Overdue Update~Saturdays In November

It's been just over a month since I have shared anything here at 9808. Gah time travels so fast!!

That is not to say nothing has been getting done on the home front though.

One of the reasons for the sound of crickets around here is I was really starting to get frustrated with our current little point and shoot camera and my photography skills (or lack there of I should say). With winter approaching and the days getting shorter our time spent at home during daylight hours has been becoming less and less. The weekends now seem to be the only time to attempt to take half decent photos. 

D works on Saturdays so the day has become my time to get up early and spend the 8 hours alone tackling small projects around the house. I get so involved with what I'm doing, it's usually by the end of the day after dark that I realize I forgot to take any photos to show you what has been going on. Sundays are then spent working on house projects together and then of course forgetting to document the progress once again. 

So I used the above as an excuse to buy a new Nikon SLR! Makes sense right? We used to have an older model Nikon so we just went with what we were already comfortable with. What it really does is motivates me to spend the time to take better quality photos of our bungalow progress and also forces me to take the time and learn to use the camera and its functions properly. 

With that all said, here are a mix of a few things that have been happening on Saturdays around here this past month. 

This adorable owl planter was picked up from the thrift store for $3.99. He was a pretty hideous yellow colour and has a small chip on his left foot. I primed him and then gave him a couple of coats of white spray paint. Now he is proudly sporting a full head of greenery on our stereo cabinet in the dining room.

Started to paint the main floor. First up was the hallway. The colour is Raindrops by CIL.

Made wooden stars out of recycled wood from the random fence panel that used to be in the front yard. More on this later.

Decorated for the fall season.

And continued working on the window seat area. There is still work to be done. Things need to be moved around, the window bench needs to be upholstered with the grey fabric, and  more art needs to be hung on the walls, but this definitely gives you an idea of the final outcome.

And a before photo.....

More updates coming soon!

Fab Freebies ~ Macrame Owls!



What is better than free?....NOTHING that's what!! Especially when it's something you have been scouring the thrift stores in search of for quite some time. Actually I would have to say gifted items definitely trump free items.

Last weekend D and I stopped in at his parents house to pick up some camping gear for my upcoming mini family reunion. We scored some rad retro camping goodies, but more about those later.

Whilst we were in the garage inspecting the items we had come to pick up, I spotted this super adorable (perfect) macrame owl hanging from the ceiling. I actually think I may have let out a little quiet squeal of delight and then proceeded to say "oooh look at that macrame owl" to anyone that happened to be listening.

This one seems quite curious.

If I wasn't excited enough about the one owl, it turned out there was another almost identical owl behind the first! D's Dad took them down from their perch and said we could take them both home. Two for the price of umm...FREE! It also turns out they were made by D's Grandma which makes them even more special. The best type of vintage are items that have been kept in the family and come with a story.

This one is a little bit nosier ;)

I have already reserved some prime wall real estate at 9808 for these cuties. One in our bedroom and the other in the dining room.

In looking for a generic photo of a macrame owl on the internet, I came across this hilariously AWESOME website created by an organization dedicated to saving, rehabilitating and reviving the Macrame Owl. According to the Varieties page our two are Typicus Macramé Owls. According to the site these guys are down to earth, modest, hard working, altruistic and loyal.

Macramé Owl Welfare Rescue Operations Nurse (MOWRON) Greg teaches Apprentice MOWRON Ciaran the fine art of Macramé Owl handling in the wild.

Sadly, Macramé Owls are still being hunted for their jute.



Greg demonstrates macramé handling techniques for a quarantined Macramé Owl, while Horace looks on.



Fun Facts from the website:

   

Owl Symbolism in Feng Shui

Buddhists believe the owl to be an independent seeker of truth that is familiar with meditation. Ancient cultures believed the owl offered protection against evil spirits and ill health. Owl figures increase the Yang in the environment – the positive and masculine chi energies.

Why the Macramé Owl is an Ideal Feng Shui Cure 

Not only is owl symbolism incredibly powerful; the materials used to create a Macramé Owl are also feng shui friendly. Natural materials (such as hemp and driftwood) can be incorporated to add more positive and balancing feng shui elements. The hanging structure of the Macramé Owl allows it to sway in the breeze, causing chi energy to flow.

And last but not least I'll leave you with this touching poem......

Plight of the Macramé Owl

by Annie Zalezsak © 30 July 2009

O, macramé owl
sitting on a dowel
do you ever fear
that your time is near?
It must be so hard
when you they discard.

Please don’t throw away
my little owl macramé.

Check it out more fun owly features over at Macrameowl.com!