applehead

hurry, hurry, hurry....

Soon to be covered in this long hoarded piece of barkcloth...

Better get a move on or else I'll spend an awful amount of time sitting in a very bright orange chair.

she's apples....

I saw this beautiful fabric over at superbuzzy and fell in love with it...then I saw that devinemom had bought some. Of course,this meant that I too, could go ahead and get me a little bit of pear goodness...

Now,you wouldn't expect me to pass up the chance to save on postage by getting just a small piece of tree love as well (it cost the same to send two pieces of fabric so I figure I am actually being post -cost efficient this way....)

So inspired was I by the pear design, that I came up with this while doing some design work for a special client,- so the fabric is also Very Useful.

And if all this, hasn't justified my spur of the moment online fabric purchase, then I don't know what will!

the battle continues....

hmmm, a bit of work to go on this one but not a bad starting point....

the trouble with vintage fabrics...

is that I can never bring my self to make things with it!
On my visits to other blogs I see people blithely creating lovely bags, clothes and bits and pieces from vintage fabric with seemingly no misgivings at all.
Which leads me to wonder why it is that I have such an issue with using any of mine. Apart from using tiny pieces as trims or embellishments that is.It's not as though I only have a piece or two . Actually I have quite a bit - and I somehow seem to keep acquiring more.
I decided that I needed a small project to ease myself into the right mindset for actually cutting up and (horror) using some of my vintage fabric hoard. I needed a roll for my crochet hooks and as I was about to press the "buy now"  button on Etsy, realised that I could make one myself. I drew up a  pattern and then out came the piles of fabric. After a bit of agonising over what was to be sacrificed, here it is ready to sew.

The black and white stripe and the pale pink piece are from a vintage obi I bought on this Melbourne trip,the French antique ticking is from the little shop down the street, and the thick,heavy linen is also French and vintage. Maggie ( my lovely M-I-L) gave it to me - something she had purchased and then never used. Both the obi and the ticking are faded and have some age marks but I really like the worn soft look of them. I still have to decide on the trim to tie it all up with- either deep red or cornflower blue grosgrain ribbon from my hoard of vintage trim. Maybe I'll even use a vintage button!
So, for me a big step towards enjoying using my treasured fabrics and bits.....I did all of the sewing today while Charlie slept and I have only to finish the hand sewing. I'll put pics up tomorrow to show you the results. Next up something bigger- a bag!

I went to post a letter.....

and came back with some wonderful old fabric and a piece of leafy goodness...the nearest postbox happens to be right outside a small second hand/vintage shop so I either need to find a different place to post my letters or remember to leave my wallet at home! Although the woman in the shop is most obliging about putting things aside for me....

The top piece is French vintage ticking which I probably paid too much for but had to have.The very bottom fabric is a huge piece of vintage linen or perhaps linen/cotton....it has the most incredible soft and worn in handle to it. And I know exactly what I'm going to do with it...

I will make a bag inspired by these pretties from this book .......the fabric had a loose weave that will make it perfect for adding a crochet trim.
And I am determined to actually make this bag as opposed to just thinking about it!
I went to put some fabric away last night and open up the cupboard- full.
Next stop, one of the big pull out baskets on the shelving in the living area - full. As were the other three baskets and wooden chest I put fabric in. That isn't even taking into account the stash in the roof space. So I have decided that in a week or too I have to do a big, big sort out. A SERIOUS ONE where I actually reduce the amount of fabric that I have. I'm a little scared by that one!

This pretty dish is not just an impulse buy - it has a purpose! I am currently working on my pages for the calendar swaps ( did I mention that I am actually involved in another one as well ?) I have decided on the theme for one calendar but couldn't quite decided on the second theme. And then I found it! I think that the line work and blocks of colour will work very nicely on what I  have planned......

There is a lot of creating going on around here at the moment..I am working on quite a few swaps, putting together a zillion paper packs ( or so it seems) and Rose is learning to French knit ( yours is here Melissa, just waiting for me to organise our little swap!) Loads of fun especially when the knitted tube finally emerges from the end of the little doll knitter.I remember making great lengths of it when I was a girl although I used a wooden cotton reel with nails in it - I made a few small mats, a hat for a doll and just played with the rest of it!
A good way to use up odds and ends and balls of wool.....and I have a lot of those as well. Best not to go there until I tackle the fabric.

Note of warning to all visitors to my house:Take care when opening any cupboard,drawer,storage space as there is a very likely danger of you being swamped by a falling pile of fabric....

just give me a teensy piece, please....

If you are a fan of Florence Broadhurst fabrics or just textiles and print in general (is there honestly anyone out there who hasn't put their hands up yet?) pop over here to Signature Prints  and have a look around. The wonderful thing is that for those of us who can't quite spend $148 plus on a metre of fabric, you can buy a sample of the prints on fabric (and some wallpapers) for $4.00 each.

A sample is about A4 size and most of the time you get a good part of pattern ( I ordered a piece of the "Cranes" and received a piece with lots of  lovely tree but sadly no Crane in sight). Its just big enough to make a great front feature on a bag or cut up into pieces for stylish pincushions, apron pockets, purses, pocket tissue holders- the list is endless, just think of what you do with those precious scraps of vintage fabric and figure in one of these beauties instead!

   

Even if you're not looking to splurge. its a lovely site to browse on for a while. And then when you do get around to recovering that old sofa, well, you'll have your fabric all picked out. Now to see about that second mortgage on the house.......

love a leaf.......

Sigh! Isn't it just beautiful? Now, honestly could you have walked away and left all that vibrant leafy glory behind? Ok,so some of you are far more disciplined that I,when it comes to barkcloth.
I have stopped ( practically) hunting on ebay for it but when I saw this one at "Rockit" ( an vintage clothing/jewelry/bits and pieces heaven in the Rocks) with its lovely nubbly surface and big bold colours ,it was a no brainer. And then the lovely man who owns the store quietly offered it to me at a reduced price and before you know it was mine,mine,mine.......
Of course I had to promise Damian that I would in fact cut it up and use it instead of adding it to my growing hoard of textiles treasures.
Of course I'll use it ...when I find just the right project to use it in.
I have a bag pattern that just suits this fabric perfectly. And I will make it.....soon.....

I have been following with interest Jo's progress on all things birthday related. Rose and Charlotte both have birthdays in August so I am on the lookout for ideas. Last year we had a fairy garden theme as that was Rose's current obsession.Easy, simple, pretty and oh so do-able.

Unless however, I'm prepared to let Rose strut her stuff, fully made up, in a midriff top,a strip of fabric pretending to be a skirt and a pair of battle worthy platform biker boots, then I'm going to have to look further than a Bratz themed party! At least I've managed to talk her out of a "Clown Town " party ( she recently went to one and had a ball...I'm thinking definitely not! Ever.)

Actually I'm a bit nervous about this years party because it will be the first time I have let Rose invite children of the unknown and untested variety. In the past, I only had to ask Steph and her three, plus friend Olivia ( known since pre-birth) and cousin Isabella and hey presto- instant, manageable party. Rose however, has been invited to quite a few kindy parties this year and is really keen to ask friends from kindy along.
Oh well, I guess as long as its short and sweet , I can cope.
I think.
Next thing she'll be wanting to ask boys.......

This is Rose in "artist " mode - the beret is the  must have accessory ...

And of course a photo of Charlie who is currently in love with buses...."more buths mama, more buths"
(she has a rather endearing little lisp happening or maybe she's working on the cute angle....)

I think she's working it rather well!