I have been an avid collector, stasher, hoarder of vintage fabrics for many years. I hunt, I gather and then I get too scared to use these one offs. My head fills with questions and I panic…

“What if I never find any lovely vintage fabrics again?”
“What if I think of something better to use the fabric for later?”
“What if I make a mistake and the fabric is lost forever?”

I suffer the same dilemma with most of the items I collect for my art and craft and it is becoming a bit of a problem. Not to mention I am suffering some serious organisation/space issues about the house, especially now that we have a little third person to consider who seems to be gathering a stash of her own.

I just found these samples in a box that my folks bought down from Sydney. Every time they visit they bring more of my ‘junk’ that I had stored under their house. That means I collected these pieces over eight years ago. Oh dear, that’s a little embarrassing! I found most of these at the Reverse Garbage in Marrickville. Oh how I LOVED that place. There’s a little one in Vic but it just doesn’t compare to the scale of the two Sydney ones…and for my sake that’s probably just as well! Most are fabric swatches from sample books so are less than one metre square. On the plus side many come in bundles of the same pattern in various colour schemes so there’s quite a bit of potential there for some crafty cleverness.

I know it’s a little late for new years resolutions, but I am going to attempt to make some changes. My ‘resolution’ is two-fold. Part One: Get organised and resolve storage issues (Oh boy this one is a bit overwhelming!) Part Two: I am going to try and take the leap and finally start using some of my stash.

I am scared, I am excited, I am optimistic. Wish me luck! If I succeed you’ll see the result here in the coming months. I wasn’t ready before, but I think I am ready now!

She’s so very tiny. Sometimes I forget because her personality is growing so large!

Seeing her look out at the huge blue ocean and dip her tiny toes into the salty water for the first time took my breath away. She seemed fearless and confident but so vulnerable and small as she toddled across the sand. Squeals and giggles as the waves rippled into shore and chased her back along the beach.

Each day is so full of newness. Things she’s never seen. New sounds, smells and textures. Her pointer finger was in overdrive at the beach! I wonder what she thinks of it all? Sometimes she seems overwhelmed with excitement in her attempt to process all the world has to offer. In her world, even simple things like ‘helping’ me unpack the groceries one by one, become big adventures which elicit trills of delight!

It feels like such a giant responsibility to be sharing these moments with her. Protecting her, helping her grow, learn and discover life. It’s an honour and a joy that has far surpassed anything I could have dreamed.

More images from Eloise’s first seaside adventure can be viewed —-> here.

Featured Gem 4
Real Photo Postcard

‘Mother and Daughter’

Date: Unspecified
People: Unidentified
Postcard Back: Blank

Notes: Oh how I love this image despite it being a little creased and battered. Something about it makes me smile.

How on earth did it come about? I can imagine a mother and her daughter going along to the photo studio wanting a lovely family portrait and the photographer somehow convincing them that it would be a good idea to include the fake donkey and the car.

Look at their expressions. The daughter looks so uncomfortable perched in the little car, her hands awkwardly in her lap. The body language is fantastic!

And what is going on with the donkey’s ankles?

I wonder what the rest of the family had to say when they saw this photo? I wonder if they ever sent the postcard to anyone?

I love it!

Very exciting! I finally picked up this old sewing box. I bought it on Ebay last year but hadn’t had the chance to trek up the mountains to fetch it. I can’t believe I took so long to collect it, but with Christmas holidays, a sick poppet and deadlines to meet the months added up quickly!

I was purchasing it for the lovely wooden box. The box is indeed wonderful, and I am delighted by its construction, patina and size, but when I got it home I discovered it was still full of old sewing bits and pieces. A wonderful array of textures and colours. Among the things I discovered inside: two gorgeous old hand embroidered needle books, an old tape measure, various fasteners, wooden cotton reels, two old patterns, embroidery transfers and old sewing scissors.

My folks have been visiting from interstate this week and today we set off on a thrift store adventure and trekked to a few of my favourite vintage item and ephemera haunts. We all have a passion for collecting things so days like this are great fun. We had a lovely day looking for treasures and drinking lots of coffee!

I have been obsessed with reading craft orientated blogs of late (current must reads: SouleMama, Turkey Feathers, LoobyLu and Angry Chicken) and have found myself drawn to the haberdashery and linen departments of various thrift stores. I’ve always collected fabrics, buttons and the like for my collages, but it has been too long since I cranked up the machine or picked up the knitting needles and I am really yearning to get sewing and crafting again!

I am not sure if having my daughter is inspiring me to make ‘softies’, sew toddler clothes and become a domestic cupcake baking queen but there is definitely something brewing and I like it!

Among the items I could not resist:
These two vintage pattern books. Turabast ‘Swiss Straw’ by Myart and ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Fashions’ (Patons knitting book No. 749) Now I can’t see myself making a fuzzy wuzzy bonnet anytime soon (just imagine wearing THAT up to the shops?) but the swiss straw bags are brilliant!

I also found a bag of upholtsery fabric containing about 30 large squares from a sales sample book in lovely bright colours. It is such lovely quality and was an absolute steal at a dollar for the whole bag! Hmmm… cushion covers, bags or softies. I then discovered three sheets of Beutron Buttons also from a sales folder, each containing forty buttons in wonderful earthy natural shades and several different styles and sizes. A few seventies Simplicity toddler sewing patterns for ‘pinnies and slacks’ also found their way into my shopping basket.

I always look at the crockery and kitchenalia. I like to use little items as display pieces, vases and pot plants, vessels for knick-nacks, pens and pencils. I found this 1960 chook mug by Holt Howard. I love the shape and colour. I also discovered a wonderful little jug decorated with shell illustrations. It has no markings on it and I have no idea how old it is but it looks quite weathered. It’s all textured and crazed with age which I LOVE.

Eloise also lucked out. I found a great toddler swing for outside and a huge basket full of colourful wooden blocks.