Di Mill

Turning Cufflinks into Earrings

I wanted to share with you a project that I did quite a few years ago. I love seeing family heirlooms or keepsakes being put to use by younger generations instead of them sitting in a box in a cupboard. I was looking at my Mum's collection of cufflinks that she had inherited from her Dad and her Grandfathers and it seemed such a shame that they were just sitting there. I asked if I could have a pair and this sweet set that my Great Grandfather owned caught my eye. They have his initials on them, which makes them even more special plus I'm a sucker for anything monogrammed!

I popped off to a Jewellers nearby and they attached studs to the back of them. I chose to keep the cufflinks in tack as I like how the shank hangs down but you could have it removed if you perfer.

 

I can't tell you how much I love these earrings. I hope that my Great Grandfather likes the fact that his Great Granddaughter is wearing his cufflinks - not in the same way that he did, but enjoying them and appreciating them just as much.

 

Take care....Di

 

Beauty is on the inside

My family was all together this Christmas at my parents farm in North Queensland so Mum an Dad decided to give us all gifts that belonged to family members. As it was my birthday - I was first to receive my gift. At first glance - it looks like an old worn box.

 

 

But as the saying goes..."beauty is on the inside"...

 

 

This is a set of spoons that my maternal grandparents received as a wedding present. I'm not sure if they are desert spoons or soup spoons but they are beautiful. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

Mum also put a note inside saying who owned the gift and how they recieved it along with their photo.

 

I also received the sweetest set of plates that I have always loved...

 

 

I don't remember when I first saw them or where - maybe my Grandparents?? But I have always thought they were so pretty. For years they have been in Mum's china cabinet and I would look at them and dream of living in a house with a cottage garden just like the one in the design.

Sometimes the best gifts don't cost a cent!

Take care....Di

Patchwork Chair

I love a good recycle story and this one is no exception. Jody at Craftnik picked this chair up on the side of the road and decided to give it a makeover. Although she hasn't used traditional patchwork techniques, the end result is stunning:

From this:

 

to this:

 

 
image source via design sponge

 

Pop over to Jody's blog and read her tutorial and see more photos. It's great to see an old once loved chair be given a second chance and with the chevron pattern so popular at the moment, it was a perfect choice to bring a modern touch to this once contemporary design.

Take care....Di

 

 

Vintage Loveliness

Recycling is very dear to my heart at the moment, so I was delighted to see the photo below which it appears is a quilt and cushions made using vintage linen. They bring such a bright and cheerful mood to the room - soooo beautiful! I have a real soft spot for giving fabric or furniture another chance to breathe or to show that they are "not done yet"! Although there has been little sewing done in my house of late, I have been working on projects that I will post shortly...mainly bringing pieces of furniture that were no longer wanted, a new life.

 

 

photo via flickr

Take care....Di

Recycling

I have to say - I'm a huge fan of recycling! I admire anyone who can take an object that is used for a specific task and recycle it in a different manner, or just revamp it so that it "lives" again. I love their creativeness and applaud their ingenuity. The trend in today's decor is for an eclectic mix of old and new, so recycling is very in vogue. below are some examples of what has caught my eye lately:

These light bulb vases allow the "industrialness" of the bulb to be softened with the addition of the flowers.

 
image source

 

Doors being used for other things:

 
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Maps are very trendy at the moment and a great idea for artwork if you are on a budget:

 

 
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image source  - also love the lamp made out of a music stand base.

 

 Who knew you could use all of those crochet doilies you have in the cupboard at home, in other projects?

 

 
image & tutorial source

 

I am also a fan of mason jars and really like how they are popping up in projects everywhere:

 
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If you have any photos of projects where you have recycled or revamped let me know so we can all see your creativeness.

Take care....Di

Trends to Watch

Today I'm focusing on the current trend of using old or new crochet doilies for purposes other that what they have been used for in the past. I'm really enjoying this trend as it's lovely to see items that may have been made by relatives and kept in the linen cupboard for years, be brought back to life and used again. Whether they are used as art work, lamp shades, table runners, table cloths or clothing - doilies have a charm about them that is soft, pretty and feminine.

