Vintage Acquisitions

I love new fabric, but what do I love more than new fabric?  New to me, vintage fabric.  It's hard (for me), to find a nice vintage print fabric at the thrift store.  Our local thrift stores are pretty picked over.  I really lucked out though.  A lady that I work with at church told me to stop by and look through her fabric for one of our projects.  She'd offered fabric to me before, but figured it was probably quilting cotton, or something of the sort.  To my delight, I found that she had bins and bins of vintage flannel.  She had received it from her mother in law, and was going to donate it to the thrift store.

I didn't feel that I could take all of it, but look at the goodies I received, fun floral prints.  There are even some neons in there, which I love. 

One of my absolute favorites is this three little kittens flannel.  So perfect.  Her mother in law must have been a quilter, because several of the pieces had been pieced together for quilt backs.

I haven't been able to cut into the fabric yet.  If we ever have a baby girl, you'd better believe that she's going to be swaddled in some lovely little receiving blankets.

 I also scored some fun vintage sewing patterns recently.  I love that little black and white jumper, and the little boys separates in the back.

Someone tell me why they no longer illustrate sewing pattern covers.  I know why, money, but honestly, they are so much more charming when illustrated.

Vintage Fabric

About a week ago I had two family gatherings scheduled for the same day.  I was seeing relatives (on both sides), that I don't see very often.  I'd had a large piece of material that I was given, and had been holding onto it for my aunt.  The fabric wasn't quite my style, but I was pretty sure that she'd love it.  When I went to the first family gathering I gifted it to her, and as it turned out, she'd used that same material decorating her kitchen. I was pretty pleased.  I'd gotten rid of a few yards of material that I didn't want taking up valuable space in our small home.  

Love the black and white gingham!

Later that day, I moved onto the second family gathering.  We were at my husband's grandparent's home, and she invited me to look through some sewing patterns that her mom had before she died.  I gladly accepted the invitation, but had no idea that I'd end up hauling home about 5 times as much material as I'd given away.  Not only did I acquire vintage fabric, but also some towels, a sheet, and a few patterns. So my effort to de-stash was counter productive, and I now have even more material to find a home for.  

Oh well.  There are a few prints in the newly acquired fabric stash that I really love. Hopefully I can make something fantastic out of them, and clear them out of the house. Any project ideas?  Some of the material is so different from what I've worked with, that I really have no idea what to make.