Miss Hayley's Pretty Things

Jasmin was around during the week and she commented on the wall above my computer as looking a bit odd without the two bookshelves framing it.
At first I was like 'No, I think it looks fine', but after a couple of days I was starting to think she was right.
That just having some pictures randomly in the middle of one wall might be a bit odd.

On Wednesday night the solution occurred to me.

Years ago I found a big silver frame in council collection. It has lived in many places around our house and was residing outside the front door.

So late on Wednesday night I took my cleaning cloth and went to fetch the frame from the front of the house and wipe it down.

I then had to venture out to the shed to find some nails and a hammer.

Normally I wouldn't want to just hammer things into the wall of a place we are renting but this place is such a mess anyway I don't think they would really notice one more hole in the wall. Plus I know there is already damage hiding under some of my pictures on that very same wall that we will have to patch up, so two little nail holes shouldn't make much difference.

So I hammered. The first one was perfect. The second one I bent. I didn't want to go all the wall back out to the shed so I swapped the bent nail with a good nail in the hallway - which wasn't really needed - and tried again.

The nail went in properly this time, but it was in the wrong spot. Mind you I was doing this all by eye.

Third times the charm as it went in and was in the right spot, aka the whole thing looked level.

It is not centered with the wall, but as the computer is not centered on the desk I don't think it really matters. Also I just placed the frame around where everything already was, if I wanted to centre it, I would have had to move all my bits and pieces.

House verdict.

I like it.

Lewis didn't even notice. -
Hayley : "Do you like what I did"
Lewis: "What did you do?"
Hayley: "The frame"
Lewis: "What frame?"

Tara left a note on the whiteboard - "Nice Frame"

And Lyle hasn't been home yet but i'm sure he'll like it too.

Ta Da!
Simple but effective.

Everyday I'm Shuffling

2011-06-22T17:02:00.000+10:00

We did some shuffling around on the weekend as I was sick of my clothes sitting on the bench in our room...

The reason that all our 'foldy' clothes - we like to hang most things up - were stored on the bench, was because about a month ago we sold our dressing table.

You might be saying: Why?! did you sell it?!
Well, we found the dressing table in council collection last year and almost didn't find the mirror. Luckily, the person who had put it out for council collection came out and showed us the matching mirror that was wrapped up in cardboard - as you have to do with glass or mirror - that we didnt even notice.

It was pushed into the backseat of our car with Lewis seated in the middle back seat and the dresser straddling him while Jasmin and I took the front seats.

We happily used the dressing table for about a year or so, but we knew that we wouldn't want it in our next house as it was very low; too low to be very practical as a dressing table.
Also, well, we needed the money to be able to buy a house.

So, on eBay it went. It didn't sell for a lot, only $20, but it's better than nothing and very good considering we got it for free in the first place.

At our new house we might have a full wardrobe and not need any extra storage but in the case that we do need extra storage, I would like a big old chest of draws instead of this low, low, low dresser.

So, in the mean time, until we move, we needed somewhere better than the bench is store our clothes.

I had a set of plastic draws but the draws were being used by Lewis for his tools in the shed.

Lewis had the genius idea of using these red lockers that we have in our backyard to store his tools.

I bought these lockers for $20 off eBay a few years ago, and painted them with a lot of rust proof primer, as it was pretty rusty when I got it. My brother used to use it for his clothes until we had enough space for it.

One day I want to have it inside our house.

Either painted light grey or white and take most of the doors off to use it as shelves.
Eek! I can't wait!

I have a thing for lockers.

So, my strong and trusty men moved the lockers from the backyard to the shed.

When moving the lockers we found this little memento on the back.

Awwww.

I think the lockers look great in the shed! The lockers are practical for the tools, look great and will be protect from elements until we want them inside.

Here's the before and after for the fireplace - where the dresser was and where the draws are now.

Please ignore the giant pieces of paper on the walls. That is Lewis and mine's sums for buying a house and saving.

It helps us keep on target by having to look at it everyday, ie not spend money.

It may not look as pretty as the dressing table did, but it's worth it if we can get a house of our very own.

So the need for money ended up with us selling the dresser, thus needing the plastic draws which lead to re-oraganising the shed to get the plastic draws. In the process we made the shed look more awesome by having the red lockers in there.

Everything turned out great in the end. Now all we need to do is to save more money so we can buy a place of our own.

Quotable Art

2011-06-20T13:02:00.001+10:00

Source: livinginaperrytale.com via Hayley on Pinterest

This is definetly my moto. Except you know spelt Mum.

Source: sayingimages.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Just like bullies in school.

Source: quote-book.tumblr.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Scary but true. You are in controll.

Source: weheartit.com via Hayley on Pinterest

I must work on this one myself.

