Vintage Goodness

Last week, when I spent a few days with my daughter, we went to two of our favorite antique malls.  I'm always on the lookout for vintage linens, trims, laces and buttons.  I came home with lots of  "new" old stuff and I can't wait to get started on all the ideas I have!

I found lots of hankies.

Colorful, simple and stitched linen towels.

Beautifully embroidered tablecloth with matching napkins.

A round pink and white tablecloth...my favorite color!

Embroidered table scarves.

Gorgeous cotton decorator fabric.

Fun trim.

Jars of buttons and miscellaneous sewing supplies.

I had so much fun picking and choosing what I wanted.  The best part is that I'm inspired every time I look at all this vintage goodness sitting in my sewing room!

I'm linking up with My Romantic Home for 

Show and Tell Friday
and
French Country Cottage for
Feathered Nest Friday

Be Yourself...A New Sachet

I've been in the sewing room again and created this new sachet.  I used what I had and chose simple muslin for the front and back .  A gauzy type fabric chosen for the embroidery with pieces of lace, old and new, vintage buttons, a sheer piece of aqua fabric, lots of beads and a bird charm make up this pretty and feminine lavender sachet.

This is my favorite part.  I love how the beads seem to spill out from the buttons and the bird looks as if it is soaring towards a cloud.

The darker vintage lace gives contrast and the vintage buttons seem right at home there.

This corner has a combination of hand and machine stitches and is accented with seed beads.  The sachet is filled with French lavender and smells divine!

So what have you been working on?

Today I'm joining in Show and Tell Friday over at My Romantic Home

Inspiration Challenge Reveal Week 11/7

Patty, at My Life Under the Bus, gave us a photo and color palette for inspiration to create whatever we wanted to.  Here is this week's inspiration

I immediately thought of a vintage hankie I had but what was I going to do with it?  I love batiks and found one with practically all the colors in it and it was a perfect backdrop for the hankie.  After much thought about what to make, I finally decided on another bag.  I used vintage buttons and put one on each corner of the hankie and a few in the empty spaces.  I made a braid for the handle and I'm really happy with how it turned out, although I would make it longer next time.  The lining I made was the wrong size, so I will finish that part later.  This was another good learning experience for me and I'm honestly loving these challenges!!

Go here to see the other inspired creations. 



What has inspired you lately?

Blogtoberfest ~ Day Eight ~ Black White and Red

This is my newest lavender sachet.  It's a little quite a bit different from the other sachets but I think I like it.  I used part of a vintage hankie, a vintage button, beads, lace, tulle, decorative red machine stitching and red hand embroidery.  The back is a black and white print.  It's still growing on me.  What do you think, honestly?

I hope you have a fabulous Friday!!!



My Very First Apron

After about two years of thinking about it, dreaming about it, convincing myself I couldn't do it, convincing myself I could do it, devouring books and magazines about it, drooling over Janet's, planning and shopping for it....I finally made my first apron!  I really and truly did it.  Me.  All by myself.  With no pattern.  Just an idea in my head and a desire to see it come to life.

It is a mix of old and new.  A vintage embroidered table scarf, vintage buttons, new fabric, and a table scarf with battenburg lace I found in a drawer.  I must have used it at some point but I sure don't remember. 

It's not perfect and it's not exactly what I had pictured, but that doesn't matter.  What matters is I finally did it.  What matters is that I'm happy with it and will put it in my Etsy shop.  What matters is that I didn't let my fear of failure stop me this time. 

What have you recently accomplished that you're proud of?

Latest Vintage Finds

While we were unpacking at the hotel in Virginia Beach, Michael realized he forgot his sandals. Shopping on the beach proved to be futile, so we planned a trip to a shopping center we found in a brochure for the next day.
On our way there, we passed an antique mall. Although we didn't stop there that day, we did go back the next day!

I found these beautiful vintage hankies and a jar of fabulous vintage buttons.

I really love the hankie with the woman in the purple ball gown.  Each of the other 3 corners have a ballerina in different poses.  It's perfect for lavender sachets.

I also really love these buttons!  I've bought other vintage buttons, but this jar has the biggest variety of colors, textures and sizes.  Buttons are my favorite embellishment and I can't wait to use these.

I'm having a hard time coming out of vacation mode!  Michael went back to work today and I had all kinds of plans to get things done.  I ended up reading most of the day.  I don't feel guilty either!  Laundry must be done tomorrow and groceries need to be bought because Erin is coming to drop off Shylee for 3 days!  The little munchkin needs to eat and I need to get back on track with Weight Watchers.  So....back to reality tomorrow.