Vintage Cotton Pillowcase Apron

I had so much fun making the vintage pillowcase apron that I shared with you last year; that I wanted to make another apron for myself and I have even added the idea to my Aprons class. I found this vintage cotton pillowcase at the thrift store and fell in love with the beautiful yellow rose print. I decided to combine the fabric with some yellow cotton gingham that I had in my fabric stash for some time now.

I was so busy that it took me way too long to find the time to make the apron. In the end, it also took me a lot longer to finish it; but I am so happy that it is finally finished.

If you follow my Instagram, then you would have seen a picture of this cute apron already. However, I really wanted to share more details about the apron and hopefully inspire you to try making your own. I am really happy with the way the apron turned out and I think it is really cute. Let me know what you think!

Thrift Store Find: Vintage Afghans

Knitted and crochet afghans are a favourite of mine and I just could not pass on the opportunity to purchase these two gems. I will love to make one like these, but until then I will just swoon over my new finds.

The first afghan was way too beautiful to resist. It features a stunning cross-stitched floral pattern that I absolutely fell in love with on first sight. Strangely enough it is a perfect compliment to another afghan in my collection (gifted by my husband's great-aunt), that also has cross-stitched flowers.

The second afghan is this ivory knitted gem that appears unused. Even without the cross-stitched details of the first, this piece has a beautiful textured pattern.

I am currently working on putting together a collection of vintage afghans for Crafted Spaces Weddings so I am super excited to search for more pieces.

Thrift Store Find: Needlepoint Art

This past week I found this stunning needlepoint at the thrift store. I love this piece because the roses just seem to pop, and I feel like smelling them. I was also drawn to this piece because of the stunning blue vase. I love this colour blue and I am thinking of using the same colour in an upcoming upholstery project.

I do not think that it is a secret that I absolutely love, love, love embroidery and other needlework pieces. I collect vintage pieces, but I am also happy to see new works popping up each day and becoming popular again. If you will like to try your hand at some needlework, you can try making a piece with patterns from designers such as Anna Maria Horner and Heather Bailey. There are also lots of patterns to choose from on sites such as Etsy. You can also try my free embroidery pattern.

I want to take this opportunity to answer a question that I have recently received, about how I choose my embroidery or needlework pieces.

When I come across a piece at the thrift store or antique market, there are a few things that I consider before purchasing:

• Do I love it? - If I see a piece and instantly fall in-love, then chances are it is coming home. I must love the design.
• Consistency of the stitches - Sometimes you come across a piece that was perhaps done by someone who was new to needlework and you can see some of the errors they made. The most common error I have observed is where the stitching is not uniform or consistent.
• Wear and tear - Broken stitches and faded areas are two significant reasons I may not buy a piece. Yellowing of the fabric or stains are also things I look out for.
• Condition of the frame - If it is a framed piece, then I look at the condition of the frame to decide if this is a piece that I will have to re-frame. If it is a frame with an unusual shape or size, then I consider how difficult it would be to re-frame the piece or to use the work in a different way.
• Usability - Do I have a place for it or can I learn from the pattern? Buying a piece just for the sake of collecting is not generally something I do (although, my husband may disagree). So it is important to me to have a home for it. Having said this, I sometime purchase vintage pieces for the pattern with the hope of learning how to re-create a particular design.

There are so many way you can incorporate these little gems into your decor, and nothing says handmade like a beautiful piece of needlework! I hope this post is helpful the next time you go shopping for embroidery or needlepoint art.

Do you have any tips that you will like to share?

Thrift Store Find: Vintage Wooden Frog Toy

My youngest son is drawn to vintage toys and really enjoys playing with this cute wooden frog that we found at the thrift store. Most of the vintage toys we have are little cars and trucks that are family treasures. Some of them are from my father-in-law and some are from when my husband was a child. However, my little guy is totally fascinated by this little wooden frog and he wants to take it wherever he goes. He fell in-love with it the moment he saw it at the store and did not want to leave it behind. It was even his idea for me to take a picture of it (smile). It just goes to show that even an old toy can brighten a child's life.

