It's Marbelous!

I found a small jar of marbles this weekend. Snapped up quick by an avid collector! I know very little about marbles. Anything of interest?

Letting Go

Yesterday I started a big de-stash of my vintage sheet and pillowcase collection. As much as it pained me, I am happy at the thought of a shelf less crammed. Or even being able to FIT my collection on a shelf :)
They are selling on my Vintage Aussie Facebook page in the Manchester album. Here's what the for sale stacks looked like. The last photo is what I am still keeping. Of course I can't let it all go.

Prize winners

The country show we attended over the weekend was lovely in so many ways. From the $2 all day petting zoo, the rotary merrygoround, fairy floss and popcorn , the hay bale maze, hundred of equestrian events, and of course pony rides for kids.
One of the best parts was the old fashioned picnic games for kids such as three legged races etc.
something else that really made me smile was the handcrafts hall where the categories were wide and varied. The usual bevy of cakes and scones were to be seen as well as some fun categories for kids such as best plastic cup maracas and best vegetable. Creation. Well done Mil-lel kids!

Colouring in.

Did you enjoy this as a child? Today was rather chilly so we spent some time in the public library. Including colouring in. Guess which one is mine? I MIGHT have stayed colouring long after the kids ran off..

At the Country show

With my granddaughter :)

A touch of tenderness..

Here are a couple of my favourite pictures I have hanging in my home. The photo isn't a relative of mine (that I know of) but it I think it captures a tender moment. They both look so young. The old gold framed print also captures a precious moment. I love them both.
Would you, or do you have photos of people other than family on your walls? Not that I don't have lots of old family photos of my own..

Spring flower cozies!

I found this wonderful tea cozy pattern in a New Idea magazine. I just love the flowers. Daffodils, Camellias and beautiful Pansies. I thought I'd share it with my clever crocheting friends. Maybe one day I might make some myself. :)

Enjoy!

Shorts and skirts weather!

It's that time of year again. Today I didn't wear shorts, but I did don a skirt, the first since last Autumn (besides formal occasions). Sadly that also means its time to mow down the winter growth. (Legs and razors).
A few weeks ago I had a big order of comfy "Perfect Shorts". The day these were modelled was a cold and frosty morning.
If you would like some of these, they are Just $12, including postage Australia wide. Size 6mo to 6yo, $14 size 8-14.

Blogtober!

It's that time of the year again, when poor neglected blogs full of dust and the occasional tumbleweed rolling by, come back to life. A bit like desert flowers after a rainstorm. ;)


With my usual timing I missed the first day. Ill start with a few pics of what I've made recently.
Today, an apron for a swap made from a vintage tablecloth and sheet.

Hard rubbish heart stopper!

I often see things of interest on the footpaths when it is time for hard rubbish collection but I'm more often than not too proud to stop unless it's very dark and the goods are very good! Yesterday however, I couldn't get back with my van fast enough to pick up this lovely 1950s suite even though it was still daylight with plenty of traffic and the owners were obviously still home.
The suite is in great condition apart from the seat cushions which have loose zipped covers. The top of a couple of the chairs is threadbare but I can use the good bits of the cushions to make anti-Macassar type covers. The vinyl is excellent. Just one small corner on one of the seats has a small hole and there is a rip low on the back of another chair but it is easily reached for a quick reinforcing patch. I just love the fabric so I need to save as much as possible. The seat covers I think I will cover with a wide wale black cord to match the grain of the original fabric. I reckon I can even use the original cording.
So here it is!

Gossamer Dreams and Vintage Visions!

So here are my three special items in all their vintage glory. Combining repurposed clothing, curtains and bits and pieces. Made with my big sister Mandy with a theme of cooperation and unity.
The brown houndstooth skirt I was lucky to find last week at a little old church oppy. The leather from an oppy near my MILs Nursing Home the other week and the scrabble tiles and curtain panel from a lucky garage sale stop a few weeks ago. I had a ball re-creating these things and have a lot more inspirational pieces to come. There is so much out there why would you need to buy new materials?
Tonight they go live for sale at www.gossamerdreams.com.au 8pm Queensland time, so that's 7.30pm SA time.


