Wishing you a Happy Easter!!

Hope you're all having a happy Easter. 

We're having a lovely long weekend here in Ireland. We had Good Friday and have Easter Monday off from work. It has been a hectic couple of weeks of ups and downs so Mr. Auburn and I are catching up with family and on some well deserved rest! Today we went to mass, visited relatives, ate lots of Easter eggs and relaxed at home. 

We are having some glorious Spring weather which allowed us into the garden yesterday for the post winter overhaul. It has to get worse to get better, right?

 I am a little behind on my Blog reading, please bear with me while I catch up! 

Happy Easter!!

Hope you're all having an eggcellent Easter!

 

 

It is a bank holiday weekend here in Ireland and we have been blessed with the most glorious weather!

We've had quite a busy weekend. Friday was spent painting my in-laws kitchen cupboards. I have joined the cult that is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - that's another post! Many other posts!!

Saturday was my sister's birthday which meant brunch at my parents house.
As the afternoon was so lovely and sunny, Mr. Auburn and I hit the garden when we got home for the annual spring clean up.

 

Today, we had a lazier day. We pottered about the house, resting our aching bodies and gorging on Easter eggs! I do love Easter.
 

 You will see in the photos some of the Easter lovelies we took home from our visit (here) to Plantagen.

How cute is baby bunny?

 

 

I just couldn't resist him! He sits atop one of my recent projects, more of that later!

 

 

And as for the little wooly lambs...

  

Just b-ewe-tiful aren't they!? Happy Easter from the Auburns!

Easter Inspiration!

Back in February,  Mr. Auburn and I travelled to Fairyhouse Market. While the market was disappointing and the only things we parted money for were edible, we did stop at one of my favourite places on the way home!

 

 Plantagen is a Scandinavian garden centre chain. They sell amazing plants for your home and garden, garden furniture and BBQ's. They have a huge 'grow your own' section, a bird feeding section, pet supplies, books on gardening, cooking and baking. There is a food hall where you can buy tasty treats, a lovely company that produce oils, preserves and chutneys and the Edinburgh Woollen Mill is in store.

 

 

 

However, the winner has to be the super duper gift and interiors section with the most amazing displays that made me want to squeal with excitement when I walked in!!

 

So with Easter fast approaching and Spring most definitely in the air, here are some of the cutest, Springiest, Easter displays I've seen around! Needless to say my money and I did part company at Plantagen but just wait for Easter to see the cuties that made it home to Auburns...

 

 



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!!!