Recycled Vintage Pillowcase and Sheet Bags

Wow, it's September already.  Where did the summer go?  I don't miss the heat, but I miss it staying light later.  So I've been working on a few things.  I am enjoying making market totes using vintage pillowcases and sheets.

Group Shot!

Trials and Tribulations

Well, I'm trying to make some little zippered pouches.  I've tried 4 now, and still haven't gotten it right.  Getting closer...
First a picture of my latest 3.

 

They don't look so bad just laying there on the table in the beautiful sunshine.  But upon closer inspection, well UGH!

I haven't been able to get the tab ends quite right.   The zipper head in #2 broke off because I wasn't following the instructions closely and forgot to have the zipper in the open position before sewing the whole thing together and fiddled with it trying to open it, thus breaking off the zipper head, so now a not so attractive safety pin is attached in it's place.  :-(

Number 3 was the best- even though I once again forgot to open the zipper before sewing, it cooperated with little resistance and opened nicely.  The tab ends were not so bad.  The problem came when I realized I forgot to top stitch around the zipper, and the lining got stuck in the zipper when trying to open and close it.  I didn't know at first that's what had happened and tried to rub a little candle wax on the zipper to coax it.  Duh!  Bath and Body works candles are highly scented and more than just a little oily.  Oily wax +  recycled old metal zipper = black mess.  Yuck!

Vintage Sheets or Persistance Pays Off

Vintage Sheets

About once a week I visit the local thrift shops in town.  I have 4 that I frequent often, and 1 that I only go to about once a month. The Church thrift shop is closed for the summer, and I will be checking back in September.  This was the week I decided to go to all 5. I hit the jackpot at the shop I rarely visit.  I found the top 5 sheets in the photo there for a buck each!  I felt like I has won the lottery.  The bottom sheet was from another shop and cost $3. So for under $10, I got 6 vintage sheets.  I am trying to decide their fate, lol.  I think I may cut up a couple and make a Vintage Sheet Quilt.  I certainly have enough yardage.  First I am going to wash them, and see where it goes from there.

Grumpy Old Man

Mostly I post pictures of Kosmo.  This time it's one of Spanky.  He's old, about 25 we think, as he came to us as when his mate died and he wasn't happy by himself. Kosmo was still young and they became good friends for a while, so it must have been 1999 or 2000. Nowadays he usually likes to stay in his cage by himself, but he decided to come out for a walk around the living room today.  In this photo he is looking out the patio door, dreaming of flying away (I'm guessing).

Lily

A dear friend gave me a gift certificate for the local Nursery for Christmas.  She wanted me to have some beautiful flowers in the summer.  Here is the result of the Gift Certificate.  Beautiful Lilies!

I wish I had a scent option on my blog.  It smells so sweet.

A Little Pouch

I often hit the Thrift Shops when they are having sales. Lately I've come across some pretty cool vintage sheets and pillowcases for cheap.  I am going to be up-cycling/recycling  them to make quilts or duvet covers when the weather gets cool enough to set up my sewing machines for a big project .  Recently the Shop closest to me was having a 75% off sale.  I remembered seeing  some cute little zippered pouches on Pinterest and thought about them when I saw the Zippers!  75% off meant 4 zippers for a quarter.  Now who could pass that by? Not me!

 Zippers Before

 Zippers after trimming to the correct size

My first little "Pouchie"

 This is the tutorial I followed to make Pouchie.  It has pretty good directions especially when it comes to putting the zipper in.  I kind of fudged the size, but for a first attempt, I was very happy.  It is soft and bendy.  Next time I am going to put in some interfacing for a bit of a stiffer pouch.  I used this on the weekend when I was out walking with friends.  It held my ID, debit card and a bit of cash perfectly, and I tucked it right into my pocket.

The Green Pillow Cover

I finished up the green pillow cover tonight.  Here it is in natural light.  I kinda like it.  More than kinda. ♥

It was to be part of a housewarming gift for a friend, but I think I may just keep it.  It goes so well with my couch. Maybe she'll get one of the blue pillow covers.