Source: sayingimages.info via Hayley on Pinterest

Very true.

Source: arts-crafts.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Source: inspiredbythisfeeling.tumblr.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Source: None via Hayley on Pinterest

Heavy.

Source: None via Hayley on Pinterest

Ahah.

Source: theo.theodorealexander.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Something to remember when shopping.

Source: wipkits.blogspot.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Source: mth2011.tumblr.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Gotta start somewhere.

Source: google.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Thoughts=Outcome

Source: iobad.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Very limited.

Source: None via Hayley on Pinterest

Source: madamecupcake.tumblr.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Or feel the fear and do it anyway.

Source: frenchbydesign.blogspot.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Another reminder to take risks.

Source: lanipauli.tumblr.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Sound familiar?

Source: flickr.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Source: ache.tumblr.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Source: thenester.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Source: None via Hayley on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Source: metaphysicalheart.tumblr.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Source: cupkacie.tumblr.com via Hayley on Pinterest

Too much all at once? Hehe
Maybe i should do a quote a day, thoughts?

Sunday Round Up

2011-06-19T13:46:00.000+10:00

Last sunday i posted a few quotes in among the photos, but i seem to have amassed a lot of quotes recently and i don't expect to stop finding great quotes that i want to share.
So i have decided to split it into Sunday Round Up and Quotable's Day.
I have not decided which day will be Quotable's Day, heck it might be a different day every week.
So look out for some Quotable's soon.

For now some pretty pictures...

Picture by Anna Kern via Hooked on Houses

I love this shade of yellow and the idea of painting just a door a bright fun colour.

via Design*Sponge

Wouldn't this look great in a big display, maybe making a shape.

via The Haystack Needle

Love the chalkboard dresser draws. Good idea especially for kids to list or draw pictures of what's inside so they know where their clothes are, and hopefully can put them away.

via It's The Little Things

Love:

Wall Colour

Bead board on the walls (could easily re-create with pieces of wood)

Chalkboard

Table with chairs and bench

The No.s on the bench

by Fudge Banana Swirl via Design*Sponge

Clever idea or what to do with an unused fireplace or just to make with a salvaged fireplace surround as a cute bookshelf.

via Better Homes & Gardens US via The Inspired Room

I like the aqua colour of the chairs and the idea of painting wicker furniture. I also love the bench seat with the panelling at the bottom.

via Elle Decor

This is from Courteney Cox's home.

I want a giant penguin book...thing!

via Elle Decor

This is also from Courteney Cox's home. Wouldn't it be amazing to sit out here and watch the sunset with friends and some drinks.

From Better Homes & Gardens US via Mike & McGee

I love big bold painted on wall stripes. Love this shade of pink and the idea of this for a kids room.

Buy 'How To' PDF from Etsy found via Frankie

Incase your bike gets cold.

From Vogue Italy via Frolic

I love love love the baskets at the top with the scolloped edged lining. Could do this with any basket i suppose.

from here via Vintage Oh Me Oh My

Cute vintage advertising.

Centsational Girl via Design*Sponge (with How To)

This is so cute.

Gerren Lamson via Vintage Oh Me Oh My

Love me some vintage labels. Especially love the word Cider how its all swirled and connected

Apartment Therapy via Remodelaholic

Love the colour of the brickwork.

by Chez Larsson

Now this is how you style box shelfs (Ektorp from Ikea).

Viewing it as one long stretch of boxes instead of individual hidey holes stops it from looking messy and is more pleasant for the eye to look at, then looking at 25 completely different little boxes all at once.

by Raise No Chicken via Vintage Oh Me Oh My

Some more gorgeous vintage advertising. I love the colours in this poster.

from here via Vintage Oh Me Oh My

Gin Pills, wouldn't everyone like some of these.

and

from here via Vintage Oh Me Oh My

This would definitely help with getting the teeth brushed.

Ana White

This is a Kids Helper. Ana White made one for her daughter and on her website gives very detailed instructions on how to make your own.

The platform is adjustable so you can use it for whatever age kid you have and it has anti-tip attachments (pictured on the Helper below)

Ana White

Source: houzz.com via Hayley on Pinterest

I love how the brick arch behind the bed becomes the headboard. And how simply but gorgeously the room is styled.

Source: tumblr.com via Hayley on Pinterest

I love this but seriously no man lives here right?

Source: flickr.com via Hayley on Pinterest

I love the contrast of the white shelf with the two colours.

That's all for today.

Hope you have a great sunday.

You Raise 'My Computer' Up

2011-06-18T17:01:00.000+10:00

With my new desk setup i have been noticing myself slouching and my neck getting sore because my computer screen is too low.

If i had an adjustable chair i could probably just lower it, but i just use an ordinary dinning chair so that wasn't really an option.

