Lisa Kate Colour Me Happy

my vintage home - camera love

 

Old camera's.... such good things to find and display.  I love that they are usually battered and bruised from use.  I love that they are still sturdy enough for my girls to play with.  I really would love to know the story behind them though!!!

Again, I don't have a big collection at all.... THREE camera's only.  But what would the fun be if you collected something that was easy to find???

 

It's all about the search, the hunt.... and the eventual thrill when you find one.  Yes I know I can simply go to ebay and buy, but really I love searching for them myself.  It means every one has a story how I found it.

I love that.

Lisa Kate

 

commissioned art for a friend

Most often the work I struggle with is art for a friend, probably because I put even more pressure on myself than usual to product something good, something they will love, something they won't regret paying for !!

In the parameters of a commissioned piece there are usually colour, size and image constraints.  This of course is the way it is meant to be.  But for me it means I take longer, put it aside more often and generally work harder.  Which is good for my own personal growth.

This piece I worked with additional care, love and the occasional "oh my gosh these are REALLY not my colours" as it was for a very supportive friend, who is always cheering me on.  We all need someone like that in our lives, and I am so grateful for her.

so onto the art.

 

See REALLY not my colours :)  The cool thing is that this particular friend loves everything shabby, pink and French.... I just happen to have a husbad who had recently returned from Paris bringing with him a handful of tickets, maps and ther ephemera = PERFECT.

 

By the time I finished with it, I was really really happy.  It's good to be stretched.

Then because this particular friend had been taking my girls to a local church every morning for the entire week to a holiday program and dropping them home, a thankyou gift was in order.

Which was perfect timing because I wanted to get my technique perfected for the pretty jewellry pieces I will be stocking.

 

She was so happy :)  and that made my day.

Lisa Kate

x

a little bit vintage

 

It's no secret that I love vintage styling in both clothes and homes.  Even before it was fashionable, you could still find me all happy about an old piece of furniture or a super cute vintage dress.  Nothing has changed.

I live in an 80 year old cottage decorating with vintage and antique items is super easy, as the house really lends itself to this style. Plus it's very forgiving with three children, two dogs and a cat!! 

I thought it might be a bit of fun to share some little pieces I have collected over the years. It's nice to add fun things and a bit more of "me" to this space.

 

 

I love books, always have.  I read a couple of novels a week, usually when I should be sleeping..... so it makes sense than I have a serious love for vintage and antique books.  This collection I display in my home all grouped together.  The common theme of course being RED - my fave colour.

The tattered covers, worn pages and lovely illustrations make this grouping one of my most treasured.  It's not so easy finding red worn antique/vintage books.  Plenty of other colours, but for some reason RED is hard to find.  so my collection is small. That's ok.

By nature these books are fragile.  They have seen many a year of use and the pages are not as strong as the book paper we now have.  Although they are primarily for display purposes I DO let my children handle them, turn the pages and read them if they choose.  I never want to have a home where the things in them are treated with more respect than the people who live in it.  In turn the kids treat them with loving care.  I am really hoping I am teaching the kids the value of history, of things that have been used before and to find beauty in everything around them.

Lisa Kate

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Want to see more of my finds??  and read up some great tips on op-shopping??  Head on over to Etxcetera magazine the first issue is now available on line for FREE and it's filled to the brim with craft/food/home/family inspired articles.

a little morning out

I've been knocked around hard with a virus (thanks so much kiddies for sharing) and spending a whole heap of time either in bed or wishing I was.  Ten days in and I still feel really rotten, but pretty sick of being inside.

A dear friend offered a trip to my local op-shop.  Not to far away, she would drive and there was going to be a chance to chat and have a little outing.  Perfect.  I knew I wasn't up to a full day out.

So what did we find??  Not a whole heap really.  But it was fun, we bumped into a few friends, had a laugh at some of the *ahem* more fashionable items and I managed to pick up a few things to bring home with me.  We also managed to fit in a coffee.  Perfect morning.

So onto my finds!!!

A serisouly cute vintage toy piano.  It's red... need I say more???

 

A vintage toy pattern, the girls have already instructed me what toys to make first.

 

 

and some melamine "vintage inspired" cute bowls... probably perfect if you want to make bananna splits... which I don't, but I liked them anyway!!

 

 

Then I went home to bed, and slept!!!  Which really is the best thing to do when you are sick.

Its really cold here at the moment, I hope wherever you are you stay warm and well.

Lisa Kate

I wonder if there is a 12 step program for vintage fabric collectors?

Because if there is, I probably should go along.

This weekend saw the re-organisation of our arty/crafty room, to accommodate my needs a little better (and just quietly move the girls desk's further away from mine!).

So in the sorting, sifting, throwing out, and re-finding of missing treasures.... I worked out I have a very sizable vintage fabric collection.  I have some seriously beautiful stuff!!

Wanna peak???

I know you do :)

 

 

 

 

 

See what I mean .... and this is just a little bit!!  I feel a bit sad it's all just piled up and not being used.  I should really make something with it .... I really should.

I think some of it might make it to Etsy. Those of you that buy vintage fabric from etsy I have a question for you.  Do you prefer it in metre lengths? fat quarters? mixed into bundles???

Lisa Kate

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PS - the thankful journal is still in progress, it's really hard to creative when your room is getting moved around and there is mess everywhere.  Should be at least one hopefully two pages up tonight! and don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a journal pack.

I love a little pretty in my day

I don't really classify myself as a "girly girl" but possibly I am I just didn't realise it.

I guess if you factor in that I like to get my hair done, I LOVE shoes, and pretty clothes and I LOVE LOVE LOVE jewellery and pretty things hanging around my neck then yes, possibly I AM a girly girl. 

I will make peace with that thought.

And look what this girly girl found, isn't it *pretty*.   I think it will look perfect on a long chain.  Worn of course with other layers of beads and such.  And it still works and keeps perfect time (when I remember to wind it that is)

Wishing you a little pretty in your day today.

Lisa Kate