Inn Country

Loving my new little shop

2011-12-21T10:40:00.000+10:00

this is the front door to my little shop that i share with Lilly Cottage

Well i have been so busy and really bad at updating this blog, I have had my little shop open now for over a month and the time has gone so quickly. I am having so much fun and it was just what I needed to have my shop open again. I thought I would share some photos of the shop with you.

this is looking in from my door. I will have to take some more photos as this has already changed. I like to change things often.

I also have some beautiful fabric I have all of the above and more.

it's a little shop with lots of stuff!

here are the tags you will find at the shop, I have a lot of others to including numbers and letter

cotton bobbins with and without cotton on them

I am waiting on a new order of cotton bobbins I should have them in the new year.

these beautiful lavender cornets. with handmade flower.

I also have this beautiful paris style handbag door stop.

I hope you have enjoyed looking around my little shop, I should have some more photos before the new year.

Have a beautiful christmas and a safe and happy holiday period.

Lisa

New Beginnings

2011-11-14T22:19:00.000+10:00

this is a really old photo taken at the first shop.

I have some really exciting news I have a little shop again well a room with the lovely linda (Lilly cottage) at old petrie town. I closed my shop down in 2009 to care for my son full time but now he is back in school I have some time on my hands, I was just waiting for the right time. I will spend this week organising

My first day will be sunday this week, I hope I get it all done this week. You will find me every sunday if I am not doing a bear show. It should be lots of fun.

Pop back soon to see some photos.

Lisa

My New studio

2011-09-27T11:04:00.000+10:00

I have a beautiful new studio, I have lots of work to do as you will see in the photos, I am going to spend the next week working on it, I have found so many things I forgot I had! The above photo is where I take all of my photos of my bears and dolls

this is the mess that was left after I finished two Teddy Bear show two sundays in a row!

I have had a change I have a new studio all to my self. I am still working through it I have so much stuff, I think it is going to take a while. I thought I would share some photos with you all. It's been a while since I did a post last. Hopefully by friday I should have done a lot! and I should have some more photos.

Have a beautiful day Lisa

Where bloggers create

2011-07-15T19:18:00.002+10:00

Well it's party time again! thanks to the wonderful karen from My desert Cottage .
I started taking photos the other day of where I create and I realised I have taken over the house! I take all my photos of my raggedy annie dolls and bears in my lounge room I have a storage cabinet in the lounge room and one in the hall way on the way out to my little studio, and I do mean little.
Not a lot of room but I have lots in it and two really large storage cabinets.

this is my storage cabinet in the lounge room this is where I keep all my craft books and magizines and a growing collection of vintage bibles. My house is very french country in style.

here are a couple of my raggedy annie dolls! I love these little ones. This is the cabinet that I do all my photos at.

here are a couple of my artist bears two are little elephants waiting to be finished for my september show! Lots of work still to be done. but they do look so cute sitting together.

This is another storage cabinet I love this one very shabby chic french looking and I love the vintage blue glass I have had this one for close to 8 years now. This is the cabinet on the way out to the studio

this little golly is one of my latest dolls for I will have for sale with one of my bears for the september show, the bear has not been made yet, she is sitting with one of my whendis bears!

I took this one while sitting at my desk in my little studio you can see a couple of other bears that I am working on. I like to work on a couple at a time I think I have about 6 or 7 on the go,

Meet little lapin my french bunny, she is just waiting on a little black beret!

Here is one of my latest purchases from Wendy Meagher of Whendis bears this is little poppet sitting with my sailor bear! I'm in love with these guys.

Here is my collection of whendis bears! this has taken me about 4 years of collecting it's really hard to get them! they are alway sold by the time i see them. If i could I would buy them all.

this photo is one of my two storage cabinets or shelfing units! it store a lot and can get really untidy when I am looking for something I can't find. does not look the best but is fantastic for storage in small spaces!

Pretty little pink bear is for sale at the moment! she was left over from my recent show you can find her on my etsy site here

another shot of my desk party clean. If I am not creating here you will find me here everyday!

at my kitchen table I love working here.

You can even see my sewing machine in this photo, this is our dinning table. and beleive me it does not alway look like this you all know how untidy we can get when we are creating.

here is another creation of mine a little ellie wearing a vintage dolls bonnet this little girl lives with me.

it's not often I make something for myself.

I could keep going for ever with photos, I hope you had fun looking around my little studio and seeing what I do everyday of the week. thanks again to the wonderful karen from My desert cottage for holding this party
Now I am off to visit everyone

Have a beautiful Evening Lisa

It's been to long

2011-06-29T17:02:00.000+10:00

two little girls waiting for new homes. You can find they here tonight!

A new pink ellie I am working on with my french bunny Little Laping

It has been to long between post, Life is going by so quickly and I have been so busy with my dolls and bears this year. I have done a couple of doll and bears shows I have a couple more coming up in september so I have started work for them now, I am working on some new dolls for the show to go with a couple of bears I have this gorgeous little pink elephant I am working on at the same time as my french bunny.

I am still thinking of puting both my blogs together as I don't get time to update both all the time!

Have a beautiful day Lisa

Olive Grove Primitives - Giveaway

2011-04-10T10:38:00.000+10:00

Check out Olive Grove Primitives Blog as I am having a giveaway for 2 years blogging!

click here for giveaway details

Have a beautiful Weekend Lisa

Lots happening this year

2011-02-17T12:39:00.001+10:00

Well I have had a busy start to 2011 I have returned to my bear classes with some lovely ladys it's the best part of my week. I have also started doing some quilting classes which is a lot of hard work but lots of fun at the same time.

the other day I had a crafting day with the lovely linda from lilly cottage they say time flys when you are having fun.Well it seemed like we where only playing with flowers for about an hour but I think linda was visiting for about 4 hours. linda had the most beautiful fabric to play with. this is what I created! I can't wait for our next crafting day I had so much fun. Pop over to lindas blog as she took lots more photos.
Lindas blog

I will have these flowers on my website for sale sometime this week.

Below if my bear that I have been working on for such a long time but she is coming together really well. I still have some more work to do.

the lovely ladys I do bear classes with Laura from Billy angel Julie from Bears and Old Lace Rosemary which I met her last year at the craft and quilting fair last year, she make the most beautiful bears and has the most amazing patterns on etsy Rosemary's etsy shop

Have a beautiful day Lisa

little milking stool

2011-02-08T10:09:00.000+10:00

little milking stool just the perfect size for my annie dolls

baby shoe pin cushions

I have just finished making this little milking stool, I am so happy with it the size is perfect, great for your dolls or bears or to display something special. they will be on my website tonight! pop over if you would like to see the details.

I have also been busy with these little pin cushion shoes I have been working on them for a couple of weeks on and off, they will also be on the website tonight. I started back with my bear classes last week and got to meet some blogging friends it was wonderful and the time went so quickly. I will also be starting some quilting classes this years I am trying to take some extra classes and learn some new skills.

have a beautiful day Lisa

Another New Box design

2011-01-20T09:40:00.000+10:00

I really love this one, they would be fantastic for storeing your ribbons glitter etc,

back to work now I am working on the studio at the moment. As I am having problems finding things!

have a beautiful day Lisa

Another New design

2011-01-17T09:49:00.000+10:00

Finished Vintage Style Tool Box

Good Morning All,

I have been busy working on this new design for the website a vintage style tool box this one I have filled with my paint brushes stamps and glitter. They will be on the website by the end of January!

I have a couple of other boxes in the works now! I was so pleased with how this one turned out I was the designer and my husband was the cutter and builder! below is a photo before I painted it.

I will be back sometime this week with more new designs

have a beautiful day.

Working on some new designs for 2011

2011-01-10T11:48:00.000+10:00

New french shoe Designs!

this was one of my beautiful chrismtas presents! My wonderful daughter gave it to me.

I have a show coming up in March this year and I know it will go quickly here are a couple of photos to share with you all the show I have made many times before but I have used linen to make this one and I have used seem binding ribbon and finished it off with a french stamp. I love the new look I have many more to come and the website will be update and ready with some new designs by the end of January! which is only a couple of weeks of!