Instead of going to route of telephone books to prop it up (well i couldn't find telephone books anyway) i thought that I ( I meaning Lewis) could build a little platform with a shelf.

But Lewis had the genius idea of using the table that i used to use as a desk, and just cutting it down.

This was a much cheaper option, well a free option, instead of going out and buying wood.

I was a little bit scared to cut down a piece of furniture as you cant really re-attach the legs, but i thought that it wasn't been used as is and that i needed something to raise my computer up, so why not.

Here is Lewis tightening the screws so its all nice and sturdy.

P.S. We are in the shed or as i like to call it "The Man Cave" (Lewis doesn't like this name as he thinks it makes the shed sound lame)

I estimated that i wanted the computer to be about 200mm higher than it was so Lewis said lets cut it at 250mm because we can always take more off.

Here he is meauring 200mm from the lip, which made it 240mm all together.

And now the cutting!!

After taking off all 4 legs and we came and tested it out (sorry didn't take any pictures of that) but it was too high, it needs to be at eye level and i was titling my head up so we decided just to chop the whole leg off. We thought about removing the whole leg peice but i like the kind of architecture the wood on the sides give it. So Lewis cut the remainder of the legs off to make it flush with the bottom of the shelf/draw thing.

Then he sanded all the legs flush against the bottom for a nice level base.

He also cut a whole in the back of the shelf for me so i could put my hard drive on the shelf and have the cables running through the back.

Then it was done!

Drum roll please...

Ta Da!

It is now the perfect height!

So my neck should be happy with that.

Plus i looks cute, so i'm happy with that.

To Take or Not To Take...

2011-06-17T18:13:00.000+10:00

I'm going to a friends housewarming tonight and yes i am planning on having a few drinks.
So as ever i ask myself the question should i take my camera or not.

It seems silly not to, because why have a camera if you don't use it to document your life, but at the same mixing cameras and alcohol is probably not the wisest idea.

Maybe i need to do what this guy has done...

Source: snowinateapot.blogspot.com via Hayley on Pinterest

P.S. I think i have the same whiteboard in my kitchen.

P.P.S. 'It's Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday...'

P.P.P.S I think i'll take my camera. Then i'll have pictures to show ya'll!

Adventure Date: Melbourne Museum

2011-06-16T12:56:00.002+10:00

Yesterday L had the day off from work so we decided to go on an adventure/date/outing.

We caught the train into the city and decided to go to the Melbourne Museum.

The museum is located in Carlton Gardens, which also houses the Royal Exhibition Building.

It was pretty cold out in the morning, and there was a fair bit of ash in the air, but some enhancing on iPhoto has made the photos looking a bit more sunny.

Whatever the weather the gardens in Melbourne are just beautiful.

From here you can see all the way down to the West Gate Bridge.

Absolutely gorgeous. Love the leaves turning and the garden bed to the left and the bridge make it look like a fairy garden.

This is just one of about 4 identical entries on the Royal Exhibition Building.

I absolutely love the glass arch at the top of the arch.

And there was this freaky fountain with what seemed like two legged/flipper? mermaids holding it up.

Now that's what i call a tree!

Loved this ornate lamp on the outside of the building.

Here is L using his posing skills he picked up from our wedding photos.

You can see the IMAX part of the museum in the background.

We spent about 3 or 4 hours in the museum, looking at all the exhibitions.

One of our favourite sections was the Melbourne section, i am very Melbourne patriotic (if thats a thing) and it just amazing to see all the old pictures of our city, and look at all the items from before the turn of the century up until the 80's.

There was this cool interactive map that showed Melbourne through the last 150 years or so and as it progressed through time it showed the suburbs springing up. It was fun looking at the suburbs we know so well and seeing when they came into existence.

Luckily for me the Top Design (design excellence for our graduating high school students) was on display.

Seeing as i did Visual Communication & Design (Viscom) in high school i love looking at all that stuff. Tho L and i both agreed that if i had applied to Top Design this year i definitely would have got in because the standard was lower than the year i finished.

Some of the photography was absolutely gorgeous tho. L didn't like all the moody artsy pictures, but we tended to like similar sets of photos really.

I got freaked out in the Science section because of all the bugs, and weird prehistoric creatures, but our other favourite section would have to be the Taxidermy section.

Usually i'm not really that keen on stuffed animals, but the way they did it was awesome.

This is the only photo we actually took in the museum.

It was the only chance we will ever get in our lives to be that close with most of those animals. Like looking a big great lion in the face, or seeing extinct animals like the Tasmanian Tiger.

Each section had interaction screens with a picture of the section you were looking at it but you could click on any animal and it would tell you what animal it was and some information.

