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Catch the Light

by Catherine on March 28, 2012

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I love a bit of sparkle around the house, and one of the easiest (and most frugal) ways to catch the light is to get your jewellery working double time. A pair of gold cuff can become mantle-worthy votive holders. Delicate necklaces dangling from a branch glimmer in a sunny corner. And a little dish filled with sentimental treasures adds a little touch of glamour to a bedside table or vanity.

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Treasure Trove

by Catherine on September 9, 2011

Since I don’t have the drawer space or discipline to keep my dressing area uncluttered, I find it’s best to turn my magpie’s eye  free and make a feature of my baubles. This antique folding tea tray is the jewellery display method du jour, and I found it at a vintage shop in West End for a measly $10! Throwing on the perfect accessories is much easier when everything is visible; Since I’ve finally been able to unpack all my treasures from my travel case I’ve even discovered some forgotten favourites, like the vintage brooches and big ’80s statement hoops.

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DIY Desiccants

by Catherine on March 22, 2011

When I used to think of Australia, I’d imagine vast expanses of bone-dry dessert. But dryness is one thing Brisbane has not delivered on so far. In fact, dampness has been such a problem this summer that I’m starting to worry that my clothes will go mouldy before it ever gets cool enough to wear most of them. Which led me to what I think is an ingenious solution to the mustiness lurking in the drawers of The Spring Cottage. I’ve created home-made desiccant sacks.

The design is simple. I filled disposable dishcloths with a cup of silica kitty litter and sewed them up into little pouches {fabric glue would also work}. I would have used dryer sheets instead of dishcloths if I could find them for their fresh laundry scent. Silica is all natural and absorbs 40% of its weight in water.

The sacks have to be replaced periodically. I’m going to change mine every two months or so, but if I wanted to be scientific I could weigh them each periodically to find out exactly how much moisture they’d absorbed. Don’t forget to keep the left-over litter sealed tightly against the dampness in the air!

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