Miss Sew & So

happy heart day sweet bloggy friends...

2012-02-13T19:59:00.000-08:00

a virtual coffee with hugs from me here on the beaches today- to wherever you are in this big wide

world...

Valentines day with sunshine...from me to you...

thanks for always being there with me...

for moving with me from the English countryside to the beaches of Oz...

for sharing a virtual coffee...today with a little doily & some french ribbon...

hope you know how lovely it is to have you here...

each & every time you visit...

thankyou for waiting for me to answer emails & comments- moving countries is *bigger* than i

remembered...

i still seem to be ticking lists...& sorting our life...

coming here keeps me calm...

hope someone you love spoils you today

cause i know *you're worth it*

xoxox

make it monday...french tote from an eco bag how to...

2012-02-12T17:27:00.000-08:00

*make it monday* french style...

styling a supermarket eco bag into a gorgeous french-looking market tote...

an eco bag with good bones...a strong handle & lovely shape & size...

i am not a plastic bag person by any stretch of the imagination...

i can't stand to use them at the supermarket...i can't stand the kids to pack anything in them & take

them to school...i can't stand that they have holes in the bottom of most & therefore cannot be

justified even as bin liners...

so we just don't use them!

with all my experience of eco-bags...this one is a particularly great one!

so...

tote ready- any labels removed with a cotton picker or pair of scissors...

simple...

i have raved about these french letter stencils before- when i stencilled steel buckets {here}

& when i stencilled a vintage ladder from our village in England {here}

i have always wanted to stencil a tote-& as my sewing machine is still in transit- enjoying the

sea air on it's voyage to Australia- i am using what i have to make what i ~~want~~ need...

i like to tape my number stencils to newspaper & then to the object so that there are

no *gaps* which may end up slightly black anywhere else...

i also lined this tote with newspaper as i wasn't sure how the spray would seep through the weave...

& yep i used *fiddly bits* spray paint again that you can find {here}

instant frenchy-looking tote -made on a whim- with what i had at home...

like all the projects that are my *favourite & best*...this was super fast & sooo satisfying...

a leetle bit of the south of france markets to start out week...

hope you're inspired to sweeten up your eco-bags...

this is a little *moment* for a gorgeous new friend

that owns the most *scrumptious* shop on the beaches

french heaven

i'll be taking you all {here} soon

*Honey Bee Homewares*

introducing you to the lovely Tracey

Make it Monday

from the beaches

with a whallop of french market influence & Australian sunshine!

~~~

french stencils from etsy {here}- man i looove etsy!

xox

instagram-ing beach house style...

2012-02-08T20:00:00.000-08:00

instagram luuurve....

yep eeeeeveryone is doing it!

i love it!

instant cool looking images from your day...

check out mine {here}

living room love

*BUSH* radio crush

silver birky's & french stripes

cafe-lunch styling *at home* with the kiddos

vintage wicker chairs & little girls in vintage tees

sweet smiles on a sunday morning

beach house- frangipanni's & picket fence

frangipanni carpet by the sea

harbour swimming in heaven

hibiscus pink & Greek jug= home

~~~

if you are a photo loving-instant kinda gal

{instagram}

is soooo going to be your new passion

it's right up there for me with

{pinterest}

check my boards out

{here}

happy days!

xox

a good life Wednesday...-harbour beach love...

2012-02-07T20:14:00.000-08:00

a good life wednesday...on Sydney Harbour...a place that *fills* my heart to the brim...

our kids learnt to swim at this beach...

we were married on an island on this- Sydney Harbour...

we have travelled to work across it on lovely old ferry's...

we have taken so many photos of it...in all kinds of weather...

we know it so well...& love it so much...

do you have a place like this...?

a piece of land or water that just feels like a friend...?

a place that calms you whenever you see it...?

the *harbour beaches* around Sydney often surprise travellers...

they are no surfers...no waves...no shops selling bikini's & smoothies...

just miles of glorious headland...secluded coves & lapping clean waters...

on a day of perfect sunshine- a piece of paradise on our doorstep...

we live on a wonderful stretch of coastline that offers both surf beaches & harbour beaches...

& yes we feel blessed...

as i said- much has happened on these waters for our little family...

we love them as we love our back garden...

do you have a place in this big wide world that you *know* as though it was your own garden...

it's our own little place, a place which we share with so many from around the world- but a place

that feels like it's just *a little bit* ours...

~~~~~

a *good life wednesday* here

go hang out at the beach with some of the *good life wednesday* gals & have a moment to escape to the beaches

xoxox

a virtual coffee-chippy chairs & bush tea...

2012-02-06T18:04:00.000-08:00

virtual coffee old style...cane chairs...fedora's...loose leaf tea in a pot...

gotta spare hour to come sit in my back garden under the palms...?

until ~~the frenchy looking couches arrive~~ further notice...these are *our virtual coffee* cane chairs...

we can move them round the garden with us- follow the sun...or follow the mottled shade under the

big ol'jacaranda tree...

i'm big on shade after living in England...big on sunscreen...big on lotsa bottles of water...

anyhoooo....

virtual coffee...by the beaches...in the garden...under the palms...

how are you? like really how are you?

are you enjoying *you* time?

are you on a lunch beak from work?

are you picnic-ing with the kids?

are you sledging on the white stuff?

wherever you are- welcome to out little piece of quiet heaven...tea?

i have found Twinings answer to Australian billy tea...{bush tea- you know made over a fire, in

bush when camping}...

Twinings *Australian Afternoon Tea*...if you like strong tea served in a posh box- you will love this!

in fact i'm tempted to post it to my English bestie- it's like the Yorkshire Tea we loved in our village but

Australian...

now i've been requested by a few of you to serve lamingtons again- i will be doing this i promise...

it's just that this week has been more about sorting life than baking...

we'll get back to lamingtons

this virtual coffee is about putting out feet up- slurping our strong tea & just catching up a little...

excuse Miss.Lola {the puppy} she's a bit of a cane chair ~~chewer~~ enthusiast!

so...tea, time, life...it's all easier when it's done in the garden isn't it...

for those of you in the snow...we're going to add extra sugar to the pot...

do you ever have *sugar days*?

the BB {British bestie} in England used to make tea & ask if it was a *sugar day* or not- i loved that...

it's like establishing how you're feeling in a very *lovely simple way*...

a sugar day required an extra listen...an extra hug...a quieter time than a *no sugar*, right let's get on

with it kinda catch up....

so are you *sugar or no sugar tea* today?

if we were really having a coffee, or pot of strong tea, today...

i'd ask you if you've ever lived away from the country...town...city or village that you were

born into...

i'd ask you if you've ever wanted to...

we always wanted to...& now we've done it- i have a sense of calm about being home...

not a *been there, done that* kinda feeling- just a wonderful sense that life is amazing kinda calm...

does this make sense to you- or do you think i just need a bit more *sugar* in my pot today!!??

even the fact that it's been raining ~~crazy amounts~~ a little since being home on the beaches & that our

balcony has looked a little like this at times- has been ~~almost~~ ok with me...

nothing like living with a makeshift laundry hanging above your outdoor dining table to really test

just how happy you are about being home!

it seems i'm pretty a.o.k about it...!

so...thanks for sitting under the palms with me...the puppy needs some *game time*...

the washing needs some sorting...the mail needs some reading & the boxes need some unpacking...

life on the beaches after 4 years in the English countryside is lovely...

especially when i can share it with you in the garden on old chippy chairs...

hugs & thanks for hanging out...

