No more 'shelving that idea'!

You see, we have this lovely old shelf unit in our living room. It is rustic, fashioned out of old floorboards, and we love it. But, like most things, I always look at it and think: 'Does it need a make-over, a make-under or a do-over'? I have toyed with the idea of painting it and giving it a shabby-chic feel for quite some time now, but every time I shelve the idea, thinking that it would be sacrilege to cover those aged wooden boards in paint. That was until yesterday.

Having conquered the battle of the bathrooms, armed with marigolds, 'Mr Muscle' and what seems like gallons of 'Scale Away',  I was on a bit of a roll. Feeling braver than usual, I decided that running the hoover around the living room floor just wasn't going to cut the mustard. I needed a slightly more invigorating task, and without thinking about it too much, I reached for the paint brush, a half a can of 'Pebble Grey' and set to work painting...and I'm glad I did...

After carefully painting the shelves, I had the urge to rough it up a bit with sandpaper. I just can't help myself! I like shabby things...

A few finishing touches...

So, I think it's turned out okay. Phew! I must admit, I felt a pang of panic with the first few brush strokes, but there was no going back! Have you ever decided to change something and regretted it, or wished you'd done it sooner? I would love to hear from you. Drop me a comment. Have you written about it on your blog? Do share it with us! I leave you with these words: 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained.' Go on, you know you want to!

To dance, or not to dance? That is the question!

There is nothing in life that I enjoy more than a proper knees up! So, when a friend passed me a leaflet advertising a 1940's dance, I dug deep to convince my dear hubby to accompany me to this event. In all honesty, I thought  he would throw every excuse in the book at me to try and avoid being dragged onto a dance floor where 'proper' dancing was required, as he is a self-confessed two-left-feet-kinda-guy, who can only manage a very hypnotising Bruce Springsteen hip sway! But, I was tickled pink when he conceded, and even went as far as dressing up! You could have knocked me over with a feather!

So, the tickets were purchased, the babysitter arranged (thank you, thank you, thank you dear Dianne!!!), and with dancing shoes polished and two left feet at the ready, all I had to do now was find my right foot! I decided that I would don my favourite dress, as I had only worn it a couple of times, never to a dance, and I do think it was designed to twirl in!

The band was absolutely fabulous! We sat and watched as people danced to the songs of Glen Miller, Frank Sinatra, Myles Monroe, just to name a few. My feet were itching to dance, but hubby had forgotten all he'd learnt in dance lessons before we got married, and my quick step, foxtrot and jitterbug tootsies felt a bit rusty too! However, after a few tipples we soon embarked on the dance floor, and all inhibitions flew out the window! I'm quite certain we didn't resemble Fred and Ginger...more Flop and Cringe...but we had a ball!

Me, and of course lovely hubby

We were joined by friends Fiona and Will. The very handsome couple...

And here's the band...(please excuse to questionable quality of the photography! It was the best my little phone could manage!)

Well, I can honestly say that we all had a super night. We have decided though that a few dance lessons won't go amiss between now and the next soiree! But, as one lovely gentleman put it on the night: 'Don't worry about what other people think! The ones that sit and watch, are sitting and watching because they themselves can't dance. And the ones that are dancing, aren't watching you! Just get up and dance, and do your own thing!' And that was what we did...eventually!

'E'-xperimenting...'attempt at something new'

Do you sometimes get in a rut of doing the same things in the same way? That's how I felt these last few weeks with regards to my crafting and styling of our home. I think I have a definite 'style' that usually appeals to me, but of late I have felt like a chameleon on a Smarties box...confused as to which colour I should go for! The urge to change things up a bit is pulling me towards trying out new things, and my tatsebuds are hankering after something slightly bohemian and eclectic, as opposed to the country look that I normally go for. And it all started with an 'E'...

As you probably know, I have been working on our family photo wall over the last few weeks, and I've been focusing all my creative time on this little project. So, needless to say, I wanted to add yet another little something to it, an 'E' in fact, standing for Egan, our family name. So, I obtained a blank 'E' from the craft shop, and had to decide how I was going to alter it. Normally I would take the 'shabby chic' route, opting for limewashed creams, pinks or blues...Something like this lovely 'B' from www.notonthehighstreet.com...

But, a very yummy metallic green acrylic paint was winking at me in the store, and before I could say 'no', I had parted with my cash and it followed me home! I kid you not, it stalked me! I then found these gorgeous pocket tissues, and before I knew it I was decoupaging butterflies onto a very bright green 'E'!

'You know you want to...!'

Pretty pocket tissues!

Once I'd painted my letter and decoupaged it, I decided to take sandpaper to it for a distressed look. A little rub of gold paint in places, and some metal photo corners added, I am quite pleased with the end result! It is very different from what I first had in mind...

I think I have been slightly influenced by the tastes of interior stylist, Selina Lake, who's homespun style is something I absolutely adore! On that note, check out her new book: Homespun Style.

 I'd like to encourage you to experiment, and to try new things. I think the key to homespun style, is to not over think things. After all, being a homemaker is being your own stylist. Seize the opportunity to express yourself in your own way. It's tons of fun and very liberating! Drop me a comment below, and let me know what you think!