Mid Summer Muddlings

Hooray for August. The month of endless summer days. In my youth, it was endless because we had to work in the honey house, extracting honey all August long. Hot, sticky, misery.

This year, I am going to focus on painting during August. I have the cupboards and drawers and shelves for the garden house, and on the real house, the widows need some attention.

Here is my big-girl playhouse. Siding complete. A bit of trim to figure out but in all, ready to show off.

And on the cluttered side, which is out of your view there is a nifty plant stand to hold the pot collection. I promised Mr. Muddle that I would restrict my collecting to what fits on this shelf. Fortunately it hold a lot!


Yesterday I got to spend my day at Riddle Used Store, helping Sweet Charity sort and clean. I arrived with the coordinating coffee cup cozies I made a week or two ago and a carafe of coffee.  The pink/red one, I made with her in mind. Turns out she has purchased some of that same fabric. So I guess I got that one right.

New project idea. Silly old Suitcase got my wheels turning on this. How much fun would it be to open a suitcase full of interesting, creative, beautiful, bits and bobs that someone has put away? Perhaps years ago? Well, I am creating a time capsule of sorts. A sweet vanity case, has been scrubbed up and I am tucking all manner of nifty things into it. A lavender pillow was first. Also some desiccant packs. Do you keep all those from handbags and pill bottles too? Besides some beadwork, crochet, craft supplies, miniature figurines, fabric, buttons, etc, I am including a small coin purse filled with Canadian pennies. Canada has stopped making them this year. (boohoo) so one day they will be of extreme interest. 

When full it will be tucked away on a top shelf, out of the way and forgotten about until it becomes a treasure for some lucky person to discover.

And on the note of lucky; we've held a draw and we have a winner. Conveniently I have 9 followers. So I popped number stamps into a little box, ( don't you love the graphic of the carpenter on this box? I am going to punch it out and save for future scrapbooking.) shook it vigorously and drew out...

#8!

And counting the members back from the oldest to the newest, #8 is Ada of Vintage Sheet Addict, (Won't be hard to figure out what to put in a parcel for her.) who is off camping and will be thrilled to learn of this on her return. 

Thank you to the member/followers, the commenters (here and on facebook) and those that just lurk.Love you all.  

Off to frolic with the flutter-bys.

Those sheety people!

Yes I am one of them! Those sheety people. This is a totally new found passion. Collecting used (ahem, vintage) sheets. Odd it may be, but it makes so much sense, when you think about the yards and yards of fabric at a mere fraction of the cost of fabric off the bolt. And I have been "researching" sites that specialize in the collection and the up-cycling of  them. (Researching = lots of blog reading, googling, and generally having another cuppa before back to the real work at hand)

Found my first armful at Riddle Used Store in Athabasca, Alberta. Brought them home. Laundered and line dried. While inspecting my new found trove of treasure, I wondered things like:

What parameters should there be for this collection? Fabric content? Colors? Patterns? Every darn piece that I can get my paws on?

How does one decided if it is "vintage" or just used.?

What kinds of things can be done with these sheets?

What is Mr. Muddle going to say about my latest hoard, collection.

Some of the answers were found here, a photo on flikr and at All About Vintage Sheets by In Color Order

Found and joined two flikr groups to help navigate the warps and weaves and for general photographic inspiration. They are  Vintage Sheet Patchwork Swap and Vintage Bed Sheets and Pillowcases Repurposed.


And now with humility and enthusiasm I would like to present a catalog of the first collection. If you have any comments, pro or con, of advice for this novice sheeter, PLEASE leave me a remark. Much obliged for any advice. All measurements are approximates.

#1 Must be July 
no iron Percale; 50/50
Flat, 72x104 before hemming (says tag)
Stevens UTICA; J.P. Stevens & Co., USA

 This is my very favorite. Bright colours. VG to EX condition. Over sized poppies and daisies on a diagonal. I see aprons, cut on a bias for extra swish.
 *****



#2 Tuesday's Tulips
100% cotton, flannel
Flat, a bit shorter than #1 (more shrinkage over time due to fabric content?)
Made in Turkey

Broken in but even wear throughout. Good for backing a patchwork.
*****


#3 Cio Baby Blue
100% polyester. A brushed soft finish on top, silky under.
Flat, 65" x 99"
Made in China

The Italian cherubs and urns are so romantic. The light blue sub-print gives it dimension.

Excellent condition, nice drape. House dress (is there enough yardage?), bunting pennants (quick to dry)
 *****


#4 Perfectly Posied
50/50, Flat 90x95 
Made in UK
good to middlin' with fading in center and brighter edges.

