Vintage Tea-towel Table Cloth

A recent thrift score find

resulted in the acquisition

of 15 (ok, actually it was 17)

vintage tea towels.

The tea towels were a large chunk

 of someone's well looked after collection

 As they travelled around Australia and abroad, 

she (must be a lovely woman don't you think)

purchased a linen tea-towel.

I have great plans for my tea-towels (insert evil laugh).

Today I embarked on a desperate quest

 to rid my house of  TACKY, CHEAP

 Disney placemats given to my children by relatives.

Bloody princesses and #$*!ing BEN 10

I really hate, hate, hate

marketing to kids!

So,TA-DA

I made a tablecloth.

Here it is unironed.

Not so amazing its true,

but I'm loving the colour and the kids

can learn some geography while they

scoff their bangers and mash.

All the tea-towels feature Queensland destinations.

My all time favourite though is 

pineapple laden 

"Sunshine Plantation"

Does it get any better than the Big Pineapple I ask you?

I know what you are thinking...

a table cloth doesn't solve the need for a

 wipeable surface.

And so, the final touch....

the plastic cover.

I love how the plastic reminds me of those granny sofas protected by plastic.

Can it get more kitsch?

Well, yes I'm think of adding a red pom-pom trim.

What do you think?

Now onto the cushion.

My Embroidery Learning curve

I have been teaching myself 

free-motion machine embroidery

and really enjoying the process.

This is my chronological embroidery journey.....

So that's is it in a nutshell.
Some of it is on Etsy and some I am putting in
Reverse Garbage's upcoming exhibition
"Thread Count".

If you want to keep up I post much more regularly on Facebook and instagram (elle and lou).

Free Motion Embroidery: 1st timer

I've had a hankering to try my hand at something different.

So I purchased a new foot for my machine

and began to have a small play

 with some fabric sample discards.

 Not to sure where this was going,

I glued it onto some more sample fabric

from Reverse Garbage.

Working over the print with some more

stitching added some much needed detailing.

Time for framing in the hoop.

Finishing the edges.

Fabric glued.

(Note to self- but some more bull dog clips)

Amazing stories:

I'm actually happy with it!

(I might even put it on my wall)

I'm

Here's cheers to 2013 -cherishing this time

Welcome to the New Year!

(even though we are already 8 days into it)

In Australia it is school holidays .

We have been catching up with many family and friends with afternoon barbies and long lunches.

To not be concerned with time and dates

 is indeed a rare treat and to be cherished.

My studio has been neglected,
my sewing machine abandoned,

my creative life paused.

This afternoon, 

I ventured into my studio and

 opened a shoebox.

 I found some bunting I began roughly six months ago.

I think I have forgotten how to stick to a task,

or perhaps I never quite got the hang of it.

 Today I made another 4 triangles

 and so I am a step closer to the end

of this project.

I will finish this bunting before my holidays end,

 but I intend to cherish my

freedom from the clock for as long as possible.

1960's Fashion Print: Creatives Book Club

Once again my Creative Book Club choice

 is a quick read.

Obviously I am not one to tackle the epic...

it may have something to do with my attention span,

but I think I'd rather put it down

 to the fact that I am a visual person.

And this book is all about the visual.

All the same it does have some short sharp paragraphs

giving a brief history, circa and name of the pattern.

Useful, interesting info.

 I love the 60's!

I spent my teenage years being a try hard mod

-embarrassing yes,

 but not as embarrassing as the 80's fashion of the time.

 Yummy colour galore.

Read it if:

• If you dig the 6o's
• Fabrics are your thing
• If you want some inspiration for pattern or colour
• You have a spare half hour

Find me on Facebook

Lanyard : Sporting / Corporate or Individual?

I need a lanyard for my work ID and keys.

Now, I could use the one that my employers give me,

 and be like the other 120+ people at work.

Did someone say "baaaaaa"?

Then, my super sporty triathlete mate gave me an old one of his.

Now lets get something straight-

I am not,

 never will be,

 a super sporty person

and

as such, sporting paraphernalia is not my style.

Now if I follow the advice on this lanyard 

and "listen to my body", then my body is telling me

 that this lanyard isn't going anywhere NEAR my body until it has a major overhaul!

 Another mate gave me a package wrapped in this cute stripy ribbon

and I had the other chocolate brown grosgrain ribbon already.

 So, I sewed and put the two together

Time to cut off the old "listen to your body" lanyard spiel

and attach my retro looking double ribbon in it's place.
Much better!

 The ribbon was slightly wide for some of the connections,

 but  it doesn't affect the look or the function at all.

Obviously, I could have gone out and purchased some new ribbon,

 but that goes against my 'consume less' approach at Elle and Lou.

Now when I put my keys down they won't get mixed up with everyone else's.

They're not sporty,

They're not corporate,
They are mine
and
they make going back to work after the holidays
that little bit easier.

Sharing this Elle and Lou post at these quality sites:

Saturday

http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/

http://thirtyhandmadedays.com/

http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/

http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

http://www.serenitynowblog.com/

Sunday

http://www.flamingotoes.com/

http://runwithglitter.blogspot.com/

Recycled Fabric Brooches

These are some fabric brooches that I have been making throughout this year. 
They are so simple to make and use up left over fabric scraps - what can be better? 


I continue to make them because they make great little pressies and cheer up a jacket no end. Here is the link : Uber Savvy Brooch Pattern and Instructions


I love this retro orange and white button given to me by my sister-in law. I only have one of them but now it finally has a use!

Button Brooches, Hair Accessory or Crafty Corsage

Swift and colourful, these brooches are also easy to make!

Allison Harris at http://www.cluckclucksew.com/2009/05/broach-making.html came up with the original idea, inspiring me to make some of my own. They would make great pressies for my girlfriends or mum. You just need to know their favourite colours and select fabrics accordingly.

So get together your left over fabrics, organise your layers and select a button. 

Now sew your first layer to some felt for strength. Then sew a "x" through the centre of the stack of circles for support and finally add a button and a brooch pin. 

The pink ones are for my little one and I sewed a hair tie to the back of one which can be worn on the wrist like a corsage. Or course you could also stitch one to a headband also. 

Here is the pattern, just in case you don't have a compass. Enjoy!