The 'Tween' Room

Well, gone are the days when my baby girl slept in a pretty pink room that she called her 'princess room'. (See Pictures Here).

In my quest to simplify I have spent alot of time asking her what toys she likes playing with, what things she doesn't want anymore and what furniture she would like best in her room.

A couple of weeks ago I went in and began the task ahead. She is a hoarder. McDonalds toys, pieces of giftwrap ribbon, ripped up pieces of paper in piles. You name it, it was in there, including some things that I put aside in bags for charity which had SOMEHOW made their way back in there ;)

Finally after 6 hours it was done. All of the furniture was already there previously, apart from the dressing table. This belonged to "Little Nanny" who died recently. Chelsea was lucky to receive this and says she thinks of Nanny everytime she looks at it, which is so lovely.

I was thinking of selling the Ikea chair on ebay as we don't have room for it elsewhere in the house, but it makes a perfect reading chair for her in the corner, and helps it look grown up as well.

We are renting at the moment (subject to change however) :) so I'm not able to paint walls or do too much personalisation, but I love the end result all the same. What do you think?

Holy Sheet! Look what I made!!

I bought this set of sheets when Rhys was still in a cot because he is obsessed with the Wiggles. The fitted sheet somehow got marked and as he is no longer in a cot I just couldn't bear to throw them away!! I salvaged the fabric that was still bright and pill-free around the edges and made them into my first pair of shorts!! They have two pockets and just a simple elastic waist. I used a pattern found whilst op-shopping - I think its about 20 years old - but still good :)

I am so proud of myself - I have now made a pinafore dress for Chelsea, the Wiggles shorts, and I have also altered a Batik sarong from Malaysia into a strapless top for me. I am looking forward to making some summer pyjamas for the kids soon, again using recycled fabric - I love getting use out of something that would be otherwise classed as useless! I promise to upload photos soon...
Did I mention that I am an obsessive room-changer-arounder? Well, I wasn't satisfied with the computer in the kitchen any longer ;) I spend so much time on, and use the computer for so many different and varied things, that the smaller desk just wasn't feasible. We have an old verandah that was once apon a time built in to make a long room that comes off two of the bedrooms. It is difficult to use the room without just lining the walls with furniture and turning it into a long corridor. I decided to divide it into two parts. The far end (not finished) has the kids tv, a lounge and some books/photo albums etc. The closer end has my computer, my scrapbooking and sewing stash in an Ikea shelf, the kids' computer and the second lounge with chaise. It is FANTASTIC!! I love having a lounge to use as my own, without having football blaring or sandpit sand all over it ;) I have just purchased an Apple Time Capsule which allows us to sync all the computers wirelessly and my workspace just works so well.

I am hoping to start rolling out some scrapbook pages again, after a year or so off, but first I am organising all my photos from the last decade into year and month files, then backing up again. It has to be done, and now is as good a time as any!!

Yesterday was Fathers Day, and somehow, my husband managed to persuade me to let him get a new motorbike. It is a combined Fathers day, birthday and christmas present - for the rest of his LIFE~!~ - but I am glad he has something he really loves. The kids have just got a little quad bike and they are quite happy with it and have no desire to get on daddy's big bike - which is just a little too powerful for them!!

In final news, as of today, our block is officially UNCONDITIONALLY under Contract!!! Woohoo!!

We had an offer fall through a couple of months ago and we weren't fazed whether it sold or not, as we would build on it if we still had it in March 2011, but these buyers came along and we will officially be free of mortgage payments in a couple of weeks. Things couldn't have worked out better. We have done really well over the past couple of years and now hope to move on to our next house early next year, of course renovations are always an option with the Berderows!!

In my next post, I hope to post up some photos of Chelsea's room, which I redid last weekend. Quite grown up, but still - very Chelsea and Very PINK....

Suzi x