This year has been one fast and crazy ride. It's that time to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2012.

Looking forward to bringing you more Retro Delights in the new year. Our kitchen and bathroom projects are still on the go, and there is of course a never ending supply of Retro Delights to share with you.

Thanks for your interest and for following along. Best wishes, Kyrie K.

I'm loving my sewing projects at the moment, but it just hasn't felt right using a newish plastic sewing machine. So I have been on the hunt for a reliable retro model.

After hunting on e-bay for weeks I found this beautiful vintage green "Singer". It is made of metal, and is very strong and robust. Certainly not like my other plastic model! I will keep the plastic one as a back up machine, but somehow I don't think I will need it. This is definitely a case of "they just don't make them like they used to!"

I feel much happier now making my retro inspired creations (K2 Scarf) on my retro sewing machine!

Finally our laundry reno is complete apart from a couple minor changes (tiles). I am so pleased with how it has come together and it is exactly how I visualised it to be. We have set up the laundry as a mini kitchenette while we work on the kitchen. It is handy to have the sink and storage... the fridge will live in the lounge for a while, and we can work around the oven still connected when pulling the kitchen apart!

We had a "Reverse Osmosis" filter system fitted by Filter King. It is the tastiest and cleanest water which means I will now drink more (a good thing) and also our tea and coffee will taste the best.

Cupboards, shelving, bench tops, sink, tap and handles all IKEA. Once the kitchen is together I plan to paint the kick boards charcoal, just to give it that little extra lift.


We decided to paint the back of the door in chalkboard paint so we can keep lists and write messages to each other. I sent Denis down to the hardware store to grab the paint, and without looking he accidentally grabbed "Green" chalkboard paint! We decided to go for it anyway. We can always paint over it with the black version later... but it is growing on me. Lucky it is a nice green, plus we do have a bit of a green theme going on throughout the house!

I think the floor tiles look great, I am glad we left them original. They just bring another texture to the room. We now just need to tile around the skirting and behind the sink - will probably go for a plain square white tile.

Everytime I walk through the laundry now I feel like I am in a different house. Everything so sparkly and new! View more photos here. More will be added once this room is an actual laundry not temporary kitchen!

Introducing my limited edition "K2 Scarf" designed and handmade by 'me'!

The K2 Scarf is inspired by the swanky style of the mid-twentieth century with an added modern twist... a reversible design!

The new range features Adelaide designed fabrics from Surface Art Textile Design. Each scarf is delivered beautifully packaged in a square gift box, and also includes the extremely cute 'how to tie' instruction flyer! I found the K2 Scarf model on one of my vintage sewing patterns!

No cookie cutters here... each scarf is made in a limited run, be quick so you don't miss out!

Last weekend we started our Kitchen/Laundry renovation. The idea is to do the laundry first, and get it to a state where we can use it as a mini kitchen while the kitchen reno is in progress.

So far Denis removed all the cupboards, pulled off the tiles and wall paper. We then had plumbers move all the taps down below cupboard height. Next a plasterer popped by to re-plaster the wall and fill the odd crack.

Right, now we are at painting stage. Heading to the paint shop tonight to select the colours... Going for charcoal door, white window and trim, and Dulux Pale Tendrill Half for the walls.

The flat pack cupboards are waiting patiently in our garage to be assembled and installed hopefully this weekend. Yes if all goes to plan we are hoping to finish this product (except tiling) this weekend...Painting, new power points, cupboards installed, taps connected, new lighting and shelves etc.

VERY EXCITING. Will post more photos here when complete!

On the weekend Denis and I were delighted to visit the very first pop up "Breakfast Rave" held in the Barossa Valley. Organised by my dear friend Cherie, along a team of like minded foodies from the Barossa, the Rave is a spontaneous community event expected to pop up in various iconic Barossa locations.


Sunday's event was held at the Angaston Train Station. No longer in use, it was the perfect backdrop for this sustainable breakfast affair. I love the fact that a new breath of life was given to this old building even if only for a day!


We even got to take home an heirloom tomato plant in a compostable pot as a thank you for supporting the first event! Actually the whole event was compostable ... all cups, plates, forks, bin bags and food scraps were compostable and thrown straight into the Rave's compost! I'm impressed!


Breakfast was divine, Spanish style slow-cooked beans with free range poached eggs, grilled sourdough and a dollop of natural yoghurt - all for only $10. Oh yeah, top that with some coriander and chilli!

Finished with a gluten free chocolate brownie by Scullery Made Tea. YUMBO! And I must say, I think I had the best Mocha I've ever had from Barossa Coffee Roasters - a big call but it is true!

Keep in the loop on The Breakfast Rave Facebook page or check out more photos from Sunday's event here >

Absolutely loving this Kitchen display found in "Decorate", a book I bought from One Small Room last week. Definitely need to start collecting an assortment of green, white and brown crockery!

Denis and I looked after our nephew Nicholas on Sat night. Nik thoroughly enjoyed exploring our house and looking at all the unusual bits and pieces that we have around. Denis captured Nik having a wee play with his retro cool Zeiss Ikon Camera! How cute!

Mamma and Dadda jug are pleased to announce the adoption of their baby brown jug!

Me, I bought a vintage board game called Park and Shop. To my surprise I found 2 more retro games hidden away under the cardboard insert inside! One called "Money" and the other "Careers".

Denis took this photo of me walking proudly with my game through the Melbourne streets as we made our way back to the hotel. Yeah I did get a few looks...


Denis spotted this retro cool Zeiss Ikon Camera complete with flash and leather case. Denis's camera collection is rapidly growing, but I have to admit I particularly like this one.

To celebrate Denis' special Birthday we have decided to take a train journey to Melbourne this weekend. We both really love train travel, and find it to be so relaxing. It must be the motion, noise and time out to just sit back and watch the world pass by!

You could say passenger trains are an old school / retro form of travel. My parents went on a train journey to Melbourne for their honeymoon back in the 1960s. I think the trains have somewhat been updated since this picture was taken above. What a shame!