Allyson Hill

Some Vintage Arrangements

Not much makes me happier than figuring out a great arrangement.  And then when the light hits just right, it catches your eye as you walk by.  I need these moments as I walk through my house. 

When these arrangements start getting ruined by the clutter of daily living, my energy gets zapped and I become non-productive - oh yeah, and I get grumpy.   

The heart of the issue is not so much that I'm seeing clutter, but rather that I'm not seeing beauty and art and therefore I'm not inspired.   

So.  I'm doing a lot of spring cleaning this week.  Finding a place for everything in order to make room for an artfully arranged living environment to inspire and brighten my moments.  To help keep on track, I use Fly Lady.  I don't follow all her rules, but in general, her ideas are really helpful. 

Back to organizing!

The bird bowl came from Good Wiu

Tins from a local shop called Ragtime Antiques & Collectables   

March of the Tools

I love March and I love Tools, so how could I not join in?

These three tools are basics that I believe every sewing body should own.  First of all is the Bamboo Pointer.  Keeps my real finger safe and it can handle a few pricks from the needle (unlike the plastic version or my finger).  I use this when installing zippers or when sewing small pieces of fabric.

Next are the Turn-It-All tube turners.  I know there are various kinds of tube turners out there, but I've only used these and I'm very happy with them.

Finally, is the Easy Threader.  This 24" snake-like piece of plastic can pull drawstring through a hoodie in one swoop.  Which is the reason why every household should have one of these alongside their measuring tape.  So handy.   

By the way, Reproduction Fabrics is a great place to find tiny prints.  You can buy only 1/2 yard pieces too, which is a big deal when you're just looking to collect piles and piles of cute ditzy prints. 

Not Another Post About Vintage Fabrics from eBay?

Yup, it's another post about vintage fabrics from eBay.  I can't help it, I'm obsessed.  The secret's out.  Did you know that there are about 4,000 vintage fabric listings on eBay right now?  Did you also know that I've viewed each and every one of those 4,000 listings?  (well actually I don't click on the listings without a photo)  It amazes and then saddens me to watch these gorgeous fabrics slip away, possibly never to be seen again.  It makes me appreciate my new fabrics, knowing that someday someone might long for a piece of that Alexander Henry fabric and I had it at my disposal.  Ok so here they are, please make sure you read the descriptions before bidding - I can't be held responsible for any yellow marks or false claims of vintageness!

Here Here Here

Here Here Here

Here Here Here

Here Here Here

Vintage Fabrics on eBay

I can't buy it all, but I sure wish I could.  I'm very much drawn to the kitchen fabrics, but these are the particular fabrics that I can't/shouldn't buy because they just don't line up with my product design needs.  So that's why I'm sharing them with you today, because maybe someone out there has a need for these gems.  We have all seen the kitchy fabrics being reproduced now-a-days, but take a look at these eBay originals, starting with ending soonest:

Here Here Here

Here Here Here

Here Here Here

Here Here Here

Love an Apple

Talk about portion control in the cutest measurements!  I recently bought this from Spiralling and it's the sweetest thing to have lingering about the cupboard.  About the portion control part, it's very petite.  If I would only eat out of this bento at each meal, I'd be set.  I know a little boy who is hoping I'll share...

   

Treasure Hunting

Helpful Hint:  When you want to go antiquing, call it Treasure Hunting instead!  (***warning*** I would not recommend this type of outing with more than one child!!!).  When Micah's soccer game was canceled on Saturday I asked him if he wanted to go Treasure Hunting to which he replied "Can I wear something nice?"  I love when he says that because it means:

1.  He will come up with something creative to wear which will usually make me smile.  Thankfully, he is getting to the point where he will listen to a little bit of gentle styling advice from his mother, though I only give it when absolutely necessary.

2.  There will be no -getting dressed- struggles.  In his words, he will "be initiative".

Here are Micah's treasures:

And mine:

I think the above will go nicely (though needs to be painted) with this.

 

Vintage wrapping paper!  Hmmm, I wonder if there is a vintage wrapping paper Flickr Group?  (**Update - of course there is a Flickr Group!)

Tea towel and apron!

Orange you Glad?

This lovely necklace which is now in my possession was made by TotusMel.  A pair of matching earrings also came along with it and I love them both equally.  They are soft and pliable and can be ironed if they get out of sorts.  You know, sometimes your outfit calls for a necklace and sometimes it just needs earrings.  So I guess I'm all set in the orange floral department, for this month at least.  Notice my arm warmers below, made by Dyno of Ultra Deluxe.  These are essential for me in the summer months when the cellar (my sewing location) is very cold, brrrr.  Her shop is closed so I am going to have to figure out how to make some for myself (cut up some knee highs?).

And I finished the skirt!  I have made plenty of A-line skirts, but this was my first full skirt.  It's ok.  What top do I wear with it though?  And what shoes?  Something to think about before making my next skirt (which is already pinned and staring at me on the dress form).  Well I had fun this weekend booking through the mall trying to find a shirt and shoes to wear with it.  I found a rusty orange shirt, but it might be too much orange with the skirt.  I love the shirt either way and the new earrings go perfectly with it.  Besides, it was only 4.99!  No luck with shoes, I'll keep looking though.  Ho hum, what a drag (just kidding of course). 

         

Oooooo and Ahhhhh

Finally, some spiffy business cards!  Leslie from The Paper Princess whipped these up for me.  She also referred me to Overnight Prints which is where I'll be having these professionally printed with a satin finish.  Oh and take a look at the back side:

I think I'll get the corners rounded, but I'm not sure yet.  It's 20.00 extra...

Thanks for all your nice comments on Cocoa Bear!  Micah is snuggled up with his right now.  He named him Abraham.  I wish I could go snuggle up with them right now but I've got seams to sew! 

Newest Acquisitions

Bright and cheery washcloths - handmade by the Polkadotdaisies.  Aren't they sweet?  She made 4 of them in different patterns, I think this is my favorite so far.  Polkadotdaisies is run by sweethearts Amber and Hailey who you will find visiting this blog quite often.  Hi girls!

Vintage mug from ebay.  Doesn't hold as much  coffee as I would like, but sipping out of this kitschy mug makes it worth the extra trip to the coffee machine.

Spring clean paper goods from 12fifteen just in time for some upcoming birthdays (and belated too, oopsy).

And lastly, Mr. Hunie (pronounced "honey") is stepping out into the world today.  He is my first attempt from my very first Japanese craft book.  For a while all I did was sleep with this book.  After a long day/night of "work" I would take it up to bed and fall asleep looking at the pictures, dreaming of cute softies until I woke up in the middle of the night and turned off the light (keeping the book in bed with me of course).  Silly I know.  It's a super cute book, but I get bored with patterns and probably won't use any more of them.  I have plans to reconfigure this one so it doesn't involve as much hand-sewing (please don't look too closely at my hand-stitching attempts :).  If anyone out there has a craft book they would like to trade I'm open!  (no knitting or crochet though).       

A New Design & Some Good Buys

This is a new design I made up this week (not for sale though).  It is very roomy and the pleats allow it to expand even more.  It's very soft and squishy.  Here's the backview with two huge pockets:

I wanted to share some of my favorites from Etsy.  To start, I just bought these super cute tapes from Smeeta on Etsy.  Hopefully I won't love them too much to actually use them!

I recently discovered Puffluna and I love the simplicity of these earrings:

I really want this glass pendant from a new-to-Etsy designer, Flourish

And finally, the Paper Princess has a beautiful selection of stationary.  Here are two of my favorites: