Pink Fawn's Fresh Vintage Blog

Stitch In The New Year

2011-12-28T10:29:00.001-05:00

Do you have some projects that have you itching to get stitching in the new year? Well, to help you stock up on some vintage fabrics I am having a New Year Sale!

From today until New Year's Day, everything in my Etsy store is 15% off when you enter the coupon code PFNEWYEAR at checkout! Happy shopping!

Wonky Bliss

2011-12-23T21:00:00.003-05:00

Well, it's almost Christmas Eve! Have you all finished up your last minute shopping, wrapping, stitching & baking?? Me either!

However, I did have some progress to show you on my Wonky Bliss quilt that I started this summer. Yep, it's been one of those projects that got set aside, mainly since it's for hubby & I. There seems to be a list of more pressing projects that always gets in the way of doing something for ourself. So, it's nice to actually have something sewn for our own use!

I just love the finished mish mash of Bliss prints. I have decided to sash it in white kona cotton to give it a crisp frame. I think I will use the pretty pink print below as the binding, and the back will be a combination of these prints I pulled from my stash:

Urban Chiks Swell in Pink & Blue, Bliss Dots in Red & Bliss Sweet in Pink

Notice the Swell rose dot prints in the pink & blue - they are a perfect match to the Bliss colors! I have been hoarding these in my stash forever, so I am happy to see them incorporated into a quilt where I will be able to admire them. I am thinking of doing a large square patchwork on the back - making the whole thing reversible. Perfect for a home with a yellow lab who likes to snuggle with us - just flip it to hide the fur & paw prints!

Dog approved!

So in all the Christmas rush, take time to reflect on all the beauty of this season! Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas with good friends & family! xo

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

(Luke 2:8-14 ESV)

Entertaining In Style

2011-12-20T17:39:00.000-05:00

I love receiving emails & pictures from thoughtful customers who share their finished creations with me. I am so inspired to see my vintage fabrics transformed into beautiful & functional items!

My latest such email was from the lovely Gracie aka Veronica Grace. Gracie purchased some of my vintage sheet scraps & created these beauties:

Serving up some vintage prettiness!

How swanky sweet are these vintage cocktail napkins? I think Betty Draper - a la Mad Men serves up her party beverages with something like these :) If you would like a set for your next get together or party you can find them here.

Tune in later this week to see my progress on the Wonky Bliss quilt!

Fresh Feedsacks

2011-11-29T17:51:00.001-05:00

I have been keeping the postman busy! Lots of parcels have been finding their way to the studio, making it look a bit like Christmas around here. I don't know about you, but I love getting packages in the mail - especially when they are full of pretty vintage goodies like these:

Vintage feedsacks in sweet floral prints!

The aqua flowers in these prints are just so fresh, I had to have them in my stash. These are large sacks in pristine condition, so they are nice & bright. I always like to soak my vintage fabrics in oxyclean to brighten the whites & take out any yellowing from age. It's safe for the fabric & really makes the colors pop. The sack on the left hasn't been soaked , but the blue & orange one on the right has. Do you see the difference? A whiter white & brighter, truer colors after soaking & washing!

I also stumbled upon these beauties while browsing Etsy:

Feedsack scrap goodness!

These great little bundles of scraps came as irregular pieces & strips. A good soak took out some yellowing & a few little stains, & then I ironed & trimmed them into neat squares & rectangles. I was amazed at the amount of fabric I had after all the trimming. It was a true bargain at $6.50 for the whole lot!

Do you love & collect your own vintage feedsacks? Share your great feedsack finds or your favorite places to shop for these vintage goodies!

2 More Days

2011-11-27T04:42:00.001-05:00

To get a deal! I am continuing my sale through to Monday at midnight. Happy shopping!

Thanksgiving Sale!

2011-11-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again! Lots of turkey, pumpkin pie, friends, family & shopping! To wish all of you a happy thanksgiving, I am having a sale today, Friday & Saturday in my shop. Simply use the coupon code: TURKEYDAY at checkout to receive 10% off your order. Pick out & purchase some vintage goodies before the sale ends Saturday at midnight EST!

Doll Quilts

2011-11-14T18:18:00.001-05:00

I have been tickled pink by my latest custom order. Yep, lots of pink stitching going on in my studio:

Dolly duvet

Dolly quilt - binding just started.

A cute duvet cover & mini quilt fit for a doll! After all, the weather is getting cold & she needs to be warm too. These pink quilty confections will look so pretty in their new home - an all pink playroom complete with doll bed, retro pink play appliances, even a clothesline! I am jealous :)

Due to the rain I haven't been able to get good pictures of my newest items. Maybe tomorrow if the sun peeks out from the clouds!

Repro Fabric Love

2011-11-11T08:05:00.001-05:00

You may have noticed that I have been tinkering around a bit with my blog this last week. I have been trying to freshen things up & do some redecoration. However, progress has been slowed down by custom orders & Christmas themed sewing. After all, that is the purpose of having a studio - to make things :) I do promise to have everything completed soon though!

I have also been redecorating my stash a bit with some new fabric additions:

30's Collection Fabrics by Atsuko Matsuyama

Words can't describe my love of japanese reproduction prints. If repro prints were a cupcake - these would be the frosting :)

Have a great weekend & check in Monday for some new store goodies!

Baking Gingerbread

2011-11-04T10:42:00.000-04:00

I am making some sweet treats in the studio this week!

Little gingerbread houses in a row!

Little gingerbread houses of wool felt & vintage sheet scraps. Aren't they the cutest? I love baking & decorating gingerbread, but I think it's even more fun to stitch up these fabric versions. It got me into my Christmas mode & made me think of this classic Christmas tune, which is now stuck in my head :)

Fabric & trim yumminess!

I like tiny projects & it was fun to combine the wool felt with the vintage sheets. I made up a little 4"x4" square template for the felt house, then added a fabric roof & trim. The window & door are appliqued using Pellon WonderUnder fusible web & then decoratively stitched in black. The chimney is actually one of my twill tape sew on labels.

All the little bits & pieces.

These are ready to decorate a tree, or to hang from garlands, doorknobs, or windows. I think they would be cute gift toppers too! The gingerbread houses will be listed sometime this weekend, so stop by my shop if you would like your very own cute Christmas confection!

Have a great weekend!

Fresh Picks

2011-10-27T16:48:00.001-04:00

The colors of autumn are making their way into the studio! Here are some new prints just posted in my shop:

Reminds me of the yellows, oranges & golds of harvest time! These fat quarters are in limited quantity - get them before autumn is gone!

All Tied Up

2011-10-24T08:08:00.001-04:00

It's always a liberating feeling to complete a WIP, especially one that's been taking up residence in the studio too long. I will be the first to admit that I usually have a few creative projects on the go, which doesn't help much with my creative ADD (we will call it CADD). I am easily distracted by bright & shiny new ideas, and this causes me to become distracted from finishing up current projects. I do get things done, but it often takes a deadline or self-imposed discipline to get the task finished.

In the rush to get some new products completed in time for the holidays, I had left this cute little quilt top hanging around in the studio. It actually took the realization of the impending party date (ohmigosh it's October already??), to get my stitch on - so to speak. So, after a marathon of hand quilting & binding, this sweet little quilt was finally finished!

Charming Stars Quilt

Ready to go!

I always wash my quilts once they are done to get that crinkly, lived in look. I just love how everything gets all puffed up like a marshmallow. It begs to be wrapped around someone.

After mulling over wrapping ideas, I decided on not covering it up. I just rolled it up, tied it with a ribbon, & presented it with one of my new business cards/tags. Yes, that's actually vintage fabric sewn into it! I love the pinking too. The presentation was simple, but looked pretty with all the colors in the quilt. Mama & baby were very happy with this practical gift, which was the most important detail of all.

I would love to know how many of you are like me & will admit to being a CADD type. Also, if you have Martha Stewart like discipline & do your projects methodically, what is your secret? I think we would all love to be a bit more organized!

Fabric Finds

2011-10-13T17:09:00.000-04:00

One of the perks of destashing is that you have more room on your shelves for more new fabrics!

Pretty fresh picks!

I did make a resolution after destashing to cut down a bit. My strategy is to stick with 1/2 yard or fq cuts of most prints & focus on fabrics that work with what I have on hand. That way I can better utilize my stash & spend less. Ok, it's my theory & I'm sticking with it.

So the blue & green fabrics on the left are DS Quilts prints from Joann's. If you have been following my posts for a while, you know I have been collecting these bit by bit - but only the prints that I really love. These were purchased on sale too, so that makes it more of a score.

The Bliss fabrics on the right of the picture are actually for my wonky quilt. So they are technically a "need" purchase. The cute fat quarter of Kei kerchief girls was a gift from my thoughtful husband. I found them on Etsy & knowing how rare & HTF they were, I had to have them!

So, do any of you have fabric strategies for your stash? Are you an impulse buyer, or do you like to keep on trend with the new collections? I would love to hear all about your fabric buying tips, strategies & ideas!

Destash Sale

2011-10-11T09:29:00.000-04:00

My fabric stash is definitely shaping up after last week's scrap bin project. In fact, the organization juices were overflowing & got me motivated to go through my fabric shelves as well. My shelves are always lined with neatly folded fabric & they are anything but messy. But I was hoarding some excessive yardage of prints & I knew I would never use it all in my own projects before growing tired of it.

So I pulled everything out & appraised the fabric situation. I neatly pressed, trimmed & set aside everything that was surplus or prints that I was no longer needing. All the keepers were then neatly folded & put back onto the shelves. I wouldn't say that I keep an excessive stash, but there was plenty that I weeded out.

Now my cutting table is scattered with bundles & yardage from the destash. Which is good news for all of you, because I am hosting my first official destash party! Today I will be listing all of my bundles & yardage in the shop for those who want some great destash goodies (click the Studo Destash section). I have a bit of everything, from Heather Bailey, to Amy Butler, American Jane & even a bit of Flea Market Fancy. It's a great chance to pick up some variety for your stash or some old favorites!

I will be posting listings throughout the day - so keep checking in. Get them while they're hot!

Whittling the Scraps

2011-10-03T11:44:00.000-04:00

Ever since buying my wire scrap bins, I have been a little lazy in keeping things tidy & organized. I hate to waste fabric, so even the tiniest of tiny bits of scraps have been squirreled into my growing pile. I am a folder & stacker, so the ease of simply tossing everything into a bin has been, well, too simple. My overflowing piles of scraps were beginning to look like an episode of hoarders (ok, maybe not that bad - it's not like I'm pulling spoiled food or mummified animals from the bins). There was simply too many of them & they had to go.

My motivation was sparked by this book:

Joan Ford is definitely the queen of scrap organization. Her scraptherapy system is a really smart way to weed out a large volume of scraps & make them usable. However, if you are an adventurous quilter, you may find her scrap size recommendations are a little limiting. I knew that despite all of her recommendations, I was going to end up tailoring things to my needs.

Upon the book's urging "It's okay to throw away!", I decided that the first step was going to be getting rid of any fabric scraps that I didn't really love, or was really tired of using. It's liberating to get real about your stash & what you realistically are going to use, instead of keeping everything because of guilt. Yes, you may have paid good money for the fabric, but is it more valuable than the much needed space it's taking up?

