Choosing paint colours

 I have been wondering how other people decide on the colour of their homes.  We have painted each of our two previous houses in very different ways.


The first home we bought was built in 1929 so we chose colours that were popular then.  In fact we scraped back the various layers until we discovered the original colours: cream & dark green.  It looked just right when it was finished.

The next house was a sandy coloured brick and the house lacked something until we changed the trim to lovely shades of blue.  The terracotta tiles on the roof finished it off beautifully.  When the echium were in bloom it was a picture.


I have always disliked the colour (milk chocolate & mint green)  of the home we live in now but it is such an important decision - choosing the right colours - that we have only just started painting the outside.

We have chosen a dulux colour, Oyster Linen, for the weather boards.  The window frames will be charcoal grey (I haven't settled on the exact colour yet).  The verandah floor will be red, with a suggestion of brown: again I have to settle on the exact colour.

We chose these colours because the soft, light coloured weatherboards  look clean and crisp, the grey and the red are colours that we see in our garden and the birds that visit us.


I would be interested to know how others choose the colours and whether they enjoy doing the painting.  It is one of my favourite things to do.  Of course while I am painting there is not much time for stitching. 

Playing at design

 I have been busy trying to catch up with my Studio Journal work as well as doing a little relaxing stitching.












We have been doing some paper cutting to explore design possibilities.

 this has been a fun exercise. 

Paper cutting and folding is quite a soothing activity. 

I will try to develop some of these for stitching or painting some fabric.

This little stitchery is something I have been working on just for the fun of it.  Some stitches, some beading.

Play Time

The days all seem to be busy here at present.  I am making some progress with the laundry.  The machine will be fixed in a day or two and by then the floor will be repaired (I hope).  I have painted the walls: some paint I already had in the shed which was great.


In the meantime my dear granddaughter has come to stay for a while.  She is recovering from a nasty bout of shingles: horrible for a young teenager.  We have her school books and computer here as she cannot afford to miss too much school.  (year 9)  The school emails her work and she can submit the finished work by return email.  This is one of the benefits of modern technology.  Hopefully she will be able to go back to school next week.  


 I am thrilled to have her here with me as she is always good company even when she is unwell.  Her interest in design and all things creative mean we have plenty in common.


She still enjoys simple things and tonight is playing with playdough. The pictures above are some of her creations.   I think tomorrow she will do some fingerpainting with the twins.  Truth be told I also enjoy these simple activities too.  


Hopefully I will do some stitching sometime soon.

Queen Mary 2 drops in

Today the Queen Mary 2 visited Melbourne on her way around our coastline.

When I was out this evening I just caught a glimpse of her as she set off again.  I know it is not much of a picture but it was the best I could do in a hurry.

Beauty

pressed flowers

I pressed these flowers from my garden several weeks ago. They will be laminated and used in a future project.

it never rains - it pours - or leaks

 Today I had nothing planned: except a few errands to run and the supermarket of course.  


We have had quite a lot of rain overnight which has been lovely for the garden and of course it has cooled the house down a bit too.

 I thought it would be a good idea to pick up some paint so we can continue on the outside of the house.  We have painted the front wall (which is the smallest area) and I am keen to do the rest before winter arrives.

 

 I popped into the shed, which is behind my work room, to check on the type of paint.  The colour is Oyster Linen which I really love but I am always confused by all the options when I arrive in the paint department.

While in the shed I heard a loud dripping sound and as the rain had stopped some hours earlier I thought I should investigate.  I rigged up some lights so I could see under the house and was horrified to see water dripping through the laundry floor.  I rushed up the stairs and turned off the washing machine taps and disconnected the hoses, and then I moved the washing machine.  It has been leaking underneath and the water had seeped under the tiles and through the flooring.  Great.  Fantastic.  So I did have something to do after all.  Hubby was away so I lifted up the tiles, many of which were cracked or broken as it turned out.  The chip board, (MDF) was soaking wet - so now I am waiting for it to dry.  I think it will be ok - it has never been sealed - the tiles were laid directly on the flooring.  I intend to put a drainage grate in the floor and then seal it all before re-tiling the lot.  The walls could do with a lick of paint so it should look lovely and fresh when it is finished.

I did buy the paint too - just in case.

The red and green pics are for inspiration for a colour study I am doing.

click here check out this blog - something a bit different 



and this one  I could waste a lot of time playing with this one.