Artful table Ideas: For a beautifully thankful Christmas.
December 17, 2013
As I have mentioned before on this blog, I am very sad that we don’t celebrate thanksgiving in Australia. This however gives me the opportunity to think thankfully at Christmas time.
Here are some simple ideas from around the blog world, that can be incorporated in your Christmas celebrations particularly in regards to the table.
Some are beautifully quirky, some ingenious, some worthy of a yearly repeat, some child friendly and some all of the above. Let me know if you get inspired and use some, it’s great to hear from you.

Gold Spray painted animals (or possibly nativity characters) with paper luggage tags attached. Image from Style Me Pretty.
Fabulous!
November 26, 2013
Hello hello hello….. yes I am still alive and I am slowly coming up for air. Crazy busy last couple of months. I will share with you over the next few weeks some of the highlights and a few other things I have been slowly saving for you over those months.
But for now….. something fabulous. Poppytalk calls it ‘What happen’s when you give kids thousands of stickers. Take it as a pre-Christmas warning….. or Encouragement …. if you like.
- Hat-tip Poppytalk, stuart addelsee, sccart, and heybubbles and colossal). Via The New Domestic. …. so apologies if you have seen it before.
- I think it appeals to me because it’s how the last half of the year has felt like, but makes it look so much more joyful than it was some days.
- Though out it all Tim was fabulous and the kids were great. I am hoping and praying that in the next month leading up to Christmas I can embrace the joy in the chaos….. and get to take the opportunity to serve them, and others, like they have been serving me.
“I hacked an Ikea cupboard and you can too” photo tutorial.
September 1, 2012
Has everyone one in Sydney received there Ikea catalogue in the post?
Exciting times!
This is the first time in 7 years since we have had one delivered, so it’s all pretty amazing.
I love seeing how ideas are styled together more than I like buying things…. which is great and very cheap enjoyment.
Before the catalogue arrived, however, I did purchase ANEBODA, for a linen cupboard.
The beauty of the Aneboda is the $89 price tag, the down side (and the thing that has meant I haven’t purchased it before now) is the ugly see-through plastic panels on the doors.
No doubt this keeps the price low, but ….really…. this is the best option?
Anyway….
I decided to hack the cupboard so I could enjoy it both for it’s price and it’s appearance.
…. and I’ve included a quick tutorial so you can too. There is no sewing required!
What you will need
- glue gun and glue
- cardboard (I used the box the flat pack came in)
- about 1/2 m of fabric. (if it is wide enough) otherwise approx 2m of fabric
How to do it.
1. Measure carefully the plastic section of the cupboard door you want to cover. Using the cardboard that the cupboard came in cut 2 rectangles the same size as your measurements minus .5cm in the length and width of each piece.
2. Lay the cardboard pieces down on ironed fabric. I choose stripes….. (I purchased this from Ikea too) and cut around the cardboard leaving about 5cm turnover on all sides. If you are using a changing stripe (like this) or a fabric with a large and obvious repeat…. this is the time to make sure the pieces are cut with this in mind.

3. Using a glue gun (or similar) pull the fabric tightly around the cardboard and glue down. Do this to both sides.
5. Repeat for other door panel.
Facebook Friday
July 20, 2012
Each chair was covered with a different Prada print from collections past.
Like Overall Baby, I love a great print. ….. and red.
How Pinteresting are…… pendant light fittings?
July 10, 2012

Image from hersocialnetwork. Single lights adorned with upcycled items. Bucket, conductor, wine bottle……not sure what that is…..torch and vase.
Deb has given me the search item for this interctive series… How Pinteresting…..
She is in the early renovation stage and it thinking about light fitting for single pendant lights, for the kitchen dining area. The area she describes is mostly white and wood, and wanted some ideas. She was also keen that I included some DIY’s in the mix…. and of course, I had to include some upcycled ideas as well. Light fitting can be crazily priced, so I have mostly looked around the real world (via the virtual one) rather than in the stores to put together a ‘Light’s for Deb’ pinterest board. I’m sure she will find something here she likes.
With a similar theme to the photo above, light fittings could be made using kitchen items. I am thinking a colander, tupperwear bowl or even a vintage cake tin or mixing bowl. Can you think of any others for Deb?
…. alternatively give me your ideas to collate on pinterest.
I haven’t forgotten about the fete…. more on that later next week.
Enjoy.
Inspiration 2012
March 4, 2012
19 Handmade Gifts for Women and Older Girls…. with Tutorials.
November 14, 2011
Colour……
October 25, 2011
A couple of months ago one of my favourite blogs Apartment Therapy posted a series of videos that make sense of colour in interiors (although I think the theories hold true across all colour design fields)
Colour is tricky.
White isn’t white.
Some colours approach and others recede.
There is a reason interior designers get paid to make rooms ‘feel’ a certain way. They know stuff.
It’s a bit like a science that is not taught in schools…. generally.
Like physics or chemistry, some of us have an instinct for it, while others are very afraid. But like physics and chemistry you can learn it (in theory)!
Following are 4 short videos that begin to make sense of some of our big colour questions.
Oh to live in a tree-house!
October 23, 2011
The story behind this is quite sweet.
You can read it here if you like here at Apartment Therapy
I think it has all the makings of a great children’s book.
The tree the house is built in has a story.
Most of the materials used were recycled and reclaimed.
Most of the work was voluntary.
The result is gorgeous!