'COUNTRY LIVING'

These aprons - for Mother and Daughter - remind me very much of some of the photographs in English home magazines. I have made these aprons using a simple cream cotton homespun fabric, and the contrasting pockets are in linen with an olde-worlde rose theme. For little girls, the apron will fit from 3-5 years, but I can always make a larger one. Mum's apron is one-size-fits-all - same fabrics. These will be for sale on eBay, as well as on http://www.julesandme.com/. You can always email me directly on elainect@bigpond.com.

SWEET, FEMININE AND VINTAGE

I have been working on some cushions, made using a combination of new and vintage fabrics - I will be listing these cushions both on http://www.julesandme.com/ and on eBay shortly - I need to finish a few more to complete the range - I am also planning to make some little tote bags, both for little girls and their mums, using some of the same vintage fabrics - I just love them, I find them quite romantic, and hope that you do as well. Most of these fabrics feature roses (some are from Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic range), but I also love to use toile (the cushion at the very back is raspberry and cream toile, and I have piped it with cream satin piping - very delicious.

And speaking of cushions ... I still make them for your little one's nursery, and am always on the lookout for interesting, colourful and retro-inspired fabrics. Let me know if there is anything in particular you would like, and I can always make up a cushion for you. I have photographed these two cushions on a chair that belonged to my brother when he was just a small boy - I am mad about it, and hope that he forgets to ask for its return!! And don't you love the little knitted toys - these are knitted for me for a very clever lady here in the Blue Mountains - I have quite a few of them listed on http://www.julesandme.com/ - I love this little puppy very much - each one my friend makes seems to have a slightly different expression on his face!

THE HANDKERCHIEF QUILT

Well I have finally finished the handerkerchief quilt - many thanks to friends who kindly gave me hankies that had been tucked away in dressing table drawers for many years to add to my stash, (I now have enough to make another one)! And thanks also to Ruth Buchanan, whose article in Country Threads magazine inspired me in the first place. I had a little pile of my mother's hankies, which I just couldn't part with. She was very much a lady, who always carried a hankie either in her handbag, or tucked into her sleeve - I still have fond memories of tuck shop money tied into the corner of a hankie each school day. So Ruth's article was indeed timely. I have backed and bound the quilt with a soft floral cotton voile, that seemed to fit in with the theme of the quilt. Hopefully I will have a grand-daughter one day, and she can be lovingly wrapped in this soft quilt ... my Mum would have been delighted.

www.julesandme.com

I made a couple of little cotton items for the grandson of a very proud grandmother friend of mine, and was rewarded by some cute little photographs. Take a look at my online boutique, http://www.julesandme.com/ to see my range. I am always happy to make to order as well, so if you like anything you see but would like it in a different colour, or a size that is not shown, just email me and I can make it up for you. The photographs of Zac show a onesie. a PJ top and some very cute baggy pants ... I like using retro fabrics mixed with gingham for babies - way too cute! I also have some clearance items listed, and postage within Australia is always free.

Next post ... I should be finished the hankie quilt fairly soon, so will take some photographs.

GENEROSITY

I am not sure why the photograph I posted of the hankies hasn't appeared, I will have to try again. I have been given 20 beautiful hankies by a very kind fellow quilter - I belong to an online quilting group called Southern Cross Quilters, and the members are so incredibly friendly, and kind! So I now have no reason not to continue with this quilt - the hankies arrived beautifully packaged, all washed and ironed, and all in 100% perfect condition.

And speaking of gifts ... my husband and I have been given this magnificent quilt as a gift. I admired it when I first saw it in a beautiful home in Wentworth Falls, and the owner gave it to my husband as a thank-you gift! What a delicious surprise. The quilt is Japanese, and the fabrics are all upholstery weight - it is made up of a version-of log cabin blocks - simple, elegant ... as are all things Japanese. It will take pride of place in our living room, in a spot where I presently have a vintage wedding kimono hanging - we are short of wall space, so the kimono can have a rest for a while.

STILL RECYCLING

Have started to cut the hankies into squares, and am putting them together to make a baby girl's quilt. I need to collect more, but they are so hard to find! I have kept to ladies' hankies thus far, but might have to stretch the imagination a little and cut up some mens' hankies as well - some of the checks and stripes should look good. Anyway, here's a photo I took as the collection began, I will post a picture of the finished product. Hopefully that will be soon.

I had unfortunately deleted the photograph of the quilt-in-progress, but have posted this image instead - I love it.

IT'S ALL ABOUT RECYCLING

Browing through some local op shops through the week (one of my favourite occupations) I came across some beautiful old cotton hankies, in perfect, clean condition - some were 1940's florals, some soft pastel checks, some solid colours. It was interesting to think about who had owned them - when my mother passed away last year I came across a box of beautiful hankies in a dressing table drawer - she always carried a pretty hankie, (and always insisted that I did the same thing while growing up - I even remember tuck shop money tied into the corner of a hankie), and this collection reminded me so much of her. Coincidentally, I bought a copy of Country Threads magazine, which features a Sweet Baby Quilt made from old hankies. So I took home my find, soaked them in NapiSan, dried them in the sunshine, spray starched and ironed them, and cut them into 4" squares. The only sad thing about the cutting was that I had to cut away some beautiful scalloped edges and lace trim. So I now have a neat little pile of pretty squares, all ready to stitch together into a baby quilt .. hopefully there will be a grand daughter in my future, and the quilt will go to her.

I will keep you posted on my progress.

I also have a wonderful, ever-growing collection of embroidered tablecloths, doilies, tray cloths, embroidered hand towels etc. which I have been adding to over the years. I am currently looking for inspiration so that I can make a quilt using the best of these pieces - some have holes, some have stains which just will not budge, and some are simply wearing thin in spots. I will go through some of my magazines and hopefully find some inspiration.

My hexagon collection is coming along nicely as well - I have had tables at a few local markets recently, and take along my scrap bag so that I can stitch some hexagons while relaxing in the sunshine - I love these markets, love chatting to the browsers. and any stitching I do is sure to attract a few fellow quilters to my stall! The photograph above shows my progress thus far - some of these scraps of fabric have been hanging about for many years - some of them bring back fond memories of holidays, and some serious Fabric Acquisition Road Trips through the years!

Take a look at my eBay site, julesandme07 - I am going to be selling some fabric, vintage laces, books etc., you might be interested. Also remember my web site www.julesandme.com - interesting baby clothing, nursery items and some bits and pieces for Mum as well.