Vintage Pleasure

Start To Finish

I seem to spend alot of my time finishing jobs I started. Like the kitchen deep clean I started yesterday will be have some more work spent on it on thurs...probably. It's not because I don't have the commitment but because I have too many commitments. See how I did that? Play on words eh.

 Oh to have the luxury of enough time to be inspired and actually follow through.

 

Like the time to paint a picture then draw up a pattern and actually make what you had in your head. Luxury I tell you.

 

But I suppose when you are 14 it's easy to find the time.I mean what else is there to worry about apart from how your hair looks or if you have your PE kit ready? Lily doesn't have to worry about deep cleaning the kitchen now does she?!

Sarah Nicol

So last week Paddy and I managed a very grown up evening date. A trip to the theatre and a beautiful meal. No kids just each other. I love those kind of dates. Time to really take in everything around us without worrying about whether the little people are seeing everything around them. I love The Royal Exchange it is such a beautiful big old building yet the theatre itself is so intimate.You really feel part of the play. Another thing I love is that around the theatre they showcase artists work which is also availlable to purchase.

 

That's where I came across a new to me textile artist Sarah Nicol. I just love her doorstops. I mean how cute are they? You can just expect some little woodland creature popping their head out the door and inviting you in for tea and cakes! I think I've fallen in love with the blue one and it's red roof.My all time favourite colour combo is red and blue.

 

That blue one with the spotty roof really gets me too. Sarah also makes a smaller version that stand about 20cm tall if I remember right. She calls these 'Herb Houses'. I am still kicking myself that I didn't buy one on display at the theatre.It was so sweet and red. She doesn't seem to have any listed in her shop at the minute either.

 

Sarah  makes lots of other lovely stuff like pillows and wall hangings. All gorgeous but I think the 'Herb Houses' have stolen my heart. Go check her site out and let me know what you think. 

P.S. All photographs are shown with full permision

Bags

Thanks for all the birthday love you guys. You really know how to make someone feel loved.In fact I felt loved in so many ways during my birthday week.Yep our birthdays last a week around here. I received so many lovely gifts and got to spend an entire childfree evening with my hubby.What a luxury to eat in piece at a nice restaurant and then have a lie in the nexy day.Very decadent for a school night I'll tell you! Whilst I was out I came across a new-to-me textile artist that I really want to share with you. Tomorrow maybe when I can get the words in the right order.

 

I just realised that I never shared this WIP I showed. It was for my sister as part of my home-made gifts pledge. I used a vintage linen mangle cloth, ditsy floral cotton and vintage doilies. I just love the soft feel of these old mangle cloths. They are a perfect weight for everyday totes.

 

I liked how it turned out so much that I made another for a friend. I see lots more in my future. They are roomy enough for all the day-to-day paraphenalia that goes hand in hand with kids and work etc. The handles are long enough to sling right over your shoulder.I have a thing about handles that are too short.

 

 

I lined them in floral print cotton and added a pocket. The recipients loved them but the thing is do you think they would sell? I'd love to make some for my paltry excuse of a shop. In fact I'd love to think I will make a whole heap of things to sell.I will.I will.I will.

Some Fabric Found Me

Seriously it did.It even called my name.

I'm glad it did. Especially *this one.I think it had the loudest voice.

 

What fabric is calling your name? Will you listen?

*Lush fabric by Erin Michael

It's In There Somewhere

As a mother of 2 teenage girls I often dread entering their rooms.Seriously they can sometimes be a health hazard and lots of times I just shut the door and walk away. It's their space and as much as it pains me I have to let them be. Every so often I make them have a big clear out and a fresh start but most of the time you can guarantee there will be overflowing waste paper bins and books etc everywhere. I insist on dirty washing in a basket though.I'm not picking anyones dirty knickers up of the floor!

 

Not so long ago I went into Lily's room and was about to shut the door when I saw something.A little treasure in amongst the chaos.

There on her amongst the the mess on her craft desk.She has two desks one for school work and one

 

Can you see it yet?

