French Style Cushion

 

 

 

The vintage linen hearts I showed you in my last post are nearly finished, although there are still a few left to fill and then more to make, but I have been making a cushion this morning for a change.

 

 

Made from natural cotton osnaburg fabric, which is soft and has an interesting flecked appearance, and printed with a French style graphic from The Graphics Fairy, it is backed in a soft black and cream ticking.


 

I have been asked if I would like to have a stall at another Festive Fair, this time closer to home but also only a few weeks away.

I therefore decided against doing the second fair that I mentioned in my last post (a bit too far away and only a week apart from the first fair) and so am just going to focus on preparing some good stock for the other two. This latest Fair is a Luxury Festive Fair with hand-picked stalls (invite only so I feel rather chuffed at being asked!) so there is no overlap of goods and no competition, so I shall have to make sure I can offer a good selection of cushions.

Nearer the time I will give out details as to when and where the Fairs are in case there is anyone who lives locally who might like to go.

In the meantime I have lots of sewing to do!

It's this stage, the designing, planning, sewing and making, that I most enjoy, but when it gets close to the Fair I curse myself for having committed to doing it as I'm quite a shy bod. Once I'm there I'm fine, and I really enjoy it - I just get cold feet and nerves in the week before!



 

Below is the graphic I used from The Graphics Fairy - she has some wonderful images on her blog here, and is constantly adding new ones.

 

Wishing you all a Happy Weekend, and thank you so much for visiting and leaving a comment - I really do appreciate and enjoy reading them.

Hearts Galore!

 

More wool stockings being made here!

 

Have now used the last of the vintage wool blanket ( the plain part) on these few stockings, but luckily I won a lovely white vintage Welsh blanket on eBay today so I can make some more soon.

The two long sides of the blanket have dark blue stripes which I have reserved for making cushion covers - I should be making a start on those soon.

And the sharp-eyed amongst you will also have spotted some gorgeous red stripes there too - I succumbed at last to buying a beautiful large antique grain sack for making into cushion covers - it is so lovely and thick and soft and tactile! I can't wait to make those up!

 

Back to the stockings - I tried one with blanket stitching in a pale pink cotton yarn, and I like the look of it but it doesn't seem to hold its shape so well when hanging - it kind of flops a bit at the top as it hasn't got a thick seam to support it - but I guess when it's full of pressies it won't matter!

So I'm not sure whether to make more of those - what do you think?
Do you like the blanket stitched edging or prefer it without?

I do like both styles, so when I get some more wool I'll probably make some of each

 

 

I've also started making some smaller items for the Xmas Fair......

 

......some simple, plain white vintage linen hearts hangers for the tree (or for anywhere) - look how fine and crisp this beautiful large old sheet is!

It was hard steeling myself to cut into it, but I purposely bought a damaged one with holes, patches, and a few marks so that I could bear to use it for cutting and re-purposing - and I still have a few other sheets and tablecloths that are undamaged that I would never have the heart to cut, but are great to use on the extended table at Christmas.

 

I wanted these to be pure and simple and white and crisp, with only a scrap of vintage lace adorning them on one side, and plain on the reverse

 

 

and a simple jute twine hanging loop

 

 

So, there seems to be heart thing going on here!

 

Oh, and I must share with you my latest sewing machine accessory - an extension table!

I'm so happy I bought it, it has made such a difference when sewing certain items, and I also bough a quilting guide so I can have a go at machine quilting soon.

 

And just before I shuffle off to don my jimmies and snuggle on the sofa with the dog, I'd like to say a huge THANKYOU to all of you lovely folk who left such wonderfully encouraging comments in my last two posts - it's doing the trick as I'm spending whatever time I can in the sewing room just going for it - thankyou!

Have a good week everyone, and welcome to my new followers!

Busy busy busy!

 

 

.....making Xmas stockings from a vintage cream wool blanket

 

with pale floral cotton appliqued hearts, mostly from vintage cotton bedlinens - I was thinking Winter Whites, something pale and pretty.....

 

 

 

and making some more stamped hessian and vintage cotton pin-cushions

 

 

All in preparation for the Xmas Fair I mentioned in my last post.

I have also just been contacted about doing another Xmas Fair the week before - eeeeekk!!!!

Havent yet decided whether to do that one as well - is a bit further away, and will I be able to make enough stock assuming that some kind people might buy something?

I'm sure I can manage both if I have enough of the smaller things that tend to sell well.

Decisions, decisions!
What do you think? Shall I go for it??

Thank you everybody so much for your encouraging comments on my last post - you all make me feel like I can actually do this!

Your support means so much - thankyou.

Cushion Love

 

 

 

 

Thought I'd share with you a cushion I've just finished today.

I made the patchwork front from pretty 30's style fabrics a few months ago, then finished it off today with embroidered red hearts and a plain cream back trimmed with a natural colour linen ribbon embroidered in red.(whoops no photo of back!)

I have been invited to sell my cushions and other goodies at a festive charity fair in December, so shall be busy sewing for that in the next few months. I hope to make a few more of these 30's style cushions to sell, some with genuine 30's feedsack fabrics which I have bought, as well as the linen cushions I've been making with vintage 50's and 60's fabrics, and some antique grain sack cushions.

I shall also start making some Christmassy (sorry, there's the dreaded C word already) goodies to sell, including the painted wooden tree decorations that I have been making for a few years now, and some embroidered vintage wool hearts, Xmas stockings and other vintage fabric items.


 

 

I'll share some of the new makes in the next few weeks - hopefully I've plenty of time to get everything done in good time. In the past I've been frantically finishing off stuff the night before!

Thanks for your lovely comments on my last post, and WELCOME to some new followers!

Ghosts of Christmas Past

In the past, at this time of year I have usually been frantically finishing off

handmade decorations and gifts in readiness for Christmas Fairs,

preparing stock and price lists,

making labels and planning my stall set up,

mostly loving it

and partly panicking and asking myself

why did I say I'd do it!

And I am really missing it this year - the fun of planning new things to make during late summer and early autumn,

painting hundreds of wooden hearts and doves and snowflakes for weeks on end, 

hand stitching vintage wool hearts,

making up bunting and gingham hearts

and making scented pine cones and cinnamon stick bundles.

I found what was left of the Christmas fair stock over the last few years

and thought you might like a peep to get you in the mood for all those christmas preparations!

stuffed gingham hearts with jute hangers for the tree

bundles of cinnamon sticks tied with jute and homespun

rusty tin hearts

embroidered vintage wool blanket hearts

numerous painted wooden decorations - these in red and white

white and red

sage green and white

grey and white ( I used to introduce a new colour and motifs each year)

my favourite soft blue and white

blue and red

Christmas bunting

 

vintage tartan tree mini stockings to fill with edible goodies

tea stained ticking doves

vintage wool robin

frankinsense and myrrh scented pine cones

vintage wool blanket hearts with scandinavian inspired embroidery

 vintage tartan hearts with frayed edges and velvet hangers

country style christmas cards

see the xmas recipe background!

and retro style thankyou cards

I do so miss it all - maybe next year?



If anyone is interested in anything here (except pine cones) then please drop me a line