Posies of pink and purple violets backed by a pink rope trellis. Quite light weight. Good for tenting making on a sunny day.
 *****

#5 Springtime plaid
50/50 Fitted queen
fair to middlin' with fading in center, light stains, brighter edges.
Made in China

 Diagonal Plaid in spring shades. It would be easy to cut the blue strip out for bias tape.
*****
#6 Drap House
50/50 Fitted Queen
Fair (good around sides) with rust stains
Cut and sewn in Canada with imported fabrics.
Haha, love the info on tags. Last time I checked, no one was picking cotton in Canada.

 

The colour combination of the blue, pink, green and grey is appealing.  Could see piecing it with monochromatic prints in those colours.
*****

#7 Mad About Plaid ver 1.0 (right side of photo)
50/50  Fitted Twin
Westpoint Stevens, USA
Excellent
Backing for a boys pieced blanket.

#8 Mad About Plaid Ver 1.1 (left side of photo)
100% slubbed cotton Pillow Case
Faded but lovely softness, almost like flannel
*****

#9 running out of names.....
50/50 Pillow case
Excellent

Lovely machine embroidered edge. Ready made apron trim.
*****
 
#10 (left) #11 (center)  & #12 (right)

Pillow cases
50/50

 #10 Texmade, Dominion Textile Inc, Canada
It has soft yellow stripes behind the flowers. The colours are very soft.

#11 The only truly "vintage" item found. All I can make out on the tag is Made in Canada. There is a 2" tear on both sides from something poking right through. It will make nice squares for piecing.

#12 Sears Made in Canada. Love the graphic line drawing of poppies on this one.
*****

#13 Yippee Ki-eh!
50/50 Fitted Toddler and case
The Bibb Company, Macon Geordia USA
copyright 1998 oliveira Brandwein Design, Inc
Excellent

This could work into a great barbeque apron for the grill master of the the chuck wagon.

One other item worth mentioning was a natural cotton, duvet cover from IKEA. Think it would be good for interlining a pieced blanket to support the more delicate fabric.

Well my sheety friends, there you have it. Having probably lost all my non-sheety friends by now; if not thanks for hanging out even though you may wonder if I am three sheets to the wind; the first foray into the world of vintage sheets. Will probably learn to be more discerning as I go. However, in my defense, I did know enough to leave the "very '80's" patterns and the brown patterns behind.

Thank you, in advance for any and all comments and suggestions.

S

 

A little OCD moment.

Had to do something about my ribbon collection. Especially after looking at all the links on this blog:

http://wookiemouse.blogspot.ca/search/label/ribbon

Started like this:

Took over an hour to remove them from their restrictive packaging. Boring and tedious. I used to think that I didn't like to open new spools because they stay so neat in their packages. After this morning, I know now that it is because I don't like to waste my time trying to get the plastic wrapping off.

Then the fun part. I sorted them by colour. Made cardboard dividers for their drawers and popped them back in the desk.

Took a  trip to town for some items for tomorrow's party. Ice, a bucket to hold the ice and bottled beverages, limes. Stopping at the best little used store in the country, I snagged a basket, silver plate pie server in "my" pattern, a plaque that says "carrots", a pepper shaped salsa bowl, terracotta pot, RETRO FABRIC!

Metal tray with a lovely summer scene. Ahhhh....

More retro fabric.

Was planning on buying four hanging baskets to go in the patio holders that son-in-law gave us. Found them on sale at 33% off so went home with six baskets for the price of four. You can never have too many flowers.

Time to done my scullery maid's ensemble and ensure the threshold beckons my guests with a gleaming welcome. Wish you were coming too.

Shopping Spree and Fabric Flowers

Went to my favorite re-sale shop today. Riddle Used Store in Athabasca, Alberta. Had in mind a retro look for a barbeque I am hosting this Wednesday. Came away with dishes and doodads and magazines and cookie tins, and plant pots and the list goes on.  Baskets, fake fruit, scented wax for melting.

A charming salt shaker, I have named Sherman.

A cute cow pitcher that hence forth will be known as Gertrude.

Lots of plates in retro patterns and colours.

Delightful pasta bowls and a Morrocan inspired mirror.

A couple of pieces of barkcloth.

And much more, all for about $10. It is the best little shop in the world. Well, at least in the world, as far as I venture out into it.

On my last trip to the Farmer's Market, I purchased two packages of pre-cut fabric circles. Each bag had about 100 circles  in coordinating patterns and colours. What to do with a bunch of circles? I stacked them, sewed on a button, snipped them and put them through the wash and ended up with cheerful flowers. A little thick for a page embellishment, but I think they would be dandy on a card.

Going out to start the lawn mower. I am telling my self it is like going for a walk, and that is supposed to be a good thing to do. I am not convincing me very well. I should be having a cup of tea.