The second step, on her advice, was getting rid of anything smaller than 2" square. Even if you are a ticker tape quilt lover, there is no way you are going to use up all those tiny pieces. Even my tiniest hexi projects utilize a larger square than that! I had a lot of these little pieces - mostly those rare japanese fabrics that had a cute bit of print on them. I really thought they were worth keeping at the time, but until I took a realistic view at what could be done with them, I knew they were just taking up space.

After all of this, I took what was left & squared each piece with my rotary cutter & ruler. I cut everything into squares or rectangles & got rid of all the ragged edges. Pieces that were larger than scrap, but smaller than a fat quarter were folded & stacked in one wire bin. The rest of the pieces were piled neatly into the other wire bin. I didn't get that ambitious by seperating everything by theme or color, but they are stacked neatly & ready for use!

Tidy scrap bins!

I am so happy that I got my scraps under control! Now I can realistically see myself using what I have in the stash instead of it going to waste - or getting buried. I will also be more willing to trim new pieces before adding them to the bins, now that I have a system that works well for me!

The weekend was spent working on scraps for my store as well! I know that a lot of you really like the 2 oz Vintage Sheet Scrap Packs, so I decided to offer up a companion. Check out my new 5 oz Vintage Sheet Scrap Bundles!

These bundles feature larger cuts of assorted vintage sheet scraps & are perfect for those larger patchwork or crafting projects. As with all my fabrics, each bundle comes freshly laundered, pressed & ready to sew!

So get out your scraps, get them organized, be inspired by what they could be!

Thoughts About Thread

2011-09-29T19:38:00.004-04:00

I have to admit that I've always been a bit of a thread snob. Cheap linty thread has never appeared in my sewing supplies, even with my penchant for thriftiness. Only silky, lint-free thread will do - an indulgence that I don't feel guilty about. In my defense, it was one of the first habits my mom instilled in me when I learned how to sew. She always would say that good thread was a friend to your sewing machine & made your project go together smoothly. She is so right!

Bad thread makes sewing a chore. It breaks, shreds, clogs up your machine & if it's not colorfast, can leave a mess of dye on your finished projects. I am always amazed at the amount of sewers I know who consistently use cheap thread. I know we all have a budget to consider, but honestly, with the amount of work you put into a sewing project & the price of fabric, your thread should be one area you don't skimp on.

Much of my preference has been with Mettler Silk Finish thread. I love the sheen & the lack of lint, but the price always made me cringe. Great results, but definitely took a toll on my sewing budget. Then I found Superior's King Tut thread for topstitching & the budget went out the window. I am such a sucker for variegated cottony goodness! I new something had to give, so I went in search of some new options.

I had been seeing a lot of fellow bloggers reviewing Aurifil thread. Everyone seemed to be impressed by the quality so I decided to try it out. I ordered 3 spools from an online dealer & was pleasantly surprised by the $7.50 price tag for 1422 yards. It was economical, but would it live up to the glowing reviews everyone gave it?

Aurifil spools in shades of ivory, sand & pure white.

The thread arrived in the mail a week later & my first thought was how I liked that the spools were shrink wrapped. A nice idea for storing if you wanted to keep extra spools in your stash. After unwrapping I was able to see just how thin & smooth this thread was. This was especially evident when I went to wind a bobbin, & couldn't believe how much thread I could fit onto it. Perfect for those larger projects or for free motion quilting where bobbin changes are inconvenient. In my machine, the thread ran virtually lint-free. After sewing a dozen blocks or so, my bobbin case was clean & free of any fluffy dust bunnies.

The finished product looked great as well. The thread is so fine that seams melt together & make piecing a dream. Without any extra bulk, the seam allowances lie flat which isn't the case with the bulkier threads. The thread seemed to take a lot of tension - I tried tugging it and it didn't break. I have yet to do the wash test with this thread, but it does seem quite sturdy despite the fine appearance.

Overall, I have been really impressed by Aurifil. Oh, & just so you know, this was my own independent review - I am not affiliated or reimbursed by Aurifil at all! But I do like to share a great product when I find one & would definitely recommend this great thread that's a great value. I figure with the money I save on this thread I can invest in more fabric for my stash - that's my new strategy :)

I would love to hear if you have tried Aurifil before & any thoughts you may have on thread. Are there any other thread finds out there (or thread nightmares) that you can share with your fellow sewists? Leave a comment with your thoughts!

It's A Bit Wonky

2011-09-16T10:45:00.023-04:00

I had been hoarding a layer cake of Bonnie & Camille's Bliss for the past year. My intent was to make a quilt for my hubby & I's bed, but I hadn't decided on what pattern. I wanted to do something layer cake friendly, but the thought of more pinwheels & stars left me feeling kinda, well, meh.

I thought I would end up picking something with a white background. Most of the Bliss quilts I had seen fit into this category, as the white looks so fresh against the aquas & blues. But there was the part of me that just wanted to mix it all up & enjoy a fun mish mash of these super cute prints. Since I am already drawn to hexagons, the thought immediately came to mind to do a grandmother's flower garden. Then I thought about all the time & work - nah. I do want to have this quilt on my bed before winter rolls around :)

Then I came across this wonky style quilt, & immediately was drawn to the busy patchwork. It was perfect, but I wanted to make it a little more intricate. So, I put my own twist on the project by doing a 16 patch variation instead of the original 9. The smaller patches mix everything up a bit more & remind me of the type of patchwork my grandmother used in her crazy quilts. It allows the eye to take in all the details of these cute prints.

The blocks go together really quickly - just 3 slices of the rotary cutter to 4 layer cake pieces, mix them around, sew them together, stack them again & repeat. Then voila - you have 4 quilt blocks! That's my type of sewing. The finished quilt looks like it's a ton of work, but it's actually pretty simple.

A finished wonky block!

This is my first quilt using my new stash of Aurifil thread & I am loving it! More on that in the next post.

Last but not least, be sure to check out my shop for the newest additions!

Pick Your Own Vintage Sheet Mini Bundles

Just in time for the gift-giving season I have introduced Pick Your Own Vintage Sheet Bundles. There is a Mini Bundle with 4 fat eighth cuts & a FQ Bundle with a selection of 5 fat quarters. What a great way to get a selection of vintage sheet prints for that special Christmas gift you plan on making, or to wrap up as a special gift to any fellow quilters on your Christmas gift giving or Secret Santa list! Maybe you can even convince your significant other to stuff your stocking with a custom bundle, wink, wink!

Have a wonderfully wonky weekend!

Bowled Over

2011-09-09T16:14:00.000-04:00

By my new vintage butterprint bowl!

Vintage Butterprint 444 Cinderella Bowl!

I found this one while out thrifting. It was sitting on the shelf all lonely, it must have been waiting for me :)

It's been paired up with my 442 bowl.

It was so nice to finally come across more of my favorite pattern. Butterprint has been pretty elusive lately. Now I just need the two white cinderella bowls to complete my set!

In shop news, there are new fat quarters that have been listed & something new:

Pick Your Own Mini Bundles!

Now you can choose your fabrics to customize your own Vintage Sheet Mini Bundles! Simply pick 4 prints from the selection of Vintage Sheets in my shop & leave your choices in the comments section at checkout. Easy peasy! It's the perfect way to sample a bunch of fun prints!

Happy Friday!

Star Quilt Update

2011-08-26T12:58:00.002-04:00

I love it when a project comes together.

The finished star quilt top!

The star quilt was completed in just a couple of days & the blocks sewed together like a breeze. I think I only had to rip out two seams, which is an all time record for my finicky standards! Despite the easy sewing, the arranging of the blocks is what took a bit of time. Trying to match things up so that 2 patterns weren't side by side was a little tricky, but I think I am pleased with the overall arrangement.

Now I am slowly hand stitching the quilt with the Presencia Perle Cottons I have been eager to try out. I love that I don't have to seperate strands like with embroidery floss. I find that the thread glides smoothly through the layers & doesn't twist or kink in the process. The variegated hues add a bit more interest than just plain solids & I think they lend a vintagey, faded over time look to the overall project.

In addition to the outline, each block has a little stitched star in the center.

I still have more stitching to go, but I am enjoying taking my time with it. I actually prefer to handstitch than machine quilt, so this is a nice break! I'm also one of those quilters who actually enjoys stitching the binding - so you can call me a bit weird ;) I would like to find a creative way to wrap or present the quilt to my friends. Let me know if you have any suggestions or creative gift wrapping ideas for a baby welcoming/open house!

Have a great weekend!

Autumn's Around the Corner

2011-08-23T07:47:00.009-04:00

As a wife of a professional sportfisherman, I am probably more tuned into the weather than most people. Our days are shaped by fronts, winds, temperatures & of course the seasons. The weather dictates just how good the fishing is going to be & if the day will be a total waste on the water. In our house, a strong north wind is like a sewing machine with a broken needle - you can turn on the machine, but your not going to get anywhere.

So of course, it was my husband who mentioned that the cold fronts of August were setting in. Our relentless heat of the summer has been replaced by the cool breezes & comfortable nights that lead into autumn. It's a welcome change, but I always hate to see summer end despite my love of fall. I will miss the warm sunshine, line dried sheets, open windows, sundresses & flip flops. So this year, I have decided to jump on the autumn bandwagon early with some things I really love about fall.

On my visit to the local produce stand I found some early fall apples to try out. I am used to Jersey Macs & other slightly tangy sweet varieties, but found an unusual green variety. I am always one to try new things out so I bought a basket, thinking they looked like they may be real tart & juicy. I forgot to ask what variety they were. I was surprised to find that they were only slightly tangy & more juicy & refreshing.

I also made a trip to Bath & Body Works to sample some of their fall scents. I have a love affair with candles, so when I found out they had a Hot Chocolate candle for fall - I was on a mission. I looked high & low, but it seems that either A) this scent sold out real quick, or B) Hot Chocolate hadn't made it to the shelves yet, so I browsed their selection of other fall scents. There were so many yummy choices & it was difficult to play favorites with them. Though I did find a runner up to the Hot Chocolate - their S'Mores scent - a yummy concoction of vanilla & chocolate.

For those of us with scent ADD, Bath & Body Works sells a sample size candle of their seasonal scents. This little 1.6oz candle is packaged the same & smells just like the bigger candle jars, though it's just a miniature version. They are super cute & will burn for 15-20 hours. The big bonus is that you can stock up on a variety of scents for a fraction of the price. They offer 3 of these for $5 which is pretty frugal & smart if you aren't sure of a scent & want to try it out before investing in the larger size.

I ended up with the S'Mores & a spicier scent named Creamy Pumpkin. Both are heavy on the vanilla, which is my favorite scent & flavor of all time. Maybe as the weather gets colder I will venture into some of the heavier scents, but for right now these give me a hint of autumn - just like the weather outside.

I would love to hear about your autumn tradtitions - what gets you ready for the change of season? Also, if you are a candle lover - what are your favorite scents for fall? I will be back later in the week with an update on the stars quilt, so say tuned!

Twinkle Little Star

2011-07-28T12:56:00.000-04:00

There is a whole lotta quilting going on in the studio! Good friends of ours are expecting their first child this fall, so I wanted to make an extra special gift for them & the baby. It's a boy, which really forced me to think outside of the "pink zone"!

I immediately was drawn to my stash of reproduction prints, since they are great for babies & children. There are lots of novelty motifs that can be incorporated & the colors are usually bright & cheerful. Originally, I was going for a red, white & blue theme which is classic, but after digging out all my prints, I decided to throw in yellows, oranges & greeens as well.

