Morning campers! Hope you all enjoyed a happy Mother's Day. We spent it with a bbq right on the waters edge at the wharf, it was windy but we were well-wrapped.
For a while now I've wanted a large chalkboard somewhere in the cottage and see theBeach Cottage Inspiration Boardfor lots more inspiration – a portal for all things, white, vintage and beachy. I thought about painting directly on the wall as I've seen in some magazine shoots but always thought that looked somewhat 'flat'. And considering that I find it particularly difficult to find any kind of art that I like I thought that I might try and re-work a vintage piece to lean on the wall in lieu of art.
Which takes me to this old door. I could tell ya that I picked it up from a beautiful old antiques shop and paid a small fortune for it or any other such tale but actually it was found for me for a cost of nil by my number one sourcer. And I don't need to tell you who that is, do I? He phoned me one day on his way to work about an old door he'd seen outside a turn of the century old cottage, with a hand-written sign on it 'Free to a Good Home' and he wondered if I might like it.
Hmmm, it sounded gorgeous, but I have to say I was rather dubious, Mr BC can be somewhat, shall we say, blinkered at times in the taste department.
Anyway I loved it and my first plan was to turn it into some kind of shelf and hang it horizontally in the family room, but after it taking three of us to even get it inside the cottage we decided that it wouldn't be a good idea, should you be sitting there happily watching tv when an old door fell on your head…we have enough of those sort of events in skate parks.
So this is what I did to it over the weekend, gave it a quick coat of oh-so-delicious, beachy white, my secret formula, hahaha and then a coat of chalkboard paint…simplicity itself to do, I think it's the mix of textures I like..
I'm pretty pleased with it & however much white painted furniture there might be around here, there'll always be room for a vintage door re-worked with beachy white…
This week's giveaway is two of the putty striped cushion covers, just right for you to stick on an old vintage white chair to give you that old beach housee ambiance and as you know, my favourite thing to do is to team old vintage pieces with a coastal feel…laid back, easy and just nice…
As before, no rules, just comment, as many times you like, the more you comment the more you enter. Simple. Of course I'll ship worldwide baby.
If you subscribe and add my little button I'll add you lots and lots! (just copy the code and pop it in the html section)
<href=http://abeachcottage.com><img alt="swing by the Beach Cottage Giveaway" src=http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo10/abeachcottage/plaincottagebutton.jpg border="0" />
Blogged for Susan's Metamorphosis event, thanks Susan and lovelyRhoda, whose blog is always a great source of inspiration for the thrifter and for that matter the decorator out there.
And the winner of the beachy napery from last week is Suzann-Marie - can you let me know your address, abeachcottage@gmail.com
How cool to have Mr BC on the prowl for treasures for you. It is looking good propped on the wall as a central message point for the family. Have you seen whiteboard paint in your hardwares stores yet? Saw it blogged about and thought that could be fun to repurpose furnishings.
Thanks again for my super prize. I’m the luckiest girl in the whole wide world. I am in love with that burlap pillow on your sofa – just yummy!!!
What a GREAT idea for your chalkboard. You are so creative!
Your husband obviously knows that you can take something that looks like nothing and turn it into a beauty. How wonderful! (Do you lay on the floor to take your lovely photos?) laurie
oooh, I’ve been jonesin’ for those pillow covers ever since I first saw them on your blog. And since your blog has inspired me to redecorate my living room in a beach cottage style, I’ve been looking for them! They would be perfect, as you know. I’ve subscribed, but when I added the button html to my blog, it didn’t work (scroll to the bottom of the right column of my blog and you can see). Thanks for the giveaway.
I’ve had your lovely link to your blog on my blog for ages now, as I love to read your inspiring posts. I’ve now added the Beach Cottage Inspiration to my blogroll, and I’m sure I’ll visit it just as often!
For some reason, it seems my first comment didn’t get saved here. I’ve tried to add your button, but my wordpress blog doesn’t let me add html. I did subscribe, and I have links to both your sites now! Thanks for the entries, can’t wait to hear.
Great find by Mr BC, just perfect for a central message centre. Have you seen the new white board paint in the hardware stores in your area? Another blogger posted about how much fun they were having with it and sure sounds like a good idea for converting furnishings.
Great idea to turn the door into a chalkboard It’s interesting and unique, and a great way to showcase a wonderful old door. It’ll be an ever-changing piece of art as you and your family jot down notes on it
I am positively head over heels in love with that door!! It’s just perfect, and I agree with having unique “art” pieces!! I just love chalkboards, and this one is gorgeous, lucky duck you!!
