Sorry.. Life has been a little hectic!!

Just wanted to say sorry for my slackness of blogs over the last few months..

Since coming back from our holiday in January 2015, life has become a little hectic..

Finding out we were pregnant with baby cub number 3, My first little miss starting prep (still trying to get use to getting up and out the door early every morning!!) 

and the hubby's overload of paperwork.. 

But finally I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and are finding time to manage everything and get some new blog posts done for you all.. So stay tuned over the next few weeks for some delayed party blogs, restored furniture blogs, interior blogs and more..

Also wanted to say a big THANK YOU for your commitment to Jode Designs..

We couldn't do what we do with out you all!! 

We LOOOOOOVE our customers - far and wide xxxx

Finally!!! New things for sale!!

New stock up for sale!!

 Finally got some time to restore these pieces for you all.. 

Check them out at the Ebay store (jodedesigns11).. Enjoy..

Exploring Western Australia (road trip)..

So, the hubby and I just celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary and decided to head off on a road trip around Western Australia for a week (with NO KIDS!!).. 

We had a fabulous time exploring another part of this beautiful country we live in and stumbled across some great restaurants/cafes/shops which got the 

creative juices flowing again.. 

Here are some pics of our adventure..

This is me.. free as a bird.. exploring Bunbury WA

Grabbing a bite to eat from Little Creatures, Freemantle WA.. 

A very cool industrial feel with copper, timber and steel..

 Exploring the Maritime museum at Freemantle WA..

Hubby was in anchor heaven..

The most beautiful beaches at Esperance WA..

Loving that aqua water.. pity about the sharks!!

Chilling with the locals at Lucky Bay, WA..

Sand was as white as snow.. 

The only way to break up an 8 hour trip..

Gilberts Winery, Mount Barker WA.. Soooooo good!!

Stumbled across this awesome cafe at Freemantle, WA called The Raw Kitchen..

They had two shipping containers inside the old building and 

Chesterton lounges EVERYWHERE!!

It was so nice to spend time with this one.. He is a keeper!!

Now home and on top of the 'housy' duties I will be back into painting this week.. 

So stayed tuned for some new products for sale soon..

Our new industrial table..

So I can't get the hubby to help me make a copper lamp for my work desk, but when he decided he wanted a new outdoor table - Wola!! One is made in a week (go figure).. 

But I really shouldn't complain.. I am so in love with this new table I have been 

making the family eat every meal outside on it!!

As we have a old meets new/industrial feel to our home.. and we love to entertain.. 

we thought a large outdoor table would be perfect for those nice summer nights.. 

We used recycled timber battens for the top and industrial metal piping for the base..

(it surely is a heavy thing - definitely wont be moving it around!)

I have used the Replica Eames chairs for my dining table inside, so I decided to get a couple of the armchairs for the outdoor table.. 

That way you can use them at either table for extra guests!

We scored this amazing (although weathered) old church pew from Gumtree for $75 bucks.. I adore the 4 leaf clover cut outs at either end.. 

The hubby is still making another timber bench seat for the other side.. 

It does show though with a bit of muscle (it took 4 guys to move), 

creativity and love you can always bring life back to things that are 

old and compliment them with things that are new..Enjoy..

Looking like a lady while working..

I must admit, I am a bit of a girly girl.. And since my job of restoring furniture doesn't exactly scream 'high class business women' with my old paint clothes, dusty hair from sanding and patches of splashed paint up my arms/legs.. 

Underneath I still like to look my best!

So lately, every 3 weeks, I book in a night of luxury and get me nails done.. I have always wanted to have lovely nails but unfortunately mine just don't get the chance to grow!! But I could only get them done with one warning from the hubby 'If you don't protect them then no more!!'.. Of course, I rolled my eyes like a teenager at him, but knew deep down that I would need to be that little bit EXTRA careful..

And that is why I now invest in gloves!! I use rubber gloves for my painting and Sandi Hands gloves for my sanding.. I love the Sandi Hands gloves the best as they are cotton and let the hands breathe while sanding but still protecting the nail.. Unfortunately the rubber painting gloves do heat up a bit but I don't want to give up on my luxury!! 

So take it from me.. You can definitely still sand, paint and restore furniture while looking glamorous underneath.. And for me that is a SERIOUS win, win situation!!

Here are my pretty nails :) Still trying to decide with which style I want next week!!

Here is me using Sandi Hands to protect my nails while sanding..

Here is me using the rubber gloves to protect my nails while painting..

And to finish, here is my little man helping me out with some sanding!!

A dining table for the outdoors..

When my sister asked me to source a dining table for her outdoor deck, I couldn't go pass this beautiful piece.. With it's rustic timber top and gorgeous turned legs, it is such a solid piece.. And perfect for an industrial look which suits her home..

As the table top was in pretty good condition to start with, I gave it a light sand, stain and a few coats of lacquer.. With the legs, we really couldn't decide on a colour - tossing between white, grey and black.. So glad we went with the black.. It really brought out the timber knots and ageing marks of the timber..

Here are some before and after photos of the table.. I just love seeing old solid pieces of furniture given a new life.. Enjoy..

BEFORE:

AFTER:

New Stock..

Well what a couple of weeks it has been.. Daily I have been covered from head to toe in saw-dust and paint, but I am super excited to bring you some new stock!! 

Hope you enjoy..