My Love Affair with Grain Sacks



I love European Grain Sacks... admitting it is the start to recovery, right??  Recently I've been making cuff bracelets with the rustic yet elegant grain sack material.  (I also used vintage Ikat and Broadcloth material).  Even drove all the way to Alabama yesterday to visit  Resurrect Antiques.  My friend Michelle never disappoints with her collection of European Grain Sacks!

 My cuff collection is currently at The Vintage-Flea in downtown Newnan and on Etsy.

the fabric for this cuff was found on a recent trip to Alabama

European grain sacks are everywhere! The handwoven linen textiles date back to the early 1800s.  The sacks range in shades of grey, creams, and white.. most having a band of blue or red down the middle.  Rare grain sacks can be found with designs printed on them so that the farmers could identify their own sacks when transporting grain, flour, or sugar.  Here are some other great uses for this vintage fabric..

Messenger Bags and Pillows

Upholstery

Chair Cushions

For DIY'ers like myself.. here are two great "Do It Yourself" grain sack patterns that you might want to try.

Grain Sack Kitchen Towels and Grain Sack Pillows

Happy Sewing!

Getting ready for......

In the spirit of trying new things.. I've signed up to be in the Buy Design Jewelry Expo that will be held in Peachtree City on March 12th. (10am-5pm) 

Hope to see you there!

another check on my "to do" list

Well I can check this off my list... I finally created an Etsy page where I will be selling some of my hand made items.  First up is my pattern for the Vintage Flirt Muslin Flower shown below.

This 10 step pattern only requires a needle, thread, glue gun, scissors, muslin fabric, bar pin back (or alligator clip) and a pretty blingy button or sequin applique.  The great thing about this flower is that it is FLAT.. which is very important if you want to put it on a headband, convert them into shoe clips, use a barrette, make into a bracelet, etc.  Pattern in $3.50 and will be sent to you in a word doc. format. 

 

Happy Sewing!

Spring.. please come soon!

Display:

a : to put or spread before the view 

 b : to make evident  

c : to exhibit ostentatiously

As retailers we know a thing or two about the art of the display and we are always in some form of planning for the next great "ooh ahh" display in our shops!  Since we usually buy our merchandise 6-12 months ahead of schedule, most of us already have our ideas down for Halloween and Christmas! So even though Valentine's day hasn't arrived yet... I am in the zone right now preparing for my spring exhibit inside the Gillyweed booth at The Vintage-Flea.  Aaahhhh Spring.. it couldn't get here fast enough for me either.  First I plan to make a huge birds nest out of  tree cuttings where I will be displaying some of my new bird pillows...

Then I plan on making some wonderful book bird houses and hang them from the ceiling...

 Maybe a few flowers to go along with the Spring theme...

 The latest issue of Green Craft magazine has some great instructions to make these pom pom flowers from book pages...

 

Want more inspiration... check out Su Blackwell portfolio!  This British artist will amaze you with her intricate and whimsical scenes.

Are you kidding me??  I'll just stick to my book folding and tending to my paper cuts.  Oh what we will do for a display!!

True Heart

Several new items came in this week at the Gillyweed house.. one of them being this sweet little 14k gold dipped heart charm.  The front of the card says.. "Wear this necklace and feel love surround you.  Give it and Get it." 

$12.00 Heart Charm from our Lucky Feather Collection

Give it and Get it... so true when it comes to my treasured and adored BRU (Bohemian Retailers Union) group.  This group was my lifesaver during the emotional roller coaster of selling The Vintage-Flea back in November.  We are an odd mix of retailers scattered throughout the United States and Europe with one goal in mind.. helping each other, promoting each other, inspiring each other, and making each other laugh!!

Although the group has almost 30 members.. I was able to meet up with a few of them this past Market in Atlanta.... Patty, Myself, Barbara, Michele, and Carol.  We definitely filled the "making each other laugh" requirement that night!

The latest post on our BRU blog involved these gorgeous paper hearts made by Etsy artist Paper Polaroid that I would like to share with you.  I have never been a big Valentine's day decorator but this I might have to order.. 

Or if you would like to try your own hand and heart making.. here is a great Ribbon Heart

 video (also provided my a BRU member) by Nashville Wraps.  Ready, set, create!!

Pretty in Pink

Yes I am back... back to blogging that is... thanks to a push from fellow blogger Heidi Meyer a.k.a Sugah Beez.   What a small world.... reading through her blog I noticed that Heidi is attending the Once Upon a Dream Prairie Fairytale Event which will take place in Asheville, NC.  I've been waiting for the registration to open up (Feb.11) so now I am excited that I will know at least one other person attending!!  

So I am back to blogging and now that The Vintage-Flea is no longer my home away from home, I've been dreaming of another home....

Like this one bedroom beach bungalow located in Tybee Island.  How cute is this thing... Oh the power of pink.  Certainly never was one of my favorite colors in the past but now I am IN LOVE with pink.. all shades and all hues.  In fact the cover of House Beautiful this month calls pink warm, flattering, and sexy... yes indeedy.

Out cruising downtown Senoia today I found these gorgeous spools.. perfect for photographing the new Sweet Tarte collection.  I took home 10 different colors ranging from purple to blue... but the pinks were my favorite.

And finally it took me several days to finish up this painting back in December for an art show... I couldn't put my finger on what it was missing.... until I added the pink.

The power of Pink indeedy!