Vintage Treasure

Some of us have been taking it easy round here.

Charlie Boy is our only furry friend for now and never a more pampered cat would you meet.  He is eighteen years old now and a little more frail.  We treasure every day with him even if he is driving me slightly bonkers with his extreme food fussiness at the moment!

Meanwhile, I'm finding that early wake-ups are the norm for me with these light filled Spring mornings.  Yesterday, the rest of the HenHouse woke to the smell of freshly baked orange carrot spice muffins. (That's genuine sunshine in that there photo!)

When  we're not outside gardening, which is what mainly seems to be filling our time these days, I have of course, been slotting in a little making time.  It has been out with the ticking...

...and busy busy at Sally Singer.

My quest for textile treasures has continued and been very successful, I'm pleased to say.

Lots of delicious cushions have been emerging from the Den.

Now in my last post, I recapped on some of the trips we've fitted in, including visiting the Vintage Bazaar in Frome, after which we had a wander up Catherine Hill, well known for its vintage shops.  Teresa guessed correctly when I asked you what we might have brought home with us.  Gold star!

For a long time I've been hankering after an old French cot bed or similar to put in the newly decorated guest room and pile up with cushiony quilty heaven.  I pondered trying to turn a modern Ikea daybed the Munchkin had used at the cottage into a substitute but when I spotted the crib that day in Frome, which was my true heart's desire, the deal was done.  

It did not have a mattress but I just happened to have stockpiled some ticking for the very purpose so I set about making one to fit the old cot.  I made a simple bag type cover, using the ticking inside out for a more faded vintage look, placed two old duvets inside for padding and hand stitched the end closed.  I then set about the slightly more tricky task of tufting the mattress which I did with a very long doll needle, strong button thread, some discs of felt and mini rolls of linen.  Et voilà!

The cot bed was soon piled with cushions but what self-respecting quilter can have a cot bed without a quilt?  I decided something faded and vintage was in order and a fair few hours ensued, cutting a stack of 3.5" squares from my precious stash.  Every square is different; a charm quilt.

I decided to have fun with this quilt and rather than laying out the blocks first, I set about just randomly sewing them into pairs using my old Featherweight.  I then sewed these into pairs so I had a block of 4 squares.  I did then arrange these out on the floor.

It didn't take me long and the top was pieced, backed and hand quilted simply.  Later in the evening, Charlie Boy and I enjoyed some cosy time on the sofa while I hand stitched the binding which was made of strips from an old French linen sheet.

Scrumptious?

I backed the little quilt with a vintage French floral sheet.

It looks just right on the old cot bed.

The cot bed has proved perfect for my many cushions.

There's pretty ticking and floral hearts, lovingly hand stitched hexagons and gorgeous tactile old quilt blocks.

I have enjoyed being able to restock my Etsy shop  and there they wait, looking for new homes should you fancy a peek.  

I'll leave you with some freshly picked white bluebells (saying that seems very contradictory?) which the Munchkin found for me in the garden yesterday.  Happy Bank Holiday Monday, folks. Xxx