Do you have an old toy that you or your children treasure?

Home Decorating Challenge: Gallery Wall {Part 1}

The thrift store can be a great place to find frames for a gallery wall. Look for different shapes and sizes to make a unique display. Here are some frames I found at the thrift store ranging from $2.99 to $12.99.

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I have always loved gallery walls and have always had a gallery wall in my home. Since moving into my current home four years ago, I have been thinking of designing a gallery wall with images that are meaningful to my husband and I. I also want to do something different from what I have done in the past and it has taken me some time to decide on exactly what that will be.

The first task has been to organize hundreds of family pictures spanning four generations. I am carefully selecting images from each generation and will be making copies of the images for the gallery wall. I have been collecting frames and putting together a collection that I think will work well together. Most of the frames I have collected so far are thrift store finds. Some of the frames will require a facelift, and I have not decided if I will paint a few of them in white.

I have gathering some great gallery wall ideas on my home style and diy home decor pinterest boards. Some of my favourites are here, here and here (includes tips).

6 Tips When Shopping for Thrift Store Frames:

• Shop with a plan; go to the store armed with an idea of what type and style frames will work best for your project.
• Look for pieces that have an interesting shape or detail.
• Choose pieces that can easily be refinished or painted in an alternate colour if desired.
• Frames that include matting are an added bonus, even if you do not use it for the given project they can be used for future projects.
• Examine each frame for damages or chips in the glass.
• Set a limit for yourself; go shopping with a budget in mind and stay with it.

Here is an article that provides some additional tips on thrift store shopping.

Do you like the frames I have collected? What do you think of gallery walls?

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Home Decorating Challenge - view other projects!

Vintage Pillowcase Apron

I found this great vintage cotton pillowcase at just .99 cents, and I just had to add it to my vintage fabric collection. There is a hole in the fabric and I had to find a way to mend it so I decided to do an appliqué. I have shared with you the hand embroidered appliqué and the embroidery stitches that I did, so here is the finished apron.

The waistband was made from the same white vintage cotton that I used for the appliqués. I added a bit of interest with a running stitch just along the front.

I like repurposing pillowcases and I really enjoyed this project. An apron is a great gift idea and I think I will be making a few of these this holiday season. There are so many creative ways you can go with an apron project.

Do you have any ideas on how to repurpose a pillowcase?

Thrift Store Find: Milk Glass Collection

It has been several weeks since I have shared my thrift store finds with you guys. So today I just had to do a post to share my latest finds. I have been working on my collection of milk glass pieces and I have had some beautiful finds in the past few weeks.

Overall, I have been trying to focus my thrift store purchases on items that add to an existing collection. I have been building a collection of vintage picture frames, linens and table coverings; but my current goal is to put together a wonderful collection of milk glass pieces that I can use for Crafted Spaces Weddings.

I have several pieces that I have collected over the years, and my husband's grandmother gave me some lovely pieces when we got married. I will like to keep some of these pieces for personal use, so I have decided to invest in building a collection that I can use with clients. I have been doing research, and I have identified some must-have-pieces that will look stunning for a wedding.

Over the past few weeks I have found several bud vases and some larger vases that I think are very beautiful. There are several other pieces that I have my eyes on, including a couple cake stands. I will be sure to share with you how my collection is coming along. I currently have about forty pieces, and I hope to have some of my coveted pieces in the coming weeks.

What do you like collecting? Do you have a collection that you are building on?

Stained Wicker Basket

At the beginning of the month I did a post about two wicker baskets I found at the thrift store. Well here is what they look like after I used a walnut coloured stain (MINWAX - Special Walnut 224) on the one basket. The colour of the stain matches nicely with the dark hardwood floors in my studio and also goes well with the floors in the back hall and kitchen.

I wanted to show the difference between the original unfinished basket on the left and the stained basket on the right. I started by rubbing on the stain with a cloth, but soon realized that a brush was a much better option for applying the stain. I did two applications and waited overnight between coats. The finish is a bit glossier than I anticipated but I love the darker colour. I still have to make liners and labels for the baskets and I am excited to use them in my family command centre project.

