Well what a thing. Mid-week and I have the day off. The waterboard have been digging up the road near Little Bun's school for nearly a year now and today they've turned off the water to the school. That means school closed and lots of frantic planning to try and sort childcare. In the end I opted to take the morning off and let another teacher cover my class (which means I lose a lot of pay today, but don't have to make the hours up later on).
A stolen day off means a morning of sewing in my book. So I got to with an idea I had on Monday.
Weeks ago I bought a couple of teacloths in CK's shop to use for the fabric, not for the dishes. I love this kitschy fabric and just couldn't resist. To be honest I'm not a great CK fan. I much prefer the real vintage deal for fabric. Years ago before her brand took over the world I liked quite a lot of what she did. Maybe it's just overkill for me, but that's me.
I had various ideas for my teacloths, but none actually worth me chopping into the fabric for. Then on Monday morning I had the blinking obvious brainwave of making christmassy bunting from them. It's been stored away in my head since then saved for a moment when I'd have the time to chop and stitch.
I plonked a selection of trims and fabrics on the table and set off marking out and chopping triangles from the pile. Being in a rush as usual (impatience, rather than need to rush) I chopped quite a few deers upside down which looked rubbish, so I had to start again and make sure the print was facing the right way.
I was of a mind to add bobble trim along the top, but settled for ric-rac edges for the deers in the end. It's always a juggle to get the less is more or more is less balance right, don't you think.
I've taken down the floral bunting that usually hangs along the beam and added this years festive string to the lights up there. I guess we're getting decorated slowly but surely around here. Last year I hung the Kiss Kiss garland I made here so I'll have to find a new home for that one now.
Well I'm pleased with this mornings stitching, now I'd better get my act together and set off with Little Bun. She wants a trip to see all the tacky decorations at her favourite garden shop and have a cake before we collect Miss Rosey from school.
Hope all your christmas plans and makings are going well and you're feeling calm and cheery.
Oh my god I absolutely love love love that bunting! I agree C Kid has got a bit commercial. I'm a vintage lover but this little Christmas Bambi has got me all fuzzy! Have you got any more of that bunting you'd like to sell to me? You are so clever xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely comment Vicky. I reckon I've got enough left to make you a string you know. I'll be in touch.
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Love it! I'm with you on the whole CK thingy but there is the odd fabric I love, this being one of them, and I love her crush mugs, you get loads of tea in them there mugs!
ReplyDeleteLittle Bea read you daughters Christmas story last night and left her first comment! (well I did the typing, think she wants a PA!) :) x
I thought it was so sweet Millie getting a comment from another little girl. Thanks for PA'ing Ada as she really appreciates it (takes her blog very seriously you know).
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I agree with you about CK but must admit I do like this Christmas's range with the little deer. Just a well I live many, many miles from one of the shops though or I may well have bought a couple of tea towels & copied your idea! Love, Mr RV x
ReplyDeletedid i ever tell you i love, adore your home?? well, i do its just soooo lovely, i love what you've done with the CK cloths- great idea!! i'm not big on everything being by one particular designer/ maker...CK is ever so popular now - i do love mixing old with new, bits here bits there- not matching who cares?! and dust!? whats dust! hehe...i've been trying to have a jiggle about of ornaments and re-arrange the furniture...my dressers in real need of a makeover and i really fancy a bright colour like turquoise, blue or green.
ReplyDeleteenjoy your day off and your lovely hand made creations ;0)x
Gorgeous!...you are clever. Still not Chritsmas here yet...am holding of for a little bit longer, once I get my Tommy home, then its Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day off xx
Perfect Christmas bunting.Polka dots and that cute deer as are just the dream combo.
ReplyDeleteLisa x
Utterly gorgeous bunting Lisa!
ReplyDeleteVictoria xx
Your bunting looks amazing, what a clever way to use the tea towels! Funnily enough I was in the Cath Kidson shop earlier today buying christmas presents. I wouldn't like to have anything for myself from there particularly, it's a bit too flowery for me but I love to go in and look at all the pretty colours together!
