…but not only that, just how wonderful the colours of the ocean are, how they change all the time and how inspiring the power of nature is…
and also how that colour might look quite nice on my wall…
Plus I had a few emails about these and selling them…so I took them down and got them printed off in 6 x 8′s to see what they’d look like in print…they turned out much better in ‘real life’ on the photo paper than I thought they would..and, they just, I dunno, seemed to say me right now…soI thought a big one would be quite nice too in our old cottage…
So, I thought I would get one enlarged and frame it for the wall in the Family Room seeing as it is very white in there…
Just about everywhere lately I have come across quotes…online, in shops, on the tv, on Facebook…you know those quotes about being happy and smiling and all that malarkey…for some reason I have never quite liked these but lately I have come to grow rather fond of them…I’ve always thought them on the errr of tacky, you know, but lately they seem to personify this seachange we have been on, this journey to the other side of the world, plus my daughter is a real quote person, she has a notebook where she collects them and they are all over her laptop etc and in her room….so good for the soul I have found…and very inspiring for her…
And at the weekend while I was treasure hunting I came across these quotes in frames in a few shops, but some of them were a bit too, you know…go build a sandcastle & put a smile on your face and the whole world will sing….and so I thought I could do just as good a job with my own images and own quotes that mean something to me and keep my money in my pocket.
So far I have come up with these two, plus a couple of others, which I will show you when they are on the wall…I have found some frames I like, just need a person who is good with a hammer and a wall plug to help me out
These were a million times easier to make up than I thought they would be
….I just added the text and messed around with the temperature and the colours so they were a bit more old photo/ vintagey, I also saturated them so that they would pop…I also added some texture with a layer…
then added a white border to give it some depth…
I have some lovely white frames for them and think they turned out great for DIY Sea Art
Hoping these will be on the wall very soon…hello Mr BC, fancy doing some hammering tonight?….watch this space…
I love your sea and sky colors! I’ve enlarged pictures I have taken and framed and hung them on our walls. I think they will look great on your walls:)
there is no doubt about you and your resourcefulness – you come up with some gems.
I think jot down some of those saying you guys in your house have had for years.
Sometimes they are some of the most unique and the best.
(even a broomstick one) – people would love them.
I’ve started “pinning” a few of mine.
have a wonderful day Sea Lady (or perhaps I might refer to you as mermaid sarah!)
Me – just had a slight hair spruce and on to the next job.
Hi Sarah, I love your framed pictures, they are so beautiful and pull you right into the picture. I too have been playing with photo’s and wording and I have to say I have come to adore it as well. I recently did one for the beach and have sold a few of them, very trendy right now. Wishing you all the best….
Hugz,
Kim
I am loving that second one quote and all. Like you I am not a fan of those quote thingys so me complimenting says something for you.. I don’t know about the first one Sarah, it doesn’t seem to make sense to me (I do love the image though)… I also love how you changed the font and the little love heart very cute . Can’t wait to see it all hanging it will look superb!
they are so beautiful Sarah, your photography is amazing I always want to head to the beach after looking at them… have you thought about printing them onto a canvas? I had one done of a photo we took on a holiday in Hawaii (ahem, 12 years ago!!!!) with an old fashion camera and I am just thrilled with the results… I waited until Big W was having a half price sale (of course) and the photo of the surf looks all vintage….anyway just a thought…
Love them – I have a huge one of crashing waves and surf that i took of our coastline here (meaning ireland, not atlanta where I am this week – VERY far from the sea!) and love it. i got it on a canvas (as part of a bloggy review)
Maybe next time I’ll add some words – easy enough to do in photoshop. Did you add any texture with brushes? I came across somewhere online about distressing with grungy brushes and recently did that with some “subway-style” art as a baby gift. i am next planning to create some subway style art for cottage on a beach/sea theme.
I have been using pinteret to gather up all my words/quotes.
