A Return to Simplicity.

Lately I have made an effort to finish a few projects and this is the latest. A quilt top I completed who knows when as it's been in my " to finish " box for..... forever. I will be using this on the table when friends come over for coffee and cake. Of course the dog, being a Maremma has to inspect everything and this was no exception.  As I needed something for the backing I went to Spotlight for a pale check gingham or something similar but fell in love with this and used it for the binding as well. With the weather being so nice here (for hot tropical North Queensland) the flowers are loving the mild weather and frequent showers. Not to be outdone the orchids are blooming away with wonderful large sprays. Of course with the damp comes the fungus, but aren't they gorgeous?

Sea breeze, Frangipani, Vanilla, Mulled Wine, Gingerbread, One rainy wish...... I could go on and on  with the names of the lovely scented candles that abound in the shops these days and although I didn't like them for years and years,  I do now ( who would know why ) and have them burning every day that I am home. I don't know why, but I keep the old butts or candle bums as I call them. They still smell sweet and it seems like a shame to waste these bits and pieces. So.....what to do with them?  Recycle of course! Get the containers ready by cleaning and fitting new wicks. Melting the left-overs using a little gas cooker and my hubby's nifty pot. See the great pouring spout he fitted? It looks dirty but is just stained. Pour into glasses (these were ones that came with candles in them) and leave to set. I left a bit of old wick in the yellow one but I'm not too worried about that. They solidified with a little den...

Do you ever wonder why you are able to live with untidy little corners that never seem to look or stay neat and clean. Well I have this area in the laundry that has hats, bags and a couple of boxes of STUFF from my last job! So with a little inspiration from Pinterest ( I'm turning those "one day projects"  into reality )  I went from this......... To this! I found a suitable cupboard with open shelves with the right dimensions on a local buy, sell and swap site for not a lot of money and proceeded to re-purpose  it to suit my needs. I still need a couple of knobs for the two bottom draws, so it'll be off for a look around the shops for something suitable. Before.................... Plain Jane and dark. After........light and bright and with the addition of a few $10 baskets. Now both sides of the laundry look neat and tidy! Don't know why it never bothered me before!! Do yo...