Wanna come on in and see my amazing thrifted find. Do you think I did the happy thrifters dance? Oh yeah baby!
Are you gurrreen with envy for my vintage French cafe chairs? I bloomin’ hope you are because I am about jumping around in this old cottage.
This my friends is the ultimate in thrifting for vintage treasure, the quintessential virtual treasure hunt….you know why? Because I didn’t even find it, Beach Cottage readers did and emailed / facebooked me about them. The power of the internet. As you know I love me some vintage treasure hunting for old and coastal things (find more here) and I love to mix old vintage furniture with white, pops of colour & some modern stuff from IKEA and the like….but this was an interesting one…
So, if you are in Australia, you might well read the word ‘French’ and the word ‘vintage furniture’ in the same sentence and what will ensue is a horrid little shudder that will make your bones rattle and dollar signs will pop up in front of your eyes….oh for the days when France was a one and a half hour trip for me and lunch in France was not a dream, but a reality.
Anyhoo, if you are on the other side of the world going a leetle bit Frenchie is, as the Aussie’s say, very exxie. And what is worse, along with that, is Frenchie is a bit snooty too…you know those kinda boutiques where they like to look down their nose at you while they float around in natural linen not selling anything? …that will be the ones.
I have been after some of these french cafe chairs for ages, and I was determined 1. to find them vintage furniture treasure hunting and not bought from a boutique and 2. not to buy reproductions. I must admit I very nearly caved at number 2 recently when I saw reproductions (sorry can’t remember where) that were pretty nice.
Anyway when I happened to mention on this here blog that the front deck was looking in need of some French cafe chairs, 2 readers messaged me, Rowena and Fiona (of this lovely little blog here), knowing exactly where I could get some thank-you-very-much.
I didn’t waste any time…best thing about these for me is that they were not restored, nor fixed up or painted in some lurid colour…no, I wanted these rustic and rusty, shabby & peely.
That is not to say that I won’t be working on them…I will be painting them…though I will almost certainly only paint some of them…for a mis-matched look, and almost certainly I will only white-wash them to give them a ‘wash’ rather than trying to cover up their rustic side….I’ve seen some where they have been painted and ‘restored’…that’s not the look I am going for.
Anyway…I have now added to the long list of things to paint….
1 front door,
1 deck surround,
1 set of deck steps,
1 summer house interior,
1 set of summer house doors,
1 summer house exterior,
8 French cafe chairs
…and the list goes on and on
And so now, when I go to the paint shop for door paint errrm I will also be looking for some milky pale eggshell for some of these…thinking perhaps a different shade of ice-cream, beachy, coastal, nautical for each one?
I hesitate to ask you your opinion on here this week again for paint colours, though you really really helped with the front door decision….but feel free to let me know your opinion on these, if indeed you have one…
OK, over and out from your local paint studio…I have been reading some really interesting blog tips this week around the blogosphere…like real ones…not ones from those professional blogging sites that do not make any sense when you are sitting there reading them with a house full of chaos in your pjs with a cup of tea…really interesting, the penny dropped with me on a few things…it’s only taken me a few years…so I am writing a few of mine too…
Oh and yes tomorrow I will share the first Christmas homemade gift crafty thing that I have done…
And according to the Beach Cottage Facebook girls, who I polled today on whether you want the Beach Cottage Annual Trip to IKEA post…you very much do….so I will be back with that soon too…phew
See ya around beach babes
oh and ooooops can you vote for me again! I really don’t want to come last ‘cos this event is causing me some serious frock stress haha…
So good. I can hear your joy. How lucky can you be. Hope they service well after all that. I cant imagine how awesome it must have been nipping over to France for lunch. oh how I would love that. Fiona
Get out!!! What a seriously delicious find. I am more than green with envy. I am taking solace in the knowledge I can enjoy them cyberly. (my new made up word for today).
Gosh what lucky finds these were.I adore and covet them!
And I can’t believe that two deranged souls actually told you where to find them! Hell would have frozen over before I would have….instead I would have snaffled them for myself!
Still, I hope someone does something equally as nice for them.In the meantime, you’re a really lucky cow…(as we say in the old country)
ps that is not a derogatory comment to Sarah…it’s a just a saying…
Oooh, they are perfectly gorgeous Sarah!
I can just see them on your verandah with a pot of lavender…mmm sipping a Limoncello….delish! Enjoy them, most especially because they were NOT bought at a snooty boutique….totally get that! However you may now feel the need to float around in some linen whilst you potter out there on your deck with these babies! *love*
xo Rachel
Oh my, Sarah. You got 8? ..Eight vintage French bistro chairs? Wow you must be walking with the God’s this week girl. sooooooo lucky. the internet is really an awesome place now isn’t it? They look just fab.
Awesome find!
Sarah, you have touched on my weakness! Aside from cheesecake
These are my very favorite, love love love love love them! You did very very good! Soooooooooo jealous!
