It Isn't Pink

Who knew I would start a collection that wasn't pink? 


My vintage pyrex butterprint bowl!

My first love has always been vintage linens - but this little bowl stole my heart.  I was out at the local VV thrifting for linens - looking like a walking closet, my arms full with hangers of sheets.  Walking by the bakeware aisle, a little beacon of aqua & white caught my attention.  I practically lunged at the bowl, totally disregarding the fellow shoppers around me, plowing through them like a human clothesline.  I noticed a few sideways glances, as I grabbed the bowl like an olympic medal, restraining from a happy dance there in the aisle.  (C'mon we thrifters have all been there, the victory of a great find.)

The total haul!

The thrill is always in the hunt, so now butterprint is on my thrifting/antiquing list.  Now if I can just find it in pink...

Have a sweet weekend!

Finished Projects

I have finished quite a few projects in the past weeks.  Here is the completed dresden plate pillow cover that was posted as a WIP:

A soft & sunny pillow cover.

Feedsack print yumminess!

I am one of those people who love to launder their quilts once complete.  I like the crinkly texture and vintage feel it gives to the surface.  It also takes away the pristine "showroom" quality of the quilt - it's like it has been broken in a bit.  This step adds that little bit of confidence for my customers to feel like they can use and launder them.  After all, what quilt isn't made softer & sweeter with lots of use?   I have posted the dresden plate cover in my shop if you would like to give it a home.

Another cute design I have been working on is my Little Red Riding Hood Key Cozy.  It's a miniature version of my Little Red Riding Hood doll, but has a unique function of storing your keys.  Inside Little Red's dress there is a key ring attached to a cord.  By pulling on the cord, you can access the ring for your keys, and then when your done with them, pull her down the cord until the keys are contained in the pocket of her dress.  No more rattling keys or scratches to other items from their rough edges.  Pretty smart don't you think?

Cute little ladies.

Secret compartment.

The cord can attach to your purse or bag - or you can just keep it around your wrist.  It's a cute way to keep all your keys in one spot & out of sight.  As with all my creations, each key cozy is one of a kind and has handstitched features.  These are available in my shop as well!

Well, it's off to the studio to work on my latest project.  This one's a great scrap buster, so it's been fun to clean out my fabric stash a bit.  That's for another post, so stay tuned!

Have a sweet Thursday!

Vintage Sunshine

There is something about vintage sheets.  It's the pastel hues, pretty florals & buttery softness of the fabric that make them irresistable.

Freshly pressed & bundled .

Part of the fun in collecting them is that it's a gradual process.  The blue sheet in the picture was a freebie - the best kind of find.  My husband spotted it at a friend's house while digging out some rags for his boat.  He casually mentioned that it would be good fabric for his wife, so the friend cheerfully donated it to my stash.  It was better than a bouquet of flowers when he brought it home :)

In addition to purchasing some unique sheets on Etsy, I love to seek them out (& other vintage linens) at local thrift stores.   I used to be just an antique shop kinda girl, but after hearing about the thrifty finds of my sewing friends, I had to go and experience the adventure first hand.  Though I usually thrift on my own, mostly because I take so long to peruse & choose, I would love to go with some friends just for the sheer amusement value.  Lets be honest, some of the things you find in a thrift store are very quirky.  Don't get me wrong, even I can embrace quirkiness.  One of my favorite & memorable finds while antiquing was a procelain frog.  Not just any frog, but a frog sitting on a lillypad, hugging a lotus flower dish.  I would post pics, but sadly I dropped him & was unable to fix him back to his original glory.  I still miss him *sigh*.

So back to thrifting - the fun & the finds. My rule of thumb is that if I love it, can walk away to check out what other items are available & still come back to it, I buy it.  Since vintage linens tend to be quite plentiful, I usually only select items in good to excellent condition.  If it's threadbare or too faded, it's not going to wear well when it's repurposed.  Occassionally there might be an item with a pinhole here or there, but the overall fabric is in good shape.  Those I will purchase if it's a really unique find & I can salvage the good areas of the fabric.


Vintage floral sunshine!

I have read many discussions on blogs about the ewww factor of using vintage linens in sewing.  Some people are a little apprehensive of used fabric, especially sheets.  Which, if you have ever stayed at a hotel - is kind of silly. Personally, I am pretty picky about what I buy.  If it's stained, has a musty or offensive smell, or just has that very used feel to it, I pass on it.  Smells & stains can be tough if not impossible to get out, so not worth the extra effort.  On the whole, most items I find tend to be in nice shape & many antique & thrift stores do a nice job in folding & hanging them so they are nicely presented. 

When I get my vintage finds home, I wash everything in warm or hot water, depending upon the fabric.  This gets everything clean & fresh smelling.  I also like using a scoop of oxyclean in the wash cycle which helps to whiten the whites & safely brighten the colored fabrics.  I have heard that some people use a combination of oxyclean & Biz stain remover for yellowed or discolored linens,  I have yet to try it, but most items respond well to an overnight soak in oxyclean to get rid of old stains.  I am a bit more careful with actual linen items.  Soaking linen in warm, not hot water with mild detergent is better than vigorous washing.  You will also want to press these when they are slightly damp to get rid of the wrinkles.

I hope this will inspire you to go ahead & start a vintage sheet & linen stash of your own.  It's a nostalgic way of bringing some beautiful fabrics into your sewing.  I would love to hear your own experiences with thrifting & any other tips or ideas you have for using vintage fabrics in your projects!

Have a sweet Monday!

Dresden Love

This has been on my "must make" list for a long time!

A dresden plate of repro prints in fresh colors!

I love the hodgepodge of colors & prints in feedsack reproductions.  A dresden plate is perfect for cleaning up the scrap bin or for cutting into a pristine repro stash.  Some of these prints are scrap bin orphans, but many were from my uncut fat quarter stash.  It was fun to start the year cutting into fresh fabric!

This one is being made into a pillow cover.  I am currently sewing on the binding and should have pics for you soon!

Have a sweet Wednesday!