~~~~~~~

if you're still in need of a little more nattering & the coffee-i-didn't-offer-you...

head over to Amy's ...she is the queen of exotic cafe & witty banter...

~~~~~~

see you next week- pot ready, same chairs, more thoughts...

make it monday...doily bunting how-to...

2012-02-05T12:54:00.000-08:00

*make it monday*...

doily bunting...

i know this is not a new one...i've raved about my love of doily bunting a ~~zillion~~ fair few times on this

ol'blog o'mine...

but it's one to share again & again...as it makes a room happy, sweet...a little of the old-time-when-

the world-was-simple kinda decorating...

& for me- it says ol"Blighty all over...

anything that reminds me of our life in the English countryside is a heart-tugging winner in our little

house by the beach...

you know what you need gals...

paper doilies...{i found a stack of them in the gorgeous-ness that is PULP }

a ball of good ol'fashioned hardware store string...cheap & white...

a sewing machine...

simply fold in half over the string & sew...

don't attempt to sew the doilies & then thread them onto the string...

this will send you ~~mental~~ a little cross eyed & cause a ~~huge flippin whallop~~ few moments of

frustration...

just fold over the string as you go along & sew in straight stitch...

hang generously ALL over the house...

make it monday

short & oh so very sweet

old fashioned & fresh

the perfect combination

see ya tomorrow for a *virtual coffee*

love you to join me

we're in the garden- a little *Great Gatsby* like- for pots of tea

a proper *how's your week* catch up

xoxox

friday pretties- vintage, beachy, country...love it all...

2012-02-02T17:55:00.000-08:00

g'day from the beaches...sans sunshine...bikini's...coffee's on the sand...or sun kissed faces...

it is still raining...we have ducks in our street...truly...!

ducks & rabbits...

but that's a whole other *country-living-on-the-beaches-a-ferry-trip-from-the-city* post!

i feel like we've left the English countryside to live in the English countryside by the beach!

so...dressed in yes, a woolen vest...french scarf & birkenstocks...i'm trying to find my inner

summer beach girl...i'm trying to not put my toes in shoes again today...

so...all this rain means less walking the beaches taking photos...& more time dedicated to

actually sorting out this house by the sea...

no kiddos today...my last chance before the weekend to unpack & sort a few more of our stored

bits...

i actually love the process of falling in love with all our collected things again...& i love

the process of finding a place for everything...always with the thought of the wonderful stash

from ol'Blighty arriving soon in the back of my mind...

as i'm unpacking i'm trying to put a *name* to the pieces we have gathered around us...

from our very first days together- Ritchie & i have loved building a space that is ours...

financially, we have moved on from old crates covered in calico as bed side tables & the like...

but we still gather the old with the new...the modern with the vintage...the found with the *saved for*

i love that my treasured wedgewood china- after 4 years in storage is now used again each

morning...

i love that it sits alongside my new frenchy striped tea towels & a *brought-back-from-

England-in-my hand-luggge-vintage-cotton-doilie*...

small things that make me smile big- despite feeling like we have moved home on the Ark...

i actually stashed a few things i didn't want to live without in our luggage back to the beaches...

a few special pieces that take me back to the English countryside & our little village instantly...

some of you may remember this wall hanging that i made for our Royal Wedding party last year in

our big old country house...

{you can see my post on that gorgeous day in the English sunshine here}

well i found it amongst a pile of fabrics i had ~~thrown in~~ stored in a basket on the bedroom floor whilst

moving back in here...

just having it over a chair makes me feel all contented & at home...

already our lives- the two sides of our life that sit in my heart- the country & the beach are

beginning to come together...

eames chairs...city stuff with home made, vintage fabric, throws...heaven to me...

& see that stand there...i danced with happiness on re-discovering this in our storage crates...

wrought iron...curly & white- yeah i loooove that...

it's been many things in our many houses- from a plate stand...to a verandah stand potted with herbs...

as we have NO very little furniture, it's currently holding our treasured BUSH radio & my treasured

home mags...

chippy white vintage perfect...i'm home...

whilst some of you sweet friends are snow bound...

& some are living on hawaiian beaches...where the sun really is freckling your nose...

i'll be happy here, rain bound for at least the rest of the day...

unpacking our life from yet more boxes...

taking moments to create little visual moments for us to enjoy over the weekend...

have a good one!

see ya monday- i'm gonna be wearing a beach hat & sunscreen if it kills me!

xox

virtual coffee- i love a quiet beach house...

2012-01-30T18:41:00.000-08:00

morning lovelies...

virtual coffee gals??

ok...first off, before i pour you one- i know *Make it Monday* was yesterday- & that it

didn't appear...

it was simply gazumped this week by the fact that two of our three kiddos went back to school

yesterday {& the third today}...

not such a feat really- as they are 13, 10 & 6...however the last four years they have been

schooled in the English countryside...

they're now back in the Australian sunshine...backpacks, school hats, soaring temperatures & all...

their last school day in their *small village school* was snowing...it's still snowing...heaven...

so...yesterday was a big day for our little traveling gypsies...

anyway...today is cooler- they were all up smiling, chattering & dressed before i'd made lunches

or had my first pot of tea....all good signs that school in the sunshine suits them!

so...if we were really having a coffee together in this little house by the beaches i'd tell you that

we still sorta camping...we have no *stuff*...

the end of this month will bring our shipment to Oz...until then we are surrounding ourselves with

already collected pieces we had in storage here...

it's lovely to re-discover treasure...but i'm needing some more of *us* to arrive...

are you like that?? do you need bits of *family stuff* around to settle you??

i'd like to say that my surroundings don't have too much impact on me- but i'd be lying

big time...i love what my husband refers to as my shrine making...

i love moving all our objects around...making little *moments* through out the house...

this week, with the kiddos back at school, i'm going to unpack a little more...

i'm going to make a few *moments*- the thing is i really don't have any shelves or chippy old ladders

to create these *moments* on...they're all on that big ol'boat heading *Down Under*....

so...if we did have our feet up outside on the back balcony together- catching the summer breeze

i would probably ask you for an old ladder, or side table or more...

i'd sooo look after them...i'd treasure them...i'd love them for you...

i'd keep the puppy away from them...i totally promise...

miss.lola has very quickly realised that vintage chippy is a must in our beach house...

puppy-made chippy is not...

after i'd managed to wrangle some furniture outa you...i'd check how your kiddos are going

at school after the Christmas break...

i'd need to know- snow or blazing sunshine...end of a long summer break, or back after a white

week or two off...

i love that about these coffee's...it sooo doesn't matter where on the globe we live...we're all in this

together...

coffee, creating moments, kiddos, work....life....same kinda days, different locations...

if we were really sharing a morning together...i'd give you some home-made banana bread...

it's huge on these beaches...& i've just got my hands on a super duper easy non-thinking recipe for

a big slab of it...

i may just share the recipe if it's a winner in this house...

thanks, as always, for finding the time in your busy crazy day to stop by for a chat, a coffee...

a moment together in the breeze on our beach house balcony...

i'm gonna hug the pup...fold the only clothes we brought with us from the countryside...& sort the

house...enjoy a little simple whilst i can...

this is the first day since we finished school in the snow, on Dec 20 in England, that i find myself

home alone...it feels good...

i'll be ready for non-stop chatter & giggling by 3:30...but for now- it's pretty close to heaven...

as they say in Oz...*have a good one*...

got love that expression- oh & when someone shouts this farewell to you- they're usually

wearing {thongs} ;-)

