The Greatest Love Of All

Hi Guys,
Whitney once sang that the children are our future, I belted that tune out as a 10 year old in spite of the fact that I have 0 singing talents and I am sure I drove my parents crazy, Today I know my future will, at some point be in their hands. This is why I whisper lovingly into each of their ears when the others can't hear and say "you're my favorite, don't tell the others". I figure which ever one ends up choosing my home will believe my words and pick out something nice, at least my fingers are crossed that will happen. To clarify I don't really have a fave but there are plenty of days when I have a least favorite depending on who has or hasnot done what.

I can honestly say that while I love many things I do, within a short period I hate it. In fact I think I would haveto say there are only a few things I still love and until now my deepest DIY love was my patchwork chair.

This DIY was actually Jule's idea and it was BLOODY BRILLIANT, sorry but it deserves that kind of praise,

So those who have been around here for a while might remember a few craft rooms ago I had this table.

Then I covered it in houndstooth contact paper, which I did like but I missed this particular dining table so a few months later I ripped off the contact and placed it back into the kitchen

One evening, the night after the new peel and stick vinyl floors were laid, I went out when Jule's came up with an awesome idea. He took the scraps and off cuts from the flooring and placed them on the glass to imitate an old farmhouse wood topped table.

You see a few days before I was leafing through a Country Living or something similar when I saw an iron and wood table, it was only about $3500 and I fell in love, I showed Jule's and declared it to be my ultra dream table.  Anyway one night out I go and when I get back there was the newly covered table, he made it look pretty with candles and everything. I went out of my mind, fell in love (with both the table and Jules all over again, he's a keeper). Can you believe that the wood is in fact peel and stick tiles? I'll tell you now, I had a recent termite issue and the pest control guy was stunned, this guy inspects wood for a living peeps!

This top holds up to anything my lot can throw at it and believe me, if you have seen a four year old at a table that is quite a feat! I LOVE IT.

So since I work real quickly these days, 8 months later I took my old wooden chairs which the kids over the last 15 years had pretty much rendered them to the ugliest chairs on the face of the earth and painted them up.

My goodness can't even begin to tell you how thrilled I am with this dining set. My suburban country style home is coming together and for this all I spent was $15 on paint WOOOT!!!

She truly is a beauty, so in honor of my lovely lady I dedicate this song to her, take it away Whitney




Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Roadside Stool Makeover

Hey Guys,

So things have been bouncing along here at the mansion. I haven't had much time for anything although IU have managed to score a few amazing items, which I hope to get poictures of very soon. In the mean time here is a guest post you might have missed during the year.

This post first appeared on The Thrifty Rebel

Sometimes I think my neighbours know I am going to take their roadside trash. You see I found five of these wooden stools on my neighbours front lawn ready for pick up. 

Instead of just being thrown on like the rest of the crap these were neatly tied together making it easy to carry 2  at a time. When I asked if I could have them, he smiled like he had been waiting for me and said of course.

I only needed two of them for my craft room so I gave them a couple of coats of chalk paint. They need something else, I was thinking grain sack, but for the life of me I could not get them to line up and it was peeling the paint. So I left them white until further inspiration hits and the paint cures

Then Tuula invited me to play,  inspiration hit and I got the paint out again, TADA pink seats, but even better that, the stools inspired something else that caused my very mild mannered husband Jules to freak out!!

and if you're new here I have already posted the makeover that had my husband wondering whether or not he was living in the Barbie Dream House here.

Thanks for reading

Mel xo

Roll Top Desk Maakeover

Hey Guys,

Remember this desk, the catch all of my crap in the entryway before it had it's makeover? Elizabeth has always wanted it and so I thought the time has come. She goes off to high school in January and she will need somewhere to work in private away from the little two.

Using the Canterbury Blue Chalk Paint, I painted it white and I bought these beautiful pumpkin pulls off ebay for less than $2 each. I found them in store for $12.50 so I was pretty pleased with the price.

Only problem was the 4 week wait for them to be shipped, however I just think they're so pretty.

See Pretty!!

DIY Delight or Disaster? Oh delight for sure, I have always loved the desk but I think she is just stunning in white. I love the Canterbury Blue paints, I did receive a pot of the white paint for free, but have since bought a few more, I just love them. So the first touches of green in her room and they're so pretty.

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Wardrobe Doors Makeover

Hey Guys,

Work is under way in Elizabeth's room. The walls are now white. Elizabeth really wanted to have a green room, but since I discovered how much brighter the house is with white walls I nixed that idea.

