Tulips from Amsterdam

After all that I said about he lack of "knick knacks" in the house, I brought one home. Courtesy of the charity shop. She looked so appealing, how could I leave her on the shelf?


What really clinched it for me is her face - it was so pretty, that straightaway I could see the perfect spot on my dresser for her. Plus I just has enough money left in my purse for her and a rather natty striped cardigan. I was determined not to spend any more money than was in my purse - so no dash out to the cashpoint.


So here she is in the spot that I envisaged for her - between a vintage china jug and 1960s eggcup. And guess what, there's still some more room for more objets trouves!


One of the perks of living in a small village is that you get to chat to people. Popping into the shop last week, the owner gave me a slip of paper with the telephone number of the lady that used to work in the Post Office. She had been given some fabric from a friend's Mum's attic and wondered whether I could use it. How could I resist? I collected the bag of fabric yesterday - the label gives a glimpse of what's inside.


Inside there was a jumble of fabrics that had previously been made up into dresses. They have either been cut up or there are tears in them that make them unusable. Perfect for scrap and small projects. All they need is a good wash and then I can have fun re-using them.

Spare Parts Rip Off

I have a few sewing machines - until yesterday I had three. One Industrial machine and two Janome. One of my Janome machines was bought second hand and didn't come with a foot controller or a power lead. A new power lead was cheap enough to buy.

I have managed by swapping the foot controller to the machine that I was using at the time but a friend was coming to the house to do some sewing and I needed two machines. Off I trotted to the local repair shp, but there he didn't have the part. No problems, he would call Janome and find a price. Which he did. £54 plus carriage! For a foot controller!

How can companies justify that kind of price for something which is relatively simple. Faced with the choice of paying over £60 for one component, I opted to buy a second hand machine which cost just over half the price of the replacement part.

Meet machine number 4:


Admittedly not terribly pretty. But it does the job - straight stitch and zig zag stitch plus a few others.

And sitting on the machine is some vintage fabric that I just couldn't resist. Blossom barkcloth in a cheery yellow.


Not sure what it's destined for, but when has that ever stopped me bringing home more fabric?

And proof that I may have too much time on my hands


One titivated bulldog clip. It was just an excuse really to use my favourite word of the moment!

Lost in Time

I just don't know where the time has gone since my last post. It's not as though I have been doing anything terribly exciting!

I have now tacked together my skirt and lining and the next dressmaking lesson, I think I shall have to attach the waist band.

My tuck shop duties have expanded and take up a lot more of my time that I originally anticipated. There is now Halloween celebrations to sort out and also trick or treat bags to make.

I have also helped at the bi-annual jumble sale. Yesterday afternoon was spent sorting out the jumble and this afternoon was spent selling it. But you know me, not one to pass up an opportunity to grab myself a bargain, I managed to grab a few.


I thought these bowls would be perfect for hyacinth bulbs and a Christmas gift.


I just couldn't leave the vintage tablecloths behind could I? They have all been washed and just need an iron, but thankfully they are in perfect condition.

My last finds weren't from the jumble but I managed to find four vintage aprons which are still in their factory folds. I just couldn't bring myself to wash them and lose that new crispness. There are assorted patterns/prints and this is just one of them.


These ones aren't for keeping but are destined to be sold. After all what would I do with four aprons?

Back to School

Today was week one of adult education classes. Although I sew, dressmaking is not a skill I possess. Because I can sew, I have joined Dressmaking for Improvers.

The first part of the project was choosing the fabric. I picked up a vintage duvet cover over the summer holidays with the intent on using it to make some bags. But after having a good look at it, decided it would be better used to make a skirt with.


After today's class the pattern pieces have been cut out. Next on the agenda is the lining fabric. And I am hopeful that I will be able to take the skirt and lining into class next week, tacked and ready to sew.

The pattern?



I chose it as it is relatively simple: 6 panels and there is a zip. A zip has always been something that eludes me. So I can't wait until I finally get taught how to insert a zip.

Roll on week two!

Small but Perfectly Formed

Not talking about me here, but bunting. Although I do like the larger flags that are usually associated with bunting, I thought that smaller ones would be more suited to inside use. After all what little summer we have had, has been and gone.


So to try and prolong summer I have raided my quilting cotton stash and made up some bunting in smaller, more appropriate prints. And just in case you don't want to keep the bunting up all the time, a handy drawstring bag to store it in when it isn't being used. After all no one wants grubby bunting.


And because once I started I just couldn't stop, I have added an applique detail made using vintage fabric and a mother of pearl button.


As the bunting is slightly smaller than usual it's perfect to hang up inside the house - mine is hanging on my dresser permanently. The drawstring bag means it also makes a ready wrapped gift.


And just in case you may have missed the hint, it's on sale here!

Bags of fun

Well, better late than never I say. Remember the bags I posted about a long time ago when (a) I was still with Typepad, (b) still had a working digital camera and (c) didn't have a dodgy Internet connection? No? Well, I have vaugue recollections.

But I did managed to get outside inbetween showers and photograph them. Here they are:

Remember summer? Well it may well have passed us by, but it is here in all it's full glory on this charming linen bag.

SOLD - THANKS!

This bag certainly is zingy


I just couldn't resist putting this gorgeous vintage embroidery panel together with vintage velvet


I think the floral bag with the detachable corsage is my favourite and unfortunately I only had enough fabric for one bag

SOLD - THANKS!

The penultimate bag is this sweet (couldn't resist that!) bag made using vintage liquorice allsorts fabric

And lastly a darling little bag, made using vintage fabric that I have hoarded for at least 4 years.

And because I wasn't quite as daring as I hoped, but still daring enough to try out something new, they are all up for sale here!