~~~

see ya at miss.amy's {here} if you feel like another coffee or two

xox

Australia Day 2012...

2012-01-25T23:50:00.000-08:00

Australia

our country...

the place that tugs at our heart like no-where else...

Australia Day 2012

Aboriginal people have walked out land since the *Dream time*

we feel blessed to walk it today

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY

there's a little house by the beach, with 3 aussie kiddos caked in flag tattoos racing about...

the tennis is on tv...the doors are all open

the evening is warm & muggy

the bbq is ready...

~~~~~

"wish you were here"

xox

a virtual coffee by the beaches...

2012-01-23T21:43:00.000-08:00

*a virtual coffee*...Down Under...

my first back in our little beach house...

surrounded by gumtrees & beaches...

if we were really having a *virtual coffee* together...

i'd sit you out on our back balcony to look at the palm trees with a pot of tea...

or if it was early evening when you popped past- a corona & lime...

i'd give you one of the big old vintage cane chair- we have two- one each...x

if you've ever shared a *virtual coffee* with me, whilst we were living in the English countryside-

{enjoy some English *virtual coffees* together here}, you'd know that usually you get the pink chair

in front of the fireplace...the one overlooking our roses & the front path...

back home, here in our beach house - you're always going to get the chippy, old, vintage cane chair

looking out over the back garden of gardenia's, frangipanni's & palm trees...

i promise you, it's a perfect spot to while away some friendship hours...

if we were really sharing a *virtual coffee* together...i'd ask you how the *flip* you've been as it

feels like waaay to long between a little time out together...

i'd have to ask you how the weather is where you are- as we left England a month ago & it was

snowing & now we are back to the tropical weather of an Australian summer...read hot & wet...

i'd ask if your kiddos are all still on holidays...

we *Down here* are still enjoying our 6 weeks summer/Christmas school holiday...

we've fit sooo much into this years summer break- not the least, the 12,000 mile flight across the

globe- back home to the beaches of Sydney...

so...tea & {lamingtons} in hand...i'll show you a few of the *moments* round our house today...

a *virtual coffee* in our loved little sandy floored beach house...

vases & shells...oars & bunting...

tongue & groove walls...sunlight...

chippy old tables...baskets...

& dark wooden floorboards...

striped beach towels & home made hand surfers...

wooden bowls of collected shells & sea glass...

if we were really sharing a *virtual coffee*- i'd ask you what you think of this new *coastal

country* thing i'm loving...

all this *beach* you see going on here- our life to date...is soon to sit alongside all our *country* that's

sailing it's way to Oz- *Coastal Country*...

we'll have to do a *virtual coffee* morning when it all arrives- the big crate full of vintage country

treasures found over the last four years from our English village...to our travels through Europe...

that's actually going to take a few coffee's...or at least a ~~bottle~~ glass of wine or two together...

let me know if you're in... :-)

*virtual coffee*

on the beaches at last

tea & lamingtons

vintage chippy cane chairs...

time out together at last...

~~~~~

if you want to join me next week- our host is my gorgeously gorgeous friend

sweet amy

from

{lucky number 13}

every tuesday- chewing the fat...catching up around the world for

{virtual coffee}

make it monday-a coastal country inspiration board...

2012-01-22T17:21:00.000-08:00

morning gals...

we're just back from the beach...the surf is huge & the kids were in awe of it-just as i was as a child...

so...

with a cup of tea in hand...welcome to our second *make-it monday*...

a coastal country styled notice board...