We all had a wonderful chrismtas and spent some time with the family and my wonderful husband took a week off so it was nice to have him home! As it has rained most of the holidays we didn't do much but some cleaning out of our shed so I can work on some furniture that I will also have on the website for sale but please note I will only be selling the furniture local Brisbane area! Furniture can also be delivered! (For a small cost) I have some big plans for 2011 for Inn Country So I hope you will all love it I started with a new look and I love the new look thanks so much to Amy of Amybug designs for all her wonderful work! Well thats all for today now back to work! I show have a new design for you in the next couple of days.

Have a beautiful Monday Lisa

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T23:15:00.000+10:00

I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas I hope Santa brings you everything you can dream off.All the presents are wrapped Just one last sleep if only I could get the kids to sleep!

Have a beautiful night Lisa

look what arrived in the mail today

2010-12-14T14:22:00.001+10:00

What a lovely surprise to received this beautiful gift in the mail that I won from the wonderful kirstie from here they are just beautiful and I have them sitting on my christmas tree. You should have seen the package it was beautiful I have taken some photos to share. thanks so much kirstie! I will treasure them!

what a beautiful package!

Kirstie I love your business card which was attached

I am in love with these tags they are going on the christmas tree

this is the beautiful package they came in

Here they are on the tree! they look amazing

here is the tag next to my handmade paper clay snowman that I made for the tree this year

Have a beautiful Monday Lisa

Christmas tree trimming

2010-12-08T13:30:00.000+10:00

this is the tree for 2010

Some christmas cooking "Tiny Gingerbread men" they all went off to school today to thank the teachers for doing such a wonderful job all year!

home made fruit mince pies! also packed and sent to school today!

Close up of the tree

another close up of the tree and one of my handmade shoe ornaments

My Nativity Scene

Christmas stocking I made for the kids when they where little!

It's that time again for the christmas tree trimming, I am not ready for chrsitmas this year. I can't beleive the year has gone so fast, we did out tree trimming on the 1st of december, like we do every year. I cooked a roast chicken for dinner and set the table beautifully. I am still to do the christmas shopping I did make a start yesterday but i still have a lot to do.

Hope you have a beautiful day Lisa

christmas crafting for the tree

2010-11-28T13:45:00.000+10:00

I have been busy this weekend making clay snowmen for my christmas tree, I love them so much, I have already had someone ask me to make some for them! So let me know if you would like some made price is $10.00 for large and $7.00 for the small one. They stand at 13cm 5" for the large and 11cm 4.5" for the small

I know it is getting close to christmas but if you put your orders in now I can get them done in the next week!

Have a beautiful weekend Lisa

New Business Cards

2010-11-12T13:28:00.000+10:00

My new business cards have arrived and I love them I designed them myself I love the way they have turned out. I just had to share with you.

Have a beautiful Friday Lisa

New Stock for the Website

2010-11-10T12:47:00.000+10:00

Fawn & Buttercream

baby Blue

baby Pink

Grey

Crimson Red

Well it's back to work after having the day off for my daughters 18th birthday we took the day off to go shopping! And boy did we shop. While I was out I had some new stock arrive I love these Wooden Cotton bobbins. I will list photos of all the colours I have and they should be on the website tonight, My blog and website have been updated with new template and the wonderful amy has done an amazing Job! thanks Amy

I love the new colours I hope it fits better with what I have planned in the coming month.

happy Birthday Paris. You made it to 18!

Have a beautiful day Lisa

the great stocking swap

2010-11-03T19:00:00.000+10:00

this is the stock I made for the great stocking swap! this was a lot of fun and I hope my partner loves it.

this is a little pillow handbag that I made today I have lots of vintage lace and linen and have wanted to make some little cushion for a while but have been so busy with Olive Grove Primitives (My Olive annie Dolls)

I am also in the process of updating my blog and website. I will have lots of new stock coming soon! As i will be at the Craft expo next year hear in Brisbane at the convention centre

New Dress form - Pin Cushion

2010-09-04T14:22:00.000+10:00

The above dress form pin cushion is sitting on a vintage block it stands at 25cm 9.5"

I have been working on this idea for a couple of days thinking about it, it came into my head while I was trying to sleep the other night, that's when I seem to think about all things! So i set to work this morning on it and this is what I came up with. I love dress forms and pin cushions!

I am also going to try and change it a littlle to make it into an ornament for the christmas tree, each year I think of a new ornament for the tree as I love to handmake all my tree ornaments.

On monday I completed another dress form this one was made from paper mache so I working on and of all day and this is the end product. I am really happy with it.

have a beautiful Saturday Lisa

Life

2010-09-02T21:45:00.000+10:00

Well i am not sure if any one has seen a photo of me before as I hate my photo being taken. This was taken at my 40th birthday party. I really love it. So I thought I would share it will everyone!

have a beautiful Evening All.

to much fabric - fabric for sale

2010-08-26T09:36:00.002+10:00

If you are interested just email me and I can include lots more photos and close up so you can see detail!

I also have the flowers in a pink colour! I can show closeups of the flowers to

there has been a small break in the metal but it does still stay in place and can be repaired
I also have this pink dress form. price is $75.00

Well since closing my shop in 2009 I still have a lot of stock left and fabric I sold a lot but this is what is left and I will never work my way through it all. so if you know of anyone who would like some quilting fabric at $12.00 a metre retails for $22.00 a metre. we are trying to work our way through cleaning the shed and I am short on room in the studio, you could say I am trying to spring clean. I also have a lot of ornamental bird cages! I also have these beautfiul flowers they retail for $35.00 each I will be selling them for $10.00 a stem in the photo there are 2 stems.

have a beautiful day Lisa

two new badges to add to the website

2010-08-24T20:03:00.001+10:00

"Keep calm and carry on" in black I also have it in white

"Keep calm and eat a cupcake" in pink it also comes in brown

here are a couple of new badge designs that I will be adding to the website tomorrow! I am working on some news ones now. I have also added the dress form to the website so pop over if you would like to see it.

have a beautiful Evening Lisa

Dress Forms

2010-08-23T11:06:00.000+10:00

handmade from calico which I dyed with parrisian and vanilla to give it an aged look I have used Cheese cloth/muslin at the bottom with a pin badge!

Well I think we all love dress forms I have a passion for them, and I have been working on this dress form for a while, its a little different but I love the way it has turned out so much. they will be on the website this week for sale!

they stand 35cm 14" they stand on a vintage cotton bobbin and I have added one of my vintage style pin badges. I have stamped the name paris on the top with fabric paint. I have just finished two and I have a couple more that I am working on.

I have added a photo of the baked cheesecake I made a Chocolate cherry cheesecake! it was beautiful and didn't last long at all.

Have a beautiful Monday Lisa

40 Today

2010-08-20T17:12:00.000+10:00

Today is my birthday and I have had a beautiful day with my family and lots of presents! I also got to spend the day with my wonderful husband He took the day off work just for me! We went out for breakfast after dropping the kids off at school. I rained all day but I still have a beautiful day, and I am baking in the oven as I type a baked chocolate cherry cheesecake! I am looking forward to that. We are also going out for dinner tomorrow night with all my family. I am still waiting on one present that is coming all the way from USA I will show pictures when it gets hear.

Have a beautiful friday Lisa

Christmas in July

2010-07-30T11:35:00.000+10:00

Home made Pumpkin Pie

We just celebrated Christmas in July, it's always great to cook a beautiful dinning and set the table and sit with the family so on the 25th July we had our Christmas in July dinner. So I will share some photos with you. the beautiful table set our roast we had turkey and lamb this year and pumpkin pie for dessert made by my wonderful husband! He is a wonderful cook

table with all the food just waiting for us to sit down. Also a large pitcher of Ice Tea

have a beautiful day Lisa

Well it's time to party again - Where Bloggers Create

2010-06-19T17:55:00.005+10:00

It's time for the second Where Bloggers Create Party hosted by Karen of My Desert Cottage blog. I can't wait to check out all the other wonderful artists.

I hope you enjoy my little studio it's small and I share the space with my family well I think I do take over sometimes! You know what it can get like with crafting and all! A lot of my photos this year are close up's of where I create the above photo is a little dress I am working on it's not finished yet, but looks good sitting on the photo frame on my desk.

This is my desk that I work at everyday, I create raggedy annie cloth dolls and patterns. It's a beautiful french farmhouse style dinning table that I use, it's really hard to get a good photo of it in the studio.

