Vintage school chalkboard

Years ago, I was lucky enough to stumble across an old school blackboard, complete with easel, at a garage sale. I snapped it up for the princely sum of $5, and I've used the easel ever since in my studio. The chalkboard, however, has sat in my shed until yesterday. I've decided it's time to have a more organised system for keeping track of all my paintings on order, and as I'm a very visual person, I need to see it in black and white.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_yHXFIPSgqSVO82epJfscr2k8o5JuFkPWTZ11lrFsIBTZrSjiXTHAFA35cKmq5KRABrwwNMv2eijmwZkoGdLKWbl_5mmlZJlvIalqNwNhDYoRvtjmM6gKhWtdl4h40T6JEPpDxu4U9U/s1600/blackboard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_yHXFIPSgqSVO82epJfscr2k8o5JuFkPWTZ11lrFsIBTZrSjiXTHAFA35cKmq5KRABrwwNMv2eijmwZkoGdLKWbl_5mmlZJlvIalqNwNhDYoRvtjmM6gKhWtdl4h40T6JEPpDxu4U9U/s640/blackboard2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-JjQ6ZkbqcMjlB97qePhxpv80-3SrTduq5LZlU1PESG4HtAmkGQ3uLEFL0mKysak0fC7HG05OnEOvCO-9TLV7RtUG0FD3LzrhoNnD5767C3xAsRFmgn4-EkmzrPTety7q2_Wixp86-Q/s1600/blackboard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-JjQ6ZkbqcMjlB97qePhxpv80-3SrTduq5LZlU1PESG4HtAmkGQ3uLEFL0mKysak0fC7HG05OnEOvCO-9TLV7RtUG0FD3LzrhoNnD5767C3xAsRFmgn4-EkmzrPTety7q2_Wixp86-Q/s400/blackboard2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When I first bought it, I'd planned to paint the frame, but now I think I rather like it in all its shabby glory. I'm planning on hanging it on the wall, so that I can still use the easel for my larger artworks, and the chalkboard will be used as a visual diary of sorts. And as it's about to rain yet again, once I've finished my orders for the day, I'll get back to work on a painting I'm actually keeping <i>for myself</i>, which is something of a rarity now days. I have a large, blank wall behind the sofa in our family room, and I've earmarked a 3' x 6' canvas for the space. Once it's presentable I'll give you a look, but for now I can tell you it will be something of a hybrid between these:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7jT5YQ34mp_4F7OTz5iLTya6CawUG5IxyJlAaOS2rVHjJ7vydltRoadUZPqiLWWUYtHnWx25cR-6xBu-66VuIOA_BrZodgXqu1-22lV3TBu2C4mlVQtflWrcLDSfvtHbACVILgwmbtA/s1600/abstract+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7jT5YQ34mp_4F7OTz5iLTya6CawUG5IxyJlAaOS2rVHjJ7vydltRoadUZPqiLWWUYtHnWx25cR-6xBu-66VuIOA_BrZodgXqu1-22lV3TBu2C4mlVQtflWrcLDSfvtHbACVILgwmbtA/s640/abstract+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">'</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Nautilus' </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Mixed media on canvas (sold)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipInzGsRxJ0xHEp30gvgRqbL5xXAvIvIVb5_925gxKbmLCI9vnalhDpAIvKtk_N-ZFsiJmCEoHoeYXvuokLoORB2ZYznxnzlpgpeqDT2OeYxu92feM_RWhdRIAjwRh2N7KuneEG7Bq0nI/s1600/drift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipInzGsRxJ0xHEp30gvgRqbL5xXAvIvIVb5_925gxKbmLCI9vnalhDpAIvKtk_N-ZFsiJmCEoHoeYXvuokLoORB2ZYznxnzlpgpeqDT2OeYxu92feM_RWhdRIAjwRh2N7KuneEG7Bq0nI/s400/drift.