Sunny day op shopping

Ever have one of those days when you take a trip to the local thrift store,  and come back with some surprising little finds? Today was one of those days for me. Arrived home and thought , why not pull out the camera, and so I did. Under the shade of our old lemon tree, I arranged my treasures.....a vintage cane-ware basket, blue enamel ware pie plate and old country style magazine.  Nice. The basket was just what I needed to fill the blank space atop my fridge in the kitchen and the pie dish will be added to my growing collection of enamel ware. 

See ya!

Andrea

Bringing in the cool sea breeze......

Summer is well and truly here,with temperatures soaring to over 40 yesterday. I was glad when that sweet cool change arrived over night.On arising this morning, the sound of thebirds outside twittering away happily, told me mother nature was feeling a little more kind.Nevertheless, it is summer, and I like to dress the home to complement the season. Out go the carpets and rugs to reveal cool, airy floorboards. Fresh white agapanthus flowers in an old preserving jar, an assortment of shells and memories captured in glass - all little touches that evoke cool seaside breezes.

I have few interior design books as I feel they are an extravagance. Especially in this day and age where there is such an abundance of inspirational material on the net.This one however is a favorite that I pull out from time to time.

Bye for now.

Andrea

Interior color to light up the winter days.....

Sunny yellow jonquils and lemons from my garden in a glass jug.

backyard lemons and children's art arranged in a row along the kitchen windowsill.

Old cake tins.

 

 Hand knitted aran scarf in red wool.

It's been so cold here, night time temperatures reaching 2 degrees. 

My fingers are cold as I type , so I won't be here long.

It's back into the living room where I can warm up, 

Winter is a time when the interior really needs a shot of color,

and the garden provides us with some relief. 

Yellow jonquils paired with branches of lemon brighten up my living room.
Fresh red checks in the kitchen, yellow lemons from the garden ..... just what
our living quarters need at this time of the year.

Winter seems to me a perfect opportunity to knit, so the challenge came

 when I knitted this aran scarf recently. Nothing beats hand knitted garments. 

They take time but, being of superior quality, 

it will last a long time yet, and that makes good ecological sense.

brrrr, I'm out of here.......

Hand spun wash cloths and other home comforts

Been knitting of late, with organic cotton yarn by Heirloom. 

I really like the muted natural colors, and the yarn is incredibly soft,

it feels so natural to the touch. These wash cloths are knitted in basic garter stitch ,

running on the diagonal , giving the wash cloth a distinct look. The edges are dotted with

 and eyelet trim. These are now available , along with other items through my shop on Etsy.

Taking risks.....

It's been a while since I last posted and for good reason. I've started a new business venture and have been busy creating all things wholesome and handmade. Drop in and have a look at my new blog -

Eco As Anything

 'The Shack' in my backyard. Watercolor on paper. 2011

Andrea