*this* is one of our old fly screens...

for some mad reason...our totally *open plan* beach house had fly screens on selected windows...

for some pockets of Oz, this is essential, as fly's in Oz, like midgies in Scotland can send one crazy-

but our house sits on the edge of a small rise and we manage to capture breezes daily...

fly's don't hang out where there is a breeze- so we *ripped* all the random fly screens off our windows

which let me with a pile of frames for projects...

this great little project literally took less than half an hour in total!

that's my kinda *morning tea job* with all the kiddos home from school still & a new puppy in

the house!

you need:

an old frame- would anyone really notice if you pulled one outa the kids room ;-)

chicken wire

wire cutter

staple gun

pot of tea...

i truly just cut out the old screen, washed off the frame & let it dry in the sun whilst i poured a

cup of tea...

laying the roll of chicken wire across the frame, i had one of the kiddos hold the wire whilst i stapled

down one side...& let the roll of wire hang over the other edge, to weigh it down whilst i then stapled

both the top & bottom sides...

after cutting the final long side, which was held in place by the three secured sides - i just stapled that

& it was ready to bring it in doors for Sol's birthday cards...

too easy...

the lovely old chippy hinges that originally held the frame to the widow are perfect for hanging...

the frame itself was already a little past it day- a bit of sanding gave it that warm old country farm look...

next time i'm at the hardware store-& i love a good hardware store visit as much as the next

up-cycler...i'll be buying a box of wooden pegs to secure notes to this...

till then we've simple stuck all Sol's birthday cards, & our daily essentials, like moustache's & glasses

into the wire...ready to change or use when needed...

this will be my inspiration board / notice board in the kitchen...

{way cooler than a shop bought standard pin board}

the perfect coastal country inspiration board...made over a pot of tea...from an old frame...

too simple...totally satisfying...& half an hour from beginning to end...

what d'ya think...

beach house chic...a bit chippy, a bit old - some may even call it vintage ;-) & oh so very practical...

hope it inspires a little stapling at your place....

melissa

xox

linking up at these fab inspirational blogs today - *Home Maker on a Dime*, *Coastal Charm*

& *Get outta my head please* - check them out gals....

a moment to take stock- a beach house, life & all that stuff...

2012-01-19T03:45:00.000-08:00

hello lovelies...it seems that y'all need to *see some beach house*...

i've had so many messages, emails, comments, & thoughts on *Face Book* about the house...

i love, that you will fall in love with our little space in the world, as we fall back in love with it all

over again...

so gals...images of our little beach house will be coming thick & fast this coming week...

so far...our daily life is full of the *stuff* we stored in two containers in Sydney 4 long years ago...

we seem to have done well...

we've all heard the stories..."sheet...i can't believe we've paid to store this stuff..."

but gals...we don't share this thought...we have done good...

i am a V.E.R.Y contented Cheshire cat by the sea...

what we will enjoy here together...the next step on this coming home journey...is the arrival of one

very big, very special crate of goodies from ol'Blighty...

four years of collected...travelled for, very loved special pieces that will sit in our beach house by the

Australian coast...

i am crazy excited at the thought of mixing the two together...i love that old & new...

side by side...the sum of both sides of my heart...

coastal country...

this week has also been all consuming with preparing this little beach house for our new family

member...the gorgeous Miss.Lola...

yep, moving 12,000 miles from the English countryside, back to the beautiful beaches of Oz alone,

was not enough to rock our family boat...we needed a little more chaos...

a challenge amongst all this sunshine & smiling...

there are books galore on puppy loving, rearing, parenting, disciplining, feeding & more loving

strewn across these gorgeous dark floorboards...

we're as ready as we'll ever be...& somehow it all reminds me of the way we approached becoming

parents...*we'll just take each day as it comes & love this next one like we have the others...*

leave me a comment with giggling if you think we're a little naive...as i'm sure we are...!

so...the plans here are to share as many beach house, beach life, sandy...salty...sea loving pickies

with some very wise, sharing words of wisdom ;-) as possible...

if there's anything you'd like to see...know about...share...or ask me about life Down Under, after four

years of living abroad...with three kiddos in tow-please do...

i'm home & being here with you just feels even more right...

that's it from me surrounded by the beautiful beaches of Oz...& puppy *stuff* galore...

nothing like taking on *all* that coming home has to offer in the shortest period possible...

thanks for stopping by...i love ya for that...

xoxox

~~~~

a huge welcome & warm hug from *Down Under* to all the new gals here...thanks for joining our little beach house life...

drop me an email & say G'day...

xox

wi-fi hits our little beach house!

2012-01-17T23:22:00.000-08:00

hellllllo lovely gals- we have INTERNET!!!!!!!

to say i at last feel sorted is an understatement....

to say that i'm addicted to being connected is pretty spot on...

i like to think i have a VERY happy balance between hanging outdoors & loving my laptop...

righto...

to date- i'd just like to hug y'all for still visiting my intermittent posts...

'cause we are now back on track...

& i'm gonna be here, each & every day, sharing our move back to the *beach house* from the english

countryside with you...

falling *back* in love with our life here has been soo easy...

it's 6pm & the hubster has just taken the kiddos to the beach for a late surf...

boards on the roof...towels in the back...happy grins...

i've thrown an organic chook in the oven- covered in asian ginger & cloves of garlic...

the doors are all open...there's a breeze running through the house...i've just poured a wine...

& we have wi-fi...

how good can life be...

so this is a *g'day*- i've missed you...can't wait to hear from you all now that i can actually reply

& send you a warm *from Down Under* hug...

happy days

the beaches

see ya tomorra....!!

make it monday beach style....

2012-01-15T12:35:00.000-08:00

g'day bloggy gals...

i thought i'd start a little regular monday thing here where i show you a few quick, inexpensive

up-cycling projects i'm working on for our little beach house...

welcome to *make it monday*...

a few projects anyone can do with a little time...a love of the old & chippy...& a little

imagination...

as much as i love a new set of white china...with the same passion i love to *re-use* something in

another way...to give something a new beginning...

we all do, don't we...

i'm not alone here...i'm not doing anything that we all can't do...

it's just nice to share a little...inspire one another...suggest products...

monday's here are going to be all about making, sharing...& hoping to inspire a little...

so...beach project number one...

a gifted vintage mirror- gold & ornate-lovely...but not really our kinda thing...

this was left to Ritchie by his Great Aunt, whom we have wonderful memories of...

we loved where it's come from...it's shape...it's weight...it's size...

we just aren't particularly *gold* in this little beach pad...

to mix our love of beach & country this mirror just couldn't be sand white...

it needed to be bolder...& a little richer...

welcome to my first *must-have-&-share-it-product*...in a spray can- i really really L.O.V.E a spray

can...

{is that odd at this age!!??}

so...this will change your life...i can almost promise you that...

for less than $3- *Fiddly Bits* -high gloss enamel fast drying spray in *flat black* is perfect...

check it out {here}

so gold & glamour became black & beachy...

when we decided to re-stain the floor boards dark...it made me see the house is a new light...

depth has become a lovely aspect...deep, dark wooden floorboards...crisp white walls...

a black vintage mirror draped with simple white strands of shell...

white floorboards would have given this little beach house a very different feel...

these dark floorboards allow so much more to catch the eye...they are bright & warm &

simple but divinely rich...

the mirror reflects them in the same way...the shells simplify it all...

just a real house on the Australian coast full of kids & sand & up-cycled bits...

get your hands on a vintage mirror or thrifted frame asap...

pick up a can of {fiddly bits} & spend an hour in the fresh air spraying your way to a gorgeous

up-cycled gem for your house...

let me know how you like a little *make it monday*...

& please let me know if you've found a spray paint you can't live without...

happy beach days gals

