More Vintage Apron Girlie Dresses

Two of the little vintage apron dotty

dresses for the little girls in Seattle.

Each has a babushka to match, and

one of the little tiny lavender dolls to

match the little girl who wears the

dress. These old linens were once

dresser scarves. Made by ladies

who embroidered their souls into

their work.

Making Oilcloth Bags While It Snows

One more of the big carry-all totes

of oilcloth inside and out, 2 pockets

inside and little lined zippee with

carry strap. These and most of the

totes are reversible. They can be

made any size, any number of pkts,

because they are made to order.

This one is for Sue's Erin in New York

City...it will be just right for going to

her market down the street from

her apartment.

More snow is coming tonight.

Polkadot Monkey Oilcloth Tote and Tiny Zip Pursie

This is the sturdy oilcloth tote for Sue
that finally got done today. Lined in
tiny check oilcloth with two pockets
inside. Rick rack around top and ties
for closure. Little lined zippee with
carry handle. Just LOOK at the monk
faces up close! They knock me out.

We Know How to DO Sloth

Yep, it is a real hotbed of activity
here on this snowy cold Sunday.

First Snow of the Winter

I love the winter.

I love the winter.

I love the winter.

I love my boots.

I love my cap.

I love my quilt.

I love my cat who

snuggles down

tummy to tummy

and purrs me to

sleep. 

I love Mr. Monkey.

Red Ticking Vintage Apron Dress

This is another size 12 girlie dress

made from red and white all cotton

ticking and cotton polkadots. The

apron is from a 1940s kitchen cotton

tablecloth, and I added some hand

crocheted edging. On this one too

I added a little button tab at the

neck opening. Tonette...if you like

the blue roses better, there is just

enough fabric for another and I

have the perfect tea towel to go

with it...let me know! The length

is probably a few inches below the

knee, depending. I lengthened it

a bit from the short short pattern,

cuz I do not want that cute little

bottom to show, and it is sortof a

longer style I thought. I have

some of the red dots in oilcloth

so we can make a little tote for

her as well...

Rachel's Vintage Apron Dress

Size 12 Girlie Girl dress for Rachel.

The apron is from a vintage finger

tip towel of linen; vintage-looking

faded blue roses on taupe for the

dress; and cream and blue puffy

cuffs and sash. I added a mother

of pearl tab closure at the neck, as

it was a little open otherwise. She

likes the longer length, or rather

Mom and Dad do.

Cushions Made With Vintage Textiles

Hodge Podge of sofa/bed pillows made from

old drapes and vintage Bates bedspreads. And

pompoms and fringe.

The top one is a photo of those really really

tacky hooked pillows that ladies did at home

on black velvet backing. I took them apart

to remake them and to add new inserts and

you guessed it...pompoms. 1930s handwork.

The rest are made with my favorite old

textiles: that nubby barkcloth, a nautical

bedspread, chenille backings, all with feather

inserts.

Two New Barkcloth Vests

Bits of barkcloth drapery from the
30s-50s, just waiting to be used.

Okay, more "barkcloth" drapery.

The top one is from the sputnik

era in the 50s, very "modern."

The second one is tacky landscape

drapery fabric. Maybe the 40s.

Both vests have some of that faux

button printed drapery in different

colors.

Lifetime Supply of Safety Pins

Can you believe how crazy great
these dorky safety pin beaded 50s
baskets are? WHO would actually
make them? And WHY?

Vintage Lavender Dream Pillows

Polkadot Monk chills out with lavender. She

takes a "dream pillow" to bed, slaps it about

and gets that scent and sweet dreams all night.

Really old anything: laces, linens, 1940s bits

of tablecloths, vintage fabrics, you name it.

That big white flower on the right is a piece

of 1940s barkcloth drapery...you know, that

real bumpy deco fabric. The insert on the

left is the lavender that slips out so the case

can be washed.

The second one cracks me up. It is one of

those "naughty" guest towels for the bath

that I find occasionally. Little rounded

stuffed balls make the boobs and bottoms.

Sold this one long ago. I wish I could find

a bunch more of those wacky towels.

Lavender Storybook Pillows

These pillows are filled full of lavender buds
and mint and lemon peel and hops and and...
The pictures are really pages from very old
fabric nursery books. I find them at flea mkts
and antique malls, all wrinkled, pages askew,
marked up with pencil marks by children long
ago. Monkey hand-stitches them onto the
fabric backing and piles in the French lavender.
The pillows become like little frames for the
picture pages, and they smell good too. This
is a way to preserve them and share these
little pieces of history.

Vintage Lavender Sachets

These are some of the sachets Monkey makes
using bits of vintage feedsacks or damask and
lady hankies and old lace and buttons. She
hangs them on drawer knobs, on the bedpost
or nestles them inside folded clothes in her
suitcase. Mmmmmm. French Lavender!

Little Purses Made From Old Ties

Oilcloth Zip Bags are Fully Lined

"Green" Oilcloth Grocery Totes

I use these market totes
when I go to the grocery
store instead of the paper
bags. They are just the
same size, but they save
the trees. Sacker dudes
get a kick out of them.

This is sturdy coated
cotton from the Moda
fabric company down in
Dallas. Single layer, with
double reinforced straps
to just go over shoulder
or carry by hand. A little
pocket for grocery list.

Overflowing Oilcloth Waiting for Monk

Yep, it makes
my heart sing.
Bolts of gaudy,
raucus oilcloth
clanging over
there in the
corner, wanting
attention. Totes
and purses and
zipper pouches.

Look at all the
colors banged
up together!

Prairifire Crabapple Tree

Monkey planted a new

crabapple tree Friday.

It has dark red berries

hanging down allover

the branches. Maybe

the birds will be happy

to see it in the front of

the house.

Fall is my favorite time

of the year.

Vintage Barkcloth Baby Kimono

Short kimono tie top

of barkcloth drapery

cotton. Pre-1950s.

This is for little Lilja.

It is so warm, lined

with the same flannel

of the pants. Roll the

sleeves up, roll the

pants up...till little

arms and legs grow.

Monkey wants one

for herself!

Rachel's Polkadot Apron Dress

Rachel wanted a dress

with an apron too. For

this larger size, we did

a square neckline with

a more fitted bodice &

added a sash to tie in

the back. She has a

blue babushka and a

little blue dotty tote

of oilcloth in the same

pattern.

I am getting itchy to

make some more of

these dresses!

Little Dotty Apron Dresses

This is a little cotton
dress/jumper with a
sewn-in apron made
from a vintage hand
embroidered linen
tea towel. I've got bolts
of polkadots in peachy
pink, red, pale blue
and pale celery. There
is a dotty babushka
for each dress. Back
button placket. A
lavender filled heart
is removable. This
poodle dress size 4
went to Riley.

It is Fall. It is rainy. It is good.

This white anemone

is the tail end of the

flowering things, but

the pink honeysuckle

hangs on too on the

front railing. Leaves

are falling. Soon we

will have to rake.

(Mel says he raked

37 bags last year.)

5 bags of pine bark

mulch are waiting to

be spread on the new

plantings.

Monkey Starting New Blog

Monkey is starting over
with her new blogging
thing. Just for fun. It's
a pretty crazy world.
Here is a picture of some
of our friends...they have
been around.