We saw some cute little characters and loved seeing the expressions of their faces, we saw a couple of big cats that completely reminded us of Ollie.

I think it would be a great exhibition to do with little kids.

And here is the picture of the day! I wanted a picture of us to commemorate the day but its pretty tricky trying to take a self portrait with a big chunky digital SLR camera.

But this picture 'Thats going straight to a frame" (channeling Michael Caton from The Castle)

If thats the 'lets frame it' picture of the day, this is the 'hide it or people will think L is a creepy pedo'.

I told L to pose behind this cool tree but he wasn't happy about so he was making a sad face, but with the shadows it just looks so freaky!

After the museum we were kind of starving so we took, probably the longest route, down to south bank for some lunch.

The gorgeous old Melbourne Trams.

L said they must be really desperate for trams as we saw a lot of them out.

I think they are classic, and iconic and completely Melbourne.

See there you can see the newer (uglier) trams, oh and the people running to catch them.

Federation Square.

The Arts Centre. Which is getting a bit of a make over at the bottom there (thus all the scaffolding).

South Bank and the Yarra.

Like a bridge under troubled waters... you can see the MCG! (Melbourne Cricket Ground)

Eureka Tower. I have been up there but L and i are planning to go up on another one of our 'Outings' as he hasn't. You may think oh a tall building, thats cool, but it really is spectacular up there.

Definitely worth a visit.

We had lunch up on one of those terrace restaurants.

After a nice long relaxing lunch we caught the train home.

It was lovely just to have a day out together, get a bit of culture and enjoy the city we love so much.

Daddy's Little Helper?

2011-06-15T18:26:00.001+10:00

L was trying to do some work last night, but Ollie had other ideas...

Mmm yummy paper work.

Ollie doesn't 'get' the frames.

And on the subject of Ollie & L, here is a set of photos i like to call "Like Father, Like Son'

Love my little baby cat, oh and that guy lying next to him to.

Oh and just for a pop of colour, and so you can see Ollie in all his ginger glory...

Unexpected Art

2011-06-14T13:09:00.002+10:00

I got given this lovely frame holding L & I's wedding invitations, as a wedding shower present from Heather Nette King.

It's a great idea to display invitations or cards as artwork, as really they are works of art, and other wise they just sit in a box gathering dust.

I did the same thing with a card that Heather actually gave L and I for our engagement.

Looking at the wall above my desk now, there are loads of cards, postcards and advertising i one day want to display in a frame.

I'd love to have a hallway gallery like Sherry & John at Young House Love

Image from here

It's really exactly what i would do. White frames, of different styles. A mix of photos, mementos, words, cards, art, pictures and anything else that caught my eye.

Like some of the things on my all at the moment...

From Typo

I did buy this card with the intention of giving it to my mum, as that it pretty much her motto, but i loved it too much. One day i will get one for her too.

This very much reminds me of something i heard Nigella Lawson say once... "Everything in moderation, including moderation" and i couldn't agree more.

And this is pretty much my motto.

I actually found this on the train about 5 or 6 years ago, i thought it was gorgeous and i have kept it ever since. I always wonder about the story behind it. Who was it for? Who was it from? Do they miss it?

This is a free postcard i got from Able & Game when i used to do markets. They have some of the cutest cards ever.

I especially love their series that incorporates train station signs from around Melbourne. (And actually they are now doing train station signs from other states now)

Image found here

I have a special soft spot for this one as we used to live in Balaclava!

I couldn't help but show you what they do with the less literal of train station signs in Melbourne.

Image found here

And one more... just cause it's cute

Image found here

Now thats love!

Check out their website & etsy site to see the full range. They are pretty reasonable priced at $4 each.

Whoops i got a bit distracted there by the cute stuff by Able & Game (easy to do!), but really what i'm trying to say how having art that means something special to you, can make your home distinctly 'you', and give it the warm, lived in and collected over time look that the best looking homes have.

Art doesn't have to be a painting or even by anyone in particular, it should just speak to you and be something you love looking at.

So really if you ever see any piece of paper, cute postcard, or regular card, keep it! One day it could be the makings of your very own hallway gallery or just be stuck to a wall with blue tack like mine.

Notebooks with Personality

2011-06-13T19:59:00.001+10:00

I was at Borders on Thursday with my housemate Tara, having a look through their sale stuff, as sadly all the Borders locations are now closing, when i came across this very appropriate notebook.

$19.95 at Borders, but at the moment get 30% off at Borders

There was a whole series of them. You can see off to the left there was a 'Chefs I Met And Liked'.

Then i went on-line and found there is heaps and heaps of them!

Image found here

The note books are by Archie Grand and his company Notebooks for Friend & Foe.