~~~~

happpy birthday to our beautiful boy today- 11- we love you so much

~~~~~

we've got a big week ahead with a little puppy making it's way into our hearts

you'll meet her soon

she is H.E.A.V.E.N

xox

a beach life of shells & thongs...

2012-01-11T01:11:00.000-08:00

a beach life....

a beach life Down Under...

with a little wi-fi from the ~~neighbours~~ front balcony...

sandy kids...salty hair...& thongs {yep gals i can use this term again now to refer to our daily

footwear!}

iconic Aussie footwear- in seriously cool colours...

it's thongs everyday for us all Down Under ;-)

there is nothing like a little *tongue in cheek* Australian lingo...we've missed it!

so...with thongs strewn all over this little beach house, we're getting into a bit of a rhythm that

revolves around the ocean...unpacking & memories...

pots of tea...& looking lovingly at our newly stained dark & gorgeous floorboards...

glasses of wine...& staring at our freshly painted white walls...

bbq's...hanging paintings & playing with shells...

i'd forgotten how happy a windowsill of collected coral & a bit of typeface makes me...

unpacking our ~~endless~~ stored boxes has been lovely...

falling in love with a windowsill of coral has been lovely...

so...on my borrowed wi-fi... i thought you'd like to see a little of our English countryside life

thrown into our beach house...

these beloved cushions, made from french fabric...in our big ol'English country house are now back

on the beaches...

back on our Eames dining chairs...home with us...

these cushions remind me of our life in our beloved English village...

our travels to France...

you can see them in our English house {here}

with chippy chairs & cooler weather...

they suit Down Under...country coastal...coastal farming...

it's these cushions...made from French fabrics...in England...now lying round in the sun on the

beaches of Sydney...that make my heart swell with happiness...

we did it...

we took our kiddos & we moved them 12,000 miles across the globe...

we showed them how to love more than one country...more than what they knew...

these cushions...they say so much to me about what we've done...& to see them back in our

little beach house...with our kids still using them every day, as they did in ol'Blighty...

well it just makes me soo happy...soo proud...

& for those that have lived our adventure with me in England here...you will know how i love

a *constant* in my life that tugs at my heart strings...that reminds me that our life with three travelling

gypsy kids is a blessing...

it's mad that cushions- created on one side of the world & dragged to the other can represent so

much...

but that's how it is for me...heaven...

so...

a life of *thongs*...& coral...shells...& wet beach towels...

of bbq's & sunshine...of sunkissed faces & Aussie slang...

all of it heavenly...

the only thing that could make this beach gal happier was the B.B {British Bestie} getting her sweet

little family over here...{see a little british bestie village time {here}

we could fall in love with Sydney beach life together...

huge whallops of warm weather & friendship from me in the sun frock...

drinking New Zealand wine & wandering through our garden...

loving our lime tree & long evenings...

see ya tomorrow- unless the gorgeous neighbours *cotton on* to my wi-fi borrowing...

Melissa xxx

beach house living down under...

2012-01-08T15:40:00.000-08:00

g'day sweet bloggy friends...

we are connected *for this moment*- so i'm here *for this moment*...

life is pretty flippin GREAT in this country down under by the sea...

the kids look taller...fresher...they are swimming like they've never not been here...

little Miss.6 is approaching it all with such endearing *gusto*- our front balcony has become a little

botanical lab showing all things Australian...banksia's...bindi's...cicarda shells...christmas beetles...

she is catching up on a childhood under the Australian sun she can't recall she was so tiny when we left

for the English countryside...

it makes me swell with pride & a new love for our little beach existence here...

the house is getting a lotta love too...boxes are still being unpacked & treasures found...

the walls have all been freshly painted white white white & the floorboards stained a deep dark rich

luxurious brown...

for me....a simple, gorgeous fresh backdrop to combine *all* our collected goodies...

when that crate is dropped on our front lawn from ol'Blighty i am gonna be in home heaven...

coastal farming...country coastal...

the new decorating term for gals who love both sides of the globe...two *ways* of living...

we're sorting life from the bottom up- drivers licences, insurances, school gear etc...but amongst all this

we are planning...sorting paintings on walls...arranging shells in vintage boxes...

when out connection allows me to upload more than two pickies- i'm going be sharing the lot

with you all...

happy monday to you lovelies...

see ya when random borrowed wi-fi allows.....xxx

Happy New Year- sunshine & friendship...

2012-01-03T02:47:00.000-08:00

g'day lovely bloggy friends the world over...

we are so very happily settling into our little beach house here on the Australian coast...

all over again-

we're falling in love with the noise of our garden's wildlife...

we're falling in love with the kiddos being more *outdoors* than in...

we're falling in love with a *cruisey* month of summer before school begins...

&

we're trying very hard to fall in love with our erratic internet connection...

wi-fi does not hit our beach house till Jan 18th...& whilst i'm missing it ~~desperately~~ a little, i'm noticing

the spare moments i seem to have without it!

i mentioned this on FB & a lovely local friend saw it another way..."poor internet=quality face time :) "

this *it's all good* attitude...is the Australian ethos in a nutshell...we loooove it...it feels good...

i still miss my wi-fi though BIG time ;-)

so...i'll literally be *popping* in & out of your days...stick with me lovelies as i have soo much to share...

& i'll be responding to all your lovely emails, comments & FB hi's whenever the www allows it!

today i just wanted to say...

happy new year...& to hug you all tight- real tight with a good whallop of sunshine & friendship...

hope your new year's resolutions are simple, happy ones...mine are...

xox

p.s- a new year blog clean-up is on the cards when the wi-fi is up & running...i'll keep y'all posted! x

back to life on a beach...

2011-12-26T12:55:00.000-08:00

morning to all you lovely girls all over the world...

hope you all had a magic Christmas- whether it be up there with snow or down here with sunshine & surf...

our kiddos wrapped themselves up in family...grandparents, cousins, endless Aunts & Uncles and love...

by Christmas night we'd lost two of the three to cousins houses...just what we want to be home for...

so...

i know we're all in that lovely holiday time between Christmas & the New Year...

our kids are covered in sand & dragging their beach towels with them where ever we go...

just in case we can fit in another beach & another swim...

they are happy happy happy...& very very salty!

we're using this time- Ritchie & I to set up our beach house...

we're doing all the essential things alongside the *lovely-to-be-home* things...

between the prawns & pavlova's - we've bought fridges & tele's...unpacked crates from storage &

started to put together our family home on the beaches again...

we've uncovered the many things we've collected from our travels before living in the English

county side...

we've started to uncover our life here again...& in the back of my mind i am longing for our collected

treasures from Europe & England to arrive to gather it all together...

boho may be an understatement here...Coastal Farming is the aim...

industrial...farm orientated beach living- zinc french buckets & watering cans...

collected beach shells & coral alongside farm cans & steel milk crates...

hessian wall hangings & surfboards...

i'll keep you posted ;-)

so...however you are enjoying the days between Christmas & the New Year...

take a moment to imagine a very loved house- with crates galore...excited kids...*stuff*

everywhere...sandy feet & polished floor boards...

we'll get there...& with huge warm smiles on our faces...

hope you have are enjoying your post Christmas days...

i love getting back here- to you bloggy girls...