I wanted to incorporate a star design into the quilt, something simple, but would accomodate all the different colors. I remembered that I had saved a copy of Stefanie's very sweet Charming Stars Quilt pattern & knew I could modify it into a baby quilt size. So I decided on a 9 block version with white sashing.

Sweet Stars

This is still a WIP, but aren't they cute? If you look close you can see puppies & ducks among the florals. I really do love the mish mash of pattern & color against the white. It's quite clean looking, & I think it will be even more tailored looking with the white sashing. I had to cut all my 5" charms from FQs, but if you have charm packs on hand, this project goes together very quickly. I will be sure to post more pics as I go along. I am going to be hand quilting with some of the new Finca perle cottons - so this should be a really fun & colorful quilt once it's all togther!

Summer Love

2011-07-12T15:44:00.001-04:00

I must admit, it's a bit harder to blog when summer arrives. The sunshine, BBQs, visits with friends & family & nights around a fire all seem to take first priority. Summer is too short right? Well, here are a few highlights of what's currently going on in my studio.

A delivery of Finca Perle Cottons arrived last week! Don't the candy colors look yummy? These are all variegated, which blend beautifully in handstitching. I plan on doing more handstitched quilts & will be eager to use these pretty threads.

I have also been restocking fat quarters for the store. These new prints will be listed sometime this week, as well as some bunting & patchwork pillow kits. There are also some new pillowcases that will be posted.

A little summer sewing as well. This pillow reminds me of sorbet with all the bright colors & prints. I used a chunky DMC variegated perle cotton for the handstitching. I think it lends a bit of fun to the patchwork.

I would love to hear about any fun summer activities you have planned. Is summer keeping you from your sewing machine or do you find more time for stitching during this time of year?

The Studio Is Buzzing

2011-06-27T20:07:00.000-04:00

I have been neglecting my blog a bit, but for good reason. I have been working on my inventory for summer shows & have some new products that are almost ready for my shop!

Here's a little peek at some of the new vintage goodies:

Colorful patchwork pillow kits...

all sewn up into a soft & cushy pillow!

Sweet bunting kits...

that turn into these festive scallops!

There is also a stack of new vintage fabrics that are waiting to be listed. Stay tuned for details on availability!

Vintage Stitching

2011-06-13T20:08:00.011-04:00

My latest sewing project is now complete - a pretty vintage pillow cover made with a vintage napkin & some vintage sheet fabrics:

A fresh bouquet of coral red wild roses framed in aqua & handstitching.

For added detail, all the roses have gold french knots in the centers. The rest of the quilting was done in a simple running stitch using cotton embroidery floss. Turning the cover over...

The back of the cover is a pretty aqua blue vintage sheet print with vines & butterflies. I think it lends a little bit of serenity to the pillow, which would look so pretty in a bedroom. The envelope style back is fastened with a beautiful vintage handpainted button. I thought it was a perfect little touch.

I also had another vintage DIY project that I finished up. This one involved milk glass:

Another bit of pretty aqua!

I have always loved milk glass lamps & was lucky enough to stumble upon this one while thrifting. Since I am lacking the before photo due to my impatience, imagine an old dusty dark wood base & equally murky milk glass that was more tan than white. I scrubbed everything clean, sanded the wood, then put on a few coats of aqua paint. The lamp worked, but the socket was very loose. My dad (the electrician) replaced the socket with a new one with a nice turn knob, instead of a flip switch. It was perfect, but still without a shade.

You all know how thrifty I am, so I visited the clearance section at my local Bouclair. After scouring the shelves, I couldn't find just the right shade. Then I spotted it - a silver lined linen shade. It was perfect! The only problem was that it was regular price. A little deflated I put the shade back on the shelf, then noticed that the identical shade behind it had a tiny dent. A light bulb went off & I went in search of a clerk.

I pointed out the damaged shade to her & asked if they would be willing to sell it for a discount. She thought it was possible, but had to check with the manager. To keep this short & sweet, the manager gave it to me for half off! So I ended up with the perfect shade, & the small crease faces the wall so no one will even see it. How's that for frugal decor?

I would love to hear about any thrifty finds or frugal ideas you have made in your own decor. Are you able to see beyond the dust & dings to save money or to repurpose vintage items into something pretty?

All Tied Up

2011-06-10T13:36:00.000-04:00

I think my love of vintage linens started from my collection of vintage aprons. Not only do I collect them, but I wear them too, because they are too pretty to stash away. However, there are a few in my collection that are for gentle use only - a few were my grandmother's & some are made of delicate organdy. I hated putting these away & had been tinkering with ideas on how I could work them into my kitchen decor.

So on one of my thrifting excursions, I came across an old accordian style hanging rack. I brought it home, gave it a coat of white paint, sanded it to give it my favorite shabby vintage look & voila!

Lots of pink of course!

Each apron is tied in a bow & simply hung on a peg. I like the casual way they are displayed & they look like they are constantly in use. Inviting to visitors who help in the kitchen since they are easily at hand. Most importantly, it makes cooking & baking a stylish affair!

If any of you are interested in vintage aprons & would like some summer reading, you may want to pick up The Apron Book by EllynAnne Geisel. Not only is it a great history of aprons & the women who wore them, but a beautiful collection of photographs of unique aprons. It's one of my favorite books in my library (No, she didn't sponsor my blog or anything - just a really great read). EllynAnne is an expert in all things vintage linen & has an amazing collection of over 300 aprons! For more information on her, her exhibit, & aprons, visit Apron Memories.

Have a great weekend everyone, & come back on Monday for some vintage sewing & milk glass DIY!

Shabby Chic

2011-06-06T12:45:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite DIY projects is creating something pretty out of old, worn out, & otherwise homely vintage things. It can be as simple as repurposing vintage linens, adding a fresh coat of paint to old wood, or even more complex, refurbishing old furniture pieces. Adding a dose of freshness to old pieces brings out a special character - which is something you can't just buy at any Pottery Barn. Pottery Barn has lovely stuff, but it's new, & it's missing all the dings & worn paint. It's not true "shabby chic".

My latest shabby chic project came from an old shed on our property. From the moment I saw it, I knew I had to brush off the cobwebs & give it new life. So, this weekend I got knee deep in dust & pulled it out into the sunlight. A fresh coat of hand tinted aqua paint & some sandpaper later, I had the newest storage piece for my studio space:

A functional old wooden display ladder!

In all the excitement I forgot to do the "before" pictures. So imagine a sunbleached wood ladder with a smattering of old paint here & there, loads of dust & cobwebs to boot. It was homely, but nothing a little bit of paint couldn't brighten up. I left all the brackets & hardware in the original metal, with bits of rust here & there. The wood was well worn, so when I sanded the aqua paint, it looked like it was original to the ladder. Lots of nicely worn patches on the spots you would expect, like the stairs & the edges.

That's a real bird's nest I found in the yard - with a cute glittered robin's egg!
(This bird loved bling - notice the bit of tinsel?)

Topped off with the newest addition to my vintage Pyrex Butterprint collection!

I just love this old ladder! It looks great in my space, but will be equally great to use for display at all my shows. Just fold it up & it stores flat. If I ding it while moving it, then great - more character. Plus the vintagey aqua color is swoon worthy.

I have a few other shabby chic projects that I will try to post this week. One of them involves milk glass - so stay tuned!

Giveaway Winner

2011-06-02T06:05:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a perfect Memorial Day weekend! We finally had a break in the cool & rainy spring we have been having up here. The sun peeked out long enough to enjoy a BBQ & campfire with family & friends. To me, nothing says summer like toasted marshmallows - yum!

Though I didn't get much accomplished in the studio, I did take the time to read through all your great comments & pick the winner of my giveaway. From buntings to quilts to wall art, thank you for participating & sharing your creative ideas! The vintage sheet scrap pack is being sent to:

MG said...

My friend is having a vintage-y wedding this summer and has asked if I can make the bridesmaid gifts---these scraps would be perfect with white linen to make gathered clutches (http://www.noodle-head.com/2010/04/gathered-clutch-tutorial.html). If there's enough fabric left, I'd make one for her, too!
May 31, 2011 11:05 AM

Congratulations MG, I sent you an email! I think the bridesmaids (& bride) will just love your handmade clutches. It definitely fits in with the something old & something new for the bride, & I will be sure there's some blue in there too :)

Happy stitching & I will be back tomorrow with some new vintage finds!

Scrappy Monday

2011-05-30T10:00:00.050-04:00

It's giveaway time again! I have been trying to weed out my overflowing scrap bins in the studio. So, to celebrate all of my new followers & friends, I want to share some vintage goodness.

One lucky winner will be a recipient of another vintage sheet scrap pack! Simply leave me a comment & let me know what small project you would make with these vintage scraps. I will choose a winner by picking my favorite from all of your responses :)

The giveaway is open to everyone (even my international readers) & comments will be open until Wednesday at 9pm EST. Have fun dreaming up some creative ideas!

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED

It's Time To Pick A Winner!

2011-05-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

Wow! Thank you to each & everyone of you that stopped in to visit during the Sew Mama Sew giveaway day! I have been overwhelmed by your kind, encouraging, & very sweet comments. Initially, I hoped to respond individually to every comment, but I didn't anticipate a response this big! So if I can, I would like to extend my sincerest thank yous to all of you collectively & for those who left questions I will send you a personal email before the end of the week!

So, without further delay, it's time to announce the lucky winner! There were a few duplicate comments, so I edited those out to get our new field of 215 coments. I plugged everything into the random.org generator (couldn't get that pretty widget to work on my page - hmmm) and presto:

True Random Number Generator
Min:Max:
Result:20
Powered by RANDOM.ORG
Lucky comment #20!

Dulce said...

Hi Im a new follower and thank you for the giveaway :D

May 23, 2011 11:52 AM

A big congratulations to Dulce! I have sent you an email, please contact me with your shipping info!

To the rest of you runner ups, I have something special coming up on Monday - so please be sure to check back. *Hint - my scrap bins are overflowing & I am feeling generous :)

Have a great holiday weekend!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!

2011-05-23T00:00:00.012-04:00

It's time for my Sew Mama Sew giveaway! If you are a first time visitor to the Pink Fawn blog, a big warm welcome & I hope you will take some time to look around.

Since I am in a summer sewing mood, I have come up with a giveaway that will get you started on your next small patchwork piecing or handstitching project. The lucky winner will receive two items from my store that will be sure to please any vintage fabric lover.

First, a Vintage Sheet Scrap Pack:

Lots of bits & pieces of vintage sheet goodness!

The scrap pack is 3oz of vintage sheet scraps selected from a variety of prints. These are perfect for paper piecing or any small handstitched patchwork project (doll quilts, coin purses, pillows, pincushions, aprons - just to give you some ideas). The second item I've selected is for adding a finishing touch to that project:

A little icing on the cake.

Handmade vintage linen covered buttons - these are in the 1/2" size. A cute & decorative way to finish your project.

To enter, simply become a follower of my blog by clicking the "follow" button on my sidebar. Then, leave me a comment on this post. If you are already a follower, you just need to leave me a comment :) If you would like an additional entry, grab my blog button, add it to your blog's sidebar, come back & leave me another comment to let me know. Pretty easy!

My giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents (sorry to my international readers) & will be drawn at random. The giveaway is open until May 25 & the winner will be announced the following day. Please be sure that your blogger account is set to receive replies or that you leave an email address so I can find you! Good luck to everyone & don't forget to check out all the other blogs who are participating in the SMS Giveaway by clicking on the giveaway button on the sidebar!

