Right Now

Me Right Now

Finally I get a chance to blog without the frustration of a slow internet and without the guilt of not organizing my house! Two months after the big move, and we still have boxes around us. We have been to the dump around five times in the space of two months, gave away 2-3 car loads of charity bags and boxes, AND WE STILL HAVE BOXES & BAGS AROUND US! This move has turned out to be a huge De-clutter Your Lives episode. I know simplicity is approaching.

I love the new place we live in. We are still in Auckland, but out in the bush/country. It's the atmosphere I dreamt about for my kids to grow up in. We are renting the place at the moment and are very happy! It feels so good to not have a mortgage right now, and we are in no hurry to sign up for one too.

I'm still decorating the inside of the house, so I'll show parts of our outside for now and the inside on a future post.

Almost everyday I am thankful we found this place, dispite no broadband connection and no TV... yup NO TV! Its alright though because we were hardly chained to it before in the old house and its actually really nice, nice not having the temptation to sludge out. O! we have rented a lot of DVD's though heehee!

No broadband connection has been a blessing in disguise too. I pay $50 NZD for two gigs a month! At first I was like... nooooooo we have to move... AGAIN! But I thought about it and found I can make it work with the business as long as I do big uploads and downloads at my sisters or brothers house. With the 2 gig allowance, I have to think about the sites I allow myself to "stumble" upon and use the net for mostly business, I have an exception to facebook and pinterest of course! But it means I can just get to other tasks around my home and this is exactly the way I want it to be. Especially now that I'm homeschooling two children - which I am loving by the way! 

Hey did you see the post about Kushee? It's my new gift store, have a browse when you have a few minutes!

So that's me right now... embracing the simple life, one box at a time!

Our Home Tour

Through a House Photographer's lens...

After six years of calling this place our home, it's almost time to say goodbye. Oh! I am so going to cry when I shut the door to this place for the last time.

Living Room Makeover

Hello everyone! Some of you already know this... but our house has sold! We have been talking, thinking and praying about this for a couple of years now. It went unconditional a few weeks ago and we have till the end of January to find a new place. We have a couple of options but nothing concrete. Anyway I know I said I would share some of my living room projects with you all, but I just can't right now, so please forgive me for this! I will however show you the photos... I think you've waited long enough... heehee - I've waited long enough for it to actually look like this! And now we have to move! Crazy I know, but I'm confident I can re-create the look else where and better.

So here are the before pics - 

and a really terrible view from the other corner, I took a blurry photo then sharpend it like mad - sorry about that, not sure why I settled for that, but you get the idea anyway.

What I love most about this makeover is the gallery wall. I wanted to find away to make that wood-burner less in your face, so I bought or painted frames in black and created a gallery of memories and special collected pieces. I love it so So much!

It will be sad to say goodbye to this space.

Kitchen Makeover + Giveaway!

Thought I'd show you what my kitchen looks like. I don't have many or decent before photos. Only what I have below. We only put a wall up to block off the entrance and left everything as it was when we moved in.

It was in pretty good condition already the kitchen, as you can see -
This picture was taken through the entrance when it used to exist. Checkout the after photo now!
So as you can see, not many changes, except the wall, the stunning teal accent colour and my floors have been freshly mopped... I think!

The details

So here's the giveaway. Guess what item from the pictures above, will be available next year for all the world to purchase designed by me. Write it in the comments section of this post and I will announce the winner, next week Wednesday(nz time) 9pm.

Increase your chance of winning! If you mention this giveaway on your blog, forum or facebook page, you can enter again for an increased chance of winning. Just copy your post link on to your next posted comment! You can enter as many times as you like, just make sure you have a valid link mentioning this giveaway.

Entries close 5.00pm Wednesday 14th Dec 2011. Product will be shipped once the store has launched, which will be some time early next year.

All the best guys!

Two Birds - A Mixed Media Piece By Me

I painted this yesterday!

SUPPLIES USED: Tattered Angles Mists; Acrylics, Inks, Prima Stamps; Texture Medium; Alison's Acquisitions flower; Miscellaneous charm; Thread; Paint roller.

