Bargain of the Year - 2014

Hi all, hope you've had a great weekend. I am back in Blogland again.
Well we had an amazing St. Patrick's holiday in Chicago, the first time I have ever been outside this green isle for Paddy's day. I suppose I see St. Patrick's Day as something intrinsically Irish so it was amazing to see so many people dressed in green and celebrating 'our' holiday. Not only did they turn the river green but they turned the beer green too! We had a ball. Unfortunately we came home from our holidays to three funerals, one of which was very sudden and a close family member of my husbands. That's life eh? Ups and downs. 

 So after a busy couple of weeks I am finally caught up on all my blog reading, it was nothing short of a marathon, you guys were busy! I too have lots to share but as usual I'm lagging behind!

From the title I'm sure you have deduced that this one is a while coming. You see it was and is part of the Hall-Stairs-Landing redo so I couldn't share before now. He's been there in plain sight all the time though! See the little hooves...

Okay maybe not 'plain' sight.

This was another of those items everyone in Blogland had. Teasing me with vintage looking horses of all descriptions, adorning beautiful mantles. Looking at the cost of these on eBay I had pretty much thrown in the towel!

So last September on our return from a stay-cation in beautiful Ireland we stopped over in Co. Kilkenny. I was having a wander around TK Maxx when I spotted him on the very top shelf at the end of an isle. 

I may have knocked some people down on route to that isle! He was like a reproduction plaster Tang horse, subtly painted in tones of beige and green.  

RRP €93.00! TK Maxx price €23.99!  I carefully took him down. He had some signs of wear, some of his paint was chipping and the plaster was revealed. 

Honestly, this added to the look. However I stuck my brass neck out and asked if there was any reduction for the damage.  

 Imagine my delight when the sales assistant returned to tell me, "the manager apologizes for the damage, she doesn't know how it could have happened, would €15 be okay?". 

It took all I had not to squeal and instead reply with a very composed "thank you very much". I am not joking when I tell you that I carried him all the way home to the Midlands like a baby!

He's another piece in my new vignette puzzle.
I promise not to hold out on you much longer!!

 

A New Arrival!

There has been a new arrival at my father-in-law's farm!
 

The call came late Friday night, it was time. Mr. Auburn quickly got dressed and headed for the labour ward. Some help was required as Mammy Cow had become very tired. In the small hours of Saturday morning, this little one arrived...

 

She is about 12 hours old in these pictures and still a bit unsteady on her hooves.

 

She hasn't quite figured out where to get the milk from herself yet but we're hoping she'll get the hang of it soon...

..both Mother and baby are doing just fine!

 

Hello Again!

Hello Again!! I am very pleased to be back in blog land once again!

Somehow, I blinked and missed a whole season!

 

 

To all my lovely fellow bloggers who left comments and sent mails in my absence, I assure you I am quite well! Thank you all none the less for your enquiries and well wishes. It was nice to know I was missed!

 

So what was my excuse??

Well, I became entirely preoccupied with a project at work; the opening of a new Mental Health Day Centre. A worthwhile project I think you will agree but boy was it exhausting! Coming home with square eyes at the end of a 12 hour day, I must admit, sadly my blog was not one of my priorities.

 

Anyway, the centre opened this week to great excitement and I am now looking forward to getting back to some semblance of normality, well at least until the next project kicks off!

 

So what were the highlights of my summer??

Well, May started with a trip to the lovely Italian island of Sardinia with my husband and some friends. We enjoyed the sunshine and the sights and ate, drank and were merry for a week!

 

 

At the end of May my Mam and I spent a lovely day at Bloom. For those of you who are not familiar, it is Ireland's answer to the Chelsea flower show, albeit on a slightly smaller scale.

 There were so many inspirational gardens there but this Silver medal winning Fairy Garden by Kate Kurevleva was among my favourites...

