Clean Combo

 A lovely lady purchased a set of custom rag topped bowls from sosorosey as a gift for an artist friend.  She wanted cobalt blue bases and white "ragging".

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The "cobalt" gave me a problem.  I did an online search for cobalt cotton yarn that returned nothing.  I gave the choice of a cotton blend or a change in color- to maybe a periwinkle color.  Then, I went to Hancock Fabrics (not a yarn store, as you can tell by the name) and found this gorgeous "morning glory" blue.  Yay!

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I always love to create a custom project with a color combination that I've never done or thought of.  This set turned out very clean looking, I think.  And crisp.  Like it would work well in a beach house overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.  Oh, I love to create lives for my projects, too :)

Friday's Favorite Fabric Finds

Is anyone else out there wondering where March went?  It sure seemed to zoom by!  I can't believe it's just over a week until Easter.  Since I will be busy "spring breaking" next Friday, I leave you with a double dose of vintage fabrics coming to sosovintage over the weekend.

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We have a neighborhood egg hunt on Sunday if the weather cooperates, and we'll also be busy spring cleaning and packing for our upcoming trip.  Whatever your plans may be, I hope you have a lovely weekend!

Thursday's Treasure

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I told you back in August about my fascination with bones and antlers and such.  Well, my hubby doesn't quite share this passion.  That's why I was extra impressed when he came home with this treasure last time he went for a solo walk in the woods!  He knew how much Sophie and I would admire this deer skull and rack, so he sucked it up and carried it home for us.  That, my friends, is love :)

Classic Ivory

Another new~to~me Etsy customer came looking for an unruffled girly Easter basket.  She loved this collection of fabrics, and we discussed every possible combination.

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In the end, she decided on having the entire basket done in plain ivory in order to maximize the versatility.  It is slightly larger than the boy version in my shop- this one measures 12" across, 5" deep, with another 6" of height for the handle.

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Since the bow is removable, the other two fabrics were added there for just a blush of color.

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It's hard to capture the simple beauty of this basket in photos.  I was thinking of making an Etsy listing for a made-to-order ivory handled basket (no bow)... do you think people might use baskets like this year round?  Or should I just make some larger baskets, no handles?  Or both?

Beach Boy Basket

Yep, it's Tuesday AND there's another makeover.  In fact, it's gonna be a makeover extravaganza this week!  A new~to~me Etsy customer purchased a custom heirloom Easter basket last week.  She asked for blue, lime green, and yellow- and these are the chosen fabrics.  Believe it or not, there is a teensy bit of yellow in the center of the iris flowers on that right-hand fabric!

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I used the solid blue for the base, and the stripe for the body and handle- with a double wide dose of the lime through the center.

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A side bow comprised of all three fabrics sets it off perfectly!  What do you think, Tiffany?  This is ready to head out to Delaware tomorrow :)

Makeover Monday: 3/26

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Sometimes in life, I mean in thrift stores, a sheet will just speak to me.  It's usually the combination of the colors, the pattern, and the feel of the material that says, "Make with me!"  This cotton fabric with alluring grass green leaves didn't just speak... it kind of screamed.  So I had to put it in the cart before people started to stare.

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I realized I haven't been making the table coaster rugs lately, and that I only have one or two in the shop.  This one is almost 12 inches across- a nice size for a large casserole or centerpiece.

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After the coaster, I had enough fabric left to make a bowl, too!  This one is 7 inches wide and over 3" high.  Both of these will be in sosorosey today or tomorrow.

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Welcome to the last week of March!  Allergy season is in full swing, so our family has been plagued with all sorts of sniffles and such.  I have three Easter baskets to finish by Friday, so you know what I'll be doing this week.  How about you?  Any big projects or activities?

Party Picnic Blankets

 A sweet sosovintage customer from California purchased a bunch of fat quarters, scraps, and charm packs in order to put together some goodies for a picnic party.

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 She sent me these photos via flickr so that we could see how she laid out all of her fabrics.  It must have been so fun (and hard) to decide which fabrics to put together!

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 She did pieced mini-quilts with fleece edging.  Have I told you lately that I heart pink and aqua?

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The party was a smashing success, and her friends loved these blankets!  Someone even got to bring this last one home with them after the party.  Now that's a hostess who goes above and beyond.  We should all be blessed with friends this talented and generous :)

Neumann Napkins

Just when you were saying to yourself, "Gosh, Jennie hasn't been prattling on about Vera so much lately"... here I am with a post of some awesomeness heading to sosovintage *vera soon*.

Heehee.

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 There are 5 of these red and green ferny pretties... can you see the little signature scattered throughout the fabric?

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These colors are SO modern- a periwinkle grey with a gold grid and black border.  Gotta love that ladybug!  There are 6 of these.

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All of these linen napkins are in excellent condition.  They were found on two separate thrift trips, and I've had them for quite awhile.  I wish I could say it was just because I haven't been able to part with them.  But it is more honest to say that it is because they were in that "things to iron" pile that I talked about last week!  In any case, they will be up for grabs soon, soon, soon :)

Friday's Favorite Fabric Finds

It's been an overall bright week, so I'm going to share some bold *new* prints!

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I love the 70s grooviness embodied in the Noah's Ark sheet- it's my personal favorite this week!

Here's wishing you a lovely weekend!  I have some more customer photos to share, so be sure to stop back by before Monday :)

Thursday's Treasure

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So.  Tuesday I was feeling a little blah.  Didn't feel like doing much of anything on the mile long to-do list.  Instead of moaning around the house driving my husband insane, I decided to go to the gym and then treat myself to a stop at a new thrift shop. 

