Etceteras: vintage button snowflake

I was invited to a Snowflake Party. Now, I know for most you that won’t sound strange but many people will be wondering what the heck a Snowflake Party is. For instance, when I told my family that dinner would be a bit delayed because I was finishing my project for a Snowflake Party – they gave me that blank look that I often get…   A Snowflake Party is basically a group of bloggers and a hostess all creating a themed project. Fun!

SHOW & TELL: Sentimental Vintage Keepsakes–Loss and Love

A little over a year ago my neighbor passed away at a terribly young age leaving her husband and twin toddlers. I watched her fight cancer courageously and beat it only to cruelly have to endure another round. I watched her babies release butterflies at her grave and heard them over the backyard fence struggle to find normal again.

CELEBRATIONS: Vintage Wagon & Logs Holiday Place Card

I just love this little metal vintage wagon. I’ve had it for nearly 30 years! The little wheels actually turn and it’s so well made.

The Inspiration Board: Spotlight 215 & Vintage Crush

Another weekend has flown by and here we are again at the start of a brand new week. I hope you did something wonderful over the weekend – relaxed, created, enjoyed family – whatever would make your weekend extra special. A big thank you to everyone who visited me here at homework last week and especially those who shared their projects on The Inspiration Board.

In case you haven’t had time to drop in, here’s what I’ve been sharing lately.

Coconut Blueberry Granita  |  Travel Toner Pads and Container |  Summer Color Burst  |  Green Tea Toner

And now for the projects featured in The Spotlight this week:

UPCYCLING: Repurposed Vintage Sifter to Vase

I’ve had this sifter forever! I honestly don’t remember where I got it. It might be my moms, I’m going to have to ask her.

Etceteras: recipe organization

With the new year always comes a wave of cleaning, purging and organizing. I’m not sure what it is that brings that out in some of us but I’m going to ride that wave for as long as I can. I haven’t had time to tackle some of the larger organizing projects, like cleaning out my closet {sigh… I’ll need a full weekend to tackle that mess} but I did get one little project done and I’m thrilled with the end result.

CELEBRATIONS: Faux Vintage Lace Napkin Rings

I mentioned last week that this year, I’m not hosting Thanksgiving at my house (fist bumps everyone)! But when I do have large gatherings, I like to use napkin rings even if I’m not going to use cloth napkins.

Sew & Tell: Vintage Covered Buttons

I made some covered buttons and some combination covered buttons. They aren’t truly vintage because I made them but the metal button caps and backs are The Original Prims Cover Your Own Buttons.

Upcycling: Weathered Nautical cans

It’s not too late to get that beachy coastal look for summer and here’s a simple diy recycling project to add a nautical touch to your décor.

Be My Guest: Cupcakes and Crinoline

Happy Monday friends. I’m back but of course, so behind on so many things. So while I unpack, read through hundreds of emails and work on some projects, I’ll let the sweet Mary Beth of Cupcakes and Crinoline share her beautiful Vintage Pin Cushion.

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Hello sweet friends of Carolyn and her inspiring Homework. I am so excited to be here today. Carolyn is one of my favorite bloggers and I always find myself oohing and aahing over her lovely creations and beautiful photography. For those of you who don't know me {and that's probably most of you!}, I'm Mary Beth, the author of Cupcakes and Crinoline where I share recipes, crafts, my love of vintage style and easy, small DIY projects. Today I wanted to share one of my favorite oh-so-easy to make vintage crafts with you~ this Vintage Pin Cushion.

Etceteras: Romantic Dream Catcher

Have you ever seen a dream catcher? Dream catchers originate from Native Americans and they are typically made on hoops with netting in the middle and feathers hanging from the hoop.

Celebrations: mother’s day gift box

Mother’s Day is around the corner and a homemade gift is always special. This year I’m going to make some treats and fill up this embellished box that I made.

Sew and Tell: vintage chenille no-sew stockings

I love vintage linens. In fact, a long time ago – in a galaxy far away, I used to make and sell pillows using vintage fabrics.

Sew & Tell: sentimental vintage treasure

My friend recently gave me a bag of vintage linens and sewing notions that were her late mother’s. Although they were treasured items she had no need for them and told me to make some pretty things with them.

Little Crafts: paper dolls

If you have a little girl crafter in your life, then this is a fun project you can do together.

Next time you see one of those fashion round ups in a magazine, tear it out to use for paper dolls.

Glue the fashion round up onto a piece of light weight card stock and cut out each top. I used a manila file folder and glue stick.


Search online for paper dolls – I used vintage paper dolls from the 1940’s. Print them out on cardstock and cut them out. You’ll need to do a few trial print runs to get the size right so the clothes fit properly.


My vintage girls needed a more modern look, so I made them each a pair of leggings. Use tracing paper over your paper doll to make a template and then use the pattern on black cardstock to make each pair of leggings.

Removable double-sided tape works well to stick on the clothes.

The girls are looking good in neutral t-shirts.

Bright red patterns, stripes and solids. The girl in the middle is showing some of her blue lingerie. Hmmmm….

Flowing, soft knit t-shirts look great with the black leggings!

School will be out soon and this project would make a great indoor activity for your little girl crafter! 

Have fun and thanks for visiting.

Carolyn

I link at the wonderful parties listed here and 

 

Sew & Tell: vintage tea towel pillow

Did I tell you I got a new sewing machine for Christmas? My old machine was super old and not working very well. That’s one of the reasons I haven’t posted any sewing projects lately. I finally had some time to try out my new machine and I love it. It has ninety-nine stitches… so far I’ve mastered one – the straight stitch.



I dug through my fabric stash and found this vintage tea towel that I had forgotten about. It’s so bright and cheery.

My favorite part are these little curtain valances that came on the tea towel. 

The tea towel was the perfect size to make a pillow and making a pillow was an easy way to try out my new sewing machine.



I decided to make the pillow with a flange edge so I wouldn’t lose any of the cute floral pattern that runs along the edge of the towel.

Super cute and easy. Honestly, it took me longer to figure out how to thread my new sewing machine than to make this pillow.

Thanks for visiting.

Carolyn

I happily link at the parties listed here and 

  
   

Sew & Tell: vintage lace

My mom has been cleaning out closets and she recently found a bag of my grandmother’s crocheted lace, doilies and other goodies that she gave to me. 

I can’t imagine the hours and hours of work that went into each piece. The crocheting was done with very fine thread and we estimate that some of the pieces are 75 years old.

These were the threads that were in the bag. The small ball of off white thread is marked 12 cents.

This order postcard for name tape was also in the bag. 

I’m sure this piece was intended to be a table cloth or table runner. It’s the largest piece and like so many, it’s unfinished. Some things never change, I know I have tons of unfinished projects in my stash.

This lace edging has darkened with age. I’m going to try to gently hand wash the pieces and store them safely to pass down.

I believe this lace was done with a method called tatting. I added a regular sewing pin to the picture so you could see how small the knots and loops are. 

Another large unfinished piece.

Beautiful round granny squares.

More lace edging. The little vintage iron is a miniature doll or play iron. It measures approximately 2.5” in length.

I imagine evenings spent without television and computers making these beautiful lace creations. But even without all those distractions, I’m not sure I could master this type of handiwork. It’s really amazing!

Thank you for visiting.

Carolyn