a bit of vintage....

Yes, i am still here.....and i am sorry i haven't posted for so long.  the truth is, i just haven't been motivated lately.  i don't know if it is the impending christmas season, the change from fall to winter, all of the photoshoots i have been doing lately or a combination of all of these.  probably the latter. 

 i am going to make it a priority to post regularly, though.  if only to challenge myself....

so.  one of the things that has been taking some of my blog time inspiration??  i have been collecting vintage sheets.  that darn pinterest has inspired me once again.....

i tried my hand at quilt making.....

a huge undertaking for someone like me. 

let me start by saying that i am no seamstress.  to be honest, i don't even like to sew and i suck at it. it reminds me of 8th grade home ec class when i had to sew culottes (yes, culottes) from a pattern.  i brought them home the day before they were due and they were a hot mess....my mom, bless her heart, and i spent the entire night redoing them and i ended up with an A on the project. (thanks mom)!  i have had an aversion to such detailed sewing since....

  but i have to admit, this was fun.  and it was easy....

 the goodwill and salvation army have been a treasure trove vintage sheets and pillowcases.

i know, it sounds gross and disgusting and i thought so too until i started seeing these beauties all over pinterest.  

 there was just something about the soft colors, the well worn and faded textures

 and to be sure, the nostalgia associated with seeing a sheet that i had as a child.  see the turquoise flower and stripe (top right) below?  i had sheets just like that when i was a teenager...

now, the thought of cutting and piecing little squares daunted me but i found instructions for a strip quilt.

sewing the fabric, batting and back all at the same time?  in long strips instead of little squares?  

sign me up!!...

it literally took me about 5 hours to complete.  most of that time was spent deciding which sheets to use and cutting the strips.  the actual quilting consisted of sewing straight lines and some curvy ones to hide my mistakes on the back just for interest.  

it is just a lap quilt and is 50 x 72.  i used twin and double sheets as well as a few pillowcases for it...some of the strips are actually the decorative tops of flat sheets,

a lot of them are trimmed in lace or other fabrics and added color and textural interest.  you can sort of see the lace trim above and below.  the pink strip was also a sheet top.....

  the backing is a full sized sheet... the salvation army had the top and bottom sheet as a set for $6.99 which was way more than i would spend but it was half off that day.  where can you buy probably 7 or more yards of fabric for $3.50?   the batting for this quilt was $14.99 for 72 x 90 which was on clearance at hobby lobby.  the vintage sheets (i used 5) and pillowcases (i used 3)  ranged in price from .99 for a set of pillowcases to between .75 and $4.00 for the sheets.  i probably used about 1/4 of each sheet that i used and just the folded edges of the pillowcases, so my best estimate is under $20 for the quilt.
it is a nice lightweight quilt, perfect for snuggling up under in the winter and light enough to use in the summer air conditioning...
i have tons more vintage sheets

and i think they will make beautiful quilts.....