Here are some of my Raggedy's just waiting to find new homes

Here is a collection of my favourite things!

This beautiful old cabinet stores all my dolls books patterns and a small amount of fabric I have lots and lots of fabric to much to show!

These are canvases that I have just finished working on. I really love the way they turned out.

the blocks you see in the above photo have been handmade by me! they are something new that I have been working on to put in my photo's with my raggedys Annie dolls

~~I was hoping to have my curtins hung! to show some better photos I am still waiting for them hopefully latter today and if they are done I will add some more photos~~

Well the curtins have been hung and I love them

these two little girls are Raggedy Old Annies Dolls!

this is a better look at my desk. I was really hoping to have more of the back room completed! I just have not had the time, I am always to busy working in the studio with my dolls bears and patterns and I alway make a mess while doing this.

I hope you enjoyed looking around my little studio.

Have a beautiful day Lisa

Website Update

2010-06-16T22:15:00.000+10:00

Well it's been a while since I updated Inn Country Website as I have been so busy with Olive Grove Prims Website, I have a lot of sewing sitting on my desk just waiting to be finished, I have been busy working on some custom order for clients. I am hoping in the next couple of weeks to update the website with lots of new items. So check back soon!

Have a beautiful Evening Lisa

Cooking and Creating

2010-06-10T09:32:00.000+10:00

Good Morning,

This week I have found a new recipe for chocolate chip cookies I wanted to share the recipe with you I really love these.

100 grams chocolate chips
100 grams butter (sofened)
75 grams light brown sugar
1 egg
100 grams Flour
50 grams Almond meal

mixed butter and sugar together by hand add egg flour and almond meal and mix together them add chocolate chip pop straight onto a baking tray that have been covered with non stick baking
paper and cook for 10 minutes on 180 deg

The kids really love this one and they said they would not like them with the almond meal!!

Well this past week I have been busy creating and being a mum it seems like I have run around after all my kids all week. In my spare time I have been making some vintage style pin badges, I am so happy with the end result I will be listing some on my Inn Country website you can also find them here I will leave you with some photos of them.

Have a beautiful day Lisa

picking the morning Fruit & collecting the eggs

2010-06-02T11:00:00.000+10:00

Well today is a very cold day yesterday was the start of winter here in Australia, So to warm up this morning I thought I would do some cooking, but first I need to feed the chickens and collect the eggs, while collecting the eggs I noticed my mandarins where ready for picking this is the first crop as the tree is only a couple of years old, they are very large not to many on the tree this year I have picked about 20 and there is about another 10 that I will pick in a couple of days.

I also picked some more oranges so after coming inside I put the basket on the bench and noticed how lovely they looking sitting in the basket and how wonderful it is to grow and pick our own fruit. So I am going to pop off now and do some more baking for the week.

Have a beautiful Tuesday Lisa

these are the blueberry muffins I made the other day.

Monday Again ! I have been Baking & Crafting

2010-05-24T23:01:00.000+10:00

Well I can't beleive it's Monday again I had a couple of jobs to do today then some baking for the week for the kidies but I didn't get to the housework! It will have to wait till tomorrow.

This is what kept me busy on the weekend

If you pop over here you can see more of these wooden blocks I have been making I think I will be making them for the rest of this week when I have spare time! I don't seem to have much of that lately.

I hope you all had a beautiful weekend Lisa

A very Busy Monday

2010-05-17T14:40:00.001+10:00

It's Monday here in Australia and only a couple more weeks till winter.

We got a lot done on the weekend

Firstly it was my son's 14th birthday and we had a fantastic family day together

after opening birthday presents we went out for breakfast

but first we had to stop for a surprise birthday gift from us a new bike!

He got a limit and could pick out which one he liked the most.

Then after breakfast we all went out shopping and had lots of fun together he had a couple of gift vouchers to use. so he bought some new x- box games and some new cloths.

if you would like the recipe for the homemade lemonade just click here

Then in the afternoon my husband decided to pick the rest of the lemons from our tree and gave it a good prune! which we do every couple of years. So after pruning the tree and lots of lemons he came in to make some home made lemonade! which we all love

This is the lemon tree now! It looks really sad

we are still waiting on the fruit from our mandarin tree.

the orange tree is still about half full of fruit we got to pick some yesterday and the juice was just beautiful so sweet. We have had our house for 7 years now and I think this orange tree is a lot older than that we do nothing to it and each and every year it fruit and lots of fruit and always sweet juice. We do love our oranges

this is the size of the oranges and the lemons are on the left

this is half the fruit my husband picked yesterday

He also had time to cut down the banana trees that had fruit on them

he also left a mess in the garden that will have to be finished next weekend

this is what is left of the banana trees we still have a couple that are growing! so we will have lots of bananas again next year.

these are half the bananas that are in our little shed that need ripening up

now I must leave you all so I can get the house work done before the kiddies come home from school!

Have a beautiful Monday Lisa

I have spent the day cooking

2010-05-10T15:58:00.000+10:00

Every couple of days I bake cookies and cakes for the kids for the week. I have always baked as my middle son when he was a little boy we found out he reacts badly to preservatives in food so where possible I always bake!

A couple of days ago I did a batch of choc chip cookies which did not last long so I thought with all my mothers day gifts I had to try them out so I made a couple of batches of melting moments and they look amazing my youngest son is going to take some to school tomorrow for his teacher!

I have just finishing cleaning up after all my baking and it time to sit and have a coffee a melting moment and watch Martha Stewart on TV I love to watch Martha!

Have a beautiful afternoon Lisa

Beautiful Mothers Day

2010-05-09T22:10:00.002+10:00

Wonderful Mothers day presents I got all my requests them sum the handbag was a suprise from my husband and also some handmade gifts from the kids. Handmade cards I love them and also some handmade fudge! yum

My boys I could not get a photo of my daughter she would not let me!

this was the lake where we had our picnic.

This is my little silky chicken fully grown she is tiny!

this was taken this morning while having a morning coffee in our court yard garden that where she lives

she was out wandering and eating my parsley.

Today is mothers day

I had a beautiful day with my husband and kids

we opened presents early this morning then I had a sleep in for a while and then breakfast bagels with smoked salmon poched egg and hollandaise sauce some of my favourite food!

We had a bike ride down by the river and then stopped for a picnic lunch the weather was beautiful!

I hope everyone had a beautiful Mother Day! Lisa

Happy Anniversary

2010-04-28T21:14:00.001+10:00

This is us on our wedding day 29th April 1995. It was a perfect day!

this photo is us with our daughter paris she was 2 1/2 at the time

this photo is taken with both of our grandmothers

15 years ago tomorrow (29th April) I married the most wonderful man. I never would have thought that 15 years would go like the blink of an eye! that we would have 3 beautiful children. He has been by my side thought a lot of tough times and we have made it though them all! It has made us stronger together

Happy Wedding Anniversary Honey! I love you more and more each day that we are together

thank you for everyday we spend together

thank you for letting me live my dream each day for letting me be the artist that I have always wanted to be!

I am looking forward to the next 15 years together! I know they will be amazing.

We are going to have a beautiful family dinner on the beach I wanted to spend the time with both my husband and my wonderful kids who are always there.

Have a beautiful Day Lisa

Where Bloggers Create II

2010-04-28T09:33:00.000+10:00

Good Morning,

Karen over at my desert Cottage is having a party Where bloggers create this is the second year that she has held this party I joined last year and will be joining again this year.pop over to her blog for full details

you can Visit Karen Here please help spread the word.

Have a beautiful day Lisa

I have been so bad at blogging

2010-04-21T13:50:00.001+10:00

Well it's been a whilte since I did a post on my blog. You see I have been so busy working on my Olive Grove Blog and website I just have not had the time to do any posts on Inn Country. So today I have made a promise to myself to blog more often.

The above photo is a beautiful Artist bear made by Whendis bears I have made an order with my family for my 40th birdthday this year for some more bears if you would like to pop over and visit her blog and website it is http://www.whendisbears.blogspot.com/.

