I'm Addicted to...

Ooh golly, there is a myriad of possible responses to that title. I'll keep it simple and tell you that for now, the answer is...FELT!

In addition to the delightful 1940's felt posy Mr Sneaky-in-a-good-way HenHouse presented me with for my last birthday, there was also this cute vintage felt needlecase. 

Inside, it contained an old card of mending thread.  I love the illustrations on these old cards and have quite a little collection now (more of those another day, perhaps).

In fact, I have become quite obsessed by vintage sewing notions such I now feel I can honestly say that I collect them.  On Friday, a gorgeous addition to my collection arrived all the way from America in the form of this cute "Sunbonnet Sue" style needle book in a  divine green felt.  On Sunday, a visit to the fabulous Dairy House Antiques in Dorset yielded the pink felt needle case.  The attention to detail in the making of both delights me.

I couldn't actually use these vintage pieces of history though, oh no.  I could make myself a new version, though, couldn't I?

It felt lonely and needed some friends!

The felt frenzy didn't stop there, dear reader!  Some little fairly ordinary, but oh so useful, tape measures were transformed, too.

By now, I was quite gripped with my wish to create a whole collection of pretty and practical sewing notions.  I was going through my wartime magazines, as you know, and they contain many ideas for needle cases, knitting bags and so on.  It seems pin cushions were also "staging a comeback"!

Pin cushions it is then (sorry about the fuzzy shot, it hasn't really got light all day here).

And then what else might be useful?  What are you going to keep all your "nifty notions" in?

Last week, in the corner of my Den, I came across a couple of stockpiled vintage sewing baskets.  They looked sad and to be honest, they'd probably been there a few years, forgotten about and collecting dust, in addition to the general grimy-ness with which they originally came into my possession.

Much elbow grease and a bit of creativity later...

Inside, a surprise awaits...

And of course, I could suggest that I know just the range of nifty notions to compliment it!

All these goodies shall be accompanying me to Chipping Sodbury to the super duper Vintage and Handmade fair on Saturday and when time allows, I shall also be updating my Etsy shop next week.

Toodle pip!