New Year's Eve in Sydney and an Ampersand Cushion

Sydney is a magical place to be for New Year's Eve. The fireworks over the harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are fabulous.

Here are some photos from a few years ago. 

New Year's Eve is extra special in our family as it's my sister's birthday.

Here's my present for my sister.

She really wanted an Ampersand Cushion.

I'm not in the mood to drag my sewing machine out so I bought a plain cushion cover and infill from Ikea and painted on an ampersand.

I just hand drew the ampersand (after practising for a while) in pencil then painted it on with paint mixed with fabric fixative.

All finished.

Now just to wrap it before we head off to her house for champagne and fireworks!

Happy New Year!

I hope 2012 brings you all much happiness.

cheers

Fiona

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

and

wishing you a wonderful, relaxing time with your loved ones.

Thank you all for reading my blog,
leaving me comments and encouraging me on this creative journey,
for your friendship that has often extended beyond the internet
and a special thank you to those who have bought my furniture.

It's been a wonderful year.

Here are some glimpses of our Christmas home

home baked Christmas Snowflake Cookies

all bundled up to take to my aunt's for Christmas lunch.

Mince tarts my husband has just whipped up while I've been writing this post! That man is AMAZING!

our beautiful nativity. I love it's muted colours.

The kids have laid out their Christmas pillow cases already. In Australia, we grew up not hanging stockings as most houses don't have fireplaces. Instead kids leave a special pillow case on the end of their beds.

the tree is looking laden!

and I found this on my son's pillow case that my kids had written. In case Santa wasn't sure about my boy's behaviour!

Now enough of being on the internet, let's all get off the blogs and back to our families!

Have a lovely happy day tomorrow.

Aussie Jingle Bells

I'm sitting in the waiting room at RPA Fracture Clinic, hoping for the all clear on my arm that I broke back in September while I was in Maine, USA at my good friend's wedding. I was NOT dancing on the tables! Although that would have made for a funnier story. I broke the distal radius off completely and into 5 pieces. Not good news for a practical gal!

I wanted to share this version of Jingle Bells with you. It's so Australian and really makes me laugh. Growing up, there weren't many Australian Christmas songs. Most are all about snow and white Christmases etc which doesn't really make sense for us living in the southern hemisphere.

My kids love this song and it really sums up a lot Australian Christmas days. Kids swimming in the pool while the oldies have a snooze. I'm hoping it actually gets hot enough for us to swim on Christmas day as it's been a pretty miserable summer so far. The lyrics are at the bottom of my post.

I'd best translate a few terms for the non Australian reader:
Bush = Countryside ( rough, scrubby bushland)
Holden Ute = Open topped van / utility
Esky = ice box or chilly bin as the New Zealanders call it
Kelpie = Australian breed of working dog mainly used on farms
Thongs = Flip flops (not a g-string)

The whole thongs = flip flop thing can really cause a problem. Years ago when we were living in London, I bought went shopping for my niece's 3rd birthday present. I got back to the office and was asked what I'd bought her.

Me: Some thongs.
English friend: really?!!
Me: yes, they are really cute
English friend: for a 3 year old??
Me: yes, she's worn them before, I'm sure she'll be fine in them. My sister says she wears them all the time.
English friend: but she's 3!
Me: but they are really cute with little rubber flowers on them.
Etc etc....

I really couldn't understand what her concern was until I pulled them out of the bag and my friend explained the whole g- string = thongs = flipflop. She must have thought I was really out there to be buying my 3 year old niece some g-strings for her birthday. Probably a bit like when I hear Americans talking about their fanny. It really makes me laugh.

I finally finished all my Christmas shopping last night. Thank goodness! I even managed to track down a boy version of a zhu zhu pet that my son wanted.
Hope you are all enjoying these last few days before Christmas and not too stressed. If you are travelling, drive safely and take care.

Cheers
Fiona

Aussie Jingle Bells
Lyrics by Colin Buchanan

Dashing through the bush
In a rusty Holden Ute
Kicking up the dust
Esky in the boot
Kelpie by my side
Singing Christmas songs
It’s summer time and I am in
My singlet, shorts & thongs

OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
ON A SCORCHING SUMMER’S DAY
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE

Engine’s getting hot
Dodge the kangaroos
Swaggy climbs aboard
He is welcome too
All the family is there
Sitting by the pool
Christmas day, the Aussie way
By the barbecue!

OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
ON A SCORCHING SUMMER’S DAY
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE

Come the afternoon
Grandpa has a doze
The kids and uncle Bruce
Are swimming in their clothes
The time comes round to go
We take a family snap
Then pack the car and all shoot through
Before the washing up

OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
ON A SCORCHING SUMMER’S DAY
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE

Chocolate Macarons - Christmas Gifts

I've been busy making macarons.

These are a labour of love as they are extremely time consuming.

but very delicious.

I've discovered the SECRET to making perfect macarons.

Leave the egg whites out on the bench for 2-3 days before you start making the macarons.

Talk about planning ahead.

This makes the egg white disintegrate which means you get nice flat shiny macarons with fluffy feet. (and there is no problem with bacteria as you cook the macarons.)

All wrapped up for our homemade christmas gifts for our neighbours.

I'm also making sugar cookie snowflakes and some clay tags.

I painted the snowflakes and swirls on the top with this edible

silver paint and sprinkled others with edible glitter. Very festive!

I've filled the centres with a chocolate ganache buttercream.

Talk about decadent!

....and they looked so delicious, I had to try one with my morning coffee.

Do you bake at Christmas? What are your favourites?

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A Lovely Queenslander

Our close friends are moving to Brisbane in the New Year. We are very sad to be losing them in our day to day lives but we'll definitely be travelling to see them in Brisbane regularly.
This is the gorgeous house they are renting in Brisbane. A big difference to their Sydney home.  All that space! Hopefully they find the the community is as friendly as ours here.

all photos via

This beautiful tree in the front garden is what captured their interest initially.

and I think the pool is what sealed the deal.

The house comes with a weekly gardener and pool man!

It's all very exciting for them as they embark on this new chapter in their lives. And sad for us, all their friends they are leaving. I'm especially sad as my daughter is best friends with their daughter. Thank goodness for Skype and cheap flights!

....and I must add that it's right near the Antique Centre where Sandy (Paint Me White) has her booth. I am very jealous!

A pop of colour!

I did a quick paint job on a little side table yesterday. This is so cute and would look fabulous in a boy's room.  I love this peacock/turquiose.  The little vintage wooden teddy matches this table perfectly. 

A single dovetailed drawer with hidden handle underneath.  Very smooth lines.

I also painted the bookcase below for a client.  I don't have any before photos today but it was dark wood and very dirty.  I scrubbed it down before painting it with chalk paint. I then waxed it and distressed it. My client picked it up today and was very happy.  One less piece of furniture in the house!

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My Painted French Dining Chairs

This makeover has been a long time coming.  But I can honestly say that I am so happy I finally took the plunge and painted and reupholstered my french dining chairs. I used my version of chalk paint in a soft limed white and reupholstered the seats. I feel as though I've bought brand new chairs from a sophisticated French shop!

From this overly shiny brown version:

to this chic version!

My dining room before:

 

to now:

Next on my list is refinishing the table top to a darker wood and painting the apron and legs.

School broke up today and the kids are so excited to be on holidays. It's twinged with a little sadness to be leaving their teachers. We have been blessed this year with two amazing, insightful and wise teachers.  Wishing all the staff at Orange Grove Public School a wonderful and relaxing break.  Thanks for a great year.

cheers

Fiona

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