These bags were made using a Charlie’s Aunt sewing pattern designed by Emma Brennan entitled the "Kitchen Garden Bag". Quite appropriate since my sister runs a local school kitchen garden program. She has some lovely vintage inspired styles. You can see more and links to her store at www.charliesaunt.com

Which one is your favorite?
Barkcloth, velvet or houndstooth?

I'm hooking up with Her library Adventures Flea Market Finds where there are lots of treasures found this week from all over the world. http://herlibraryadventures.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Flea%20Market%20Finds

Mothers Day morning 2012

Time warp Trifecta

Here is the third of the trifecta I promised from yesterday's sneaky peek. I can't say this one is my favorite as I love them all. Especially since I discovered they take an iPad in either pocket! So I guess that you can guess, these three items are bags. The Kitchen Garden bag by Emma at Charlie's Aunt. You can get the pattern for yourself at http://www.etsy.com/shop/charliesaunt

This one is made from an old barkcloth curtain panel. It has lovely texture, colour and patterning. A couple of bevelled edge vintage buttons add another dimension. The tag on this one ties in with the unity theme, featuring a dove with an olive branch and vintage wooden scrabble tiles spelling out "unity".

Remember, Monday, night at Gossamer Dreams! ( though I can't decide if I want anyone to buy this or not!)

Busy Time

Something's happening in my sewing room. Amongst the debris and chaos.. Sewing!

A trifecta of goodies for this months Gossamer Dreams stocking.
Here are some sneaky peeks before they go on sale this 15th!
Honestly, I won't be heartbroken if I keep the lot! I am rather pleased with how they turned out.
The theme is cooperation and unity so we were asked to work with someone. Being short on time, I recruited my talented scrapbooking, Home Ec, Kitchen Garden teaching, Big Sister, Mandy.
My favorite materials were used, including vintage skirts, scrabble tiles, doilies, buttons and a 1940s inspired bag pattern. Just one more to finish tonight with hopefully another sneak peek tomorrow :) Stay tuned!

Bohemian Carpetbagger

That's what I am, now that I have finally made a carpet bag of my very own. And I say finally as I have had this bag planned and cut out for months. A friend of mine, Tas, over at Little Boozle, spurred me on to get mine made after making a gorgeous bag of her own.
This is one very spacious bag! Perfect for my overnight visits to see my precious granddaughter or for cramming treasures while garage sale-ing. I added a couple of internal pockets and omitted the key fob.
The fabric is a gorgeous patterned velvet gleaned from a vintage maxi skirt and the pin whale cord from my stash. The lining is from the classic and versatile Ginger Blossom range. One of my favorite co-ordinates.
I'm a big fan of this pattern with its handy tubular frame, making fossicking in its depths much easier.
When I showed my eldest daughter, her first words were, "can you make me one?" Lucky I have another frame!
This is the Bohemian Carpetbag by Sew Liberated.

A Cool Whisper of Autumn

Just A Moment in time this week with Jody is about the changing season with a challenge to capture the weather. Today, considering it is ANZAC Day is surprisingly fine (at the moment). Here are a few quick shots of what is happening around my place:

The grape vine leaves are turning crimson..

Children are snuggling together in their warm jammies..

The garden is growing lush and green from the rain (I prefer weeds to dry brown earth)...

The bird bath is full all the time and the birds are merrily chirping in the frosty morning air...

Pumpkins awaiting a roasting then a soupy fate.

 Warm woolly blankets, freshly felted (hoorah! they actually felted, not all blankets will), awaiting a snuggly crafty fate!

Tussling trunks and Strawberry Froth.

The 15th is coming up fast. That's when these special items will be up for sale at Gossamer Dreams! sizes 2, 4 and 6. Don't forget to bookmark the page and get in fast, there will a lot of fabulous creations from a large variety of WAHMs.
 I like to use vintage things when crafting. These comfy TDK undies are made with some gorgeous Euro knits, all brand new, but the ruffles are gathered using my vintage Singer treadle machine. The old gal is tarted up with what looks like a feather boa over her neck!

These two baby elephant twins are having a little trunk tussle. Made from new fabrics, but from a vintage pattern.

More sneak peeks yet to come!