Adeline Country Cottage

Lost my way...

2011-11-30T05:21:00.001-08:00

A beautiful sweet vase with delicate roses

Something about me:

Over the years I have worked hard building well what I thought was building Adeline Country Cottage to be one day a family business, but for the last few year I have felt lost, lost in why I started in the first place, lost in my design eye and lost in the wonderful world of eye candy. Hm mm well I do know why I started, something I could call my own, something where one day my family can read/look back on or build on, part of my life's journey and for them to enjoy too...

This business card is the very first business cards I made and never used them and not to mention I found them a few weeks back...bought me back to where I started.

The one thing I have a passion for and that's design, designs of my styles, colour, colour makes my heart sing, and photography, images that draw you in so much that you have to or got to have it, which has lead me to fill my home with treasure that really I never wanted them in the first place, so for me this is a major trap and why I'm lost, lost in others ideas, I have found that I've been following what others do or want and not what I want...I posted a few weeks back on facebook that I feel like just giving up, being so over whelmed with anything and everything, to much stuff!

lovely pattern design on a vintage bowl

But with weeks of searching and having deep hard look at myself and of my business that it's time to get back to my roots and start going with my gut feeling, and creating things or buying what I like, not because the people want them, well if they do it's a bonus, but to enjoy what I have created or bought...many times I have made tags and sold them and never kept one for myself, it's only been in the last two years that I started to, the boxes that I've made or the Christmas houses or decorations, soft furnishings, making over furniture and many many other things I haven't kept one, not even for my girls, so that's something that needs to change, make them for my girls and home first before selling or giving them away...

I love the colourway of theses leaves

Or not to mention lost in the world of home ware treasures that I have abundance of, that I was drawn in by the eye candy photos, saying buy me I'm so pretty, you don't really need me, but look how pretty I am and I bought it, wanting to create my house into that design that you created, (and notice I called it my house and not my home, I have a thing if you don't own the home your renting a house)...yes lost.

platted rose handle, plant wrapped in old shopping paper bag

Well you can blame me, I'm sure we've all done it, but when is enough is enough, well a girl can never have to much treasures I say, Still lost.

grey metal leave

I also ask myself to blog or not to blog, I also ask myself do people visit my blog and read or do they just flick passed looking at all the eye candy, or to click by me to get to another on my sidebar, oh yeah some do and yes I'm guilty of that in the past.

I read somewhere, beautiful pictures help people come back more and more as they love seeing eye candy images, and read in another place to have the common Curtice to leave a comment, if you have time to go visit you have time to comment even if it's a few words, I have done that a few times yep guilty here too.

But after looking back over my blog posts over the last few months, I have come to realise, I don't have passion in my writing, I say how I talk and that's just me, I guess what you would call it here in blog land finding my voice, which I have also read, I also come to realise that I haven't opened up of my true feeling and how I SEE the world, what my likes or dislikes, what I love to cook and eat, what I hate doing at home like the washing, cleaning etc, etc, I guess people get bored with what you write or maybe I'm just not passion it enough for them to listen/read about, just saying or letting people into my softer side...ewww who wants to hear you say. but I guess I really should because it is my journey, and I really should write how I feel and not worry about it as it's for my family and for me as I like going back sometimes to see how far I has steered of course lol and for you of course too:) who like to follow.

plant: old mans wiskers

So after a long had think, I going to change and restructure a few things and go back to my roots and hopefully come out with a better plan.

a little Christmas tree

A better plan for business of what I love and passion and for family who mean the world to me...

and the decorating begins.

A even more happier life!

Kirstie

Who's feeling Christmas coming very fast this year :)

Christmas Under the Tatted Roof

2011-11-14T03:10:00.001-08:00

Well it's leading up to that time of the year where we all start thinking about Christmas, Last year I wrote some post on "Inspiring Christmas Table Setting" you can read about them Here and Here well this was one that I never had time to post about as the crazy season, well was crazy busy.

And not to mention I no longer live at this house as we have moved to a different location. Now what inspired me to do this Under the Tatted Roof Christmas setting you ask, well after a long weekend of garage sales and lots left over, most of it what you see was just sitting around the back door here, loving the colour palette I got to work setting it up.

some modern chair had some coffee bean sacks pulled over them.

twine tie off the silver ware, crystal wine glass get a simple coloured bead, each one has a different colour so guests don't get there glasses mixed up.

A bench seat with white cloud pillows to relax after a Christmas lunch, An old rustic ladder that holds some handmade Christmas ornaments, some rustic wire baskets to collect unwanted Christmas wrapping paper.

Sheer curtains hang to screen, a large wreath hangs from an old rust iron frame, once was attach to a fly screen door, Jewel Spray Silver Disc Ornaments lay on vintage lace and pine cones that can be purchased Here

Cream vintage plates with gold trim, vintage pure white napkins and a white Christmas gift tag for each guest, A White Christmas House sits in pine cones in a rust old freezer basket, Dancing Reindeer around the pine cones, White Christmas House and Frosted Reindeer can be purchased Here and Here

an old vintage cream and gold chandelier and white chippy pantry door are decorated with holly,

a simple tag, of thoughts to you,

A large white dove makes its nest in the pine needles, while a handmade snow ball and vintage music Christmas tree hands from a ladder, the table center graces a milk white bowl that house a white Christmas barn and baubles, holly and vintage glass ware.

just a simple way to decorate for Christmas with just a few things around your home and garden.

enjoy!

Kirstie.

Adeline Country Cottage goes to Time Worn Style Mountain Studio 2 the Final Part...

2011-09-29T06:34:00.000-07:00

A few months back I visited my dear friend Alicia of Time Worn Style Mountain Studio, upon driving through her lynchgate with only just enough room for my car to fit, I was thinking how beautiful is this! it was like driving into a secret garden.

Weeks had gone by with many mornings waking from a beautiful dream,
dreams of this lynchgate that I couldn't get out of my mind of what
and how I'd like to decorate it with a table setting for that lazy summer afternoon luncheon.

So I thought the only way I'm going to stop these dreams is to contact Alicia, and tell her about my dreams
about her lynchgate, and of course to ask her if I can come up one day to set it all up and have a styling shoot,
and for Alicia to assist me in the styling, to my surprise Alicia loved the idea.

This is where it began Adeline Country Cottage goes to

Time Worn Style Mountain Studio...

We had played around with a few stylings that I had in mind, this is exactly what I envisioned...
A place hidden away under the lynchgate, a place where you feel taken away from the busy life one leads, a place to share with friends on a lazy summer afternoon lunch, with delishes food,
fine wine, great company with laughter echoing through the garden...your mind wonders! lets bring you back!

I love traveling around to opp-shops, antique stores and online to find that perfect piece, with a love of all things blue, pale pink, white, cream, silver, gold, silver grey timbers, crystal class, dried pink roses, vintage tins and of course chandeliers. I also like mixing old with the new,
so with styling this setting came very easy, a place where I dream to be.

I love layers of white vintage table cloths, the freshness and the feel of luxury, I think Rachel Ashwell once said "like old hankies'...vintage table clothes can be found in many places garage sales, opp shop (thrifty stores) antique stores etc, I don't pay anything over $25 for a large size,

I have thought about buying new french linens, but there is nothing nicer then an old soft well worn table cloth, that you can pick up around the corner from home that doesn't cost to much, thats if your on a tight budget of course, dont you agree?

The vintage cream plates with the tatted gold rims can be found for a few dollars per plate, you can be lucky to pick up a set, but in my case it was one at a time and at different places and of different sizes,

here I have used 2 napkins, vintage white and pink, you can never have to many napkins at the table, the thought behind this is the large white one for your lap and the smaller pink one for those little bits of food around the mouth can be wiped away...as I laugh!

vintage napkins can be sourced everywhere, the white napkins here a set of twelve where $15 and the pink 99c each, I have used a very sheer vintage ribbon to hold the napikins together and placed the fine silver cutlery inside,

now silver cutlery sets can set you back quite a bit but with a little resourcing you can be very lucky to find them at a good price, the set I have used here for a place setting of 12 that came in the box for $50 great find if you ask me,

The clear crystal wine glasses I find most familys have, weather there handed down or given as a wedding present or buy them, they are dim a dozen in thirfty stores couple of dollars I've seen them for, and who said they all had to match as long as they all have the same size.

Dotted around the table are some odd glass jars to add tea lights in, well there nothing really special, just find some that works for you for a couple of cents,

The blue drinking glass are a reproduction, now these glasses Alicia was so happy to assist me with, they have the cut of a crystal glass and had been put into a dish washer and lost some of it's blue, they look like they have the vintage fadeness, but you know I think it adds to the appeal of the table setting, Oh and did I mention Alicia gave them to me as a gift...I love them!

the tall blue water bottle can be found in kmart for $1.99, the small vintage bottle dotted around the table are an easy find,
prices range between $2 to $12, they come in different shades from clear to a tint of blue.

The two gorgeous blue hobnail vases, they are the most vibrant Greek sea blue with a white rim around the top very had to find, if you see them grab them, they are worth alot of money, lets just say anything under $100 is a bargin, the two here where under that price.

I love fresh flowers, but didn't want to much here after all your in this beautiful secret garden that provides such natural beauty,
I went with some dried pink roses, placed here and there, and an old silver grey bucket that housed some blue hydrangeas,

A sweet little table crystal drop candelabra, and blue chairs found in one of Alicia's junket runs.

I love the idea of hanging my milk white chandelier, and liked the idea of having a white picture frame hanging, but I wanted something different so we hung both of them,
the whiteness of the frame and the chandelier as the vocal and brought the outdoor room all together, the vintage frame cost $50 and had nothing but a slap of white under coat paint,

the milk white chandelier was my bargain of the century cost me $5 yep your reading right $5 dollars, I just happened to be at the right place at the right time!

Well I'll let you scroll and view the rest of images

I had such a wonderful time with Alicia, thank you so much Alicia for opening your home and garden for me to for fill my dream...And thank you to Sonia for publishing this photo shoot in

Creating Vintage Charm magazine and putting Adeline Country Cottage on the front cover.

Kirstie.

Petal Pusher

2011-07-12T06:41:00.000-07:00

Since my family and I moved into the rental house in February it has been a mad rush to put everything in its place to make us feel at home and comfortable and not to mention for me getting back to work creating, blogging, face booking, website and just networking in general, it has been quite hard to keep up on everything that goes on, but the one thing I have loved is looking out the kitchen window into the sun room that has large windows that lets the winter sun flood in the morning,

which allows me to view the whole back yard, I have been waiting for the Camellia tree down the back to flower, as it started to bud I often wondered what colour flowers it was going to bring, and now it's here

so much so that the Camellia tree is so full of flowers it has dropped a blanket of petals all around it, it looks so beautiful

I decided to lean my old pink bike against the tree,

as I stand taking these images I couldn't help thinking or wishing the petals wouldn't brown up and weather away, it looks so beautiful,

I just love being inspired by nature and happy I was able to capture this moment.

Kirstie.