My 13 year old now “pins” too, and its funny – she sends me the sort of ones she knows I like, and I send her quotes about messy bedrooms.
Any images she is pinning as her “dream home” would fit well into the style of beach cottage – lots of white and natural light, but she does want a slide beside the stairs!!!
Love those! Especially the first one…my daughter has that quote on her Facebook page! Kept hoping she would run into you on the beach while she is studying abroad in your beautiful country. Your pictures always bring a smile to my face! Thanks for sharing.
gina
PS I cannot wait to try the miracle skin cream. Going to search for it today.
Beautiful. Isn’t that the dream of having a neutral decor though? Adding in shots of something fun for a short time and changing when you feel like it.
Thanks so much for the blogging e-book by the way. I’m making my way through it and changing things as I go. Really appreciate it.
love love love the pics. I too as of late have gotten into the sayings, thanks to my niece. I have some beautiful pics I took quite a few years back of writings in the sand. I finally framed one and now have it displayed in remembrance of my Mother. Thanks for some more inspiration!
the ocean is the soul of the earth… like the blood running through our veins, the ocean flows to keep this planet alive… bringing peace to our souls when life is too hard, busy, or frustrating… giving special gifts just for the asking…seaweed, driftwood, shells, sea glass, seabeans from africa coming across with every wave… it breaths life into everything and is healing… it’s just not water… it’s the soul that keeps life going and what is the most exciting part of all this, it’s free, to enjoy anytime… it’s a gift from god without asking for it…
next time you walk on a beach, thank god for this special gift…
I confess I’m a colourholic (is there such a word?). I adore colour which is one of the reasons I love to follow your blog and all the white. It’s so gorgeously different to me. I love to see how you put it together and how you love it. Beautiful photos Sarah and I can’t wait to see where that gentle trickle of colour that’s seeping into your life is going to lead you and for how long…..B:)
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 . 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? 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. 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
6. layer on top the cream combo
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
*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 ;-)
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. 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.
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. Oh yeah. 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. 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
Sarah, I like, I like, I like!!!
I love your sea and sky colors! I’ve enlarged pictures I have taken and framed and hung them on our walls. I think they will look great on your walls:)
Hello Sarah
that is great work.
there is no doubt about you and your resourcefulness – you come up with some gems.
I think jot down some of those saying you guys in your house have had for years.
Sometimes they are some of the most unique and the best.
(even a broomstick one) – people would love them.
I’ve started “pinning” a few of mine.
have a wonderful day Sea Lady (or perhaps I might refer to you as mermaid sarah!)
Me – just had a slight hair spruce and on to the next job.
take care
x loulou
that’s a good idea
broomsticks by the sea lol x
Hi Sarah, I love your framed pictures, they are so beautiful and pull you right into the picture. I too have been playing with photo’s and wording and I have to say I have come to adore it as well. I recently did one for the beach and have sold a few of them, very trendy right now. Wishing you all the best….
Hugz,
Kim
I love your pictures! I can almost smell the salty tang of the air, feel the breeze, and hear the ocean breaking… Love them!!
Looks amazing. Something personal,yet everyone else can identify. jojo3b
Nice! I like them very much!!!
Your cottage is so beautiful! I live in an island but not near the beach… Your blog makes me wanna move
I’m loving the sunshiney aqua! Just beautiful – I especially love the first poster.
I am loving that second one quote and all. Like you I am not a fan of those quote thingys so me complimenting says something for you.. I don’t know about the first one Sarah, it doesn’t seem to make sense to me (I do love the image though)… I also love how you changed the font and the little love heart very cute
. Can’t wait to see it all hanging it will look superb!
thanks, the first one is sweat = salt tears = salt sea = salt! that’s how I took it anyway x
I knew they would look AWESOME. So when can we buy one?
hmmm, that might be a while lol
but it’s in the pipeline, I have found some awesome metallic paper that makes these pop!
x
well done you! Another step towards the empire!
brilliant sarah- so gorgeous amongst all your white…looking out to the garden…are you thinking family room?
melissa x
they are so beautiful Sarah, your photography is amazing I always want to head to the beach after looking at them… have you thought about printing them onto a canvas? I had one done of a photo we took on a holiday in Hawaii (ahem, 12 years ago!!!!) with an old fashion camera
and I am just thrilled with the results… I waited until Big W was having a half price sale (of course) and the photo of the surf looks all vintage….anyway just a thought…
yes I am getting one on canvas right now
x
Perfect Sarah!!
