Shopping at Knitting and Stitching Show

Hello

Went to the Knitting and Stitching Show at Harrogate yesterday, been saving up for ages.

Harrogate was chocker block, most of the car parks were full except the multi storey at the Railway Station and that was rapidly counting down the number of free places while we sat in the traffic jam, it was a bit of a hike to the show.  Gosh it was heaving, wall to wall ladies with the odd chap now and again

Got this little lot.

Well worth a visit, fabrics are to die for, had to keep checking my chin for drool.  It was difficult to choose there was so many stalls.

Cheers
Sharon

Phone Cover and Little Bag

Hello

I have been rash again and bought some linen type fabric off Ebay without thinking what I was going to do with it.  I had ordered the cream but there was a printing fault on it so got the pale pink instead.  Isn't it scrummy?

My sister said that a couple of the labels would be just the right size to make a phone pocket thingy so I had a go.  Not sure if it will fit a iphone jobby (my phone is just a tiny cheap one that doesn't mind be dropped in the borders when I am gardening!).

Its been chucking down with rain all morning today so decided to give myself a challenge and have a go at making a little bag from a Chinese Pinterest site http://www.pinterest.com/pin/72831718948048430/   Got the idea from Kristyne over at http://prettybyhand.com/blog/2014/11/8/whats-black-and-white-and-cute-all-over.html  She's a dab hand at making these.

Gosh it tested my brain, no instructions in English just pictures.  Made it back to front so had to take it apart, doh, it was easy now that I have made it, hindsight is a wonderful thing.  Perhaps my brain was rusty from all the rain.

My Singer 201K behaved beautifully as usual.

Cheers

Sharon

Butterfly Tote Bag

Hello

Was browsing Ebay and found some lovely canvas fabric with Butterflies on it and couldn't resist.  Managed to find some dotty fabric from another site to go with it which is tricky getting the colour to match.

Really pleased with the result.

Take care
Sharon

Liberty Print Bags

Hello

Had to have a day off work last week cos I totally ground to halt, never been that tired before.  I rested all morning but not used to doing nothing so decided that a bit of sewing wouldn't be too taxing.  After all, its just sitting down but with busy hands unlike my job pushing lawnmowers about and raking the endless leaves.

Had some lovely Liberty Lawn fabric which I managed to match up a dotty fabric from my local market.  The dotty fabric is the same weight as the Liberty so they are well matched.  Made a couple of drawstring bags.

The Liberty Fabric which looks like peacock feathers has little faces on it, didn't see them when I bought it.  It only taken me since March to decide what to do with this Liberty fabric.

Regards

Sharon

American 1950's Swing Coat Glamour - Borre by Fairmoor

Hello

How about this for a glam outfit.  Found it when clearing out my late parents house.

The jacket is faux Astrakhan (Persian lamb) but the collar is real mink.  The fabric feels lovely bet its really warm.

It looks like a designer jacket as it is so well made, just look at the covered buttons.

So I trawled the internet and found that Fairmoor was an American Coat and Suit Corporation in New York and "BORRE" would have been on of their registered Trade Marks.  They made high end faux and real fur coats in 50's and 60's   Judging by the swing style of this jacket its from the 50's.  The arms are very short on it but it dawned on my that in the 50's ladies wore elegant long gloves.

This is an advert from 1969 for later style coats, the prices seem high $110 to $220 which seems a lot for then.
Newspaper advert

Found another reference to the company in the New York Times Newspaper 1964, which explains how the technique of making this fake fur developed.

New York Times Article 1964

Sadly, far too big for me, there is no size in but a trying on session by my friends, fits 14 or 16, too tight on 18.

Goodness knows where my mother got it from, she didn't travel at all, it might have been my granny's but we will never know now.  Its hardly been worn at all.

Thought that I would share it with you before I tried to find a lovely home for it.

Cheers
Sharon

More Vintage Furniture and a Button Jar

Hello

We have been clearing my late father's house which is quite a task.  All the things that your parents treasured and had for years, what do you do with them?  My sister and I both have our own houses, full of our stuff so finding room for more was difficult.

Strange its the smaller "finds" that give me the most pleasure, like this little jam jar!  Why don't they make jam jars like this anymore, it was missing its lid so I sprayed painted a modern one.  Its a Roses & Co Ltd jar which had lime marmalade in if I remember correctly. Perfect for a button jar.

Another thing to be rescued is this oak shoe rack, this is the shoe rack that I head butted after tripping up a step when sleepwalking as a child, I still have the scar!  Again, it needed restoring so it was cleaned with white spirit, then lightly rubbed over with oak stain to even out the colour, then polished with beeswax (forgot to wear gloves so ended up with oak fingernails). As usual in my excitment to get started, forgot the before photo.  It had a curtain over the front of it to hide the shoes so a fabric shopping trip was called for.

So, life is a bit hectic at the moment, the autumn leaves are keeping me busy at work, the gardens need a lot of tidying at this time of the year "putting them to bed". I am still horse riding twice a week which takes up what spare time I had.

On top of this, trying to get my parents house ready for sale, the painter is in this week, its the first time ever that I have employed a painter and decorator but the house hadn't been decorated for many many years and was in a state cosmetically.  I just couldn't face doing the whole house top to bottom, the painter will do it a lot quicker.

So forgive me for not blogging more but as soon as winter sets in, my quilting will take front of stage.  Have a quilt to make as a wedding present and another baby quilt so can't wait to start them.

Cheers
Sharon

Singer 201 Sewing Machine Table Makeover

Hello

A little while ago, I was a lucky girl and got a Singer 201 in a table on Freecycle.  The table was looking very secondhand and unloved.

It had been damaged by water which had taken off the dark varnish. The wood is thick oak veneer so I reckoned that it would be OK to sand it down.  Then I used Danish Oil to feed and protect the wood.  Really like the light finish on it.  The machine still needs fixing, got a new tension assembly but haven't had time to put it on yet but I have cleaned and oiled the rest of the machine.

She has been moved into the Summerhouse for a while until I decide where she is going to go.  Just noticed in the photo, I have another unwanted guest.  Look at the size of that cobweb!!!!
Cheers
Sharon