we're going to have a fab 2012 doing this together...shaping our beach house...

catch you after the beach....

M xxx

Happy Christmas Day...from Down Under...

2011-12-24T15:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas lovely bloggy friends....

Have a wonderful day & thanks for being here with me...

Hope you & your families have a perfect day...

xxxxx

a coastal girl at home...x

2011-12-22T10:32:00.000-08:00

g'day gorgeous girls...

i'm hanging out *Down Under*...it's almost 5am...the kiddos have only been up since 2...!

jet lag is working hard...

but.we.are

H.O.M.E

on the gorgeous beaches of Australia...

& it feels perfect...

in a *very particular* order...

these are the things about Oz that are making my heart smile...

family....family everywhere

the beaches...nature australian style

kookaburra's calling the morning in

strong italian australian made coffee on the beach

trays of mangoes

thoughts of a christmas day under the gum trees

blogging *Down Under*...we are going to love this together...

from the english countryside to the beaches of Sydney...

i'm back & am going to share falling in love with home again...

moving back into our beach house...

the decorating...

the gardening...

creating our life here again...

days with sandy feet & surfboards...sunshine...seafood...

a beach life *Down Under*...

you in?

huge hugs from this coast loving girl...

i gotta a day of thai food & christmas shopping ahead...

but i'll be thinking of you...

xoxox

a moving from the English countryside to the beaches of Australia up-date x

2011-12-14T12:26:00.000-08:00

evening lovely bloggy gals...

it is soooo nice to sit with you...glass of wine in hand...mince pies & pistachios beside me...

in the wonderful *once-was-victorian-old-now-new* apartment we have moved into...

a little moment to ourselves...after a massive day of helping removal men start to move us back to the

beaches of Oz...it feels good...it feels exhausting...

it feels like the end of something wonderful & the beginning of something deliciously familiar...

so the apartment is on our village Green, overlooking the Irish Sea...

it is the P.E.R.F.E.C.T place to finish up our 4 years in the English Countryside...

it's simple, beautiful & very different to the *gathered, loved, collected boho* of our house...

i need different at the moment...i need simple & laid out & organised...

the apartment is a big old house divided into 12 huge, individual apartments...

we are a family of 5 living in 1/12th of a house...i cant quite get my head around how one would live

in it's entirity....but people did...

anyway....aside from space & simplicity...according to Miss.A we needed a tree...

i do love me some doilies...{see here, here & here }

& i do love me an instant *god-what-have-we-not-packed* Christmas tree...

we had not packed a packet of doilies & a set of Christmas lights...

the *trunk* was to be binned...one can't take random Scottish drift wood back into Ox apparently... :-(

but i grabbed it outa the bin on my upteenth trip to the apartment from the house today...

ceeeeute huh!!??

so with the *tree* up...i set upon my usual *go-to* packing snack- mince pies...

if you've ever had a virtual Christmas coffee with me {see here & here}...

you'd know that mince pies are my *between-every-meal* sustenance...

i have lived on them for at least the last week or two...

i'm ok with that...the local mince pie makers are ok with that...

i'd send you home with a batch if you popped past the apartment...

i pulled out a fresh batch last night to do a bit of Santa letter writing with Miss.A...

she's 6 & very concerned that Father Christmas may not know of all our moving...

i assured her that 12,000 miles, 5 days before Christmas by a family of 5, does not go un-noticed by

Mr.Claus....she's not quite so sure...

so we cracked open a mince pie & sent him a little reminder of our movements... :-)

super gorgeous sweet...all done with very intense concentration & a lot of photo moments...

the kiddos have been amazing...

the changes are by the hour now...we have moved out of our family home...

but they are ready...they are soo wonderful...

we've had moments...but they all seem on track today...they are all soo excited today...

& let me tell you sweet friends- if you ever move your kiddos across the world, you will know that

you take it one day at a time...

we did that to get here- & we are doing it going home...

Santa has a very special...this is where we are at...letter heading his way...

we have a seriously cool...made out of what we didn't pack doily Christmas tree...

we are having dinners & drinks with all our beloved local friends...

& half our big old country house is packed in moving crates...

life is good...i feel settled tonight...i needed this moment....

& i need a few more this week...

it's lovely to have a moment to *check* in with you all...

to centre myself...have a little *me* time with you here...

i am loving all your messages, emails, comments, tweets...all of it keeps me happy...

all of it gives me a moment *away* from what i have to do each day to get us home...

i love you for that...if i haven't replied- i'm hoping to...but i need to prioritise & have a serious time

frame...

i know you'll be here for me...the boat won't wait...the crates need sorting!

see you over the weekend...love to you all....

xoxox

Christmas luggage tag stamping- avoidance heaven!

2011-12-09T04:08:00.000-08:00

morning from ol'Blighty...

just saying that whilst i still can...

we're outa this beautiful, big old house that has been our home for almost 4 years on monday...

& there is a huge part of my heart that just wants to throw it in a crate & have it sent to Australia with us...

so when the end gets nearer...& the decision making becomes more demanding...i have a fail-safe

way of just ignoring it all for a bit...

is it just me...or do you too put some big moments on hold...& just for a little moment climb

into your safety net & do something so totally unrelated that you can switch off...

wooden stamps...luggage tags...typeface...my kinda nothing...

total escape...HEAVEN...IGNORANCE...whatever you want to call it- i needed it...

after an enormous day of decision making yesterday...with the hubster home from work...

two minds better than one sorta thing...

i just needed to switch off...not decision make...not file...not think...

& so i made tags...Christmas tags...as many as i could till i was ready to make bigger decisions

again...

you see...i'm one of those people who's *surroundings* influence their emotions BIG time...

i need the things that make me tick around me...

visually i need it to be my kinda right...i've always been like this...

it's not that i place value on monetary objects at all...it's all the small things that tweak my memories...

& my heart- that make my space about our family...about me...

the drawings...the notes...the photos...the bits of shell & collected stones...

Ritchie & the kids are so used to it...my parents are so used to it...my {B.B} is so used to it...

i can't remember the last time we travelled somewhere, that i didn't *sort out* our room somehow...

so now...whilst all that is *us* is being packed up...& i know i can't surround myself with these

things till March next year- i'm getting twitchy...i'm tag making...

it's all about keeping sane & big picture focused apparently... ;-)

so...my moments of *non-decision-making-me-time* now involve hanging out with you here

blogging & making a ridiculous amount of Christmas tags...

forgive me this one little vice...{12,000 miles} is a long way...there's mucho decision making

happening here....

so visions of this....

piles of our beloved, collected memories...

& our aussie passports....

turn me to this...

if i worked in some corporate office- i suppose i'd be an example of an *avoidance strategist*...

how to not get where you need to be...

but as i'm in uggs & a loved old jumper, piling up our life to move 12,000 miles home to

{the beaches in Australia}...you're just gonna have to run with me.... :-)

love you for being here...

coming on this journey home from the English countryside to the beaches of Oz with me....

& letting me hide in my *stamping-Christmas-tags-vice* along the way...

have a wonderful weekend

hug your kiddos

savour your moments

let me know if you have more avoidance-me-time strategies up your sleeve for a packing up her life mama!

xoxox

