Vintage Tablecloth curtains

I finally decided what I wanted for my kitchen curtains.  I remembered that I had purchased a vintage tablecloth last year at the thrift store.  I got it out and discovered that it was the perfect color for our redecorated kitchen.  I cut two ends from the tablecloth, sewed them together and added a hem and top casing.  I love the finished curtains.  The color is perfect and the retro look is perfect.

There was a small piece from the middle of the tablecloth remaining after I made the curtains.  I made two small tea towels and put them ont the handle of the range. 

Blue Ridge Pottery and Springtime

I have been collecting vintage Blue Ridge Pottery for a number of years.  Before our kitchen redo,  I had a large display of Blue Ridge platters and plates on the wall in the breakfast nook.  After our redo, that wall is covered with my Chestnut and Vine quilt.  I still wanted to display some of the dishes in my kitchen.  I found this plate rack at the thrift store.  The holder in the center had a candle holder.  I removed the candle holder and spray painted the rack blue.  It now hangs on the wall near the kitchen sink.  I selected floral plates for this display and a lovely creamer on what remains of the candle holder.  I haveBlue Ridge platters displayed on other racks in the kitchen (pics at a later date).  

 I placed a Welcome Spring display on the raised ledge below this plate rack.

These flowers and little signs were purchased at the 99 Cent Store.   My sister gave me the vintage pitcher.  I am anxiously awaiting Spring (however, it has been Spring Like here in Arizona for the past month).   Hoping for orange blossoms soon.

Emily the Cat Cookie Jar and Pink Saturday

I've decided to join Beverly's Pink Saturday this week.  I haven't participated in quite a few month's due to DH's health issues.  I found this darling cookie jar at the local Goodwill this week.  She was sitting on a shelf just waiting for me to take her home.

When I got her home, I discovered that she is Emily the Cat and was made for Mervyns in the 1970's and 1980's.  She was made in Japan.  She has wonderful details including glass eyes.

She is holding a untitled book and has a lovely bouquet of PINK flowers.  She is perfect for Pink Saturday. 

To see more lovely Pinks, visit Beverly's Blog here.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Emily has a friend Wilbur.  You can see him here.

Ruffled Headband

Here is the ruffled flower headband that I made to the match the ruffled skirt in the previous post.  I purchased an inexpensive headband and wrapped it with a piece of the stripe fabric in the skirt.  I then made the ruffle flower and attached it to the headband.  The flower is from Ruffled Flower Pin pattern by The Noble Wife.  The pattern does not call for the button center but I like the idea of a button center.  Now the granddaughter can wear her ruffled skirt and a ruffle flower in her hair.  Hopefully I get a photo some day and share on the blog.

Lots of Ruffles

Here is a ruffle skirt that I made for my oldest granddaughter. It took quite awhile to make all those ruffles.  I wasn't able to use my  Janome 11000 ruffler for these but instead did the ruffles by pulling threads. The original pattern had six rows of ruffles but she decided that she would like only 4.  The original pattern can be seen below and here at the Pink Fig.

I also made a head band with fabric flower to match the skirt.  Next up is a skirt for the younger granddaughter.  Pink is her favorite.  So her's will have a pink ruffle.  I had hoped to use fabric from my stash but I had to visit the fabric store for this one.  The ruffles require lots of fabric.  I'm using some new and some from my stash.

Blue Heaven Dinnerware

My plan is to display some of the vintage dinnerware I've been collection in my newly decorated kitchen/breakfast noon.  Today I'm showing three pieces of Blue Heaven.  Blue Heaven was sold in the 60's by Royal China of Sebring, Ohio.  If you check on-line you will find quite a few pieces of this pattern.  I purchased 4 pieces some time ago at the thrift store.  I only purchased serving pieces - pitcher, sugar, creamer and the handled cakeplate below.  I love the bright color of this retro design.  Looks great on my quilted table topper.

Hanging Up the Quilt with Hang-Ups

I decided to display my completed Chestnut and Vine quilt in the newly decorated breakfast nook.   I hung the quilt using a quilting product called Hang-Ups.

