Fireplace Colours, Duck Planters & Craft Fairs

Greetings dear friends & readers & Happy Friday to you all. 

I hope the week has treated you kindly ?

I finally decided on a fireplace colour after much deliberation & changing-of-my-mind  . . . . the colour I have painted it is called Dulux Ngataringa Bay  .  .  .  .  I went with a matt finish paint & tried to pick out one of the paler colours in the wallpaper background.

For the summer months I am able to place my potted plants along the hearth but will shift them once fires begin again.  The vintage fire screen was a $5 purchase from Hospice last winter.

I must confess I am still undecided whether I 💓💓 it or not but I have put my paints & brushes away for now as I am tired of it all. I think I would really like to paint the wooden fire surround but it is native Rimu & I think The Mr would have an apoplectic seizure if I painted it so I have decided not to push my luck as I have gotten away with painting quite a bit of native timber around here lately 😉

The colour is Madame de Pompadour by Vintro Chalk Paints

I removed the half dead maidenhair fern from my duck planter, gave it a scrub, then painted it with a pale pink chalk paint ... I repotted my poor root-bound Peace Lilly & it fits nicely in the duck planter & I am hopeful it will flower again.

For over a year now my lovely green & cream china has been packed away in a banana box - so it was lovely to get it all out, wash it & display again on my antique dresser.

This gorgeous tin sign was gifted to me for my 60th birthday by my lovely friends Sally & Jane ... finally I found a space to hang it up above my dining table.

I was most excited last Tuesday when a new length of oilcloth arrived that I had ordered online from 

this wonderful store

This is a matt finish linen blend oilcloth & is fully wipeable

The Owner - Sarah - very kindly sent me free samples of 5 different oilcloths that I saw on her website & liked. This was so helpful & I soon chose the bees as my hope with this dining room was to lighten what is sometimes, a rather dark room.

Sid & I picked a fresh vase of roses from the garden to sit on my new tablecloth 💗

For a long time I have wanted to put together a Spring Tablescape but spring will be finished here in another couple of weeks so perhaps I will aim for this next spring.  In the meantime I finished off a lovely stitchery I had been working on from Jenny of elefantz design's stitchery club that I belonged to.  The pattern is called Nana's Jug of Posies ... but I added the words to the bottom as I had in mind my spring display.

My original intention had been to frame it or make a small cushion but I came across an old embroidery hoop so thought it would fit nicely in this.

I found a length of pink velvet ribbon just the perfect length & tied it to this old chicken mesh frame that was in my sleepout.

I'm delighted with my stitchery & hope to continue working away on some spring-related items.

We still have things to finish in the kitchen & dining area - we are getting our wooden benches sanded & re-polished, a new light fixture & I would like to make some new cushions for my dining area couch ... but Christmas Orders & all it's busy-ness may have to take priority for now.  I shall keep you updated as I progress dear readers.

Last Saturday was the annual Christmas Craft Fair in my small local town.  I have had a stall at this for many years but this is the 2nd year where I have gone along as just a customer.  The sun was shining & the crowds were out.  I especially wanted to buy a dress from my friend Julie of Bo and Co to gift to Juno for Christmas.

I was delighted to choose this gorgeous pink dress with bunnies on it ... I also bought some handmade soaps as I like to gift these with my knitted cotton dishcloths ... I bought some relish (to gift) & some pottery Christmas ornaments to tie onto gifts.

Here is a photo of my friend Julie's stall that I borrowed from the local Craft Fair Facebook Page

I also bought these 3 little perennials for my garden & No Willie ... the ginger cat did not come free with the plants !!! 

(Buy 3 ... get a free cat !!!) 😉

Do you remember back in this post when I made the suitcase planter for my lovely friend Jane's 50th birthday ... well she sent me this photo last night of how it is thriving.    I was rather tempted to reply & say "I'll have it back now thanks" 😉  It looks stunning & I love the colour combination of the petunias 💕

Thank You all So Very Much for your visits here today dear friends,

I hope you have a wonderful weekend - the sun is shining here 💛

Be kind to yourselves & to each other,

With much love & friendship,

Julie & the furry ones x0x0x0