More Old Treasures

It has been a real walk down "Memory Lane" recently with some of the old treasures I have managed to uncover in my massive shed cleanup.  

(A perfect opportunity also to play some more with Photoshop Elements and this beautiful vintage texture).  Did I mention how much I love textures?....

This fabulous old meat mincer certainly brought back some memories for me.  It has been such a long time since the last time I saw it.

 You see it belonged to Mum.  

My Mum passed away 3 years ago and it has taken me this long to find, (not exactly sure what the word is?) to sort through her possessions.  There have been so many occasions over the past 3 years when I have started this process only to find that I couldn't continue.    However the "right" time finally came a couple of weeks ago.  

It was such a joy to see some of these items again.  It's not that they are valuable and perhaps some people might even think they are just a pile of junk - but to me they are just so special.

I have such vivid memories of this old meat mincer clamped to the side of our kitchen table.  How it would fascinate me to see my mother (literally!) shove pieces of meat into the hole at the top - give the handle a couple of hard turns - and then see perfectly minced meat come out the other end.   As a young child I thought it was the most magical kitchen gadget I had ever seen.

I'm sure this old ice cream scoop must be one of the first ones ever made.  It actually weighs a ton!  I can't even begin to imagine just how many ice cream cones this little scoop would have filled over the years.   Just such an incredible piece of engineering. 


I just love this old hand beater with its red wooden top and handle.  It was my Mum's favourite. 

I remember her beating the cream with it and how quickly she would turn that little handle.  Bits of cream would flick all over the kitchen bench and the bowl would be filled with white bubbly froth.  Then, as if by magic, the froth would disappear and in its place would be a bowl of thick, luscious cream.  (Through the eyes of a young child - there certainly seemed to be a lot of magic going on in my Mum's kitchen...)

I would then get the job of spooning it onto one of her famous jam sponge trifles or delicious caramel tarts.   ( I think I probably did my fair share of licking those beaters as well!)

The chipped and faded red paint is just so beautiful. 

I love the patina and strength of these old kitchen utensils.

I also love the fact that when I rub my hand over metal shute of the old mincer or hold onto the faded red handle of the beater  - I get the chance to re-live my childhood memories.

and if I close my eyes really tight............

  I can feel my Mum's hand on mine.  

Women of Gold

Australia has certainly had a rough time these past few weeks.  The floods in Queensland/New South Wales and Victoria have destroyed so many homes and ruined so many crops.  The death toll from the floods is still unknown.  It is just unbelievable to see the destruction and devastation which has occurred in so many parts of the country.

In 2009 we had the disastrous bush fires in Victoria where so many lives were lost and  hundreds of properties burnt to the ground.   In 2006 Cyclone Larry swept in from the Coral Sea and tore Innisfail apart.  Again, properties destroyed and the livelihood of  so many Far North Queenslanders put into jeopardy.

How is it possible for people who have experienced such crisis in their lives to be able to pick up the pieces and start all over again?  Where have they been able to summons the strength and resilience needed for this massive regeneration?

In looking for an answer I find myself reflecting on the past and thinking about our early pioneers - particularly those who settled in this part of the country.   An excellent book I have recently read depicting life on the Far North Queensland goldfields at the turn of the 19th century is "Woman of Gold" by Jean Barry.

This book struck a real chord with me because it reminded me of so many of the stories Nan Walsh used to tell me about growing up in mining townships like Gurrambah and Mount Garnet.  This book had me transformed back to the days when I would lay in her bed, cocooned under swathes of mosquito netting listening  to stories about the "olden days". (When I close my eyes I can still smell her sheets - the unmistakable perfume of naphthalene flakes!) 

As a wide eyed 7 year old I was totally entranced by Nan's stories.  Stories about how her mother (my great grandmother) met her untimely death when thrown from a horse and sulky on her way to Mount Garnet hospital to give birth to twins;  stories about how she and her siblings were forced to work in her uncle's bakery to pay their "keep" after their mother died;  stories about the goat kids they reared and how they would often be taken by wild dingoes.  It was such a tough life.
The women of this era were truly remarkable.  These brave and resourceful women encountered conditions which would test their resilience and resourcefulness to the utmost: relentless heat, dust and isolation.  They lived in wooden huts or tin sheds with concrete floors, cooked on wood-fired stoves, and lacked any of the domestic appliances we take for granted today.  They truly were "Woman of Gold".

So perhaps it is this same resilience and resourcefulness which  has somehow found its way down through the generations and provided us with the will and determination to carry on. 

Perhaps it is this which has shaped the spirit of Australians today.   We have so much to thank them for.

Happy Australia Day everyone!

I have an Addiction

Hello - my name is Sharyne and I am an Addict!