Have a beautiful day Lisa

Olive Grove Primitives 1st Birthday Giveway

2010-04-13T12:42:00.000+10:00

I have been so busy working on my other blog Olive Grove Primitives I have not had the time to do any posts, I have started a new Website for my dolls it's called http://www.olivegroveprimitives.com/ I have been working on my own cloth doll patterns for the last couple of months I will share some photo's of the dolls and e-patterns and paper patterns.

pop over to olive grove prims for details on the giveaway.

http://www.olivegroveprimitives.blogspot.com/

this is the Olive Annie cloth doll I just finished this morning

pop over to the website to see all 5 e-patterns I will have another 3 really by thursday to add!

I will also have another giveaway on the 15th for the Chocolate Crow trader which I sell my dolls on it's a online marketplace where people sell there handmade primitives.

Have a beautiful day Lisa

Time, Roses, Camping

2010-02-24T08:27:00.000+10:00

My wonderful Husband bought these just before valentines day. 16 years ago on valentines day My husband proposed to me, so it's always a special day for us.

Well I am not sure where all the time is going, we are almost at the end of February! I wanted to share some beautiful roses with you all. We where camping for valentines day. We just bought a new camper so we can take the boys( our daughter is 17 and clearly stated I will not be camping with you) camping we have a wonderful weekend at the beach. I only took a couple of photo's so next time I will take a couple more of the inside and out little kitchen

Have a beautiful day Lisa

And the Lucky winner is

2010-02-14T16:56:00.000+10:00

I would like to thank you all for entering the competition and I would love to send you all this wondful gift. the winner is Pretty and Pink Designs if you can send me an email with your address details I will have this into the post for you.

Have a beautiful day Lisa

100th Post Giveaway

2010-01-31T20:04:00.001+10:00

Well this giveaway is to celebrate by 100th post.

My giveaway is from one of my favouitre artists

Natasha burns, when I had my shop open these are some of the beautiful things I had in stock.

So I wanted to give something away that I really love.

In the above photo there is a framed print and next to it is a mixed media mushroom with fairy on a music sheet. The giveaway if for both

If you would like to pop over to see Natasha to see her amazing work you can go to http://www.natashaburns.blogspot.com/ the print has been signed & dated by natasha

all you need to do is leave me a comment and I will enter you into the giveaway

I will draw this on Valentines day 14th Feb 2010.

Have a beautiful day Lisa

New Look Website & New items

2010-01-26T19:01:00.000+10:00

Good Evening all,

I have been very busy the last couple of weeks working on my website, sadly last year I didn't seem to get a lot of time to work on it and add new items, So this year I started the year with a new look Inn Country. All new photo's have been taken and I am really happy with how it looks, it's a little more french than shabby chic. I have also added a new product for this year and I should have more to list by next week.

Lavender Cornet

it is made from Linen fabric it covers a wooden coat hanger it has been finsihed off with a eiffel tower charm and black ribbon. I have a lot of new patterns which I purchased over the christmas break and have been busy with them all. Including some new doll patterns from Raggedy Old Annies I really love Nicholes patterns they are so easy to work with. I will also be listing all my dolls on the Inn Country website I have another blog for my dolls and this is wear you will see all my work if you get a chance pop over and visit http://www.olivegroveprimitives.blogspot.com/

This is my lastest doll just finished a couple of days ago which is off to USA

I will leave you with these photo's as I have lots more work to do. Have a beautiful Eveing All Lisa

Busy working & enjoying the kids on holidays

2010-01-25T20:27:00.000+10:00

Well I have been very busy over the holidays working on the website and taking the kids to the beach we all love the beach and the weather is just beautiful here in queensland, Australia

I have also been busy working on some new stock for the website and should have some things listed by friday this week. I have had a lot of changes on the website I am hoping to offer more handmade and vintage finds.

My kids go back to school wednesday this week, which I am looking forward to they are ready to go back they miss there friends. It has been 6 weeks since they finished last year.
I will hopefully have some more time to work on the blog and website, and some more cloth dolls. I have missed my 100 post by just a couple so I will be back with a giveaway to celebrate!

Have a beautiful Evening Lisa

Change is good

2010-01-02T16:26:00.003+10:00

The christmas tree came down yesterday being the 1st January so I thought I would change things around a little for a fresh look for 2010.

I have had the afternoon to look around blog land and I got so inspired by the most beautiful blogs and the photo's it got me thinking about the things I love. But like everyone I have far to much stuff for one person.

So this year for me is going to be to clean out all the cupboards and clear all the old things that are sitting around collecting dust! I started with the kitchen & lounge after I took the tree down, since we only finished the kitchen in july we already went though all the old things that have not been used in a while. So that job was easy I just changed the way the table looked and cleaned the benches.

This afternoon I started on my bedroom I will take a couple of shots tomorrow to show you my bedroom. So I will be back tomorrow.

Have a beautiful afternoon Lisa

Update on my silky chickens

2010-01-02T13:16:00.000+10:00

Well sadly we lost one of the little baby chicks, and I am just left with the one, I think she is very lonely I did try to get another one from the same place but they had already gone. So at the moment the kids cart her around the house and when I am sitting down working she sits with me, really funny after all she is a chicken I really cute one but still a chicken she is still living in the house and wont move out the the other girls till she is much bigger! I thought I would share a couple more photo's of her now.

Have a beautiful day Lisa

Happy New Year Everyone

2009-12-31T20:52:00.000+10:00

I would like to say happy New year to all my Family & Friend and all the wonderful people who visit my blog

May all your dreams and wishes come true for 2010.

Happy New Year

Have a beautiful Evening Lisa

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T21:34:00.001+10:00

Merry Christmas to all. I hope you have a safe and happy Holiday!

Have a beautiful day Lisa

Linen Vintage Lace French stamps & silky chickens

2009-12-22T11:04:00.000+10:00

Little jewellery pouches.with french images stamped on with fabric paint

Lavender cornet I have used vintage lace and ribbon

Close up of the pin cushion I will have more of these by the end of the week

these are a couple of things that have been keeping me busy the last couple of days. Top I have a pin cushion and in the middle a beautiful lavender cone

these are our new little chickens they are silky chickens I have wanted some for so long! we have other chickens 4 normal chickens and two bantom chickens there names are lilly & lolly

Well I have been without internet for 9 days we where changing internet providers it has been so hard not to blog and visit blogs no emails! wow. Anyway this is what I have been doing while I had no internet. I love to sew and want to add some things to my esty shop and have been wanting to do this for so long but have alway been to busy. So I thought finally with no internet I had the chance to sit and create and sew. I hope you like what I have done.

Have a beautiful day Lisa

More Christmas photos & rearranging the lounge room

2009-12-06T20:06:00.003+10:00

I took these photo's today after our new lounge arrived today I still have one coming hopfully next weekend. This one has a sofa bed for when we have visitors.

I have also started working on my photo wall I have been trying to do this for a couple of months but have not been able to find the right frames. The other day when taking my son to the doctor we did a little shopping after and I found these beautiful frames.

The above lounge is one I have had for about 8 years and is really old and worn So I will have a new one next week the same as the below photo, I really love the new look "black" I also have a cover in white we got them from ikea. The one below is a sofa bed for when we have visitors! So it will be really easy to keep them clean and now the kids are older hopfully not as many marks!

I also have some new curtins they are a beautiful linen colour and fabric it's a nice change from what I had before, I will have to show you a before and after in a couple of days!

It was a beautiful bright sunny Summers day today so I was able to get some really good shots in the house.

Here is another photo of my photo wall I will pop out tomorrow to get some more frames I hope they have some left!

have a beautiful Summers Evening Lisa

It's Party Time

2009-12-06T00:41:00.000+10:00

Hi,

Well it's still the 5th December here only by a couple of mins, I have been so busy I amost forgot about the blog party going on over at http://www.bella-dreams.blogspot.com/ she is have a party all about christmas. Please pop ove and visit all the other blogs that are joining in, I know I will be so I will be busy for the next couple of hours.

Here is what makes it christmas for our family. "Christmas Traditions". We always put the tree up on the 1st of December no matter what day it is my daughter and I put up the tree then my husband puts the lights on the tree and we all put the decorations on while listening to christmas music. them when we are done the star is the last thing to go on the tree and then my husband turns on the lights for the first time. And it's alway Wow that looks beautiful. Then we sit down to a beauitful roast dinner with all the trimmings and a beautiful table.

I alway do lots of baking at christmas and the kids love to help! I bake fruit mince pies, fruit cake for the first time this year, spiced cookies, Rum balls and just before christmas day the kids and it make a ginger bread house and decorate it together I think more lollies go into their mouths but it's all in a bit of fun.

