Upholstery 103: ski slope chair

This is my latest work of art. It's a ski slope chair for Ruby's room. The grey fabric is almost like an army blanket and the pink piping adds contrast and a bit of fun. Considering the ugly duckling was a freebie, I think it has turned out quite nice.

Before:

After:

Trash and treasure

Who would have thought that a battered old filing cabinet I picked up on Trade Me (the Kiwi's answer to eBay) for $20 would transform my world. I feel so much lighter now that everything is filed away in an orderly manner.

Trash and treasure

I stumbled across these old Reader's Digest books in a "Help Yourself" box at a second-hand shop recently. Who could pass up such gorgeous covers! I think they would make lovely secret book safes. But for now they will just sit and be admired.

The kids asked if I was actually going to read them but I think that's unlikely.

Covet

I have wanted a Nicola Cerini satchel for sooo long. When this one came up on Trade Me the price was too good to refuse.


And in patriotic green and gold -- what more could an Aussie girl ask for?

Nothing new for a month

I've only just discovered the Nothing new for a month challenge and we're already half way through October so it seems a bit silly to sign up now. But it is a good way to get you thinking about where, and most importantly, why we buy things. Do you really have to have that new blouse just because it's 20% off? Do we really want to fill our lives, wardrobes, and houses with shiny new "stuff".

If we were to take up the challenge I have no doubt some of us would find it easier than others. Anyway, I've already started my Christmas shopping so I'm already disqualified. Maybe we could do it in February, when Christmas is done and dusted and everyone is suffering from post-sales exhaustion.

My latest op shop purchase is the picture above – an original, of course. I can hear you laughing at me, but art should be about what you love, right? And there was something about this "still life" that compelled me to buy it. No, I didn't have to have it, but now that I do, I think it would look better in a different frame.

Shell bowl

I recently found this little shell bowl at an op shop. It's actually an old sugar bowl. Very sweet. Sorry the pictures are a bit fuzzy.