Image found here

Some of my favourite titles include:

"Wives I Had And Liked"

"Londoners I Met And Liked"

"Secret Agents I Met And Liked'

Image found here

Visit the website to check out all the different '..... I Met/Had And Liked' notebooks, I'm sure there is one to suit just about everyone.

Pst...i was not paid to promote Borders or Archie Grand (i wish!) i just like them and wanted to share them.

Sunday Round Up

2011-06-12T18:16:00.000+10:00

I thought seeing as "Evernote" so many cute things everyday that at the end of the week i would do a round up and post them up here for all of you to see.

So here goes my first 'Sunday Round Up'

Electric fan painting by Christopher Stott (via Rambling Renovators via Design*Sponge)

Great fan right? Can you believe that this is actually a painting?!

Ombre Dresser via Rambling Renovators via Brooklyn Limestone

Alot of people have blogged about this Ombre dresser, but i just love it, and i love the big B on the wall (i have a thing for giant lettering)

By iscreenyouscreen on Etsy via Swiss Miss

I also have a thing for maps. Love how simple this one is.

From Young House Love

This picture from Young House Love show how just a simple coat of paint can make such a difference. Suddenly the crown molding and the door frames stand out so much more. It take the walls from looking pretty cheap & generic to looking fresh and grown up.

By Small Talk Studio via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Not mad keen on the art of it, but love the message.

Image & How To

This, believe it or not, was just a regular jute rug from IKEA, that painted with this awesome pattern.
You'll find it over on one of my favourite sites Ikea Hacker, where people post the great stuff you can do with objects from IKEA.

From Ada & Darcy

Love me some hot pink and some painted furniture.

Found Here

Now there is a sentiment i can most definitely drink to!

From Brooklyn Limestone

Love an ornate frame painted a bright fun colour, also love the typography found inside the frame.

From Allsorts

This could be a cute little craft project. Make this tiny toy paper bunting.

Click here to download the printable to make your own.

Made by Aedriel Originals via 7th House On The Left

Cute plates! I think the stripped aqua one at the back is my favourite.

Found Here

A good quote to remember. Kind along the same theme of Justin Bieber "Never Say Never"

From Bikes Direct via Design*Sponge

If i was ever really to ride a bike, this would be the way to do it.

From The Crafting Chicks

Another good craft idea to do. Its just rick rack fabric ribbon.

Picture from Here via Design Scouting

Another good quote to keep in mind.

From Here via Swiss Miss

Cute blocks huh? They have all the president of the US and info on them listed on the blocks.

Just a little US memorial day fun.

From Bower Power

Love this giant stripped rug, and especially love it in navy blue.

Buy card Here found via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Anyone else remember doing is on their Daddy's feet when they were little?

How To via Brooklyn Limestone

Love this idea. There are so much pallets always out in Council Collection, that is would be such a cute & economically little garden.

Hope you've had a good weekend, and enjoy your extra day off tomorrow!

'Junking' at its finest

2011-06-11T12:11:00.000+10:00

Last sunday my mum & i were driving up her street on our way to Kmart, when i spotted a full wooden table setting sitting on the side of the road.
As we drove past it, i squeaked and mum asked if i wanted to pull over, i hummed and hared a little, so she turned the car around and we stopped across the street to have a sneaky look.

I noticed there was another car hovering as well, so when mum asked if i just wanted to leave it and see if it was there when we came back, i knew i couldn't risk it, it was too good of a find.

So we parked the car and got out.

Amazingly the table and chairs were rock steady and in really good condition.

The lady who was in her car hopped out and complimented our find and took the plastic slid sitting next to it for herself. But mum & i knew she wanted the table for herself. It wouldn't have fit in her car away.

On that point, we saddled up, one holding each end of the table and carried it down the street to Mum & Dads house.
We got some odd looks but mostly comments from people complementing us on our good find.

Once the table was safely in Mum carport we walked back to the car and managed to cram 6 chairs into her sedan, tho one was half sticking out my window, but it was only a short trip so i didn't mind.

And here they are, safe and sound in Mum & Dads carport until L & I buy a house and have somewhere to put them!

(Please excuse the bad photo, as i only had my phone with me.)

I love the table, its exactly what we've always wanted, a big wooden table to gather around with family.
The chairs i'm not that keen on so i may sell them and find some other chairs.

Usually when i find stuff like this on the street i can't get it because its too big to get in the car, so it was amazing that we found it so close to my parents house.

I can't wait to use it in our very own house one day soon! (because it wont fit in our current house)

Kitchen Envy - Part 3.1

2011-06-10T16:22:00.000+10:00

I forgot to included a kitchen!

This kitchen was seen on Young House Love when Sherry & John went 'House Crashing' in North Carolina.