Fruit mince pies with short cust pastry

This year on my tree I have these beautiful large baubles filled with english rose petals. You can see them in the above photo with the fruit mince pies. I also have other baubles filled with pearls

I always make my own decorations for the tree each year I make a new one and this year it was linen Christmas stockings small enough for the tree. I do allow myself to go out and buy one or two, But I really love to make things! This is what I have made this year christmas stockings small enough to go on the tree

I am still yet to finish all the stockings I have been so busy with making dolls. Hopefully I will have them all finished this week. You will also find in the below post I have already added some photo's of the tree and some of the decorations that are on the tree.

This is our nativity Scene this will be the second year I have had it. My mother in law has this really old one that she has had since she was a little girl and every year it gets put out at christmas time and one day will be pasted onto someone else in the family, I hope in years to come ours will hold the same memorys for us.

The christmas cross in the above photo I made about 12 years ago and each year I give it a fresh look with a new ornament. I have two of these and I really love the way they look of the wall!

Each year I have a new theme for the decoration and the tree and this year is vintage so I have gone for baubles filled with English Rose petals and pearls. They look beautiful in this really large glass, I will have to take a couple more photo's of the tree with the baubles on it.

I love gold and white together along with pearls!

Christmas for us is all about family time!

Merry Christmas Everyone I hope all your dreams and wishes come true and that we all have a safe and happy christmas! We should all be thankful for our loved ones!

Lisa XXX

Christmas Tree Trimming

2009-12-03T11:32:00.001+10:00

As promised some more photos of our tree trimming and beautiful dinner.

We had a wonderful Evening together trimming the tree and eating a wonderful home cooked meal!

Our beautiful tree before the ornaments went on

after ornaments are on. It look just beautiful

We had a special dinner to celebrate Christmas tree Trimming

This is a close up of the table

Home made fruit mince pies made by me

here are some of our ornaments

I really love the cross in the above photo

this ornament has been hand made by me

this is one of the oldest ornaments we have we bought this one just after we where married 14 years ago

I hope everyone has a Beautiful Christmas and santa brings lots of gifts!

Christmas Tree Triming

2009-11-30T15:23:00.000+10:00

Well tomorrow is the 1st December and that is tree triming day I have this thing that the tree must go up on the 1st Dec and come down on the 1st January. So today I have started decorating the house. Each year I have a different theme and this year I have gone vintage pearls & roses so please take a look and let me know what you think.

the below photo is my new header for the christmas holidays!

Only 26 sleeps till santa comes we have already had the santa photo done and I did have a lot of complaining this year I'm to old for this but I still had one done. I have 17 years of santa photos that is one of our traditions, So tomorrow is the large tree going up and my daughter and I put up the tree waiting for all the family to come home from school and work then goes on the lights which my husband always does and he always does an amazing job! then we have chrismtas music going while we all decorate the tree. I have lots of hand made decorations which I alway hand make a new one each year!

This year I have made small santa stockings which I am yet to finish.

I will also cook a lovely dinner and make the table all beautiful for our special dinner. So tomorrow will be a busy day from morning till night. Lots of christmas cooking to be done. Fruit mince pies I do every year I handmake the short cust pastry I also make my own fruit mince which has been in the fridge for a couple of weeks already soaking in port. This year I have already made a christmas cake for the family and it didn't last long so I will be making another one. It was the first time that I made a Fruit cake but it really turned out beautifully. I will take lots of photos tomorrow and I will share them all with you.

This is my Nativity Scene that we bought last year. My husbands mum and dad have this really beautiful old Nativity scene that she has had since she was a little girls I think it is 50 years old and it will be something that is pasted down to other family. So I hope one day mine will have the same memory for our children!

I love Christmas. It's family time.

In this photo the white wreath I made this year and the baubles have roses petals and vintage pearls and in the middle is a shoe that was given to me on my wedding day 14 years ago and each year it sits on my tree and that is one that I always put onto the tree.

Have a beautiful day till tomorrow Lisa

christmas & traditions

2009-11-15T22:39:00.001+10:00

Tiny white christmas stocking 20cm long.

Vintage furniture

Each year I have this tradition that I make a new handmade ornament for our tree and this is what I have come up with this year firstly I have decided on a white theme I am really happy with it I hope you all like it to. I love christmas so much as we have a lot of traditions at christmas and it's all about family time. the other photo attached is my beautiful New Cabinet that my husband bought for me. I love it so much this is a vintage dresser. I love vintage furniture!

Have a beautiful Evening Lisa

Christmas is coming

2009-11-13T15:20:00.002+10:00

Hello all long time between posts I have been so busy working on my dolls and cutom orders I have not had the time to work on Inn Country. With christmas coming I thought I would sew some more christmas stockings they sold so well last year I thought I would do some more for this year so you find them on my website and also my new selling blog http://www.inncountryshop.blogspot.com/. I have only started my selling blog in the last couple of week and I am still working on stocking the shelfs. I will leave you with some photos of the stocking I will have more christmas stock I am working on it all while we speak.

All the christmas stockings are $35.00 Plus postage they will be on the website tonight

Have a beautiful day Lisa

It's all about me (lets swap & Party)

2009-10-22T12:25:00.000+10:00

I have joined in with Natasha burn for her "it's all about me" Swap & Party I love this idea so much. I make cloth dolls and have made them for the past 10 years andI have a selling blog and a blog just for my dolls please pop over and visit there is a link on the left that will take you there but if not it is http://www.olivegroveprimitives.blogspot.com/ & http://www.olivegroveprimitivesshop.blogspot.com/ I have never made one for myself (Doll that is). so when I visited Natasha's blog and noticed she was have a party I would join in and I new what I wanted to do. I will share some photo's of my cloth doll I made just for me.

Have a beautiful day Lisa

This is what has been keeping me so busy

2009-10-01T20:36:00.000+10:00

I have very busy with lots of customs orders. This is one custom order just completed and I am so happy with them all. I have also been working on a new selling blog to sell my cloth dolls if you get a chance and you love cloth dolls pop over and visit

http://www.olivegroveprimitivesshop.blogspot.com/

I will leave you with a photo of the dolls

have a beautiful Evening Lisa

Best Friends

2009-09-06T21:22:00.004+10:00

This is Julie on the Left and me on the right in the pink.

Hello all,

Just a quick post today it's fathers day today and My family and I spend the day down at the gold coast it was a beautiful spring day we spent the day with my best friend that I went to school with, they were on holidays on the coast for the week. They live in a small country town in Victoria where I grew up. So not only did we have a wonderful family day together I got to see a very special friend that I had not seen in 20 years! It was one fantastic day

Have a beautiful day Lisa

Oh how I love spring

2009-09-01T22:31:00.004+10:00

Well today is the 1st September which means the first day of spring I already have new leaves on my trees out the front of our house and the birds are chirping, My son and I where outside reading this morning when we discovered a little bird nest in our tree and a Mother bird sitting on the nest, He took this photo!

I even did a little gardening myself this morning in our courtyard garden I moved a gardenia plant that was not doing so well, hopefully it will pickup my other gardenia plant is ready to flower I love flowers in the spring we also just planted some jasmine plants out the front and when I lay in bed of a morning with the french doors open I can spell the flowers oh how I love spring,

The weather is always perfect not to hot not to cold. It also means for me the start of my Christmas sewing for the website and Christmas shopping I do like to get organised!

Well I try it does not always work out that way.

Have a beautiful Spring Day Lisa

Busy weekend

2009-08-30T19:34:00.008+10:00

Lemon Meringue pie

This is our new chicken Nutmeg

Home made strawberry Jam

Chocolate (Rooster) in his new home with 150 Ladies to keep him company!

This is my boy with his chicken Chocolate which we found out is a Rooster!

Hello all,

Well it's Sunday night again and this weekend was very busy. For the last week or so we have what we think is a rooster noise from one of our chicken as the week went on it got more often thank god it was after 9.00am that it decided to do this as we are not allowed to have a rooster we can have chicken.

So Saturday morning for us was to take chocolate (rooster) to a chicken farm not far from us and this is what we got in return for chocolate (rooster) we welcome Nutmeg into our group of girls (Chickens). Chocolate (rooster) belonged to my youngest son and we bought them up from little chicks so it was really hard for him but we did not have an option. So I have photos of chocolate in his new home with 150 other chicken he will love. So having done that we spent the rest of the morning gardening and them my husband made a lemon meringue pie for desert.