My Nanna Mackenzie Veggie Soup

2011-07-10T00:57:00.000-07:00

As I was a child we would visit my nanna and pop on the weekends and stay for lunch or dinner, Nanna would always start with a bowl of her homemade soup before having a main meal, I remember thinking as a child how much I hated this soup and didn't want to eat it, but was always told if we didn't eat it we would get nothing else...lol...so slowly spoon by spoon with much disgust I would finish it, after all what child likes eating there veggies, I know I didn't, lets just say when mum and dad would leave the table I would go throw my peas down the toilet, until one day the tank over flowed and yep you guessed it pea's and everything else flooded at the back door boy did it stink!...oops sorry about that dad sheepishly, love you!! so then I started to sneak out side and throw my veggies over the back fence, then go back inside and sit at the table tapping my knife and folk just to pretend I had eaten everything off my plate and ask if I could leave the table...hmmm yeah I did get caught there too, our neighbour asked my father to stop throwing our food scraps over onto his garden...lol...sorry dad!!! anyway getting back to it, so my mother learnt how to make my Nanna's soup and started making it at home for us all the time, all I could think was blurk! blurk! blurk! I guess over the years I learnt to love it, when ever I was sick I wanted this soup as I knew it was going to make me well again, now I make this soup all the time through winter and my girls have learnt to love it too, and when ever there sick guess what soup they ask for me to make? yep Nanna Mackenzie's Soup...I thought Id share this recipe with you, just remember the more grated veggies you add the better it tastes...

1 tbl spoon barley }
1/2 cup green split peas } all washed and drained
1/2 cup yellow split peas }
1 hand full of Lima beans (soaked over night, to remove shell)
1 hand full of chopped leek
2 hand fulls chopped celery
3 large grated carrots
2 large grated parsnips
1/4 of a pumpkin grated
3 bay leaves
salt & pepper

Added all ingredients into a pressure cooker added water to just see come through the veggies, then follow your pressure cooker instructions.

If you don't have pressure cooker, soak barley, both split peas over night including Lima beans in separate bowl so you can remove the shell, if you like add some stock for extra taste (pictured in image 6 to the right), next day add all ingredients into a large pot and bring to the boil for 20mins then turn down to the lowest setting and simmer for and hour or until barley, split peas and Lima beans are soft to eat. making sure you do give it a stir in between...then serve!

This soup can also be freezed once cooled down, perfect for that icy cold day.

Hope you enjoy making my Nanna Mackenzie's Veggie soup as much as it tastes...happy Soup Ladle!

Kirstie

Vintage Wallpaper Storage Boxes

2011-05-31T04:57:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you but one thing I truly love and collect is vintage wallpapers, they have the most beautiful muted colours and pretty designs, how could one not love something so amazingly beautiful, so I got to thinking with many vintage wallpaper rolls lying around I've spent the last 2 weeks making over the storage boxes as part of my new line for my online boutique

the one above is Creamy Pink Rose Heart she is so sweet just like candy

arrr I have to say Lady Bouquet would have to be one of my favorite wallpapers of all, she has such a pretty colourway and what girl would want this filled with something special and given to her as a beautiful gift

well then again I do really love the look of Powder Blue the dainty look of those sweet blue roses make my heart melt, this one will be very hard to let go as my dear friend Natasha gave me some of this wallpaper...but I do with a smile...and hoped secretly that know one buys her...lol

just some more of my collection, hope you have enjoyed some of my vintage wallpaper boxes and that they have been candy to your eye, they have been listed in my boutique now, with more in the making and on there way.

enjoy your week!

Kirstie

An Amazing Autumn

2011-05-19T19:17:00.000-07:00

Hi there, this week traveling back and forward to drop my girls off at school, I have noticed this year Autumn is at her finest, I don't know why it stands out more then ever before, but the colours are so vibrant, rich and beautiful, so much so I could resist on capturing some of her beauty.

I think these picture say it all...don't you think?

maybe using these colours for inspiration

to bring warmth into your home

a throw blanket

some cushions

some branches in a vase for display

an open fire

with a nice cup of soup.

The perfect Autumn day

amazing how many coloured leaves on one tree

I think this tree is on fire...lol

this one above would have to be my favorite, how wonderful would it be to drive down here everyday through Autumn to your home.

I just love how the trunks of the trees look almost black from a distant which in turn intensifiers the colours of the leaves

I have to say this is the best Autumn showing I have ever seen.

enjoy life!

Kirstie.

It's Easter Time

2011-04-24T06:18:00.000-07:00

The Adeline Country Cottage family would like to wish you a Happy and safe Easter, and may EB bring you many Easter Eggs for you to indulge in, because I know I'll be scoffing more then a few...lol

Happy Easter!

xxx

Kirstie

Something to think and live by...has got me thinking?

2011-04-13T05:43:00.000-07:00

By Agnes Pels

(Paros)

Sustainable Living...
A lifestyle that can be sustained without exhausting natural resources…

To be self sufficient...
To live a more simple and efficient life...
To achieve authentic happiness while using fewer resources...

Sustainable living is a valuable journey that can help all of you,
to achieve many things in life...

Authentic Happiness...
Enjoy... wonderful things money cannot buy...

Responsible Environmental Living...
Be Aware... of our ecological footprint on the planet...

Live Life More Balanced...
Create... more free time for the things that really matter...

Financial Benefits...
Save money... in using less as well as cut down on throwing things away...

Agro-Tourism...
Reconnect... with the local food supply to become more personally self sufficient...

By living more aware and sustainable...
We create an environment to experience, learn and grow......
We have the opportunity to teach our children to live life more balanced...

© 2011 Agnes Pels for Sustainable Development of Greek Islands...
We would like to inform and inspire you for a more sustainable lifestyle...

Sustainable Development of Greek Islands does claim ownership
and copyright to the picture used with this post...

Romantic Vintage 2

2011-04-10T18:50:00.001-07:00

Romantic Vintage 2 by Adeline Country Cottage on Polyvore.com

Vintage Romance

2011-04-10T05:13:00.001-07:00

Vintage Romance by Adeline Country Cottage on Polyvore.com

Vintage glassware is the final touch to a beautiful table setting

My Mothers Simple Strawberry Jam

2011-03-23T05:13:00.000-07:00

1: 2kg Sstrawberry's 2: Wash them 3: Into a big pot

4: 2kg Sugar 5: into pot 6: Stir together

7: Squeeze lemons 8:1/2 Cup lemon juice 9: Pour into pot

     10:Simmer on low heat for an hour 11: With a wet brush rub suger down the sides towards the jam

12: Put saucer in freezer for 5mins, pull out and add a small table spoon of jam on plate, run your finger through the center if the jam stays apart and doesn't run back together it's ready

13: soak jars in boiling hot water 14: Jam covers in pic below

15: Pour in jam and cover allow to cool over night.

16: Decorate jam jar to your liking...

Hope you enjoy the yummy taste of my mother's jam recipe...

let me know how you go or if you have any questions on making the jam I'm here to help.

Kirstie.

Adeline Country Cottage goes to Time Worn Style Mountain Studio Part 1

2011-01-27T04:24:00.000-08:00

A while back I visited for the first time a dear friend of mine Alicia's home, owner of Time Worn Style Mountain Studio we have known each other for many years via blogging and facebook.

Upon my visit to Alicia's home I discovered many beautiful settings throughout her garden that lead me to dream over and over again for weeks later. I rang Alicia and told her about the dreams I have been having and asked her would it be ok to do a photo shoot for my table settings in her garden and I have the perfect spot for it, well of course and to my surprise Alicia said yes...So for the next few posts will be My day with Alicia as my assistant at Time Worn Style Mountain Studio...I hope you enjoy

Adeline Country Cottage's

journey at

Time Worn Style Mountain Studio

this last image has a little hint for the next post...

no words need to be said as the images speck for themselves

Hope you have enjoyed my rustic daisy setting...

many thanks to Alicia...in my heart!

XXX

Kirstie

A Italian and French Magazine Review...

2011-01-08T06:33:00.000-08:00

A wonderful end for 2010

Thought I'd share with you that my little darling

Adeline Country Cottage graced that pages of a new Italian and French magazine, this is the 4th issue released...

never in my wildest dreams would I thought I'd be in such an amazing, beautiful magazine, let alone to my surprise have a 6 page editorial...

the only thing is I can't read what is written, as I don't read nor speak Italian or French, but that's ok...

I'm sure it all sounds wonderful as do my photos look...

I would like to thank Alexandre from Lotus Publishing, for your wonderful correspondence and many emails back and forward, and for being very patient with me uploading 40 odd photo's for you to choose from...

I am truly humble and honoured you found beauty in my work, to publish in your breath taking magazine, to show my appreciation, I would like it if you inbox me with your postal details so I can send you some of my gift tags to you, once again Thank you Alexandre...

and thank you all for dropping in and reading my live journal, 2011 is going to be a big year...lot's more new designs coming through, new homeware products, my girls will be sharing some of there designs there working on, which are quite cute, I'll be sharing more decorated table settings, baking tips, some furniture make overs and book review's so please come and join me and my fan page on facebook and just a simple click to follow here on my blog too...so you don't miss out on whats yet to come!!!

xxx

Kirstie

A Merry Christmas

2010-12-26T17:23:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd pop in and share with you a Christmas tree created by mother nature, I darken the image as the tree was getting lost in the bright harsh sunlight, but the tree is very real and is growing in a garden near my daughters school, I asked the owner of the house would you mind if I take a photo of your Christmas tree in the garden, they said "we don't have a Christmas tree in the garden", until I showed them, they laughed and said "omg we walk pass that every day and didn't even realise it was in the shape of a Christmas tree...hmmm maybe we should put lights on it" I agree I replied...anyway I love the way the purple flowers are dotted around like Christmas bulbs...

don't you think it's the sweetest thing you've seen!

I would like to take this time to thank each and every one of you for visiting blog, I appreciate it and I'm very humble that you find my blog interesting to come back to read time after time, this also helps me find more interesting reading for you...and of course keeping my creative drive flowing...so I thank you.

Merry Christmas to you all, and wishing you all a Happy New Year.

Kirstie

and the

Adeline Country Cottage Family

xxxx

can't wait to see you all in the New Year 2011

Inspiring Christmas Table Setting part 2 and Giveaway Winners

2010-12-06T04:23:00.000-08:00

As Christmas is getting closer and we are still searching for idea's on how to decorate our tables I share with you part 2 of Inspiring Christmas Table Settings, I will get to our winners of my giveaway alittle later, so in the mean time...

we begin with a more softer colour palette, white, water blue, pink and silver...

for a center piece I have used a vintage clear water blue pedestal bowl and just added some silver glass ornaments for interest, a tall blue vase filled with pale pink roses...

the vintage clear water blue pedestal bowl can be found at antique stores from time to time, expect to pay up to $70 this one here was $65 glass Christmas ornaments $6 each and the beautiful roses $8...

once again lovely silver cutlery to add balance to the table and complement the Christmas ornaments and napkin rings which cost around $8 for a box of 12...

stunning vintage plates with just a hint of blue lovely little pink roses just sets the scene, a plate like these can set you back $20 to $40 a plate and the platter's on the dresser in the back ground around $60 to $70 but well worth it as they are just beautiful...

the sweet little pink vintage wine glasses with there little bows around the edges are just divine, $25 a set of 6

maybe change the Christmas ornaments for some extra colour perhaps...

the very muted blue and green vintage water glasses are a set of six... 2 blue, 2 green, and 2 pink, these can be picked for a few dollars at a opp/thrifty store from time to time, but be awhere that you may need to build your set as I did, one or two at a time, I believe they are normally sets of 6 of the one colourway originally...

this time I went for lots of vintage linen layering, the top two are are heavily laced around the edges, would you believe the large one on the bottom is a dust ruffle that is doubled over to give the feeling of luxury...