Every time I have done the kids area I have always gone a little bit crazy. For Elizabeth what I really wanted was a room that would make her happy now but could also be used throughout the teen years. So I painted over the old doors that were installed in the 70's

They received a much needed facelift with Canterbury Blue Cottage Green Chalk Paint 

DIY Delight or Disaster? Simple, easy and I appeased my green loving girl with painting the doors, Delight!

Since we are sort of gong with a cottage, simple pretty room, I decided not to replace the worn brass pulls, I was going to but then I decided after painting that I did actually like them.

Thanks for reading,

 Mel xo

Dining table & Chair, (I might need to change the name of this blog to the Barbie Dream house)

Hey Guys,

Sometimes I forget I am a responsible 38 year old mother and I like to rebel against maturity. I also, for reasons unknown to me, have 4 dining tables that I like to switch out every year or so but this one was left outside and had become quite weathered and not in a good way. If you visited my guest post at The Thrifty Rebel last week, you'll know that I did something to freak Jules out.

I wanted to go back to a drop leaf table to try and make a little more room during the day when the little ones have all their toys out to play and this can be pushed up against a wall.

These chairs are from another set and had really become quite yucky out in the garage.

So when I heard of a new Aussie chalk paint company Canterbury Blue from another Megan of One Plus One Equals Six of mine, I had to try it out. Juliana the owner of the company is an absolute delight, love the paint but I love her even more, how could I not buy from a woman who refers to herself as my paint pimp??  I've actually done quite a few things there will be more colours coming up in Elizabeth's bedroom. I LOVE her paint, it's much cheaper than the other brands out there and the wax just smells amazing, it actually smells like the bush after rain.

I decided to try painting the fabric, I truly do like the result, however I have heard around blogland that it feels like leather, I'd say more like oilcloth, but the best part about the painted and waxed fabric, it wipes clean. No jokes, Madeleine dropped her BLUEBERRIES on it right after I did them, could not believe my eyes when it wiped off.

So I decided I needed a pink table, I also decided to do this while Julian was away while he was on his recent business trip. When I told him he starts freaking out and declared "Great we're living in a doll house now" among other less blog appropriate things, to which I replied, "every girl wished she could live in the Barbie dream house" However when Madeleine told him we had a "princess table" he couldn't say no to her.

I happened to be out when he got home and saw it for the first time (it also might have been on purpose) and this is the message that came beeping through.

Which only goes to prove that it is better to ask forgiveness, than ask permission and they might actually like it. Now of course I am going to have to paint all the walls and do that room next but worth it for my pink table.

If you're in Australia and want to see the most beautiful and affordable range of chalk paints, from a 100% Australian owned and also made here (I have received some paint for free those posts coming up, but I paid for my beautiful pink for this is not sponsored) check out Canterbury Blue on FB.

Also if you want to check out more pink fun, head over to The Thrifty Rebel for more pink lady posts.

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Rocking Chair - Because One Day I Will Be A Nana

Hey guys,

I have a secret, I love rocking chairs, I actually love to sit in my rocking chair and knit. it's totally a Nana thing to do but there is no place I feel more peaceful than in this chair knitting.

Even better I got it for free, it was my Mum's but she had no where to put it and unlike me she's kinda short and her legs didn't touch the ground.

It was scratched and dinged up so I gave it a chalk paint makeover. Also check out the tapestry in the background. My Mum did that for me when I was about 5 and it is still one of my most favourite things ever.

I'm loving the fresh white paint perfect for the new craft space.

DIY Delight or Disaster? Well I was going to add something else to it but I sent a picture to Susan of Simply Vintageous asking advice and she said it was perfect, given she is the furniture makeover queen, I decided to quit while I was ahead. Now I can pretend to be a Nana until (hopefully) in a decade or so I actually become one. Delight!

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Beauty Case to First Aid Kit

Remember when I found that vintage beauty case and the little ones took a hold of it? Well I finally got it back and gave it a make over.

As soon as I saw it I knew exactly what I wanted it to be, a first aid kit, which odly enogh the little two, who have recently been loving the nursery rhyme, Miss Polly had a dolly had the same idea. They called it their doctor bag and played with it for a few weeks.

As soon as they got bored with it, I grabbed it and painted it up.

I have to say I just love this, I really wanted to keep the buttons and latch in the condition they were in some I taped them up and painted around it. 

DIY Delight or Disaster? DELIGHT!! I just love they white paint against the old latch. it's roomy enough to hold everything in and portable so we can take it with us when we go away. Sorry kids, Mummy is not giving it back!


Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Bookend Makeover

Morning All, 

Remember those awesome awesome bookends I thrifted?

Well they got a makeover with some chalk paint.