I've been wanting to create something huge and teal saturated to hang over my dining room table for a very long time. Finally I had some spare time yesterday and knew it had to be a paint day - and a paint day it was! I made such a mess in my kitchen, the clean up was PAAINful. I have to say I am totally satisfied with it! I thought I wasn't going to be, because I felt the time pressure big time and I don't work well knowing I have to have everything cleaned up at a certain time - kills my creativity big time! Any way, once the inspiration started rolling in... about half way through the project! I knew this was going to all work out. I always dread going in the right direction then mucking it up, because of too much misting or something... (sigh) oh how I love misting. I really need to order some more bottles in actually!

Anyway here is the how to.
I'll show you the room view on another post!

 

Some Hybrid Scrapbooking + Update on Living Room Makeover

Hello hello! Hope you are all well! I'm so happy its Friday!

I have a date with the swiss ball in an hour and a half, after that its a prawn and avocado wrap... my mouth keeps watering every time I think about it! Anyway I just wanted to share a couple of things before I go batter my body up.

The makeover in my living room is almost complete. I just wanted to share a sneak peek with you all, because there are a few items I want to alter in the room before sharing the view.

For the next month or so I plan to share my projects with step by step instructions. I hope you stick around, I think it will be fun! Items include my magazine box, a huge piece of art to go above the dining table, some small pieces for the wall, a couple of cushions, etc. I'll even include some free prints to download!

Time to show you some hybrid scrapbooking -

CREDITS: DIGI - Peppermint's (One Little Bird) Sweater Weather Kit; My Distress brushes; TRADITIONAL - bird from Prima Marketing; Spoon from (can't remember sorry) Stamps; Inks; Buttons laying around my house; Kraft paper.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to make time for your self everyone, and have a wonderful weekend!

 

D.I.Y Jewellery Organizer + FREE Print Out

I have been wanting to do this for a while now. Organize my - forever getting tangled necklaces & my disappearing earring's! I have looked and looked for something to display all my pretties, but most of the ones I like have that handmade feel. And I don't like parting with lots of money if I know I can make it myself - you know what I mean? - yah. So finally, I found the perfect solution.

A few days ago I found this piece at the warehouse for $12.50! Had to get it!  ...didn't know what I was going to alter it for, but I knew it was a great buy!

I am so satisfied with the end result, it looks better then how I imagined it would be. I realized while taking the pics I need more earrings - hint hint Justin! Here's what you will need -

Here are a few close ups -

The room view -

And your free printable art -

 
Download VPearce-Jewellery-Organiser-Print

Hope you enjoyed this post!

 

Bathroom MakeOver

Before we bought this house, we rented it first. We fell in love with the Rimu bathroom and the warmth it added to this area of the house, it really didn't need doing up. But for some reason we thought it would be a great idea to join the toilet and bathroom and make the space feel bigger and more modern. Let me tell you it took us Ages... well it took Jus ages to finish. He had to carefully rip the rimu off the wall that was going to get knocked down, so he could use them at the back of the toilet wall, since it was going to join forces with the bathroom wall. I think we made it look more sleek, take a look at the before pics -

So after installing new windows, grouting, painting, my nagging and more painting, and more nagging this is the result -
I know what you're thinking... that mirror! I know isn't it perfect! Justin actually tiled pebbles around the mirror he got free from work! We created a great feature in the bathroom as well as bringing in more light with those tiles. I love how it feels like the outdoors are inside, I mean we are surrounded by lots of trees and all kinds of birds including the Tui I have hanging on the new wall. Titirangi is such a great place to live in, if you are ever going to live in Auckland, then Titirangi is the place to be for peace and inspiration. Here's a couple more pics -

 
Thanks for stopping by and viewing my bathroom makeover!

Entrance MakeOver

Hi friends. I thought I'd start sharing the progress on my place. The house is slowly starting to look the way I wanted it to look like. It has been a little over six years since we moved into this place and it feels like we have taken forever to get here... I honestly thought it would never happen, because of the time and lack of money. Over this time though, I have been collecting and making items to display here and there, feels good to have it come together so nicely. Remember I mentioned starting the entrance makeover last year... like I said  - we ARE slow! The two left photo are from outside the entrance. And the right photo is from the inside, notice the door on the left of that wall.