ReplyDeleteJess x
Gorgeous ... so much nicer to be able to enjoy the teacloths as bunting rather them shoving them in the drawer ... love the little ric rac edge ... Bee xx
ReplyDelete....your bunting and lights looks fabulous....they are far too cute to dry dishes with! ....a productive and wonderfully creative use of your morning.....!:-)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you about CK , very commercial. Having said that like you I couldn't resist the deer design, I have bought my baby the deer fabric Xmas sack. Your bunting is gorgeous and great that you finished it so quickly, I love the blue bobble trim you have. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the CK front too, it makes me nauseous going into her shops now, sorry CK! Beautiful bunting Lisa, there is nothing like an unplanned day off, hooray and you certainly put it to good use making and having special times with little Bun xox Oooh and I want a kiss garland too :o) one can never get enough of those x
ReplyDeleteLovely bunting, the little deer pattern is very sweet. I like a wander around CK's shops but rarely buy anything, too expensive.
ReplyDeleteCarol xx
I bought CK festive deer tea towels when I popped into Canterbury last week. They are all washed and pressed ready to go...now I just need to get myself feeling all festive.
ReplyDeleteI love the bunting,
Nina x
Hello Mrs Bun
ReplyDeleteI've just seen your comment on L for Love asking about knitted Christmas stockings. Well if you go here
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#sort=best&craft=knitting&query=mini christmas stockings
you will find lots of patterns of min stockings to choose from. I did crochet ones last year and I love them very much and they look great. That was Sucrette's pattern.
Love your Christmas bunting. If only I did all the things I think about! I think you do manage an awful lot and with limited time. No, I'm not a fan of CK especially either. In fact I'm not keen on too much of any one thing or person. I agree with Country Rabbit, the more eclectic the better! The little deers on the fabric are awfully cute though aren't they?
Super idea Lisa, best thing you could have done with those tea towels. I popped into the Norwich branch the other week on my Jaunt with my friend, and we both said the same - nothing really caught our fancy, it all seemed overdone and yes, we had become a little tired of CK we felt.
ReplyDeleteYour bunting and fairy lights make me feel Christmassy for the first time!
Love your bunting Lisa. There's something about those little deer. CK seems to have got all a bit samey now and I can't walk down the street without passing a dozen handbags! As a trader though I must thank her for making more people appreciate vintage. If only I couls sell as many handbags made from real vintage fabric....
ReplyDeleteEllie
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Glad you had a happy day off and the bunting is fab. I am with you re Cath Kidston - its all so plastic. We are just thinking about getting the decorations out - I did buy the wine today - getting my priorities right. Karen x
ReplyDeleteMe again - just saw your comment about little Christmas stockings. Julie at littlecottonrabbits.typepad.com has a lovely free pattern for them. Karen x
ReplyDeleteThere's something so festive about a bunting, and the rick rack hits just the right note in this one. I'm utterly charmed.
ReplyDeleteAs for my plans and progress, well ... hmm. I took my great-nieces to the bookstore for our Gift of Reading choices last weekend; our cookie and card making dates have been set; the invitations for Christmas Eve have gone out. No decorations up or menus planned, not all gifts finished. I think I need some eggnog!!
Hello :) I am loving your festive bunting, hope all is well with you and yours xxxxx
ReplyDeleteit looks lovely :) I think I might be treating myself to those tea towels x
ReplyDeleteI really love those little reindeers because they remind me of the nursery stickers my Dad used on the toy box he made me when I was a baby. I have been trying to think of ways of having those CK ones made into something other that a T-towel too. The bunting is a really good idea - the ric rac looks good too. I agree with you also that Cath Kidson is rather over done and it puts me off too even though I like the prints. Lily. xxx
ReplyDeleteThere is something about a deer that draws us in! CK gets the colours right and this is a good bit of Ck re-purposing. My sister buys it all in bulk in Thailand - very, very cheap out there. I shall ask her to supply us all in blogland with deer fabric!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Jenny
Hi Lisa
ReplyDeleteSorry about my late reply regarding mini/tiny Christmas stockings. I don't have a pattern as such but there are a shed load of really sweet and free ones on Ravelry.com. I'm not sure if you are a member of Ravelry but its a great place to find free patterns (you can also but patterns) of just about anything you might want to knit or crochet. Have fun, xox P
This looks great! I love the idea of using tea towels to make things out of. I often see tea towels I like, but think to myself that I don't need any more.It never occurred to me you could use them as a cheap and easy way of getting pretty fabric. (not that Cath Kidston is cheap, but I bet the tea towels cost less than buying the equivalent amount of fabric!)
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