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).

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

Ethikl and me: Ethical Consumer Marketplace

Ethikl + Elle and Lou 

 A couple of weeks ago

I let out a big sigh....

and then a "wow!"

I had stumbled upon Ethikl.

Stumbled, head first with a big eco-smile on my face.

Finally something for consumer conscious people!

It is fairly new, so to fill you in-

Ethikl is a fair trade,

 environmentally focussed,

 online marketplace.

It is based in Cabarita QLD, but is truly international!

I am really excited about this concept.

It is a relief to find like minded artisans and and naturally I wanted to be part of it.

Look at these fabulous vintage style bikinis from 

Miss Fancypants

 Lally's upcycled typewriter bracelet

really push my vintage lovin' buttons (ka-ching)

Earthfully is a truly original store.

I mean you can't get an Aboriginal Family at Kmart or Target

(although you should be able to)

and I love their baby charms- cutie pa-tootie!

So, inspired by stores such as these

 I opened an Elle and Lou store

and last weekend I had my first sale.

That IS exciting no?

Something as good as this is hard to keep to yourself,

so check it out and spread the word.

It can only be good for the planet and that means us!

Sharing this post here:

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/

'Dreadlock' Felt Off-cut Brooches

A Winter Equation
Coats+Brooches+Recycling = Elle and Lou Brooches

For local Brisbanites I purchased the dreadlock lengths for 30 cents each at good old Reverse Garbage.


Enjoy the curves!

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!