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Sunday 17 January 2016

A Weekend at Home

I love those weekends that you have where you've got very little on by way of events to leave home for. A weekend with no time constraints, no agendas or to-do lists; just to be and enjoy (rare, I know). This weekend was one of those for myself and my family. 

I spent a leisurely Saturday morning in town birthday present shopping for my youngest daughter (didn't have to be done, but I thought, why not!) and enjoying some fantastic op-shopping. We played board games, sketched together, mowed the grass, cleaned windows, scrubbed old bottles that we dug out like buried treasure from out in one of our paddocks, printed out beautiful inspirational illustrations for a little journal book that I made (another post on that one), cleaned and shined op-shop finds, re-positioned furniture to make way for a beautiful cabinet that belonged to my Great Grand-parents, and just had a lovely time being together and being home.

It was a few weeks ago that we dug out the above mentioned bottles, and I've only just had the time to really try and get them scrubbed and as clean as possible. It took around 6 hours (in two separate time frames) to actually finish this ... felt like mission impossible at times! They went from looking like this ...


To this ...


To finally (and I mean finally) this ...







I think it adds a nice bit of old-fashioned charm to the kitchen. They still aren't spotlessly clean, but if soaking them for one week, putting them through the dishwasher, then filling them with rice (for abrasion), vinegar and bi-carb and attacking them with wire bottle brushes in hot soapy water can't get all of it off ... then who knows what will? I think I'll just be happy with them like this! 

This year I intend to sketch a lot more than I have in the previous couple of years. It's one of my personal goals in my new bullet journal. I find it very relaxing to sit after doing chores or preparing dinner or whatever it may be, to sit and create with pencil in hand. 


This gorgeous fox is a copy from another artist, it is not my original work (only for personal use). I really enjoyed creating the different texture in this piece with the fur of the fox and the grain in the wood. 


This is my original piece that I sketched from a photograph that I took of our lovely little rag doll kitten 'Aslan' ... I just can't resist him and had to capture him in a drawing as well.


Another copied sketch (personal use only) that I just loved. It's actually from a piece titled 'Little House on the Prairie' and I really like how it speaks of such simple, beautiful, wholesome times. 

I hope to be able to carve out more snippets of time here and there to sketch more lovely images, I'd like to have my journal full of them by the end of the year.

My great grandparents were such an amazing Godly influence in my life. I have many fond memories of them and I believe that their character and example is what has helped me form my own in some ways. They're very special to me and so having this piece of furniture (even with the timber veneer strips chipping off) in my home is very important to me (I hope to replace the veneer soon).

While at the op-shop I purchased a beautiful set of four 'Peter Pan' series plates in perfect condition for only $4.00 each, and a gorgeous cat and bunny rabbit one for the same price, along with a lovely butterfly one for only $2.00. I couldn't believe it. I also found a lovely little deer ornament that was only 50c ... it's pretty cute!








Here's my beautiful display cabinet that belonged to my Great-Grandparents ...



Well, I think that's about it. I'm going to tuck myself snuggly into bed giving thanks to my God who I love for all the blessings He gives. 

Life's never perfect, but it's still beautiful.

Good night friends xo

30 comments:

  1. I love it when I have a weekend at home without hardly any commitments! I love to spend the time reading, drawing, trying out new recipes and hanging with the family. I love all of the things you did! The bottles are fun and the drawings are great! Thanks for a great post!

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    1. Thanks so much Judy, I hope your'e having a great week!

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  2. I am visiting from Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth. The plates look wonderful in your cabinet! I enjoyed the way you closed your post "Life's never perfect, but it's still beautiful." Ahhh, the key to contentment in my eyes is not expecting perfection.

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    1. Hi Wendi, I agree with you ... not expecting perfection. Although that was a hard lesson for me to learn (and still learn at times!) Thanks for your visit!

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  3. I enjoyed visiting this post today so much!!

    I absolutely LOVE the dishes you lovingly placed in your great grandparents curio cabinet! What a homey, nostalgic feel!

    My husband used to collect bottles years ago. He still has a great interest in bottles. You did a wonderful job cleaning those up and displaying them.

    You have a beautiful gift for sketching! How relaxing it must be to have such a gift.