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">'Drift'</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Mixed media on canvas (sold)</span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4xghvoOL20L2NjjJDep0f3HoIBZ3GQ3yvMOHjK0izG2QE7cfJkWvvPoiFdmyEwliaWTzB0VAjd1ry6CCG6zEpMB0d-oFN7SplEdZ7twqOrrld-OTaTfgwMd7p29tD0xcSoiQSxxI-Go/s1600/drift+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4xghvoOL20L2NjjJDep0f3HoIBZ3GQ3yvMOHjK0izG2QE7cfJkWvvPoiFdmyEwliaWTzB0VAjd1ry6CCG6zEpMB0d-oFN7SplEdZ7twqOrrld-OTaTfgwMd7p29tD0xcSoiQSxxI-Go/s640/drift+II.jpg" width="483" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">'Drift II"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Mixed media on canvas </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">(you can check out more of my paintings over <a href="http://www.facebook.com/originalartbykerrishipp">here</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/driftwoodinteriors">here</a>, if you're interested)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...with a few surprises thrown in. Oh, and before I forget, the lovely Mara, of <a href="http://home-shabby-home.blogspot.com/2010/12/little-corner.html">Home Shabby Home</a>, recently shared some pics of her new home office space. And hanging on the wall is my painting, 'Fresco'! Take a look:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3vuQuHvvCw7-DK6VU2piGBF0taqVBWLF9wO57BEADoQfhfONh7pwllQugKHk70xCToH3jftTA9EnxJstiGgEl2aznlcmKQYRGH0p3DWRcaqmN84wUy-y98fu3ZP1K9Ftk-ORVu_hyphenhyphenQk/s1600/home+shabby+home2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3vuQuHvvCw7-DK6VU2piGBF0taqVBWLF9wO57BEADoQfhfONh7pwllQugKHk70xCToH3jftTA9EnxJstiGgEl2aznlcmKQYRGH0p3DWRcaqmN84wUy-y98fu3ZP1K9Ftk-ORVu_hyphenhyphenQk/s640/home+shabby+home2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LKBx_uPdjo3VqaKoMEwhoe52D01MOlGIz7FzZwWORexGqoVb3igoCKJsPFKlFG-pjBjGhIwmxupuix994-hv54NzNnmjmW_mEHDH7bawSDdz2qmzHNmnM8u2joS9Vcsr3pUfOwQCPyk/s1600/home+shabby+home1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LKBx_uPdjo3VqaKoMEwhoe52D01MOlGIz7FzZwWORexGqoVb3igoCKJsPFKlFG-pjBjGhIwmxupuix994-hv54NzNnmjmW_mEHDH7bawSDdz2qmzHNmnM8u2joS9Vcsr3pUfOwQCPyk/s640/home+shabby+home1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">By the way, I also wanted to thank everyone who sent birthday and anniversary wishes my way, you're very sweet :) We spent a lovely couple of days up Noosa way, and in spite of the terrible weather, it was such a lovely break.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Right, back to the coal mines for me. Have a great day everyone,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">*all images and artwork copyright Driftwood Interiors*</span></div>