I now have an entrance that's more me. Something that says 'Hey there, let me lead you to a place where you can sit and relax'
There used to be an ugly sliding door on the left hand corner leading to the kitchen. I hated the fact that when visitors entered our home, one of the first things they saw was a work zone... and sometimes a very busy and messy work zone. So thanks to Justin and his muscles he closed that up nicely for us. Justin also plastered the walls, which he hated, heehee. And I put wallpaper up for the first time, which I also hated. But thankyou 60 Minutes Makeover for giving me the tips and confidence to get that stuff up! Looove that show! Love my fabric art blocks too, I also made these a looong time ago, they add the perfect amount of interest on the walls without it looking too busy. Here are more pics -

I'm pleased!
Stay tuned, because I will be sharing more of my makeovers with you all!

More Art For My Home

Hi guys! I just wanted to share my latest creation, before the weekend hits! I want to spend as little time in front of the computer screen as possible. AND more time with the kids!

GRACE -

closeups -

I just love the way this piece turned out! I was inspired to create something last year around November. I knew I wanted something that blended with the wall colour and with lots of texture. Then when I saw those cool circle mirrors - I thought they would catch the light perfectly in the lounge! And I was right - they look amazing in the afternoon light with the reflection of the moving forest. Its going to look awesome once I hang it... but not till the carpets laid and the curtains are up! This will be the icing on the cake ... I'm weird like that, I like to look at the full effect. Actually I told my mum in-law she couldn't come over until the lounge and entrance were done. We both love interior design and she's always showing me her latest finds. Well soon its going to be my turn. I've lived in an unfinished home for 6 years now, and it's going to feel so good having these 2 rooms look the way I want. Yay!

I finished the configuration box too -

I'm not sure where I'll put this one yet. But I do want to place some black and white photos around it.

As promised, here are the step by step photos

GRACE WALL ART - HOW TO

SUPPLIES:
canvas
glass mirrors
texture medium
lace/cheesecloth - any interesting fabrics really
modpodge - matt
quick dry craft glue
paint
mists
Prima flower
charms
chipboard letters
Pink Paislee artisan elements
anything else you're inspired to use
mini paint roller
pallette knife
paint brush

1. Glue mirrors down.
2. Use mode podge to glue fabric down and craft glue for the chipboard letters. Mix texture medium in with white paint and apply around canvas with palette knife. TIP: sometimes you'll need to use light wavy movements.
3. Once texture and glue has dried(should take half a day to dry entirely if you live in New Zealand), paint all over your canvas, letters & fabric with the mini roller. Once dried, paint again. TIP: I rolled over the mirrors too for times sake, then afterwards wiped each one with makeup remover pads.
4. Use a brush to fill in finer details.
5. This part is fun! Use your mists and hold your bottle right up over the canvas, with the nozzle facing down towards the canvas, start spraying and make slow swooshy movements. Let light sprays fall onto your canvas forming a line across it. Then you want to get closer now creating a line that is more dense with spray spots. Have fun and choose other colours, just remember to hold that bottle up high if you want your effect to be subtle.
6. Paint your text on. eek! I hate this bit!
7. Roll the same background paint across prima flower a couple of times. Then sew to canvas.
8. Finishing touches, like painting over sprayed parts of the canvas so it stand out more. Stamping details, etc.

FAMILY CONFIGURATION BOX

SUPPLIES:
craft glue
tissue paper
modpodge
brush
texture medium
VPD art papers 9
Prima flower
Tim Holtz key
birdcage from Teal Ambition

 

1. Glue your little boxes down to the base. Use mod podge and a brush to glue tissue around the edges of your box.
2. Mix texture medium and white paint together and apply all over box. Try and create lumpy uneven surfaces. Leave to dry for half a day at least.
3. Paint all over your box with the colour you desire.
4. Once dry, apply modpodge to the backs of printed papers, paste inside holes then seal using the same product.
5. This bits easy! Glue all your embellishments in place!

I hope this has inspired you to create! It truly is therapeutic just to do something with real paint and glue!

Have a great weekend!

Love Vinnie!