 

 

1. Image via pinterest
2. Image & tutorial at Bijoux Bride
3. Vintage doily garland tutorial at Urban Scarlett
4. Image at sfgirlbybay
5. Large doily as artwork seen here

 

1. Doily Dress seen here
2. Doily rolled into a rose instructions at Country Living
3. Doily Garland via pinterest
4. Doilies embellishing curtains & cushion
5. Table runner at Country Living
6. Vintage doily headband

 

And of course you can always use your doilies as bunting:

 
image via etsy

 

And the ultimate....a bridal dress - made by the bride! This is not a dress that I could wear but I adore it! The bride has created a beautiful original design that oozes creativeness and originality.

 

 

 
images and story at 100 layer cake

Just in case you need a little more persuasion that doilies/lace are a trend...I just saw these cute Ikea containers  that are in the new 2012 Ikea catalogue (US version). They are so sweet.

 

 
image via Poppy Talk

So have a look in your linen cupboard or ask your Mum or Grandmother if they have any vintage doilies stowed away...and give them another life. Have fun!

Take care....Di

American Folk Art Museum Pt 2

Continuing on from yesterday, here are some more of the quilts that I saw at the American Folk Art Museum:

 

 

Whig Rose Quilt with swag and tassle border. Artist unidentified. C1850 - 1860

 

 

 

 
Friendship Star Quilt. Elizabeth Hooton (Cresson) Savery) (1808 - 1851) and others. Dated 1844.

 

 

 

 
Presentation Quilt for William A Sergent. Members of the Freewill Baptist Church, London New Hampshire. Blocks made C. 1854

 

 

 

 

 

 
Baltimore Album Quilt Top. Artist unidentified. C1845 - 1850

 

 

 

 

 

 
Variable Stars Quilt. Artist unidentified. C1880 - 1900

 

 

 

 
"S.H." Crazy Quilt. Artist unidentified; initialed S.H.  1885 - 1895

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Equestrian Crazy Quilt. Artist unidentified. 1880 - 1900

 

 

I hope you enjoyed looking at these quilts as much as I did.

Take care...Di

American Folk Art Museum Pt 1

While in New York, I caught up with my good friend Pam Holland. Don't you just love it when you are on the other side of the world and you meet up with someone from home? I always find it so surreal. Pam lives in Adelaide and we often see each other overseas more than in Australia. We only had a couple of hours together so we met at the American Folk Art Museum to see the Quilt Exhibition: Quilts: Masterpieces from the American Folk Art Museum. It's a beautiful exhibition with the most interesting quilts. I've included some of my favourite quilts below:

 
 

 Pam & I

 

 

There was a class of children learning about quilts while we were there.

 

It's lovely to see children learning about the history of quilts.

 

 

 

 

 Love the colours!

 

 

English Flower Garden Quilt made by Jennie Pingrey (C 1861-?)

 

 

 

 

 

Tree of Life cut out chinz quilt - Artist unidentified - probably 1925 - 1935. The border fabric is amazing!

 

 

 

 

Dresden Plate quilt - Artist unidentified. Circa 1930 - 1940

 

 

 

 

Embroidered Double Wedding Ring Quilt - Artist unidentified. C 1930 - 1940. Possible New England. Cotton with Cotton floss.

 

 

 

 

 

Double Wedding Ring quilt. Artist Unidentified probably Mennonite. C1930 - 1940

I'll be back tomorrow with part 2.

Take care...Di 

 

I Love Vintage - Sydney

If you are in Sydney this weekend and you love vintage clothing, jewellery and textiles then don't miss this:

 

 

 

The Sydney Vintage Clothing, Jewellery & Textile show is on at the Canterbury Park Function Centre, Canterbury Racecourse, King Street, Canterbury. Go to the website for details. Lucky for me, I'm in Sydney today and it's on my list of "Must do's".

Take care....Di