How freaking awesome are they!! I love that I can stash my stationary in there as well. Note the cute houndstooth notepads, my gorgeous friend Amy at While Wearing Heels, sent them to me in a box of goodies she collected. Does she know me or what??

DIY Delight or Disaster? I might actually do the unthinkable and throwl in a squeal...nope can't do it, but I am pretty darn happy with these babies, LOVE 'EM, delight!

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

TV Console - Mummy Approved!

Hey Guys,

I feel like we've done a heap in our lounge room update and I realised I haven't shared any of it. As is always the case we've had some hits and some misses. First hit was my TV console.

I scored this freebie from my Mum's place, it's my favourite place to shop...always free!

Vinyl Chair Makeover With Chalk Paint

Hey Guys,

Remember those two infected snot coloured chairs I got for $2 a piece? Well they've had quite the makeover!

I was worried about how painting would go but I figured if iut was bad I could always make a slip cover. The paint felt quite hard once it was painted but it was amazing what the wax did. It really softened it up.

By the way is it just me or is applying wax kind of romantic?? I don't know what the best method is meant to be but I have found the best way for me is to apply it with my hands and really massage it into the paint. Jules took one look at me applying wax and said "I suddenly want to be a chair".

DIY Delight or Disaster? Romance aside I would so do this again. The chairs look amazing and everyone who sits in them is like, $2?? No Way! Oh yes way my friends, yes way. Also I am loving the fact that I kept the wooden legs, total delight!

Any crafts get you thinking of romance??

Mel xo

Computer Cupboard or the one Where I promise I don't hate anyone named Amy

Have you ever had that project where everything goes wrong? Well this is without a doubt the worst one for me ever!

Spice Rack Bead Organiser

G'day.

I rarely get to do a bit of thrifting, but lately I have been stalking every single one looking for spice racks. I've seen countless pictures on pinterest where spice racks have been used for craft supplies and since I use spice jars for my seed beads it got me thinking.

Then I stumbled across this little beauty for $2, so excited and I am pretty sure my parents had one of these back in the 80's.

Anyway as much as I love Masterfood's I was after a different look. So I broke out the chalk paint and painted her up.

After I painted I kept thinking it needed a graphic or something, but once I put the beads in I think they give her a little sparkle and I'm glad I didn't add any extra.

DIY Delight or Disaster? Well I think it's a delight and I like having the beads sparkling I'm all about seed beads, cheap but pretty.

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Bejeweled Bread Box

Hey Peeps,

So in love with this I could seriously gush and swoon...but I'm not really the swooning type.

So about a year ago I posted that I had thrifted this bread box, but I had actually bought it in November 2012 and it promptly went into the garage much to Julian's horror. He loves when I bring things home and store it in the garage (yeah right!)

Anyway, continuing my chalk paint love I decided that I needed to paint her up. After I finished painting, I knew I was terrified of trying a transfer methond didn't want a graphic but she did need something. Anyway I had these ruby coloured glass knobs and I thought that would give her the vintage glam look that I wanted.

I LOVE it. I love how the glass reflects against the white wood, way better than the original wooden knob. I just think she is so pretty now, in fact too pretty to put ion my kitchen and have the kids maul her so I think she's going to stay in my craft room as storage, then again I may change my mind.


DIY Delight or Disaster? Oh she has delighted me more than words can say. This I have decided, is the look I want, white lots of white, white, with a little wood, bling and glass. It only took me a year and a half of blogging to find out what I like and I'm loving it, we have been doing some serious DIYing in the house. Oh man how I do LOVE Autumn! I'm loving red as an accent colour but I also love that I can swap it out any time I like.

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Entry Dresser ... Oh What A Difference Some Paint Can Make

Hey Guys,

So I have been working on the entry and I have to say I am loving the direction it's heading. So far less than $100 which is quite amazing. What I have really discovered, which won't be a big surprise to most of you, is what a huge difference some paint can make!

This piece was ready to go to the tip it was in terrible shape, but I convinced Jules that I could paint it and it would be fine. He might have implied that he's heard that before and how many years will it be until it's painted.

The baskets were in great shape so I took them out and gave it a couple of coats of chalk paint.

Brought it in and waxed it, I read you have to wait 30 days for it to be properly cured. So under the punishment of death I told the children NOT to even breathe in the same direction as it.

There she sits in my almost finished entry and no jokes I am so in love with it. Seriously I blog and stuff, to keep the membership you never throw anything away, and I am thrilled that I didn't.

DIY Delight or Disaster? Come on, she's looking mighty fine!! Delight.

Have you saved anything recently from anyone you know lately?

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo