Mulberry Vintage Living

Not long ago I bought myself a linen duvet cover. It's a beautiful ecru shade, that will go perfectly with vintage finds; florals, velvets, lace etc. I have wanted one for years and I must say it looks fabulous. What didn't look fabulous when it went on, was the worn, tatty bed base. It's covered in fabric that looks a bit like black w**d mat and appears to be the perfect medium for sharpening claws....

Linen valance Not long ago I bought myself a linen duvet cover. It’s a beautiful ecru shade, that will go perfectly with vintage finds; florals, velvets, lace etc. I have wanted one for years and I must sa…

Over time a large collection of decorative hearts have accumulated at Mulberry Cottage. There are fabric hearts, wire hearts, stone hearts and even a rusted metal heart from the beach which may have once been a shopping basket. "What is it with you and hearts?" Charmaigne asked me once. To be honest I'm not really sure what the attraction is but I'm definitely drawn to them, and grab any that I come across....

Fabric hearts Over time a large collection of decorative hearts have accumulated at Mulberry Cottage. There are fabric hearts, wire hearts, stone hearts and even a rusted metal heart from the beach which may hav…

Mulberry Vintage Living has just turned 2! I can scarcely believe that it has reached this milestone. I remember sitting writing my very first post, wondering if anyone would be interested in what I had to say, or any of the goings on here at Mulberry Cottage. I thought if I could get my beloved sisters in law and a few dear friends on board I would at least have a small readership....

Revamped outdoor table Mulberry Vintage Living has just turned 2! I can scarcely believe that it has reached this milestone. I remember sitting writing my very first post, wondering if anyone would be interested in what …

Here at Mulberry cottage, I am constantly trying to minimize plastic coming into our house, this is hard to achieve at any time I know, but at Christmas it seems especially difficult. There are so many bright shiny baubles and sparkly things everywhere and all that bling is so tempting. But in keeping with my desire to use natural products to adorn the house I went looking on pinterest....

Pinecone Christmas trees Here at Mulberry cottage, I am constantly trying to minimize plastic coming into our house, this is hard to achieve at any time I know, but at Christmas it seems especially difficult. There are so …

I bought this hinge from an enterprising architectural salvage business. It was the remnant of an old gate, once the wood had rotted away. That left the hinge and the bolts, permanently fused together in this intriguing shape. For a long time it sat at the bottom of a large box of potential project items, waiting for inspiration to strike....

Painted Hinge I bought this hinge from an enterprising architectural salvage business. It was the remnant of an old gate, once the wood had rotted away. That left the hinge and the bolts, permanently fused toget…

Ivy is such a versatile plant and trained over wire like this, it is possible to give it height and shape. With just a pot, a piece of wire, and a few cuttings of ivy you can grow the prettiest, shabby chic pot plant. I constantly move them around the garden, a bit like outdoor accessories, putting them in whatever area we happen to be using that season....

Topiaried Ivy Ivy is such a versatile plant and trained over wire like this, it is possible to give it height and shape. With just a pot, a piece of wire, and a few cuttings of ivy you can grow the prettiest, sh…

Sweet peas are real favourites of mine. I love how they ramble upwards in a giant tangle, then produce a froth of sweet, scented blossoms. Pretty in the garden and fabulous for picking too. These days there is a huge range of colours available, though I still love the old fashioned pastel tones the best and I suspect they are the most fragrant....

Sweet Pea Frame Sweet peas are are real favourites of mine. I love how they ramble upwards in a giant tangle, then produce a froth of sweet, scented blossoms. Pretty in the garden and fabulous for picking too. The…

It's been almost three months since I finished painting Mulberry Cottage and I've only just got around to doing the front door. It's the fun, finishing touch to a new paint job that can add so much. This dark, midnight blue, suitably named Indian Ink, is another fab shade from Resene. I tried a few different hues including a red and a green, but when I put this blue against the pink weather boards, both seemed to glow....