Love:
- How they opened up a relatively small kitchen space to make a functional and gorgeous kitchen
- See the wrap over counter on the island? They made it themselves out of concrete!
- The pendant lights over the island
- The symmetry
- How its not huge, but totally usable
- The crown molding on the top of the cabinets
- Wall oven!
- Always have loved the idea of the stove top on the island but the practical side of me worries about it with kids and things. But the idea of getting to face people (or empty chairs) while you cook, i love.

Love:
- Again love the country kitchen style sink
- Love the raised tap thing

Love:
- Using pretty glass jars to store stuff in the kitchen (they're called apothecary jars in the US)
- The two back counters were made from cheap off cuts of marble (because they only needed a small area)

Okay, i am suitable envious for now.

All photos taken & owned by Sherry & John at Young House Love.

Kitchen Envy - Part 3

2011-06-10T15:47:00.000+10:00

In lieu of me trying to take pictures of my bland and grotty kitchen, i thought i would post some pictures of kitchens i would rather be looking at, taking pictures of and cooking in.

Kitchen by Garrison Hullinger (via Rambling Renovators )

Love:
- The country kitchen sink (don't know its proper name)
- The arbor (aka stove)
- Pastel coloured cabnets

Image found on Bryn Alexandra's Blog

Love:

- Subway tiles

- Butcher block island

- White & full height cabinets

- Paneling and turned legs on the island

- Draws

- Industrial light fittings

- Country kitchen sink

- The pulls & handles

- The detail on the doors & draws

Image from Pure Green Living via Desire to Inspire

Love:
- The contrast of the dark island against the white kitchen (stops it from looking to clinical)
- Tall cabinetry
- Lighting in the cupboards

The middle photo has to be my favourite out of the three. I will just have to keep saving up so i can a kitchen even one iota as gorgeous as that kitchen is.

Pst... See 'Kitchen Envy' & 'Kitchen Envy- Part 2' for more drool worthy kitchens.

Summer in Autumn

2011-06-08T14:27:00.000+10:00

L & I were at one of our favorite places on Monday...Costco!!
And apart from a good amount of bulk cat food and bread, we also came home with these cute stripy beach towels.

I have been wanting stripy beach towels for a long time now but i have never found ones that (a) i like and (b) were a reasonable price.

These beauties were only $13 each and nice and big and soft.

They came in light blue, red, dark blue (which i would have normally gone for but it wasn't quiet navy blue) and light green.

It may be a little odd to be buying beach towels in the middle of an autumn that feels like winter, but you gotta get things when the opportunity arrises!

Lounge Room

2011-06-07T10:46:00.000+10:00

As i said in my post from yesterday, i have been trying to learn more about my beautiful digital SLR camera. So after watching 12 of R J Bradbury's video tutorials, i decided i would try and take some good pictures on my recently cleaned lounge room.
This house is quiet a difficult house to take photos in as most rooms only have one window, as we are semi attached to the house next door. So getting the lighting to look nice has always been my challenge in photographing the lounge room.
So armed with some new digital SLR knowledge, i played around with the settings and came up with these pictures.

This is the view you get when you enter the lounge room from the hall wall and look to the left.

Here is a list of where the things in the room came from:

Curtains: Already here when we moved it.

Paint Colour: As i said renters.

Day Bed: Was given to use by L's aunty, affectionally known as Buzzy but properly known as Heather Nette King.

Mattress for the Day: Nicked off my Mum & Dad (They have a lot of spare single mattresses from hosting my nieces and nephew, and friends of my brother and mine, when we were younger).

Blanket covering Day Bed: I found this at an Op Shop. I wouldn't have paid more than $2 for it.

Long pink thing on the back of the Day Bed: This is two body pillows bought at Costco for $22 each, covered in blue covers from Kmart (Maybe $4 each), wrapped in a pink blanket from Ikea that i got years ago.

Star cushion: Gift from my Aunty Nicky from the UK many years ago.

Purple Pillow: x2 European pillows, an engagement present from our good friends Adam & Terry.

All other pillows on the Day Bed: Made by me!

Side Table: Got it at the Vinnies Op Shop in Oakleigh for i think $30.

Lamp: In the 'As Is' section of Ikea for $6.

Arm Chair: Found in council collection many years ago (Seriously needs recovering! Bday present anyone? hehe) covered in 2 blankets, one an op shop find of mine, the other found at an op shop by my Mother-in-Law.

Cushion on Arm Chair: From Kmart.

Rug: An unwanted rug from my In-Laws house.

Coffee Table: Found in council collection, and i painted it in Dulux White on White in Semi Glosss.

Couch: On Loan/Being stored by L's brother.

Frame on wall: See this post from 2009 to see the what i did with the images that originally came in this set of 4 frames, that i got at the Ocean Grove Church fate for $10

This is the view when you are standing in the doorway to the kitchen, facing to the right.

