...In Progress- Vintage Quilt Squares

I have this thing for vintage quilts. I love the feedsack prints and the 40's prints. I love the simplicity of the quilt patterns and the utilitarianism of old quilts. I always buy unfinished quilt tops and squares when I can. My mother is an incredible quilter- I don't have the patience.

So I just started making these little Vintage Quilt Bags. Great for little girls or a camera bag, each is made from 2 different quilt squares, cotton lace, and a vintage button. Each has a magnet closure.

I'm making these for summer shows, so I'm not sure if these will make it to my Etsy shop- (but email me if interested!) They will be in the $20 range.....

Here's a few pillows in progress made from- yes- vintage quilt pieces. I hope to have these done tonight. I have piles and piles of these quilt squares....

...and a few more of the house patterns. This is a little lace "picket fence" series I'm working on. I can't seem to get away from the house motif. More next week. I'm off to watch the original "Freaky Friday" with my family.

Have a great evening!

A Few New Bracelets...

I just wanted to share a few new leather wrap bracelets I just listed in my Etsy shop. These are all designed to wrap around your wrist 3 times. In this brown leather bracelet I used antique lace "flowers", vintage glass, and turquoise.

I really love the contrast of the leather and lace. I also like the way these photographed on linen. I used to photo them on my wrist but HATED the way my freckles looked. Then I tried my son's wrist, but they looked like a little boy was modeling them.

On this black leather bracelet, I used antique glass African trade beads alternating with brass loops. This also has a vintage train token and some vintage Haskell glass beads.

You can find these in my shop here and here.

My next post- a sneak peak at more vintage fabric house pillows- then I think it's time for more little birdhouses- but that's next week.

Have a great weekend!

Just a Few New Bags...

I finally finished a few bags that have been on my sewing table way too long. Both were commissions, and I thought she would choose which one she wanted, and is buying both because she can't decide! This bird bag is a new favorite of mine- I'm using some of the leather scraps I acquired recently- stitched on a linen bamboo print.

This bag is a fun contrast between the geometric pattern and the great vintage floral that a friend gave me- thanks again Stella! I could not decide on an interior fabric- knowing the customer likes pinks and greens- then took a risk with this print. I like how the vivid print peaks out from the conservative exterior.

I've been busy making some really fun little children's bags out of vintage fabric squares and lace- they could also be camera bags or just little going out bags. I just can't seem to photograph them very well- so they will sit until Sunday or Monday. I can't do anything else until after Saturday- when 27 third graders will invade my house for a Birthday Party. Wish us luck!

More Pin Cushion Rings...

Just a quick post....I just found more of my Pin Cushion Rings last night while spring cleaning my studio. These fun little rings are not only stylish but quite useful as well.

Each ring features a wool felted ball attached to a small watch parts tin (some use the top and some the bottom) attached to a silver plated adjustable ring. Then I added the little vintage enamel stickpins. This is the last of them- I posted some in my other Etsy shop if you want to buy one.

If anyone has noticed, I haven't been blogging much the past few weeks. I'm working on new designs to submit for juried shows this summer. AND I'm planning my son's birthday party- 26 3rd graders in my house- YIKES! What was I thinking! No clowns, magicians, no fancy entertainment. Just a good old fashioned birthday party with games and crafts and prizes. If anyone has any game ideas I'd love the input!

Have a great night!

.....More Vintage Fabric House Pillows...

...just a few more applique pillows I've been working on. I've had a million things to do the past few weeks and nothing has made it to my Etsy shop. Hopefully tonight these will be listed.

This smokey gray linen pillow is my favorite. I call it "Starry Night"- inspired by the tiny bits of antique lace "stars". I recently acquired a lot of antique quilt tops in very poor shape- but perfect for cutting up. I use to have a problem with that- cutting up old quilts.....

But the way I see it now I'm giving these fabrics a new life. It always amazes me when working with these quilts that some woman's hands, many, many years ago stitched these fabrics by hand. Was she old or young? Was she happy? Did she have children? a farm? a job?

Sometimes I make up a story about her- I have several versions. Most of these vintage fabrics are feed sacks, most from the 1940's. So she's making her quilts during the war, waiting for her son to return home safely from overseas. (he does but that's not part of the story!)

Well, I digress. I'll be listing these Vintage Fabric pillows tonight in my Etsy shop. Each one is one-of-a-kind using vintage fabric and lace on linen. More to come!

My New Bird Bag

I felt a little guilty this week.... I made MYSELF a bag. I'm feeling quite attached to it for a few reasons. First- I hand stitched the detail (not something I usually do), and second- I appliqued a leather bird (I never use leather). When my young son said he hated my sewing machine, I realized he thought I was spending too much time in my studio sewing....

So.... I have a basket-full of projects that I'm hand-stitching- something I can do in the family room while watching TV. I don't want my family to hate my sewing machine! So look out for more hand-detailed work in the future- AND more leather. I really scored at my local thrift shop and found a box of leather samples. I don't know if they were from a crafter, or sales samples, but I'm putting them to good use.

What I've been working on....

Little fabric scraps everywhere! Bits of lace, linen, bitty quilt pieces FINALLY find a home- no pun intended. I've been making these house pillows for over a week and I can't stop! I could never be a quilter because I don't have the patience- and putting these together satisfies the quilter in me.

I'm known around these parts as the bag lady- but maybe now the pillow lady is more appropriate. I've had a lot of pillow requests- for those folks who like my work but don't want to wear it. These are all made from antique quilts and other vintage bits on linen, and all are one-of-a-kind.

So here's a sneak peak of my favorite. More to come. I also have birds, flowers & butterflies on the cutting board.....Stay tuned, I'm just getting started.....