Happy Little Vintage Find

This morning I dropped my sewing machine for a service (sob!) and stopped in at my favourite op shop (thrift store), conveniently around the corner.

As I was walking out, this little gem called out to me from the magazine rack, nestled among the craft magazines. Now I totally identify as a thoroughly modern quilter, but I figured for 60c it was worth the look.

Behold, a 1977 Better Homes and Gardens Patchwork & Quilting book. Officially vintage, almost as old as me, back when patchwork was brand new again, long before the invention of rotary cutters and die cutters.

Okay, so the fashions and hairstyles leave a lot to be desired, but some of the quilts are fabulous. If you thought using lots of solids was oh-so-modern, you were wrong. And if you thought bright was a 21st century invention, wrong again. Change up the styling and you'd have trouble telling some of these apart from current 'modern' quilts (though the puffy batting leaves something to be desired).

I was going to take photos of a few of the pages for you, but then I discovered this and I'm not one to reinvent the wheel. I'll wait while you pop over to check out this page.

Are you not loving that orange, pink and yellow curtain? Or that string quilt from solids? Or the applique flowers and butterflies?

But here is my favourite project. Serious love. I so want to make a modern version of this.

Don't you think it would be kind of fabulous? There are a few blocks I'm not so fond of, so I might make a 12 block version. Kristy suggested I make it a reward for finishing projects this year and I think she's on to something, I could make one block for each finish.

You can find your own copy of this little gem at Amazon if you so desire.

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Sunday Stash - Vintage Sheets

Today's Sunday Stash isn't a new addition to my collection, but I wanted to share my sweet little vintage sheet collection with you.

Here are some sheets I got in a fat quarter swap a few months ago.

And here are some lovelies I recently thrifted and need to cut into FQs very soon.

And yes, I have an ulterior motive sharing them with you. I am currently hosting a Vintage Sheet Fat Quarter Swap on Facebook - at the Fabric Swaps - Australia and International page - but because it's been pretty quiet I've extended the swap deadline to September 30th and I'm also organising it through my blog too.

So if you're an Australian resident and you want to get yourself a lovely little bundle of vintage goodness, here's your chance!

A few housekeeping details: The swap is for vintage sheets cut into fat quarters (20in x 20in/50cm x 50cm). It is up to you how many FQs you want to swap, you will get the same number in return.

Please wash sheets prior to sending. Cut carefully, removing hemmed edge before cutting and watching for any holes/stains – please only send sheets you would be happy to receive. If sheets are not up to standard I reserve the right to send the unsuitable sheets back to you. You may need to fussy cut around holes or particularly worn areas.

Use a pre-paid parcel post satchel to mail them to me, and include a self-addressed pre-paid satchel for their return. You will get about 15fqs in a 500g satchel ($7.20) and 50+ in a 3kg satchel ($11.40), there are also 5kg satchels ($14.50) but I’m not sure how much they hold. If you want to send more than one satchel of FQs that is fine but please mark them 1 of 2, 2 of 2 etc. It would help me if you can pop a note in that states exactly how many FQs you’re sending. 

Sheets need to be with me by September 30th , 2012. 

Please comment below or email me at janeykelly@hotmail.com to get mailing address and let me know to expect your parcel.

Please feel free to publicise the swap on your blog, facebook etc. The more the merrier!

Linking up to Sunday Stash at Finding Fifth

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