~~~

stamps from amazon: {here}

a Christmas tale of three little beach kids falling in love with the white stuff...

2011-12-07T04:22:00.000-08:00

morning all...i hear the weather is a little *out* this year all over the globe...

what's that all about??

last year here we had knee deep snow- this year we have wind...hail...wind...& more hail...

so...i'm thinking we could all do with a little story of a Christmas past...

Aussie's in wellies- stomping through gorgeous white snow in the english countryside to go get

themselves a tree...

a real local...from the woods...planted for Christmas...English tree...

three beach born...sandy haired...sun-kissed little Aussies...

coaxed by the travel-loving parents across the globe...promised moments like this...

let's get a little background here...

these guys had NEVER seen snow till we moved them to ol'Blighty....

it's not that snow doesn't exist in Australia- it's just that it doesn't exist on the beaches near us ;-)

& truly no snow holiday can compare to waking up to your very own white garden after snuggling

down for the night in front of an open fire...

N.O.T.H.I.N.G

this is the way to see your first whallop of snow...don't ya think?

so...the story goes that those sandy, salty kids did what they do best...

they got out in it...they threw themselves into each & every minute of the white stuff...

the neighbours shed was raided & sleds passed over the fence...

they built their first snowman...they jumped on a snow laden trampoline...they froze...

& their first moments of falling in love with snow were etched in their memories for ever...

now...these little Aussie kids- they hadn't felt real cold like this before...

they rugged up & ran & laughed & smiled soo big they didn't even know they were frozen till they

came in hours later tired & happy...

then they changed & started all over again...

they wandered their little village...the one they had fallen in love with...

the village that will always take over their hearts when they think of England...

& they took in every single street....

every single corner & road & house that they knew so well...

they took in every quiet moment...

ya know-snow muffles noise...even the sound of three very excited Aussie kids screaming & shouting

snow instructions to one another...

{i loved that quiet...

the white...the clear sky...the quiet...}

so those three sandy, beach reared little Aussies woke up to a perfect storybook-white-lead-up-to-

Christmas-morning...

the ultimate way for those three kiddos to fall in love with snow...

that's my Christmas tale for you...

it's all snow...& smiles & memories as i watch the squirrel in our garden blow from tree to tree...

how's your side of the globe?

gotta a little Christmas-past memory you're pulling out as the

weather sort's itself out round us!

i love a good Christmas tale...

xox

a wise woman at Christmas....

2011-12-06T04:30:00.000-08:00

hello lovelies...today i'm ~~channelling~~ attempting to channel my wise woman...

if the three wise men can find a stable, as my miss.6 keeps telling me, then i'm thinking i can pack

up a house...

move three kiddos 12,000 miles...

throw a great farewell & still manage to keep track of Christmas gifts...

surely....three men, one stable.....one wise woman, one long list...

yesterday i fell off the track...i didn't tick..or organise...or decide a. single. thing.

it felt good yesterday...today i need some list ticking to get done...

i need to be that wise woman...

keep all those gorgeous comments & emails coming lovely friends...

i can't tell you how much it's keeping me grounded...on track...ready to take on my

*daily-get-us-back-to-Sydney-5-days-before-Christmas* list of must do jobs...

the thing about moving...& packing...& making decisions is that we're doing it around three

kiddos who still know that there is only 19 days left till Christmas...

around kiddos who are doing Nativity plays...& music concerts...& attending last football {soccer}

practises & matches...last horse riding days...

around kiddos who's emotions are soaring & going a little mad with all that lays ahead...

so...yes i am channelling my inner wise woman for many reasons today...

the thing about being wise for the kids- is that i also need to be wise for those kiddos mummy...

the one that loves the silver balls...the endless ribbon...the whole holiday season...

so amongst the packing...the strong tea's...the daily coffee....i am also having a daily Christmas fix...

just a small one....which like being here with you, blogging with friends, is my little moment...

my time amongst all the bigger stuff....

these tiny beautifully etched silver camels have been with us our entire journey here to the English

countryside...

