The Internet Craft Basket

My Internet Craft Basket

I've just added a post to Sew Retro thinking I was adding to my blog! Oh dear I hope that's ok... So here's goes one on my blog.

There's a comforting sense of domestic tradition that goes with the narrative of these sewing books of old. The internet has allowed us this privilege to go back in time and experience the beginings of these sewing circles.

Sewing for Little Girls (1911)

by Olive Hyde Foster

DEDICATED
To two neatest lttle seamstresses that ever
learned to sew.

Preface

It is an easy matter to interest a little girl in
sewing if one approach the subject in the right
way.
The average mother pays scant attention to
her child's play with dolls, not realizing that it is
possible to turn the making of the doll's outfit
into the most practical of lessons.

While a garment for herself might at first only
weary and dishearten the little seamstress, the
miniature pieces have a peculiar appeal of their
own that will cause her to execute the most per-
fect kind of work with delight.
.

To Market







I've recently had vintage stalls at a Sunday Market in Bentleigh Melbourne. Aside from falling out of bed on a dark cold morning it's worth the effort.

Being a community market gives it a friendly atmosphere. At 9am the coffee girl wanders around to see if anyone wants a cappuccino. By then it tastes like coffee sprinkled with gold!

I managed to sell some of my vintage frames, hand painted vases, books and clothing. More importantly though I talked to lots of people and you can start to gauge which items are more popular.

I've included a couple of photos just to give you a sense of what my stall is like.

Sunday Sewing

I finished a vintage bag today. Each piece of the bag has come from pre-loved materials.
The fabric I found in an op shop, the flower beading was inside an old sewing basket from a Sunday Market, the black velvet handles from a dress once worn and the faux fur from a pre-loved coat.

Saturday Afternoon....

This afternoon I rummaged through my vintage sewing tools and decided to photograph them. I display some of the pieces around the house as it's a shame to have them hidden away. Unfortunately after spending some time setting up my camera decided it could no longer work for me, then our whippet puppy called Nigel sprinted into the lounge room and decided the 50 year old pin cushion was for him! I chased him and rescued my vintage piece. Here is the one photo I managed to capture...

Vintage Sewing Blog "Sew Retro"

Found this lovely Vintage Sewing Blog this morning.

Vintage Patterns and Fabrics freshly displayed.

Dare I say it, "Sew Delightful!"

Altered Vintage Vases

I've had some comments about my Vintage Vases.

By painting and decorating them I have given them a new taste of life. Their original colours were Grey-Creams and they were gathering dust in dark corners. I've exhibited once and they created a positive response. A younger generation can appreciate their form and to realise that change is always possible with imagination and courage.

Vintage Inspirations!

http://meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/

If you haven't already found this blog, you're missing out on some wonderful old world crafts and inspirational ideas.

Have a look at Pip Lincolne's book and you can't help but get into the spirit of retro crafting in the days before the computer became an extension of ourselves...

Her crafting ideas are accessible to one and all.

When in Melbourne go and visit 'Meet Me At Mike's' and be drawn in to all of the delights of some of our childhoods.

Somehow it's restful to page through the old storybooks where children seemed to have endless adventures in gentle woods and mum appeared miraculously with home made lemonade and biscuits just at the right moment.

Bliss...