    Thank you so much for sharing your simple treasures and pleasures with us. It was a blessing to visit here today. :-)

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    1. It's a blessing to have you here Karen, thank you so much for your beautiful words of encouragement. I hope to see you again soon :)

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  4. Your sketches are beautiful Elisha- thank you for sharing them! Also, what a good idea to plan spending time doing that in your journal :-)

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    1. Thanks Gwen, I find that if I don't write things down in my journal then I am likely to completely forget them!

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  5. Oh, those plates are delicious! And I love your drawings, it's good you have found something calming for your soul. Your weekend sounds perfect - especially the op-shopping!

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    1. It was a lovely, relaxing weekend that's for sure Sarah. It's nice to have you here!

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  6. Oh those plates are beautiful! I would love to collect things like that, but I never find them!

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    1. I couldn't believe it when I found them myself Jess! They were just sitting there saying "pick me" ... how could I refuse?!

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  7. Elisha,
    Love your Weekend At Home designing displays, dear one!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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    1. Hello Pat, it's nice to meet you! I hope you're having a lovely week :)

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  8. Your sketches are great! I love weekends like that, too. Hope you have a great Wednesday.

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    1. Thanks for the comment and for stopping in to say hello! Hope yo're having a great week.

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  9. I just asked my husband what we had on for tomorrow and was thrilled when he said nothing. Some days are just go ... go ... go so I really appreciate the lazy days.

    I think a lot of people are slowing down, doing less and taking the time to sketch or color.

    Thanks for Sharing Your Cup!

    And, that's an impressive collection of bottles.

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    1. Yes, I agree with you that there are more people slowing down and doing less. I hope you enjoy your weekend of nothing too, they really are so good! Blessings to you!

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  10. Good Afternoon Elisha, Spending a relaxing day, when you can do just whatever you please is a blessing. I adore those sorts of days.
    Your collection of bottles is really interesting, they must be so very old. I wonder how long they have been buried beneath the soil.
    I am a creative person, but I cannot sketch which is strange, because my father was a marvellous artist. Your sketches are lovely and I really do hope you find the time to embrace your hobby.
    It's lovely to meet you.
    Best Wishes
    Daphne

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    1. Hello Daphne, it's lovely to meet you too. What creative things do you enjoy? I appreciate how everyone's creativity is completely different from each others. I've often wondered how old the bottles are as well, and how it is that they ended up buried there in the first place. Maybe one day I will find out?! Thank you for visiting Daphne, and I hope you feel welcome here again soon,
      Blessings,
      Elisha

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  11. What a wonderful cabinet from your great-grandparents! The swans etched on the glass make it quite unique. I love your plates too. Your artwork is really wonderful and I so enjoyed having a peek. Thanks for sharing and have a beautiful day.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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    1. Thank you Sandi, I like looking at the cabinet and remembering my great-grandparents. I hope you're having a lovely week.

      Blessings to you too,
      Elisha

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  12. I love those kind of weekends as well. All of your hard work paid off on the bottles. They look great in your kitchen! I have a small collection of brown ones on display on a cabinet in my basement. You really are an amazing artist! Love your sketches. You found some great things. Love the plates! Thanks for sharing with Share Your Cup. I'm sure it's not intentional, but I'm not seeing a linkback to the party.
    hugs,
    Jann

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    1. Thanks Jann, although I'm pretty sure if I see another bottle any time soon, I might just cry! Thanks for your lovely compliments about my art, they're very encouraging. I'll add a link-up to your party next time I link up, I thought I had sorry. Have a lovely week!

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  13. I love your collections. Thank you for sharing on SYC. Jo

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    1. Thanks Anne, hope you're having a beautiful week.

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  14. Your sketches are gorgeous...such talent!
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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    1. Thank you Cindy, sketching is something I find very relaxing. Thanks for hosting your link-up,

      Blessings to you,
      Elisha

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  15. Hello Elisha! Thank you so much for sharing your finds and your cabinet with us over at "Let's Talk Vintage!" I am giving you a feature today (9:00 am Eastern Time) Enjoy the day! ~Jill

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    1. Oh wow! Thanks Jillian! I really appreciate that! Have a lovely week :)

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