A Stitched Project Finally Finished

I came across this stitch project in my sewing room as I was cleaning and sorting.

I must have started it about 3 years ago.

It was just the background which is my favorite part of the whole thing, but I felt like it needed to be finished, so here it is.

I suppose I was inspired by the Robin I saw last week and the promise of Spring.

My favorite way to create is to just do it without any real plan.

Just layering and adding things that I have on hand.

Finally finished.

Today I'll finish cleaning the kitchen and doing the laundry I think.

Not as fun as stitching, but still satisfying when it's done.

Karen

Old and Tattered

I'm not sure why, but I like the look of tattered old papers and textiles.

I use these for my journal pages.

Some of this stuff is in pretty bad condition, but that's partly what I like about them.

Books and woven fabric pieces all tied up with twine.

Greeting cards and letters from the early 1900's  in an old wire basket.

Feels good to have some things sorted and organized. Maybe tomorrow will be a day for creating.

We'll see.

Have a nice day!

Karen

Pods a Plenty

Old hippie pants never die.

These pants were just hideous, but they were comfy and soft and I love the colors and designs of the patches. I got tired of patching the patches though, so I bought a new pair and I'm turning these into something else.

They could be berries or buds.

Maybe I will glue them into a wooden frame to hang on the wall.

How about some type of textile jewelry?

I think there's enough fabric to do multiple projects, so for now I'll just keep making pods.

Thanks for having a look.

Karen

Textile Coins

I've had a love of textiles for as long as I can remember.  I started hand stitching when I was 6 years old, making primitive clothes for my dolls with left over scraps from my mother's sewing projects and before that playing with baskets full of rag balls that my grandmother used to weave her rugs. By the age of 12, I was making my own clothes, and still do from time to time. Currently my interest in textiles is for vintage and antique cloth. Old clothing that I dismantle for the fabric, vintage household linens and antique flour and grain sacks. Giving them a new purpose makes me happy.

Textile Coin Necklace

To make this necklace I traced a thread spool onto an antique grain sack and cut out circles.

I stitched the circles into lots of little yo-yos.

Each coin was made by placing two yo-yos together with the stitched sides facing, using a blanket stitch to assemble them.

The coins were then strung together onto some heavy cotton thread with a knot between each one.

Not very sparkly, but it's my kinda bling.

Karen

Vintage Crewel Samples

I've never tried crewel myself, but like the pretty patterns in these vintage samples. I purchased a small bundle of them from a little fabric shop that had recently gone out of business. 

 They were extremely dusty and even had some water damage on some of the edges,

 but I see potential in these squares of stitching.

 I cut them into pieces and soaked and washed them in lots of warm soapy water.

 I have a project in mind for these, so they'll be showing up here again in a different form.
Reborn into something brand new and one of a kind.
Just a little "Random Salvage".

karen

Thrift Store Textiles

My daughter asked me to go along with her to the thrift store a few days ago while she searched for vintage treasures for her Etsy shop.

She found some amazing vintage pieces for men as well as women and will be listing them soon.

I went straight for the vintage textiles.

My favorite find was this old fabric panel with the bird and floral design. 

It will make a beautiful pillow.

I found this partial roll of vintage wallpaper too.

Just beautiful!

 This pink and blue duvet is vintage "Fruit of the Loom".

 Love the design on this old flat sheet.

 It felt good to get out for a bit.

I tend to become hermit like during the long winter months.

 Candles seem to brighten up the gray days of winter and add a warm cozy feel.

Hope you are staying warm and cozy too.

karen

Ruffled Feathers

Inspired by the little blue birds who are nesting outside my kitchen window.

Instead of working on my house, I'm playing.

Made of random bits and pieces of vintage lace and fabric, then stained with diluted acrylic paint.

 I suppose I made them because they make me happy.

Little Blue Birds of Happiness

karen

Handmade Market Bag

Doing a little sewing lately and made myself a market bag from some scraps of batik fabric.

I couldn't make up my mind which fabric to use...

so I pieced together a little of everything.

I used a handmade ceramic button and beads...

and lined it with some gold linen.

Love the way it turned out.

Karen Ann



Grandma's Laundry Basket

One of the things I remember about my Grandma's farmhouse was her laundry basket.

It was a pretty basket, filled with beautiful linens and doilies and things, waiting to be hung on the clothesline.

I would help her by picking out the wooden clothespins, two at a time.

I don't have a clothesline, but I'm going to...

and when I do...

you all will be the first to know!

If you are wondering where I got the pretty floral linens and fabric, here it is...

whimsiedots.etsy.com

I got this fun fabric there too.

She has tons of really awesome fabric and it's reclaimed, which makes it even better.

Oh, and the prices are great!

One more thing...

if you go there, save some for me.

I'll be heading over there for some more.

Thanks for visiting!

Please say hi if you'd like.

I always appreciate your comments.

Karen Ann

Natural Dye

Here are the results of my weekend project. I'm planning to make some vintage looking ornaments with some of these bits and pieces of fabric and lace.