A resolution for renovations…

Instead of making resolutions at NYE, I make mine on my birthday – which was last week. One of my resolutions for this year was to spend less on home items and do more DIY! Now we are out of the Middle East it will be much easier and affordable to do so and I am really looking forward to crafting again.

Back to work!

I’ve begun redesigning our new home (best part about moving hands down!) and thought about all the lovely things I can source and customise. It’s another rental property so once again we are limited to what is allowed but I have some great ideas up my sleeve – can’t wait to begin!

Cupcakes and birthday mail

Check out my birthday cupcakes! Do you like the plate? They were my latest thrift shop find (the plates not the cake!). I got so excited by all the things they had, Mr. S practically had to tape my hands to my sides so I wouldn’t pick everything up (insert child in a sweet shop image here). For a smallish town there are a good amount of shops filled with second hand bargins! Our home is pretty empty right now as the shipment hasn’t arrived, so these bits and bobs we’ve found have helped cheer it up.

Stick wreath

This was a post Christmas find. I removed the festive fabric wrapped around it so now the wreath can be displayed all year. I think it’s lovely as it is simply hanging on a door knob – until I can find a hook for the wall anyway!

I picked up these wooden frames for next to nothing. They have real glass panels and solid wood frames which are easy to spruce up! I’m going to paint some gold and some white. We have so many pictures and photos waiting for a frame, one of which is this pretty envelope from Jim Thompson (during my Thailand travels).

I intend to use one of my gold painted frames and a navy or black background- a perfect addition to the living room!

Perfume platter

I saw this idea once whilst browsing Pinterest; take a really lovely round tray or platter and stash all your nice perfume bottles on display. I’ve put mine on the side board in the bedroom. I think in it’s past life it served beers in a pub but it was obviously meant to spend retirement with me!

Lastly I want to leave you with this beautiful view I came home to the other evening… which might also be frame worthy – isn’t it wonderful!

Have a creative evening!

~Lola~

A culture beautifully bottled…

After the Shisha shopping spree, we hit the local perfume shops because we knew we would not get these abroad again! I have been desperate to show off the beautiful, beautiful bottles they handcraft and sell here…

I tried to take pictures of as many as possible without getting into trouble; these are works of art and there are rival perfume companies all over the Middle East- big market! The locals consider perfume as an everyday important part of their appearance and presentation (men and women alike) but the Arabic perfume differs greatly to the western market scents; they are stronger, more spicy, herbal and somewhat simular to incense in the smell.

Apologies for simple iphone snaps but I think you can still see most of the details…enjoy!

My three favourites

Look at this display box!

Gold and amber…

Handbag sized

Majestic purple

Pearly

Oud (perfume oil)

Oud holders

Not only does the smell inside reflect in the design on the outside, to me these bottles sum up this region’s style, fashion and atmosphere… every word you could use to describe these bottles and their scent completely applies to the culture!

Have a creative evening!

~Lola~