Vintage Mosaic Boutique ~ Inspired by Yesterdays Old World Charm

Wishing You All A Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T11:26:00.003+11:00

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families & friends. We have been keeping pretty busy around here so I have not had a chance to share any photos but I wanted to check in before the new year and wish you all a happy and safe new year.

All the very best to you and your family in 2010

Is It Christmas Eve Already?

2009-12-24T19:44:00.004+11:00

Can you believe tomorrow will be Christmas? My gosh...where has the time gone? Are you all organized? Hope so! I am so sorry I have not posted much at all this month, Ive been running around mad trying to get everything done in time for tomorrow and finally its all done...well...except for our roast lunch with all the traditional trimmings that is!

In the meant time we have managed to visit some beautiful houses around Melbourne with stunning light displays (I am sorry about the photos as its so very hard to photograph them in the dark!) These would have to be our two favourites that we visit each and every year...

Aren't they gorgeous!

What a beautiful sight this was up high on a wall...

Sadly we didn't get to add to our light display this year and I feel a little guilty that we didn't get to put the family tree up...the big whopper tree that we put up each and every year but didn't get around to this time. Time has not permitted with all the duties I have been doing with the upcoming house but we are hoping next year will be the first year we will get to pop it up in our new home...fingers crossed! Instead we decorated a sweet white Christmas tree trimmed in silver and gold.

I hope you all have a wonderful and very Merry Christmas with your family and friends, stay safe and enjoy each and every moment! xo

Creamy custard & jam cake...yummy!

2009-12-12T12:33:00.004+11:00

Jake and I had a lovely Saturday morning baking. I think I have said before that my son is very fussy when it comes to cakes and wont eat any chocolate cakes as he says its too rich (he doesn't get that for me!) In Jake's eyes there is nothing better than a home made vanilla cake filled with creamy custard and jam sauce!!!

The jam sauce would have to the highlight in the whole cake for Jake

creamy custard

Yummy homemade vanilla sponge

And dusted with icing sugar.
We are off to have lunch and then a piece of yummy cake.
Have a wonderful weekend.

Just what I have been looking for!

2009-12-09T11:02:00.012+11:00

This week I sent my husband and brother off on a little pick up trip, when they came home they arrived with the ute & trailer full of furniture. Not like I need any at the moment but come on...how could you say no to these beautiful old French pieces???

dressing table...

stool...

boudoir chair...

OHHH...I am so excited!!! They are just what I have been looking for and will go perfectly in the new house! They also picked up a few other matching pieces which I still have sitting in my garage but I will get around to showing those a little latter.

Hope you are all having a wonderful December, Ive been shopping up and getting ready for Christmas as we will be having lunch here this year. I still have lots to do but I am getting there. What will you be doing this Christmas?

Poppies & Roses On The Wall

2009-11-25T10:35:00.007+11:00

Are you drawn to old antique paintings or is that just a silly question...??? Recently I picked up some wonderful antique paintings from an auction, not as if I needed anymore as I have so many pretty rose paintings from Gail McCormack & a beautiful cherub painting from Alicia but...well...I just couldn't put my hand down to these two pieces lol.

This first painting is an antique poppies watercolour signed by T. Phillips.

Isn't it beautiful?

And the second painting is an oil on canvas called 'Flowerpiece' signed by William Kearney, Melbourne & London. It still has all the information attached to the back which was really interesting.

I love the colours in this one!

So, which one is your favourite? I'm not sure I can pick??? I do love my rose paintings but I really love the detail in the poppies! Hmm...???

I'm hoping to find a wall in my house so I can hold on to them so I'm off to start looking xo

Was it worth getting out of bed?

2009-11-17T08:00:00.001+11:00

Was it worth getting out of bed to go to the market bright and early Sunday morning???? Well...YES!!! There were lots of beautiful treasures that I could have picked up but I just had to stop myself when possible as our house seems to be getting smaller by the minute! Although I was a good girl there was one thing I just couldn't say NO too...

This sweet chandelier candelabra was calling my name as soon as the lady popped it out on the table.

Old tarnished silver metal arms...

A sweet little crystal ball to the very top...

And sparkling vintage crystals...

Look at the pretty china I picked up as well...

Pink roses & blue birds...

I don't think it gets any better than these pretty plates!

I'm hoping to get some mosaics done this week and I may even use these pretty plates to inspire me!

The sweet smell of jasmine

2009-11-14T23:33:00.006+11:00

I have always adored the sweet smell of jasmine in my garden even if my garden is not that big in our current home and I don't have a spot in the yard to plant as its full of roses. Last year I saw a great idea on potting jasmine on the Better Homes & Gardens Christmas Special so I decided to give it a go. Ive been patient the past 12 months making sure its well feed all year long and this is what graced our garden this week...

Better Homes & Gardens called it a living wreath that you could display on your front porch for all to enjoy.