What do you think of the darker colour?

Crafty Home: How to Make a Shower Curtain

I found this great vintage cotton sheet at the thrift store a while back and I immediately thought of making a shower curtain for the spring and summer months. I love the print and I really think that it is a fun, light option for my otherwise dark bathroom.

If you have a sheet that you will like to make into a shower curtain, here is what you'll need to get started:

Supplies
1 twin or double size flat sheet
thread to match
straight pins
tape measurer
sewing gauge
seam ripper
iron
sewing machine

Your Fabric
Measure the length and width of your finished sheet to confirm that it is adequate to make your shower curtain. A twin size flat sheet that is approximately 72" x 100" will work; however, a double size sheet will give you a little more to work with. Your sheet will already have a finished top and bottom edge. Your sheet may also be finished on the sides as well, or you may simply have selvedge edges. If you have a sheet with a decorative trim or edging, consider how you will like to use the sheet to keep this decorative element.

Hemming
If your sheet already has a finished edge you may want to use it as is. However, if you are hemming the bottom of your shower curtain, start by folding up the raw edge 1" toward the wrong side of the fabric and press. Turn up another 1" and press again. Edge stitch along the interior folded edge. If you will like to hem the sides, proceed using the same method as the top.

If the top of your sheet already has a "band" you can; a) undo the existing stitching with your seam ripper, b) use as is or c) cut it off to create a new top. The sheet I used had a narrow hem, so I simply cut it off to create a new raw edge. If you have decided to make a new top, you will have to turn in your new raw edge by 2" and press, turn under another 2" and press again. Finish by edge stitching along the interior folded edge.

Tip: If your sheet has a finished end that is already 2" wide you can choose to use this as is. If the folded end is decorative, this can add a beautiful touch to your shower curtain. However, if your fabric is lightweight with more than two layers of fabric, inserting a strip of interfacing to the top edge will provide extra stability to support the weight of the curtain.

Buttonholes

Getting your shower curtain holes laid out nicely can be tricky as you want the shower curtain holes equal distance apart, but you do not want excess fabric at the ends of the curtain. For my curtain, the fabric length was 70 inches, finished and I have a set of 12 shower curtain rings. For those math types, here is a formula that my husband came up with to figure out where to lay out the holes:

Distance Between Holes = (F-2E)/H

where:

F = Fabric Length
H = Number of Curtain Ring Holes
E = End Length

For my project, the measurement looked like this:

F = 70 inches
H = 12 curtain rings
E = 1 inch

(70-2*1)/12
=68/12
=5.66
= or approximately 5 ⅝ inches

You will also have to consider how far from the top edge of your curtain you want the button holes; I made mine a ½ inch from the top and each button hole was ¾ inches long. You can also use your shower curtain liner as a guide, using a fabric marker or chalk to mark out where your holes will be. Mark the placement of the top and bottom points of your buttonholes. Using the buttonhole feature on your sewing machine, sew your buttonholes in a vertical direction. Check your sewing machine manual for instructions on how to make buttonholes. To open you buttonholes, pierce the fabric with your seam ripper and gently glide it down the center of your stitch lines cutting the inside of the buttonholes.

Tip: You can use grommets instead of buttonholes; however, I used buttonholes rather than grommets, because I felt that the weight of the cotton would hold up better to buttonholes rather than grommets.

Now you are ready to hang your new shower curtain!

Thrift Store Find: Wicker Baskets

I am working on a family command centre in the back hall, just outside of the home office. I have not gotten very far with the command centre, but I have prepared the wall and should be painting next. I am also looking for items that I can use on the wall to help organize mail, bills and school information. I will also like the wall to double as an art wall for my little one, so I am getting pieces together for that as well.

I have come across a few pieces at the thrift store and I am hoping that I can use them in the way I have envisioned. Here are two wicker baskets that I recently purchased. They were $3.99 each and I am thinking of staining them in a dark walnut colour to match the hardwood floors in my studio.

