First off- the next time I think about doing a strip quilt using 2 1/2″ denim strips- smack me on the side of the head. It is not difficult seeing just tedious. Very tedious.
I’m trying to decide what I want to back it with and if I want to sew it or yarn tie it. Suggestions are always welcome.
I am loving the old embroidery instructions at this website- and what makes all of the embroidery & lace such works of art is that they are all done on a treadle machine. No downloading a design from the ‘net to use in the fancy dancy embroidery machine- nope doing this all by hand err foot.
I am in awe-
The lace-
I love finding old carded buttons (and other sewing supplies) at the thrifts. The packaging alone is usually a work of art & they often are examples of our old retail landscape. In today’s finds I found old Twin Fair and Hens & Kelly tags- along with a cursive Sears logo.
Who else remembers shopping at Twin Fair?
Just “by using these buttons (snaps) your dress will fit- it promises Success in this great vintage card.
Old School Le Chic packaging (fashionable buttons guaranteed washable)
Not just quality- but Superior Quality
Hens & Kelly Department Stores- a much missed local department store that also gave out Green Stamps. From back in the day when department stores actually were more then clothes and housewares.
More Old School Le Chic Fashionable Buttons (guaranteed washable)
Remember when Sears sold buttons? Must have been back when department stores actually were full line stores- today the only store that comes close is Walmart and let us face it- Walmart is nothing like the department stores of yesterday. (Some could say Walmart is where the cesspool of humanity goes but I digress). Too bad Eddie Lampert is slowly destroying both Sears and Kmart turning both companies into shells of what they used to be.
(amazon ads below)
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00BNJ69ZC” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”instither-20″]Assorted Vintage Metal Buttons Gold And Silver Tone 12-28mm Diameter – 1/4 Pound[/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B001LAFTT0″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”instither-20″]DRESS IT UP 2866 VINTAGE BUTTON GRAB BAG[/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B00CQEDEC4″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”instither-20″]French General: Treasured Notions: Inspiration and Craft Projects Using Vintage Beads, Buttons, Ribbons, and Trim from Tinsel Trading Company[/easyazon_link]Once again a huge thanks to Fulton History.
Ads are from the January 1, 1951 Courier Express newspaper.
The Berger’s Ad? Yup those are 1951 prices. I love the Berger’s logo.
I’m drooling. Now the only department type store that sells fabric is Walmart. Yeah, not much of a selection there…
Remember when department stores sold sewing machines? Me neither. J.N. Adams had an entire White Sewing machine department.
I want that coat.
I think Portable should be in quotes. I can barely carry my 35 year old sewing machine, I don’t event try with the 50 year old “portable”. Machines in 1951 were made of metal. Heavy metal.
That woman is looking pretty sexy for 1951..
Ahh back to school time- the smell of new pencils & notebooks and the crowds of crazed parents wandering through Target looking for the ONE item that does not exist, but is yet on the supply list.
Kid #1 is a huge Pokémon fan (it comes with the age) and he needed a pencil case for school. So like all good crafty types instead of buying a $3.00 plastic pencil case I spent closer to $10 in supplies & about $30 in labor costs to make him one.
The pattern & tutorial for the bag comes via Very Berry Handmade.
Using the zipper foot.
More playing with the zipper foot. No matter how much sewing I’ve done zippers scare me. 
It looks like maybe I didn’t mess up the zipper.
Getting ready to turn it out.
And look- I’ve included some handy dandy links for buying Pokémon fabric straight from Amazon (and yes if you click & buy I get a few pennies
![Singer instructions for art embroidery : Singer sewing machine company. [from old catalog] : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive](https://i0.wp.com/swampcrone.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Singer_instructions_for_art_embroidery___Singer_sewing_machine_company___from_old_catalog____Free_Download___Streaming___Internet_Archive.png?resize=278%2C372&ssl=1)