I found these wonderful little Hang-ups at the Washoe Quilt Shoppe in Montana a few years ago.  I purchased a package of 6.  I had intended to put them to use immediately but alas they sat in my studio until this week.  At the quilt shop they used them on a rail that went around the top of the wall.  I wanted to make a quilt rail for a wall in my home.  Our "historic West Clark Addition" home has plaster walls and it is difficult to mount things to the wall without destroying the lovely plaster.  I thought this would be the perfect solution for displaying quilts.

First we went to Home Depot and selected a piece of decorative trim for the quilt rail.  We installed screws evenly spaced across the rail.  I painted it white to match the Pottery Barn Shelving in the room.  My DH them mounted it to the wall.  You can see the entire rail below and a closeup of the screws.

Here is the top of my Chestnut and Vine quilt hanging from my new quilt rail. 

Kitchen Message Center/Memo Boards

For the messsage center in the kitchen, I painted these three metal trays.  The yellow one may get a blackboard center.  I bought the paint but haven't made a decision yet.  I added the magnetic alphabet letters from the Granddaughter's Playroom.   Below the memo boards will be the child's desk I purchased at the thrift store almost 2 years ago. 

I plan to paint the desk white and the two drawers  aqua  blue and apple green.

I had hoped to find a lovely wood like this when I stripped the desk but I wasn't so lucky.  The desk top was in really bad shape after years of use and abuse by children.  And the wood wasn't oak but appeared to be a variety of woods.

Read more about my great plans for the desk here.  Now I'm ready to make it new again with a paint job.  I'll post a photo of the entire message center after the desk is completed.  I am currently looking for drawer pulls.  I found one source on line that has 2" center drawer pulls.  I checked at Home Depot and they have nothing.  Even Restoration Hardward doesn't carry that size.

Today we are installing the quilt rail in the breakfast nook.  It will make hanging the quilts so much easier (no nail holes in the plaster wall).  I'll save this project for another post.

Kitchen Art

Since we are redecorating our kitchen and breakfast nook, I wanted some unique art for the wall above the range.    I found a Vintage cookbook dated 1957 (The ABC of Barbecue with decorations by Ruth McCrea).  There were "decorations" for the entire alphabet.  I choose to copy the A, B, and C.  I bought the frames at the Dollar Store and painted them Green Apple.   See photo below.

Don't the little "decorations" by Ms. McCrea look great with my new paint color and the vintage subway tile! The paint is a little darker than it appears in the photo.  It is Cornerstone by Behr.  We bought many sample paints before selecting this color.  We are very pleased with the finished walls and cabinets.

I have chosen to decorate with some of my vintage finds from my thrifting.  On the range is vintage orange and white Westinghouse.  I'll post about the kettle in a later post.  Now it's time to get back to the Superbowl.  More kitchen redo tomorrow.

Ruffled Tote

Side 1

Side 2

Rosette

Cowgirl fabric

I've finally found the time to get in the studio for a few hours.  I have been busy with DH's medical issues (knee replacement and therapy).  He will undergo another thyroid surgery next week.  We're hoping this is the end of surgeries for a LONG time.

This litle ruffled tote it a birthday gift for my DIL.  I've seen them all over Pinterest and blogland.  I purchased the tote at Michael's and the fabric is from my stash.  I love the cowgirl fabric but unfortunately there isn't much left in my stash. 

I found the tutorial for the rosettes here.  I purchased Aleen's fabric glue at Michaels for these.  I'm very pleased with the rosettes but I did have glue all over my fingers.  Luckly it washed right off with soap and water.  I added a bead to the center of each rosette and then sewed them onto the tote.

It was good to get back in the studio.  I'm also redecorating my kitchen and breakfast nook.  We painted the walls and cabinets prior to my DH's knee replacement.  I ordered a small table and chairs from Overstock.com and we were very pleased with the quality.  This was my first purchase from the site.  I was so pleased with their low shipping charges.  I'll have photos later as I decorate the 60 year old kitchen with  original cabinets and tile.  The tile in the kitchen is one of my favorite things in the house.