Up-cycled Napkins

In June I did a tutorial on up-cycling a vintage/antique linen into the pincushion on a Mason Jar sewing kit... but I never said what I did with the beautiful lace cornered scraps from the linen.

 

Well, I turned them into pretty little napkins! When I made the sewing kit, all I did was cut the "P" out of an antique monogrammed linen. When I was finished, I had a near-perfect condition linen - with a 4x4 square cut out of its center - left over... and beautiful lace trim on it's corners!

To make the napkins, all I had to do now was to cut off the excess center strip (an act I didn't feel bad about because it was slightly damaged with moth holes anyways), roll and pin the hem...

... and stitch them on just ONE side. It only took me about 30 minutes to trim, pin, and hem both scraps.

It was SOOOOOOOOOOOO simple, and I got beautiful napkins without wasting a thing!

What have you up-cycled lately?

-- A Victorian Cowgirl <3

"P" is for...

Last summer while looking through a stack of antique linens that had been given to us by a friend, I found a particularly sweet (albeit well loved, and slightly imperfect) table runner, which I immediately fell head-over-heels in love with.

Later, as I was giving the runner a once over I realized it was monogrammed. What was the letter? you might ask... It was a "P".

I have been thinking of the things that "P" could stand for since it isn't part of my initials, and the runner is so lovely that I can't bear to part with it. After weeks filled to the brim with long hours of thought, it (FINALLY) came to me:

"P" is for Pincushion.

But how shall I do it?!?!?!?!

Here, my dears, is the answer to that dreaded question...

The magazine article that I used for inspiration is found in last years May/June edition of Victoria Bliss Magazine.... but I tweeked it a little as I went along and found what worked for me :) 

My crafting supplies (minus the fabric...since I still have to search the external hard-drive for those pics) include: a mason jar and lid, cardboard (from a ramen box works), Gorilla Glue (you're supposed to use fabric glue but this is all I had), pillow fluff (not shown), and some mini-sewing kit supplies to go in the finished jar... consisting of a pack of machine needles, a pack of mixed hand sewing needles, assorted small white buttons, safety pins (the ultimate seamstress's life-saver -- aside from duct-tape which fixes EVERYONE'S problems), a thimble, some embroidery floss, some floral lace trim, and a pretty dark grey pearlized Butterfly button :)

My fabric cut out already... I have more pics of the full runner, but that is for a later craft-project post :)

Tracing out the lid onto cardboard... you are supposed to use two circles of cardboard like I have shown here, but I found it easier to use one. And, it's best if it is slightly smaller than the lid :) 

Fabric, pillow fluff, lid and cardboard... time to center the "P" in the middle of the lid, and insert pillow fluff. Then comes the cardboard to hold it, and you glue the fabric to the cardboard to lock it all in place. Don't forget to trim the fabric after the glue is dry. Should look something like this...

And here is my finished pin-cushion...

Then you just fill the mason jar with a mini-sewing kit. Like this:

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

(I think I will redo this post with better instructions later... lol)

A not so Wordless Wednesday

Back in January I made and embroidered a corset to go with an Edwardian drawers and camisole set I had made just weeks before... all undergarments for a Ballgown I was in the process of making for the Patriots Ball. I had only a month to finish everything!! I have been so busy since the completion of all of my garments that I have hardly had the time to both take, and post, new photo's. (I was also trying to find a way to wear my corset that was both modest and pretty.)

I was inspired by my blog-world friend Aurora to take pics OUTside, so while I dig around for one of those pics to photoshop into glory... I hope this one will suffice :)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

What would a girl be...

Without a pair of fabulous looking shoes?!

Perfect for those going to a ball, or who just like the style in general. Hop on over to American Duchess' shop, and buy yourself a lovely new pair!

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

A Tid-bit of Stitchery...

I said in my last blogpost that I would put up a photo of the embroidery I've done on my corset when I had the chance... I finally had time to get around to it yesterday evening. Not only did I get a few of the embroidery, but I decided to take a few of my work so far as well. As you can see, it is just a simple Vine pattern w/ French Knot berries, and a few leaves...

Though the photo's probably aren't the best, here they are :)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl