Welcome To My World

I'm home! Back from my Conference. It was very full on but alot of fun. I caught up with some great people. Forgot to take photos. I could kick myself. I left the camera in my car and just kept forgetting to take it out!!!
So I thought I would give you a peek into my world. The area I live in is blooming at the moment. We have had more rain over the summer than in the past 5-6 years. So everything is sooooo green. I live in the country and my neighbours are growing sunflowers...don't you love them? I do.....took these photos from my car today...

I love sunflowers!!

This is the road that leads to my house.



The view on the other side of the road from the sunflowers. It reminds me of a parchwork quilt.

Don't you just love this gorgeous red barn. They use it to store peanuts!

This orchard is just down the road and they grow persimmons on those vines. If you look real close you can see the orangy coloured fruit amongst the vines. They are yummy! and are exported to Asia.



This is my driveway with a peep of my house.

My roses are spectacular this year. The recent rain has produced this late bloom.

I believe these are peace roses. Just gorgeous and they smell amazing!!

So this is my world I hope you enjoyed the ride.

Linda

Easter Swap And Pink Polka Dots

Our Pretty Chic Group decided to have an Easter Swap......and my parcel from Cherrie
arrived a couple of days ago ( check out her blog, Cherrie is so talented and makes the most gorgeous bags,cushions and quilts) ...and what a lucky little Pretty Chiccie I am.....People watching me in my car must have been puzzled at the flying paper as I ripped it open....just a wee bit impatient was I:) Anyways there was a gorgeous pink tussie filled with tiny pink chocolate eggs, some tiny pots of jam...yummo...the most gorgeous lavender filled strawberry ( you have no idea just how much I have lusted after one of these)...you must have esp, Cherrie.....I just loooooove it....a sweet nodding bunny egg cup with more lavender and gorgeous pink soap which I am saving for just meeeeeee....not for anyone else....all packed in the prettiest pink floral box...Thank You Cherrie you are just too sweet...I JUST LOVE EVERYTHING.... So here are the photos......

Oops who opened the box?!?

Look at all those goodies......Just love the...... do you want to see more? ok

Look at those yummy pink eggs......not for long......

Another of my finds this week is.............wait for it............pink spotty cutlery.......CHECK IT OUT.... Just loved it, had to have it, have it........yay.......

And would you believe it is from Target and under $20....sweet........

Oh and last but not least this is my star find............

A giant roll of wallpaper or lining paper as they called it...there must be a couple of hundred metres there...and it was sooooo heavy....

No plans for it yet but it will supply me with heaps of vintage wallpaper for a looooong time :)

Its nearly the end of my work week and I am off to a 3 day Conference next week yay......on the Gold Coast.....so looking forward to it.......so hopefully I will be able to have some time to do a little treasure hunting :)))
take care now
Linda

My Kitchen And A New Blog Site

Hi! Its been a while since my last post, busy , busy with work and lots of trips away. But the sweet girls on my group have been swapping photos of our kitchens so seeing I took time to tidy and I must say it took some time. I thought I would share these photos....now before you take a look...our house is nearly 100 years old and the kitchen is old...not quite 100 years but has not had any major work since the 60s...I have painted and fiddled a bit about 8 years ago but we need a new kitchen badly. When we moved in the cupboards were a sexy 60s orange, the previous owner had updated the benchtops to a brown laminate...you get the picture.....anyways here it is....ta tah......

Its very blue and yellow. I do love blue and white china. Its a country kitchen and I must say I have loads of space to work. I love the top cabinet. I have everything that I use everyday on it so don't need cupboard space. The only thing I don't like is we have no pantry...can get a bit frustrating....I'm so glad you can't see the cobwebs on the window.....

This is not such a great picture....I have a new camera and it takes some very yellow photos....must have a look at it....but a few years ago I added the shelf to the top of the alcove....I though it made it look really good and I guess I still do......great excuse to buy more blue and white stuff.....these alcoves are quite common in old queenslanders....it used to house the wood stove and you can still see where the chimney hole was patched up.....good space for big fridge and stove...really would love one of those stainless steel cooks stoves with the double ovens...
well I need to get a move on and get to work..its Monday morning and there is a whole weeks worth of work to do :)
Oh and why don't you stop by our groups new blog...http://prettychickitchens@blogspot.com...

Take Care
Linda

PS I got the prettiest and heaviest vintage wallpaper border at the market on Saturday. Need to take a photo to show off. And you can see some of my other buys on Ebay this week. My seller name is Raspberry*roses. Check them out.........

My Valentine Swap Arrived!

I took part in Dollys Valentine Swap and my parcel arrived a couple of days ago. My partner was Susan from Black Eyed Susans Kitchen. I was so excited as I opened it. Susan you went all out. Everything is just so awesome. Firstly the fragrance that came out as I opened the box was just delicious.

There are hand made hearts in pink and red. So Clever. A heart shaped box filled with American chocolates. Shortly after the photo they were gone Yum!

Susan had put in a rose scented sachet. Next a gorgeous white hand towel trimmed with pink x's and o's,

A pair of heart socks .....ready for winter....a gorgeous tussie made from a vintage music sheet trimmed with lace and glittered.

And inside a pack of hot chocolate mix complete with tiny marshmallows. That will be gone tonight!!!!

a tiny pad which says "ever stop to think and forget to start again". Susan you know me better than I thought hehe....memory what memory.......... I need this pad more than you think:)

and lastly my absolute favourite. In fact when I fished it out I put it on straight away and kept it on all day. It so matched the pink striped shirt I had on. Just look at this gorgeous silver bracelet with pink beads and silver hearts. It is just gorgeous and I loooooove it!

So thank you so much Susan, you are the best.
By the way in my haste to get my parcel to Susan away I forgot to take photos....see I told you I didn't have a memory :) Click here to see for yourself at Susans blog.
Have a great week
Linda

WOW I HIT PAYDIRT!!!

This week I hit Paydirt!!! Yesterday I was passing my local op shop which is usually closed during the school holidays. Anyways I was OPEN so I popped back during my lunch break.
And BOY was I glad I DID!?!? There sitting in a pile of blankets were these two beauties. Now I just love vintage quilts and these are GORGEOUS!!! I even lost my car keys momentarily as I happy danced to pay for them :)) Luckily I found them quickly. Oooh they are in such good condition ..just a bit grubby along the edges...but I don;t mind. And I had to hide them when I got them home...I have so many... I buy them so I can sell them on Ebay but I am keeping more and more and my family have labelled me a serial bowerbird......I guess its serious he he I can hardly get into my Ebay room :)) But I am keeping them BOTH....Yes I am......Don't you love them...I do...and did I say I'm keeping them...

Then this morning I went to the local Senior Citizens Market. Its ok, lots of fruit and baked goods. But today someone was clearing out their sewing box...so I picked up more vintage ribbon, buttons and a couple of pretty vintage aprons......some will make it to Ebay but I am finding it harder and harder to part with these treasures....I think I am incurable :)) Photos to follow when I can find my camera amongst all my goodies.
Well have a GREAT weekend!!
Linda

I've Been Tagged

Thanks to the gorgeous Dolly from "From My Cherry Heart" I have received my first tag. I am really appreciative but Not sure at all how to copy the links etc. Weird things about me I can find lots of but the computer stuff is a tad challenging. So here goes :))

Yay it worked!!! Now just to remember just how I did it. Now with a memory like mine.............Oh Dear....... Now the rules...

THE RULES: Link to the 3 lovely ladies that tagged me Sher, CatieAn and Tamy. {above}

Post the rules on your blog.

Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog. {Yikes do you really want to know this stuff?}

Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

7 random and/or weird facts about Me.....

1. I have to do everything in a certain order otherwise it really throws me. I play the same games on the computer and in strict order, routine in the morning is the same every day otherwise I get to work late?!?!?......Obsessive compulsive or what?
2. I will eat just about anything or so my husband says?!?! I grew up in the east and tried alot of strange things. And I just Loooove asian food.
3. As a child I hated tomatoes and beetroot. Now I love beetroot but am still not too fond of tomatoes. And neither are my daughters but my husband and son love them.
4. I have a thing for numbers. I can remember long strings of numbers and remember most phone numbers after using them just a couple of times.
5. I also have a thing for number plates. I recognise all my friends cars from their number plates and I match the letters to peoples personalities.
6. I have given all our dogs middle names.
7. I'd rather mow the lawn than cook a meal. and just to slip another one in....I haven't worn a skirt for at least 2 years. I just find pants so much more comfortable?!?!?!?.....................
Now I have to tag 7 people....lets see.......I am going to cheat just a bit......Oh and did I tell you one last thing about me?.............I always break the rules he he......... So I am going to tag all the pretty chicers.............go for it girls...........:)))))

Happy New Year

From Raspberry*Roses

Happy New Year everyone. The last part of 2007 passed with not too much drama...did I say that?!? My husband Don had his heart operation and is doing well. Its a slow process but he is getting there. And I have changed my job. Hopefully it will be less stressful....well I can only hope :)
Late in 2007 I took part in Joyce's Secret Santa Swap. I had to send my gift to Jullie and you can see what I sent her on her blog. I received my santa gift from the delightful Shirley. Heres what she sent me. Aren't they just gorgeous. I don;t know how she knew that I just love photo frames and this white one will look great in my bedroom. The second part of the gift was the prettiest toilet bag complete with sparkly zip pull. Thanks so much Shirley which girl isn't made about shoes and handbags..... I am going to get alot of use out of these darling gifts. Sorry for taking so long to get these photos to my blog but my camera died a couple of months ago and I had to wait until Christmas to get my new PINK Camera. Woohoo....

Didn't I tell you they are gorgeous!

I have had the past week off... Yay and have been doing a little creating. I have seen some gorgeous examples of altered art when reading your blogs so I have tried it this week. Take a peek.....can you tell I love pastel pinks and green???

I found these tiny frames at a market, there were five originally bit the frames are so delicate that I broke two straight away. I prettied them up with some white paint and framed some gorgeous pink roses fabric. I just love them and they cost a couple of dollars....how sweet is that..I can see them being included in a future swap.....

These last two are something I saw on another blog and borrowed the idea. They would look gorgeous on a white feather tree....and so easy....

And lastly I wanted to share a few op shop finds. I have been drooling over photos of other thrifty purchases and I couldn't believe my eyes when I came across this lot of vintage ribbon, ric rac and buttons recently. And the whole lot cost me $8.50. Included is a whole roll of cream ribbon decorated with florals and scrolls, its swiss and cost the most at a whole dollar. Everything else cost just a few cents each. Needless to say I bought everything they had.....

I hope to put them all to good use ......

Oh and by the way I will be starting up on Ebay again in the next week or so. I have been accumulating so many treasures over the past few months that my Ebay cupboard is positively groaning under its weight. So come and visit I trade as Raspberry*Roses.

And I have just signed up for a Valentines Swap. Visit Dolly from http://frommycherryheart.blogspot.com before January 9 to join.......

I would like to thank the gorgeous gals from the Pretty Chic Group for their support and kindness since I joined the group. I have never met so many lovely people who are genuine and so damn NICE......I have laughed and cried with you all and my inbox has never been so full....I am looking forward to many many more conversations and I promise to participate more this year ..........huggs to you all :))))))