Thanks and welcome to new sponsors

Happy Easter everyone!

I'm just stopping in to say thanks and welcome to a few new small business sponsors who are supporting Fun and VJs through advertising. Hooray!

Please welcome:


The Click-Clack Lounge which is a Sandgate-based vintage store which has some cool online offerings. If you're looking for something a little bit quirky, a little bit vintage or a little bit retro...check it out! Read more...

The Click Clack Lounge stock Besame cherry red  lipstick

The Building Planners can help you with your renovation plans. They have put together an interactive course for those contemplating a major renovation or building project. From planning your project to choosing the right builder, there are industry tips you will learn to make your dream build more than just a dream....
Read more...

Adorn by Sarah Bishop is a new business venture for artist Sarah who also writes the blog Molly's Maison. You definitely need to visit her store to view the most elegant art scarves you will ever see. Lovely for a gift for someone special or even for yourself. You'll love her unique art inspired aesthetic. Read more...

Paris Scene digitally printed cotton voile scarf

Here's hoping everyone has had a lovely few days spending it with the people they love. We've been having a great time at the Sow's Ear, pottering about and getting a few small jobs done...but more on that later...

Lovely Queenslander home details and ideas

Today we visited some friends who own a lovely circa 1930s Queenslander home in Brisbane suburbia.  It is a very beautiful house which has been renovated substantially for modern-day living.  We love poking around other people's homes for ideas and inspiration.

This front gable has been extended forward to provide a more open and spacious entrance.
It makes it warm and welcoming as you ascend the stairs into the home and is like another room.

Although there were substantial changes to the home, the many quaint architectural elements characteristic of the typical Queenslander home had been retained. Nothing screams Queenslander more than the decoratively carved breezeways and archways dotted throughout the home.

I've not seen this style breezeway in real life. It is called the lotus breezeway pattern and is truly exquisite. These were found above each bedroom door.

This image is of the room division arch which is quite curvaceous in design

I just had to share some of the pretty features of this home as it is always helpful to see what works in homes of this era.

Back of the home.
Horizontal slats which provide cover to a set of  external stairs and allows private access to the underneath area of the house. 

This last image is of the back of the home which has covered external stairs which allows access to the lower level. Jason and I really like this way of gaining internal access without intruding too much into the original footprint of the home.

We are contemplating something similar to our side stairs (click here) but with vertical slats. That is a project for much later down the track if we decide to build living space under the Sow's Ear...maybe...

Maundy Thursday

If this evening was going to be our last meal ever, then it would most certainly be a disappointment because it looks like we'll be having bacon and eggs. Yes, I'm resorting to making breakfast for dinner... Brinner.

So, while we tuck into brinner we'll gaze upon this wood carving of another Last Supper which I found in a garage sale last year. I love a good Last Supper image.  (These dudes aren't having bacon and eggs though, ha!)

It's no Da Vinci, but you have to admire the person that took the time to carve this version.

ornately carved Last Supper 

This Last Supper resides in our dining room. Apt really.

the Last Supper hanging in the dining room

Have a safe and Happy Easter. We'll still be around and about this weekend tackling a few jobs on our to-do list. Pop in if you have time.

Changing door plates and knobs

I never realised how much I took for granted my mobility until this week. Having a bad back has certainly been a painful and extremely frustrating experience. Fortunately, I am on the mend and am no longer looking like a shepherd's crook.

Anyway, my immobility has given me lots of time to ponder some of the smaller finishing off jobs that one never really gets around to when living and breathing in a home like the Sow's Ear.

One of those jobs is to replace the bathroom door knob, as it is completely different to any other door knob in the house. It has actually been quite useful as the shortest member of the family (#3 Son) has been able to reach it by jumping up and pulling the lever down. Very useful for emergency toilet excursions.

old chrome door set and handle

Needless to say the mechanism in the door set is damaged from such abuse. It's time to replace it with one that matches the door plates on the other doors.

bungalow door set with oval knob

In the sunroom and study all of our doors have the bungalow style door plate. I know that you can buy them new but I have searched for a salvaged one at our local architectural demolition place...Sadly, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. It may just be easier to get it brand spanking new.

I've told Jason that we should add this job to our Easter weekend to-do list. Ha! The list is just going to get even longer if my back doesn't fix itself pronto. Poor Jason!  

Plans for the Easter break

With the Easter break looming, there are four clear days for some renovating mayhem...

Jason and I were just discussing what our plans are for this long weekend...we like to make the most of the holidays especially when Jason has time off work.

Should we work on the weedy garden and repair some garden edging?  Should we paint the VJs under the house in the garage? Should Jason make a start on the valance around the back deck? Should we try to refit a new toilet cistern in the freshened up bathroom?

So many choices...I think we will be guided by budget for this long weekend and try to get some bang for our measly buck. The yard is definitely in need for some TLC, so we may end up devising a plan to get it in better shape. Pruning and weeding is cheap.

Also we have a bush turkey which has been visiting the back corner of our yard under the mango tree. If we are out and about in the yard this weekend it may deter it from getting too comfortable...Blasted thing!

This is the tree which was chopped down a couple of months ago.
You can see that the garden edging has fallen down and needs to be repaired.
There are quite of few spots like this which require attention. 

Have you got any big plans for your Easter break?