Remember the other day I found that window? Well the next day on my walk, striding up that hill I thought, oh how funny I am on that same hill again, I might just see if a particular old rundown house has anything sitting outside it
Well it didn't and the skip was gone. Wow! It hit me then what a close shave I had with missing out on the window entirely, if it wasn't for my favour-giving-skills *wink I would've missed out by, oh about 10 hours. I had a huge sigh of relief, can you only begin to imagine how so very disappointed I woulda been if it had been gone?
So today I got to work and spent a long long time cleaning that vintage window and nursing her back to life. Wow there was a whole lotta grime on there baby.
I started off by brushing to get the dry dust off and then next it really was just a simple case of using a wet rag and soapy water…a shed load of soap and water.
Take a look at that grime
This was a so-me job – I love something like this that looks soooo sad and neglected and was literally sitting waiting to get crushed and head to that big old graveyard landfill, that then starts to, wake up almost, as the layers of dirt wipe off.
And as I washed her, that old lady window delivered, as promised when she called me from the skip (or dumpster or whatever you call it where you are), you can find the story here. Further temporary primping, just to show you how far she's come, revealed a shabby, peely, vision in old vintage white.
The lack of perfection in this old piece contrasts with the few more modern IKEA-y things around and you already know how much I love that, this one is no exception.
She's fitting in quite well already…a Beach Cottage treasure in her own right I believe…just wait 'til as per lg's advice, she gets some lights tucked in behind her, is placed proudly on the wall and has some nice hooks all along the bottom. Thanks to all of you who came up with suggestions, Cherrie mentioned it might be nice on the porch, that's on the list if it doesn't work here and Floss my bloggy friend in France (head over there, it's good) mentioned some French ideas torn from a magazine, thanks Floss that'd be good, Tales From an OC Cottage hinted a starfish might look nice (she got that right) and Desiree
said just do what I've done today, lean it up and put nice things on it
…and if I haven't mentioned you thank you it means a lot to me that you come here and take an interest in my crazy new thrifting life by the sea…I read, laugh, nod, smile, and appreciate every single comment…even if I haven't got back to you and you think I don't. K?
looks wonderful. but i cannot tell where she is sitting? is it on the mantle? i love the keys. i have some old keys too!
i really appreciated seeing the neighborhoods where you drive to look for finds. it is so helpful to see that you don’t live where everything is ‘bc ready’. i was amazed that someone was willing to part with those two beach chairs. but they found their real home, huh?
anyroad, your post encourages/inspires me to make changes that surprise and excite me. many thanks! jkj
Looks great Sarah – LOL, actually I think I’m going to take some photos of OUR windows!
I could just imagine the reply I’d have if I asked DH to collect something like that for me – he really would think I’d lost the plot – he just doesn’t have the vision.
“Our senses are indeed our doors and windows on this world, in a very real sense the key to the unlocking of meaning and the wellspring of creativity.”
I think this sums up you and your blog.
Always inspired by you!
Ok the window was one thing that I was wondering “mmmmmm what is she going to do with that” and it looks so great!!! You really have a talent for this and your pics are so much better than half the books I pick up…..you really should consider doing one you know!!
still lots and lots of dust here – even the bathtub had a thick layer of red
dust in it!
I didn’t know there was another one coming…eeek, maybe I’ll not dust tmr
I’ve fallen in love with your blog – such fresh, inspiring ideas! But more than that, you seem so cheerful and sincere – so many blogs have become vehicles for adverts and I love the fact that yours isn’t one of them. A Beach Cottage is for me all about good karma and a break when I need it – thanks so much! Keep up the great work!
It has been a little while since I dropped by and I have to say that everything is looking absolutely gorgeous. Your making me want to head down the hill from the Highlands today to spend some time on the coast.
Have a great weekend in this totally glorious spring weather that we are having.
As someone who has a whole series of blog posts on ‘how to live in a beach cottage while residing 100 of miles away from the ocean…’ you can imagine that I love your project.
Truly Sarah, this is a trash to treasure piece for sure. You rescued her, you nursed it back to life and now you’ll have years of enjoyments over the save of a neglected window.
It is truly beautiful with the star fish addition, soup can flower vase, silvered candle holder and sea shells. Absolutley gorgeous.
Surely, you could easily write a book about your wonderful ideas, photos, thoughts and such. You are a gifted soul.
Gretchen
Oh Sarah – I am lovin’ that vintage window! You know how I love em nice and chippy and shabby! You did a fabulous job decorating it. Love the sweet starfish in the middle!
I love how that window turned out. You did really get that baby nice and clean. And you decorated it so sweetly. Ya know about 8 years ago I picked up an old window by the side of the road, It’s glass panes broken, but I had little mirrors made to insert and cleaned it up, and gave it a shelf, and I still love that piece today. it sits above my rec room sofa. I love the addition of the starfish and the little pop of silver you added.
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 …]
Beach Cottage ladies, we have some vintage linen and some wood/twig washed up on the beach today here in Beach Cottage Land….don’t say I don’t keep you entertained now will you . Â Come on in. So, yep I have posted about colanders on this blog, about things sourced from the side of the road, about [...]
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
So very loved, she is simply smiling and breathing again.
I just love how you’ve made her sing
x
~Justine~
ps I’m still cooking that bun lol
That’s real vision – and obviously a lot of elbow grease! Pure serendipity, I think!
Pomona x
She looks fabulous now.
Love the daisies too!
Alison
Your blog is always so peaceful and cheery. So gloriously inspiring. Thanks.
LOVE the new find. A little elbow grease goes a long way.
I knew you would deliver on this one Sarah, just as you always do. She is just SO gorgeous, great job.
That little tin can is the perfect finishing touch!
JUST BEAUTIFUL!!!