Now, before everyone goes into mild panic mode - let me explain exactly what my addiction is.

Thanks to the fabulous Kat at Low Tide High Style I have "discovered"  the wonderful world of photography photo editing and texturising!     Oh, how I LOVE my textures!

For a simple point and shoot sort of girl this has been an absolute revelation to me.  

To be able to turn something like this (rather ordinary) photo of my pretty pink rose

 

Into something as AMAZING as this!

Well, words just fail me.........

Real smoke and mirrors stuff I know - but I actually DID this!

Here is another fabulous "Before" and "After".

  Here is my beautiful Pierre de Rosand rose .......

 

And here he is after I applied Kat's lovely lace handkerchief texture over him.

Taking it one step further.......  Here is the same rose with an "old paper" texture.......

I can't begin to tell you how much fun I am having learning all these new tricks and how grateful I am to Kat for putting me onto Photoshop Elements 9 (which I downloaded as a free 30 day trial) and then providing me with so much support, assistance (and encouragement!)

Kat is an amazing photographer and the beautiful images she captures and posts on her blog are just spell bounding.   She is also one of the most generous blog friends a girl could ask for.  The fact that I am getting absolutely "nothing" done around my place at the moment and my ironing basket is overflowing - well, I have Kat to thank for that!

In my quest to find out as much information as I can about PSE and texturising - I have also managed to find the incredibly talented Kim Klassen at Kim Klassen Cafe.

I did Kim's "Learn Textures in Ten Minutes" e-Tutorial last night and I am even MORE besotted with all the new toys she has introduced me to.  I can't wait to learn more.

Oh, before I go...........  

Take a look at this photo I took of the (slightly misty) little township of Innisfail (on the banks of the Johnstone River)......

Now take a look at my little editing trick.......

Voila!  Can you see the rainbow?   Amazing......


Hello - my name is Sharyne and I am an Addict.....
(and loving every minute of it!)

My Little Cupboard Makeover

Summer holidays came to an end last week.  Each year I find it harder and harder to gather up the energy (and motivation) to return to work - particularly after 5 weeks holiday. 

I absolutely love being a homebody.   I love nothing better than getting up in the morning and tackling all the jobs and various projects I have set myself to complete over the 5 week break.  Some days, I can't even finish my task list and end up having to carry jobs over to the next day.   Some people might think this is not a very relaxing way to spend a holiday - but for me, it is bliss!

Here is the little cupboard I "found" when I did the mammoth de-cluttering of my shed.  Remember - it was sitting up a pile of empty paint tins!  Why on earth I kept empty paint tins - I will never know?

I'm not exactly sure where this little cupboard originally came from?  I do know that in its former life it was used as a first aid cabinet but I think it was relegated to the shed when I painted the kitchen a couple of years ago.

So after a bit of a wipe over with sugar soap and a  good clean with a wire brush (to remove the wasp nests which had been built in the corners) it was time for a light sand and a couple of new magnetic fasteners for the doors. 

A coat of white paint later and smidgen of  subtle distressing and here we have it! 

I'm pretty happy with my cute little cupboard.  It now has pride of place in my kitchen and is ready to begin it's new life as a spice cabinet.   Such a thrill to be able to breathe new life back into an (almost forgotten) old friend!

I'm De-cluttering my Life!

My shed actually looked a lot worse than this one!

One of the jobs on the top of my "to do" list these holidays was the tidying up/cleaning out of my shed.  

Now my shed is not overly big,  in fact it is quite small by shed standards.  However it is amazing just how much stuff has been shoved/pushed/crammed into this one tiny space. 

My motivation for the HUGE shed clean out was partly prompted by the fact that I have decided 2011 is going to be the "Year of De-Cluttering".  (Yes, I know I have also decreed that 2011 is going to be the "Year of Positivity" - but I think these two things go hand in hand in a strange sort of way!)

The other reason is that when I was rummaging around in "The Shed" on Christmas morning (the morning we lost our power thanks to Cyclone Tasha!) desperately looking for my Gasmate portable camping stove - I thought? I saw one of these little guys making a hurried departure from under a pile of old paint cans...........

Cue the "Jaws" music.......

YIKES!



I have purposely "shrunk" this photo - don't want to scare everyone away!




Now, at the time I really didn't have time to investigate - I had more important things to do - like cooking up a Christmas morning breakfast banquet for 7 on a one burner Gasmate camping stove. 
However I made a promise to myself - "next fine day I'm going to clean out that shed!" 

Well,  fine days have been few and far between in the Valley of late - but I am happy to report - the shed has finally been cleaned/tidied/de-cluttered and is now neat as a pin.   What a HUGE job!  

