Gathering Dust

Slow Jam Crafting

Christmas time is full of hustle and bustle for a lot of people, but I do my shopping on-line in my slippers, I don't bake and I don't decorate anything but my booth at the antique mall- I know, bah humbug Beth. 

But I've had extra time to craft lately and have actually FINISHED a few projects.  Like the patchwork covered wallpaper box on the right side.  It's a project that shouldn't take more than 45 minutes, but it started as an after thought, like so many of my projects do. 

I was working on something else, saw the box on my worktable, saw a couple of small pieces of wallpaper that looked pretty together and glued them on the box- and then I set it aside and finished whatever else I was doing. Every so often, I'd add another piece of wallpaper.

That is slow jam crafting.

Not everything takes me so long.  I put together this little afghan for Button in about a week.  It's small- just "Button size".

DH thought that since Buddy had his own afghan, Button should have one, too.

I've been watching reruns of Downton Abbey.  This is probably my fourth time through.  If a TV show is really good, I can watch it over and over. 

Some of that might because I have very little short term memory, and I'm usually doing something else (crafting) while I'm watching, so I miss things.  TV-wise, I'm kind of a cheap date.

So lately while I've been watching, I've been stitching these little bits, and then putting a pin on top and calling them "pinnies".  If I didn't put the pin on top, I wouldn't have a name for them at all...

Next project- taking these pieces of a wonderful old Hudson Bay wool camp blanket that has seen better days, cutting it into squares and patchworking them back together.  I bought a rotary cutter to make sure I got the edges as straight as possible.  But I'm not sure where I put the rotary cutter...but I know I bought one, the receipt is right on top...

Yeah, this is slow jam crafting.

BeJewel, BeDazzle, BeDeck and a SALE

I've had some very good luck finding jewelry recently.  So lucky that I have several boxes on the bed in the guest room, several in the living room, several in the craft room...I know, not a bad problem to have.

I'm listing it in my Etsy shop at what I hope are very "attractive" prices.  But if you don't think the prices are low enough, I'm having a 20% off sale in both my shops:

Gathering Dust  (books, paper, price tags etc)

and

SugarPinkMoon (jewelry, trims, sewing etc)

Just use the code 12152012  (you know, like Dec 15, 2012...pretty clever, huh?) and you'll get 20% off your order.

The sale is good through Monday Dec 17.  I'll be adding to my shops all weekend.

Two of my favorite larger items are this velvet photo album, full of vintage mats,

and this pretty celluloid glove box.

The winner of the crazy quilt giveaway is Debra Ganas- congrats Debra!

Favorite Estate Sale Find: Vintage Sewing Stuff

At the same estate sale where I found the crazy quilt in my previous posts, I also found one of the best stashes of vintage sewing notions I've seen in a long time.

Usually I find sewing stuff from the 50's, but I think these are from much earlier.  Some are from Germany, so I'm guessing 1920's or earlier.

I love these little pin cubes- beautiful graphics.

One side of this cube has a dice graphic.

German scissors and handmade scissor sheathes lined with velvet.

Bobbins for winding sewing or embroidery thread- made of celluloid and mother of pearl.

I'll be bringing these to sell at the  Old Summit Antique Show on Jan 19.  It'll be here before we know it!

Under the Crazy Quilt- A Giveaway

I'm glad so many people enjoyed the crazy quilt in my last post. Even if it isn't an antique quilt, I think it's interesting because someone put some time and thought into the quilt.  It's not as crazy as it looks.

Some people asked if I was going to finish the quilt.  I wish I could say I was, but I'm almost certain that I won't...but maybe someone else would- so I'm going to give it away.  Besides the pieces of the quilt I've shown, I'll also include some of the other pretties that were in the box.

Like this piece of satin stitched with silk holiday cards.

Lots of cut up silk ties to keep on quilting...or whatever else you'd like to do.

More silk ribbon Christmas images- so you can start your 2013 holiday crafting early.

And a bunch of pretty trims, ribbons and other miscellania.

I love this little piece of needlework- it's on leather.  I wonder if it was salvaged from a collar or a glove?

More random bits and pieces that I found in the box- including a beaded leaf that doesn't seem to have anything to do with the quilt.

So, if you'd like the partially finished crazy quilt, a bunch 'o scraps to add to it and the pretty trims I've shown here, leave me a comment on this post before 5pm on Friday, and I'll pick someone to get this crazy quilt scrap box.

FAIR WARNING:  You will also probably get some white dog hair.

If you win the quilt, you don't have to finish it, you don't have to do anything.  If you want, you can take the quilt apart and use the pieces for your own projects, or you can put the quilt in a shopping bag and wait for your family to sell it at an estate sale, or you can give it away on your blog.

It is a "no-obligation" crazy kind of a quilt.

Was I Crazy to Buy this Quilt?

It was a  Friday in December, the location, an estate sale with an unusually good selection of antiques- in particular, vintage sewing items.

The box was about the size of a ream of paper- wrapped in a clear shopping bag with masking tape all the way around.  "Unfinished crazy quilt - $14" was written on the tape.

I was intrigued.  Right away, I knew from the fabric with Chief's football helmut that this wasn't really old- but I did like the little scrap with roses, and the feather stitching was nicely done.

My hands (and tote bag) were full...so I passed.

Short cut to Saturday morning.  The same estate sale was calling my name. 

"Beth, Beth, it's half price day."

The box was still there, and I was willing to take a $7 risk.

If you haven't spotted it out by now- the quilt is made from men's ties, and the labels are randomly sewn in one corner.

The "finished" part of the quilt is only about 2 feet by 3 feet- and the edges and backing are just pinned together, so there is a lot more unfinished about the quilt than finished.

But the box is full of raw materials- including stacks of silk Christmas cards.  Maybe a little late for holiday crafting this year...

But other stuff, too.  Ribbons, lace, floss- still more to sort through.  Do you want to see the rest of the box?

It's Old, It's Worn, It's Faded, It's Torn: I'll Take It!

Some of the well worn favorites I've been fondling lately. 

Box of hook and eye fasteners- what can I say... "Great Graphics".

Embossed leather purse with ivy and images of baseball games, carriage races, ladies in dresses playing badminton.

Old school books- "Spellers & Primers".

Don't you love worn velvet- even if it has dog hair on it?

Inside- an alabaster statue.