BATHROOM RENOVATION -Gathering ldeas

We are about to have a makeover in our 2 bathrooms. Definitely  2 Beachy themes !

 l have collected many bits and pieces, -and we have bought the paint, so we are ready to start - l will keep you informed as we progress with our makeover.

My mother bought me the statues of the 2 little people above, l just love them.

l  HAVE JUST REALIZED THIS IS MY 100th BLOG (STORY )

The wooden fish my niece Nicole made for me, and the string of shells my little granddaughter Caitlyn made for me ( many, many, years ago )- the little antique ship plate below is very old.
    

Curtains for the 2 small windows ------------A ship painting l wasn't happy with, so l sought of sabotaged it
l'm never happy with my paintings ,l don't think l have painted the ship in proportion.So, l have added shells l had collected as a child, ropes, and 60 year old drink stirrers ( marlin fish etc. )

MY NEW KIND OF ART -My Baby Seal

My baby seal was a new venture for me. - l always use oils or pastels -these have always been the mediums l have used.

Also my work has always been framed, costing me plenty. lt's time for a change!

A raised canvas that does not have to be framed is now very popular.They are also very inexpensive for an artist to buy, and likewise for the customer to buy when the painting is finished.

The new medium (paints ) now used are acrylic paints.- After l had bought my new canvas and new paints ,
(they are also a lot cheaper than buying oil paints ) it was time for me to get into action.

l chose to paint a baby seal as the colours are lovely and the seals eyes talk to me.
l know your not supposed to start with animals eyes, but l always do, and they definitely  do talk to you.

Now that my baby seal is finished, l can't help wondering if the painting will last like the framed oils have over the centuries. - Time will tell !

A NOSTALGIC GETAWAY

Where have we been for the last 3 days?

l feel like we have been traveling on a time machine,back into the past,back into the 1940's, and the 1950's

Our friends offered us thier little holiday house in the forest, for a peaceful getaway.

All we knew about the little house was that it had been owned by our friends family members for decades,

Now it belonged to our friends and would no dought be passed down to thier family's.

Even though it was only 2 hours away,when we had reached our destination,we certainly felt like we were in another world.

The small house was surrounded by tall forest gums, but close to the home were tall 50 year old camellia and rhododendron trees.We were very lucky as they were all in flower as you can see by the photo's

Longing for a cup of tea, and hubby a cup of coffe, to warm us up, we unlocked the door and walked in.

We have definitely stepped out of a time machine into another era.

The first thing l noticed was the large old 1940,s cabinet full of books. As books have always fascinated me l was in my glory. The oldest book l found was from 1909 inscribed in pen and ink to a family member.

My hubby loved the television,we are sure its the first tele ever made, "His Masters Voice " from the 1950's

The house was crowded with unique, nostalgic items from the 1940's and 50's.
Everywhere we looked, in every cupboard,on top of cupboards, pearl handled cutlery in the drawers and beautiful English china.
 There was even a 1932 ice-chest.
My favourite article was this 1950's kitchen cabinet that l wanted to take home.
With curved wooden corners and the beautiful  lead lighting inserted this cabinet was in excellent condition.

We sat at the original 1950's laminex table of course ( you will notice the tops of the chairs in the photo)

Why did we bring the laptop ? - no service !
Why did we bring the mobile phone ? - no service !
Why did we bring the nav man ? - no service !

ln this wooded gully, with the wood fire burning, we really felt as if we were in another era.
But we did have a modern luxury - sitting on top of the 1950's television, was the latest flattop L.G.

,

The remote controls were hidden in an old wooden handmade box with this wonderful photo on the front.

Although our romantic getaway was great the first day, after that everything went downhill.

My hubby got really sick. He had a sore throat and a cold before we left and ended up with a high fever.

He laid on that green 1950's couch, for 2 days in front of the fire moaning , (not in ecstasy, but in agony )

Thank you Glynis and Bill the loan of your holiday home. lt was quite an adventure, and a memory to keep.

HER GARDEN and she is 91 years old

Yes - my mother is 91 years old and loves her garden.
Living on her own, in a 1 bedroom unit she has a small back and front garden

Her garden gets a little giddy as she is always changing it around, just as she does the furniture inside her unit.

