Tuesday, July 30, 2013

On the cutting board this week.

Yesterday was Sew Therapy Day. I need more of these days. I am working on a prototype for a new project and after several tries this is what I have so far. This is just a teaser. I'll show the final result and what it is when it's finished. Hopefully soon.




Cowgirl Something.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Thrift shopping with my daughter.

We haven't done a lot of thrift shopping recently because there have been other major things going on and we have so much to work with already. We had a 30% off coupon to Savers from all of the donations we have been making and had more to drop off, so we decided to go look around. This is what we found. 


A two yard piece of vintage alphabet fabric, a Raggedy Ann and Andy Sheet and a geometric print sheet which conjures up all sorts of ideas.


A mustard yellow, orange and white floral sheet which is my favorite find, some white cotton valences with a crocheted lace which I am going to use for an up cycle sewing project, a few vintage doilies and two orange and yellow vintage wash clothes for our thrifty vintage bathroom.


Add to those finds these blue and pink floral sheets and what a wonderfully bright collection of linens to add to our over grown stash.


In the glassware we found a vintage Pyrex oval bowl with lid and a lovely mid century modern pitcher made in Japan. Not much, but the time with family was great and I look forward to many more outings. Please stop by the shops to see all the new listing. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful week.

poetcharms.etsy.com
butterflyplace.etsy.com
butterflyplace.storenvy.com


Monday, July 22, 2013

I like aprons.

My daughter and I just love sewing and aprons have been a big part of that love.
 
 
 

Recently I made this sheer apron out of an up cycled curtain panel and some fruit print fabric for pockets. It was made just for fun and to keep one curtain panel out of the landfill. I also reclaimed some trim from a second curtain panel. Some times we just have to get those ideas out of our heads.
 
 
 
I also made this one out of denim. I like the durability of denim and I added just some simple eyelet lace around the bottom. Fancy isn't usually my game, but lately I just need to fem it up a bit.
At the following sites are two of my daughters funky fabric aprons. I love these too.
 
 
Stop by the stores and see what's new.
 
We sure hope that if you're creative you have the time to make it happen. Have a wonderful week everyone.
 
 
 
 



Monday, July 15, 2013

Using my thrift finds.

I thrift many fabrics because I am obsessed with it, but I have come to the conclusion that I will never use my accumulations in my lifetime. I've been cleaning it out and offering some to friends, donating to good causes and listing most for sale. Since my daughters remade my sewing space for me I have made the time to actually sew. Getting some of my ideas out of my head and just having some fun. I have been sewing since I was seven years old and I still enjoy it.
 
This weekend:
 
 

I cut oven mitts and potholders out of vintage reclaimed fabric. I'm in love with this fruit pattern and lately I've been making things for myself. I've got to find a few more thrifted packages of double fold bias tape for this project. Then it was time to create a soft toy out of all the pieces of scrap that has been accumulating. Also trying to use up a shoe box full of rick rack.
I'm pleased with the result and will be listing these on my store, butterflyplace.etsy.com, and see what happens.
 
 
 
I hope every one has a wonderful week.
 



Thursday, July 11, 2013

In all my years.

Canning is second nature to me. Or is it?
Failed Strawberry Jam.
Imagine my shock.
 

So with strawberries being so reasonable and my last jar of jam gone, I decided to make some more. I have been canning and putting food by for about forty years now and this is my first ever failed batch of jam. By failed I mean that it didn't set. Not fatal and I know I can make it over. But...
 
 
Imagine my delight.

After thinking it over for a while I decided it wasn't failure at all. I will set them aside in the pantry and use it for special things. Strawberry shortcake through the winter, cheesecake topping, ice cream topping and even some for atop home made waffles. Being so sweet I may have to add a few fresh strawberries with them, but for now I have strawberry GOLD.



Monday, July 08, 2013

A few thrift finds this week.

 
Vintage items found this week.
 
 
It's not that there are so few items to be found out there because if I had the room to store things I could make this a booming business. I think this will come in time, but for today taking one moment at a time is the best I can do. First find was a leather purse handle. It's 24 inches long and although it's not vintage it will make a beautiful addition to any home made purse. My first vintage find were these waxed paper stencils used with window wax to decorate for the holidays. Admitting that I used  these, ages me and age is a number not my life. I have a lot of living left to do.
 
 
Then there was this lovely set of Wamsutta rainbow and clouds sheets. These seem to sell quickly on etsy. There was also this lovely 1950's Vera scarf.  It has her famous lady bug trademark on it. The camera will not do it justice. It is dark purple and pink not the blue that the camera is picking up. I have some friends that will be helping me get better pictures so that it can be listed.
That's about all for today. I have some growing and marketing to get done, but I wanted to get this post done and stay up with everyone. I hope everyone has a wonderful week and I'll be watching my blogs list to see what everyone else is up to.

Visit poetcharms.etsy.com to see all her new listings including some of the above items.


Tuesday, July 02, 2013

Lots of things been going on.

 

I wanted to learn a new craft and the library was having a brown egg etching class. It was so fun. You can tell that we're not expert, but if I wanted to do it again it's not expensive.
 
Thrift Finds
 
 
Just a few items found at one short stop. Include is a set of four playing card themed napkins now listed on poetcharms.etsy.com. Also found were two sets of vintage K-Mart post card books. One featured Christmas music and another woodland creatures. Also found was a Ben Seibal bowl by Iroquois. It is a dusty aqua color with a white interior.
 
 
 
From the sewing room we continue to up cycle reclaimed fabrics. Created this week were some cotton coasters and we cut out oven mitts and pot holders. Cutting things down makes more space available and things are ready to get to when the time is available. Now that all the graduations are behind us and we have some more time to enjoy summer, maybe we can get to some more thrifting and do some of the things we like doing.