This is incredible!! ::insert sound of thunderous applause here!::
First off, Mr, BC did a brilliant job (“…blinkered at times in the taste department.” HAHAHA! And that’s the nicest curbside door I’ve ever seen…it really lent itself perfectly to your chalkboard project. I’ll never be able to look at a door on the curb the same way…
And yes; I think those cushions would look lovely in the shore house.
I love your blog – just looking at your Home Page brings a sense of serenity. How I wish I could actually be there to smell the pure air that surely surrounds your wonderful cottage!
Please enter me in your giveaway – I absolutely adore the pillows!
I’m having a giveaway too – albeit not as exciting as yours! Come see . . . and visit for a few minutes:
Those beachy kiddos have no excuse now for not letting you know where they’re headed off to. Just chalk it up there on the old door. I had a few old doors I found once and of course decoupaged them. I’d never heard of chalkboard paint back then. There was a time that if it stood still long enough, it got decoupaged!
Brenda
Lovely! I’ve painted my little hall wall with chalkboard paint…never regreted it…Love your house! One can see it a bit better now with the bigger angle..
I love your beachy blog. After living in my house for a year, I’ve finally decided to start decorating. These lovely pillows would get me off to a great start! Thanks for the giveaway!!
HI there! Have joined your blog for daily updates as I too live at the beach in our sunny, sunny state. You have given me loads of ideas and I have my daily fix of design blogs whenever I can. Anyway thanks so much for a bright and breezy blog and yours is one of my favourites!! Cheer, Lyn
Oooh…I’m really enjoying your blog…it’s just like looking through a great design magazine with lots of beautiful photos and great ideas!!! So inspirational, my friend!!!
Okay…this has got to be the coolest idea ever!!! I love how your old cottage door looks with the chalkboard painted right onto the glass!!! Love, love, love this idea!!! And you’re right…this is so much sweeter than just painting the chalkboard onto the wall!!! Congrats, my friend…for having such a GRAND idea!!!
I really love all the white in your cottage, we are surrounded by dirt and fields so no white here everything is always dusty, but those striped covers would be awesome.
oh wow, I just saw the tulip picture hanging on your wall, it is gorgeous!! I may have to change a photo I took to black & white and have it enlarged, that is so striking.
Your old door/chalkboard is lovely! I went to an architectural salvage place today and saw lots of lovely old doors and windows, though I didn’t want to spend the money with no specific plans for them. Now if they were free, I would have snatched them up
An old door…it looks wonderful in your home. I see these old paneled doors waiting for the trashman all the time…hmmmm, now you’re stirring up ideas. Thanks so much!
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
Sign me up for the giveaway
Sign me up
I LOVE your beach decorating!!! You have inspired me
Your house is just lovely! Marilyn xoxo
Congrats to Suzann, lucky girl.
How cool to have Mr BC on the prowl for treasures for you. It is looking good propped on the wall as a central message point for the family. Have you seen whiteboard paint in your hardwares stores yet? Saw it blogged about and thought that could be fun to repurpose furnishings.
Thanks again for my super prize. I’m the luckiest girl in the whole wide world. I am in love with that burlap pillow on your sofa – just yummy!!!
What a GREAT idea for your chalkboard. You are so creative!
I just want to move in! Another beautiful project!
Amy
Another great addition for the Beach Cottage Sarah.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
Your husband obviously knows that you can take something that looks like nothing and turn it into a beauty. How wonderful! (Do you lay on the floor to take your lovely photos?) laurie
Gorgeous door – ingenious transformation!
oooh, I’ve been jonesin’ for those pillow covers ever since I first saw them on your blog. And since your blog has inspired me to redecorate my living room in a beach cottage style, I’ve been looking for them! They would be perfect, as you know. I’ve subscribed, but when I added the button html to my blog, it didn’t work (scroll to the bottom of the right column of my blog and you can see). Thanks for the giveaway.
I’ve had your lovely link to your blog on my blog for ages now, as I love to read your inspiring posts. I’ve now added the Beach Cottage Inspiration to my blogroll, and I’m sure I’ll visit it just as often!
For some reason, it seems my first comment didn’t get saved here. I’ve tried to add your button, but my wordpress blog doesn’t let me add html. I did subscribe, and I have links to both your sites now! Thanks for the entries, can’t wait to hear.
aha! html problem resolved. Your button has been added – and a cute button it is!
Love the door, love your cottage! You should be featured in a magazine! Deb
I am loving the cottage so glad I found it from wayy over her in TEXAS !!! lol
Great find by Mr BC, just perfect for a central message centre. Have you seen the new white board paint in the hardware stores in your area? Another blogger posted about how much fun they were having with it and sure sounds like a good idea for converting furnishings.
I love old doors and windows. Yours was such a good find and well a perfect price. The transformation was both great and fits well with your interior.