Both my husband and I love to cook so on Saturday he cooked and Sunday morning I made a new batch of strawberry jam. then we went for a drive in the country as we have been teaching our oldest daughter to drive so we thought the country would be a good drive for her.

We didn't seem to stop all weekend.

have a beautiful week Lisa

Beautiful Friends

2009-08-27T11:43:00.002+10:00

Good Morning,

I had a very dear friend drop round to visit me yesterday afternoon with a lovely birthday gift this vintage style white frame, I love it. I had just the perfect thing to put inside the frame a couple of weeks back I bought some handmade cards from kathy karas so it is now sitting on my desk where I write everyday. Thank you stephanie for the beautiful gift.

Have a beautiful day Lisa

Have a look what I received in the mail

2009-08-26T09:14:00.008+10:00

I thought I would share a photo of my birthday cake it was a baked chocolate cheese cake!

Good Morning,

This post continues on from my birthday I contacted kathy about 3/4 weeks ago about painting a vintage suitcase with some teddy bears. Each year for my birthday for the last 3 years my wonderful husband has bought me a kathy karas painting. This is what I received in the mail this morning. Thankyou Kathy this is just stunning. You need to pop over and visit kathy her blog is http://www.kathykaras.blogspot.com/ she also sells on ebay but you have to be quick. Have a beautiful day all I will leave you with some photos and some more photos from my birthday.

Have a beautiful day Lisa

The Love of cooking

2009-08-22T10:28:00.006+10:00

Good Morning all,

The other night I cooked Cauliflower & Leek soup I had all the kids complaining do we really have to eat that! I had never made it before so not knowing what it tasted like I did say to them all have a try and if you don't like it you don't have to eat it!

Well they couldn't get enough of it. It was the easiest soup I had every cooked and tasted beautiful. So I thought I would share the recipe with you (I did forget to take a photo) so I have used one from the Internet.

Cauliflower & Leek soup

You will need

I large Cauliflower

2 x Large Onions/Leeks

200 grams bacon

300 mls Cream

1lt Vegetable stock

Parsley

Thyme

Dice onions/leeks and bacon put into saucepan with olive oil and start the cooking process cut the cauliflower into small pieces add to the onion and bacon add vegetable stock and cream and thyme and cook on slow for about 20 or until cauliflower is all mushy (good cooking term) at this time you can blend or keep it chunky! Pop the parsley in just before serving next time I cook this I will take photo's.

Serve with crusty bread!

Have a beautiful weekend Lisa

Beautiful Images

2009-08-21T23:46:00.003+10:00

Check out the graphics fairy for free images. http://www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

Wonderful Day

2009-08-20T17:33:00.008+10:00

Roses from my Darling Husband! He is the best Husband in the whole world

Vintage style rosary beads from my beautiful girl She so knows me and what I love.

I have a collect of old bibles so these just work so well together.

and the above presents are from both my amazing boys!
I am so lucky I really have the best family in the world.

Hi all,

I just had to do a quick post to say thankyou to you all for my beautiful messages I have had many phone calls from friends and family.

I woke up to these beautiful gifts from my kids this morning.

I went shopping with my son and daughter she bought morning tea for us we shopped till we droped! then we went into the city to have lunch with my husband and then afternoon tea with the 3 of my kids, we have an amazing dinner planned and baked chocolate cheese cake for desert!
Have a beautiful Evening Lisa

Look what I got in the mail this morning

2009-08-19T09:12:00.004+10:00

I have two patterns and this gorgeous doll from Nicole Ellison of Raggedy Old Annies

A New sewing book this is the third one from the Sewing Homestyle by Tone Finnanger.
I would love a couple more.

Good Morning all,

Well it's my birthday tomorrow and I have a couple of presents already my wonderful Husband has been so busy and this is what I opened already I know I should have left them till tomorrow I am really bad at that.

My beautiful kids keep reminding me every day how many sleeps I have to go and this morning they all said Mum only one more sleep to go. I'm glad they are counting, we have this tradition that every birthday they all come and wake me really early and all sit on the bed and we open presents then I normally have breakfast cooked for me. Tomorrow I have planed a day out with two of my 3 kids as one of them has a day off for study and my youngest I home school so it should be a wonderful day and I plan to have lunch with my husband as well.

Have a beautiful day Lisa

New Hair style and loving it

2009-08-13T22:19:00.005+10:00

This is after my hair was cut.

Before.

I went to the hairdressers this morning long overdue, it always makes me feel so good after my hair has been done, It had grown so much and I thought it was time for a change.

Have a beautiful evening Lisa

Things I love

2009-08-12T19:40:00.002+10:00

I just wanted to share a photo of some things i love. Have a beautiful Evening

Lisa

My Creative Space

2009-08-02T17:12:00.021+10:00

Well I hope I am not to late "My Desert Cottage" held a "where bloggers create" party on the 31st July. I was so inspired by so many bloggers out there that I went straight to my little space that I share with my husband out Study. And set to work on fixing it up it got so untidy and I couldn't find anything. I will share with you all "My Creative Space" and I wil also share with you all the things I love. I so love my new space and can't wait to use it.

So the above photo is some things I love a vintage baby dress with a mixed media print by Natasha burns, Please pop across and visit I have a lot of her work and just love everything she does.

All of my paint brushes. And a framed vintage style postcard.

This is the sewing side of my "creative Space" my sewing machine is sitting on an old singer sewing machine base. The book shelfs above hold all my baskets that hold my ribbon button etc.

this is my other desk for doing all my creative work! and I get to look out into my back yard which is full of palm trees and a large bali hut! Just beautiful.

one of my porcelain dolls this one is sleeping and dressed all in pink and is about 14cm long

Hanging on the wall is another painting by Natasha burns this one is painted on an old board I really love the cup cakes

here is one of the baskets that contains beads that I use in my sewing.

This is a beautiful folk art painting of some old bears this one is painted by Kathy Karus.

She has a blog and also sells on ebay. But you have to be quick to get one of her peices.

up the back on the shelfs is another Kathy Karas artwork. this one is a vintage beauty bag

below is a close up of the beauty case.

You can pop over and visit her blog http://www.kathykaras.blogspot.com/

this beautiful cabinet once lived in my kitchen but we have just finished renovating my new kitchen and there is no room for it so I have claimed it for all my craft items and collections.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at my little creative space, It has taken me 4 days to rearrange everything and move all the furniture, and wow I am so pleased with the end result.

Have a beautiful Day! Lisa

Beautiful things

2009-07-30T09:06:00.002+10:00

This is one of my porcelain dolls that I love.

Have a beautiful day

Lisa

Lots of changes

2009-07-29T13:21:00.007+10:00

I am having problems deciding on what I want on my blog I want to give it a fresh look I just can't decide what I like. You would have noticed I have made lots of changes.

I will leave you with a photo of my new kitchen almost finished and another beautiful bunch of roses from my husband.

Have a beautiful day

Lisa

New Look Blog

2009-07-19T13:45:00.005+10:00

Well I have updated the blog I have been wanting to change it for a while to have a new look a little more french! I will be doing some more changes in the coming weeks and hopefully get the website updated with new stock also. I am liking the new look so far.

have a beautiful weekend all.

Lisa

Things I Love

2009-07-18T20:29:00.002+10:00

Have a beautiful weekend All !

School Holiday break

2009-06-28T21:20:00.004+10:00

I am taking a short break for the school holidays as we still have a lot of work to do on the kitchen, and I am going to have some new items on the website when I come back, So hopefully I will get a lot done. Well thats the plan anyway!

I hope everyone enjoys the school holidays with there kiddies.

Have a beautiful day Lisa

My Husband gave me beautiful Roses

2009-06-24T19:52:00.005+10:00

Second post for the day! My wonderful husband came home with the most beautiful baby pink roses just because he loves me and that I am sick at the moment with a cold.

Lisa

2009-06-24T16:25:00.002+10:00

New photos for the website. Hope you enjoy!

