1..2..3...IRMI!

Out and about today running errands, I made a point to stop at two little thrift stores.  Not much to be seen.  It feels to me like the stores are being stocked with more and more mass merchandise with UPC codes instead of the good vintage items that I love.  With the estate sale season not quite in full swing I am feeling the pinch of finding the goodies.  Anyway...I didn't expect much.  I popped in and found not 1, not 2, but 3 IRMI lamps....

Pristine Parade of Boys from the early 1970's.

Happy Humpty Dumpty with his felt bow tie.

These were two for $25.00.  I reasoned it to $12.50 each.  

Not a paint chip on them and in working condition.

Noah's Ark Awesomeness with all the pieces on it!  This one was a bargain at $5.00.

I just need to add some lamp shades and trim.  Hmm...and maybe a new bookcase for my ever growing collection.  Just when you think that your luck has run out...you too might get lucky.  

Now I know that you all might be growing tired of my lamp posts. Hah!  I promise to come up with something different.  Luck just happen to strike 3 times today.

Hello!

Late, last week I stopped at a friend's estate sale...it was very small.  Most of the house was closed off and not much was in the house.  I milled around a bit and said hello to a few familiar faces.  Not much to see or pick from but I felt like I should buy something as I knew the lady holding the sale.  A box of 

plastic flowers picked up for $2.00.  I left them in the back of my car for three days.

Then I decided to go through them...good grief.  I can't believe I waited to go through the bag.  Hello!  Fantastic plastic fifties blue...If you can't think of anything to do with these go check out Beth's Bagz creations at her site. Do a little clicking on her flickr under wreaths and corsages.  You too will be picking up vintage goodies like this. (Or you can spare yourself and buy one from her like I did.)

Yes, they do smell like plastic and dust but it doesn't diminish their crafting goodness.  

Look at all this great stuff in the bottom in the bag...all that Christmas fun and I waited to dig through it?

In another "Hello!" moment, did you know that the Dolly Toy Co.  that made those cute little nursery wall plaques made sweet little lamps too?  

I scored this one from ebay for a steal.  That water stain is rain...don't you know?  That's what I am going with.  I need to rewire it before I turn it on, but when it is lit the clouds are translucent.  

At home below her buddies.  Nestled in the flowers that she is watering, a night light!  So cute I couldn't help myself.  

We are enjoying our first nice Spring thunderstorm...I hope it is a sign of warmer weather and fresh flowers.

Have a wonderful week.

Mom Jeans...My Way!

I love a good pair of jeans.  I am always on the the hunt for the one that fits right and covers everything.  A pair that is short enough for me but not short on style.  Maybe I am asking too much?  On a recent trip to Old N*vy I found a pair I liked except it had holes in it.   Now, I know I am aging myself here, but I am sure that my high schooler doesn't want his mom swinging by to pick him up with my white cotton bloomers peeking through the bare threads.  

Enter sweet fabric patches and gentle sewing stitches.

Alright, I got a little crazy here, but I did map it out before hand.  I couldn't go too geometric.  They are supposed to be worn looking.

Love that flower peeking through.  

I cut a piece of fabric big enough to cover the hole plus extra for side coverage.  Then I pressed some light weight pelon to the wrong side to give it more weight.  Turn the jeans inside out and carefully add heavy duty stitch witchery around the frame of the hole sandwiched between the jeans and patch.  Iron lightly to set the glue.

A hexagon on the rear pocket...just because I love the fabric that much.

(Moda Bliss)

These are the kind of mom jeans I can wear.  Cute and different.  Lord knows I am not the kind of mom that wears those studded jeans or the ones with all the heavy stitching.  Nope....I am the kind of mom in the patchwork jeans with a car full of flea market treasures and a Dr. Pepper in the cup holder.  If they only made denim in yoga pants? 

Yeah...too much to ask!

Baby Blue Bird

I found this sweet little baby doll crib last month at an estate sale and I picked it up for just a couple of bucks.  It wasn't the cute little pink paint chipped decal clad one I dreamed about, but I liked the wheels and the plastic blocks.  It had good bones.  I had no plans for it other than to sew a sweet little bed set...until I figured out this whole decal thing.  That is when it all came together.

A quick visit to my go to source for great images...Free Pretty Things For You....among all her free images this little birdie was perfect.  Decal ready and sized just right.  I gently scrapped the lion decal off for this baby birdie to be placed.

This is so much better. (I need to put a clear coat on still)

Leftover vintage chenille sewn in a pseudo quilt pattern worked out great.  A remnant pillowcase and some vintage trim finish it off.

There are no vintage dolls in my collection.  The doll eyes have always scared me.  For now this will be filled with sweet baby toys and baby linens.  

