In the ideal world, inhabited by the designer, decor can be, more or less, manufactured…but for me, here, it has been, and I do not wish to mince my words, much more of a challenge to get the cottage looking as I want. And a way I get around this challenge is to seek out top-notch inspiration (and see Beach Cottage Inspiration for some oh-so-fabulous, mind blowing rooms to make you zip off to your nearest DIY store in a hurry). But in a way I think that is the beauty of this funny old journey I seem to find myself on – putting our own mark on things, finding ways to achieve a look and sometimes just having a go.
And this is so what I did with this bucket bag, have a go (and I have more than one gone-wrong prototype around the cottage, oh and yes one with upside down print and one with wonky sides).
The aim, dear bloggers, was to try and conceal, I mean store, my ever-growing and much-irritating-to-other-members-of-the-cottage magazine collection while incorporating a few rustic touches, for texture and balance with all the errrm, white and the a-bit-too-modern leather sofas in the family room.
What a great plan eh? I've always loved me a bit of vintage burlap, especially that which is stamped with an industrial print.
And without seeming all coochy-crafty-coo (this was definitely a project with a few words that the Beach Cottage kiddos wouldn't want to hear) I enjoyed making this today - I believe that resorting to a bit of home foofying, sometimes is, the place to escape to.
It was pretty simple to do, I simply made a lined square bucket bag from some old sacks that I came across (and I stumbled upon a huge heap of them, bring it on).
I won't tell you that it probably took me longer to clean up the pieces of burlap from just about every surface in the cottage than it did to actually make the bags…or that when I arrived at the school I wished I had taken a look at my black jumper which seemed to be have a thick covering of a strange animal's hair, which was in fact burlap fluff, but who was actually asking and not just sort of staring?
Tomorrow I will, Dyson duties permitting, be attempting a couple more cushion covers to go with the beachy stripe that, you of course, can WIN, should you like to take the time to leave me a comment telling me just what you think of my little adventures today with old sacks…
blogged for Works for Me Wednesdays
for the giveaway simply comment as many times as you want, on any post this week or subscribe to my feed, tweet about it or add my button (see yesterdays post for details)
don't forget theInspiration Board, updated with some more finds today!
A burlap bag? OH MY!! I am in love with burlap as of lately (my new discovery) and I am a bag lady at heart, so when you say burlap and bag together – you have my heart in your hands.
I also love that word “wonky” I think I may have to use that here in Chicagoland. Do you mind?
Well done you – I love the image of you making it and covering everything with bits as you went! A friend from Ghana has some fantastic coffee sacks with African logos and words – they would work really well, wouldn’t they? I’ve kept your button on my blog, as I would love to enter this giveaway too!
Everytime I open your blog you have another cool idea that costs next to nothing!! They look really fantastic…… and talking about magazine collections mine dates back to about 1999 so calculating that I have bought at least 4 house magazines a month for nearly 10 years then that works out to be ummmmmmmm……a hell of a lot of magazines! and I couldn’t bare to part with a single one! Luckily I have a very big cupboard that I store them all in so they are out of sight except for the piles of the latest ones that seem to crop up all over the house!!
G’morning Sarah – Great Bags – Hope to get a chance to figure out where and how to use one. New inspiration pics are great – I’m in love with Chandeliers – it’s my mission to get one in every room of every home. Check me out on ebay – chandeliermagic. You’ll see how you’ve inspired me to use my little beach house, it’s working and I appreciate you.
I’m gobsmacked! Where did you get the idea?? As always: lovely! And what’s even more; how nice of you to give them away again! What are you like girl?:P
Another great idea!!!! I love to open your site and see your latest transformatiton! I also love that you showed us glimpses of all your rooms – your home seems sooooooooo cozy and warm and filled with all the love you have created. You should be very proud of the home you have made for your family. You did an awesome job on the burlap bag – I LOVE burlap and just finished a monogrammed burlap runner for my old trunk that I use as a coffee table. I threw it in the dryer first and it got rid of the all the burlap dust.
Sarah
What a sensational idea and it came out perfectly…tutorial please ma’am? My son has an old coffee bag or two from the time he worked at a coffee shop…I’ll bet I can steal them since he’s in the Army now…yep, he’s off serving our country and I’m swiping his stuff ;D
I love it! Is it heavy enough to hold my book collection?? I read 1 in every room of my house!! Now I need to find some bags. Everything now comes in those plastic ones!
