in the dentist’s chair

After lolling about somewhat dispiritedly for a good proportion of yesterday, I finally took the Twiggy pledge and pulled myself together.

Pleasingly, once I’d got my act together, I managed to get these three cushions finished in an afternoon!

The fabrics are genuine 1950s barkcloths. I backed one of them with interfacing, as it felt a bit thin for it’s intended use.

More midcentury modern than my usual fabric choices, the cushions are a commission for a dentist and destined to spend their days adorning these rather classy chairs in the waiting room:

Hopefully they will offer physical comfort.

But for those – like me – who don’t relish a visit to the dentist, they might also provide a minor distraction before the torture begins

patchwork pretties

I’d been meaning to make some nine-patch cushions for a while.

I got a bit “cushioned out” a while ago and couldn’t quite bring myself to make any cushions of any sort. I thought a bit of inspiration was called for. Which was where Pomme de Jour’s lovely charm squares came in handy.

They certainly did the trick – I had been itchin’ to stitch’em ever since I first set eyes on their myriad floral loveliness. And didn’t I have a lovely time trying out lots of nine-patch combinations!

However, as my stall at the April Fête was at a very family-orientated event and I’d sold out of tweeties, I thought I’d better get a few of those finished first.

But now my patchwork pretties are done.
Just got to get round to updating my shop now.

These two pretties will be making an appearance very soon… possibly even today, if I can get the washing done first

✿ Update:

 

Well, I’ve got the washing done (it helps that both lad and his dad are away for a couple of days, so no new socks to add to the pile) and these two patchwork pretties are now on sale in my shop!

fabric field day

Sometimes things take a long time to come to fruition. You set your heart on something, and you know it may never come to you.

You wonder – can you justify the money? And regretfully you tell yourself, no, you can’t.

Such it was with my newest fabric buy.

I saw it and fell in love instantly. But it was hideously expensive. So I told myself it wasn’t for me. But I couldn’t quite forget it.

I snuck back for another peek at it every so often, just to torture myself with unfulfilled longing.

And then, wonder of wonders, the price got reduced – by quite a lot! And before I could talk myself out of it, I pounced!

Isn’t it lovely?

And then, I had the opposite experience. I wasn’t really looking to buy anything, just browsing, as you do.

And I spotted an utter bargain…

I had seen – and admired – this fabric before in other people’s stashes.

And now I have lots of it! And it’s in beautiful condition.

I got all inspired and made this:

I’m afraid I just had to call her Ginger.

And, despite the fact that I was tempted just to squirrel the other one away and not let anyone else have any of that fabric ever, I also made this:

Because, as Rachel replied when she gave me my birthday fabrics and I said “you shouldn’t have”, it’s good to share.

And somewhere deep inside I agree; fabrics need to be used, and seen, and loved, and shared.

So that other people can have their fabric field day, too. ♥

pretty things of the week

So when is winter going to end then?

I know when the clocks change and spring is supposed to arrive officially, but what I mean is, when is it going to stop being so darn cold?

A week or two ago I was admiring Seven Gauge Studios lovely knitted things and telling myself that, as the sun was shining and there were now some daffs on show in the garden alongside the snowdrops, it was too late to invest in a new woolly hat.

However pretty they are.

But now, I’m sitting here thinking I wish I had.

I could be wearing one whilst sitting in my kitchen right now. And my ears would be a lot warmer.

Did I mention they make gorgeous woollen cushions too?

You can see all of Seven Gauge Studios bright, cheery, cuddlesome products on their website, which also has a list of stockists.

Or pop over to Not On The High Street and you can buy yourself something snuggly to see you through the rest of this seemingly interminable winter.

My guess is you’ll still be getting some wear out of whatever you choose for a good while yet.

Brrrrr!

brightening up

This was my sofa yesterday.

The sun had finally shown its face and good light waits for no one…

Time for a long overdue photography session!

I also needed a bit of a sort-out, having just reclaimed some bits of stock from Lu-Lou’s. It was nice seeing old friends again!

After I was done snapping, it was time to sit down with a nice cup of tea for a l-o-o-o-o-o-n-g session of editing and listing.

You’ll be able to see the results popping up over the next few days in my shop, which I also gave a bit of a spruce-up with a fresh new banner.

I managed to fit in a long phone call to my sister too, in which we encouraged one another wholeheartedly in our respective endeavours. There was so much positivity zapping about that the snow outside actually started to thaw!

Or maybe the weather just warmed up.

I think I’m warming up a bit too.

With a bit of positive thinking, the prospect of a new sewing class on Monday and some new stalls in the pipeline, I think I’m finally shaking off the post-Australia blues.

spotted!

Now isn’t that a sight to gladden a vintage fabric cushion-lover’s heart!

I have long been a fan of Jane Foster. One of the original champions of vintage fabric, several of Jane’s cushions may be found around my home. I find her work and blog a constant source of inspiration.

So I was – to say the least – pretty chuffed when she actually bought one of my cushions a while back.

This one, to be precise:

My chuffed-ness returned yesterday when I caught sight of said cushion on her blog, in amongst that towering collection of gorgeousness!

Did you spot it?

Happy days!