Some Retro Themes

The latest Brackman CW block 'Carolina Lily' was a fun little block to put together!
 I had to be very careful with all the cross-grain seams so they wouldn't stretch!  It turned out quite well, although now I look at it I could have used more exciting background fabrics!

You will remember last post that I really wasn't happy with the Empty Spools block, I thought there were too many open spaces and that it didn't match up with the rest of the blocks we've done so far!

I spent several days playing with EQ to get something I liked, in the end I had about 5 options!   I finally settled on this one.   There was no easy way around it, it had lots of pieces and was not going to be a quick block!   I decided to use the Paper Foundation Piecing Method and although it took 3 sittings over 3 days I am happy with how it turned out!!!

After this block and before I could face Carolina Lily, I really wanted to do something mindless and simple.
So I got out my 'Happy Campers' charm squares that I bought on my trip to Maclean last week and arranged them into a little quilt for my Red Beetle!   They went together nice and quick, by the time I'd finished with the Spools I really needed some instant gratification LOL!!!!!

The think the charms  are 1950's prints,  but the 30's border print seems happy to sit there with them!
I am going to give this to the long-arm quilter to do an overall retro design, and will post a pic when it is finished!!!

Speaking of retro, while in Maclean I did go into a couple of antique/collectible shops and bought a couple of items.   I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw one of these.....again!  

If you are a regular follower you will know that I already have one of these Sewing Eggs!   My father had one and I remember playing with it as a child.  I have never seen one before or since, well at least not until I went into this little collectable shop in Maclean.  This one looks to be a newer version,  more pristine, but has a plastic thimble, it also does not have the Singer trademark name printed on it, but it does have printed on it that it is Made in England.

It is also just marginally smaller than my father's sewing egg, which has a metal thimble with the Singer tradmark on it.   You can see more about it on my post 'It's Been a Long Week' dated 13 May 2011.
Needless to say it just had to come home with me.   One of the little thread reels has a small sticker on it stating it is a sock darning set, and judging by the shape of the egg itself I guess you put it in the sock where the hole is and darn away, much the same as using a sock darning mushroom!  

The other item I just had to bring home with me was a piece of Xylonite.   I have been collecting pieces of Xylonite for some years now, and have quite a few pieces that I have managed to find not only locally, but also from Tasmania and New Zealand.   I just love the stuff!

For those who are unfamiliar with this, in North America it is known as celluloid.   All these pieces were made in England by the British Xylonite Company Ltd.   They also made knife handles, imitation coral jewelry, and of course items such as these!!!  They were the first British firm to successfully manufacture a plastic material in commercial quantities.   It was invented by an Alexander Parkes and first displayed in 1862.

While this photo looks very unexciting in of itself, believe me it WAS an exciting find despite a few tiny marks on it!   Because this is what it looks like now that I have a few of my precious pieces sitting in it!!!!

I could do with a couple more trays like that!!!   The brush and nail buff I bought in NZ, the other two items from Tasmania!  It's a pity the brush has what looks to be a superficial cigarette burn on the handle, but in every other way it is in perfect condition, as are the other pieces!!!   The crochet tray-cloth was made by my maternal Grandmother.   I remember it well as a child as my Mum always had it on the fold-up timber dining table.   I used to love looking at how it was all put together!!!!

Yesterday I received a lovely little surprise from Di of 'Quilting is Blissful' blog.  http://quiltingisblissful.blogspot.com/   She had a giveaway a short time ago and I was lucky enough to be one of a few lucky winners of a delightful pair of Cat scissors.   Di also included some beautiful embroidery thread and 100% cotton tea-towel.   Thankyou so much Di, I will treasure these lovely items.

Thankyou for visiting and thankyou to those who leave comments, they are always appreciated!!!

May your fingers keep busy,

Take it easy!
Merilyn