Little Vintage Quilt Pillows

I've been hoarding all these little vintage quilt squares for awhile.  I think they're 1940's judging from the style of prints.  I made some little pocket pillows- perfect for Tooth Fairy pillows, little hostess gifts, to hold a gift card or a little gift.  I have one hanging on Joey's door that I put little notes in.

The variety of prints is awesome, and they're super soft....

Some have a little cord for hanging, some are just little pocket pillows.  These are available in my shop :)

They're only about 5" square.  I'm using some of these squares for my hot air balloons.  (still in the works)  My studio looks like there's 10 different people working there- I have too many projects going on at once.

Should I make bigger pillows?  Hmmm...

Another New Bag- Day of the Dead Print

I know this isn't my usual vintage vibe but I couldn't help myself with this print.  How fun is this?  Another new bag in my Etsy shop- this Day of the Dead print bag is hot off the sewing machine. 

New Bamboo Print Bag

Finally!  I've been sewing a lot this week and finally got a chance to photo some new bags.  Here's my new favorite.  My friend Kim Mettee gave me this vintage bamboo print skirt that I made into this drawstring bag.  I just listed it in my shop.  If it doesn't sell right away I'm keeping it for myself!

I'll post more later- I have to go make dinner for the boys :)

Antique "Frozen Charlotte" Jewelry

These wonderful tiny antique porcelain dolls are called Frozen Charlottes. These porcelain dolls, made between 1890 and 1920, are actually dug out of the ground in Thuringia, Germany near the old factory grounds. (see previous post)  These are the rarest of the dolls- a wee 1" tall.

Here's a sneak peak of a few pieces I'm working on.  A necklace and maybe a pin.....

I absolutely LOVE these tiny ones.  My research shows that these dolls were first made to cool down tea, and well-behaved children at the tea party got to keep the "prize".  Later they were baked into cakes and pudding to be found by lucky children.

The term "Frozen Charlotte" comes from a poem written in 1840 about a girl named Charlotte who froze to death on her way to a New Years' ball.  Strange- can you imagine the lawsuits today if you baked porcelain dolls in a child's birthday cake and someone chipped a tooth- or worse- choked!?

Etsy Treasury- My Little Bird People

Good Monday!  This morning Etsy's shavingkitsupplies included me in her Treasury list.  I think my little Bird Lady looks just dandy among all the other treasures!  Thanks shavingkitsupplies!  Check out her shop for some amazing hand stitched fabric images.

Etsy Front Page

So I'm taking my Sunday afternoon nap, and I get a whole bunch of emails congratulating me on the Etsy front page.  Here's a snippet of my birdhouses- I never saw it live.  That TOTALLY made my day :)

New Bags!

It's always nice to wake up to an Etsy sale!  I posted this bag last night and it sold while I slept.  I just blogged the other day about how sales were slow- but things are picking up for me.  Maybe getting laid off wasn't so bad after all :)

I finally have a plan for my tiny Frozen Charlottes (see last post).  Maybe tomorrow morning I'll post a sneak peak!

Happy Sunday!  The sun is shining here!

A Few New Bags

3 new bags in my shop- I like this newer drawstring style.  These are fun to make, and I love the way they drape when cinched shut.  Each one has a bit of applique detail.....

Vintage hibiscus barkcloth from the 1940's with antique lace trim.

Vintage coral linen print that a lovely elderly local designer gave me.  This is one of my absolute favorite fabrics.

I'm doing some advertising for the first time since being laid off.  While this used to be a "hobby", I've recently relied on this income.  So I'm stocking up for spring sales.  I'm starting to do more jewelry too.  Remember those "Frozen Charlottes" I blogged about last week- the antique German porcelain dolls I acquired?  I have about 100 of the tiniest and rarest of these dolls- about 1" tall.  I don't know what I'm making yet- next post!

Etsy Treasury

My Russian Matryoshka earrings were picked for trotalo's Treasury list.  I love this stuff!  I've been getting a lot of Etsy press lately but sales have still been a bit slow.  I wish people would let loose of some of that cash :)

My next post will be new bags- yea!

Happy Friday!

Etsy Front Page

My little Birdhouse made Etsy's front page- this is a beautiful group.  The list expired, so I don't have the link.  These little birdhouses have been very popular.   My next project is little hot air balloons......