Ritchie bought them in Dubai for the children-our very first stop on this amazing adventure...

it was to remind them always that our journey started with our own little camels...

all the way from Australia- watched over by their parents....

these are the moments that i won't pack in moving boxes...these moments will travel with me in my

hand luggage- the memories need to sit with me....

it's funny how the smallest of objects can result in mountains of memories...

so...

my moments of Christmas decorating are as much for me, as they are for those three kiddos who

continue to amaze us with their attitudes...their wisdom...& their love...

Christmas for us this year is not about cutting down our own tree in a wooded forest on our doorstep...

it's not about Church on Christmas eve in our beloved village...

but it is about being together....

it is about not packing up those memories...

it is about reflecting on the journey...our journey...our times together....

a once in a lifetime experience...

so today...my *wise woman* is coming out....

i'm ticking...& making decisions...but i'm also looking at three little Christmas camels & smiling

to myself...

*happy-christmas-moments*

to y'all

have some today- a few little festive *moments*

of memories

Christmas's past & Christmas as it will be for you this year

all the *wise women* are doing it ;)

xox

vintage milk bottles & decorating for Christmas with what you already love...

2011-12-02T11:07:00.000-08:00

december *2- vintage milk bottles, jars, rolls of ribbon...& Christmas...

there's something about jars & jugs & bottles of greenery at Chritstmas...

especially if you've just lugged a trolley around a huge store loading up for a *Farewell England*

party that you are throwing on Sunday- & then lugged it into the car...& then into the house...

it's just nice to be surrounded by something simple...& Christmas-y...& not to do with

lugging...

all year i love big bunches of flowers...

it's actually the *one thing* i've not really gone a week without, here in ol'Blighty...

especially as the weather really pushes those * i-need-some-colour-desperately-in-my-life*

buttons...

wild overgrown peonies in the english summer...

big branches of frangipanni in the australian summer...

greenery & berries at Christmas from the garden...

christmas time is all about *simple* for us...our kids have thought we *under-do* Christmas

since seeing how my gorgeous B.B {british bestie} does Christmas decor...

{& just for the record BB i'm so fine with them loving you more....x}

but it's all about simple- especially this year...with the {move back to out beach house *Down Under*}

simple budget friendly decoration...

simple household items used with a new Christmas twist...

home made goodies thrown together with one or two special pieces that can be pulled out year

after year...

i love anything tarnished...white & this year it seems red....

i pull out the same baubles each year...there's apparently never enough of them nor are they wildly

coloured enough for the kids...in my book this is a good sign ;)

kids & christmas- most of it "perfect"...some of it "hmmmm"...but that's what a playroom is for ;)

so...back to the simple use-what's-around-your-house-decorating...

vintage milk bottles- awesome yes...but i also bung candles in old jam jars...berries in long pasta

sauce jars, greenery in small tonic water bottles & berries in tin cooking pots...

vases are just not necessary when your mixing bits from your house together, uniting them with

a Christmas twist...

this year- because we can't go all out till we get home to Oz- it's ribbon all the way here....

i'll be lugging all these bits to our farewell Sunday- along with some good old fashioned

paper-chains that miss.6 is ~~crazy~~ slightly obsessed with producing by the acre...

so...rounding up Christmas deco's from round the house is the way to go- up-cycling...recycling...

vintage loving- call it what you like- there is something special about using what you already love

& giving it a Christmas re-vamp...

& just to give you a little insight into what my loving, patient husband walks through &

around on a regular basis...{yep toilet roll on table & all !}...

god love him- he makes me tea & pours me a glass of wine around all this...

whilst i light the fire...he smiles at my piles of gathered goodies ~~dumped~~ scattered around the house...

he checks in on this here blog & he lets me know what he thinks of the pickies...

he knows that our house is a home because of all these bits...& i love that he smiles & he nods...

& he takes the long way round our sitting room...

happy decorating

with all the *bits* you already

live with & love

let me know if you've got any plane friendly

20th of December airport appropriate deco's

i need to be making!

see ya monday

xox

Miss Sew & So

happy *heart day* sweet bloggy friends...

*make it monday*...french tote from an eco bag how to...

*instagram*-ing beach house style...

a *good life Wednesday*...-harbour beach love...

a virtual coffee-*chippy chairs & bush tea*...

*make it monday*...doily bunting how-to...

friday pretties- vintage, beachy, country...love it all...

virtual coffee- i love a quiet beach house...

Australia Day 2012...

a *virtual coffee* by the beaches...

*make it monday*-a coastal country inspiration board...

a moment to take stock- a beach house, life & all that *stuff*...

wi-fi hits our little beach house!

*make it monday* beach style....

a beach life of shells & *thongs*...

beach house living down under...

Happy New Year- sunshine & friendship...

back to life on a beach...

Happy Christmas Day...from Down Under...

a coastal girl at home...x

a moving from the English countryside to the beaches of Australia up-date x

Christmas luggage tag stamping- avoidance heaven!

a Christmas tale of three little beach kids falling in love with the white stuff...

a *wise woman* at Christmas....

vintage milk bottles & decorating for Christmas with what you already love...

happy heart day sweet bloggy friends...

make it monday...french tote from an eco bag how to...

instagram-ing beach house style...

a good life Wednesday...-harbour beach love...

a virtual coffee-chippy chairs & bush tea...

make it monday...doily bunting how-to...

a virtual coffee by the beaches...

make it monday-a coastal country inspiration board...

a moment to take stock- a beach house, life & all that stuff...

make it monday beach style....

a beach life of shells & thongs...

a wise woman at Christmas....