Projects from the vintage sheet stash

I love vintage bed sheets and started collecting them almost two years ago. I think I have a soft spot for them because I remember having pink floral sheets as a child (they would now be vintage if they were still around) and I thought those sheets were just so pretty. The stash is pretty sizeable now and I tell myself that I will not buy any more but then I find another and can't pass it up! I will have to start making a dent in the stash soon.

I recently finished these cushions that I made for the children's playroom. They were in fact started last year but only just got around to completing them. The designs were appliquéd from fabric scraps that I have saved from other projects over the years and actually apart from the zips and cushion inserts I didn't have to buy anything to make these (and that's good right).

The one with the curved road was inspired by one that I saw on a blog once (in the days before pinterest so I cannot remember where - sorry) and the house one was a drawing that A did last year.

A's drawing and the resulting cushion - he picked out the fabrics for this one

Both cushions are backed with pieces of vintage bed sheets (which I now realise I didn't photograph). I still need to work out how to put in zips properly.

 
The cushions were made to go onto this sweet seat that I made the cover for - from my sheet stash. It is such a cheerful piece and I love it. It makes me think that one day I will make my girls quilts from vintage sheets. I really like the simplicity of large squares (from memory 5 inches).

Too many teddys'! Friends and family love gifting my children with teddys apparently

Birthday Fairy

H and I have been busy creating a gift for our little friends 3rd birthday. Once again I made a little wooden fairy and a felt teepee. This time we also made some largish fabric leaves upcycled from a pair of velour pants that meet an unfortunate fate whilst the wearer was climbing a tree!

H is increasingly interested in the sewing machine as well as any hand sewing I attempt and less easily distracted playing with the pins in the pin cushion. The leaves were a perfect project as they did not require too much concentration or accuracy and were very quick to make. In fact there was a third really large leaf that incorporated one of the original pants pockets but that was instantly whisked off by H as that pocket makes an excellent place for small felt chicks to sleep!

I think that I can now call this my official go to gift for three year old's as I have now made it three times - four if I include the set I made for H's 3rd birthday.

H wanted the fairy to have a sleep in the teepee. Sleeping must have been on her mind this day.

Happy birthday Miss B we hope that being three is a wonderful adventure

Craft Fair

My best friend and I have a little tradition of attending the local craft fair together each year. Each of my children have come along as babies and this past weekend it was baby L's turn. She was an awesome craft show companion. She managed to have two sleeps and when she was awake she was happy taking in all the sights. It was lovely wandering around all day with her in the carrier.

Here are a few pictures of the goodies that I bought home with me

Hand dyed wool felt, tiny glass jars with cork stoppers and acrylic? flowers

English paper piecing templates, a triangle quilting template and a toadstool stitchery

Washi tape, robot stamp,  liquid pearls, paper flowers and a new paper quilting pattern

A bit of variety that should have me happily creating as time permits. English paper piecing is new to me - something that I gave admired on other blogs. I have vision of my little girls in summer dresses embellished with hexagons and maybe even a dolly quilt. The paper quilt will be perfect for the three little boys that were recently born and who I want to give a little handmade something to. Now if only I could get an extra hour or two a day . . .

Stitches

Here is a gift that I recently made for a friends birthday. It has been a while since I have done any embroidery and it was a really lovely to stitch away. The pattern was a freebie form this lovely site. I coloured the cloth in with standard crayola crayons before heat setting with an iron and then stitching the design.

I find that draw string bags are very handy especially for craft projects and I hope that my friend finds the same.