I could just imagine all the burlap fluff on you. Wouldn’t you just love to know what the other moms at school thought. The bag turned out great. I would love to win.
Bringing driftwood color & natural texture into the room with your great little creation… yet another inspiration. When/if I get my own little beach cottage, I want you to decorate it. Deal?
I’ve been busy making bags as well and end up with bits strewn all over the lounge where I work! I like the way you have used the burlap – it is very effective in your house.
OMGosh…I have just GOT to have one of these. Oh, Sarah, where will I ever find the wonderful burlap so that I can make one?? I don’t have a clue where to look…it does look magnificent in your white cottage.
I made mention of you and your cute cottage in my tablescape post tonight…
hugs, bj
I love that little burlap bag! It has like 1,000 uses! I could totally put it on my stairs and use it to carry all those little thing (toys, pens, phone books, etc) that somehow meander from upstairs to down stairs) or I could put it on my kitchen to store potatoes and onions or I could use it in the bathroom for some little soaps for our guests! Love it!
that bag is so stinkin’ cute! i love things that are cute AND useful. you are one creative lady…and highly inspiring! i love burlap and this bag is adorable. love your blog!
kathi @ traybella
Thanks for the opportunity to win both covers. I haven’t had much experience working with burlap, but I remember my mother using burlap rice sacks as a sort of rug in the kitchen.
the_outsider01AThotmailDOTcom
Love, love that bag! What a great idea. I could use it for so many wonderful things.
Thank you for the chance to win.
Blessings,
Marie
blog: http://emmacallsmemama.com
email: marie@waltercom.com
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
G’day ladies, oooh have I got a good Beach Cottage recipe for you or have I got a good recipe for you. Â Well it’s actually not Beach Cottage, I cannot claim that… So, a couple of months ago I met up with a couple of blogging friends, AllConsuming and Mrs W for a lil [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? Â The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
 1. beat the cream cheese  until it is soft
2. Â whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
Â
6. layer on top the cream combo
Â
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
Â
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)Â
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. Â I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.Â
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Â Oh yeah. Â Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. Â C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
That is so creative … love it!
A burlap bag? OH MY!! I am in love with burlap as of lately (my new discovery) and I am a bag lady at heart, so when you say burlap and bag together – you have my heart in your hands.
I also love that word “wonky” I think I may have to use that here in Chicagoland. Do you mind?
Love the burlap bags. Burlap is also one of my new discoveries and I dream about where I would use one of these bags. Great job!
I love it! It has that natural rustic beachy feel!
Well done you – I love the image of you making it and covering everything with bits as you went! A friend from Ghana has some fantastic coffee sacks with African logos and words – they would work really well, wouldn’t they? I’ve kept your button on my blog, as I would love to enter this giveaway too!
I totally love it! Your cottage is so beautiful. Every time I come to your site I automatically feel peacefulness and calm.
Everytime I open your blog you have another cool idea that costs next to nothing!! They look really fantastic…… and talking about magazine collections mine dates back to about 1999 so calculating that I have bought at least 4 house magazines a month for nearly 10 years then that works out to be ummmmmmmm……a hell of a lot of magazines! and I couldn’t bare to part with a single one! Luckily I have a very big cupboard that I store them all in so they are out of sight except for the piles of the latest ones that seem to crop up all over the house!!
G’morning Sarah – Great Bags – Hope to get a chance to figure out where and how to use one. New inspiration pics are great – I’m in love with Chandeliers – it’s my mission to get one in every room of every home. Check me out on ebay – chandeliermagic. You’ll see how you’ve inspired me to use my little beach house, it’s working and I appreciate you.
Simply Fabulous! LIke you my dah-lin!
Love the burlap bag….the ideas that run through my mind that I could do with burlap.
Love the texture that it gives and the color is fantastic!!
Hava a great day!!
Hugs~T
Love the bag, love your cottage so peaceful looking.
Call me crazy but I’ve never heard of burlap before!!! I am liking what I see though, it looks great.
Mel xxx
You are so creative. I love visiting your blog!!
Another great idea!!!! I love to open your site and see your latest transformatiton!
I also love that you showed us glimpses of all your rooms – your home seems sooooooooo cozy and warm and filled with all the love you have created. You should be very proud of the home you have made for your family. You did an awesome job on the burlap bag – I LOVE burlap and just finished a monogrammed burlap runner for my old trunk that I use as a coffee table. I threw it in the dryer first and it got rid of the all the burlap dust.