In determining what stayed and what went - I used the same philosophy I use when de-cluttering my wardrobe.....  If I haven't used it in 12 months - out it goes! 

I did however manage to stumble across a couple of treasures (which I had long forgotten about) and which I can see have the potential to become something quite special.

First up was this sweet little wall cupboard with the chicken wire front panels.  

For the life of me, I can't remember where/how? I got this from.  I vaguely  remember that it used to hang in my kitchen (many, many years ago) and (I think?) I used it as a sort of a First Aid cupboard.

I think it so cute.  Perhaps with a bit of a sanding and painting it could scrub up quite nicely?  Not sure what I could use it for - but I am determined to breathe new life back into it.

 

Here's another find - a beautiful old rocking chair!  Gosh, I haven't seen this for years.  If my memory serves me correctly, I "rocked" Adam, Matthew and Kendall to sleep many a night in this very same chair!  Ah, the memories of my colicky babies comes flooding back......

Sadly it is looking a little worse for wear and one of the seat panels has become unstuck but I'm sure, with a bit of wood glue and a few screws it will be okay.

Not exactly sure whether I should paint it or what to do with it?   Any advice would be gratefully appreciated! 

I also managed to find an old desk and an assortment of photo frames which I am sure I will be able to put to good use.

It was such a joy to find these forgotten treasures and re-live the memories surrounding them.  I can't wait to start the process of restoring them to their former glory.  

Who would have guessed that I had a "Thrift Shop" in my own backyard all these years (and didn't even know it!);  and

Who would have thought that "De-cluttering" could be such a positive experience!

Goodbye ol' Friends

Alas, the time has finally come.   Time to take down the decorations, disassemble the tree, pack up the Christmas lights and put them away for another year.  

The seasons come and the seasons go. 

It will be sad to say goodbye.

I have become quite used to having them around - just like old, familiar friends.  Memories, keepsakes, family treasures (all gathered together in one little corner of my home).  

Reminding me of Christmases past and the overwhelming excitement of my children on Christmas morning.   

Reminding me of friends and family - (who are no longer with us) and just how much I miss them. 

Reminding me (that just like a few of our favourite ornaments)-  we too are starting to get a little tarnished around the edges!

As I carefully place each decoration away (ready for their long hibernation)  I can't help but wonder what the year ahead will bring?  

It will be another 11 months when next I cast my eyes on them again.  If only I could look into a crystal ball and know what awaits us.   But would I really want to know?......... 

For me, the taking down and packing away of the Christmas decorations symbolizes the end of an era. The end of a time we will never get back again. I used to wish (particularly when my children were little) that I could just "freeze" time and that no-one got any older and we just stayed the way we were.   In some ways I used to look to each  new year with trepidation - fear of the unknown.


However I have come to realise that with every new year comes new beginnings and new opportunities to capture special times and special moments.   It may be the end of one era but the start of a fantastic new one as well.  



So, here you go my beauty!  As I tuck you away safely in your box I look forward to seeing you again in 11 months time and sharing with you the stories of 2011.    Hopefully the year will be kind to my family (and the planet) and that when I lift you from your box and string you once again in your rightful  place over the dining room table, I will be able to say - "Wow - 2011......what a year.  I can't wait to tell you all about it!"
 

2011 - The Year of POSITIVITY!

Here's the thing.  I have decided  2011 is going to be The Year of POSITIVITY!


Not only is this going to apply to me and the way I go about my life and work but also to the people around me.  I intend to surround myself with positive people and positive energy! 

Over the years, I have found  the one thing that has totally sapped me is negativity and people who are constantly complaining and whingeing about the cards they have been dealt.   They are not happy unless everyone else is wallowing in their misery.  They are the people who give you every possible reason why something can't be done  rather than encouragement to give it a go!   They are the people who when the going gets tough - they get running.......

I absolutely love Randy Pausch's book "The Last Lecture" and have gained so much inspiration from his words.  It truly has become my mantra on how to live my best life.   This quote in particular really struck a chord with me :

"As I see it, there's a decision we all have to make, and it seems perfectly captured in the Winnie-the-Pooh characters created by A.A. Milne.  Each of us must decide :  Am I a fun-loving Tigger or am I a sad-sack Eeyore?  Pick a camp.....   I won't let go of the Tigger inside me.  I just can't see the upside of becoming Eeyore."

So, to all my fellow Tiggers out there - I look forward to a year filled to the brim with inspiration, creativity and positivity.   If there is one thing I have found since beginning my blogging journey - should ever I start to feel the weight of negativity weighing heavily on my shoulders,  I only have to click onto one of my favourite blogs and voila - I'm a Tigger once again!

Have a wonderful 2011 everyone.