Back from vacation with rick rack tablecloths to show off

Posted on July 9, 2008

So, I apologize to the 6 people who may read this blog – the 4th of July holiday created a way for me to have 5 days off in a row, and I jumped at the chance for a mini vacation! We had great weather, and spent many hours at the beach sunning, swimming and boating. It was a nice change in routine, and even though we didn’t leave Vermont, it still felt like a vacation.

Lake Champlain, Vermont

And in crafty/sewing news, even during vacation, I did finish up a few new tablecloths. The first is a great larger pink polka dot on a chocolate brown background. It’s Michael Miller fabric – Pink/Brown Disco Dot – with some vintage off white rick rack for the trim. It’s available over at Ink Ink – though only available at the store, not yet online… (are you working on that Whit?!)

The second is made of Amy Butler Pink Coriander fabric. It’s a great bright pink color with a dark olive green rick rack trim.

rick rack tablecloth

I love these tablecloths for outdoor use – they fit perfectly on our patio table – but if you were to come to my house, you’d also always find one on the dining room table. Since they’re a square size, I turn them diagonally for a bit of color in the center of the table.

I’m still working on the Pod Vine tablecloth I mentioned in a previous post. I decided to make that one rectangular, as there have been some requests for larger sizes. I still need to find enough rick rack in a coordinating color so I can finish that one!

My next project will hopefully be another dress. I have a few ideas of what I’d like for a look, though I still need to figure out how to execute that vision. I’d like to be able to wear it to a picnic this weekend, so I have a bit of a deadline… pictures to come!

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Pod Vine Pillowcases

Posted on July 1, 2008

I bought about 5 yards of this Michael Miller Pod Vine fabric recently, with no real thought as to what I was going to use it for. When it arrived, I was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of it – I usually only buy a half yard or 1 yard at a time, so 5 yards of one fabric seemed like a lot. I decided I could make a couple pillowcases and still have enough for some rick rack napkins and a tablecloth.

I used some dark pink vintage rick rack for the trim, and I must say, they really turned out quite nicely. (if only I could make a set of sheets to go with them!)

handmade rick rack pillowcases

rick rack pillowcasehandmade pillowcases

The next project will be a rick rack tablecloth and some napkins to match. Photos to come!

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Yard sale finds

Posted on June 27, 2008

The best part of my weekend is Saturday morning when we drive through nearby towns searching for yard sales. Sometimes I check Craigslist or our local papers beforehand to find ones I’d like to visit, and other times we just drive aimlessly and follow whatever signs we come across.

I’ve noticed a few things:

* Huge yard sale signs don’t always indicate a good sale. More often than not, those with ginormous signs – painted, colored, advertising the “best” yard sale, and sometimes even covered in plastic for protection – often are the smallest sales, or sometimes even non-existent. The opposite is often true too – small signs, or no signs at all can direct you to the best sales.

* When you don’t bother to get any cash, you’re sure to find something you just have to have.

* People have a higher opinion of the value of their junk than they should. I’m under the assumption that the fact that a person dragged all this junk onto their lawn means that they no longer want it. Prices don’t often reflect that…

That being said, I have found some good lawn sale items so far this summer. Last weekend I found this vintage sewing case with brightly colored threads and other assorted sewing goodies

I really like the thread on wooden spools, and actually bought it more for a photography subject rather than for my sewing needs

At a another yard sale, which they were calling an Estate Sale (does that make it more desirable?), I found a couple metal crates filled with old glass bottles. I wanted to buy just the crates, but they wouldn’t sell them without the bottles. I ended up with one crate filled with my selection of bottles, which I’ve already put to use as vases.

Enjoy the weekend. Happy yard saling!

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