It is really a great plant to choose for this as the jasmine seems to flower from November all the way to January and the smell...well...its simply wonderful! We are sure to have a sweet smell in the garden this Christmas!!!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend...I'm off to the market tomorrow so I better get to bed or I wont want to wake up!

More Mosaics

2009-11-13T08:08:00.002+11:00

Ive been a busy bee creating more mosaics this week as well as submitting a whole lot of quotes for the house. Its going to take some time getting these quotes back as they seem to need a bit of a kick to return any phone calls which makes me really....GRRRR!!!

Anyway, first of all is my field of daisies wall plaque

(24cm x 17cm)

And another Christmas decoration...

Loving this colour scheme!
I wouldnt mind keeping this one for myself.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Christmas Decorations

2009-11-10T07:31:00.002+11:00

Is everyone starting to get ready for Christmas? I can not wait to get the Christmas decorations out! Anyway, here are some of my mosaic Christmas decorations I have been creating this year...

Am I aloud to have a favourite? If so this would be it.

Just can not help myself...I love blue!

And this is the sweet crimson & french grey china I am so in love with at the moment...

I love the silver mirror tiles which creates an added sparkle!

and this spring bouquet is so very sweet!

love the chippy old pearls!

(measures 13.5cm wide x 24cm long)

I'm working on a few other bits and pieces at the moment so I will share them soon.

A field of daisies!

2009-11-09T07:30:00.002+11:00

Been creating yet again, this time I decided to use a different feature and based this sweet little wall plaque around sweet daisies. I hope to have it finished soon...

I'm a pretty little thing,
Always coming with the spring;
In the meadows green I'm found,
Peeping just above the ground,
And my stalk is cover'd flat
With a white and yellow hat.

Little Mary, when you pass
Lightly o'er the tender grass,
Skip about, but do not tread
On my bright but lowly head,
For I always seem to say,
"Surely winter's gone away."

Poem by Ann Taylor

Today is my grouting day so I will share my finished projects with you shortly.

Fun in the sun!

2009-11-06T14:12:00.009+11:00

Just like the title, we have been having so much fun in the sun over the weeks that have pasted. Last Friday we just came home from a two week vacation up at our timeshares in Rosebud. The weather was perfect and the resort was practically empty since it was not school holidays yet. We spent so much time on the beaches so I thought I would share some of our favourite photos with you all.

These beautiful old boats are placed down the edge of the beach at Sorrento which is a lovely place to visit and do some shopping.

Mornington beach...

what a beautiful day for a walk...

squishy sand in between our toes...

and lots and lots of shells...

if you look hard enough you can find some real pretty ones...

looks like Jake has found something...

lots of beach huts down this way...

I already miss it so much...wish I was there now!

Cane & Jake even had a game of golf...

while mum enjoyed the gardens...

and after all that we had these little guys chasing us around...

off for a canoe ride...

and we cant forget Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm can we?

Cane & I shared the lovely strawberries and chocolate while Jake indulged with his sunday!

yummo!!!

and if that wasn't enough what about a glass of sparkling strawberry wine...

Hope you enjoyed our little snaps from our holiday.

We are feeling refreshed but I think we still could use another holiday before the summer is out!

Have a lovely weedend.

Aqua & Roses

2009-11-05T08:15:00.000+11:00

I have to say, I just LOVE aqua with pink roses and think they go lovely together!

What do you think?

Ive just pieced together this Christmas decoration featuring a large pink cabbage rose & aqua glass tiles.

I really don't want to stick to one colour with these designs and am having a great time experimenting on these. I would love to hear your opinion on colour schemes you would like to see next.

Creating for Christmas

2009-11-02T16:53:00.007+11:00

Ive been having so much fun today getting stuck into some creating as my Christmas spirit is starting to kick in. A few posts back I shared my thoughts on what I wanted to create with one of my pieces and with the weather being so lovely today I thought it would be the perfect day to sit outside, create and enjoy the sun so that's just what I did...

I'm really loving this china featuring crimson roses & french grey...

Beautiful bright spring bouquets & pearls...

I hope to have these finished by the end of the week.

Yesterdays Bricks

2009-10-31T09:57:00.008+11:00

Well, its finally organized...I have hummed and ahhhed over the bricks for our new house for sometime but now I have decided. I have gone back to my second favourite brick...the old recycled reds....

My first choice was the old recycled clinkers but they seem to cost a fortune so I have settled with these at a fraction of the price. Don't you just love the color differences!

Crimson roses for a special lady

2009-10-27T09:00:00.001+11:00

I just love finding old hand & brush sets that have seen better days and turning them into something else...

adding beautiful crimson roses,

and dusty pink Italian mirror tiles.

A sweet little set for a special lady.

p.s. I am very sorry I have not had much time to visit all my fav blogs lately...things are crazy this week but I promise to catch up this weekend.

Christmas bouquets & pearls

2009-10-24T09:00:00.000+11:00

I was going through my supplies and noticed some Christmas cut outs peaking from under a draw full of everything! I pulled out an old strand of pearls and a beautiful bouquet of flowers and this is what I saw...