I have enjoyed doing this setting, love the colorway and how quick and easy it came to mind...

I hope you have enjoyed Inspiring Christmas Table Setting Part 2.

Now to announce the 2 winners...who left comments on my last post to go in the running for my gift tag Christmas packs...

and the first winner is...

No 8 Carilyn from My Lil Rosebud

and the second winner is...

No 10 Lisa from Inn Country

congrats to you both, inbox me with your details so I can send them straight out to you and I hope you both enjoy my Christmas tags.

Inspiring Christmas Table Setting part 3 may come a little earlier as I have some exciting news I would like to share with you all as well.

Thank you and I hope you have enjoyed my inspiration for Christmas...

Kirstie.

Inspiring Christmas Table Setting and Giveaway

2010-11-29T20:13:00.000-08:00

With Christmas spirit in the air, children making there Christmas wish lists, and while we all begin to think of decorating our homes, I thought I'd share a few Christmas table settings with you for the next few weeks, just some simple and beautiful idea's that have been running around in my head...

so we begin with a Traditional colour pallet, white, green, red and gold.

white vintage linens layered, here I have used 2 white vintage table cloths $5 each the vintage napkins were 20c each, with the top being a vintage poinsettia Christmas cloth that was picked up at a opp/thrifty store for 50c ...

the center piece I have used a vintage rose hankie basket from an antique booth $25, large enough to fit a small gold candelabra inside, some of you maybe lucky enough to have a holly tree growing in your garden as I do, I've taken a few branches and just popped them inside and around, just added a few vintage tins, that could hold some treats for the guests

nothing is more beautiful then vintage cutlery, ok it is alittle unorthodox having silver and gold on the same table setting, but finding gold cutlery is alittle hard...don't you think, and I'm sure your guests will think the table looks beautiful way...

I have used some of my own gift tags here for place cards adding alittle personal touch, left in the bags so no glitter falls on the plates, just a simple handmade gift for them to take away with them...

Vintage glass ware is so stunning, I think it adds warmth to the table, you can find them in opp/thrifty shops for a few dollars a set of six...

A simple faux apple cake made by a dear friend Natasha is aways handy to have, the cake and the friendship that is, but I think the cake sets the Christmas table off, a beautiful touch I think...

whats also nice to use is some simple white ceramic roses napkin rings and dotted a few Christmas baubles around the table too...

now for the fun part I have decided to have alittle giveaway too...

the giveaway is for 4 of my gift tag packs, 2 will be given away here on my blog and the other 2 will be on my facebook
Adeline Country Cottage page, you must become a fan of the page to enter...

and leave a comment here as well for second chance, and the winner will be announced next Monday 6th December on my Inspiring Christmas Table Settings 2 post...
Good Luck!!!

Thank you and I hope you have enjoyed my inspiration for Christmas...

Kirstie.

A Little Adeline Cottage...

2010-11-15T16:08:00.000-08:00

For the past couple of years I have wondered should we have sold Adeline Cottage, it was the first family home we bought, and I always thought that my girls would grow up in this sweet little cottage,

alot of renovations went on in this home to bring it back to life and not to mention the emotional roller coaster ride we where on

in doing so. The front of the house was full of trees and you could bearly see the cottage, so we had them removed, painted the

house in duck egg blue and the trimming in airy cream...

the trees being removed also made way for the heritage fence, and planted a forest of 7 silver birch trees, but as you can see only one now has survived, the thought behind having 7 silver birch tree's was in summer you had dappled light come through the flickering leaves to reveal a cute cottage behind them and of course shade, through Autumn the leave changed to yellow adding interest to the garden as the leaves fall and danced around in the wind, winter having no leaves allowed the winter sun into the front room adding natural light and warmth to the home...

beneath the silver birch trees had been planted with a mass of different flowers that bloomed in spring giving a wild cottage garden, but as you can see only the poppies have survived...

even though most of the plants and tree haven't lived, my sweet Adeline is even more beautiful then I can imagine...

my trip down memory lane has brought a tear to my eye, and I wonder dear sweet Adeline will you still look the same for many years to come...

Kirstie

Christmas at Lilies On Brougham

2010-11-09T05:29:00.000-08:00

So today I'd like to share a place that is dear to me, a place called Lilies On Brougham set on 4 acres in Eltham, 45 minutes from the Melbourne CBD, I have been visiting here for the past 6 to 7 years, I was introducted to Lilies by a teacher back when I was studying interior decorating and design, one of our projects was to turn (make believe) the little heritage listed mud brick cottage into a bed 'n' breakfast, this was the first visit, and I fell in love...

form the moment you drive up the drive way you are greeted with french rustic urns, planters, outdoor settings and urban rustic architecture, through Autumn the leaves on the climber turns to the most brilliant deep rich red, it is a site to see...

beautiful gardens that surrounds the acres, nursery to find that special plant you need or use the landscape service. The little mud brick on your left, that you can view inside, sometimes they set that up as a tea room too and other surrounding rustic buildings and sheds that has very large urns and planters to view and buy...

you can just see the cottage on the left, I love walking out here with all that lavender, and the wisteria the smell is amazing, you really do feel like your in Europe, not that I've been to Europe, but I imagine that's what it would be like...

so through the plastic strips, you are greeted with a rustic chippy green church pew that houses many rustic concrete urns and round silver grey baskets with lids, as you open the door the smell of French soaps in the air, as you walk into the gift shop towards the tea house cafe the aroma of coffee and amazing food from the kitchen lingers in the air, tantalizing your taste buds...

most times I arrive here very early in the morning while its not busy, that way it give Wendy (owner) and I a little chance to chat, you can just see the back of her in image above, this is the tea room, if you plan on visiting you must ring to make a booking, as everyday is booked out, click on link at the top of the post for opening times, address and phone details...

All home ware is hand selected here and imported from France by Wendy and Melissa (sisters) as we move on you will find everything is French inspired and have a warm sense of home...

oh and did I mention I supply Lilies with my gift tags, below are some of my Christmas line, generally I supply the French theme, which most of them come here and don't make my online boutique...

beautiful glass ware, white jugs, cups and teapot house inside the silver grey shelving...

beautiful French soaps...

white French soaps and hand creams, with a children section...

The one thing I truly love is Wendy and Melissa's clothing line called Lily & Lulu very simply, relaxing and French inspired, from their many trips to France,

they also run ladies tours to France

one special time of the year, is time I love to visit, all the Christmas decorations...

oh and one Gail's paintings, I have to say Gail your painting works very well with their colorway of the shop...

beautiful glass domes, cake stands and candle urns...

black and silver Christmas ornaments...

now this is my corner, loving aqua, silver and white at the moment, so I have purchased some of these for my Christmas tree this year...

gorgeous!!! don't you think...

Eiffel Tower paper weights...

French grey scripted throw cushions above and below...

does anyone now what those sticks with handles are for...well let me tell you...you need two of them they have a split down the long stick you slide your news paper in, one for each side, and you hold the handles, not only dose it lend to elegance, but also to keep the black ink off your hands...

some rustic coat hangers...

a simple branch Christmas tree...

wooden stars boxes...

Now to these breath taking French doors, one day a set of these will be hanging in my house, I love them don't know how many times I walked back to them to dream...

to some sweet knitted Christmas dolly's, aren't they sweet...

Thank you so much for visiting Christmas at Lilies on Brougham, all image where taken by me on the the owners approval, if you would like to see more of Lilies On Brougham, Lily & Lulu, ladies tours to France
or the landscaping service please feel free to click on many link throughout this post.

Please visit this link Lilies Gallery to view some amazing images, on the top right hand corner of the image click on next, these are some images of the cottage, landscape and tea room.

Have a wonderful week!

Kirstie

It's an Adeline Country Cottage Christmas

2010-10-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

I have released my new line of Christmas swing tags in my online boutique, for the last 2mths I have been quite busy creating, selecting images, paperies, embellishments, etc, it has been very hard to select the images as having so many and everyone of them are beautiful in there own right, so instead of remaking ones from the past years I decided on go with some different ones...so I can bring you 20 different designs.

the one above is a beautiful vintage image of two red robins sitting on a holly branch, I have kept it quite simple, by adding an aged effect, vintage music topper, white ribbons, a green gem and pure silver glitter around the edges.

Don't you just love this image of these children and there dog having a snow ball fight, too cute. These are just a sneak preview, you will find more in my online boutique at Adeline Country Cottage

I also have been working on a few surprises hopefully they will be ready in time for the Christmas listings, Oh wait here is one of them below.

I also have some very, very exciting news, but cant let that out of the bag just yet, but don't worry I will keep you posted on both soon once I have all the details.

Enjoy your weekend!

XXX

Kirstie

Show your Vintage Charm Launch Party

2010-09-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

Well today is a special day Sonia is launching her first issue of Creating Vintage Charm magazine, and what better way to celebrate and have a party, showing everything the revolves around vintage items and decor, so I would like to share with you some of my vintage collections that seem to over take my home

above is a vintage wire mannequin, that I had no place to hang the vintage leaf garland, so I thought to get alittle creative and wrap it around my vintage wire mannequin, I guess I was inspired by those feather collared designer jackets you see walking down the runway....I love the movement it creates, Miss Anastasia stands on top of a table in the corner of my room in front of a window, love it there as Miss Anastasia still lets the light through....now I had to name her Miss Anastasia as my little cherub has staked clams on this one, so Miss Anastasia was named after her.

a beautiful crystal bowl that was given to me from my nanna after she past away, it is one of a pair, but this one sits on my dressing table that houses some of my vintage fans that I have been collecting since I was a child, I have lost count how many of them I have, and there are quite a few that are still boxed up, I will find them one day but right now I think these are quite enough.

Once again another beautiful gift from my nanna, I love this jewelery box, I love the detail in the gold work, the cream enamel that has discoloured and the fade pink on the flowers that has aged with time,

one of my loves as many of you would agree, is vintage millinery flower hats, many time I have thought to pluck the flowers off the hats to use them as part of gift wrapping as Rachel Ashwell shows us in one of her tv shows, but you know I can't bear to do that, so they are on display around my home, the two here, a pale blue and a vintage cream sit on top of a heap of beautifully covered storage boxes, with some vintage pale pink and cream millinery rose sprays.

another love is vintage boxes, but of course they have to catch my eye with all its wonderfulness, these two I purchased at Alicia's booth at the Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza, they may just end up in my boutique but right now I am enjoying them in my inspirational corner.

some wonderful treasures I bought from Karla a lovely old vintage baby's photo album, a vintage wallpaper journal create by Karla and some of her beautiful thank you tags, you just never know what little extra pretties your going to get when buying from Karla, I always look forward for the postman to drop off the parcel from her.