Great idea! The pics are lovely…
Sarah, they look Amazing. The one in the middle has diamand sprinkles!
I love the way you put the text on.
Marleen
Love them – I have a huge one of crashing waves and surf that i took of our coastline here (meaning ireland, not atlanta where I am this week – VERY far from the sea!) and love it. i got it on a canvas (as part of a bloggy review)
Maybe next time I’ll add some words – easy enough to do in photoshop. Did you add any texture with brushes? I came across somewhere online about distressing with grungy brushes and recently did that with some “subway-style” art as a baby gift. i am next planning to create some subway style art for cottage on a beach/sea theme.
I have been using pinteret to gather up all my words/quotes.
My 13 year old now “pins” too, and its funny – she sends me the sort of ones she knows I like, and I send her quotes about messy bedrooms.
Any images she is pinning as her “dream home” would fit well into the style of beach cottage – lots of white and natural light, but she does want a slide beside the stairs!!!
These look fab!! I love them a lot……can we win one, hint, hint ; )
Katherine
Love those! Especially the first one…my daughter has that quote on her Facebook page! Kept hoping she would run into you on the beach while she is studying abroad in your beautiful country. Your pictures always bring a smile to my face! Thanks for sharing.
gina
PS I cannot wait to try the miracle skin cream. Going to search for it today.
Sarah, those are going to look FABULOUS in your cottage. I can’t wait to see them. If you do decide to sell them, I’ll be buying!! lol
Really love!
Tried to read about your miracle skin cream but it wanted me to log in to view????
Looks great. The first one is like Mae Chevrette’s multi media art available here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/76774412/huge-16-x-20-paper-print-salt-water-the
I love your ocean/sea photography, the colours are always so calming.
Beautiful. Isn’t that the dream of having a neutral decor though? Adding in shots of something fun for a short time and changing when you feel like it.
Thanks so much for the blogging e-book by the way. I’m making my way through it and changing things as I go. Really appreciate it.
love love love the pics. I too as of late have gotten into the sayings, thanks to my niece. I have some beautiful pics I took quite a few years back of writings in the sand. I finally framed one and now have it displayed in remembrance of my Mother. Thanks for some more inspiration!
Beautiful! I love these!
the ocean is the soul of the earth… like the blood running through our veins, the ocean flows to keep this planet alive… bringing peace to our souls when life is too hard, busy, or frustrating… giving special gifts just for the asking…seaweed, driftwood, shells, sea glass, seabeans from africa coming across with every wave… it breaths life into everything and is healing… it’s just not water… it’s the soul that keeps life going and what is the most exciting part of all this, it’s free, to enjoy anytime… it’s a gift from god without asking for it…
next time you walk on a beach, thank god for this special gift…
These are beautiful! Put me in the queue to buy!
I confess I’m a colourholic (is there such a word?). I adore colour which is one of the reasons I love to follow your blog and all the white. It’s so gorgeously different to me. I love to see how you put it together and how you love it. Beautiful photos Sarah and I can’t wait to see where that gentle trickle of colour that’s seeping into your life is going to lead you and for how long…..B:)
I thought the same thing as Giulia. That first print is nearly identical to Mae Chevrette’s painting on Etsy… http://www.etsy.com/listing/76774412/huge-16-x-20-paper-print-salt-water-the . Normally I really enjoy everything you blog but making knock-offs of original artwork is not classy.