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

Vintage Hexagons

2011-05-18T20:17:00.005-04:00

First things first, I would like to send a big thank you & hug to all of you that left sweet birthday wishes yesterday! Now that everyone has had their fill of virtual cake, it's time for a giveaway! Ok, well you have to wait a bit, onto some sewing first ;)

Sometimes it's nice to slow things down a bit - even in sewing. Maybe it's the vintage influence, but I really enjoy the process of handstitching. There is an organic beauty in stitches that are slightly imperfect & not machine uniform. It's also nice to have a sewing project that is compact & can be carried from one space to another.

My latest project is a mish mash of vintage prints that are being sewn up into jumbo hexies. There isn't any order or preconcieved ideas of color. I am simply using a rainbow of colors & prints to make a happy collage :) Perfect summer sewing!

Summery sewing!

I know many people use paper hexagons for their templates, but I choose to use my own handmade mylar templates. There are a few reasons for this: 1. Unlike paper, they are reusable. 2. They are sturdier & easier to form the fabric on. 3. Mylar is thicker & gives a straighter edge for stitching the hexagons together. 4. I can make a whole variety of sizes out of a single sheet of mylar. These hexies are a 1.5" hexagon which is quite jumbo in size & should make a nice pillow cover.

Now that you have the basics of piecing with mylar templates, it's time to get on with less technical things. That means - drumroll please, GIVEAWAYS! I am participating in Sew Mama Sew's giveaway day which is being held on May 23. I am teaming up with a huge list of other bloggers who will all be hosting individual giveaways on their blogs. Think of it as the grand slam of giveaway events :)

I have posted a button link on my sidebar to the giveaway day details. On the day of the giveaway this link will take you to a list of all participating blogs with their links. Simply click the links to visit them & enter for your chance to win! It's simple & fun!

Now you all have to wait until the 23rd to see what my giveaway is :) A hint: something to get you started on your own piecing project!

Today

2011-05-17T12:21:00.025-04:00

I am celebrating my birthday! That means my favorite dessert of all time - CAKE!

I mean, who doesn't love cake? So my little deer friend is serving up a virtual slice to all of you & it's the vanilla, buttercream & coconut kind with pink frosting :)

Have a happy Tuesday & I will be back tomorrow with some sewing!

Made In America

2011-05-12T12:40:00.000-04:00

I was listening to talk radio the other day & was engrossed by a discussion about manufacturing in the USA. The guest was Tina Polito, the insightful author of a blog humorously named China Ate My Jeans. The blog is an engaging journal of a specific goal - in her own words: "My goal, inspired by my entrepreneurial, idealistic, patriotic dad, is to seek, find, and buy only products made in the USA for a year."

Tina's experiences are amusing, but they are also thought-provoking. The undercurrent of her writing points to a dwindling of america's manufacturing industries & the subsequent rise in unemployment. The question is, if we keep sending all our manufacturing overseas, how will we ever be self-sustaining? How can our economy thrive when most of our consumer goods are imported? These are some of the questions that Tina tackles through her shopping experiences & quest for goods made in the USA.

This is something that has been on my mind from the moment I became an entrepreneur. Quality handmade american goods are being overshadowed by cheaply mass-produced "handmade" junk from China. Just a short browse on Etsy is enough to see that these industries have wedged their presence into what was once a unique community of cottage industries run by artists & craftspeople.

So what can we do to encourage more made in america products? It's pretty simple: change our buying patterns. For instance, I just recently changed my shipping envelopes to biodegradable poly mailers from Ecoenclose. This is a fantastic company that produces 100% biodegradable shipping supplies & they are based entirely in the USA! Making the purchase even sweeter was the fact that their mailers were cheaper than my other source - score!

I have also mentioned my fanatical love of Divine Twine in previous posts. All those pretty packages that you receive from my studio, are bundled up in 100% cotton, made in the USA baker's twine! It's so much more lovely & environmentally conscious than cheap, mass-produced synthetic ribbon.

If this post inspires you to make some changes in your own purchasing habits, then I encourage you to check out Tina's blog. Among her useful resources is a list of US based industries & what they produce to help you with your search.

Of course, you can also stop by my shop for great american vintage finds! Here is a little eye candy that was just posted for sale:

Summer dreaming!

Wishing you a great Thursday!

Buttoned Up

2011-05-06T08:11:00.018-04:00

Cute vintage notions are a must when working with vintage fabrics. These little finishing touches pull the project together like frosting on a cupcake. I like mine with sprinkles:

Little vintage fabric buttons!

Ok, well they aren't actually sprinkles - but aren't they yummy? I can think of a bunch of projects that would look great with these as fasteners - pillow covers, purses, a summer blouse, or even a cute sundress.

All carded up - what a cute sewing room accessory!

These are 1/2" buttons covered from my selection of vintage sheets. I also have 3/4" buttons that are a bit bolder in scale:

Pretty aqua rosebuds!

Sweet meadow flowers!

All the buttons have a wire shank on the back for fastening. If you would like to use these for a non-sewing project (scrapbooking, embelishment, magnets,etc.) you can simply pull out the wire on the back so they will lay flat. Pretty nifty, don't you think?

These cute vintage buttons are now available in my shop. I will be updating with new listings too, so keep checking in! Have a great weekend!

Weekend Sewing

2011-05-04T07:49:00.001-04:00

Last weekend I finally sat down to my sewing machine & indulged in a project for myself. Tucked away in my pattern tote, I had a sundress pattern that was begging to be sewn. So I dug it out & went to work!

A free pattern from the lovely Heather Ross.

I have worked with Heather Ross' patterns before from my copy of her book Weekend Sewing. I love her clothing designs because 1. They are easy, 2. I like her unique hand drawn diagrams, & 3. The designs are comfortable & easy to wear. Often when I finish one of her patterns, I want to do another (or even a whole closetful) in different fabrics. Yes, they are that good!

The Mendocino Sundress is a perfect addition to any wardrobe. I imagine it with a cute cardigan in the spring on cooler days. In the summer it would be pretty & versatile - as a swimsuit coverup, a cute sundress for running errands, or paired with strappy heels & jewelery for an evening out. Lots of options & lots of different looks with this one dress! Here is mine:

A bright & modern print!

I used one of Amy Butler's Midwest Modern prints. It's a little bold & I like that it's something different than the typical floral sundress. The top of the dress is shirred with rows of stitching backed in elastic thread. I went through 2 regular spools of the stuff - so heads up if you plan on making one of your own! Some people find elastic thread intimidating, but it's really quite easy. My tip is to hand wind the bobbin so that the thread is taut but not tight. If you make it too tight you will end up with a bird's nest of thread from the elastic not moving smoothly through the feed.

If you would like a copy of Heather's Mendocino Sundress, visit her link here. I would love to hear about your own creations or tips from sewing with this cute pattern! Happy sewing!

My Studio

2011-04-25T20:02:00.009-04:00

Come on in & make yourself at home! Today we will take a short whirlwind tour of my studio:

My big & fancy worktable & shabby chic sewing desk.

Here is the heart of my studio space - the worktable. My hubby bought me this handy desk, and yes, he picked it out :) My old workdesk was a solid pine table - which although lovely, was not very ergonomic. I would spend a lot of time hunched over it, & that was not good for my posture. So, he decided that I needed something more functional & multi-purpose.

This desk is amazing - it's from Ikea, & the whole desktop will raise, lower or even tilt with an easy adjustment of slots & pegs. If I want to cut fabric while standing, I just adjust the top up until it's at a comfortable level. If I want to sit at the desk & draw, I can lower it & even tilt it like an easel. If I need to trace a pattern or illuminate something from underneath, it has a built in glass panel that can be underlit with a small clip lamp. Even the trestle legs have cute slat shelves to store baskets, my iron, and my sleeve board.

I adore this new addition to my workspace - it's like 3 tables in one!

A little display of stitchy goodness.

To the right of my worktable, I have a little display space for some of my sewn creations. The apple ladder & vintage mini ironing board are items I take to my shows. I love that I can use them for display in the studio instead of being tucked away. They brighten the space & introduce a small sampling of my products to my visitors.

My vintage sheet stash & totes of sewing stuff.

On the other side of the studio is my stash of vintage sheets. These are right across from the entrance door, & create a cheerful introduction to my studio space. This is where I display my mini bundles & vintage sheet fat quarters that are for sale in my shop. So much tempting color !

My fabric stash!

I keep my fabric stash directly beside my sewing desk for inspiration. I love keeping everything neatly folded & easily on hand. The bottom bins in my cube shelf are wire baskets that hold all my fabric scraps. I love these - you can easily see down to the bottom without dumping or digging. I keep my fat quarters on the top of the unit stacked in a neat pile, all color coordinated. Notions in mason jars & precuts in a vintage pyrex baking dish sit on top as well.

Of course there are some extra special touches that make this space more comfortable. I have my grandmother's queen anne chair that I sit in to do handstitching, computer work, & to sip tea! I also have my other grandmother's crazy quilt made from bits & pieces of feedsack fabrics. It keeps me warm on those wintery days. When it gets dark I have that beautiful crystal chandelier - bright & pretty!

I enjoyed sharing my space with you & encourage you to embrace your space! Even the smallest spaces can be functional & beautiful!

Picnics & Fairgrounds

2011-04-15T20:23:00.000-04:00

I have temporarily put my studio tour on hold because today was all about picnics & fairgrounds:

DS Quilts Picnic & Fairgrounds prints!

If you are a Denyse Schmidt fan, you probably have been capturing glimpses & bits of information about her new line of fabrics through the blogging community. Actually, I don't think Denyse has formally announced this new collaboration with Fabric Traditions. It's a bit of a mystery how people stumbled upon this line, but all of what I have learned has been via other bloggers. Despite the lack of fanfare by Denyse, the collection seems to be a much anticipated follow up to her highly popular Flea Market Fancy line. The most exciting part of this new line (other than the similarity to the out of print & hard to find Flea Market Fancy) is that it's being released through Joann's stores in the US! If you don't have a local quilt shop, you will be able to stop into your local Joann fabric store - very convenient!

Perfectly coordinates with FMF!

After seeing all the hype I knew I had to get my hands on some. So I sent my helpful hubby to Joann's on one of his frequent trips across the border. Pictures & description in hand, he was able to pick me up this little bundle of yumminess! He even used some of their coupons - yes, cool Denyse Schmidt fabric at a discount - that's the way we roll :)

If you are hoping to add some DS Quilts fabric to your stash or if you want to fortify your FMF with some coordinates - visit your local Joann's. From what I can gather from other bloggers, it's just hitting the shelves now, so this is the time to see the whole collection of prints in person before they sell out. I have a feeling that these will be very popular, & may become hard to find. However, Joann's is planning on listing the DS line on their website mid May, so let's hope they have lots of stock available!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Spring Blooms

2011-04-14T19:48:00.000-04:00

When I think of spring, I think of flowers & pretty colors. I may not have actual flowers blooming in my studio, but here is a spring bouquet of vintage goodness:

Pressed, folded & displayed in my colorful vintage pyrex!

I am a total neatnik. I love to see everything in it's place, all carefully folded & stacked into a rainbow of colors. It makes everyone happy when they are greeted into my studio by cheerful color!

Old vintage waiting to be repurposed into something new!