Vintage fabrics and I are a match made in heaven, I have so much of them and find it hard to cut up or waste any as I worried I would never find any more, but lucky for me I'm surprised at many places I visit I can still get my hands on more, more and more, I love how fabric back then is so much softer then what you get today, sure I do have some that are quite stiff but I love the worn feel about them, I find to get the same feel with new fabrics I see myself washing them over and over and hanging them on the line for months on end to create the same feel, how can you not love vintage fabrics, and there are many beautiful fabrics coming out today...that I love too.

Just showing you my dressing table and how much vintage wonderful clutterness I have and love and adour.

some beautiful shades of green vintage lace still on the original card with some vintage swap and birthday cards

some beautiful vintage door pulls, love the spring green and the sky blue of these door pulls, I will find that special place for them one day.

vintage bedding that will be made into something one day, love the soft colourway that they have become with the over use of washing and sun bleached from hanging on the wash line.

Beautiful emerald greens and blue, from the peacock to the colourway brought out in the vintage flower millinery hat, notice my wedding crown has the same representation as a peacocks tail...hmmm makes me think maybe the designer of the crown used a peacock as there inspiration.

many layers of vintage jewels draped around the neck of a vintage mannequin

I love the way when grouping many vintage items together how lovely they all look, from fabrics to door pulls, the boxes and tins to crystal ware and cards....my little piece of Vintage Heaven.

Well I hope you have been inspired, and have enjoyed popping over to my Vintage Heaven....please be sure you visit my fellow Vintage Charmers.

And I would also like to thank Sonia and her team for putting together this party and the launch of her Creating Vintage Charm Magazine be sure to scroll down on her page for other party bloggers.

Thank you

xxx

Kirstie.

A day at The Royal Melbourne Show

2010-09-20T03:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my husband and I took our girls to the Royal Melbourne Show, this is one of the biggest carnivals in Melbourne, it only happens once a year in the month of September and runs from the 18th-28th.

So the day started by visiting the Poultry & Alpaca Pavilion, some cute ducks don't your just love his hair,

the biggest Turkey I've ever seen, and no he's not for Thank Giving...but I bet some of you would like to, hee, hee, ok I just realised my alpaca has jumped down past my sheep...naughty alpaca,

visited the ever so cute sheep and lambs, all of these animals are here on show for us to see but also for a prize, ribbons and trophies, but they are also up for auction too, only the sheep, cows and bulls though...just quietly our girls wanted to get out of there fast as it smelt abit, and stepping on lots of...well get the picture.

little lamb

here you are you naughty alpaca, hmmm makes me wonder how you can see...lol

Then it was time for some rides...Sta decided to stay with me, while Chris and Maddi, went on the Horror House ride...lol we could here Maddi scream from outside where we were standing baaahaaa...lets just say she wont be going back on that anytime soon...

yes your smiling now Maddi sweetie...baaahaaaa

Sta and Maddi want to try the American Pucker Power Stand, you fill up a tube yourself with different colours and tastes of sugar candy

Next was the Flower, Gardening & Pets Pavilion, we didn't go into the pets side, as the girls would be...mummy, daddy can we buy one...because we are renting we are not allowed any pets, So flowers it was

look at all these roses, see the top row next to the red roses in the middle, omg they are a gorgeous pale pink, I really wanted to buy a few bunches, but I think they would have been wrecked after some of the rides we went on, so I left them there sitting all pretty

some more beautiful flowers

Now have a look at this...This was amazing and huge, if you need to click on the worlds biggest hanging basket, to get a closer look...yep you guessed it...it's all made from water hoses, weaved and woven to make up this huge handing basket.

now to the Daffodil's and Jonquil's stand, I was thrilled to see them all very fresh, like they had just been cut from the garden

Now to this little sweetheart above, I think she has lost her way, there carousel way no where in site, maybe she thought she could get a job with the clowns, I have to say...lol I asked hubby to pick her up and go put her in our car, I wanted to bring her home, she so beautiful.

some rides I wanted to go on, hubby and no guts...didn't want to go on any of them...lol CHICKEN!!! well the four of us did go on one small roller coaster ride, called the crazy coaster, OMG that was exciting, scary, frighting all rolled into one, we laughed and screamed our lungs out...but my screamingod it was fun, I nearly peed my pants...lol

The circus where the girls had a run around

The show is not a show without these sweet guys, waiting for everyone to feed them...well ones getting feed,

look at them all so hungry and no one wants to feed them...lol

Maddi and Sta coming down the slide...

girls meet the Home'n'Away cast, there was lots of blushing and smiles going on, Maddi and Sta got given signed photo's...lucky girls

Now for taste testing and buy, the above and below images of beautifully designed cakes and cupcakes, the only thing you could buy with this exhibitor was sugar flowers.

If you know me, you know I can't go anywhere without sniffing out chocolate, don't you just love the name "I Love My Chocolate" well yes I sure do, my mouth was drooling, my eye's were popping out of my head, hubby kept wiping my mouth...lol, oh gosh give me chocolate, you have know idea how I was feeling, running here running there just trying to look in to see what was inside the counter and then there was a clearing wwwwwwaaaaaaa a halo shining on top of all that chocolate...and I could here them sing my name....Kirstie you know you want me, buy me, I taste so goooood...

your kill en me, let me throw myself in with my mouth open of corse...lol

from left to right, Banana Chocolate, Strawberry Chocolate and Milk Chocolate Fountains

hmmmmmm heaven!

all the different fudge, lets just say the tiramisu was divine

Now onto the Art,, Craft & Cookery Pavilion, all these cakes on display here have been judged and been awarded, I can't believe the Princess Cake above came third, I think it was one of the best one's on display, look at the detailing of the lace work on the dressers and the curtains,

Red Riding Hood

Sesame Street and Alice In Wonderland

Pinocchio, even he only got third place,

Fairy cake behind and fairy Tea Party in front

Santa's sleigh, oh looky, looky here

soon as I walked around the big glass cabinets filled with cakes, hey I know that painting, walked up closer, it is, it is, I said to my hubby look, look, he said wow that beautiful, and I said... it's our dear friend Natasha's painting, wow doesn't it pop out from all those paintings

a spooky black and roses cake

how cute are these baby cupcakes

cupcakes on display, can't believe not one of them got a prize

some ginger bread creations, hubby said I should enter my ginger bread houses next year...hmmm moving right along I said...lol

Now to these 2 amazing art pieces I couldn't take my eye's off, I'm lost with words, my photo's do not do them any justice, and I couldn't fit the whole lot in, they are more beautiful standing right in front of them, well worth going to the show just to stand in front of these.

Now every time as a child my family would go to the show, I would always walk away with one of these little cupid dolls, well I bought three this time because I'm paying this time, one for me

one for Sta

one for Maddi

when going to the show, you can't walk out without any show bags,

and to finish off the day with a pony ride for two.

Well I hope you have enjoyed coming to The Royal Melbourne Show with us, we had so much fun, and I have had alot of fun share our day with you.

xxx

Kirstie

2010-08-31T20:02:00.000-07:00

1st of Spring

Just want to wish everyone a Happy 1st of Spring.

In the making

2010-08-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

Well it's all starting to fall into place, now that my booth has closed down for now, I have been dreading the fact that my house is filled with clutter, all those lovely things had to go somewhere from my booth, so I have been listing them on ebay to rid and free up the space around here...and it's going very well on ebay thank~you to all who have purchased some great treasures and not to mention that bargain word.

I know this is a very quick post, as I'm still finding my steps, so I'm leaving you some images of a new tag design I'm working on.....feel free to comment as I love to here what you think.

I whipped this one up for my hubby's Auntie Faye's birthday on the weekend....the present is wrapped in vintage floral wallpaper, bounded in a sheer wide pale pink ribbon, hope you like it..... Happy Birthday Faye!!!

Thanks for all your emails, they mean alot! everything is fine...fingers crossed I will be back alot sooner.

Kirstie.

I have Won something cute!!!!

2010-06-08T18:44:00.000-07:00

Well I thought I'd pop in to brag about what I have won!!!!! I have won the beautiful little cute designer bib and hat set from the lovely Anna over at "Amelie Jo aitered couture" Anna was asked to be apart of the Lollishop's Design Team for June,

that was sponsored by Sadie from "Gumball Vintage"

And this is what Anna's fabulous designer skills came up with, using the kit that was supplied to her.....isn't it just Divine I so can't wait for it to arrive in the mail.....Thank you so much Anna...I just simply love it!!!! If you want to read more just click on the blue link above it will take you right over to Anna's blog, and see more of her gorgeous children's designer clothes.

See you soon!!!

Kirstie.

Give Away.

2010-05-29T18:47:00.000-07:00

Hello there, just popping in to let you know about a fab give away over at Alicia's (Time Worn Style) it's a must see. All you have to do is click on the image and it will take you right there.

see you soon!

Hugs

Kirstie

Vintage Nighties and other lovelies

2010-05-16T21:43:00.000-07:00

Firstly I want to thank you ladies for emailing me to see everything In my life is ok...you all are so very kind...It's just things have been very busy around here for me for the last 5mths...packing moving, then unpacking, was having a baby then lost it 6 weeks in, silly bugger just attached itself to the wrong area ( C section) but I am ok with it all, so please don't feel sad!! from kids parties to my daughters christening and her birthday, to stocking up shop to trying to set up the studio craft area at the shop, all that to fall through as the owner has now sold the shop, now it looks like I have to move out.....so make sure you pop back to see info on the big SALE!!!!

So back a few posts ago I mentioned about all my vintage nighties, this is just a few that are hard to let go, hmmmm maybe just maybe they will end up in my online boutique, I have started to upload some of them including bed jackets, make sure you keep watch as I have over 30 to upload as you know uploading takes time.

This Aqua with white lace is gorgeous, its sheer light to wear with beautiful lace trimming, you can see how it would be hard for me to part with this one, not only because of its beauty but because I have a love for blue and all shades in this hue.

loving the detail of this neckline, don't you?

Oooooooohhhhha this one is simply stunning, this soft blue nightie and gown to match, has the most amazing lace work to it, one again sheer, with alot of lace work around the neckline, the sleeves and around the bottom,

soft to touch, and did I mention how beautiful the colour is, you would feel very girly like a princess and romantic for your partner in this sweet number the only thing you would need is some of those fluffy high heel slippers...hee, hee....Shhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

look at the detail lace work in the sleeves, and not to mention...dotted with a pale pink bunch of flowers.....we all have to have our little flower details....don't we!!!

These are just a selection of fabrics I love so much displayed in a white vintage basket, and have just started to do some projects with them....will keep you posted there.

I have to admit I do love walking past the basket filled with all these yummy's, I have a bad habit....I buy the fabrics in all good intention to make lots of yummy thing but cant bring myself to cut it up.....why is that?

