Friday 8 June 2012

one of the reasons...

that I've been so lazy about blogging this week...

 



I woke up in sewing mode the other day, and didn't want to stop till I was finished...I still need to sew a backing on it, I'm thinking fleece for speed and ease, so that I can get on with the next one!  I've got a friend who's due to give birth any day now, so I want to get a lovely vintage fabric cot blanket made this weekend.

I am really pleased with it, it is not perfect but I have learnt loads in the process of making it. The fabrics are all vintage, and are pretty special - Heals, Marimekko, Graziela, Conran, Dekoplus, Tampella, Boras,scandinavian, barkcloth... the result of 2 years of slightly obsessive collecting (oh dear, I'm such a fabric geek!)!  I'll show you how it looks when it's finished, and hopefully the next one will be in progress soon.
 
If any of these fabrics jump out at you and make you wish you had a cushion cover or patchwork item for your home, let me know -  I would love to make something lovely for you out of some of my vintage fabric, email me at rainbowvintagehome@googlemail.com.  

Hope you've survived the half term reasonably unscathed, the weather here has been pretty vile but somehow we have come through smiling (so far - still 2 days to go!).

Hope you have a great weekend, love and thanks for taking the time to pop in, 

Rachel x

46 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks Fran! Considering it's my first piece of patchwork bigger than a cushion cover, I'm really pleased with how it's turned out. x

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  2. That's beautiful Rachel, I'll have a wee think about cushions! x

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    1. Glad you like it Jen! I've got enough left of most of these fabrics to do whole cushion covers (with toning/contrasting plain cotton or linen backs, some of them I might have less left can put them in a patchwork, see this post - http://myrainbowvintagehome.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/my-first-commercial-successes.html - from back in January for examples...xx

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    1. Thanks Karin!! As you can see, that lovely yellow Marimekko fabric has already been put to good use - it was the missing piece of the patchwork puzzle! Thanks again for the parcel of joy from Finland, it was such a lovely surprise. x

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  4. Oh my giddy aunt that's pretty, just squinting to find any of my fabrics there, think I can see 1, well done xx

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    1. Actually Tanya I think there's 5! 2 of the Graziela apples, the bright yellow/orange floral, one of the pinks, and a light green with small flowers - not that I'm a total geek and remember where I bought every piece of fabric in my stash, oh no not me...!

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  5. Oh my what gorgeous colours! Your friend will just love it! Thanks for taking part in my Jar of Love swap! Love Katie xxx

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    1. Thanks Katie, glad everyone likes it, I'm pleased with how it turned out. Looking forward to your swap, it sounds like as lot of fun! Rachel xx

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  6. It's really gorgeous Rachel. So many lovely patterns and colours. xx

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    1. Thanks Caroline! I really enjoyed making it, and I'm looking forward to trying something different next time - squares are easy, but I quite fancy more of a challenge! xx

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    1. Thanks Col! it was great fun, and I love looking at all those fabrics together. xx

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  8. Love it in all it's rainbow glory, just gorgeous. Big Marimekko love in this house - I would have it everywhere if it was cheaper and the husband would allow it! Well done, can't wait to see it all finished. x ps we have suffered a pretty wet and tedious half term here too.

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    1. That lovely piece of Marimekko fabric was sent to me by an old friend who lives in Finland, she found it at a flea market! Yes the weather's been pretty rubbish here, though thankfully we have managed to make the most of the sunshine on the rare occasions that it's graced us with its presence - we even managed to have a bbq, and somehow I managed to get slightly sunburnt!

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  9. Lovely colours you have put together - I particularly love the greens and blues with a nice bit of 'clashiness' (new word just invented!) as they merge together. Back to school Monday!
    Best wishes
    Jenny

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    1. Hello lovely Jenny! I'm glad you like my 'clashiness' (good word!) - I had such fun choosing the fabrics - including a bit of the lovely orange barkcloth from you! Yes back to the old routine on Monday, glad to have had some sunshine today, hope you got some too! Rachel x

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    2. How lovely that bit of barkcloth is in there too. Found a blog today that I thought that you might like Rachel - lots of lovely 'clashiness'!
      http://saax.blogspot.co.uk/
      Rain, rain rain - we need colour to cheer us up!