I also think it's important to keep supplies where they are easy to grab & ready to go:

My Divine Twine rack.

My stash of Divine Twine is just too pretty to stow in a drawer. I took a sturdy wooden dowel & secured it to one of the sawhorse style legs on my work desk. They have holes that allow the desktop to be raised & lowered. I simply placed two vintage clothespegs into the holes to create a support for the dowel. Now the spools are tucked directly under the desk, covered from dust & easily accessed for wrapping up bundles. It's a "good thing"!

To continue my little studio "tour" tune in tomorrow! If you want to bring some spring into your sewing, visit my shop for new vintage lovelies!

Fresh Prints

2011-04-12T18:28:00.001-04:00

I have been steadily tidying up the studio & ironing new fabric! Here's a selection of some new vintage sheet fat quarters I am steadily adding to my shop:

Check back tomorrow for more additions & some pics of the studio!

Studio Spring Cleaning & Restocking

2011-04-08T12:50:00.000-04:00

I bet you have been wondering why I haven't been posting this week. I have been knee deep in fabric, rearranging & dust bunnies :) It's spring cleaning time & I have been rearranging the studio to make more room.

Spring cleaning anyone?

Tune in next week for some pics & a sneak peak of some new items that will be available in my shop!

New Friends

2011-04-02T08:59:00.000-04:00

I had been in a pyrex drought lately. I wouldn't say that I couldn't find any pyrex on my thrifting excursions, but most of what I did find was in the category of pyrex mediocrity. I could find pieces I don't collect, mixed in with a few flamingo pink pieces that looked good from far, but were far from good. Who are these people that abuse their pretty pyrex into a scratched & faded state? And, who are these thrift store dealers who slap a high price tag on these pieces of trash? Is it me, or has everyone noticed prices on pyrex are not so "thrifty" anymore?

This week I had a little pyrex thunderstorm roll through to restore the dry patch:

Friendship Bowls!

Pretty awesome! This was my first time finding Friendship pyrex in it's natural habitat, outside of antique shops. The small bowl is a 401 1.5 pint & the large bowl is a 403 2.5 quart. Both are in great condition, the small bowl has a few minor decoration scuffs & there are a couple tiny scratches on one of the birds on the large bowl. I don't think they were used too often.

A tiny scratch, but otherwise perfect.

We need a good home!

Since I don't collect this pattern I am willing to give these 2 friends a new home. I know many of my friends at the Pyrex Collective would cherish these, so I am giving you first dibs before listing them in my shop. If you are interested in one or the pair email me with your offer. I will take offers until Monday - so entertain me with reasons why your home would be the perfect place for these cuties.

P.S. Love the vintage sheets in the photos? I will be restocking my store this weekend & upcoming week with the new finds!

Wishing you a vintage filled weekend!

I Miss My Sewing Machine

2011-03-22T21:06:00.001-04:00

It's been a week since I last sat down to sew anything! Well, not totally. I did repair a few of my dog's toys that he pulled the stuffing out of. Poor Mr. Duck & Woobie! So, no new projects to share with you in this post.

Despite the lack of stitching, I did get some more Mini Bundles & Fat Quarters cut up for my shop. These are a couple of my favorite combinations:

Pink Grapefruit.

Sun Shower. Because we all need some sunshine after this long winter.

The new additions will be popping up gradually over the course of the week. I am so inspired by all the color & have so many projects in mind for the new prints & themes! How about you?

Snippets & Scraps

2011-03-17T19:29:00.001-04:00

Are you a scrap hoarder? Do you save even the teensiest bits of fabric goodness because you just can't bear to toss them into the abyss of the trash can? Well, this post is for you!

I am a confessed scrap hoarder. I have bins, pyrex dishes, & overflowing wire baskets of fabric bits & pieces. Some people think it's a disorder, but I call it thrifty ;) So to help weed out my overabundance, I am offering up some new goodies in my shop:

A little peek up close.

Vintage sheet scrap packs for your hoarding pleasure!

Ok, well they are way too pretty to hoard! I can think of a ton of little projects for these vintage pieces - buttons, patchworks, bunting, Blythe dresses, flower pins, or coin purses maybe? All the scraps are a nice size (3.5" wide is the smallest) & are taken from a variety of different prints. Perfect to get those creative juices flowing!

And for those who want a selection of bigger cuts, I have come up with these:

A selection of fat eighths...

all tied up into a Vintage Sheet Mini Bundle!

If you want variety without investing in fat quarter cuts, my Mini Bundles are perfect. They offer a selection of four prints that equal one half yard total. What a great way to sample some of the vintage sheet prints in my store!

To continue on our topic of scraps, here is my newest (and tiniest) addition to my Fig Tree precuts:

An itty bitty Buttercup mini charm pack.

Adorable! I placed it against a regular charm pack so you can get an idea of size. The lovely Joanna of Fig Tree fame treated me to this speck of yumminess. Thank you again Joanna! I can't bear to use it - it's just too cute :) By the way, if you want to see some real eye candy, check out Joanna's newest line that will be available in May. Scrumptious!

Just One Star

2011-03-15T14:44:00.001-04:00

Today I am quilting for a really important project. I whipped up my block for Moda's Just One Star Project:

In case you aren't familiar with this project, Moda is organizing a challenge to piece, quilt & bind 100 quilts in 100 days. The quilts will be based on Polly Minick & Laurie Simpson's Flag of Valor pattern. Moda is asking quilters to donate "Just One Star" to the effort (pattern & information can be found here).

Flag of Valor Quilt.

The finished quilts will be presented to US service members & veterans through the efforts of the Semper Fi Fund. The deadline for blocks is May 1, 2011 in order to meet their quilt deadline on Flag Day - June 14, 2011.

Whether you're a beginner or an accomplished quilter, the blocks are super easy & go together very quickly. It's also a great project to weed out some of your red & blue fabric scraps & sew them into a beautiful donation. Sounds like fun, right? I encourage you to be a star & participate in Just One Star!

The Man's Quilt

2011-03-10T11:38:00.005-05:00

Making a man's quilt is all about switching gears. It can't be pink, it's anything but fussy, and most of all it's made to be utilitarian:

Tractors, barns & hunting scenes - yes it's flannel!

The man quilt was designed for my dad, who is a lover of anything flannel. I had a stash of flannel scraps leftover from my various pajama bottom projects & thought this would be the perfect way to use them up. So I cut up the leftover flannel into 4.5" squares & created this square patchwork quilt.

The finished quilt is approximately 48" x 48" square.

To make this simple & more manly I did a basic grid for the quilting. The only difficult part was moving this through the machine. I used a large piece of flocked dotted cotton on the back, and the raised bumps acted like little non-slip grippers. So you can imagine the amount of exercise I got trying to feed this through!

Flocked dots & some leftover pieces of blue & green solids on the back.

I didn't get a picture of the quilt with the binding. The weather was just perfect after the snowfall & I wanted to get pictures while the snow was still untouched. So you will have to imagine it with it's Kona white binding. It makes it look really crisp.

On a funny note, while I was making the quilt I noticed something weird about the John Deere flannel print that has the red barns. It's a winter scene, but for some reason the trees have leaves!?! What's up with that? Even weirder is that I made 2 pairs of pajama pants & one quilt before noticing that ;)

The Winner Is...

2011-03-08T17:18:00.001-05:00

The winner of my fat quarter bundle giveaway is Rachel!

rachel said...

I LOVE the fat quarters she has chosen to give away and all her other lovely vintage sheet selections!

March 2, 2011 5:15 PM

Congratulations Rachel! Please be sure to contact Jen at the Vintage Sheet Blog to claim your prize!

Thank you to everyone who participated & for all of your kind comments!

A Reminder

2011-03-06T15:28:00.000-05:00

My giveaway for the Vintage Sheet Blog's anniversary celebration will be closing tonight at 12am PST. If you haven't already entered, sign up for your chance to win!

Also, I will be extending my free fat quarter celebration deal an extra day, through to March 8 at 12am EST. If you missed it, purchases (canadian & US orders only) of $10 or more from my Shop or Etsy Store before shipping, will receive a free vintage sheet fat quarter! Simply mention "VSB Celebration" in the comment section at checkout & I will hand pick your free fat quarter from my selection of vintage sheets.

Good luck everyone & check back tomorrow for the giveaway winner!

Dancing Dishes

2011-03-04T09:02:00.001-05:00

Maybe your kitchen dishes don't dance, but in my kitchen they do!

Run little bowl, run!

Ok, maybe they aren't all dancing, but these little dishes sure know how to take the chore out of dishwashing. Who wouldn't love to dry dishes with towels sporting these kitschy creatures?

I love to collect vintage transfers. An embroidered transfer is a cherry on top of a vintage towel, potholder, or apron. It's that added sprinkle of vintage goodness. You can find vintage transfers in a broad range of subject matter, anything from florals, to kewpie dolls, even charming little animals doing various domestic chores. And yes, even dancing dishes & odd anthropomorphic fruits & veggies (cute, but can be a little creepy).

I like to collect the original transfers, unused & in their original envelope. It can be difficult to find these since they were made of paper & deteriorate easily. Most were cut up & ironed, so if you can find an uncut transfer in it's original envelope, that's a great find. A few companies (like Aunt Martha's) reproduced their original designs, which made the old patterns easily accessible. These are perfect if you want that vintage look without sourcing the original transfers.

Puppy love. Vintage transfers from the 30's & 40's.

I encourage you to pull out your iron & embroidery hoop for your next vintage project & try a transfer. The next thing you know, the dish may run away with the spoon :)

It's Giveaway Day!

2011-03-01T00:00:00.004-05:00

Who doesn't love some vintage sheet goodness? Jennifer at the Vintage Sheet Blog is celebrating her one year anniversary & I thought it may be nice to participate with a giveaway:

A yummy FQ bundle of vintage sheets.

I am offering this pretty vintage sheet fat quarter bundle to one lucky follower. That's five fat quarters of vintage lovelies!

I am also offering a special treat for customers at my shop & Etsy store until next Sunday! To enter the giveaway & see all the details, sign up on my sidebar to become a follower of this blog & then head over here. Good luck to everyone!

Pink Pyrex & A Sneak Peek

2011-02-28T08:21:00.001-05:00

Here is my newest addition to my vintage pyrex collection:

More Flamingo Pink!

A pretty flamingo pink round baking dish! It didn't look this nice when I picked it up at the local VV - it was covered in yellow grease stains. With a little ceramabryte & TLC it was transformed into this beauty. It will have a permanent home in my studio with my matching pink casserole I found the other week.

And the sneak peek? This cute little vintage sheet fat quarter bundle I am giving away as part of the Vintage Sheet Blog's one year celebration. Come back tomorrow for all the details!

Flamingo Pink

2011-02-21T06:47:00.003-05:00

This is not a post about those kitschy pink flamingos you see in people's gardens. It's wayyyy better than that:

A $2 Flamingo Pink Pyrex Casserole!

I found this beauty at the local Salvation Army, while I was on a mission to find a white bed sheet for a project. I found a white sheet, but had to peruse the whole store (because you never know when you might have that great Pyrex find). Sure enough, this pink lady was sitting on the shelf waiting for me. She doesn't have a lid - but when I visit the store again, I will check to see if it has surfaced somewhere.

Pretty & utilitarian.

I already used her this weekend at my booth. I think her permanent home will be on display in my studio storing scraps of fabric.