Just a simple beautiful picture I love and had to share with you, ohhhh and by the way the vintage bowl in the image is list in my boutique HERE

Well back in January we moved house, so there was lots to unpack and a lot that stayed packed with some huge help from my dear friend Mandii...but the one thing I had to have out is my ever growing vintage glassware which I also have started to think maybe I don't need that much glassware, but who can resist when the hues are so beautiful....oh and I have listed some of these in the boutique as well HERE

I also revamped this dresser about 2 and a years ago, I left the chippy paint, white with green under tone, and gave it a light sand, the middle draw and door already had the perfect shade of green, then I inlaid the mosaic in the doors, one piece of furniture I have fought in my mind and heart do I sell or do I not sell......Hmmmmmmm time will tell.

this is my dining room of the house that I'm renting, where Mandii helped me with the setting up of, I love the way the light bouncers around the room in the morning, and is a joy to eat in.....unfortunately in the next image.......

you can see all our hard work has gone to major organised chaos, stuff, beautiful stuff line around the walls on the floor things that were meant to go to the craft area at the shop stayed here.....so I think I need a new system and or sell the bloomen lot.......I'm all cluttered up and hating it.....so my friend hoping I wont leave it to late next time in posting....well I can't as I need to let you know about the SALE and new items listing online....so feel free to pop over to my boutique HERE if you want to view everything click on ALL ITEMS......

Chat soon!!!

Hugs from me to you

Kirstie.

A Party, Decor and Christmas

2009-12-11T14:49:00.000-08:00

Ok I've been slack since my last post, ok well not really everything has been going out of control with so much on family, shop, my birthday well we wont go there with that one...etc.....ok I know I shouldn't be on facebook playing farmville, fishville ok, ok and cafeworld when I should be doing a quick post here....like I said slack!!!!
So now I though I'd share my Maddi's 9th birthday with you that was in October, which has also lead me to have these Vintage Craft Work Parties at my shop now I have alot more room, will let you all know when it up and going....just getting the craft workshop area stocked with all the fine goodies.......so now to let you into the world of Maddi's Day!
This a collage Maddi created herself a week before her special day to sit on the craft table, I gave her all that she needed to create her master piece, when Maddi finish and came to show me I could not believe what she had created, and her sister Sta had created one too, but in blues and greens, but I must let you know I did glitter the letters before they started.

So this is the morning of the party, all dressed ready for fun to be had,

all the flower millinery hats where used as the party hat.

teacup trio candle lite ready for Maddi's guest's to arrive, oops don't for get the old style music mummy....yes Maddi!!!! no I haven't brain washed my girls I promise....lol

one of my favorite hats above, I just love the colourway and the Lilly-of-the-valley

Maddi opening her gifts, the girls look so beautiful, they all where asked to wear of course blue, pink, green, white or floral.

Millinery hats look so cute on them, and they loved wearing them, didn't take them off for the whole party.....hum, hum.....ohhhh so sweet!!!

All dressed for the craft room

So what girl wouldn't want to come and play here, I took this while opening gifts, soooo many different things for them to create there master piece, from vintage wallpaper, to music paper, buttons, millinery flowers, feathers, lace, buckles, glitter...etc

So my thought was pink, green, blue noodle boxes for them to decorate, so when there all finished and all dry, this then becomes the lollies bag.....so I also had set up a little lollies shop for them to choose what they want and me being shop lady filled their decorated noodle boxes full of lollies.

Girls having creative fun, I also used vintage bowls, cake stands, plates silver ware jugs...etc to put all the supplies in. let me just say glitter everywhere and I'm still cleaning it from places today...lol what can I say to see the smile and the fun they all had makes me happy

Ohhhhhh isn't Maddi just having the craft time of her life

while the noodle boxes, oops sorry...vintage noodle boxes now are drying time for tea, triangle sandwiches little hot dogs, little cakes, teapot full of cordial.....and all talking like they have plums(posh talk) in there mouths, I could not believe how much they fell into character and played the part of little ladies, hee, hee, ha, ha one of them said to me while pouring a cup of cordial in her teacup...You can call me Lotta-Vagina.....I was floored and nearly dropped the teapot and the video recorder and not to mention laugh as I was trying to film at the same time......lol

A group shot of the fun they all had, from left to right, Sta, Maddy, My Maddi, Alecia, Courtney

I'm so glad you all had fun girls, And I must say they are still talking about Maddi's birthday today, and mothers at the school have been asking me about the party, which has lead me to start the Vintage Craft Work Shop Parties at my shop.

Now below some beautiful washing up to do!!! just had to take a photo at something so dirty after dinner, that looks so beautiful!!!

A beautiful rose box I came across at a vintage shop, hummm a must have...filled with my beautifully dyed curtains for my shop....

Rolled vintage music paper for sale, a new line at Adeline Country Cottage shop, feel free to email me to buy some as they ain't listed yet online

Just a simple vase of roses, some of my fav's

Summer Snapdragons, also some of my fav's

Summer vintage bedding that helps me sleep at night, something so wonderful about tatted vintage linen makes me feel at home.

Beautiful nighties coming soon online also will be displayed at Adeline Country Cottage shop

Merry Christmas to all, for you support and visiting my blog and online boutique through out the year.

Some special birds that sit upon my tree.

Christmas tree's I stripped of it original colour then dyed them to the colour I needed for my display.

Oh yes I have added these beautiful Christmas House to my online store, many different styles to choose from........quick Run they wont last long HERE

A view from my tree, Wishes and blessing to all at Christmas, and I hope you are gifted with lots of presents from Santa

Some tag designs that have now been sold out sorry!!!!!

Now to My shop, Adeline Country Cottage has now gone in partnership with Aladdin Vintage Market......... just some sneak peeks, still being set up my area and the workshop.

A hat box and foot stool revamped by me.

Once again Merry Christmas to you all.

Hugs

Kirstie

A Birthday Today

2009-09-04T17:49:00.000-07:00

Well today is my darling beautiful husbands birthday, this is one of my favorite photo's of him that was taken on our wedding day......Oh honey you look to handsome, hee, hee. So I decided
to do a little post just for you my sweet, as you are working all day today.

To my dear husband,

I love you with all my heart, you are my rock, my soul mate, and will love and share each birthday with you for all eternity, Happy Birthday My Darling!!!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!!!

I love you, you are the best daddy in the world, from Sta

To Daddy,

you are the best dad in the world, you always make me laugh when I'm down, and that's how much I love you, I wish you a Happy Birthday!!!!! from Maddi

Love you with all our hearts,

Kirstie, Maddi & Sta XXXXXXXXXXXXX

WE HAVE A NAME

2009-08-28T18:04:00.000-07:00

Well here is some more of the images of these roses in all her glory, I had taken so many images and couldn't decide which ones, as they are all beautiful,
We as you know in my last post I had rang HQ, to find out what the name of these roses are, so I could grow them in my own garden, well when I get a garden, maybe I'll have to grow them in a pot first, until I get one,

They are such a very pretty pale creamy pink........

Hens their name TALEA ROSE, CREAMY PINK

So there you have it...... one pretty rose, for all! hope you all find one or two or three to grow in your garden.......I think when my time comes and have a garden I will be growing a border of these roses along the front of a white veranda........hmmmmm I wish, I wish for a white house with a wide long veranda.

Dreams can come true!!!!!!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs

Kirstie.

How Pretty!!!

2009-08-20T18:48:00.000-07:00

Ok ladies today I have sent and email to HQ where I bought theses beautiful roses, they told me that they will ask there supplier the name of them, once I find out I will let all of you know what they are called!!!!

and this is my lounge room looking through to the dinning room, I was meant to show this awhile back, actually I think I took this a week before the big fires we had here in Melbourne, I remembered because of the flowers on display here, dried out in two days, which was amazing, I never thought flowers could dry out so quickly....I kept some of them and they are still on display today, I'll show them another time. But I also must admit there room has been changed around to since. Please don't enlarge you see all the yukky stuff down through the back door where I store things for my shop......LOL and hubby is not happy about that either.....heehummm sorry honey.

Oh my beautiful millinery hats, love them whole, bought them to pull apart to get the flowers, but can't bring myself to do that....there just toooooooo pretty. Oh I just realised I have forgotten two other shades of pink millinery hats, hmmmm where is my head lately, I would forget my head if in it wasn't screwed on....lol

Pretties taking a bath, I just loved the whiteness of the soapy bubbles with beautiful colours of the teacups, looks gorgeous don't you think?

And now to the perfect Shabby colours, I went to my local paint supplier, with a little drop of this and a little drop of that we came up with the perfect Shabby Chic colour pallet.
Soon as I got them home I couldn't wait I had to crack the cans open to have a look and take a photo, ok the image was taken at the wrong time of the day, to get that right sun light, to show them of better. But arn't they beautiful!!!

I hope there was lots of eye candy there for you, as it was for me.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and find loads of Shabby treasures!!

hugs

Kirstie

Pretty In Pink.......

2009-08-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

Well this is only going to be a quick one today, need to dash off to pick up cherubs from school,

I took these images back in June, as that's when I finally found my own Little Adeline Dress Form, so I got to work dressing her all up for a photo shoot, some many vintage treasures I have found along the way, originally I bought all these lovely vintage necklaces to sell, which I still might but at this stage, I'm loving Miss Adeline wearing them.

I thought about trying to clean and get some of the stains out of her but once I dressed Adeline, I loved how the different toning of the vintage fabric looked......so she stays dirty.....naughty have a shower...lol

with this dress form there are holes in the front and sides so you can turn and in large the form to the size dress you want to make, at first I didn't like that idea....but dress forms are very hard to find so who am I to complain.....

I put a peony rose in the hole to cover it up for this shoot....

And finally I added a vintage apron that I found at an opp shop, (thrifty shop) gorgeous colour don't you think....I think I'll be keeping this one....

And I still haven't found out about my favorite rose, I am determined to find out what the name of this rose is...it's driving me crazy.... I want to grow these but how can I when I don't know what to ask for....All the shop could tell me is that they are STANDARD ROSES but surely they have a name.....Does anyone know!!!!!!!!

Ok told you it was a short one!

Hope you have a wonderful day.

Hugs

Kirstie.

House Hunt

2009-08-14T19:47:00.001-07:00

Ok today the girls and I decide to go to a couple of house inspections, as we are thinking about buy a house, the street we went done OMG this street was full of cottages, ohhhhhh, arrrrrrr, they where all just stunning, all I could here from the back seat, "I want to live in that house, no this house OMG to many to choose from" I had a little chuckled to myself, think gee I thought I was bad...lol, now there is only one of these we went to inspect, the rest are dreamers. This one here you could only get glimpse of it through the tree's, beautiful white cottage, loving the hint of pink blooms, while resting in the lush green surroundings,

Loving this one little miners cottage, mind you every one of these houses bar 1 are mostly all in a row,

Now this I could live in, loving the wrap around veranda, the fact of it being cute and small looking from the front, then you notice that it is a two storey.

