The Interior DIYer
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Blog Awards Ireland 2013 – finalist

Way back in June Hydrangea Girl was nominated in this years Blog Awards Ireland. It was nominated in three categories and I was OH SO excited / flattered / massive ball of nerves. Then in September, the Blog Awards Ireland announced their shortlist. Hydrangea Girl made it through in all three categories. I was pretty surprised, considering I had eye-balled {and swooned} over my fellow nominee’s sites, and couldn’t believe I even made the short list. 

Then, last Tuesday, I checked the Blog Awards site and I had made it through to the finals. In all three categories. Balls to the walls. Nominated for Best Craft Blog, Best Lifestyle Blog as well as Best Designed Blog. Only five blogs make it into each final category. Five. To say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement. 
It’s true when people say it’s been a pleasure to just be nominated. I’m incredibly flattered to be in the final round among such awesome bloggers. I’m not expecting to get any further and I’m heading to the awards ceremony this weekend to shoot the breeze and make new blogger / bloggette friends. And wine friends. Did you check out the blogs I’m alongside in the finals? No really. They make my site look like a bag of hammers. It’s very humbling. 
If you’re attending the awards this weekend, lemme know! I get nervous at these things and never know where to stand / look / not to talk with food in my mouth and be a lady and swear less. So if you see me there, let’s make awkward conversation. With beverage in hand. Obv.
xx A
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DIY Friday – fall wall

Some of the trees near us have finally started turning really lovely autumny reds last week. I just couldn’t resist, so while embracing my social awkwardness at full capacity, on my way home from work I started collecting my favourite leaves, which attracted some interesting glances. Once I got home, I lazily taped them all in one bundle to the wall over our TV and then that little light bulb sound went off – create a leafy gallery wall and my own little ode to autumn. A super simple DIY Friday that doesn’t require mad craft skills. 

All you need are leaves and washi tape. Just head outside, or even better – if you have children that still consider picking up leaves fun, send them outside to collect their favourite ones. I used my favourite black and white washi tape and taped them over the chair in our living room which currently doesn’t have a focal point. I didn’t get technical, just eye balled it and stuck the leaves in no particular order. 
TIP: I would advise pressing and drying your leaves in a heavy book for a couple of days before you tape them up. It prevents your leaves from rolling up as they dry, and they will look much more manicured on your wall. Two days in a book will do the trick. I didn’t have time to do this, so I have some backpedaling to do. I blame the eager blogger bug. 

I’m really happy with how it turned out and I can wholeheartedly say the {blurry} pictures do not do it justice. Once I’ve properly pressed and dried my leaves, I’m hoping to keep them up from now through to Halloween, Thanksgiving and right up until I switch things up for Christmas. A perfect little autumn accent me thinks.
That’s it really. Nothing more to add. Happy Friday, peeps! I got a ridiculously good deal on some monk fish today, so we will be dining like frugal kings tonight. I hope you have an autumny weekend lined up. xx A 

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Lovely feature – From China Village

This morning I am tore up from the floor up to share with you an exciting feature featuring yours truly over on Emily Westbrooks’s website, From China Village! Emily got in contact with me about a new feature she was rolling out on her website – meeting up with bloggers in their favourite blogging environments. Emily asked if I’d like to show her around the charity shop / thrifting scene and of course, I was well up for it. 
Look how co-ordinated we are with our stripes and North American accents. Well played. Click on over to Emily’s feature – Let’s Meet Bloggers Face to Face // Alex of Hydrangea Girl – to read all about our day at Merchants Market, and you can see me doing what I do best; digging through stuff, finding weird, unusual and cat-related items, and making faces.

For those of you curious to know if I took home the crazy-cat-lady-teapot I found, um, hell yes I did … 

… Look at her – helping herself to a plate full of sausages, a slight crazed look in her eye and a if I’m not mistaken, blood dripping from the corners of her mouth. Or possibly sloppy artistry. Who wouldn’t bring her home? But in all seriousness, I’m on the lookout for some ceramic paint or pens so I can give her a bit of a makeover. Friendlier eyes, a less gross ensemble, and maybe a pretty flowery plate. I think I’ll keep the bloody grin though. Accidental or not. 

ADDED BONUS – I fancied up a map of one of my favourite Dublin charity shop routes for Emily in conjunction with my thrifty feature – Alex’s Dublin Charity Shop Tour. It’s one of my favourite charity shop routes in the heart of the Dublin city centre, and is perfect if you’re stuck for time as you can easily hit all 6 shops in 20 minutes if you’re in a hurry. 

Thank you so much Emily for being such great company, both online and in person {oh god – mustn’t forget Julie the uber cool photographer too!}, for being such great sources of inspiration, for the pep talks and for letting me get carried away. xx A