Happy President's Day! Did you find any great vintage deals this weekend?

Fancy That!

2011-02-19T19:18:00.000-05:00

There are few things as sweet as a great fabric find. This is especially true when the fabric is out of print, impossible to find, and overinflated in price due to being perhaps one of the most loved fabric collections of all time. So you can imagine how excited I was to find these lovelies.

Flea Market Fancy yardage!

I found these beauties on Etsy. I just happened to come across them minutes after they were listed, before anyone snapped them up. So what could make this deal even sweeter? They were $5 a yard!!!!!!!!! You can't even buy a fat quarter for that!

I was able to get a yard each of the flower dots & green leaf, but totally lucked out by getting 2 yards of the aqua posies! Since I missed out on FMF when it was originally released, I have been picking up the odd bit here and there when the prices are reasonable. I cringe at the cost, but I desperately want a FMF quilt. I didn't have any of these prints, and it's nice to have something bigger than my half yard & fat quarter cuts.

My small but colorful stack of FMF lovelies!

As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait. This good thing was definitely worth the wait!

May all your fabric dreams come true,

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T08:58:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day to you! Indulge in those chocolates, it's calorie-free today ;)

My honey & I exchanged handmade cards - how cool is that? There were flowers on my kitchen counter this morning too. I love flowers! Now I just need to frost my hubby's gift - a key lime filled layer cake. Yummy! I may have to do some quality control & make sure it tastes ok. ;)

I will be back a little later to share some fabric love. Hint: it's out of print, hard to find, & we're talking yardage!! :)

Have a sweet Monday!

Mail Call

2011-02-08T21:31:00.000-05:00

I received a sweet note from one of my customers yesterday. Hilde is from Norway & creates beautifully sewn bags for her Etsy shop. She sent me a link to some pouches she had made out of vintage sheets from my store.

Work in progress - a rainbow of colors.

Hilde's attention to detail is evident in the finished product. Look at the perfect seams & square corners of this cute pouch - beautifully done.

One of my favorite vintage prints - pink of course :)

If you would like to see more of Hilde's work, please visit her blog. She writes in Norwegian, but if you use google's toolbar you can use the translation function to read it in english. Pretty nifty!

Have a sweet Tuesday!

Fabric Candy

2011-02-02T15:35:00.001-05:00

I love sewing with vintage sheets. It seems that no matter how you pair them up, the colors & prints just seem to naturally compliment each other.

Pretty colors & love the cute little clover.

Also, unlike my fabric stash, I don't seem to hesitate cutting into them. Maybe it's because they are already broken in, or that I seem to find new details in the prints that were overlooked as full sheets. Piecing these into a patchwork shows off all the little gems & brings together some unexpected colors and prints.

A confection of colors.

This latest creation reminds me of a candy shop. Cotton candy pinks, salt water taffy blues, spearmint greens, and lemon drop yellows all look so yummy in this Sugar Star pillow cover. On a snowy day like today, it makes me daydream of spring!

If you are interested in adding vintage sheet fabric to your stash, drop by my Etsy shop. I have handpicked some fat quarters from my own vintage stash & will be offering them as limited inventory. What a fun inspiration to start a vintage project of your own!

Have a sweet Wednesday!

It Isn't Pink

2011-01-28T14:09:00.001-05:00

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

2011-01-20T08:17:00.001-05:00

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

2011-01-10T13:40:00.004-05:00

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

2011-01-05T09:35:00.000-05:00

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!

A Dreamy Giveaway!

2010-12-31T08:29:00.003-05:00

A pretty package appeared at my doorstep this week!

The lovely & gracious Regan hosted a giveaway on her blog for the annual Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day. Out of the 468 entries, I was chosen the winner! The prize was a Sew Mama Sew gift certificate which was burning a hole in my pocket (as my husband put it) right from the get go. So I picked out some lovelies that I had on my fabric wish list.

Dreamy Dream On & Essex linens!

I have been daydreaming of the Dream On line for so long! After seeing them in person I know I must have a fat quarter bundle of these yummy prints. It's like fabric ice cream!

A big thank you to Regan & for some sewing inspiration, check out her Stitch In My Side blog.

Have a sweet Friday!

Making Room for the New!

2010-12-29T12:27:00.000-05:00

It's the start of a New Year & I am making some room in the new studio. To make more progress, I am hosting a studio sale in my Etsy shop! Everything in the shop is 10% off until the first of January, simply use the coupon code PINKNEWYEAR at checkout.

It's the perfect chance for some Pink Fawn cuteness at a great price!

Have a sweet Wednesday!

My Christmas Wish

2010-12-24T08:38:00.001-05:00

A sweet vintage greeting: "To wish you a Merry Christmas day and a very glad year on the way!"

And a precious Gift:

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:9-12

Have a sweet Christmas!

Flower Sugar Giveaway!

2010-12-21T07:54:00.000-05:00

Do you love Lecien's Flower Sugar collections? Here is your chance to add to your stash! Retro Mummy is hosting a generous giveaway of 2 fat quarter bundles (20 fat quarters of these lovelies!) of the newest prints. Two lucky winners will be drawn on New Year's Eve. Visit her blog & you just may ring in the new year with some pretty fabrics!

Have a sweet Tuesday!

Dream Studio

2010-12-17T08:40:00.001-05:00

We are still immersed in boxes over here at the homestead. In fact, my studio desk has been taken over with tools:

Old dingy carpet is being pulled up, walls are being patched, & I finally got rid of the purple velvet curtains in the master bedroom. Yes, these were dark purple & to the floor. We no longer have the "wizard room" as my husband called it - I called it the "Prince room". Either way, they are now gracing the local garbage heap.

One dreamy part of my new studio is a gift from the previous owner. It's bright & sparkly, & makes me swoon with delight:

Yep, my studio was once a dining room in this little home. The lady who lived here had lovely taste (excluding the weird velvet curtains & pink living room), & much of the wall colors were the subtle Martha Stewart type greens & whites. In fact, the lace curtains in many of the windows are really intricate & beautiful. I will be sure to get some pictures once we are settled in.

I am off to do some measuring & construction!

Have a sweet Friday!

Santa's Elf

2010-12-15T10:00:00.001-05:00

The studio has been buzzing with unpacking & reorganizing after our move. It's also been a workshop for some pretty custom Christmas orders! I feel a bit like Santa's little worker elf, minus the big ears & pointy shoes :)

A delicate hand embroidered clothespin apron.

I keep on looking at the bundles of winter flannel stacked on my shelves. I need to be transforming them into warm & comfy Christmas goodies for my own family. I suspect there will be some sewing cram sessions in the next week!

If you are procrastinating with your Christmas shopping, you can still visit me at my studio to load up on some nifty soap & handmade gift items. Simply email me for details. In the meantime, enjoy the season, put on some Christmas music & most of all, sip a cup of cocoa with lots of marshmallows :)

Have a sweet Wednesday!

Moving Around

2010-12-02T13:07:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! I know it's been a long time since I posted. Much has been going on, all because I have moved to a new studio space! Yes, hubby & I have moved our operations into the countryside, so there has been a lot of packing & unpacking & not so much sewing :)

Meals over the past week have come mainly out of a box :)

I expect things will get back to routine this upcoming week. I will be out in Essex this weekend at Essex High's Christmas Show. Come out & do some Christmas shopping!

Pinwheel Love

2010-11-10T11:12:00.000-05:00

I think pinwheels are one of the prettiest blocks. I have seen endless variations & never get tired of this simple pattern.

My current project is made from a charm pack of Hello Betty & unbleached muslin. I like the vintage feel of the blocks. I am not sure, but I think this will be a lap/wall/baby quilt.

I finished my peasant top & have worn it already. I am really impressed at how easy this pattern was. I didn't have the right size zipper on hand, but easily substituted a smaller one. I also missed the finer print at the bottom of the pattern with the fabric allowances for the contrast bands. My local fabric shop was out of white flannel, so I used Kona white instead. The fit is perfect & the warm flannels will be so soft & warm on cold days. I still have fabric set aside for another - one more to make before the snow arrives!

I have been keeping up with some of the other blogs & their Christmas projects. So many cute ideas out there in blogland. Have any of you started any Christmas projects yet or have any interesting gift ideas you are working on?

Have a sweet Wednesday!

A Lion Of A Project

2010-11-03T11:01:00.001-04:00

Hi friends! Sorry for my brief hiatus from blogging. I have temporarily replaced my sewing machine & fabric for a paintbrush to help out with another task.

A 12 foot lion!

I have been spending my free time doing this set backdrop for a production of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. My duty was the lion himself, the rest of the poster was carefully painted by my talented partner. By the way, the unfinished blue space to the right is for the lamp post, that will be completed last. Painting is a workout, & all my muscles are now protesting from the crouching, reaching & yikes - ladder climbing. Despite all this, it was so much fun to use my rusty painting skills & polish them up a bit.

Meanwhile, I have squeezed in a little bit of sewing.

Wonky star coasters from my Amy Butler Stash.

I am also working on some winter flannel tops using Lila Tueller's Peasant Blouse pattern:

I know, how cute right? I have had this pattern for a year, so I am really happy to finally work on this project. I will let you know how they turn out :) I also have the pattern for her Charisma Boots:

- yet another project I haven't completed, but don't you just love these as an UGG alternative?? Lila has such cute ideas - you should check out her blog for her new designs (the London Dress is amazing!).

Time to get stitching!

Have a sweet Wednesday!

Pumpkinfest

2010-10-23T06:55:00.000-04:00

Come on out & visit the Pink Fawn booth this weekend! Pumpkinfest is being held at Western Secondary School in Amherstburg, ON from 10am-4pm on Saturday & Sunday. Now is a great time to get a start on Christmas gifts - not to mention that there will be pumpkin pie there!

Have a sweet weekend!

A Sweet Friday Delivery

2010-10-22T12:42:00.001-04:00

One crinkled manila envelope...

torn open in a frenzy...

to get to the yummy fabric inside! Cute Kokka Eau de Mer & November Books prints to add to my stash.
I wish everyday was a fabric delivery day :)

Have a sweet Friday!

Little Red Riding Hood

2010-10-20T12:45:00.000-04:00

What little girl didn't love the tale of Little Red Riding Hood? I still love the story, so much that I decided to design a Little Red of my very own. I drew up an initial pattern, which was tweaked a little after I stitched the first doll. Some corners needed rounding, and I tried a few variations stitching the facial features. I would descibe these as a cross between the storybook Little Red & a matryoshka.

I love those sweet little rosey cheeks and pointed hood. Each doll is unique in it's fabric combinations, handstitched face details, & the decorative felt patches I stitch onto their dress. The felt is 100% merino wool - so soft & the colors are truly lovely. So much prettier than synthetic felt.

Little Red is filled with bamboo, which is as soft as a cloud. In addition to being a natural product, bamboo is antibacterial, so it's perfect for dolls that are snuggled on a regular basis :)

Check out my webstore or Etsy shop if you would like a Little Red of your own!

Have a sweet Wednesday!

Migration Festival

2010-10-16T06:21:00.000-04:00

Come on out & celebrate the geese flying south! The Kingsville Migration Festival is this weekend & Pink Fawn will be there too. Visit me at the High School on Main St. between 10-4 for some hot cocoa & gingerbread (alright, it's soap - but it does sound & smell yummy!)

Have a sweet weekend!

