I don’t know about you guys, but I not only have a ton of textiles I also have a ton of scraps.  You may think, well why don’t you just toss them away?  For some reason when it comes to vintage fabrics (especially) I just cannot get rid of even the little bitty bits.  I have been known to save scraps so small they cannot hardly be considered for sewing.  However, a while back I gathered some of those little pieces together and created these…

…little bookmarks.  There is something about vintage barkcloth.  I just love the texture and the fun patterns.

Don’t you think the selvedge makes for a neat border?  (Maybe that’s just the textile junky in me)  As you can see I also had some fun with my sewing machine’s different stitches.

This last version is my favorite because I am total fan of the really mod, atomic type patterns of barkcloth from the 1950’s. 

This craft project was almost a total “Green” project.  I say ‘almost’ because the backing fabric used was newer cotton canvas, however it was just the scraps left over from another project.  I used cardstock I had gathered from the recycling bin at work to create an inner piece to add some stiffness and stability.  The ribbons and rickrack were all vintage bits purchased from estate sales and thrift shops.  Basically all the pieces were to be discarded, but I was able to bring them together into something useful…and pretty cute, I might add!

So, do you have any projects created from what you swept up off your craft room floor after another project?  Do you have TONS of bits and bobs laying around and waiting for a way to be used?  Are you really just a Hoarder?   Come on, you can tell us…  Do we need to call TLC for an intervention?  ;o)

Kitsch Krafts

PS- I have sold all but one of these bookmarks.  Here is the lone survivor in case you are interested.  I hope to create some new ones soon!

I have been working hard to help promote the Retro Handmade Etsy Team with themed Treasuries.  Of course, right now we are working with the upcoming St. Patty's Day holiday and looking for all things lucky and green!  Check out the latest Team Treasury.  It's green in more ways than one!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=44832

I did some thrifting on Friday after searching for an item I had decided to pass up the week before. It was a toy and I knew it would not be there a week later, but I just had to go back and look. I have never been so disappointed to lose out on something while thrifting. Well, that's probably an overstatement, but this was a more of a collectable than a toy and I had always wanted it growing up. I found it for a fraction of the original price and passed it up when I heard my husband's voice in my head saying, "you bought what? Really, a toy? Come on, really?". You see, he is just way more practical than me and that is saying a lot. So, I passed it up to regret it forever. Oh well, it was not meant to be.

On my way back out of the store I was trying really hard not to look at ANYTHING. You know how it is, once you start it all goes down hill so quickly. Suddenly you start to see all kinds of things that you think will fill the void of the one that got away and this is when you end up buying a bunch of true junk. Well, I broke my own thrifting rule and I looked. Of course one thing led to another and I ended up with a nice little grouping of stuff. In fact, I found a pretty good wooden cigar box that my husband promptly scooped up to claim as his own. Sorry, Charlie, but that one is mine, all mine!

I did come across a couple of those old plastic Lazy Susan's and decided to grab them just for the heck of it. They were only $1.99 each and it seems you can always find a good spot for them. After scrubbing the vintage gunk off of them I decided the Avocado Green and Harvest Gold needed some sprucing up. So, I used some self-adhesive shelf paper to line the center circles of each. The green one got a shot of gray wood-grain (thank you Martha Stewart for your fabulous KMart selection!) and the gold one is still a work in progress as I add some vintage, atomic starburst paper. The vintage paper is so old the backing was pretty much stuck to the front and is in the process of being glued down the old fashioned way. As soon as it comes together I will find a good spot for it too, and I will share that later. I thought about it for a while and here is what I ended up doing with the little green and wood grain number:

Below, our messy spice cupboard (we like a lot of spice in our life-hee!)

Whoola!  I am now Sleeping with the Enemy!

...everything is lined up, I swear....  All the labels are facing forward, I promise....

Ahhh, organization.  It is rare in my home and I love it while it lasts.

-E