Paint Chip Circle Garland DIY

As you know I've got a bit of a crafty bent.

On one of my many trips to Bunnings I had the urge to collect (or should that be pilfer) some of the paint colour cards in my favourite tones of blues and greens.

I had an inkling they would be put to some crafty pursuit.

Having admired the many garlands strewn around Pinterest I decided a paint chip garland was just what the house of KATcapers needed!

My circle punch came in very handy for this activity.

Youngest KAT gave invaluable assistance pairing up the circles as I whizzed them through the sewing machine...the perfect opportunity to begin her education in tone and colour combining!

I used orange thread to add a bit of a punch.

I'm liking my garland draped on the Expedit bookcase...it may end up adorning the window in the lounge...only time will tell.

Cheery and bright and just our style. Verdict?

Grape dipping baskets as planters

True to my word I am posting some shots of my latest revamp - the rusty grape dipping baskets transformed.

I love rusty and authentic but unfortunately they were making a mess of our new travertine and I was finding their rustiness a little wearing!

I lined the bottom and sides with mesh to stop the soil escaping and used that coconut stuff to insulate them (mental blank - cannot remember the proper name for it!)

The painting involved a good undercoat with a Dulux rustproof spray paint and then white enamel spray paint.

The plants are a mix of hardy species which should handle the lack of attention they are sure to get:) I've used pebbles as mulch to complement the travertine.

I may buy some more of them online (I've seen them on eBay) and keep them in their rusty and weathered state for use in the back garden but for the purposes of the front porch these are ticking all the right boxes!

For the record, on eBay you can buy them for $10 - $15 each....in Sydney at the Murobond store in Artarmon they were selling them for $60 each!!!

It feels good to have gotten one project out of the way:) Thoughts anyone?

Long Time Gone

As those cool Dixie Chicks' say I've been a long time gone!

 

It hasn't been a conscious thing, more a result of circumstance (health issues). Although I haven't been visible there has been a LOT going on behind the scenes!

Thankfully I have been surrounded by support from family and friends which has made a difficult few months much easier to manage.

 

Fortunately with the term coming to a close things are on the up and up! Last Friday we celebrated a family wedding and I was full of pride at my three gorgeous KATs.



Oldest KAT was a flowergirl (more Junior bridesmaid as she was as tall as the bridesmaids). Stunning is my only word....how did I produce such beauty?

On the DIY front I have had time to consider my new venture and have a little renaming in the wind...more news to follow! For now here are a couple of my projects to whet your appetite:

Picked this up locally...solid and in good nick and bonus is a matching "hutch" that sits on top. Thinking I'm going to paint it white and the back of the shelves in the hutch a pale blue. Knobs will be replaced and may find some map paper to line the drawers!

Does this picture piqué your interest? The metal baskets are popping up all over the place for varying amounts...I have three of them and have been admiring them in their rustic (rusty) form but have decided to give them an overhaul and use them as planters on the porch...photos to come:)

So that about covers it! Life is good, school holidays are beckoning and I've got heaps more energy!