Lawn Chair

2010-10-12T06:57:00.003-04:00

I hinted in a previous post that I was working on a special project. Actually, it was a gift for a very special occassion - my parents golden anniversary! Since my Mom reads my blog, I couldn't share the work in progress. So here is the finished quilt:

Lots of bright color!

The quilt is a honeybun version of Monica Solorio-Snow's Lawn Chair Quilt. I used my favorite Kona premium muslin, combined with a honeybun of Chloe's Closet Hello Betty, & then bound with coordinating feedsack repro fabrics in blue & yellow. The cheerful colors & retro prints are reminiscent of my grandmother's quilts, one of the main reasons why I chose them. My family has a few of her quilts, and I wanted this project to reflect her work, but with a modern twist.

Looks just like the weave of a lawn chair - don't you think?

The original quilt is done with a jellyroll, so I contacted Monica, who was also working on a honeybun version (in Urban Chiks Sweet - yummy!), for advice on the quilting. I was so flattered that she loved my work (she is such a sweetheart) & we were able to decide on stitching in the ditch for this pattern. I think it turned out amazing - it really brings out the weave.

The quilt label.

A pretty & special quilt for a perfect pair!

Have a sweet Tuesday!

Sugar Sugar

2010-09-30T10:40:00.003-04:00

Perhaps one of my most favorite aprons ever:

Flower Sugar Apron

This little frock of cuteness was stitched from my stash of Lecien Flower Sugar. Don't you just love the bright flowers & scallops? It's so reminiscent of vintage linen tea towels & tablecloths - the ones with the border prints of florals or fruits.

Keeping with the theme, here are a few similar vintage items from my collection - a well loved fruit theme tea towel & pretty poppy tablecloth.

Vintage lovelies!

Both have border prints and are wonderfully soft from years of use. I actually use my vintage linens, but this particular towel has been retired since the print is so faded. I would hate to see the pretty design disappear!
This apron will be posted for sale in my shop shortly. As with all my items, every piece is one of a kind - so get this cutie while you can!

Have a sweet Thursday!

Ticker Tape in Pink

2010-09-20T07:48:00.000-04:00

Ever since I can remember, my mother's sewing machine has never had a proper cover. Over the years she draped it with a blue & white stiped terrycloth towel which would now be considered retro. I figured that after all the sewing my mom did for her family, the least I could do was contribute a pretty new cover for her machine.

Instead of regular patchwork, I went with a quilted ticker tape cover. I had admired this technique from other blogs & had stored it away in my idea binder for just the right project (a great tutorial can be found here). I like the thrifty concept of using tiny scraps - no, not trying to be cheap mom, just trying to weed out the scrap bin a little. So I picked out some of my cutest pink scraps & went to town!

A bunch of fabric yumminess!

Essentially, the cover is a doll quilt with ribbon sewn into the binding as side ties. The options with this design are endless, and since they are simple to make, you will want a whole wardrobe for your machine! Wouldn't it be great to do covers for the different seasons??

Candy striped ribbon to match.

In the meantime, I am working on a very special project that I can`t post yet. For a hint, check out this cute inspiration at Monica`s blog (aka Happy Zombie).

Have a sweet Monday!

Cathedral Windows

2010-09-15T10:51:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite quilt blocks.

Pretty & fresh cathedral blocks.

This block looks more complicated than it is - it's actually a very simple project. It's also the perfect way to showcase bold prints & play with bright colors. I pulled out my cheerful 30's reproduction fabrics for a red, white & blue theme. Against the white, these colors & prints really stand out!

The finished block.

I bound the block to a coordinating feedsack backing that was double batted & quilted in rows. The finished project is a very sophisticated trivet/potholder. I added an embroidered stitched loop so it can be displayed on a wall as a cheery accent.

Pretty front & back!

If you would like to try this block, Heather at A La Mode has this great tutorial on her blog. I used a combination of her techniques with block instructions that I currently have on file. I have seen many versions of how to piece this block, so you may want to try out some different variations to find what works well for you.

Complete & ready for it's new home.

Have a sweet Wednesday!

Pretty Scrap Giveaway

2010-08-30T14:27:00.001-04:00

The lovely Aneela of comfortstitching is hosting a giveaway of fabric scraps from her pretty collection. Hop on over & visit her cute blog to comment & maybe win these lovelies!

Mendicino, FMF, Munki, Dream On, Lightning Bugs - so many lovelies!

Have a sweet Monday!

Pink Fawn by the River

2010-08-27T07:47:00.000-04:00

We are pulling out the white tent and getting everything ready for Art by the River in Amherstburg, ON this weekend. The weather is going to be nice, so come on out to browse & shop!

Have a sweet weekend!

Fabric Giveaway!

2010-08-21T19:52:00.000-04:00

Megan of Lucy & Norman is celebrating her Blogversary with a pretty fabric bundle giveaway! If you are a fan of out of print and hard to find prints like Lightning Bugs, Mendocino, Lush, Katie Jump Rope & Flea Market Fancy, you should visit Megan's sweet blog & giveaway post. & wish her a happy blogversary!

Have a sweet Saturday!

Big Ideas, Small Studio

2010-08-18T11:12:00.003-04:00

One of my guilty pleasures in life is perusing over photos of other quilters sewing spaces & studios. I always hope that I will come across some great inspirational idea or organizational genius that I can apply to my own space.

My studio space is roughly 6' by 12', so though I would love many features that I find in bigger studios, I often resort to ideas of the space-saving kind. I often ooh and ahhh at spaces that have dedicated cutting tables, stash closets, and sewing tables. You know them - the ones who have a room outfitted with matching cabinets & tables (or painted antique cabinets!)- and all those cute sewing knick nacks that display buttons, threads & trims. You halfway expect Martha Stewart to pop out of their fabric closet clutching an iron & ironing board.

Who wouldn't love to have that much space? But if you aren't going to use the space wisely, it just becomes more area to clutter up. That`s why small spaces can be better. It forces one to be streamlined & organized. I have one desk (ok it`s actually a small dining table) that I use for everything - cutting, piecing, & sewing. So, I have to finish and clean up one task before I can move on to another. It`s like forced tidiness, but in a good way.

Part of my fabric stash.

Another quirk of mine is that I like my fabrics in view. I want to be inspired by all the pretty colors, not have them hidden away in bins, closets or *gasp* drawers. Don`t take me the wrong way, I have seen some lovely organizational schemes using all the above, but to me, it`s like buying a Monet & sticking it in a garage. In other terms, it`s like taking your Heather Ross stash and making it into dog toys. My stash is housed in one of those nifty white cube units. It`s not a huge space, but I use every inch of it (fabric folded neatly & tightly keeps out the dust). I can sit and brainstorm looking at them, see what I have on hand, and just take in the prettiness in one spot.

So, from one small studio to yours - potential is in the eye of the beholder. Small spaces, as Martha would say, are ``a good thing``.

Have a sweet Wednesday!

Finished Paper Dolls

2010-08-16T11:36:00.001-04:00

I promised to post pictures of the finished paper dolls quilt, but have been slow getting around to it. So, here finally, is the completed quilt:

Hanging for display at my last show.

I had many compliments on this quilt. I am especially fond of the older generations telling me their experiences as children playing with & collecting paper dolls. The quilt was quite a conversation piece!

The old white barn lent a nice backdrop.

I realized when I downloaded the pictures, I forgot to take pictures of the back - grrr! I will have to find an alternate location to take pictures again.

Have a sweet Monday!

Twine Is So Divine

2010-07-27T11:29:00.002-04:00

Pink Fawn has always been known for pretty packaging. My philosophy is that when you purchase an item, it should look like a gift, even if you are buying it for yourself. After all, we all deserve a treat!

Finishing touches make everything look special!

My challenge is to create packaging that not only looks great, but is eco conscious, can be recycled, and is produced here in North America. As a small business, I prefer to purchase my supplies from other small businesses. Not only is the service excellent, but you may just be surprised at the great products being produced & supplied by them in Canada & the US.

Recently, I was trying to find a more unique and eco friendly ribbon, since that is something I use for packaging almost every item. I happened to stumble upon the Whisker Graphics website, which offers 100% cotton bakers twine in a rainbow of yummy colors. Even more appealing is that it`s made in the USA.

So pretty, and so many uses!

Sold, I decided to place an order for my favorites - the Aqua & Cotton Candy. Once they arrived, I knew I had found something great! The twine is prettier in person, and it ties well, quite unlike the slippery satin ribbons I have used in the past. I was always retying bows that wouldn’t stay done up. I was so taken by these lovelies, I immediately placed an additional order for the Orange, Lemon, and Green Apple spools.

Eye candy! The spools sit on the shelf where they can be admired.

I am sure you will love the new “divinely twined” Pink Fawn packaging. I also have another packaging project in the works that I will be debuting in the upcoming week. Check back for updates…

Have a sweet Tuesday!

What A Doll!

2010-07-25T08:36:00.007-04:00

I must admit, I have been playing with paper dolls lately. But these dolls aren't the paper kind that you had to cut out and dress:

A paper doll quilt!

When I first saw this fabric, I knew I had to make a quilt with it. The fabric is Snippets by Sandy Klop, and the quilt was pieced in a revision of her American Jane "Rainy Day Paper Play" pattern.

A whole wardrobe of cute clothes.

I like the combination of colorful patterns and of course, the retro feel of this quilt. I tend to be more conservative in my fabric choices, so it was fun to work outside of my zone. Working with color groupings in the blocks helped to make the piecing less daunting. I guess I could have just left everything as a hodgepodge, but I am far too type A and need some kind of order :)

I will be sure to post pictures of the finished quilt. It has been backed in Kona white muslin with a strip of pink and orange blocks that were left over from the Snippets charm pack. The quilting is horizontal and diagonal blocks, which I think ties everything together nicely. The binding is the Snippets pattern piece print in red. Again, not a color choice I would have normally picked, but lends a fun finishing touch.

Have a sweet Sunday!

Summer Sewing

2010-07-09T10:18:00.002-04:00

During the wintery months & through to spring, I had gathered up some pretty fabrics and a few patterns for my summer wardrobe. I washed them up and bundled them neatly in my fabric stash, waiting for some extra free time where I could sit at my sewing machine & create something for myself. So far, they are still sitting there.

However, I was so inspired by Florence's post the other day, that I just had to sew a Spring Ruffle Top of my own. So, I dug out that bundle of fabrics I set aside, but couldn't decide on any of them. I ended up finding a cute japanese cotton/linen patchwork print from my quilting stash & combined it with crisp, bleached Kona premium muslin. Fresh & summery.

Strawberry/flowery/polka dotty goodness!

On a note, if you have not used this muslin before, I highly recommend it as a white Kona cotton substitute. It's has a sturdy 200 thread count & soft hand, so it's not sheer like some muslins and quilting cotton. It's also almost half the price of regular Kona cottons - so if you use lots of white in your quilting, like me, it's economical.

Ok, back to the top :) I was really happy with my fabric choices and the finished top was even cuter than I imagined. I liked the way this top fit, which was due to the pattern being calculated based on your own body measurements - very clever! The pattern showed larger side pockets, but since I was short on the cotton/linen, I decided on smaller patch pockets closer to the front of the tunic. It definitely adds to the cuteness factor!

A perfect fit!

This project was a good reminder that sometimes you need to carve out a little time for yourself in the day. I am already planing my next wardrobe project :)

Have a sweet weekend!