Now ladies the worst house in the best street this is the house the girls and I went to inspect, now I looked passed the old smell and the dirtiness of the inside and not to mention the original furniture that every shabby girl dreams of finding I wanted to take it all home, anyway I pictured it all painted white on the inside and out, it had the old original doors and handles, the kitchen was like stepping way back to your 1960's and very small almost like the size of a small bathroom, the whole house was painted in a cream, and as I said before very dirty, I wish I could have taken images, to show you how much work that needed to be done, not to mention the bits that can be turned into gorgeous shabby items. If I get a chance I'll go back for a second look and see if I could take some images,

Now this GOORGEOUS is this little treasure she was hiding around the corner, while waiting for the inspection to start we drove around to see other houses in the streets near by, when we drove up the street OMG we all said, "HELLO I LIVE HERE" I said to my girls, I noticed there was a gentleman in the front painting, so I said to my girls I'm going to ask if I could take a photo of there house, so I called him to the fence and asked if I could take a photo, then explained how I would like to put it on my blog, also asked if he knew what a blog was, and much to my surprise he said yes, his wife blogs, he called for his wife, well we had a wonderful chat exchanged blog addresses and here I am posting about it, NO seriously what are the odds of that happening, finding a co blogger, by stopping at there house to take a photo, well I must say Lesley the owner of the house has not been blogging long, but my goodness her blog is beautiful you must stop by and read everything, I loved everything and added her to my Pantry straight away. Make sure you go and visit, Life At Number 10 you wont be disappointed.

Now my image here dose not do this little Cutey any justice, All the house is pure white, and beautiful magnolias trees in bloom set the setting, of what's to come on the inside.

Just another dream home behind all the garden.

and this one teal and pale blue, this one is another keeper.

and my list of dream homes keep getting bigger,

Now this one I think for me I'd need to remove some of those trees from the front and open it up more, and I probably change the colourway to a soft cream with white trims/highlights to match the fence of course.

Well ladies must get going, house work before going out to dinner tonight with some loved ones.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs

Kirstie.

Natasha's Cuff Bracelet Swap

2009-08-13T21:44:00.000-07:00

OMG, OMG, JUST A QUICK ONE!!!! today is a wonderful day I came home to find sitting on my door step a parcel, I was in a Cuff Bracelet Swap back in June, that Natasha was hosting, my swap partner was Zita from Mlle Magpie in Canada, well I finally received mine, Zita honey you where right about how long it takes to get here, but boy what what a wait!!!! waiting on the edge of my seat with anticipation....lol, when is mine going to come!!!!!! Well it arrived today.....Yeah!!!! I'm can't believe Zita how beautiful everything is, loved the muted colourway, and even those darling scrabble letters spelling out my name, I used the key you sent as the T, love all the vintage pattern making parcels, to the gorgeous vintage buttons, the dried flower, and silk flower, the vintage lace.....ohhhhhhhhhh! where do I stop.

I just love how simple you have made it, Thank you Zita I'm just loving every little detail you have made and put together.

LOVE FOR EVER!!!!!

Hugs

Kirstie.

Ps: Ladie why don't you pop over and give my friend Merina a warm welcome to blog land she has started blogging and done her first post.

Magicial find and a gifted post.

2009-08-10T19:12:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share my little vintage lace find I came across at an opp shop, they where all displayed in the one clear container stashed in the back on a shelf, it was the pale pink that caught me eye, when I brought the container down I could not believe my luck, the perfect shabby chic pallet, I said to the lady I will take the lot, much to her surprise, "oh dear what would you be needing all these for" she asked, "oh nothing or maybe just a little craft project and I just love the colours of them" I said to her. I was so excited I couldn't wait to get home to put them in a little photo shoot. But in the images I have just noticed, the blue and green are much more muted then what I have shown you, the blue looks more like the soft green lace, and the green is a lot paler..... well now that I'm thinking about it the sun was beaming through the window the morning I took them.

Now I also wanted to share with you a little something that came in the post today, I had order these beautiful treasures from Karla last week and I can't believe I've got them in my hands already, gorgeously wrapped, I think I waited about 20mins before opening them as I didn't want to destroy her beautiful parcels....lol, Oh Karla don't tell Sugerwings I have got one of her little super lollie sticks, see down in the bottom left corner the little blue lollie.....hee, hee.

Nah! can't wait any more I have to open it, WOW even more beautiful then what I thought it would be, all I can really say is breathtaking, from the colourway to the vintage wallpaper, and vintage buttons ooohhh to the vintage flowers, oh and Karla I would so love a whole roll of that vintage wallpaper to do a feature wall in, ohhhhhhhhh!

but wait the res more! and this is what other treasures are in side her craft pack, vintage overload, wallpapers, music paper that's been embossed and much, much more oh Karla you have done me proud. I love everything thank you.

Well must go, need to get cleaning, hubby comes home from his work trip tonight after 3 days and the place looks like a whirl wind has hit it, have a wonderful week ladies and gents

Hugs

Kirstie.
Ps: Scroll way down to leave a comment!

Vintage French Grey Armoire

2009-08-04T03:48:00.001-07:00

Ok I decide to give my new laptop ago, and do alittle post, I too have many PC problems, like my dear friend Natasha, but I decided to bite the bullet and buy myself a few new toys of my own, PC and this little baby, I have been trying to find my way around with the new programs, as they are so much advanced then my Vintage PC ....lol, and not to mention the my pictures program, HELLO!!!!! I'm a little folks are dump here, so many more buttons to click and play with, whooooo!!!! so now that I've have worked my way around alittle here I am , to show off some things and what I have been up to......well I don't know if I will tell you what I've been up to, I think you would be reading into the next week, a novel I think not, I would fall asleep typing it and you, well you would fall asleep for a weeks, and maybe wouldn't come back because of boredom and putting you to sleep...lol. share more later but for Now lets get started with The Armoire,

I painted this Armoire in French Grey, highlighted the trims in warm white, and inlayed with a 1930'S French Vintage Floral Grey wallpaper, I left the hardware and painted it, then just added a green crystal cut door knob.

I just love how it turned out, don't you? and don't know how I'm going to let it go but I think I will, I'll keep you posted when I do. Oh how beautiful is that pink Vintage Nightie, Inside this Armoire is full of Vintage Nightie's and they all are just beautiful hanging together, show the rest at another time, a small peek of a vintage green potty cupboard and a pink L/Loom chair, sorry ladies chair has been sold.

Well as I said just a small post, chat soon and feel free to comment, I'm feeling alittle bit of a SCOTT you know "scott no friends"...lol.

Hugs

Kirstie.

Ps: I'm sorry I have'nt added any more of my teacup candle to my boutique, all images are on little miss vintage PC, they will be coming soon!

Any one for Tea!

2009-07-19T21:22:00.000-07:00

Well finally they are here! I have had so much trouble with my computer lately grrrrrrrr, and still am, sometimes I'm able to upload images from my camera and other times not, I am so frustrated that it's hard to get work done around here, Saturday my beautiful vintage computer (...lol well I have to be nice to her other wise ssshhhh in case she hears me she wont let me upload) allowed me to finally upload images of my gorgeous tea cup candles, I have had these ready for the last 4 weeks, yes that's right 4 weeks ready....OMG that's to long now that I think about it, and NOW there are 7 listed in my boutique, and more arriving through the week, I just love them, don't you? I don't have a favorite they are all equally beautiful and the smell in the room is divine, they are made from soy candle wax, once they are finished all you will need to do is wash them in warm soapy water and the wax dissolves very easy, and you have a new addition to your tea cup family, the burning time is 15hrs, of beautiful scent, there are only three scent's at this stage and they are Lily of the Valley, Victorian Rose and Frangipani, well ladies I hope you love them as much as I, click on "The Kitchenette" it should take you there. Oh and pop over to my gal Mandii there is one there, all beautiful and lit for you to see, you may scroll down a post. Thanks Mand's for putting them on display.

Just a short one today, time to pick my cherubs up from school.

Hugs
Kirstie.

Found treasures and other lovely things

2009-05-24T18:24:00.000-07:00

Well to begin with our naughty night was fantastic, we stayed up on the 28th floor at the Crown Towers, I did take photos but everyone of them turned out blury, hubby and I dinned at Jay Jay's restaurant, OMG the food was divine, and our time together reconnecting was amazing, I can't remember how much talking and laughing we did without the cherubs asking for something, mean while having all that much beautiful time together I still couldn't get my mine off our cherubs as they where staying at my good friend Helen's house, and wondering if they are being good girls, so I had gather myself together and enjoy what was going on in front of me, so after our lovely meal we went down into the casino to play some games, won a little woohoo!

the next day hubby and I picked the cherubs up and headed off to Daylesford, for another 3 days, very relaxing I might add, did some site seeing, visited a place called The Mill and here are some treasures I found.

Now I'm not shaw about these? any idea's? I loved the look and had to have them! will also be listed soon.

Then to mothers day, A beautifully wrap gift for my mother,
with butchers paper, vintage lace held together by a vintage pearl hat pin, tied off with tobacco brown seam binding and vintage lace ribbon, velvet maroon cabbage rose, my mother loved it.

A new tag design I'm working on, what do you think?

Ok I'm in need of some help from you! I have this Lloyd Loom, or though she dose look beautiful as is, all vintage, (sorry about the blurry images) but I'm thinking of just changing the fabric, still using a vintage fabric, you know to give it a whole new look, I wont be painting the bottom as she already has a Shabby Chic feel, so what do you think from this,

to this, I do think it looks beautiful with this vintage fabric that I was so lucky to fined three mtrs of, I think some throw cushions for me would be nice...lol

and yes when I have completed it, It will be going to my online boutique, So ladies please feel free to let me know what you think of the fabrics,

Well must go for now just a short one, have lots to catch up on, have a wonderful Vintage Day

Hugs

Kirstie.

10th Wedding Anniversary

2009-04-30T17:19:00.000-07:00

Well today is our 10th Wedding Anniversary, and for the first time hubby and I are going away for the night without the cherubs, Chris (hubby) has booked us into the Crown Towers in Melbourne, mind you its only 30mins away from where we live in Eltham, but you know what, that's ok! as every time our anniversary comes around we never did anything, but this time being our 10th where going somewhere Yeeeeah, he wont tell me what restaurant we are going to so that's a surprise, and maybe head into the Crown Casino and try our luck at the roulette table....lol, I'm so excited i'm ready to burst.

The image below of us was taken at Montsalvat, It an old monastery that holds weddings and artists can go to paint, we only had our wedding photos taken here, one of my favorite places, it's so old, rustic and beautiful. Sooooo ten cheers for the happy couple....lol

Now to share some beautiful images, some more of the velvet red flowers from the garden, with a lovely cake Natasha gave me for my birthday 2 years ago, that house on my kitchen table, with a lovely little vintage rose tin and a vintage gold basket with apples. Hmmm I have a thing for rich deep red colours with our shabby world palette, Ahhhhh romance! Well it is my day of Romance and being in love.

A little vignette in the corner of my new shop (booth). Do you recognise the lamp and the one in the mirror, yes the one and only Mandi from Shabby Vintage Dreams, her work is just beautiful.

Although this image of the shop looks a little messy, it was so hard taking the photo as the sun was pouring through the window, I had a hard time try to get the best shot, trust me this image dose not do it any justice, and not to mention that terrible fluro light above, I'll have to take the image at a different time of day and angle next time.
Ok ladies must run, heaps to do before I leave for my naughty night, hee, hee, hee, hee. I know, I know to much information.....lol

Hugs to you all
Kirstie.