Living in a small town, she rings up the Garden Centre and they just deliver anything she likes,
whether it be compost,punnets of annuals or just a packet of snail defender.
Her garden is her pride and joy,and keeps her fit and she has the pleasure of waking up every morning to the
beauty around her.

Did you know that gardening is the number 1 hobby in the world.

A CHRISTMAS FIND.

Our son Jody drove up in his H.J.Holden ute,passing by the window into our back yard
All l seen as he passed by was a flash of red, filling the ute and hanging out the back.

He said "Mum l have bought you something, and l know you will love it "

What a surprise ! A 7  foot 2 inch tall Santa Christmas Stocking.and l did love it.

l said to Jody "Where did you get it from as it from" as it seemed vaguely familiar.

He explained that the middle Hotel was being revamped, or modernized,-- in other words anything old was being thrown out.

This is what happens in Australia, we don't seem to be like other country's, and save our heritage especially like the european country's do we pull old buildings etc. down.

That is how l bought my 100 year old church pew (as l told you in a previous blog )

They had them replaced with fold up chairs.

The gorgeous little chapel does not look the same without the church pews.

But l now own an over 7 foot tall christmas stocking, and it was used for the Football Raffle before Christmas, filled to the top with christmas toys,bottles of wine etc.
Every body wanted to win this raffle,especially the children.
Thats why the stocking was so familiar to me,as it was always down the street, and l would buy a raffle ticket every year.
lt has been stored for over 30 years but in excellent condition.

l will add another picture when it is full in 3 months time

A 1932 DESOTO PICK-UP.

This beautiful old car is a 1932 Desoto Pick-up

An American body, assembled in Australia, by T.J Richards @ sons in Adelaide.

Our son Kyle bought it in the year 2000, and has been restoring it for 11 years,

spending $1000's of dollars on his Desoto.

It cost him $600 to buy as it was a wreck.

Originally the car was a sedan but only 1/2 of it was there so Kyle turned it into a ute.

He has spent 1000's of  hours restoring and searching for parts
on this special car and has finally finished it.

He is now proudly driving his 1932 Desoto,---

---, and its the only 1 in the world------, currently

insured for $60,000

THE WEDDING - Before and after ( and the WEDDING CARS )

These are the photos of before and after the Wedding ?

MAYBE WE WILL CHECK OUT BEFORE THE WEDDING FIRST !

Adopted Aunty of the Bride.

Aunty of the Bride.

Mother of the Bride.

Mother of the Bride.

Sisters of the Bride.

Sisters of the Bride.

  Sister of the Bride

 

Mother of the Bride.

THE BRIDE

 NOW THE BEAUTIFUL WEDDING - at least l think it's them

Adopted Aunty of the Bride.

Mother and Adopted Father of the BRIDE.

Cousins of the Bride

22

2 Sisters, The Bride and Friend.

The Beautiful Bride.

2 Cousins and thier Wedding Cars..

AAAH COUSIN MEEA AND DAVO WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING

 

My GOLLYWOG Collection

l love my unique gollywog collection, yes every one is unique and different but their round surprised eyes all look the same

Golly - where did golly come from?

Some say Golly was  used due to the somewhat surprised look on the dolls face, as if saying, golly golly gosh

"Golly" which is an English exclamation of surprise

The dictionary defines it as a blackfaced, goggle eyed, fantastically dressed doll or, a soft black faced doll.

 These are some of my gollys

Florence Upton is accredited with creating the golliwog

Florence was born in New York to English  parents in 1873.

Upon the death of her father when Florence was 16, Florence and her mother Bertha  returned to England.

In 1895 at the age of 22 Florence illustrated her1st book, (written by her mother).

As a small child  Florence had 3 homemade toys, 2 homemade Dutch dolls and her black Gollywogg, .

with 2g's. The book called "The Adventures of 2 Dutch Dolls" featuring the golliwog.

Florence and her mother had 13 Gollywogg  Books published between 1895-1909.

They were incredibly popular.

Florence Upton died in 1922 aged 49 years and buried near her home in Hamstead.

On her gravestone are in engraved the words -

Florence Upton

Creater of the famed gollywog.

Florence's 3 soft toys, her childhood story book dolls are now housed at Chequers, the British Prime Ministers country residence.