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

3 Little Kittens Bunting in a Book

The Three Little Kittens

 story has always been a favourite with me.

So when I happened upon this 1974 Golden Book publication it was destined to become "Bunting in a Book".

I did leave out the pages of the mother cat

 spanking the kittens over her knee, however tempted I was.

I can't wait to find out where this bunting is destined for-

hopefully a sweet little nursery or child's room.

I'd like to think that the new owner will end up loving this story and much as me.

  

I'll bring this bunting and other "Bunting in a Book"

 to the BrisStyle indie Designers Market 

on the 14th July in the heart of Hamilton, Brisbane.

Birthday Cards and Movie Moments

Yes, here I am

 days later and still working on my 'Birthday Issues'

My actual birthday came and went I am proud to say without a tear nor tantie.

 The same cannot be said for these

 beauties of the silver screen:

Bette Davies

 (...we love you- I always think of the Madonna song Vogue)

Audrey and Katherine Hepburn

and Catherine Deneuve.

Oh Katherine is it oh so bad?

Here's hoping that someone out there shares my slightly distorted sense of birthday humour, either that or my girlfriends are getting these cards for quite some time.

On the flip side..

Hope you are having a Doris Day!

Birthday Issues

My birthday is a in a couple of days.

It isn't a significant one -  just one of those in between years.

These are the ones that I like best!

The birthdays that end in zero come with the pressure that you simply MUST celebrate in a befitting manner.

Lots of people, lots of food and drink,

lots of organising, lots and lots and lots of stress!

Its enough to give you birthday issues.

Joan Crawford -Birthday issues

I was a lot like Joan Crawford when I turned 40

 (minus the glamour unfortunately).

 I'm over the trauma drama now of course,

really... I AM!

Joan is part of my new range of cards entitled 

"Birthday Issues". I've been really enjoying making these cards in the lead up to the BiDM markets in July. I have a little chuckle as I collect the melodramatic images.

Hopefully the recipients will see the humour in the drama too.

What about you?

Ever had a Joan moment?

La Dolce Vita is up-cycling

Now call it opportunistic BUT,

 when the kids are at school is my best chance to...

 ... go through their rooms and throw out crap

- they are such hoarders!

If you have a daughter,

chances are she went through PPP

 (plastic pony phase)

A word of encouragement:

thankfully there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I think my daughter has pretty much outgrown them.

Yesterday, I found this forgotten plastic pony carry case and couldn't help myself

-maybe I can be a hoarder too.

I soaked off the filly brand info and was left with a super  icky sticky but funky green briefcase.

"Movie Classics" has been featuring

 regularly in my up-cycling work lately.

A trim and a tweak,

 some glue and some sealer and...

La Dolce Vita!

Translated:

The Sweet Life or 

The Good Life

Ticket wallets fit perfectly- La Dolce Vita

Linking Elle and Lou here:

http://cheapcraftymama.com/pin-it-and-win-it-7/#comment-1199
http://www.releasemecreate.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.happygoluckyblog.com/
http://romantichome.blogspot.com.au/
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.craftionary.net/

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:

Elections and rummage sales

Sat night night was our big state election. 

Now while I am a little non-plussed
 about the result,
 I am grateful!

How lucky am I to be in a country
 where (as a woman)  I have a vote?

I did not have to travel for days to get to the polling booth,

 and my life was not put in danger.

I am grateful that my government did not rig the election
 as is evidenced by it being well
 and truly thrown out of office.

So while I am concerned at the environmental integrity of the newly elected party

(and I hope with all my heart they look after our wild rivers)
I am grateful to live in a democratic system!


There is another wonderful thing about democratic elections....

Where there is a polling booth there is often a super fantabulous rummage sale!!! 

We stumbled upon a beauty at the local church up the road.

Plastic jewellery isn't for everyone,
 but I've never been that enamoured by diamonds.
 I'm in retro love my new plastic orange bangles

These glossy red numbers will cheer up many an outfit!

But thats not all! No sir-ee!

We came home with 4 bags of cheap old, books
and this is my favourite....

The SUPER DICTIONARY!

for 50 cents!
Thats a lot to be grateful for!

Sharing this Elle and Lou ramble here:
http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/2012/03/vintage-rooster-newbie-party-started.html