper lined oven tray.
In a small bowl combine the glaze mixture and brush over the tops of the scones.
Bake for 10 – 15 minutes or until tops are slightly golden. Transfer to cooling rack.
Whiz the non-dairy cream cheese and icing sugar together, adding sugar to your taste.
Split the scones and heap with cream. Serve with berries or jam. Enjoy!

Linking up with: 504 Main and Sassy Little Lady

On the Deck

2013-02-07T13:24:00.001+11:00

This week Andi and I completed our table setting on our new deck with wooden table and chairs and awesome huge umbrella. Perfect! We have been enjoying some summer al fresco dining in the shade.

Duke has also been enjoying the shade under the chalet.

Partying over at: Chic on a Shoestring Decorating and 504 Main

Home at the Bay

2013-01-26T16:26:00.001+11:00

If you’re a friend and follower here you’ve probably noticed that over the past year or so I’ve been posting less and less. I started this blog as a place to post my own inspirations, projects, photographs and all things homely. While I got busier I took less photos, posted less and stopped reading a lot of other blogs that I used to follow regularly.

This month I have moved into my new home and feel inspired to post about it. How could you not when you live at the Bay and this is right down the road? So here are a few photos of the Bay and my new dining space.

Welcome to my new home and a new chapter in my blog. I look forward to posting more and sharing new finds with you.

Coastal Style

2012-12-11T15:16:00.001+11:00

I am such a lucky ducky! Last week I won a $100 gift voucher to spend at the beautiful Coastal Style in Bicheno courtesy of Think-Tasmania. Thank you! Andi and I spent the weekend camping up the east coast soaking up the sun and walking along the beaches. Unfortunately we both forgot to pack our cameras! So instead of surf I’ve taken some product shots of the beautiful homewares I chose shopping at Coastal Style. I picked out a pretty lantern and two lovely Ecoya candles just in time to go into my brand new house! Hooray!

Lake Dobson

2012-11-12T18:20:00.001+11:00

Seagull

2012-09-28T21:27:00.001+10:00

This week had a beautiful Wednesday so we went to the beach and I snapped up a couple of these photos of my friend here. He was the king of the gulls and proud of it too.

Kingston Beach

2012-08-15T15:07:00.001+10:00

Rainbow

2012-07-15T18:36:00.001+10:00

I really love this shot I got of a rainbow today, kind of reminds me of the teletubbies though!

Limousine Cow

2012-07-05T13:52:00.001+10:00

This is a painting I’ve just finished of a Limousine Cow. I love him. I’ve been watching a lot of Deadwood lately and listening to Alberta Cross so I was in a very country kind of mood for this one. I have wanted to paint a cow for a long time now and I finally got around to it. I’ve never painted an animal before!

I actually painted this one in Acrylic for a change, rather than the usual oil. I practically got it finished in a day, rather than months and the cleaning process only took 10 minutes instead of the usual hour. I think I’m a convert. I’m crossing over to the dark side.

Hope you like him!

P.s. Cows are not food or milk machines they’re beautiful, feeling beings that inspire art. Click the Vegan Tasmania link to learn more and cut out meat and milk from your diet. Thanks!

The Blue View

2012-07-02T13:08:00.001+10:00

Ok so I’ve already shown you the track to get here in these posts:

Warm Winter Sun
Sun Shadow

And here you have the view. Pretty isn’t it?

Sun Shadow

2012-06-19T13:36:00.001+10:00

Once again these are some shots of the walk, next post I’ll show you the view from the top!

Warm Winter Sun

2012-06-07T14:13:00.001+10:00

These are some shots I took on a walk the other day, had some fun catching the warm winter rays.