I could paint them, but I think that staining them will make them look more in keeping with the new decor I am working on for the house, and will be a great "Crafty Home" project. The idea is to fasten them to the wall and label them "in mail" and "out mail." I am thinking up cute ideas on how I will label them. I am open to suggestions!

Thrift Store Find: Vintage Needlepoint

This week I will like to share a beautiful piece of needlepoint that I found. This piece is in keeping with our Crafty Home series. It is one of those pieces that can be used as is or it can receive an updated look by changing the picture frame. I plan on giving it new life by making it into a decorative pillow.

If you are interested in tying your hand at some needlework, you can find some beautiful kits at Anna Maria Horner. I also did a book review last year of "Doodle Stitching The Motif Collection," which is a great little resource if you will like an introduction to embroidery. You can also download our FREE embroidery pattern.

Do you think a piece like this is better left as is or is making a decorative pillow a good idea?

Thrift Store Find: Vintage Sheets

I have been meaning to share my new vintage floral sheets that I purchased at Value Village. I love a great find and I especially love finding unused, mint condition items at the thrift store. The sheets were $6.99 each and the pillowcases were a mere $0.99 each.

The prints are beautiful and are good weight cotton. They have a "Made in Japan" sticker on them and are nice and crisp. I am guessing that the previous owner never used them.

I am not sure what I will make with them just yet, but I have a few ideas that I am considering. I am also thinking of keeping a set for my vintage linen collection.

What do you think? Have you had any great thrift store finds lately?

Thrift Store Find: Serger Accessory Feet Package

I just had to share my new thrift store find, which blew me away. I found this great Baby Lock - Accessory Feet Package at Value Village and I was stunned when I saw the price.

I paid just $6.00 for this package that is regularly priced at about $299.00. The package includes six serger feet, all in mint condition.

(left to right) 1. Ruffling Foot  2. Elastic Foot  3. Beading Foot   4. Blindhem Foot  5. Elastic Foot  6. Cording Foot

I really enjoy shopping at thrift stores, because you never know what you are going to find. Generally when I go I look for vintage sewing patterns, interesting pieces of fabric, or a milk vase to add to my ever-growing collection. I was very happy with what I found this time and I am looking forward to my next visit.

Have you had any great finds lately?

Chalkboard Paint Facelift

Our new DIY project is fun and easy. The technique used can be applied to countless other pieces. The piece we used is a mini storage unit that was purchased at a local thrift store for just $3.99. The face of the draw units were painted in a stencilled pattern and might have been used in a child's bedroom. Chalkboard paint was used to paint over the stencilled pattern and it provides a new surface to label the contents of the draw units.

Over the years I have used chalkboard paint for a number of craft and decorating projects. You can use this product to transform almost any object into a writable and erasable surface. You can also add a touch of style and ornateness to the finished piece by adding interesting embellishments. For this unit we added a beautiful pair of decorative knobs; which were purchased from Michaels craft store.

Before

This little unit has been used at our studio to store some of our stamping supplies. One of the great benefits of covering it with chalkboard paint, is the ability to easily label the draws by writing on the surface.

This is a latex paint and can be washed off with soap and water. I used a sponge brush to apply the paint onto the draw units; however, I have also found that a sponge roller also works well. When applying your paint, use even strokes in the same direction. A second coat may be needed to cover existing finishes.

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Materials:

Project Piece

Chalkboard Paint

Sponge Brush

Sandpaper

Hardware or Decorative Element (optional)

Tape (optional)

Instructions:

1. Lightly sand the surface of your project piece
2. Clean the surface after sanding with a damp lint free cloth
3. Use tape to mark off the desired area you plan to paint (optional)
4. Using a sponge brush or roller, cover the area with the chalkboard paint
5. Let dry based on instructions
6. Reapply a second coat as needed
7. Condition for use based on instructions
8. Attach new hardware or decorative embellishments as desired

You can choose to lightly sand the surface of your project prior to applying the second coat of chalkboard paint.

View our video to learn how you can transform a piece of your own.

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