New and free canvas!!

I don't know about you, but on a dark, cold winters day I always find myself making things from whatever is at hand. Like our 'new and free canvas' for the family room. You may remember the canvas that was up here with the magnolias on it (see side bar photo) that my Sister made, well that is now in another room. This canvas used to be the dark grey one that was above our bed (also see side bar photo). I repainted it in Dulux Chalk White USA, which is the white under our chair rail which I have loads of left still.
Then went outside to our Twisted Willow tree and got a big bunch of long, pliable branches. Stripped the leaves off and set to work.
While Mic and the boys were curled up on the sofa watching a movie by the fire, I laid out the branches and sewed them onto the canvas. Now, I actually started with invisible thread, doubled over for strength, but it still snapped. So if you are going to try this I would use fishing line as it is much stronger...I ended up using a cream cotton instead.

That was it. Free, easy and very quick. I think all up it took about 30 mins to sew the willow on and about 10 minutes for the painting (I cheated and used a hairdryer to dry the paint faster).
Here you can see it with my $5.oo chairs that I showed you a few days ago.

Now, it is not my ideal artwork for the space, but we needed something quickly to go here and seeing I will be changing our decor a bit when we get a new house this will have to do =0)

Ness xx

The bird in me...

Debbie Floral - Calico Corners
I have always had an obsession with beautiful fabric and this one above is no exception. It has been saved in my fabric file for quite a while now. I just haven't found the right project for it yet.
For the last year or so, I have really enjoyed the amount of bird inspired fabrics that have come on to the scene...they have been everywhere and I am loving it! Birds and things with birds keep popping up in my life...I will show you...Mulberry Muse
These postcards, which have been made to look like an old French letter, are gorgeous...and not so much for the beautiful script writing or the sepia tones of the paper...but for that Peacock!!! There are some at The Gorge (an awesome swimming, dining and recreational spot in Launceston) that I would love to take home. They just wander around and amaze me every time I see them. Declan, our 5 year old, split his knee open when he was two trying to 'catch' one...he still bears the scar!

LYoung Studio
This lovely art work with its blazing red Cardinal has also been in my wish list file for some time now. The whole range of prints for that matter!!

Marley & Lockyer
How could I not do birds on my own cushion covers?!
A silhouette of this one is also above our French doors in the living room in black.

Ness Lockyer
This canvas of mine, which is based on the Sid Dickens tiles sits wonderfully with 3 others above our kitchen bench. It is my favourite thing to look at...besides the real birds outside the window...while I am waiting for the kettle to boil.
Black & Spiro
Back to fabric...this beautiful piece was hanging in the window of Black & Spiro and I love it. The Cockatoos remind me of the Australian Galah (called Ozzie) we had since he was a little chick with no feathers (I was about 4), until he passed away from old age(when I was 25). He was the only Australian bird I know that had a Scottish accent like my Parents...and he was my best friend as a child.

See what I mean...they are everywhere. As much as I love them, I will never cage a bird again. They deserve to be free!

Ness xx

Ticks all the boxes...

...on my list for our own quest for simplifying, is this beautiful home featured in the current issue of Australian Country Style. This photo in particular ticks all the boxes for me, and I feel I could move in straight away without changing a thing.

I love this part of the kitchen, which is a new add on (not that you would tell) in this 100 year old home. The Tolix stools look so good against that old table, and the reproduction French dresser is divinely authentic looking. I have been after some of those big glass pickling bottles for a while now...gorgeous!

Another recent addition is this sunken entertaining area. The whole recent add-ons have been done on a tight budget, which I am loving...of course!
Big soft sofas, curios from the couples travels and all the things I love- twine, wood, wicker and cushions are plentiful here.

The entrance hall is amazing and the couple had to re arrange the driveway so visitors would use the front door and utilise this space....something we have just done, it's not working with Family though!!
How is this for cheap art?? I LOVE it! An old windmill blade found on the property had to be hauled back to the house, cut down and then they had to figure out how to hang it. This was the owners solution to not having money in the budget to buy a large piece of artwork for the wall...works for me luv!
When I am in Sydney next to see Mum, I am off to Ikea for one of these map canvases for our boys room....it is wonderful and will fill up our huge wall above their beds - or maybe I can dig up a windmill?

Now you see why this home ticks all of the boxes I love. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and make sure you check back on Monday for the amazing Giveaway!!!

Ness xx