Layla
Absolutely beach-alicious! WOW!
m ^..^
And the little shell with the pop of blue looks so happy to see her.
Cheers~
~Julia
she’s lovely and looking fab in her new home!
SMiles!
Michelle
She’s sitting pretty! Love it!
It seems to me that the now-gorgeous window is a smaller version of your whole beach cottage. It looks really great! I like the hook idea too.
I love it! Makes me want to find an old abandoned farm to rummage through myself!
A little love and attention is all she needed.
What a wonderful find…beautifully displayed.
This turned out very nice. Just what YOU had in mind!!! So Airy. So Beachy. So Beautiful!
Love, love, love it!
Tina
Oh Sarah! Still thinking of you and your window, still wondering where on earth I could have put that magazine!…
It’s looking lovely at the moment, anyway, and you know I haven’t forgotten you.
All your hard work, love and attention paid off.
She looks beautiful!
looks wonderful. but i cannot tell where she is sitting? is it on the mantle? i love the keys. i have some old keys too!
i really appreciated seeing the neighborhoods where you drive to look for finds. it is so helpful to see that you don’t live where everything is ‘bc ready’. i was amazed that someone was willing to part with those two beach chairs. but they found their real home, huh?
anyroad, your post encourages/inspires me to make changes that surprise and excite me. many thanks! jkj
Looks great Sarah – LOL, actually I think I’m going to take some photos of OUR windows!
I could just imagine the reply I’d have if I asked DH to collect something like that for me – he really would think I’d lost the plot – he just doesn’t have the vision.
Yep, she’s smilin’ now! A-M xx
Oh, the window is beautiful! Love it! Also, is that a piece of aqua blue sea glass that I see? I am blue with envy, it is the perfect touch! Far out!
It looks beautiful! The fresh flowers and silver look so perfect against the peeling white paint.
Looks great. I would have been tempted to pop her in the bath but you are very patient and correct in using the soapy water and a rag.
Sigh….I adore this sweet window! She is absolutely lovely!
Smiles,
Rachel
always so much fun to visit your beach cottage… love the tin can with daisies… love it.
“Our senses are indeed our doors and windows on this world, in a very real sense the key to the unlocking of meaning and the wellspring of creativity.”
I think this sums up you and your blog.
Always inspired by you!
The starfish was a great idea! Love how it looks!
Brenda
How wonderful that you have given the old girl new life again Sarah. She looks great!!
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
fantasitc! can’t wait to see her with lights!
Pretty! I love how you call a dumpster a skip, it sounds SO much nicer.
Ok the window was one thing that I was wondering “mmmmmm what is she going to do with that” and it looks so great!!! You really have a talent for this and your pics are so much better than half the books I pick up…..you really should consider doing one you know!!
watch this space
On Thu, Sep 24, 2009 at 7:05 PM, wrote:
Gorgeous Sarah… she is beautiful
How did you fare with the storm? I’m still cleaning up but heard there may be another on Saturday
Take Care xx Julie
Gorgeous! I love all the details that you have placed around it, especially the keys!
I was wondering how you would dress her. Fabulous as always.
cause she’s fabulous!!!! as the song goes….well done….loving the window addition…keep it up xxx
still lots and lots of dust here – even the bathtub had a thick layer of red
dust in it!
I didn’t know there was another one coming…eeek, maybe I’ll not dust tmr
S
xo
On Thu, Sep 24, 2009 at 9:09 PM, wrote:
She’s lookin’ right at home in the cottage by the sea…
So pretty and perfectly done!
I’ve fallen in love with your blog – such fresh, inspiring ideas! But more than that, you seem so cheerful and sincere – so many blogs have become vehicles for adverts and I love the fact that yours isn’t one of them. A Beach Cottage is for me all about good karma and a break when I need it – thanks so much! Keep up the great work!
Best,
Amy.
Beautiful photographs and very inspiring project…as always! Stop by some day, we’d love to have you over!
Looks really pretty – nice job!
A beautiful transformation…how lucky you were to find it still in the casing…the little ledge with your goodies is perfect!
Happy day.
xojanis
Greetings from Canada…love your blog. More videos please…they are such fun to watch.
Hi Sarah,
It has been a little while since I dropped by and I have to say that everything is looking absolutely gorgeous. Your making me want to head down the hill from the Highlands today to spend some time on the coast.
Have a great weekend in this totally glorious spring weather that we are having.
x Coty
Great window makeover Sarah – are you planning more dumpster diving this coming weekend!!!? Can’t wait to see what cottage treasures you unearth.
I e-mailed you about Bovey Tracey etc. hope you get it.
Mary – ACROSS THE POND
I love it…great job and I love your styling. I think I might just have to start looking in skip bins!
As someone who has a whole series of blog posts on ‘how to live in a beach cottage while residing 100 of miles away from the ocean…’ you can imagine that I love your project.
They are very nice pictures
Truly Sarah, this is a trash to treasure piece for sure. You rescued her, you nursed it back to life and now you’ll have years of enjoyments over the save of a neglected window.
It is truly beautiful with the star fish addition, soup can flower vase, silvered candle holder and sea shells. Absolutley gorgeous.
Surely, you could easily write a book about your wonderful ideas, photos, thoughts and such. You are a gifted soul.
Gretchen
Oh Sarah – I am lovin’ that vintage window! You know how I love em nice and chippy and shabby! You did a fabulous job decorating it. Love the sweet starfish in the middle!
Blessings,
Marie
I love how that window turned out. You did really get that baby nice and clean. And you decorated it so sweetly. Ya know about 8 years ago I picked up an old window by the side of the road, It’s glass panes broken, but I had little mirrors made to insert and cleaned it up, and gave it a shelf, and I still love that piece today. it sits above my rec room sofa. I love the addition of the starfish and the little pop of silver you added.