Painted Front Door It’s been almost three months since I finished painting Mulberry Cottage and I’ve only just got around to doing the front door. It’s the fun, finishing touch to a new paint job th…

When my two oldest son's were little, I made them a toy box out of barrel that arrived at my work, containing soy lecithin. The cardboard was very thick and rigid, so much so, that Tim had to saw it in half. Then having the basic shape I needed, I thought about what finish would appeal to my boys. My mum had made fun scrapbooks for the boys, cutting and gluing pictures out of old magazines....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/decoupaged-toy-box/

Decoupaged Toy Box When my two oldest son’s were little, I made them a toy box out of barrel that arrived at my work, containing soy lecithin. The cardboard was very thick and rigid, so much so, that Tim had to…

Its been about six years since we last painted the cottage. I've loved the soft green/blue colour that we used, but I was ready for a change. This time around I wanted to use a stronger palette, and tie into the cottages character and title. I started by looking through the colour cards at Guthrie Bowrons paint store in Masterton. I had an idea about the direction I was going to take, I really liked the taupes and pinks I had seen in our neighbourhood....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2022/03/01/new-paint-for-mulberry-cottage/

New Paint for Mulberry Cottage Its been about six years since we last painted the cottage. I’ve loved the soft green/blue colour that we used, but I was ready for a change. This time around I wanted to use a stronger palet…

We are well into summer here in the beautiful Wairarapa and we typically have very hot days and balmy evenings. The dusk skies are lovely and the birds sing right up until dark falls. Tim and I often gravitate to the garden after dinner and enjoy the last part of the day there. I like to light a few candles around where we sit, soft candlelight is perfect for summer evenings, and so pretty in the garden....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2022/01/12/candle-jars/

Candle Jars We are well into summer here in the beautiful Wairarapa and we typically have very hot days and balmy evenings. The dusk skies are lovely and the birds sing right up until dark falls. Tim and I oft…

Nowadays we are choosing natural products and making our own Christmas decorations. Wool, felt and hessian are great materials to use for this. The more homemade the better I say. It's so cool to make something ourselves, that's unique and then becomes part of our family traditions. This year I wanted to make something to replace these homespun wool angels. I had made them long ago and they've been much loved but they were starting to look a little bit shabby....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2021/12/21/hessian-angels/

Hessian Angels Nowadays we are choosing natural products and making our own Christmas decorations. Wool, felt and hessian are great materials to use for this. The more homemade the better I say. It’s so coo…

I love how paint transforms things. A few hours with a paint brush can completely change a room or piece of furniture and give it a whole new personality. If the end result doesn't quite match my vision, then out comes the paint brush for another go. As easy as that! Something I've learnt over time is that layering different colours and finishes is much more effective than a thick coat of one solid colour....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2021/11/14/painted-filing-cabinet/

Painted Filing Cabinet I love how paint transforms things. A few hours with a paint brush can completely change a room or piece of furniture and give it a whole new personality. If the end result doesn’t quite matc…

We are an industrious lot here at Mulberry cottage, but when the day is done we also know how to relax. In years gone by, you could have found Tim and I busy renovating into the night. However these days when evening rolls around we are firmly planted in front of the fire or telly , with a hot cuppa, ready to put our feet up....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2021/10/15/painted-pouffe/

Painted Pouffe We are an industrious lot here at Mulberry cottage, but when the day is done we also know how to relax. In years gone by, you could have found Tim and I busy renovating into the night. However thes…

When we start a new garden this is the method we use. Its very simple, cheap, and sustainable. I came across it in a book by an enterprising American lady called Pat Lanza who coined the name "Lasagne gardening" referring to the many layers. Its a straight forward system using any kind of organic matter layered thinly over newspapers. The grass beneath the newspaper breaks down and makes food for the new plants and eventually the newspaper breaks down too....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2021/09/29/lasagne-garden/

Lasagne Garden When we start a new garden this is the method we use. Its very simple, cheap, and sustainable. I came across it in a book by an enterprising American lady called Pat Lanza who coined the name & #822…

I've always wanted to name our cottage. After all it has stood in the exact same spot looking fabulous for 133 years. It has its own character and personality, it even has a portrait now, thanks to Shelley a talented local artist who paints under the title Paintings By Pillar. We consider the cottage to be part of our family....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2021/08/28/mulberry-cottage-signpost/

Mulberry Cottage Signpost I’ve always wanted to name our cottage. After all it has stood in the exact same spot looking fabulous for 133 years. It has its own character and personality, it even has a portrait now, tha…

Mid winter is the time that I trim our grapevines. The leaves have all gone and I can see what needs to go and what needs to stay. Its a bit like doing a puzzle tracing the finer year old growth back to the the main branches. Then when I'm done I have a large pile of unruly trimmings. I know people make all kinds of things with grapevine trimmings and I thought I would like to try a wreath with a succulent growing on it....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2021/08/08/grapevine-wreath/

