Vintage Doily Table Runner Orders

I've had a couple more Retro Revival vintage doily table runner orders recently, and thought I'd share a few pictures...

 

 

I love making these!  Though labor-intensive because I hand stitch them together, I never tire of designing the placement of the doilies for each runner ~ it's like piecing together heirloom puzzles.

Each runner is unique.

 

Shabby and romantic but still modern somehow.

 

Perfect for everyday use or special occasions. 

 

I have more listed in my Etsy shop if you'd like to take a look.

Oh Doily Night {Vintage Doily Christmas Tree Skirt}

 

For those of you who've followed my blog for any length of time, well you know I'm crazy about vintage, crocheted doilies.  And that I'm always looking for new and creative uses for upcycling my enormous stash.

 

My latest creation is a Retro Revival Christmas tree skirt.

 

For this project I cut out a 56" hexagon of muslin fabric and randomly pinned over 30 doilies onto it.

 

 

 

Then I meticulously hand stitched all of the doilies onto the muslin.

 

 

If you look closely at this picture, you can see the antique, lace collar I sewed around the center circle.  It fit perfectly!

 

 

 

I lined it with more muslin so that it's nicely finished.

 

 

I used all sorts of doily shapes in varying shades of white and ecru.  It's even prettier in person and I'm in love with it!

 

And bonus ~ the current issue of GreenCraft magazine loves it too!  They've featured it in a three-page spread!

 

 

 

Eke, I'm so excited!  Hopefully, someone else will be too ~ I've listed this heirloom-quality beauty in my Etsy shop and it's ready for shipping.

 

 

Hope you all have a creative day!

Sip & Shop Home Show Results

Sunday's Sip & Shop was so much fun!

 

Our living room was transformed into a Retro Revival shop.  Walking in the front door...

 

 

My products were displayed throughout the space.

 

 

Lots of shower caps were bought, several people commenting about what nice stocking stuffers they'd make.

 

I used the sideboard to display sleep masks and pot mitts (several of each sold), and hanging from the mirror, my vintage Christmas ornaments wreath (still for sale in my Etsy shop).

 

 

 

In the middle of the floor I loaded our tiered table with my vintage Christmas planters (one sold), vintage planter pin cushions (two sold) and at the bottom, my "canned" aprons (one sold).

 

 

And in front of the stairs I displayed more aprons (14 sold) in my old grocery cart and funny, retro tea towels (2 sold) in the laundry basket.

 

 

As always, the best part of a show is the smiling faces of my customers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall, doing a home show was much easier than a "real" show ~ hauling my things upstairs and setting up/breaking down was a snap!  And even though I didn't get the huge crowds like an official show, it was still a great kick start to my biggest selling season.

 

Thinking I may do another home show, maybe in the spring before Mother's Day.  In the meantime, I've got quite the to-do list today ~ apron and shower cap orders plus another tutu tulle Christmas tree skirt order, and another vintage doily table runner order.

 

 

I'm a happy little elf!

Secrets to Cleaning Vintage Linens

I was busy yesterday, laundering some of my vintage, crocheted doilies and tablecloths.

I'm asked from time to time about the best way to clean vintage linens and though I'm sure many methods exist, these are my secrets for transforming cruddy linens into lovely linens...

For lightly stained or discolored linens I submerge them in water, pour lemon juice over them and liberally sprinkle them with salt.

I hang them in the sun for a few hours, letting the sun, lemon and salt work their magic.

Then I rinse them and hang them to dry and waalah!

My "secret soak" is required for heavily soiled linens.  First, I heat up a few gallons of water on the stove.  I want the water really hot, but not quite boiling.

While the water heats up, I pile the dirties into my favorite galvanized tub (just about any container will do, even a sink)...

...and collect the rest of my supplies:  For each gallon of water, 1 cup of Borax powder and 1 cup Oxyclean powder.

I sprinkle the detergents into my tub, pour the hot water in and mix the water well, using an old wooden spoon, until the soap is well dissolved.  Then I drop in my linens and let them soak for about two days, stirring them a couple of times each day.

Then I rinse my linens.  It normally takes three really good rinses to get out all of the detergent suds but if that doesn't get them all out, I'll add 1 cup of distilled vinegar to 1 gallon of water, swish the linens around a bit and rinse with water a final time.  Lastly, I'll hang them to dry.

Bright, free from discoloration and stains ~ clean!

If you're going to give my methods a try, please take a few minutes to spot test your linens to ensure they won't be affected, after all, many of these vintage linens are quite delicate.

Any of you out in Blogville in need of a generous stash of vintage linens?  I have these to give away for free (you cover the postage please)!

I've laundered most but not all of them.  Many are in pristine condition but some are damaged and should work for your projects.  It's a collection of doilies (most handmade but a few factory), dresser scarves, pot holders, kitchen scrubbers, etc.).  There are probably at least $100 worth of vintage linens here.

If you'd like these, please shoot me an email at Cindy@RetroRevival.Biz and let me know.

Update:  Dani reached out to me first and I'm sending her these goodies ~ I'm sure she'll make very good use of them!

And don't forget about my July blog giveaway ~ these sweet, vintage salt & pepper shakers.

Share a comment on any or all of my July posts and you're automatically entered to win.  Drawing is July 31st.

 

Bejeweled Vintage Dress Form

Oh, how I've yearned for a beautiful vintage dress form.  One that can join my other "assistants" at my arts & crafts fairs and model my aprons during photo shoots.

One that has just the right amount of shabby and vintage charm to compliment my products.  One that wouldn't cost me an arm and a leg ~ afterall, they don't have arms and legs, so why would I pay hundreds to satisfy my obsession?!

Looky, looky!

I'm in love!  I've been searching and searching with no luck.  Until now.  Just like they say with love...stop looking and you'll find it!  I went to one of our local thrift stores looking for some vintage candle sticks for my dessert pedestals and...

Aaaahhhhh!  Angels sang and trumpets trumpeted!

There she was, shoved in a back corner, all dusty and crudey!  Got her for $50 ~ yep, $50!  I lugged her home (she's heavy with her cast iron legs) and cleaned her up a bit.  Isn't she gorgeous?!

So what should I name her?  My other "assistants" are Coco and Brigette and the twins are Babette & Beatrix (click here to meet them).  Thinking Bebe, to continue the "B" theme or maybe Sally since that's the manufacturer's tag on her chest.

Until my next show I think I'll keep her on my bedroom dresser where she can display my brooch collection.  I was inspired by this photo by Bejeweled By Gwen.  Isn't this an incredible work of art?!

For Bebe/Sally, I draped a vintage, hand-crocheted doily collar over her neck, layered on a few necklaces and then randomly pinned on my broches.

Like a little old lady, I've been wearing broches for-ev-ah!  I usually pin them on my dresses and t-shirts rather than jackets, figuring this is a bit more modern.

My collection includes a mix of newer and vintage pins in lots of different colors.

(The photo brooch is my friend Suzy and me in a photo booth, I think from 6th grade ~ ha!)

And as you can tell, florals are my favorite.  I made the fabric flower pins myself, usually using silk flowers cut and glue-gunned to a craft pin:

I just love the way Bebe/Sally looks now!

Hey, my friends, please don't forget to enter to win my super big giveaway this month ~ the one worth over $200 in Retro Revival products and J&O gift cards!  Click here for entry instructions.  Good luck!