Kris
I Love your door! It sure would be a classy back for a desk. I think those beach pillows would go real well in our Florida Beach House. I really have enjoyed reading your blog. TTFN
Huggs, nancy
http://www.coeurdalenegifts.com
http://www.coeurdalenegifts.com/blog/
Great idea to turn the door into a chalkboard
It’s interesting and unique, and a great way to showcase a wonderful old door. It’ll be an ever-changing piece of art as you and your family jot down notes on it 
I added your button to the sidebar of our blog
Kelly @ DesignTies
I think these pillows would help spruce up my couch – I need to do something about the old ones! I’m going to subscribe… I love your calming style!
I am positively head over heels in love with that door!!
It’s just perfect, and I agree with having unique “art” pieces!! I just love chalkboards, and this one is gorgeous, lucky duck you!!
This is incredible!! ::insert sound of thunderous applause here!::
First off, Mr, BC did a brilliant job (“…blinkered at times in the taste department.” HAHAHA!
And that’s the nicest curbside door I’ve ever seen…it really lent itself perfectly to your chalkboard project. I’ll never be able to look at a door on the curb the same way…
And yes; I think those cushions would look lovely in the shore house.
I love your blog – just looking at your Home Page brings a sense of serenity. How I wish I could actually be there to smell the pure air that surely surrounds your wonderful cottage!
Please enter me in your giveaway – I absolutely adore the pillows!
I’m having a giveaway too – albeit not as exciting as yours! Come see . . . and visit for a few minutes:
http://lifeloveladybugs.blogspot.com
It’s me again, trying really hard to win!!
Your chalkboard/door is wonderful. Can’t wait to see what words of wisdom appear on it soon!
Beautiful. I have linked to you on my sidebar also and in my blogroll.
Those beachy kiddos have no excuse now for not letting you know where they’re headed off to. Just chalk it up there on the old door. I had a few old doors I found once and of course decoupaged them. I’d never heard of chalkboard paint back then. There was a time that if it stood still long enough, it got decoupaged!
Brenda
Lovely! I’ve painted my little hall wall with chalkboard paint…never regreted it…Love your house! One can see it a bit better now with the bigger angle..
Love your blog!!! A quintessential beach cottage…very ahhh! Love the pillows too.
I love your beachy blog. After living in my house for a year, I’ve finally decided to start decorating. These lovely pillows would get me off to a great start! Thanks for the giveaway!!
HI there! Have joined your blog for daily updates as I too live at the beach in our sunny, sunny state. You have given me loads of ideas and I have my daily fix of design blogs whenever I can. Anyway thanks so much for a bright and breezy blog and yours is one of my favourites!! Cheer, Lyn
Hi Sarah…
Oooh…I’m really enjoying your blog…it’s just like looking through a great design magazine with lots of beautiful photos and great ideas!!! So inspirational, my friend!!!
Okay…this has got to be the coolest idea ever!!! I love how your old cottage door looks with the chalkboard painted right onto the glass!!! Love, love, love this idea!!! And you’re right…this is so much sweeter than just painting the chalkboard onto the wall!!! Congrats, my friend…for having such a GRAND idea!!!
Warmest wishes,
Chari
I would have never thought of that ever! You are so amazing.
These pillows are charming. They look like they could dress up or dress down any room.
What a good idea – it looks great and functional too. Why am I not surprised to see a copy of “At home with White” sitting on your coffee table!
love your decorating style! I’ve been painting furniture this week myself.
I really love all the white in your cottage, we are surrounded by dirt and fields so no white here everything is always dusty, but those striped covers would be awesome.
forgot to say that I have subscribed to your feed. would love to win
oh wow, I just saw the tulip picture hanging on your wall, it is gorgeous!! I may have to change a photo I took to black & white and have it enlarged, that is so striking.
Have I told you lately how much I love your cottage and want to rent it! Well I do!!!
hugs and happy day,
Lulu
I have enjoyed browsing your blog! The cushions are gorgeous and perfect for that beachy feel!
I just have to find something to use blackboard paint on…just have to find the right thing…absolutely adorable.
Now, to subscribe..
Your old door/chalkboard is lovely! I went to an architectural salvage place today and saw lots of lovely old doors and windows, though I didn’t want to spend the money with no specific plans for them. Now if they were free, I would have snatched them up
Hmmm…just lovely. You are just so creative. Marilyn xoxo
Love your chalkboard, love your pillows!
An old door…it looks wonderful in your home. I see these old paneled doors waiting for the trashman all the time…hmmmm, now you’re stirring up ideas. Thanks so much!
Would love those pillows! Please enter me!
Beautiful door! I also love all of your putty and white. Very pretty!
Beautiful door! I also love all of your putty and white. Very pretty!
I love your chalkboard door! I did the same thing with an old window!
You have a beautiful home!
Hugs from Eventually Cottage!