Have a beautiful afternoon Lisa

New things are happening at our house

2009-06-13T18:20:00.006+10:00

This is the vintage wall paper we found while ripping off the kitchen tiles, the tiles where glued on with something that was black ???? which ripping off the gyprock so that means we will be replacing the bottom half of the kitchen wall even more work. As we are doing all the work ourself, it seems like it will take even longer well that is all in the fun of working on an old house!

Hello all,

Well it's June and our new kitchen is starting to happen well before the kitchen happens we started a couple of weeks ago by ripping up the old ugly tiles that we had in the kitchen over beautiful floor boards and the day started well but ended not so good with a lot of large wholes in the floor boards.

So onto plan no two which was to lay new floor boards. So for the last couple of weeks I have lived with wholes in my floor not so good but knowing that it leads to my new kitchen!

So onto the next thing, I have had a home blog for a while now documenting all our home renovations so from now until we are done with the kitchenI will be updating daily. So I will leave you with some photo's Lisa XoXo

www.innfrenchcountry.blogspot.com you will also find the link to the top right of my blog

My flying trip to Melbourne

2009-06-07T21:00:00.004+10:00

Well last Monday I had a flying visit to Melbourne to visit my very sick grandmother, My brother and I went down first thing in the morning and the only photo's I got to take where in the car we stayed at the hilton at the airport that was just beautiful but we didn't spend much time there we where up at 4.00am the next morning to catch a flight home so down one day and back the next I would have loved to do some shopping just not enough time.

The weather was normal for Melbourne cold and raining, we where inside most of the time with my grandmother she is 95 this year so she has done well for her age, I loved visiting with her it had been to long.

Have a beautiful long weekend all. Lisa XoXo

My Beautiful Boy & Asperger's Syndrome

2009-05-10T11:31:00.017+10:00

This is my Beautiful Boy at the beach with his sister earlier this year

Well just over a week ago we found out our beautiful boy has Asperger Syndrome which is a form of autism. We have had a very long journey to get to this point He is now 9 years old and I had many tears on the day we found out. But now it's all positive we can now move forward and help him with this.
I wanted to put it out there in the hope that other mothers are going throught the same thing and can understand what we are going through at the moment or perople that have more information about this.

I have done a lot of reading about Asperger's Syndrome and it's 1 in 158 boys who suffer from this. Wow!
He is a high functioning person with Autism which means he is very smart he is really good with numbers and school work he just needs one on one help, but one of his problems is he has never been able to socialise with children his own age.

I have attached a basic understanding of Asperger's below.

From my clinical experience I consider that children and adults with Aspergers Syndrome have a different, not defective, way of thinking.The person usually has a strong desire to seek knowledge, truth and perfection with a different set of priorities than would be expected with other people. There is also a different perception of situations and sensory experiences.

The overriding priority may be to solve a problem rather than satisfy the social or emotional needs of others.The person values being creative rather than co-operative.The person with Aspergers syndrome may perceive errors that are not apparent to others, giving considerable attention to detail, rather than noticing the “big picture”.

The person is usually renowned for being direct, speaking their mind and being honest and determined and having a strong sense of social justice.The person may actively seek and enjoy solitude, be a loyal friend and have a distinct sense of humour.However, the person with Aspergers Syndrome can have difficulty with the management and expression of emotions.

Children and adults with Aspergers syndrome may have levels of anxiety, sadness or anger that indicate a secondary mood disorder. There may also be problems expressing the degree of love and affection expected by others. Fortunately, we now have successful psychological treatment programs to help manage and express emotions.

It would be best to google Asperger Syndrome to get the full understanding of it.

So we have a long road ahead. He is such a joy in our life and we both love him dearly and are thankful for everyday we have with him. He's my special Boy!

Have a beautiful mother Day!
I will be spending mine with my 3 children and my husband and having a lovely day out.

Lisa X0X0

Old Fashioned Home made Lemonade

2009-04-30T17:04:00.005+10:00

Hi everyone,

As you all know by now both my husband and I love to cook and make a lot of our food. This is something that my husband has done last week and wow it just beautiful and we would never go back to drinking store bought cordial, we have our own fruit trees we have an orange lemon and madarin. The kids also loved it. You could also use soda water.

I thought I would share this with you all and it is so easy to do!

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups water

finely grated peel of 1 lemon

1 1/2 cups lemon juice

Ice cubes

Cold water

Lemon slices

Fresh mint leaves (optional)

1. Measure the sugar, water, and finely grated lemon peel into the saucepan.

2. While stirring contantly with a wooden spoon, bring the mixture to a boil for 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from the stove and let the mixture cool.

3. Add 1 1/2 cups lemon juice slowly to the cooled sugar mixture.

4. Pour the lemonade syup into the jar and cover tightly with the lid. The syrup can be kept in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 weeks.

5. When you're ready to serve the lemonade, put two ice cubes in the bottom of a glass. Pour 1/4 cup lemonade syrup over the icecubes. Add 3/4 cup of cold water and stir.

6. Float a thin slice of lemon and, if you like, a fresh mint leaf on top of each glass.

7. The recipe makes enough syrup for 14 glasses of lemonade.

Have a beautiful afternoon Lisa

Happy Anniversary to My beautiful Husband

2009-04-29T21:31:00.009+10:00

Well today My husband and I celebrated our 14Th Wedding anniversary, He arrived home from work today with a very large bunch of roses one for each year we have been married and one for each of our children.

He is the most wonderful husband a women could ever ask for.

Have a beautiful Evening Lisa

New things happening here

2009-04-28T14:13:00.005+10:00

Well since the shop closed and I have been home I have had some more time on my hands so I thought I would spend more time on my dolls and I started a new blog which I have already told you all about I have decided to join the chocolate crow trader it's an online handmade craft place to sell your items. I am really looking forward to seeing my dolls on the 15th of May! So please pop over and visit. www.thechocolatecrowtrader.com here is a sneek peek at what I will have listed on the 15th May, I am still working on the others.

I hope you all have a beautiful day. Lisa

Home made Calzone

2009-04-24T17:16:00.005+10:00

Hi everyone

I thought I would share some of my home cooking with you all. A couple of nights ago for dinner I made Calzone, I have a bread machine and we often have pizzas so I thought I would try something a little different, than the normal homemade pizzas.

So with the pizza dough this is what I made. Smoked chicken Calzone.

They were beautiful!

Pizza dough

250ml cold tap water

3 cups plain flour

1 tablespoon Olive oil

1 teaspoon Salt

2 teaspoons dry yeast

I then pop all that into my bread machine and put it on and about 1 hour latter I have my pizza dough. Once your pizza dough is done devide into 8 pieces roll out each calzone dough add your contents to one side of the calzone fold over and seal, from the photo's you can see I have rolled the edges together.

contents for calzone

pizza sauce

Smoked chicken breast

cheese

red capsicum

olives

hope you have a beautiful Evening. Lisa

New Display - Porcelain dolls

2009-04-16T19:50:00.004+10:00

This photo is a collection of porcelain dolls that I started collecting when I was 12 years old!

I really long time ago. The boy doll in front is a new. I love the vintage look.

Well Easter is over so I thought I would do a new little display at my desk where I write everyday. I have two desks one for creating and one for my writing.

We had a really beautiful Easter break we didn't do anything but spend time with the kids we had planned on going to the park with the kids but it rained most of the weekend which is fantastic as we really need the rain here in Queensland.

I have been busy the last couple of days working on the new blog Olive Grove Primitives which is coming together really well, I also have a giveaway, and I started on some new dolls this afternoon, which is where I should be now sewing. So I will leave it here today.

Have a beautiful Evening Lisa XoXo

Blog Giveaway for Olive Grove Primitives

2009-04-11T12:49:00.003+10:00

Well I wanted to do something to celebrate my new blog Olive Grove Primitives.

So Please help me spread the word.

So I thought I would have a giveaway, so I went to work on making a cloth doll

So please check out my new blog http://www.olivegroveprimitives.blogspot.com/

I am giving away Little Long Legged Big haired Annie.

Have a beautiful Weekend. Lisa XoXo

Happy Easter

2009-04-06T15:07:00.005+10:00

Beautiful Needle felted Easter Egg on old funnel from Rustic Tarts

I received my easter parcel in the mail from Rustic Tarts, that I ordered I will enclose some beautiful photo's of my needle felted easter egg on a rusty funnel.