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When I arrived at the strip mall, I got a parking spot right in front of the shop.  Instead of hopping right out, though, I decided to play with our car's navigation system for a minute.  I wanted to see if there were any other secondhand stores in the vicinity, since I was in unfamiliar territory. 

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As I'm punching buttons and trying to remember how to use this technology, my driver's side door is thrown open.  Quickly.  Fully.  Forcefully.  By a man I've never seen before.

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My reaction: loud, long, bloodcurdling scream.

His reaction:  Hands up.  Backing away.  "Oh my gosh, ma'am!  I am so, so sorry!  I thought this was my car!  I'm so sorry."

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Indeed, his red SUV was parked right next to mine. 
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A silly mistake, but I was rattled all day by the fact that I was so engrossed in what I was doing, I hadn't even seen him approach.  What if this had been a person intent on doing harm?  I shudder to think.

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On the bright side, I was glad my reaction was what it was.  Now I know I won't be one of those people struck mute with terror.  I'm also very glad this happened - even though I did think for a short minute that I might just have a heart attack.  I'm glad because I learned a lesson, and I can share it with you.  It doesn't matter if you'll only be a minute, or you're in a nice neighborhood, or you're just waiting for your husband to run into the store for milk.  When you are sitting in a parked car, lock your doors.  

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Have you ever had a similar experience, or a scare that taught you an important lesson?  Please share so that we can all benefit from your experience!

Kitchen Colors

 I had to iron a shirt (*gasp*) for my meeting today.  So, while I was at it, I went ahead and plucked a few things from the "iron this so you can take photos and list it" pile.  This adorable kitchen table runner was one of those things.

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 I absolutely love this color combination- pink with red and gold and green.  Hmmm... maybe I'll use this as inspiration for my next sosorosey rug!

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You just have to wonder how this textile designer came up with the graphics groupings.  Grapes, a clock, and a frosted bundt cake on a pedestal.  Works for me!

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I could totally see myself in a pink and aqua kitchen- in my dreams.  My own kitchen is primarily white, with a touch of green.  There are loads of happy colors that come from the pyrex, fiesta pitchers, and enamelware colanders that perch on the shelves and walls.  So, what about you... are you rocking a pink kitchen?

Presto Change-o

 Nicole from Switzerland purchased this pillowcase back in February.

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 She added some beautiful lace, fabric and other embellishments, and ...

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 Tah-dah- a one of a kind apron is born!

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Thanks so much for sharing your handiwork with us, Nicole!  To see more of her excellent work, check out her online shop by clicking HERE.

Makeover Monday: 3/19

I have had this vintage sheet fabric for sale in sosovintage for quite awhile, and I've been in love with it since I found it.  I think the color combination is so fresh and modern- a unique take on a relatively neutral palette.

So, when I came across 2 full sets of these sheets at my favorite thrift, my heart did a pitter patter.  BUT, knowing I already had some of this, I was reasonable and left them behind for someone else.  And for 3 weeks there they sat.  Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore!  I snapped them up and made...

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... this beautiful round rag rug!  The colors blend in such an amazingly sublime way, and the four sheets I used yielded a good-sized 27" diameter mat.  Look for it in sosorosey soon!

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I have bills to attend to this week, and a meeting with the teacher I'm working with for my "other" job.  Ooh, and a haircut and highlight to look forward to on Saturday.  What do you have going on this week?

Friday's Favorite Fabric Finds (a little late)

Happy Weekend!  And St. Patty's Day!  And Happy Birthday to Geri!  Here's hoping you've had a lovely Saturday.  Here we've had the perfect spring day and I am absolutely exhausted.  We went for a loooong walk in the woods, and then went out for an early dinner at a favorite local restaurant.  I fell asleep in the car on the way home O_O

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Enough about me, though- let's get to the FABRICS!!

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Six pretty springy fabrics, ready to give any project a good dose of warm weather!  The first one is my favorite- it's so crazy busy, and I adore the bits of pink in there.  Do you have a favorite?

Tower of Towels

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This is just part of the tower of vintage towels that I have got to get listed.  A veritable rainbow of terry cloth yumminess!  Looking for any special colors?  I just might have them.  Hoping to make a dent in this tower by the end of the month.  Look for Friday's Fabrics tomorrow... I haven't had a chance to take photos yet, but believe me, there are lots of beauties waiting in the wings.  Have a super weekend - don't forget to wear green tomorrow :)

Upcycled Crib Sheets

I've been chatting with a mom on Etsy who decided she was ready to turn some of her baby girl's bedding into something for the "big girl room".  She sent me two of these cotton gingham Pottery Barn crib sheets at the end of last week.  (Special note: they came in regular form- I'm responsible for the cutting ... forgot to take a before photo.)

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She asked for an oval-shaped shallow basket to keep on the dresser to contain all of the hair bows and accessories that come along with big girls.

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My size estimate was pretty darned close!

(pats self on the back)

This dresser basket is about 12 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 2.5 inches high.

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I love this idea and shape... I may just have to make a few more dresser baskets for the shop.  I'm thinking neutral colors.  Any other requests?

Bonus Makeover: Ruffles Galore

This was the fabric chosen by my latest Easter basket customer. 

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 I did five rows of ruffles- I just couldn't stop!

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I initially planned to use a solid pink for the very bottom, but I found a pretty polka dot that worked even better.  It blends perfectly! 

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Apparently this is turning out to be "basket week" here on the blog.  I have another one tomorrow, but it ISN'T for Easter and it IS a different shape.

Itsy Bitsy Baskets

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In my spare time I've been making a few one egg wonder baskets for sosorosey.  Perfect for a dash of spring in the smallest of spaces!  Now to get them photographed and listed in the shop before the end of the week...