Job done ....

At the beginning of December I took a look round my little sewing sanctuary and decided it was about time I used some of the vintage textiles that I have accummulated.  I scoured my book collection, websites and blogs for inspiration and finally settled on the idea that I could recycle or upcycle quite a lot of them into a quilt.

Today I am proud to present my circle quilt

Apart from the new polyester wadding inside it everything else is vintage.  The white squares were a damask tablecloth in a previous life which had some stains and holes but still some very useable fabric in it.  The circles were from table mats, runners, tray cloths, seat covers ...... some hand embroidered, Sanderson print, vintage oriental bird .... a multitude of colours all complimenting each other.  The border fabric is very old and was a door curtain from a children's home.  The backing fabric in a gorgeous Liberty print called Corsham was a pair of curtains.  The sewing thread came from an old cantilever sewing box acquired last year too.

I can honestly say I have never felt such satisfaction in one of my makes as I have with this one.  Made with love and I hope you will agree that it has given a new lease of life to some wonderful textiles that most people would bin.

Now comes the hard bit ..... it would make a lovely heirloom but not for this family .... I have decided that this one will be for sale but I haven't decided where or for how much yet. 

I hope I have inspired some of you to try something similar and for my next project I have decided to join Loft Creations No Strings Attached challenge.  Go on give it a go .... you know you want to ;-)

I got one !!! I got one !!!!!

I have been looking for a sewing box for months to keep my cottons in and until today it has eluded me. Despite a grey and threatening sky we decided to take a chance at the car boot this morning before going grub shopping ..... it was worth the trip although there were only half the usual number of sellers and every now & then there was a little shower of rain so everybody got the plastic out and covered their stalls. I only usually do one circuit but decided to back track and go round again today in case I had missed something. As we turned the corner to the last row of cars there it was ...... a lady had opened it up and was taking a look at the contents ..... I stood back heart beating ..... a few more drops of rain and she moved on (she was lucky I didn't rugby tackle her!) and I made my move ..... like an eagle I swooped in for the kill and grabbed it before anyone else took a fancy. Why is it that our most base instincts come out at times like these .... I was like a woman possessed ..... how much I asked the seller and she replied a fiver ..... never one to resist a haggle I offered four and she accepted. Now that's what I call a bargain ..... reels and reels of cotton, tins of pins and needles, knitting pins, pinking shears and lots of other little bits of haberdashery which should keep me going for a while. As is customary for a member of the Shabby Chic Cafe it will be getting a makeover with some Laura Ashley chalk pink paint at a later date and I am so pleased I have eventually found one.