Show Off

I braved the storeroom today to make space for more stuff and had a quick rummage through my bags of vintage textiles.   They are such precious relics of design that infiltrated everyday domestic life and provided the images and colours that fill so many memories.    I've been sourcing mid-century fabric, bed linen, table linen, curtains etc for probably about ten years, and have an insanely large pile of it all.  Sometimes I use pieces, but mostly I can't bear to cut it.  I often I just have to go and give it a stroke.   Anyway, I thought I'd photograph some of the fabric and share it with anyone out there that might like this sort of stuff (you know who you are).

Here is a small taste.   And this is just the fabric bag.  Most of the pieces below are barkcloth, so with that lovely grainy texture.  I did not get near the tablecloths, tea towels and bed sheets.  Enjoy!

Unfortunately this piece is not very big, but divine nonetheless.

So fresh, so flowery.

This is a corker, the grey shadow behind solid colour was a popular motif in the fifties.

There were lots of designs that incorporated food in the sixties, I remember wallpaper a bit like this.

 Still life?

How can I ever cut this, I mean really.

 Another wonderful fifties abstract piece, currently curtains.

I'm a bit over this as I have had it up as a pair of curtains, but is now back in the bag.

 Illustrative designs were popular for kids' curtains in days gone by, seemed to be lots for boys!

This is one of my all-time faves, printed on linen.  I did use some for covering my recipe book.

I suspect I'll never stop collecting vintage fabric.  If the house ever burnt down I'd certainly be running for it:  kids, dogs, photos, fabric, in that order.

Yo-yo for babies

My half-sister is having another baby, the last of the generation I'm fairly certain.  She is quite far off centre on the hippy spectrum, which I love her for.  A month back I received an envelope in the post asking me to decorate a flag, part of a concept called The Blessing Circle where friends and family contribute to a prayer flag for the baby's room, or other creative gift ideas.

I've been making yo-yos with some friends over the last year.  We've yo-yod camping, over wine, during music lessons, you name it. They have found their way to decorate bags, cushions, hair elastics. Naturally I like to make them out of vintage fabrics and sheets, of which I have no shortage.  So here is my flag, with some of my yo-yos mounted on some antique lacey cotton.

Each contribution is supposed to convey a message of some sort.... three times tables?  The joy of up-cycling?  Whatever, I think it is a lovely idea.