Bits and Pieces

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I'm in a very peaceful place right now, with my son just finishing up his 2 week Spring Break (we didn't travel) and my husband back to work but home on his regular 4 days off now. I'm almost always awake before the rest of the house (except the cat...Kyra waits impatiently for the first one up to feed her) and this morning I had a chance to start washing and photographing products for my vintage finds Etsy store before everyone else stirred.

Yesterday at the thrift store I found this uninspired piece of artwork, a piece of (ugly) wallpaper border, but I loved its frame. Even though it's been painted pink, the frame is heavy and wonderful.

Then I turned it over, and saw that the wallpaper had apparently been put over an old print on canvas. This peaked my curiosity so much that I had to spend the $1.73 and buy it so I could see what was under the wallpaper. I hoped it wasn't glued on!

Once I got it home I pried it open...

And this was what was underneath:

An old European street scene. I think it's charming!

Other projects I've been working on include washing antique store fabric finds, like this one:

Isn't it wild? I couldn't resist!

I also spent a couple of hours yesterday in front of the television watching reruns of past Project Runway seasons (my FAVORITE guilty pleasure) while cutting off about 300 yarn ties from a true, feedsack patchwork quilt (another thrift store find.) That project had the extra, added bonus of keeping me warm while I worked and the blizzard (3rd one this week) swirled outside my window.

After I cut all the ties, I opened one seam, turned it inside out and removed the lining. The lining consisted of 2 old wool blankets and one large piece of unknown fabric, plus a bunch of white cotton which had balled up and pilled and otherwise disintegrated, pulling the quilt into a puckered, gathered mess! One great surprise, after it was all untied and straightened out, was a wonderful signature square, with the hand-embroidered names: Lloyd and Riley! How fun! After a gentle wash, it's hanging to dry from my upstairs banister and will soon become...I don't know what, but it will be wonderful!

Another little endeavor: I'm trying to decide whether or not to take this cross stitch thrift store purchase out of its frame:

It's nicely/professionally framed, but so not my "style." If I do remove it, I thought I'd stitch some quilt squares around it and make it into a pillow. What do you think?

Comments

barb cabot said…
Wow that was some detective work you did on the wallpaper print you bought. I love it. You have been on a real treasure hunt and have found such goodies. Loved the whole discovery. Sounded like a wonderful peaceful morning in your household. Ps I received the Audrey Hepburn package of goodies yesterday. I love everything and the way you wrapped each little gift was beautiful and thoughtful. Thank you so much.
April 2, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Linda Sue said…
You did that too?! Project runway I mean! Wasn't that fun- one after the next even though you knew how it would turn out in the end!
April 2, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Micki said…
Your treasure hunt really turned up some wonderful things. It is amazing what one can find. My DH and I always loved investigating thrift shops and antiques shops and loved finding special things.
Micki
April 3, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Christine said…
I haven't been on treasure hunts for quite some time. I like the pillow idea for the cross stitch. Maybe you could use part of the quilt you took apart. That would be really cute!

Blessings,
Christine
April 3, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Unknown said…
Not only do you find wonderful things, but I love that you take them apart and discovery even more treasures. My sister just started taking Vintage fabrics from clothing and redesigning them. I love everything Vintage especially that these finds are cherished.
Happy Pink Saturday,
karen
April 4, 2009 at 7:45 AM
Anonymous said…
Laurie,

How very nice of you to visit my blog and sign up for my 100th post giveway. I can see that you are very talented and have a good eye for things. I love the quilt top but would have never thought to undo all of those ties?? I just would never have occurred to me to do that. I am also in love with your european picture. It is beautiful, a real find!!

Thanks so much for the kind comments and I look forward to visiting you again.

Kris
April 4, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Spotted Sparrow said…
Why would someone cover up that pretty painting with that ugly wallpaper? Great find!
April 4, 2009 at 12:58 PM
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