Estate Sale Finds

I've been singing a sweet little tune this week with the cute little treasure I found.  There were a lot of different little pieces that I hadn't seen before.   A few things that I have seen over and over and a number of things that were overpriced.  Sure hope this isn't a new trend in pricing...if it is I'm going to need a new hobby.

This sale had a plethora of prize ribbons except they were all up high and I wasn't able to reach.  These are the only one I could get my hands on.  Neat little fireplace with the Woolworth price tag still on the bottom.  I can't wait to dress it up for Christmas.

Some wonderful school workbooks with great graphics.  Pictures of kids praying and saying the Pledge of Allegiance can you even imagine that now...and the cursory tape measure.

A hand painted nursery set and candy container.  I loved the embroidery on the baby dress.

Just a couple of cards.  They had a fantastic old scrapbook but it was priced at $60...at an estate sale that seems so high.  I would have spent $30 at most.  Maybe I am cheap.  I'm good with that.

It looks like the weather is turning from good to worse for the rest of the week so the rest of the week will be spent inside the studio crafting with my cheap finds!

Duck, duck, decal?

If you have been reading my blog for any amount of time you know that I love vintage greeting card images.  I have an abundant collection that I pull from both digital and hard copy.  My favorite thing do with them is to scan them (if needed) and clean them up in photoshop.  In photoshop I can take out yellow marks and creases...pen marks and single out the image.  Last week I found another use...  This one I am tickled about.

This cute little vintage shelf came from a local shop that specializes in specialty "Vintage" boutique items.  I don't want to know how many people walked past this one...thankfully it waited for me.  I have been toying with this new product of inkjet waterslide decal paper.  Will it work?  Are the images going to be crisp?  Well...I tried it...and it's true love.  I will be decaling my kiddos soon. 

 eBay is where I purchased my paper.  I recommend the transparent paper. It looks more like the old original decals.

After printing the images the directions clearly state to spray with clear coat and dry for 30-60 minutes.  Patience...a quick sizing of the image and a trim with the scissors and a bath for a minute and these worked like a charm.

The possibilities are limitless.

Yes, I did already move things in my studio...I waited 2 whole days.  My decal delight didn't stop here wait till you see what I got my hands on next!

Decal image courtesy Free Pretty Things for You

UCreate with Me Apron...Vintage Style

I am a frequent viewer over at the Ucreate with me blog/website.  This month their are hosting an apron sew along.  I have never sewn an apron.  I own a lot of aprons, but never took a fancy to sew one...until Miss Keren from Free Pretty Things...sent me the link and prompted me along.  Not one to play by the rules or the trends, I wanted something that reflected me and my style.  Something that no one else had.  Bring on the vintage linens.

Photo courtesy UCreate

The due date for this apron is February 26th...but I am giving you all the sneak peak.  

Here is the link to Ucreate and the cute little pattern they provided via Sugar Bee creations.  I however, just went off her pictures and provided my own dimensions and pattern.  Basic bib apron idea.  You can use the provided pattern for her exact measurements.  Because I am petite, rarely does a pattern fit.  Maybe that's why I sew so much.

 When I started to go through my usual supplies of tablecloths and tea towels  I came up blank.  Too busy and nothing new.  Then I remembered my stash of pillowcases, most I snatched up at estate sales for a few cents be cause of holes and stains.  The only part I wanted (the embroidery and trim) were still in good shape.    

I cut each end of the pillow case off with a rotary cutter at the 5 inch mark depending on the embroidery.  Then I made sure to cut the back in half to center the embroidered part for full width.  In other words, I didn't cut my pillow case in half at the seam, instead I opened it up and cut it at the back after centering the embroidered part.  A gathering stitch was placed along the top and stitched to the skirt portion of the apron in staggered rows of ruffles.

Oh the fun of using someones work for something new.  Look at the trims and stitches.  I took full advantage of the contrast and layers.

Not all vintage...I did throw in a new Moda print to tie it all together.  A snap is hidden under the covered button at the neck.

For the backside of the apron I used the remnant of one of the pillowcase.

The bib part is a sweet little pillowcase with yellow trim.  I took full advantage of this and matched the Moda fabric to it.  

I went back and forth with whether or not to sew the ruffles down along the edge of the apron.  In the end I decided I liked the flowing effect it had detached better.

The Sugar Bee pattern was really simple and I needed to add that vintage flair and femininity.  I think you could easily alter any bib apron and get the same effect.  Let your imagination run...I had fun when I did.  Of course I would probably change a few things that I added in how I put them on, but over all I really like how it came out.

I would have made the ties longer and had the bow come around front for a more feminine look.  Well, there's always next time.  I'll let you know when these post over at Ucreate.

I forgot to add that I am linking this up to Sewing Christmas over at Renee's Sewn with Grace.  Pop over and see all the great projects.