Just beautiful thanks so much Rustic Tarts

I would like to wish everyone a Safe and happy Easter, my son and I decided this morning that it would be a good day to put out our Easter decorations,

we plan on baking a flourless chocolate cake for easter and handmade chocolates I will post some photo's of our easter baking this week, I will also be baking some more hot cross buns.

I really love this time of year the weather is just beautiful not to hot or cold, and we all love chocolate!

I hope you all have a very safe and happy Easter.

Lisa XoXo

Olive Grove Primitives

2009-03-23T13:49:00.004+10:00

Primitive greetings to you all

Well If you read my blog often you will know that I love to make primitive cloth dolls, I have wanted to do this for so long I have started a new blog for all my dolls and primitive stuff, you will be able to purchase all items on my blog. So please check it out I should have more items listed for sale in the coming days I am so excited about doing this I don't know why it has taken me so long to do it all.

Lisa XoXo

The love of making Primitive cloth dolls

2009-03-22T12:04:00.010+10:00

Well the shop has been closed for a couple of weeks now and I have not done a thing since it closed, I really love to make primitive cloth dolls, so tomorrow I thought I would get started on some new dolls, I have missed doing them so much. I will add some photo's of my previous dolls, this is just a small sample.

Have a beautiful weekend Lisa.

also listed on ebay - furniture

2009-03-14T18:40:00.005+10:00

Well I am trying to clear some left over furniture from the shop and they are currently listed on ebay and will finish in a couple of days, listed at a bargin price and still no bids, hopefully they won't get a the price I listed them. The name I go under for ebay is vintageparisdesigns and the item no is 140306523641. let me know if you have any problems finding it.

Have a wonderful Evening Lisa XOXO

Cloth Dolls Just listed on Ebay

2009-03-07T21:30:00.005+10:00

Hello all, I just wanted to let you all know, I am having a clear out of a lot of dolls I have some made by me and others that I have collected over the last 12 month, As my shop is now closed down I am quickly running out of room to store everything so go and grab yourself a bargin. Have a wonderful weekend.

Lisa XOXO

It's a rainy day in Queensland

2009-02-14T16:35:00.005+10:00

Since it has been raining for the last couple of days I just wanted to sit and create something, So I found this Vintage baby Shoe pattern I had in my stash of patterns. So this is my creation.

A vintage baby shoe pin cushion, I had such fun making it.

I made if from calico which I dyed with vanilla and Parisian, I love the old vintage primitive look I also have a lot of vintage lace old keys and rusty bells and safety pins.

Wow if you seen my craft cupboard. I have a lot of things. So it is good to use some of my supplies, I really loved making this pin cushion so much I will be making some more to put on the website.

Happy Valentines day everyone. 15 years ago today My husband proposed to me on one knee in this beautiful restaurant in Brisbane with a poem he wrote his self, Violins playing in the background. It was amazing and this year we will celebrate our 14 Wedding Anniversary time fly's when you are having fun. We now have 3 beautiful children 3 beautiful toy poodles.

So today is a very special day for us. We were going to take the kids down to the beach to have dinner! Seafood for dinner. But it is still raining so we will have a wonderful dinner at home.

This morning for Valentines day My wonderful husband bought me a rose gold chain for a vintage locket I bought sometime last year but have never worn it I love vintage gold! Rose Gold I really love. Have a wonderful weekend all.

Lisa XoXo

Closing down sale

2009-02-13T15:35:00.006+10:00

Hello everyone, I just wanted to let you all know (who live around the area) that I am having a closing down sale at my shop, for many reasons mostly personal.

I will be closing the shop down on the 28th February.

So until then I am having a huge sale 50% off all furniture and flowers 20% off all other stock. Fabric reduced From $22.00m to $14.00m.

I am going to continue with my website as that is going well and I can run that from home.

At the moment my children come first and I am finding already this year it has been difficult, I am the only one to run the shop and if I can't the shop is closing so after long discussion and many late nights I think it is for the best as family always comes first.

I hope I won't be gone for good I would like to one day again open a shop.

It has been my dream for a very long time to open and run my own little shop of beautiful shabby chic. So for now I will just look after my family and the website. You will still be able to purchase all the things I normally sell in the shop just on-line. And for any of my customers in the local area. delivery will be free.

Until next time, Have a beautifully pink day! Lisa XoXo

the kids are back to school and I am back to work

2009-02-05T11:31:00.007+10:00

Wow how the holidays went really quickly. So the kids are back at school so I thought I was about time I came back to work. I was not sure if I was going to reopen the shop this year. Last February I slipped a disc in my back and well I have not been the same since and I am unable to lift anything. Which makes it really hard at the shop with all this furniture I have so I can only do small things. So any way I am here not sure if it will be all year or just February my lease runs out in November this year and I would like to find a new location I don't think I am in the right spot here. So I had my boys and my husband come into the shop a couple of weeks ago to do some re arranging for the New year so I thought I would show you some photo's the only thing I can do is say I would like this piece of furniture here I can do the little things. So let me know what you think.

Have a beautifully pink day! Lisa

All things handmade by me!

2009-01-23T15:07:00.002+10:00

And the winner Is

2009-01-15T21:13:00.003+10:00

Thank you to all the wonderful lady's who left a comment on my blog, The winner is A Bite of Country Cupcake. I will send you an email letting you know,

Have a wonderful evening all Lisa XoXo

50th Post giveaway

2009-01-10T14:05:00.006+10:00

Well I have just had my 50th post and that has gone so quick so I thought I would celebrate with a small give away. So i thought Since I have just added my handmade tags to the website I would give away some, So if would like to join in please leave me a comment and I will draw out a winnner on the 15th January. I will be giving away a set of 4. Have a beautiful day Lisa XoXo

P.S. I will leave you with some photo's of my tags that I have just listed. I have many more listed on the website so please pop over and check them out.

3 New Catagories Added to website

2009-01-10T13:42:00.008+10:00

Hello,

I just wanted to drop in and let you all know of some new catagories I have on the website Handmade tags, stationary, hand, made jewellery & Keychains. (I have been working on these for the last couple of months while the shop has been closed I have not had the best health the last couple of month of 2008 and I was going to close my shop down and just work on the website but I have had such a wonderful restfull break over christmas and on the school holidays I am going to reopen the shop at the beginning of February just after the kids go back to school for 2009. So I will be poping into the shop tomorrow to give it a fresh look for 2009!

I have been very busy over the holidays working on the website and the contents of the catagories, I really love to create things for the website and shop, these are the things I like the most I am also working on some other items for the website and shop at the moment but I will leave that for another post.

I hope everyone have a wonderful christmas and a happy New years ours was wonderful very quiet which we love and we spent most of the time in the spa, with the hot weather and all.

Have a beautiful day Lisa XoXo

My Very First Award

2009-01-04T21:10:00.005+10:00

Thanks Laurel from Miss Muggins for passing this award on to me. Wow My very first award

"This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY- nearness in space, time and relationships.These blogs are exceedingly charming.These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends.They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement!Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut,even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!"

You are supposed to pass this award onto 8 fellow bloggers, to include the above text in their blog.

I will be back latter to pass this onto some other blogs I just love.
Have a beautiful Evening. Lisa XoXo

New Blog - Inn French Country

2008-12-28T20:40:00.006+10:00

Hi again,

This is the second post of the day I just wanted to let you all know I have started a new blog all about my little cottage and the blog is called Inn French Country.

We have had the house for 5 years now and have spent the last 5 years renovating and had so much fun doing it so I thought I would share with you all what we have done.

I fell in love with this house the first time I seen it. It's a little cottage with stained glass windows it just has this warmth to it when you enter the house.

So please head on over and check it out. Lisa XoXo

Merry Christmas and have A Safe and Happy New Year

2008-12-28T17:55:00.004+10:00

I know I am a bit late but I just wanted to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year. Have a wonderful weekend Lisa XoXo

Just finished ornaments

2008-12-08T21:36:00.003+10:00

Well I have just finished these 3 ornaments for the christmas tree I still have the other 3 to finish I really love the colours. Let me know what you think. Have a wonderful evening. Lisa XoXo

17 Days to go! Merry Christmas

2008-12-08T17:34:00.004+10:00

Just wanted to post a photo of my beautiful children I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. We are on the count down in the house. Have a beautiful day Lisa XoXo