Goldfish For Henry

2010-06-24T10:17:00.003-04:00

Who didn't have goldfish as pets when growing up? In our house, my mom wouldn't allow us to have a dog - but we did have fish. Though not as exciting as a dog, it was fun to go to the pet store & leave with fish-filled plastic bags while thinking of fish names.

Maybe that's why this fabric resonates with me:

Again, another delightful Heather Ross fabric - Goldfish in Bags. They are even named. But one name stood out to me - Henry.

To make a very long story short, a neighbour (with a house full of cute little girls) just gave birth to a long-awaited boy. She had mentioned that it was a tradition for her babies to have a bib with their name on it, but she wasn't able to find one with the expected baby's name. He was going to be named Henry.

I hadn't thought about this fabric, but while reorganizing my fabric stash I noticed one of the fish named Henry. I knew I had to use this fabric for Henry, and I came up with this design:

A cheerful bib in blue.

The back is lined in yellow terrycloth to make it extra soft & absorbent.

Instead of snaps or velcro, I opted for this pretty, watery aqua button & sewed 2 buttonholes to make it adjustable as baby Henry gets bigger.

Cute fishies in mini hexies - on the dot background they have a bubble feel.

Now, it just needs to be wrapped up with love. Henry, you are sure to be a bundle of cuteness in your new goldfish bib!

Have a sweet Thursday!

What Fairytales Are Made Of

2010-06-16T10:55:00.004-04:00

I had stashed away a bit of my birthday money for a special purchase. I had teetered on spending all my money on Lecien's Antique Flower in Pastel & Flower Sugar fabrics (which I can't get enough of), but I stopped after these magnificent stacks of flowery goodness:

Antique Flower in Pastel - so hard to find, so these go into my personal stash.

Flower Sugar, equally hard to find & another addition to the personal stash. Next on the "to buy" list: newly released Flower Sugar II before it becomes OOP & HTF!

So, what was I waiting for? Well, I was waiting for my fairytale fabric. I was waiting to be graced by Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel & the Owl & the Pussycat all courtesy of the lovely Heather Ross:

Sleeping Beauty under lily of the valley - how pretty is that?

Rapunzel - you can't see it in the picture, but on the ground below the tower, there is a scattering of bobby pins that fell from her hair :)

A classic romance - the Owl & the Pussycat

Three lovely fabrics from Heather Ross' Far Far Away Chapter 2. Instead of the double gauze she used in her first Far Far Away line, these fabrics are a cotton linen blend.

As you all know, I love pink; but when I saw the aqua colorway, I had to have it. Apparently so did everyone else. One of my favorite online fabric stores, Hawthorne Threads sold out in just a few hours, so I purchased mine from Pink Chalk Fabrics. If you love this fabric as much as I do, get yours now before you have to wait until late summer for another shipment!

Have a sweet Wednesday!

Hexagon Quilting

2010-06-12T20:02:00.000-04:00

I have been admiring the latest trend in blogland - piecing together hexagons. I am fascinated by using small scraps of fabric & turning them into a cute, colorful collage. So from the moment I saw this technique, I knew I wanted to incorporate it into my work. Not only is it a great scrapbusting project, but it also is a perfect way to showcase some of my favorite prints in my fabric stash (especially Heather Ross' prints).

By reading a few tutorials, I noticed that many people would make their hexagon templates from paper. I am not big on paper piecing in general, or cutting out large amounts of finicky shapes. Then, I came across these beauties:

Neatnik - I store my hexi templates in a jelly jar.

The teflon shapes are reusable, and they can be pressed with an iron. They are quite slippery, so it can be a bit of a challenge at first to baste the fabric around them, but once you do a few it becomes easier. I chose polka dots and a Heather Ross gnome for my first project:

How cute are gnomes & polka dots?

I love to hand stitch, and this has become a favorite new technique. Now I want to try out mini hexies - which are about half the size of these. So cute!

Have a wonderful weekend!

See You at the Park

2010-06-02T07:39:00.000-04:00

Pink Fawn designs will be at Windsor's Art in the Park at Willistead Park in Walkerville this upcoming weekend! Bring your friends & family, check out the local artists & most of all, stop by the tent to say hi!

The Apron Story

2010-05-26T06:38:00.001-04:00

My mom sent me this note & I thought it would be fun to share with you! I have so many memories of my grandmother & her aprons. Whether it was working in her garden, or baking in the kitchen - she always had one tied around her waist.

I have a few of her aprons in my vintage apron collection. I especially like to wear them at my shows since they are such a conversation piece.

The History of Aprons

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be along time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron.

I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron - but love...

Have a sweet Wednesday!

New Home

2010-05-08T12:50:00.000-04:00

We are having a housewarming party, well, kind of. Pink Fawn designs has moved to a new space on the web!

I think you will like the new site. It's much simpler in style, and showcases the products with lots of photos. Oh, and very neat zoom feature to look at the pictures in a larger format! There will be more tweaking going on here and there as I get more products listed, but for now, the result is a much more user-friendly format!

Also, it wouldn't be a new improved website without some cute new products! Here are a couple new additions to the site:

The new cupcake apron design!

The practical clothespin apron in a fresh daisy print!

You may be wondering, "where are all the soaps?". Well, they are coming soon! I am still trying to get all my new listings & photos set up. I should have the whole site updated by the end of next week for your shopping pleasure :)

So click on the nifty new shop button & take a browse! I would love to hear what you think :)

Have a sweet weekend!

Heather Ross Goodness

2010-05-04T10:52:00.000-04:00

As you probably know, I love to collect Heather Ross fabrics. So you can imagine me doing a happy dance today when I received a message from Heather at Mountain Home Quilts letting me know that I won her blog giveaway! Not just any giveaway, but these little lovelies:

Cute quilted coasters made from Heather Ross fabrics!

And...Heather Ross dots & stripes on the back.

A big THANK YOU to Heather for making my day :) Heather is a fellow quilter and blogs about homesteading in northern California. Check out her blog at Mountain Home Quilts.

Happy Tuesday!

Frogs & Matryoshka Dolls Patchwork

2010-05-02T06:48:00.002-04:00

I have been waiting for an excuse to finally cut into my Heather Ross West Hill fabrics. They have been sitting in my collection untouched, waiting for their first debut. Well, here it is:

Patchwork initial & bible verse pillows.

This was a gift idea for friends of ours who have twin girls. The girls are attending their First Communion today, & I wanted to design a special keepsake for them. I thought these were a practical idea, and that the bible verse (one of my favorites) would be one they could memorize and keep with them through the years.

Habakkuk 3:19

I was pleased with the color combinations - just the right amount of pink, green & yellow. It's a more mature palette, one that will grow with them through their teen years. I also love the tomboy combination of frogs in jars & matryoshka dolls - very cute!

So sweet!

These have encouraged me to start using more of my Heather Ross lovelies I have sitting on the shelf!

Have a blessed Sunday!

A Homemade Girl

2010-04-27T12:10:00.004-04:00

I was lucky enough to grow up in a generation where I had a traditional stay at home mom. A land of hot lunches, home-baked everything, and a handsewn wardrobe - ahh, 70's fashion at it's best! I also can't remember a birthday party without a homemade cake fashioned into an animal or some other whimsical design. Homemaking was a creative occupation, and I was inspired to learn from the masters - my mom & grandmother. No wonder I love everything Martha :)

Good! You can do mine.

My homemade upbringing has made me a picky girl. I cringe at the thought of buying pickles, jam, or *gasp* cookies from a bag (oreos are a rare exception). I also prefer a homemade meal over dining at a restaurant (don't tell my husband). There is some special goodness that comes from doing things from scratch. I can thank my mom for teaching me that.

So with Mother's Day around the corner, remember to thank your mom for all she taught you :)

Have a sweet week!

Coconut Goodness

2010-04-15T08:20:00.002-04:00

Ok, so a few of you have asked me to post a pic of the bunny cake I made for Easter.

Is the Easter bunny a girl?

I am definitely not the Cake Boss or Ace of Cakes, but I carved away into something I felt resembled a bunny. Coconut buttercream makes great glue, and shredded coconut hides all the imperfections. The beautiful Williams Sonoma cake stand also lended credability to the creation. Did I tell you how much I love the ruffled cake stand? Divine!

As you all know, I am a lover of natural fabrics. So I was so thrilled when this little package arrived at my door last week:

Yummy dots, ginghams & florals.

Cotton linen shabby chic fabric from Grace's Unique & Shiny shop in Korea. I am in love :)

Have a sweet Thursday!

Nancy

It's Eastertime!

2010-04-01T11:45:00.001-04:00

I love springtime. I like the fresh buds on the trees and the warmer days, and Easter with it's promise of fresh beginnings. Oh, and chocolate bunnies :)

Note to self: do not leave chocolate bunnies sitting in the car in the direct sunlight.

Apparently, the hubby still found it quite delightful (see missing head). I had searched high and low for a favorite from his childhood - the chocolate bunny with a candy eye. I think they are on the extinct list, as it took forever to find one of these classics. Apparently bunnies have been replaced with the abundant and oh so festive Easter giraffes, dogs & chickens (???). Yes, I did say giraffe. *sigh*

So, I am sticking with the bunny theme & making a bunny cake for the family's Easter dinner. I am thinking white cake with coconut buttercream frosting & flaked coconut for it's fur. Very Martha, as my friends would say. I have to redeem myself in some way after the bunny fiasco.

In the studio, I am working on patchwork pillows. Spring has worked it's way into my color palette, with the soft pastels.

I especially love the Tanya Whelan Rosie Dot fabric in the bottom left square.

And the back with it's detail.

And some color palettes without my signature pink.

Serene blues & greys on natural muslin - so pretty!

I know that it's been taking a while to get my website updated with the new products - thank you for your patience! I will be posting the new items within the next couple of weeks, as I get prepared for some upcoming shows. If you would like to come and see the new items in person, I will be attending the "Girls Gone Wild" Charity Event at the Kingsville Legion, Saturday, April 10 from 5-11pm. The next day, Sunday April 11, I will be at the Forest Glade Spring Craft Show & Sale here in Windsor from 10am-4pm. I would love to see you there!

Wishing you & your family a blessed Easter ( and no melted bunnies!),

Nancy

Simply Swell Accessories Have Arrived!

2010-02-26T09:02:00.000-05:00

So, you have been wondering what has been going on in the past months at Pink Fawn. I have neglected my blog, but for good reason. Website renovations are underway, and I have been working on my new addition to the Pink Fawn designs brand. The studio has been buzzing with the sounds of the sewing machine. Have you guessed yet?

I am pleased to announce my new Simply Swell Accessories! It's a modern-vintage line of one of a kind, hand-sewn accessories for you and your home. You will find quilts, handbags, totes, linens & other fun items that are as pretty as they are functional. I have always loved and been inspired by vintage items, they have a charm that brings happy memories, and I wanted to capture that in my designs. I have stuck to the same basic recipe that I use with my natural soap:

1. All handmade individually by me.
2. Constructed from all natural materials.
3. Functional & can be used daily.

Think of the vintage items that were passed down in your family. They were probably well made, well worn from years of use, and were loved by many generations. I hope that when you tie on one of my aprons, it will bring back memories of your grandmother's apron, and bring a smile. It may also make you hungry for cookies - chocolate chip cookie soap anyone? :)

I will keep you updated in the next weeks with new products & ideas. Stay posted!

Have a sweet weekend!