Vintage school chalkboard

Years ago, I was lucky enough to stumble across an old school blackboard, complete with easel, at a garage sale. I snapped it up for the pri...

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A white and natural Christmas

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love the way this <a href="http://www.jeanetteshus.com/">amazing lady</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">has decorated<span style="font-size: large;"> her home</span>!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Amo il modo in cui questa fantastica donna</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>ha decorato la <span style="font-size: large;">sua casa</span>!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><em><br /></em><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rh_ozOe_C9Uf0BAN52B7OQeSaFlLE-pMMrWff-wYMDbQqC49KZ06MIOfXySVGC7g462tTt6Nltv2Xj9osjK-2Fh5EixXVNMQrkjcxFB0Ap0lM-mE_sP5fimIPnCrpnGvXOiSFHjNWc8/s1600/natale2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rh_ozOe_C9Uf0BAN52B7OQeSaFlLE-pMMrWff-wYMDbQqC49KZ06MIOfXySVGC7g462tTt6Nltv2Xj9osjK-2Fh5EixXVNMQrkjcxFB0Ap0lM-mE_sP5fimIPnCrpnGvXOiSFHjNWc8/s640/natale2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">White, green, shabby touches and <span style="font-size: large;">scandinavian taste</span>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bianco, verde, tocchi shabby e <span style="font-size: large;">sapore scandinavo</span>.</span></em></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em> </em></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXFDz4FSU8T180PvYAUmwHv8nSIVukH1YdkX8T51a9TJdYP0ZtaEnKvGcsYFgHD_45U3DNMHEkJSeA2RsBs7NDkcqxyxCzbcilFtre0KTTzLv2ubxVs5UpaH4Ibi9os46x-4FubTEGsw/s1600/natale4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXFDz4FSU8T180PvYAUmwHv8nSIVukH1YdkX8T51a9TJdYP0ZtaEnKvGcsYFgHD_45U3DNMHEkJSeA2RsBs7NDkcqxyxCzbcilFtre0KTTzLv2ubxVs5UpaH4Ibi9os46x-4FubTEGsw/s640/natale4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She is Jeanette and has a<a href="http://www.jeanetteshus.com/"> blog</a> full </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of wonderful images of her home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Lei è Jeanette ed ha un blog</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>pieno di fantastiche immagini della sua casa!!!</em></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YrAROI5gzjRUHCNqMDlTU6mFZXAwWt3nV2Xgw9sjpdC036Ugipv63sYztrV2p2fLeuDoLdr_9OJc183-pznwNd5NYzv25TqDgUmYGfNjvlJQ96y6STRqKVnFGMXv4x7ZbDyUw94s0Zs/s1600/firma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YrAROI5gzjRUHCNqMDlTU6mFZXAwWt3nV2Xgw9sjpdC036Ugipv63sYztrV2p2fLeuDoLdr_9OJc183-pznwNd5NYzv25TqDgUmYGfNjvlJQ96y6STRqKVnFGMXv4x7ZbDyUw94s0Zs/s1600/firma.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWf2hJfu5jB-CzmkJUEfCmgBfKqb66TIuiwCQ16ckLYkV8rvOkob_LooFhLIbAqD23c6fzpSAUJnqI3_G7B2cYupgBTPA8CTTNy6UsrFH9QYJ0Uz1goZJkquWWq3FA_CFeSZvmcHB8rQQ/s1600/natale1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWf2hJfu5jB-CzmkJUEfCmgBfKqb66TIuiwCQ16ckLYkV8rvOkob_LooFhLIbAqD23c6fzpSAUJnqI3_G7B2cYupgBTPA8CTTNy6UsrFH9QYJ0Uz1goZJkquWWq3FA_CFeSZvmcHB8rQQ/s640/natale1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She creates fantastic <span style="font-size: large;">handcrafted decorations</span>!<br />As I've already told you,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love natural decorations</div><div style="text-align: center;">just like these!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Lei crea fantastiche <span style="font-size: large;">decorazioni</span>!</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>E come vi ho già detto,</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>io adoro le decorazioni naturali,</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>proprio come queste!!!</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a fantastic new week!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Un buon inizio di settimana a tutte!</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Those pictures are taken by Minna Mercke Schmidt</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of</span><a href="http://blomsterverkstad.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Blomsterverkstad</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Le foto sono state scattate da Minna Mercke Schmidt</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">di</span></em><a href="http://blomsterverkstad.blogspot.com/"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Blomsterverkstad</span></em></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

A white and natural Christmas

I love the way this amazing lady has decorated her home ! Amo il modo in cui questa fantastica donna ha decorato la sua casa ! White, gree...

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Sneak attack

It really feels like Christmas has crept up on me this year. One minute it was October, somehow I completely missed November, and then Christmas was looming out of the blue. I blame it partly on this weather - it definitely does not feel like summer here at all. It's rained on and off for the past few months, so the usual blistering hot days which herald the start of the holidays just haven't arrived.<br /><br />To make matters worse, we still haven't put our tree up. You see, each year, we decide on a different colour theme. We decided on a turquoise and silver theme this year - but of course, when I went to buy new decorations, there was nothing to be found! Ah well, we'll manage somehow, and the tree will go up today one way or another. But then I saw this image over at the lovely <a href="http://oliveaux.blogspot.com/">Oliveaux</a>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Hu9dO684VG0UAqti4uojtS5HNK197aH9ATD-IBExb9ymHafpgSCr1jlhpJKjq4FaUJvai7rdWOlfhp2Hp_F_mzV6NRRTIQ11u5iCQJ2gcvUx6nJP-OcbADyK5EyUuNGRY_3BMdJoIw4/s1600/magnolia+Christmas+Wreath.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Hu9dO684VG0UAqti4uojtS5HNK197aH9ATD-IBExb9ymHafpgSCr1jlhpJKjq4FaUJvai7rdWOlfhp2Hp_F_mzV6NRRTIQ11u5iCQJ2gcvUx6nJP-OcbADyK5EyUuNGRY_3BMdJoIw4/s640/magnolia+Christmas+Wreath.png" width="598" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...and was instantly smitten! How lovely is this, and what a nice change from the traditional wreath. I am officially in love, and think this would be just perfect for an 'Aussie' Christmas. But there's just one problem...now I need to add this to my list of impossible to find decorations! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ah, the joys of the silly season....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>

Sneak attack

It really feels like Christmas has crept up on me this year. One minute it was October, somehow I completely missed November, and then Chris...

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