MY BASKET PROJECT FROM THE FLEA MARKET

Hi everyone

Well, as promised here is my basket project with the basket I scored at the flea market on Sunday.  The basket only cost me a couple of dollars and is really rustic and earthy.  So what better project than filling it with earth and bringing nature indoors.

I really love herbs in cooking, but parsley and me don’t get along.  Everyone says it’s easy to grow but somehow I always kill it.

So fingers crossed this time.

I decided to bring the herbs to me, rather than have to go out in all weather (remember it’s autumn in my part of the world) and have fresh herbs at the ready in my kitchen.  I hit up the local garden center yesterday, thinking I would just line the basket with a plastic bin liner and soil etc.  But the garden guy said they wouldn’t last in their pots very long and better to be in soil.  So I picked out one of those coconut fiber planter liners and some herb soil mix along with thyme, mint, flat leaved parsley, and garlic chives.  I already had a nearly dead pot of regular parsley at home and figured I might try putting a few cuttings of my rosemary bush and lavender too and see if they take.  Here’s hoping.

First up I put a plastic bag on the bottom of the basket – no pic of this sorry – forgot that part!

Next came the fiber liner.  Now the liner was round and my basket is oblong so it was a bit of push and shove to get it fitting reasonably – a little over the edges but at least it blends in with the basket.

I filled the basket up nearly full of the herb growing mix, and put in my herbs, plus the cuttings of rosemary and lavender and the nearly dead parsley.  And voila!

I’ve put it in the corner of my kitchen bench looking out to the palm trees.  This is the area I prepare meals in so hopefully I won’t forget to water it, and it gets great morning sun etc.

If anyone has any hints how not to kill parsley, I’d really appreciate it!

So that is project one of the flea market scores done.

Happy days – and growing

Jane

A HUNTING WE WILL GO

Hi everyone.

Well Easter is done and dusted and for us here in New Zealand our ANZAC day or (Remembrance Day) is over and done with so it’s all back to grindstone.

However today I played hooky for one more day and headed off to the Browns Bay Market.  This is a local flea market where antiques and memorabilia are sold along side fruit and veggies, and food stalls.  The market occupies the carpark area of a shopping area that doesn’t really open much on Sunday.

So I headed down there with the two daughters to seek a bargain or two.  The idea was to try and find things I could use around the home and do a little project or two. 

Okay, I will admit that the first two things I found were handbags – a definite score at $2.00 each! 

Next came a coffee bean sack – not sure what they sell for in the US but I got this one for $4.00 and it’s in really good condition and some flax placemats..

My next score was a little metal bottle holder or perhaps I could put candles in it.  It has no bottom on it, so whatever goes in will need to be quite a firm fit.

A beautifully antiqued gold picture frame joined me next, and I’m already planning a project for this.

I didn't really notice the rather risque print in this frame until now.  That's going.

Last but not least was a cool basket – all rope and rustic.  Project Basket is already underway, and I hope to show you that tomorrow.

A few things I saw – lanterns, tin watering cans – they were a bit dear and the sellers wouldn’t budge on price – I could have kicked myself as I’ve tossed those items out before, and now I want them back.

Also saw lots of antique linens.

I was tempted, but I actually have some of my mother's which are awaiting a project.   

So all in all I was really happy with my haul and will definitely go again.  

Pop back tomorrow for an update on project basket.

Happy days

Jane