 

 

June was a month for celebrations! We celebrated my Dad's 60th birthday with a weekend of festivities culminating in a family BBQ chez Auburn. This also involved eating, drinking and making merry! Later on in June we celebrated Father's Day, Mr Auburn's birthday and my parent's anniversary!

 

 

July involved yet more celebrating! For our lovely friend Clare's birthday we spent a day in gothic splendour at the magnificent Cloonacauneen Castle in Galway. We had a gorgeous lunch packed full of local ingredients after which we retreated to the bar to soak up the atmosphere!

 

 

Speaking of friends, I made a new one this summer. Meet Jack...

 

 He strayed in, scruffy, thin and covered in lice. I am pleased to say he is now lice free, has had a wash and a haircut, his hooves pared and is enjoying the countryside of the Midlands.

How cute is he with his hair spiked up with rain??

 

So what's the plan for Autumn??

Well, it's starting with a staycation next week! By that I mean a holiday from work which I will spend at largely at home, except for the occasional day trip!

 

Will keep you posted...

I promise!!

Easter Eggcessories!

Well, I made it, just in time! The Easter decorating ran a little late this year. I just finished last night!

 

 

This was because I have been a little under the weather but also as some of my new decorations were handmade. Most of my new tree decorations were made using my craft du jour...Decoupage!

 

It sure is time consuming. I'm a newbie and self-thought so please be kind!

First off, I decoupaged some eggs...

 

 

These were made from Polystyrene. The one on the left was decoupaged using old stamps, the other two with paper napkins. To finish, I added a ribbon from my stash using a pearl topped straight pin.
 

Then, I decoupaged some cute little paper mache bird houses...

 

 

These were made using a combination of coloured paper and little flowers cut from paper napkins.
 

These decorations went on my Easter tree...

 

 As Mr. Auburn was away, I had to call on my father-in-law for assistance. I had more a branch in mind but this is what I got and now it's in I really like it!

 

Of course I had to do an egg and a birdhouse to match the downstairs loo...
 

 

It took all I had to cut up this vintage sheet music! It was 'The Seasons' by Haydn too!!

I think they look nice though with the cream and black decor, as does this birdhouse; quite fitting with my wallpaper...

 

Then I made some nests; this one with the help of a tutorial from Perpetual Plum.

It was made using a wire coat hanger and the offcuts from my Easter tree. The moss and feathers I gathered on a walk, the quail eggs; I blew out a couple of years back. This was a little fiddly but the most natural looking nest I think.
 

 

This one in the fishbowl; I made using just moss and little pieces of hay and leaves...

 

 

 This one I made using shredded paper and some more of that moss...

 

 

 I then popped it inside the birdcage, added some hen eggs, some feathers and this little straw chick...

 

This chalk egg I got from the Euro shop, I sprayed it gold and aged it a bit with some antique brown...

 

 

It accompanies these gold fellows on my mantle...

 

 

I made some little pics for my kitchen notice board with some die cuts I had left over from an Easter project a couple of years back...

 

 

I think the vintage bunny scenes are really cute...

 

 

You've already met the March Hare...who dressed up for Easter...

 

 

He has joined old favourites like Rascally Rabbit who came all the way from America...

 

 

Here are some more old reliables from around the house...

 

To welcome you in; a Gisela Graham egg wreath embellished with a little chick...

 

 

Some Peter Rabbit Wedgewood...

 

 

An Easter postcard from 1909...
 

 

Some painted eggs with more of those die cuts...

 

 

Don't these look like bunnies??

 

The goose that laid the golden egg??

 

More birds' nests...

 

A lovely hare painted by my mother...

 

 

An old Easter project inspired by Bhg...

 

 

Some ceramic chicks painted in eau de nil to match the kitchen...

I love hyacinths and tulips for Easter...

 

A little gift from my mother...

Eggs, eggs, eggs...

 

Well, it wouldn't be Easter without some chocolate ones too...

Hope you're having an eggcellent Easter!!!