Awsome find they look fab! Love them! Hehehe I would paint in the same shade or a shade or two lighter than the door(or at least from the same colour palllette as the door – does that make sense?) or wash them in that icelandic blue that you used on your bedside table and then sand them back heaps… Leave the metal parts exposed…..Sorry couldn’t help myself, these would of been great for my outdoor dining room we are trying to finish (going into it’s second year now and still not done…)one day…
This is fantastic! Great news on Thanksgiving morning here in the states. Stick to a similar color scheme that you’ve got going on the front of the house. I do like the thought of eggshell, though! Have fun, and off to tend to Thanksgiving duties.
Want to know something?? When I was a girl I knew a girl who spelled her name Sarra pronounced just like Sarah. So those chairs were for you, they just had your name spelled differently! Congratulations on your lovely find!
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
Beautiful find! Awesome that your readers could give you such a hot tip.
Ok- these are seriously perfect!!
And 8!!
And not sold by ladies wearing linen outfits {why do they never seem to crease on these women!!??}
Wow- that is one major haul girlfriend!!
And they were meant for you…they almost say SARAH on the bottom!
Melissa x
I know nearly say my name haha!
So good. I can hear your joy. How lucky can you be. Hope they service well after all that. I cant imagine how awesome it must have been nipping over to France for lunch. oh how I would love that. Fiona
oh yes, it was the best! x
hi Sarah – they suit your place perfectly. love them. so glad to be able to help!
cheers Fiona
Hello Sarah
wow – a treasure find indeed.
Maybe a few of your beach cottage cushions would help the tushie on those though.
I think I would love to see a few on your new deck
Have a wonderful day,
loulou, from hereiamloulou blog
x
Get out!!! What a seriously delicious find. I am more than green with envy. I am taking solace in the knowledge I can enjoy them cyberly. (my new made up word for today).
oooh Deb…cyberly…I am liking that! xo
Gosh what lucky finds these were.I adore and covet them!
And I can’t believe that two deranged souls actually told you where to find them! Hell would have frozen over before I would have….instead I would have snaffled them for myself!
Still, I hope someone does something equally as nice for them.In the meantime, you’re a really lucky cow…(as we say in the old country)
ps that is not a derogatory comment to Sarah…it’s a just a saying…
haha bridget, I sure am one lucky old cow
xo
Oooh, they are perfectly gorgeous Sarah!
I can just see them on your verandah with a pot of lavender…mmm sipping a Limoncello….delish! Enjoy them, most especially because they were NOT bought at a snooty boutique….totally get that! However you may now feel the need to float around in some linen whilst you potter out there on your deck with these babies! *love*
xo Rachel
yes RAchel, linen is deffo needed with these chairs xo
I. am. so. jealous.
You must share photos of them often with those of us who are lusting after them.
Bless your blogging friends for the find of your (mine, anyway) dreams.
Oh my, Sarah. You got 8? ..Eight vintage French bistro chairs? Wow you must be walking with the God’s this week girl. sooooooo lucky. the internet is really an awesome place now isn’t it? They look just fab.
Awesome find!
Sarah, you have touched on my weakness! Aside from cheesecake
These are my very favorite, love love love love love them! You did very very good! Soooooooooo jealous!
Fabulous and made for you dear Sarah!
Btw what colour paint are you going for with the front door?
Jealous Much? I most certainly am
They are fantabulous Sarah and will fit so well in your little tatty cottage 
x
Oh Miss Sarah Happy Dance for sure! You are one Lucky Lady Woo-hoo Sister, can’t wait to see your magic~Cheers Kim
These are so perfect! Fantastic find. I can just imagine sitting on them with a coffee and croissant!
Love these old chairs…and love your home and your photos
Hugs
Mari
Awsome find they look fab! Love them! Hehehe I would paint in the same shade or a shade or two lighter than the door(or at least from the same colour palllette as the door – does that make sense?) or wash them in that icelandic blue that you used on your bedside table and then sand them back heaps… Leave the metal parts exposed…..Sorry couldn’t help myself, these would of been great for my outdoor dining room we are trying to finish (going into it’s second year now and still not done…)one day…
This is fantastic! Great news on Thanksgiving morning here in the states. Stick to a similar color scheme that you’ve got going on the front of the house. I do like the thought of eggshell, though! Have fun, and off to tend to Thanksgiving duties.
Lovely! and what are those blue things in the crate?????
Well you will be busy for some time with your to-do list! Can’t wait to see how the bistro chairs come out.
Want to know something?? When I was a girl I knew a girl who spelled her name Sarra pronounced just like Sarah. So those chairs were for you, they just had your name spelled differently! Congratulations on your lovely find!
Thanks Peggy. Yep they had my name all over them. Literally!
As one of my friends would say they are beautimus….and you are one LUCKY DUCK!
Oh wow, looks like christmas came early! These are the perfect addition to your furniture family
Cant wait to see them settled in.