Bentwood Chair with Knitting Basket on it: I found the Bentwood chair in Blackburn's council collection last year, it had a very broken, wicker seat, so L cut me a piece of wood to fit and attached it with liquid nails. I painted it with a sample pot of Dulux's July Quarter. I love it.

And the basket that the knitting is in, i think was from an Op Shop.

TV Cabnet: Found in Council Collection (On the same 'Junking' mission as the Arm Chair was found) years ago. One day will need to be stripped down and refinished.

TV: From JB a couple of years ago for $800.

Frames on the wall: See this Post and vote on weather you like this idea of not! I frames themselves are a collection of Op Shop and Council Collection finds, some painted in a dark blue acrylic paint.

Giant Picture above the Fireplace: This was from IKEA, i think it was only about $120.

Glass Candle sticks: From Kmart.

Candles: IKEA.

LOVE letters: Supply & Demand.

The two end frames: Salvo's Op Shop in Oakleigh.

Middle frame: IKEA (Picture is of my Grandmother).

Clock: Supply & Demand, a birthday present from my In-Laws.

Atrocious fireplace: Came free with the house. Is good at its job tho.

Shelves: 'Billy' from IKEA.

Globe: From Melbourne Map Center, as a 21st present for L.

Brown Leather Binocular Case & Binoculars: A 21st present for L, they were his grandfathers.

Hurricane Candle Holder: Kmart (Candle from IKEA).

So i guess this is just an example of what can be done, even if you are renting. I am constantly frustrated by not being able to do more with the house, ei rip out that ugly fireplace, paint the walls etc, but i know that one day, hopefully soon i will have my own house that i can completely make my own.

An Education

2011-06-06T19:49:00.002+10:00

I am lucky enough to own a digital SLR camera (aka big nice fancy camera) but i don't really know enough about it.

Image found here

So i google 'basics for digital SLR camera' and found the website of R J Bradbury, who is an english man (with a Karl Pilkington'esk accent) who has made a series of videos on how to use my camera (Cannon EOS 500D).

They start with the basics and work their way up to the more advanced things you can do with the camera.
I've watched 12 of his video tutorials, and i already know so much more about my camera! I've covered the basics of the camera and all the 'automatic' modes, and i'm working my way to learning how to use the 'manual' modes.

I am so glad to finally be able to use some more of the great features on my camera, and i am already seeing an improvement in the quality of photos i am able to take.

P.S. If your looking for some great tips on how to take better pictures of your home, check out these tips from Nicole at Making It Lovely.

Say Hello to My Little Friends

2011-06-05T12:38:00.001+10:00

Meet the smallest additions to my Parliament of Owls, Mr & Mrs Salt 'n' Pepper.

Just after Christmas i had to return something to Cotton On, and because i had bought it so long ago they said they could only give me a store credit.

So after already having eyed of these two a couple of weeks ago, i headed straight for them.

Normally i wouldn't spend $34.95 on something that small, but seeing as i didn't want anything else in the store, and they were only giving me a store credit if i got something right there and then, i had no choice! Not that i really minded.

Anyway L owed me a Christmas present so we put it down to that.

At the moment they live on the mantel as we don't have a dinning table, but i'm sure one day when we do have a table, these two will take pride of place.

All photos taken & owned by Hayley Williams Pawley

Evernote

2011-06-04T15:55:00.000+10:00

My new favourite app/browser add on/program is Evernote.

But before i tell you all about Evernote, let me tell you what lead me to finding Evernote.

It all started with this post from blogger {frolic} which then turned into this poster created by Chelsea Fuss of {frolic}, Pia Jane Bijkerk, Yvette Van Boven and Erin Loechner.

Image by Pia Jane Bijkerk

This gorgeous poster easily shows you the responsibly that all bloggers have to credit where they get images from. I know that i am notoriously bad at this, which is why after following the arrows on the poster i was lead to the suggestion to use Evernote to track where i get images from.

I thought why not! Ill give it a try! I have always wanted to give credit to pictures that i post on my blog but have never thought of a good way to do this, especially seeing as 95% of the time i am saving pictures while i am on my iphone, so its not like i can go in and put the URL in the file name.

Image from here

If you've never heard of Evernote before, of you've heard of it but are not sure what the point of it is (like i did) let me fill you in.

Evernote is a program that lets you make 'notes' and in these notes you can put anything, pictures, URLs, websites, writing etc. It lets you 'Tag' each note with multiple subject, so you can sort your notes by subject (eg Pictures of the Exterior of Houses, Cute Homewares, Dogs etc).

One of the great things about Evernote is they have a program for nearly every device, and they sync together automatically.