Grapevine Wreath Mid winter is the time that I trim our grapevines. The leaves have all gone and I can see what needs to go and what needs to stay. Its a bit like doing a puzzle tracing the finer year old growth ba…

Old weathered surfaces have always held appeal for me. Houses with flakey paint, rusted water tanks, roofing iron and old vehicles sinking into pastures all fascinate me. One example I find especially beautiful is old copper. Left in the elements its' surface oxidizes into blues, teals, greens, and powdery whites. The resulting verdigris is a communion between the copper, and air, rain, and sunshine....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2021/07/13/verdigris-vase/

Verdigris Vase Old weathered surfaces have always held appeal for me. Houses with flakey paint, rusted water tanks, roofing iron and old vehicles sinking into pastures all fascinate me. One example I find especia…

Clutter is starting to take over my wee office and honestly nothing is less inspirational to me than piles of papers laying about. Though I'm happy to have a certain amount of chaos in my workshop, its a definite no no in my writing zone. I once read that good design starts with good storage and that really rings true with me, so I decided to create some designated storage areas....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2021/06/13/world-map-noticeboard/

World map noticeboard Clutter is starting to take over my wee office and honestly nothing is less inspirational to me than piles of papers laying about. Though I’m happy to have a certain amount of chaos in my wor…

Masterton has a thriving, vibrant Sunday morning market that Tim and I often visit. Its a short walk there through lovely old streets and it has become a pleasant weekend ritual for us The goods for sale at the market are varied and on any given Sunday you could find antiques, curios, books, clothing, fresh fruit and veg, honey, or plants on offer....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2021/05/21/painted-wooden-candlestick/

Painted Wooden Candlestick Masterton has a thriving, vibrant Sunday morning market that Tim and I often visit. Its a short walk there through lovely old streets and it has become a pleasant weekend ritual for us The goods fo…

Lately I've realised when I need to leave notes for my family I have to be a bit more creative. They tend to walk right past my kitchen blackboard, and paper notes are easily mislaid. After reading the riot act a few times I decided it would be worth coming up with a better system. I had seen this idea at a second hand shop in Featherston and thought how perfect, a mobile blackboard that, put in the right place, is impossible to miss....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2021/04/22/blackboard-book/

Blackboard book Lately I’ve realised when I need to leave notes for my family I have to be a bit more creative. They tend to walk right past my kitchen blackboard, and paper notes are easily mislaid. After r…

Years ago Tim and I had a tiny lifestyle block south of Carterton. The vegetable garden I created there nestled within a six foot high lavender hedge. It was not only beautiful but it gave shade to my vegie plants, it brought bees and butterflies to my garden, and the scent on a hot day was intoxicating. I especially loved the way the long flowers nodded in the breeze....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2021/03/29/lavender-bags/

Lavender bags Years ago Tim and I had a tiny lifestyle block south of Carterton. The vegetable garden I created there nestled within a six foot high lavender hedge. It was not only beautiful but it gave shade to…

One of my fave things to do is to go online and check out other homemakers ideas. I am constantly amazed by how creative people are. One particularly cold, wintry day I chanced upon this idea and thought it looked intriguing so I decided to give it a go. I located some alpine strawberries in a pot that I hadn't been sure what to do with....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2021/03/11/alpine-strawberry-tower/

Alpine strawberry tower One of my fave things to do is to go online and check out other homemakers ideas. I am constantly amazed by how creative people are. One particularly cold, wintry day I chanced upon this idea and t…

Something I always look out for at op shops is interesting metal stuff. Things that can be vamped up or left really rustic are always on my list. So I was thrilled to find this light while at one of our local op shops one day. It had gold paint which may be original and quite old. I decided to work with the gold but first things first I had the wiring checked....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2021/02/21/scrolled-metal-pendant-light/

Scrolled metal pendant light Something I always look out for at op shops is interesting metal stuff. Things that can be vamped up or left really rustic are always on my list. So I was thrilled to find this light while at one o…

Not long after lockdown finished I decided, like many people to get a vegetable garden up and running again. As our household had decreased in numbers I had gotten out of the habit of growing our vegies and herbs. Many people I've spoken to since the lockdown have expressed a desire to get back to basics and I know exactly what they mean....

https://mulberryvintagelivingorg.wordpress.com/2021/02/03/strawberry-patch/

Strawberry patch Not long after lockdown finished I decided, like many people to get a vegetable garden up and running again. As our household had decreased in numbers I had gotten out of the habit of growing our v…

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