An original pastel by Lily.Worth a little mess don't you think? 

Definitely a keeper.

Life's like that isn't it? Little treasures amongst the chaos.

What Have You Been Doing?

Whilst computer free I managed to get organised enough to actually get going on a few things that have been going around in my head. Some house related, some garden related, some kids related, some friends related and  some craft related. I'm hoping that I manage to keep up the momentum. I have to thank the spring light as it have definitely helped. How amazing is it that things seem so much better when the sun shines?

  

One of the things was working with some vintage mangle cloths, ditsy florals and doilies. I'll show you the results soon.

So what have you been doing?

A Little Bag

My girls have some lovely friends who only live 3 doors up from us. When it was Mish's birthday I needed to make a present and only had a few hours to make it.

 

So out came the linen I picked up in NYC and some lovely Japanese fabric.Both of which I had been hoarding for ages. I was totally inspired by these. So whipped my own pattern.

 

It has an extra wide strap so it's comfy over the shoulder.No fastening so things can just be thrown in easily.The front pocket was a just a panel until my littlest insisted it needed to be a pocket.So my friend the seam ripper helped out! I lined it with a lovely soft vintage flannel I have been hoarding.

Can you see a crafting theme? Actually using the stuff I've been hoarding.Revolutionary I tell you!

Apparently it was the favourite birthday present.Now that's nice.

A Little Quilt

I've enjoyed this week.It's been nice to see the trickle of emails in my inbox so thank you.I actually wrote all the posts for last week in one go and scheduled them for one a day during the week.I think I'll do that again sometimes.It's much easier to plan the posts in advance rather than find the time everyday.

After my sucess with Lily's quilt I gained a little confidence.I really wanted to make a baby blanket for my closest friend's new baby.We knew in advance he was going to be a little boy so I was able to make most of it in advance. I even managed to use some vintage fabric panels that I have been hoarding for a while now.

 

Instead of using the panels in full I cut them into 6 inch squares. I like the effect it gives.

 

I wanted it to be more of a top blanket for in the pram layered with other blankets.So kept it very lightweight.No batting just a super soft flannel on the back.

 

Then just for a little extra detail hand tied it with red and blue thread.

 

I added the stripe fabric with just a little pink because my friend chose a red pram with just a little pink in the trim.It wasn't until the quilt was finished that I realised just how well it tied in with the vintage fabric.

 

See the plane's tail fin? I love it when things like that happen. Happy coincidences.That look just like I planned it!

03rd March 2009

 

Another gift was made.I went all Dottie Angel. It felt good.

Being Not Dreaming

Sorry for the long absence. It's not that I haven't had anything to say or anything to share.I just haven't made time. I have been finding the internet a particularily draining place to be.Full of inspiration that leads me to set unrealistically high expectations of myself on so many levels.Whilst at the same time dragging me in and stealing precious hours.Hours that should be spent making good use of that inspiration.

 

I am a particularily sensitive creature, as friends and family will testify.It means that I can be very hard on myself and question my character and intentions. Not constructive. Seeing other people living 'perfect' lives sometimes makes me question mine and that is energy zapping.

 

 Not to mention not very 'Christian'! The sermon at church last week was all about how we should be joyful and it confirmed some musings I had. I need to concentrate on the things that make me me happy,that make us happy.

 

So that's what I'm doing. Things that make me happy are spending time with my family and friends, making things for those I love, eating well, drinking well, sleeping well and snuggling babies. All of those things I've been doing lately.

 

So this week I'm going to go 'habit' in style. Just a photograph and a few words to let you see what I've been doing whilst I haven't been here.

 

There's been some good stuff going on. I'm sure you'll feel the joy.

 

I mean come on  patchwork, red polka dots, vintage chenille and vintage hankies? How could that not be joyful eh?

 

This is a 'quilt' I made for Lily's birthday and has been in constant use ever since.Now that makes me happy. To see her wrapped in my love. Happy happy happy.