ONE PERSON's TRASH .... My Treasure

How are we all this week ?

Im Great having spent the weekend mostly with my soul sister Nique and my little munchkin kidlet nieces and nephew.

I've been busy revamping some fabulous treasures from Garage sales ( yard sales for my American friends ), these crochet cushion covers below I picked up for $1.00 and a great little tired timber bookcase for $4.00 (photos of the bookcase re-vamp will be posted by friday) as well as a collection of lace and crocheted doiles for under a few dollars.

I love re-vamping and renewing old odd's and ends, seeing in them the potential for a new life, it brings me great joy to reuse redo revamp and renovate especially when I've picked them up for free or next to nothing.

I will endeavour to show you more of what I do and how I do it, or maybe even why for those of you who think junk is junk and should be left to rot on a scrap heap somewhere, :) oh boy the treasures I've found though along the way just by using a bit of creative thhinking or elbow grease on somebodys discarded once loved belongings.

So how many of you have old flat waaaay past it pillows that no longer offer any support let alone comfort

I know I do but couldnt thrown them out because I knew they'd be re used somehow and boy am I glad because I've found a great way to upcycle them into stuffing for my fabulous new bargain vintage cushion covers..sweet :)

Simply tear or cut open the old pillows and remove the stuffing, I like to do this outside so I can sun the stuffing for an hour or so to get rid of any impurities and because I pull the stuffing apart to re fluff i, I then like to spray each handful of now fluffy stuffing with a lovely linen spray( I use both Verbena and Lavender from the store Dusk) you can quite easily make up your own essential oil spray

 

How To: Make Your Own Linen Spray

Linen spray is a bit of an indulgence but I love it especially lavender scented sprays for sheets and laundry

:

Use an empty spray bottle or rinse out an old bottle with hot water. In a small bowl, mix lavender oil and vodka together. The alcohol works as an emulsifier, allowing the oil and water to mix evenly. Ingredients

1/4 cup unflavored vodka

3 1/2 cups filtered water

1 tsp. lavender essential oil

Pour the lavender-vodka mix into the spray bottle, add the 3 1/2 cups filtered water, and shake. Make sure to shake well before each use.

More Tips:

For an alcohol-free mixture omit the vodka, but make sure to shake rigorously before spraying, since the oil and water will separate.

Put a few drops of lavender into ironing water to make clothes smell great.

For more recipes using essential oils, check out aromaweb they have some great ideas and recipes.

Here is the Dusk Brand Linen spray I love

 

My funky $1.00 vintage cushion covers all fluffy and smelling great. Simple easy and funky recycling.

I've also fallen in Love all over again with the funky little zine BESPOKE ..go check them out and enter your email address to get their wonderful weekly and daily crafty updates and inspiration straight to your inbox. They feature all sorts of great talent from blogs and sites all over the world but also have a heavy Australian content yay.Below is the link to todays crafty article...how to make your own customized stamp

http://bespokezine.com

http://www.theprettyblog.com/2012/07/make-your-own-stamp-diy/

sorry for some reason I cant make these HYPERLINKS :(

 

Ok well thats it from me for today but I shall catch up with you all on WED afternoon, until then keep smiling and be good to each other,much arty love and happiness Gypsy Mel x ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Our story's ....

 Good Morning all, sorry it's been a while since my last blog, I've been busy spending time with my nieces to pieces and munchkin of a nephew who I adore.

This morning I find myself sitting at the hustling bustling local coffee club here in Redcliffe, Brisbane, watching the throng of morning customers as they come and go in little groups.

So many families and friends catching up, chatting happily between bites and sips of their chosen beverage, I so love people watching, there's the young family beside me trying to teach their very independent little toddler how to cut his own toast (oh the frustration on his chubby cheeked little face).

The three young fashionistas giggling and discussing relationships and clothes while playing with their hair, on the cusp of trying to be women but still showing the unconscious traits of their innocence and youth. The couples that sit in companionable silence with out the slightest hint of tension or discomfort, expressing so much simply through looks nods and silent gestures that mean so much to them but are indecipherable to outsiders. The retirees sitting in small groups of couples with so much wisdom etched on their collective faces, hinting at vibrant well lived lives, such comfort and companionship amongst them it almost feels like another form of family. The post exercise collective, or possibly just trendy labeled sports fashion addicts, Lorna Jane seems to be the label de jour with an assortment of brightly coloured Nike free sneakers, gossiping and whispering in secret knowing (are they discussing the literary qualities of 50 shades of Grey). ;)

It's all here a rich tapestry of unique and wonderful individuals from all walks of life and varying life experiencs coming together over the traditional ritualistic morning gathering of food and beverage known as breakfast, or brunch for those recovering from a languorous late morning lie in, quite possibly having followed through from a Dionysian or debaucherous night on the town. Those are easy to identify as they sport large dark glasses and a hat of some sort to hold their disheveled tresses at bay.

So much energy and inspiration abounds if we but only slow ourselves to take it all in, to let our minds slow and imagination take over begging you to wonder ...where did that group go last night that they look so worn but happy this morning, were they out dancing, at a fancy dress birthday party , a concert , were they at the local pub engaging in a trivia competition and regained their lead in the local championship ? So many possibilities.

Life for each of us is the same in that we too can write and rewrite the stories of our lives, we can include romance, adventure, whimsy, daring and intrigue. It's up to us as to how our life reads and how interesting we make it, what adventures we go on what moments of stillness and reflection we take. What does your story say about you so far, if it was a book would you want to keep reading ? What changes to the script or storyline would you make ? If you had to narrow the cast down who would you keep in your story and who would you creatively retire ? Who would you cast in the lead roles beside you and do they serve to enhance your story or weigh it down ? What message would you like your story to tell, is it a story of perseverance and success, of struggle and lonleliness, is it a daring adventure, are you the hero of your own story or are you under the control of some malevolent villain, rogue or scoundrel ?

It's is never ever too late to re write your next chapter or to change the scenery or cast of characters, that's the great thing about life we can create as we go, we wake up each day with a fresh canvas, a blank pad, an empty screen upon which to craft and construct our new experiences.

I hope that whatever your story has been or currently is that the main theme running throughout from now on is one of abundant happiness. One in which you realize your own inner goddess or god, your strength and beauty, your abilities and passions and where you live happily ever after.

Much love and creative juiciness as always,

Gypsy Mel













 

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