Sweet Roses

2009-04-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

Well hello there, long time no hear, well from me anyway!....lol, I know, I know it's taken me awhile to blog, from my last entry, oh and speaking about that, back when those dreadful fires where going, I would like to thank all of you for sending items for those in need, I can't believe how generous you all are, let me just say they loved every given gift they received, once again thank you.

So much has happened since Christmas and I have so much to tell you, but my PC is not going to allow me to show off as much as I would like, these images are all my PC is going to allow me to up load at this moment, I'm still working on my naughty PC taking off as much images and removing other items, just so I have the space, to up load all the pretty treasures I have found, so please do keep checking back to see what will be list in my boutique.

OoooooH and speaking of my boutique shop that's in Ivanhoe, SO SORRY ladies it is no longer there I have had to move the shop once again.....boohoo, but the lady I was sharing with sold here business and I had to move else where, so I'm now in Montmorency, which is about 15mins from where I was in Ivanhoe, in alittle antique mall called Aladdin Vintage Market, the address is 2/118 Para Rd, Montmorency, Melbourne, Victoria, (Crn Station Rd) Ph 03 9432 2966, I have to admit the decor of these place suits me a whole lot better as it very old and has a vintage feel, so if your wanting to come for a drive please pop in and say hello, at this stage it open Wed-Sat 10:30am-4:00pm.

I also had the lovely Natasha come over for lunch we had a wonderful time catching up, and not to mention lots to show her as it was the first time Natasha has been over to my home, I think I recall her saying it like a treasure trove here...lol, thank you Natasha for say that as when family come over they don't think that, to them its mess, hee, hee. So from there I did take her over to my little shop for a look, I think you will need to ask her what she thought, Natasha also took lots of images as for me I forgot to take images of the whole day, bad girl I am, so maybe you might see some over at her blog patch sometime soon....not pushing darlin, hee, hee.

Now to show you a few things,

The red roses above are just gorgeous, I love the rich velvety red petals and the scent is to dye for, this image was taken at the end of spring last year the whole bush is covered and hung down to the ground its that heavy from all the blooms, now in its started all over again I just cut some yesterday to bring inside, I can't wait to its full again so I can fill my vases. The image below are cut blooms from the garden here, trust me if I knew the names of them I would tell you, if anyone knows please do tell as I would love to know myself, don't they look so gorgeous in and around my favorite hankie basket.
LOL...... I so love opening my linen cupboard to see all my beautiful pillow covers, they put a smile on my face, and it like going into my own little candy shop, hee, hee oh and trust me this isnt even the half of it, You know I don't even recall the last time I even bought new pillow covers, I go to the preloved outlets, and try to find faded out floral, and sometimes you come across new looking ones, like the top one and the third one down, one day soon I show my collection of vintage ones, some are abit tatted but I can't bear to part from them as the fabric is so lovely, and I'm shaw you will agree.

Oh yes, ladies this is my favorite tea cup set, its the perfect blue and has the most cute little rose buds on them, the rose inside is the perfect shabby chic rose if I could find these to grow them I would, I picked a punch up from Safeway supermarket, all it had written on them was standard roses, WHO knows the real name please tell me....lol anyway this was my gift to my husband on Valentines day, I placed them on his bedside table for him to find....just to let him know how much I loved and cared for him, although he played the whole macho thing...what are they doing there? but I know deep down he loved and was touch with the idea...as he walked away with alittle smile on his face.

Now to these beautiful item, Florence Urns and plate, these are just gorgeous for me they are the perfect shade of blue, and I think the birds on the sides are adorable, I have listed them in my online boutique, they are ready now!!! under The Kitchenette.

The cupboard in the background I revamped myself I will show you another time.

Ok ladies I must go for now, hope to hear from you soon, as I need to go and do some visiting myself, I've missed see what you are up to. Bye!

Hugs

Kirstie

UP DATE: 2

2009-02-11T16:03:00.000-08:00

I wont be posting any images as you've see enough on the new.

Ok I thought I'd pop in to give you an up date Tuesday, Kangaroo Ground, Warrandyte, Waarandyte North, Reasearch and Eltham had been put on alert right up until yesterday, that just means to be vigilant, and be aware of what's going on around us, well let me just say that was frighting in its self, and to here fire trucks alarms going off, airplanes, helicopters/elvis flying close to tree tops over head, is scary, and makes you think how bloody close is it, but everything here to date is fine, and they have said the whole of Victoria should be alert.

I must say waking up this morning to walk out side to take my girls to school, the smell of smoke that drenches the air we breath, and the smell of our clothes after taking them off the clothes line that smells of smoke, is huge reminder of the devastation that's all around us, not just to mention that is close to it all, but for the whole of Melbourne Victoria, there is now 1069 properties lost 5000 people homeless with 181 beautiful Australians died in the fires, that saddens me greatly, I still haven't heard today from my family in Healesville, I know my father ( which was scary to know he went up there in the first place) to help my Auntie as she was trying to put out embers that came falling onto and around her house, they have been in and out of danger for the last few days, then theirs my cousin, husband and two children there as well, the fire came as close as about 10 house away, but they seem to be ok, but my cousin's husband's parents are now saying with them as they lost everything in the blaze. Please Be safe up there!

Now to a more happier note raised money to date is around 45 million dollars for the fire appeal, which is amazing and I believe is still climbing, I also have had more thing s arriving in the post thank-you so much for your support, a list of more items
2 towels
3 throw cushions
1 girls pants
1 dressing gown
1 track suit pants
1 girls jeans
1 girls pj's
2 skives
2 jumpers
1 baby's shorts
2 singlets

Thank-you Gale McCormack for the following
13 gift cards
19 book makes
1 Billabong handbag
1 size 8 sports t-shirt
1 size 14 adidas tank top
1 size S colorado girls top

Monday my girl friend Helen and I are going to Wittlesea (Kinglake area) to hand out all these items and more that she has been collecting around her area.

Once again Victorians please be safe look all around you and be vigilant, we really need to save what left of our beautiful State.

Hugs
Kirstie.

Bush Fires

2009-02-07T17:44:00.000-08:00

UP DATE : 1
Thank you Blog Angels to date we have
46 pillow cases
4 kids donna covers w pillow cases
1 queen sheet set w pillow cases
3 blankets
2 single bed covers
1 large bean bag
6 ladies summer dress
4 ladies pants
2 skirts
1 ladies shirt
1 girls summer dress
2 girls skirt
2 men's t-shirts
1 shorts girls
1 pants girls
1 jacket

Please keep them coming and thank you BLOG ANGELS. I also believe from listerning to the radio requesting lots UNDER WEAR for men ladies and children and toiletries.

UP DATE:

Ok just a quick up date, it looks like our area is fine as the winds turned back on its self an blowing the other way which has taken out alot of other townships, I can't believe how frighteningly big this has become, in total now there has 36 sorry 56 now 108 people have died and counting, caught in their cars and burnt alive, with 640 now 720 properties have been burnt to the ground......WHICH LEAVES ME TO SAY THIS, I AM NOT ASKING FOR ANY MONEY......BUT WOULD ASK OF YOU WORLD WILD.......PLEASE GIVE , GIVE ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO HELP IN ANYWAY TO THESE AMAZINGLY STRONG FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST EVERYTHING IN THE BLAZE........I AM STARTING A FUNDRAISER FOR THE "BLAZING FAMILIES"

JUST SOMETHING SMALL THAT'S NOT GOING TO COST YOU MUCH TO SEND.....TEA TOWELS, HAND TOWELS, TOWELS, CUP AND SAUCERS, PLATES,

LINENS (PILLOW CASES, BED SHEETS SINGLE, DOUBLE, QUEEN) SMALL TOYS, SOFT TOYS, ETC, ETC, HAND MADE GIFTS, CARDS, TAGS, doesn't matter how small it is, It could be simply words of hope in a card......ANYTHING THAT COULD HELP PUT A SMILE ON THERE FACES TO LET THEM KNOW WE CARE VERY MUCH AND THAT HAVE TOUCHED OUR HEARTS......please send to:

Adeline Country Cottage

c/o "BLAZING FAMILIES"

8 Swan Street,

Eltham, 3095,

Melbourne, Victoria.

Australia

Please spread to word around and add BLAZING FAMILIES button to your blog, letting people know you have donated

Please Blog Angels they need all the help we can give, Once again thank you....please leave a comment and be apart of putting Victorians back on there feet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As everyone now around the globe knows about the Victorian fires, I myself and family are also in close range of these fires, be in Eltham a bushy area, I am very worried as 3 to 4 suburbs away are at these blazes, I have family in Yarra Glen, Coldstream, Healsville and Warragul, who have been fighting to save there homes through the night and or have left the area not knowing if there houses are still standing, Oh I have just had word while writing this on family in Healsville that they are safe and there houses are fine, and in Warragul. This has put a huge stress on my girls as they have been scared, I've tryed to keep them busy playing games an watch children's movies to keep there mind off with whats going on around them, trust me its been hard.

Mandii, honey I hope your cousins are ok in Kinglake and they got out fine. Hope your father and s/mother are well and saved there animals. This also is the fire that's heading down towards our way, please send a prayer that the wonderful fireman working there heart out and will stop this before it gets to Greensborough, Briar Hill, Eltham areas, this same fire could come up over the back from Yarra Glen to Eltham, I have to admit I've never been so scared in my Life knowing that all around us is an Inferno, right at this min I can here fire trucks alarms, so I'm not going to write much more as I like to keep listening to the radio in case we come under threat.

I also would like to send my heart and loving wishes and prayers to all the families that got caught in the blaze, and hope you all are safe and well, to the fire fighters for the exhausting battle to beat the inferno be careful.

MELBOURNE, VICTORIA PLEASE BE SAVE AND IF YOU NEED TO FIND OUT ABOUT ANY UPDATES ABOUT YOUR AREA AND OR VIEW IMAGES OF THIS MAJOR DEVASTATION GO TO www.abc.net.au/melbourne or http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/

I keep you posted,

Hugs Kirstie.

Award and other lovely things & Christmas is upon us!

2008-11-18T00:46:00.000-08:00

Hello Ladies, well first of all sorry it been so long since my last post, well alot has been happening in the last two mths, back in October I had my 40th birthday, I had a plans to do a post but I know it didn't happen, I would love to have shown you images but as my computer is having a melt down with all the images in my image file and I can't upload my beautiful gifts that my family had give me, so I just have to tell you my hubby and cherub's gave me a new car a Ford Territory TX, you could imagine my surprise when he pulled up in the driveway honking the horn, I ran out the front door jumping up and down with joy like a child would on Christmas day...lol, mind you I received that gift a week before my birthday, Then hubby said to me the night before my birthday what do you want for your birthday? I said you gave me the car that's totally enough, "No" you need to open something on your b'day...lol so I hand him my layby/lay away dockets ok I said you can pick these up if you like, 3 tops later, then you would never had guessed it he also handed me another parcel, Yeap!!!! a Path Finder so I'll never get lost again, where was this gift when I had to find my way to Mandii's and Natasha's talk about getting lost to and from well lost mostly from Mandii's, oh well Mandii had a good laugh about that, hee, hee.