So you can have an Evernote on your computer, your phone, and you can access it on anyones computer or phone who has the program.

You can also install an add on to your web browser so can save information straight off the web into a note without ever leaving the page.

In my particular instance this is very useful in that i can save an image onto my iPhone, then open Evernote, create a new 'Note" add my image from my iPhone gallery, tag it with as many "Tags" as i like (Eg: Painting, Blog, How To, Furniture etc) and plug in where i got it from, so the name/URL of the website or blog it came from.

Then when it comes time to blog the image i can easily find the note about it, and a copy of the image in my Evernote program on my computer. So i can easily credit where i got the image from and who owns the image.

In short, i am in love with this program! And i love that i can finally give the gorgeous images i find the credit they deserve.

P.S. This is not a sales pitch from Evernote, i just use it and love it and therefor wanted to share it.

Letters to...

2011-06-03T22:45:00.002+10:00

Found these on some blog/website ages ago, and i was looking through my saved pictures tonight and i came across them. They made me laugh. Also they are beautifully done. Love a good exposed brick wall!

My handy dandy trestle table

2011-05-31T15:29:00.002+10:00

Yesterday i finally cracked and got sick of sitting at my too small desk, that i could even get my legs under, and decided to re-arrange.

As per usual i get so caught up in wanting to change things and 'do it now', that i forgot to take before pictures. But i had a little look through my photos and managed to find these pictures from a post about the images above my desk, which should give you a bit of an idea of what things looked like before i changed it all up.

I also found an image that our friend Adam took one night, while having some drinks and playing games.

My desk did and still does reside in a corner of the lounge room. I used to have it in Lyle's current room when it was a spare room, but since deciding to rent out that room the computer has lived in the lounge room.

Tara & Lyle both have laptops so having a desk isn't as necessary to them, tho they are both at Uni, go figure! No actually Lyle has a desk. But because Lewis & I share a room (obviously), there is not a heap of room for a computer in there and we do have a pretty big lounge room.

My previous desk arrangement consisted of one 'table' that i found in council collection, propped up on bricks to try and make it taller, flanked by two 'billy' bookcases.

It was an okay arrangement if you just wanted to jump on the computer to look something up, but if you actually wanted to sit there and do some work or even just a decent amount of typing it was very uncomfortable, i couldn't get my legs under properly, couldn't cross my legs, and couldn't even push in the chair without having to maneuver it over the bricks.

So to remedy this i decided to bring in my wooden trestle table. I have used this table for many things over the years. When i was younger it was a Lego table for my brother and I, it was a kitchen table for a long time at my parents house and most recently it was my sewing table when we had the spare room.

I debated placing the table along the back wall of the lounge room, adjacent to where the table previously was, but when i placed it there it took up more space than i wanted it too and it just didn't look right.

So it now takes the place of the little table and both the bookshelves, with one of the book shelves being relocated to the other side of the lounge room to display at sorts of pretty things and the other book shelve is now in our very wide hallway, opposite Lyle's room carrying all the useful sort of things. eg sewing kit, sewing machine, computer stuff, stationary etc.

(Please excuse the not so great hall picture, my camera was running out of battery and the hall light is broken)

I also placed a little orange table, which was actually one of my first ever junking finds, under the desk to put my printer on and placed a spare box under the table to wrangle all the computer cables.

I am so happy with the new set up and have been so much more productive. Its amazing how such little change in your environment can make such a difference to your motivation.

And luckily everyone else in the house seems to like the re-arrangement it too!

Happy Birthday NGV

2011-05-30T23:28:00.001+10:00

I am in love with this 'map' aka awesome poster , that came on the back of the pamphlet for NVG (National Gallery of Victoria)'s 150 years celebration.

I had seen it on the net last week and already saved the image not really knowing what it was for. Then when i was at my parents house for weekly friday night dinners (and no they're not like the Gilmore Girls ones :P anyone else?), my parents had a copy of the NVG pamphlet and Dad and I were having a look at what was on, when i spied the back of the pamphlet.

I was really excited, because i knew that i would never get around to printing off the image to hang up in a frame, and that it wouldn't be as good quality or size and the one of the back of the pamphlet.

Lucky for me, there wasn't anything they wanted to go see so i snatched up the pamphlet and now get to proudly display a little piece of melbourne on my wall.

I'd love to hang it in a frame one day, as it is an art piece in an of itself. It is not only advertising, which i have a soft spot for, it is cute, fun advertising! I could very much see this poster looking fabulous and 'vintage' in the years to come.My only concern is that the blue tack currently holding it to my wall will leave those kind of greasy smudges on the front. Fingers crossed it survives it life on the wall long enough to one day be put in a frame. When i have the money and you know own my own wall.