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    3. Oh my goodness Jenny that blog is stunning, thanks for letting me know! Definitely colourful enough to cheer up the greyest of days. It's not raining here today, and the sun has even tried to come out a couple of times, though unsuccessfully. Fingers crossed for sunshine soon! xx

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  10. Hey there Rachel, Hope you're ok!! I just wanted to stop by and say a BIG 'thank you so much' for such a lovely welcome back, you truly made my day and fingers crossed you just never know we might (hope we do!!) get paired up!

    I am also in awe of your fantastic handy work above!! So you should be please as punch with it! It's GOR-GE-OUS!!! Your friend would love it! I know I would!! Not one but all the fabrics jump out at me. Love it!! RM xxx

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    1. Hi Rubie, it was only after I left the message on your blog that I read the swap rules - got a bit over-excited about the idea of filling a jar with treasures!

      Glad you like my patchwork, yes I am pleased with it - the fabrics are very bright and bold - I don't have many plains or pastels in my stash! Rachel xx

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  11. What a spectacular quilt! Love the combination of all those fabrics/colours. melx

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    1. Thanks Mel! I'm itching to get started on my next one now...x

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  12. Wow this looks brilliant, good work! Love all the fabrics. You have inspired me to get on with one of my many unfinished patchwork projects!

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    1. Hi Kate, thanks I'm glad you like it! I had cut most of the squares a week or so ago and was spending my evenings playing around with how to arrange them - once I'd decided I just had to get on with it. Still need to back it though...and I started cutting strips for my next one today, so I must make sure I actually return to this one to finish it off - don't want it to remain a WIP! x

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    2. I think the most fun part in quilting and patchwork is playing around with the arrangement of the fabrics, I always spend far too long on that part with all the squares arranged on the floor!

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    3. I definitely spend more time on the arranging than the sewing! But that's better then sewing it all together then realising I wish I'd done it differently.

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  13. Wow, Wow and thrice Wow! That is spectacularly nice! And I am (still) hugely jealous of your fabric stash!

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    1. Ah thanks! I am pleased with it, I really wanted to get as much of my stash in there as possible so that I can see all my favourite fabrics without having to go and rummage in my cupboards. And don't worry the feeling's mutual - you've got some wonderful fabrics that I haven't got. And we can always do swaps! x

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    1. Thanks Lottie! It has definitely helped me through the rainy half term week having such a fun project to work on. x

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  15. Photos don't do it justice, it's stunning x

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    1. Aah, thanks Cath! Have started cutting fabric for the next one...watch this space! x

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  16. That is WONDERFUL! Inspiring! Thank you for sharing it :)

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    1. Thank you! You are very welcome, I am glad you've found it inspiring, thanks for saying so! :)

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  17. Thanks for popping over to my blog! your's is lovely :) x

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    1. You're welcome! It's lovely, and thanks for thinking mine is too. :) x

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  18. I love this style of quilt It reminds me of days sleeping on the verandah of my big old house when I was a child. When I read your profile I thought somebody had written that about me. Growing up in an eccentric with music, hilarity and a colourful arrangement of people. I love collecting retro and vintage. I love styling children's rooms. I design and make vintage inspried children's clothes. My latest project which sadly is almost complete was renovating a fibro beach shack. I do hope you pop on over and say hi. Roberta

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    1. Hi Roberta, welcome and thanks for following me! I'm off to check out your blog now. :) Rachel

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  19. Just discovered your beautiful blog.....so enjoying all the colour and joy in your writing. Had to comment here as I LOVE your cot blanket. I've made one quite similar only it hangs in our playroom. Look forward to following along :)

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    1. Oh my goodness I've just found this comment, don't know hos I missed it at the time but I'm going to reply now anyway! Thanks for following me, I'm so glad you're enjoying my blog. xx

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  20. this is funny, I sewed one in that rainbow style some weeks before. Love your blog!!!!

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    1. Thanks! I love yours too - we have such similar taste! x

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