So that night we went for dinner and Elvis show, that was quite alot of fun, but just quietly I think the show was more for my dad then me, but still had great time away.

Now I have won an award while missing in action the lovely Mandii has awarded me with........

Thanks so much Honey, I"ii have to blog more if I'm going to get awards like this,

So now I nominate some of my beautiful blog's that I love to read.

Karla from Karla's Cottage

Natasha from Natasha Burns Artistic Creations

Cathy from Treasured Heirlooms

Amy from Aged Vintage Papier

so happy reading over on there blogs and you will see why I love going back there.

Now to my lovely Adeline, YES ladies Adeline Country Cottage is no longer down at Pipework's Fun Market it is NOW CLOSED........don't worry keep read!!!!

Here I am....... I have now moved to a beautiful little suburb called Ivanhoe, my girlfriend asked me a few mths ago to come and share half of her children's clothing boutique with her, but thought we where just talking and didn't think she was to serious about until 4 weeks ago she asked me again, and I thought it was a great opportunity to get out of Pipeworks as it was only open on the weekend, now Adeline Country Cottage has now joined forces with the Flying Squirrel I have been there now for three weeks, it finally now is now looking full with a huge amount of help from Mandii and we are now open for 6 days, YEAH!!!!! dreams do come true, but I also must say there still is alot of fine tuning as there is so much stock that I need to get out as I need to bring Adeline back into the direction I had planed all along, being at Pipeworks I had so many people asking to get thing for them and never returning to pick them up.....buggers, so ladies of Melbourne there is a opening sale, on all soft furnishings 30% off, while stock last, hurry in a grab yourself a bargain for Christmas. Now this is the front window, thanks Mandii I nicked the images from your blog as I still can't upload, Oh the FedEx van is waiting for you to buy things ladies so he can deliver your items to your door.......lol great picture Mandii and Thank you sooooo so much honey for giving me a hand, you have know idea how much it meant to me, and catching the FedEx van, ready for delivery's....lol

Lots of pretties here, if you would like to come and visit Adeline, shop 4-5 Upper Heidelberg Rd, Ivanhoe, Melbourne, 3079, ph: 94991722, Now I'm not there everyday as we have the staff working, but Ann-Marie and I still need to work out times that I will be there, it's just been abit hard at the moment after my Maddison had been really sick and at the hospital, but all is great now for her brought her back to good health, now it's me, Thyroid problems back and forward to the doc's, but I am a lot better then last week that's why Mandii came to help me as I was sooooo behind getting the shop finished.

Now for some thing I have been working, I have been trying to get my hands on one of these side boards for awhile now, like the one you see in Rachel's bedroom in her book, and I struck gold and found one cream with a hint of blue showing through the chipped area's, so I line the draws with a vintage wallpaper, as I love this one so much, then sprayed tea rose to give a beautiful scent,

Now it's housed in my bedroom with a few of my fav's sitting on the top.

Looking through my princess mirror

Velvet for-get-me-nots soon to be listed online, keep watch HERE

Now these lovely packs are from Pretty Petals boutique thank you Heather I just love them soooo much.

And look at the gorgeous wrapping Andrea dose to her items, Ohhhhh can't wait to see inside, although it looks to beautiful to unwrap..........but I must see inside RIP! TEAR! WOW!

YUMMY! Look at all these wonderful beautiful things to play with, thank-you Andrea I'm so in love with these lollies, the perfect pink.

I so these beautiful doves on a few ladies blog's and I had to have some for myself, can't wait to decorate my Christmas tree this year to put these little beauties on.

Speaking of Christmas I have list in my boutique some beautiful Christmas wreaths

some cute vintage heart wallpaper ornaments with glass glitter,

some of Pina's hand paint Rose Christmas Ornaments,

Plush Rich Red Velvet Christmas Stockings, with vintage like button.

And I was so pleased how my Vintage Rose Wallpaper with silver glitter star ornaments turned out.....what do you think, they are so cute, and light weight.

Oh and my favorite wreath, who would want to have this gorgeous wreath hanging on there door for Christmas, or for all year round for that matter.

Ok my sweet ladies, must leave it there got to run and catch up on making more tags, and DON'T forget 30% off soft furnishing at Adeline Country Cottage in Ivanhoe store please drop in for a visit love to meet and see you there, see you soon!!!!

Hugs

Kirstie.

Features and other lovely things.....

2008-09-18T03:45:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone long time no see, I know, I know, I've been really slack lately with my posts, so that's why I decided to to a big one, SOOOO here is a sneak preview of my Christmas tags, there are many more in the making and will be listed in my online boutique, mid October, I hope you all love them as mach as I have loved making them, also look out for them in Country Home Ideas mag, as they will be in there as well

Frosty The Santa
Merry Elegant Christmas
Now a while back in issue Vol 7 No2, I had a review on my tags but didn't have the chance to upload the feature to my post, as I had major PC glitches, so I thought for those of you that didn't see it here it is.

Also had another review in the same mag Vol 7 No 6, which was last months, on my website, all about how I started my online shop, so that was all very exciting, to be seen in the glossies

Now this months issue, I couldn't go passed mentioning my add, as the Cottage Style Street Team "Bride To Be" gift basket is in the mag, click on and enlarge the image to read, so Ladies from the Cottage Style Street Team, if you would like an issue of the mag please drop me a line, and I'll send one to you. I have to mention this in the best add that has been in the mag yet, I just love the soft, muted colourway. Also I had a review a few weeks back on Aged Vintage Papier as I am a member there, The lovely Amy has written up a beautiful review there on me and a bit of my life there, thank-you so much Amy you did a beautiful job, so please if you would like to know alittle more about me please drop in and see Amy at Aged Vintage Papier and have a read.

Now I did promise a little look inside Silver Swan Cottage, the rental we are living in until we find something to buy, Spring is now here the flowers are from the garden here, OMG these roses are just heavenly, and the smell ooooh, just beautiful.
This is in the dining area, just off the open plan kitchen and lounge, just alittle vignette of my favorite things.
Rose water painting, little hankie basket just love these baskets, little perfume bottles, mini tea pot, the most beautiful pink ever vase,
and other love things,

this is the lounge, now those of you that know me, know that I usually have major cluttering going on but being a rental for a year or two, I decided to go minimal, so with spring here and summer on the way I have a very beachy theme going on, Whites, creams, earthy tones with accents of blue, turquoise, greens, black and very little of pale dusty pinks, I know this image doesn't do it any justice as you can't see what's on the other walls, but at this stage I'm loving it and of course less to dust......Yeah!
Now to some pretties, look what came in the post 3 days ago, Oh Holly I just love my box of eye candy, can't what to create something with all this of beauty. Thanks Hon, even better then I thought it would be.
Ok, now this I loved making, also a proud member of Sweet Six Studio, this was a wonderful project, we joined in at Sweet Six Studio, Parfum label and design by Natasha, alot of froofing lot of pink and loving it but my only concern is Natasha I can't use my bath salts, why you ask....Hmmmm I don't have a bath here at Silver Swan Cottage only a shower....boo, hoo!Now to my wall hangings, with beautiful millinery flowers, that I have been working on, will be listed online boutique in a few days.

arrrrrr my first batch of soap cakes, still more in the making, this one is listed in my boutique. Now.

Beautiful scented hearts, in store now, and will be online for orders in October.

How beautiful are these French velvet and lace , and Vintage French floral and lace doorstops, in store now and online boutique October

Vintage velvet and organza roses, coming soon.

Now to these beautiful vintage style aprons, every colourway is OMG just beautiful, these also will be released online in the next few days,

Here is an up date of my little Adeline Country Cottage, I should of taken this shot the next day as the whole of the front is just jam packed full with still more stock arriving and ladies I do promise I'll start uploading to my online boutique soon.

Just alittle bit of heaven.Now to a few images of the last few days before packing and moving out of our Adeline Country Cottage, My girls taking a break outside from packing, how cute, they still don't know I took this photo of them, I think they where trying to hide from me, so they didn't have to pack anymore but I think the parasols where a dead give away....lol I miss my slice of Heaven!

Ok I know time to move on to bigger and better things!

well I really must stop there, time to go do some more tags, you can view my French line newly listed online, they will be active on Monday 22nd Sept so please stop by, And I'll have lots more pretties to show next post, so I hope you all have a wonderful dreamy day and stop by soon.

Hugs

Kirstie.

OMG, long time no see.

2008-08-06T02:55:00.000-07:00

Well I know this has taken me so long to post and not to mention visit all you lovely people, Ok house moving done out of my beautiful Adeline Cottage and into our cute rental Cottage as this cutie is on a street called Swan street, and off another street called Silver street I'm going to name her Silver Swan Cottage, but more on her later and photos too. Back to Adeline Cottage now you see it!

Now you don't! Let me just say it has been a hard 4 weeks trying to move house and trying to do everything else all at the same time, I'm am very sad I had to sell and leave Adeline Cottage I thought this would of been home until my cherubs grew up, oh well never mine, one door closes as another opens.

I can't believe how empty it looks, and so much room, without all my home ware!

so moving right along, so much has been happening, I had a review which I think I mentioned before No still haven't taken photo's yet, I know, I know I'm slack in the image department right at this moment, also been busy fulfilling custom orders, image once again will be coming soon, Oh did I mention I can't find anything yet here at Swan Cottage I'm stepping over boxes, washing, bags, stuff, OMG what a mess, I need someone to come and put everything in its place as at this time I don't get time, also I attended 2 trade shows, decoration and design, Reeds gift fair and 1 stitches and craft show, three weeks running I had such a ball viewing all the new items that will end up in the shops we all love so much, ladies of Australia, watch out VINTAGE in a huge way, and French Provincial big and better, hmmmmmmm I wanted it all, well I did place a few orders, well a few to many...lol, also I went back to school the design department Today, I have been invited back to talk with the students about me on how I started my business and where I am today, I tell you what I was so nervous and excited all at the same time, it's ok me talking on my blog because I'm not standing up in front of all of you, but when you have a class full with all eyes on you weeeell lets just say I thought I'd be running to the toilet alot....lol, but I made it through with out having to go! Well theses lots more to tell you I can't think right now, oh I have lots of pretties to show too more on that later stay tuned.

Now I dear friend of mine and yours awarded me with two Awards a few weeks back, I'm very lucky and very grateful to have received them, a big thank you to Marina The first award Brillante Weblog Premio-2008 Award

And the second Award "Premio Caminemos Juntas" which means "Walk Together Award". Once again Marina thank you so much for these Awards I will treasure them.

Now I'm meant to pass these onto another 8 ladies, but I've decided because there is so many beautiful talented ladies and I don't want to leave any of you out I wish for everyone that leaves a comment to take these Awards and posted them on there blog, typepad etc. Because each and everyone of you deserve them!

Ok that's all for now going to visit some blog gals.

Chat soon!

Hugs

Kirstie.