Sarah
Totally ‘Sacks 5th Avenue’!! Another winner, Sarah!
You Rock!!!
yes you do! I love your burlap bag!! Just what I need to hold all my magazines as well! Way to go.
LuLu
How very bur-clever of you… it looks great in your all white lounge. Very creative.
I. Love. This. I am so on a hunt for burlap bags- I guess I can buy burlap and do it myself. Oh my. Oh my my.
What a sensational idea and it came out perfectly…tutorial please ma’am? My son has an old coffee bag or two from the time he worked at a coffee shop…I’ll bet I can steal them since he’s in the Army now…yep, he’s off serving our country and I’m swiping his stuff ;D
I love it! Is it heavy enough to hold my book collection?? I read 1 in every room of my house!! Now I need to find some bags. Everything now comes in those plastic ones!
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
I think your idea of concealing clutter in a charming, burlap bag is brilliant!
Whatever you turn your hand to just comes out fabulous. Well done.
Chrissie
I could just imagine all the burlap fluff on you. Wouldn’t you just love to know what the other moms at school thought. The bag turned out great. I would love to win.
Kudos to you again. I have a bag I got at a green festival. I will use it in my bathroom to put beautiful white towels in !!
Bringing driftwood color & natural texture into the room with your great little creation… yet another inspiration. When/if I get my own little beach cottage, I want you to decorate it. Deal?
I’ve been busy making bags as well and end up with bits strewn all over the lounge where I work! I like the way you have used the burlap – it is very effective in your house.
Oh, gosh, I just remembered I did a burlap table cloth for a party back in the (cough) late 70′s. My oh-so formal mother in law was horrified.
Wow, I’d forgotten that.
simply gorgeous.
Well, I don’t care how much burlap you have on the floors OR on your jumper, this was so worth it! It’s brilliant. laurie
My,my…you are a busy bee and a creative one too! Looks great and might steal the idea.
Have a great day, Jeannette
I think I am going to start an “A Beach Cottage Fan Club.” I would be the lead groupie!
The shopping list blackboard on the mood board is a cool idea, would have never thought to use furniture in this way.
The burlap bag adds a nice rugged earthy touch to the white beach cottage, well done, simple but oh so chic!
Love the burlap bag and your gorgeous beachy room!
This is going into the memory ideas bank!
Who doesn’t love a rustic burlap bag?
I have two in the bottom of my pantry – one for potatoes and the other for onion storage.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
Happy Tablescape Thursday ~ Susan
OMGosh…I have just GOT to have one of these. Oh, Sarah, where will I ever find the wonderful burlap so that I can make one?? I don’t have a clue where to look…it does look magnificent in your white cottage.
I made mention of you and your cute cottage in my tablescape post tonight…
hugs, bj
i like your cottage shots… it felt like I was visiting..lol. Marilyn xoxo
Wonderful use of the burlap. I really liked it on the table. Great idea!
That’s a really creative and unique use for a burlap sack!! It’s great when you can find a functional use for something that you enjoy looking at
Kelly @ DesignTies
I LOVE THAT BAG! You could sell those – I would buy them! So cute and practical!
I love that little burlap bag! It has like 1,000 uses! I could totally put it on my stairs and use it to carry all those little thing (toys, pens, phone books, etc) that somehow meander from upstairs to down stairs) or I could put it on my kitchen to store potatoes and onions or I could use it in the bathroom for some little soaps for our guests! Love it!
WOW what a creative idea.I love it! So natural and pure beauty.
I never would have dreamed of using burlap but it’s beautiful! I would love to win that to keep my stacks looking tidy!
I love your blog. It’s fab. What a fun giveaway! Ü
that bag is so stinkin’ cute! i love things that are cute AND useful. you are one creative lady…and highly inspiring! i love burlap and this bag is adorable. love your blog!
kathi @ traybella
Thanks for the opportunity to win both covers. I haven’t had much experience working with burlap, but I remember my mother using burlap rice sacks as a sort of rug in the kitchen.
the_outsider01AThotmailDOTcom
I think the sacks/bags/magazine hiders are great!
Love, love that bag! What a great idea. I could use it for so many wonderful things.
Thank you for the chance to win.
Blessings,
Marie
blog: http://emmacallsmemama.com
email: marie@waltercom.com