Merry Christmas to All; And to all a Goodnight

I am signing off for 2009. Heading off to Wooli and an old beach shack with my family. No air conditioning, one general store, a pub and lots of old fashioned fun. I wish to take this opportunity to thank-you all for your support this year, my first in blogland.

Since starting my blog earlier this year I have been overwhelmed by your support and generosity. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas & Happy (and safe) New Year. I am looking forward to 2010. Exciting things will be happening I am sure. I will be back online early January.

Take care of you.

image from flickr

Beach Vintage in Notebook Magazine

I am so pleased to be mentioned in the latest edition of Notebook Magazine. A big thanks to Vera Klein for including my blog in the "Shabby Chic Address Book" for ideas and inspiration. Believe it or not I have purchased this magazine from issue #1 and still have most of my copies.

Only 4 days left until the big day! Hope you are all organised.

Project Day: My Christmas Table Setting

I am not big on the traditional "silver, red & green" Christmas table scape. Christmas Day at my house is a simple affair. Good food, loving family, friends and lot's of laughs (mix in some champagne for good measure). So I like to set the table in the most simple of ways. Using things I already have instead of buying new items that may never get used again. I am using:

• An old shell belt I picked up from a thrift store for a few dollars.
• A vintage seersucker tablecloth in muted colours.
  
• Mismatched napkins.
• One round Doiley.
• A small glass jar.
  
• Shells.
  
• Tea light candles.
• Mismatched vintage china plates.

Cut up the belt to make 15cm long pieces. These will make your napkin rings. I managed to get 6 from the belt. Hot glue gun each end together to form 1 ring. Repeat until all rings are glued.
I like my guests to take home a small token from the day. This will be the shell jar (put some shells in a glass jar and tie some ribbon around the top) & the vintage doiley used to wrap utensils in. Light your tea candles and place them randomly around the table (never leave candles burning unattended). Set up your napkins in the rings along with some vintage china plates. Enjoy lunch or dinner without the hassles of setting up (and then stressing about) expensive table settings and the like.
Have a wonderful smile filled weekend. Simone xx

My New Blue Dress

Pretty new blue polka dot dress I just purchased for my daughter. She can't stop swirling and twirling. Dancing and prancing. I think the joy of owning a new dress never ceases to change for us ladies. Have a sweet day. Maybe you could do some twirling and dancing of your own.

For Your Eyes Only.....My Bedroom

*my bedroom*

There is only one thing I have wanted to change about our main bedroom since we moved into our home a few years ago. The bathroom. I am always complaining about it to my husband. And he has finally agreed with me. We are getting a renovation of it in the New Year. Yipee! Now I have to get started on designing it. It's a terribly small space. But I have been gathering ideas. It's back to my tear sheet scrapbooks again.

No Plain Jane

all images via Coastal Living

I can't stop staring at Jane Coslicks styling. She sure has a way of putting it together just right. I especially love the bedroom featured here. Jane likes to use found objects for purposes other than the original, like using an old door for a bedhead. I just love her approach to decorating and hope you enjoy these examples of her work on this bright Monday. Smiles xx

Project Day: Beach Vintage Easy Peasy Wreath

This wreath is so easy to make, it took me half an hour I swear. You will need:

• A wreath (mine was $2 in a thrift store but try craft shops for similar).
• Some steel kitchen scourers (0.70c a pack of 3) - I used 5 for this wreath.
• 2 ruffled pillow cases (thrift store finds).
  
• Glue gun & Stapler.

Cut just the ruffle part of the pillow cases off so you have long strips of fabric as shown in pic # 2. Cut these strips into approx 8 inch/20cm strips and roll them around to form a rose. Staple the base of the fabric to hold rosette in place.
Grab your glue gun. Glue the steel scourers around. Then glue your fabric roses on. You can use as many or as little as you like.
I used an old doiley for the hanging cord, but you could use whatever you like.
Hang on your door!
Hope you are all getting on top of your Christmas shopping and also getting into the spirit of it all. Happy weekend and I will see you all Monday. Simone xx

The Appeal of Mismatched

photo's by me

My pretty little vintage plates are too lovely to hide away today so I have put them on top of my trunk/coffee table. Not very practical I know but it makes me smile. Mismatched china is a lovely touch. Most of these plates cost no more than a few dollars each. Hunt them down at local thrift stores. Use them daily and admire their beauty.

My Vintage Locket

I don't wear a lot of jewelry. I am often the one at the glamour ball with nothing other than a vintage dress and some neat shoes. So when I spotted this necklace for sale in a thrift store I had to stop and think twice. Will I ever use it? But it was just to pretty to leave behind. I wonder about it's history and who hand painted that rose in the centre. And who's photo's graced the inside? This all adds to the mystery and beauty of this quirky piece. I am once again in l♥ve.

Winner of my Coastal Living Giveaway chosen by random.org is comment #38 Heather Cameron from Heather Cameron Stylist Blog. Please contact me Heather with your details. Thanks all for entering.

Can You Resist this Face?

I just love Kewpie Dolls. Something about them has stolen my heart. I think it may have something to do with their faces .......what do you think? My Favourite would have to be the Kewpie's in Red Polka Dot Bikini's - available here.
All images from Flickr

The Men that Make My Christmas

These are the men that are making it for me this Christmas. So smooth, so classic and so darn good looking. What are you listening to this season?

Happy Birthday Jenny

I made this table scape especially for you today Jenny. I hope you have a fabulous 40th birthday. All my l♥ve Simone xxx

Project Day: The Beach Vintage Thrifty Christmas Tree

Are you like me? Every year a fake tree? This year I decided to go live! I purchased a small live tree from my local nursery. I plan to keep it growing throughout the years to come and bring it inside every December. And my decorations this year are all hand made by me (and my daughter) using old scraps of vintage linen, buttons and the like. There are no rules here and perfection is not our aim. Spending time together and creating things is our goal.

• Grab some buttons, old napkins, doilies or whatever you can find.
• Cut up an old doiley into strips and tie the ends together to form one long strand to wrap around the tree (pic #2).
  
• We attached buttons to bits and bobs of doilies we cut up randomly to create decorations.
  
• Attach a cotton loop to the top of each decoration ( to hang on tree).
• A little white dove I had left over from a party was used to adorn the top.
• Sea shells were placed around the base. I then added a vintage embroidery card I had from a few years ago ( I knew it would be used one day).
  

As I said before there are no rules as to what you can create. Just use whatever you have and get the family involved. I had so much fun doing this with my daughter. These are good times.
Have a great weekend. Thanks for your well wishes. Simone xx

Happy Thursday & Coastal Living Giveaway

It's that time again. Win a copy of the latest issue of Coastal Living Magazine (December/January) by leaving a comment on this post. The last issue for 2009 is a beauty. Crammed full of inspirational ideas for Christmas. My favourite feature is the "25 Days of Decorating". Seriously stunning rooms are abound in this issue ! I was so excited to see every page. I have shown my favourite picks today. Enjoy. Other Coastal Living reviewers are: Maya Completely Coastal, Lisa from Coastal Nest & Layla and Kevin from The Lettered Cottage.
Winner drawn Wednesday 9th December 2009.