wall hanging aren't just for castles anymore

So a little background on this one. When I was in Sri Lanka last June [June 08] on my whirlwind shortened visit [stupid plane delays :( I am still bitter!], my mum was taking me around all the important sights. You know, places like House of Fashion, Fashion Bug, Arpico, Liberty Plaza... and my favourite, Dwellings. I stepped foot into the home fashion and kitchen shop and fell in love. They had everything you could ever want and more. I could easily have lived there, for they had beds and pillows and blankets, cookware and plates, and, of course, a little rotti stand across the street so I wouldn't hunger.
I digress.
While in there, I happened upon this gorgeous wall hanging. I knew before I'd even moved into my house that it would be perfect in the stairwell. Top of the stairs, mirror at the bottom. Beautiful. It was all set out in my mind.
I left without it, but got a lovely surprise at Christmas when my mum and dad bought it for me. How spoiled am I?? It came home with me and I knew it had to go where I'd imagined for months. I bought a wooden dowel and some 'Taxi Cab Yellow' paint, and set to painting the heck out of that dowel.
As you can see, the hanging is NOT at the top of the stairs. The mirror wouldn't reflect it, the stairs were too steep... blah blah blah. So I've put it here and it's the first thing you see when you walk in the front door.

The colours are so vibrant, the patterns so beautiful. I love my little wall-hanging!

what to do, what to do

I'd bought some shelves in Oxfam ages ago. Like.... in August kind of ages ago. Finally, when I got home from Sri Lanka, I decided to do something with them. Before that, the time had never seemed right. I didn't have the time. I didn't know where they should go. But I'd bought a whole bunch of jars from Ikea.... they had to go somewhere!
Apparently I used the wrong kind of wall plugs... the wrong screws... the wrong everything. But I don't care. Because they look neat AND they haven't fallen down yet. I'll worry about using the right plugs when I come home from work and there's broken glass, rice and pasta strewn across the floor.

Plus, it's a handy spot to keep my cookbooks! ....of which I keep buying more, and more, and more... and more....

A Tale of Two Curtains

My kitchen windows were looking a little bare. I had bought some material when I was in Sri Lanka that I thought would be perfect for these windows.

Of course, it wouldn't fit in my buldging suitcase on the way home, so it had to wait for my parents to come over. Fine by me! Because, as you can see, my Dad was hard at work...

I think they look pretty darn good!