Category Archives: Vintage Finds

before + after

This poor chair has been in my garage since June.

I picked it up at a consignment shop for $12. In spite of its disgusting condition, I knew it had cuteness potential. My husband was not very pleased with me for bringing it home since I already had three rescued chairs awaiting makeovers in the garage. He did say he liked this one best, though.

After lots of cleaning, a new seat + cushion, a bit of spray paint, and some fabulous fabric…

I think it’s living up to its potential. I had it in my booth at the Urban Street Bazaar over the weekend and nearly sold it. To my secret delight, the buyer couldn’t commit. So now it can live at my house.

a mini makeover

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Remember this little vintage sewing basket I picked up a few months ago?

Well, it’s had a mini makeover.

Looking pretty cute, isn’t it?

Friday Finds

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On Fridays I like to get in a bit of fabric and/or thrift shopping. Yesterday I came home with some awesome finds. On the thrift front, I got a super cool bamboo-esque chair (similar to this one) that I can totally picture in Betty Draper’s new living room.

It’s just screaming out for some paint and an upholstered seat, isn’t it? [$10]

I also found a vintage croquet set that needs a little TLC but is already super cute. [$7.50]

On the fabric front, I stopped in at Ruby Jane, a tiny shop that’s mostly online but does have a brick and mortar for local shoppers. She had a bolt of what is probably my favorite fabric discovery in ages – Tasty Escapes from Michael Miller. I’d never even seen this print before. It’s retro, cartoonish – very Route 66 and very adorable.

And finally…some more of the in-progress red + aqua string quilt:

This quilt is enormous – 77″ by 77″ at the moment. I’m thinking of adding a 4 inch white border before I baste it. It’s going to be muy grande.

Lori’s quilt + a vintage find

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Cross another one off my WIP list! I started this quilt for my sister back in April. The colors are punchy and bright so it suits her beautifully.

She helped me photograph it on my last day in Houston over the weekend. We found the perfect spot in the Medical Center - a modern new building that’s part of Rice University’s campus.

The back is a simple oversized patchwork design of mostly leftovers from the front. This kind of patchwork is fast and fun to piece and I love the impact of it. Each fabric is really allowed to shine.

Dimensions: 65? x 65?

Fabrics: Chocolate Lollipop, Garden Party, and Good Folks by Anna Maria Horner; Love, Midwest Modern, and Daisy Chain by Amy Butler, Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt, Alexander Henry, Mendocino by Heather Ross, Ta Dots from Michael Miller, various oranges and pinks from Bella Solids by Moda

Started: April 2010

Completed: June 2010

We also photographed my latest vintage find, an adorable scrappy hexagon quilt.

It’s in the exact style that I’ve started piecing my own 3/4″ hexagons in so I was really excited to find it. $39 at an antique shop in the Heights.

My Weekend

thriftacular!

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Yesterday I went thrifting. It’s one of my favorite things to do but I don’t do it often. There’s a point where vintage collections start to look like a garage sale in your living room and I want to stay far, far away from that place. But since I am once again rearranging, organizing, and decorating my sewing room, I am on the lookout for some specific things – frames, porcelain birds, and embroidery. For the most part, I stayed on task.

floral applique handkerchief

porcelain bird.

double wedding ring quilt. $40!!!! Some of the fabric is tattered and needs to be replaced but it’s virtually stain-free. This quilt deserves it’s own post so I’ll share some more photos when I can get outside one morning before it hits 100 degrees.

I also bought a couple of shadow boxes and dainty shelves that were undergoing their makeover at press time. There will be a big reveal soon. Promise.