Cant wait to finish this one off!

I wonder who she was???

2009-10-21T09:00:00.001+11:00

I so love antique jewellery and often attend a well known antique auction house in Melbourne when I am able to do so. I have bought so many beautiful treasures from here and this lady would have to be my all time favourite.

It was love at first sight when I saw this hand painted cameo of a beautiful lady with amazing blue eyes and the sweetest pink and cream dress all under glass in cased with the finest silver and gold detail!!!

Its been eight years since I received this wonderful treasure and I still find myself opening the box and wondering the same thing each and every time...

I wonder who she was???

I was lucky enough to receive it still with the original case so I have tracked it back to Fairfax & Roberts Jewellers which stood in Hunter Street Sydney but I still no nothing of the enchanting lady?

Wouldn't be nice to find out a little more background into this enchanting little portrait?

Ten years ago...

2009-10-16T11:40:00.002+11:00

Not long ago we celebrated our Wedding Anniversary.

Its been over ten years since my dad gave his little girl away...

And ten years since I married the love of my life.

Love brought us together

As husband and wife

And gave each of us

A best friend for life!

(Author unknown)

My little french heart

2009-10-14T17:37:00.003+11:00

Please meet my little french heart...

soft ivory ribbon...

old tattered pearls...

heart cut Limoges china...

with pretty pink roses & blue ribbons...

and Italian glass...

More mosaics soon.

In the garden

2009-10-14T07:47:00.000+11:00

Been busily working in the garden,

Enjoying the surroundings...

Sometimes we don't realize there is so much to be thankful for

and we are surrounded by such beauty.

Hope you have a great day!

I do love pansies!!!

2009-10-11T08:00:00.006+11:00

I have to say, I do love roses but each and every year I always find myself drawn to pansies! The beautiful bright and bold colors just seem to brighten up the dullest days.

I'll leave you with a sweet little pansy poem.

O give me not red roses,
That early dews have wet!
They speak to me of kisses
That are remembered yet.

O bring me not white roses,
That summer winds have drest!
For once I placed white roses
Upon a quiet breast.

But bring me purple pansies
If so you wish to please,
For them I have affection;
For pansies are "heart's ease".

Poem by Louisa Cooke Don-Carlos

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Getting busy...

2009-10-07T17:45:00.002+11:00

I've been wanting to do up some of my furniture for awhile and now that spring has sprung I've decided to get busy with it. The other day I had a package arrive and look what was inside...

Appliques, appliques and more appliques!

I brought these from a lovely lady in the U.S at Do It Yourself Chic and I have to say they are just wonderful!!! I wish I bought more now lol. Oh well, I can just see myself ordering some more in the next week or so. Below is one of the projects I am working on now...

I'm hoping to finish this piece soon so I will post some more photos then.
Have a wonderful week!

Ive had a number of emails asking where I bought the appliques above so I thought I would pop another link just incase anyone missed it.

www.doityourselfchic.com

Cookies & cream...yummy!

2009-10-05T10:47:00.000+11:00

Not sure if anyone feels the same as we do but cookie and cream babycakes sounds sooooo yummy and they taste so good too!!! Over the weekend Jake's sweet tooth got the better of him and he requested that we make some cupcakes...but the thing is...Jake never eats a whole cupcake and always ends up wasting it so this time I thought we could make babycakes instead which ended up being the perfect solution.

Enjoy!

Pretty Pink Christmas Wreaths

2009-10-02T09:22:00.009+10:00

Well I promised I wouldn't stay away too long so I thought I better get into gear and do a follow up post to my last one. Here are a few photos of my Christmas Wreaths.

Pretty pink flowers...

Sparkling stars...

And glittery gold highlights...

Have a wonderful weekend! :)

Long time no post!!!

2009-09-30T15:27:00.007+10:00

Well...it has been months since my last post...so much has been going on down my way. We have our September school holidays at the moment and we have been having a ball getting out and about.
We finally settled on our block of land a few months back and just need to get the swimming pool engineered so we are not to far away now. We were talking about holding off on building until next winter but after seeing the engineering drawings we think we will need to get all the earth work started in summer as there is so much trenches due to having brick peers supporting the house and we don't need the rain at this time. I suppose we will get there soon enough. This is the final drawing of the front..

(Image above copyrighted by Achieve Design 2009)

Yesterday Jake and I had a day out at the movies and then some shopping. We were shocked to see Christmas Trees in the stalls already...wow...where did the year go? Anyway, I remembered I had these pretty Christmas flowers stored away from last year so I decided to get them out today and make my long awaited wreaths I wanted to create last year...will post a pic of the final project soon but in the meantime here are the cute flowers I used...

I will have to find some time to pop into my fav blogs...its been so long but I would love to sit and have a little wander...maybe ill get some spare time next week when its back to school? Hope so! Have a wonderful week whatever you may be doing and I promise to post again soon. xo