New Youtube Series with Chatterbox Quilts

Hi everyone:

I've been busy lately experimenting with new techniques, such as mixed media. I have no shortage of buttons, lace and vintage linens and I've decided that it's finally time to do something with them. Truth is I'm running out of storage space, so I really need to start using them in my projects. 

A few buttons I acquired recently

In addition to my mixed media experiments, I've been rearranging the fabrics in my studio. Again that shortage of space problem (no, I don't have an acquisition problem!). Now my fabric storage area looks a little more full, but there is still room for a few more specially selected fabrics, should I encounter them.

I think there's still a bit of room here,
 if I just move things around a bit

While all of this creating has been going on, you may think that I've been neglecting my Youtube channel, but you'd be wrong! If you're one of my Youtube subscribers (you are, right?), you'll see that there are new videos on the channel. Yes, we've been busily filming new videos and have created a new playlist as well, Creative Chats with Kim. The best part is that there will be a new video each week in this playlist. These are short episodes that cover a variety of topics, such as sewing machines, quilting tips, mixed media adventures and whatever has caught my eye that week. If you aren't already a subscriber to my Youtube channel (say it isn't so!), please sign up so you'll be advised when these new episodes are released.

The first episode on this new playlist is Vintage Estate Treasures. Watch it below or check it out on my Youtube channel. Check out my other videos and playlists while you're there too.

Are there any questions or topics you'd like to see covered in a video? I love to read your comments, so please let me know what you think about this new series. 

Guilty Secret Part 2

Hi everyone:

In my last blogpost, I let you in on a guilty secret: I love to shop at estate sales and purchase way too many vintage linens. Since I'm running out of storage space for them, I should probably do something with them. But what?

Here are some of my ideas:

A few of my recent estate sale treasures

Hankies - More of a fashion accessory than a practical item, you can still find vintage embroidered hankies still in their original slim boxes. These can be used as a centrepiece in a quilt with embroidery added to them or they can provide colour and design inspiration. They also make lovely focal points on pillows, large or small.

Hankie detail - gorgeous colours and sweet design

Interesting basket shape for appliqué design

Damask napkins and tablecloths - These can be dyed to the desired colour and used for their original purpose. Or... they can be made into a wholecloth quilt by sandwiching them with batting and backing and quilting them. Napkins are a good size to start with if you've never done a wholecloth project before. 

Damask napkins are often bundled in groups of 4 or 6 - or 5!

Love the pretty pink colour on these damask napkins

Doilies and crocheted tablecloths - These are my favourite finds. They can be dyed as desired and then added to various projects. I cut them apart into smaller sizes to add to stuffies or as decorative embellishments to quilts. Hand stitch a doily to an appliquéd wool flower, add a button and frame. Done. 

5 doilies all ready to be added to a project

A nice assortment of doilies

Just because there may be staining or damage to vintage linens doesn't mean that they can't be repurposed. Heavier linens that are damaged can be cut apart to make stuffies. Add hand embroidery, lace, buttons and other embellishments as desired. Lighter weight linens can be cut into squares or rectangles and then pieced together to create a pillow, table runner or even a full quilt. 

While this is stained in the centre, the embroidery details are lovely.

Love the embroidered detail and edging on these napkins

What are your favourite estate sale finds?

Guilty Secrets

Hi everyone:

I have to confess: I have a guilty secret. This summer I started going to estate sales. Even worse, I've been buying while at them. I know, it's shocking, but it's the sad truth. Some of my quilting dollars are now going to estate sale purchases.

Look at the gorgeous lace on the edge of this luncheon cloth!

It's not like going to a garage sale (although I've never been to one of these, I'm sure they are different from an estate sale). Estate sale items have been appraised and priced to sell and are still in the home that housed them for decades. It's sort of like opening up a time capsule to see what treasures you can find. Of course, one man's treasure is another man's junk - or is it the other way around? In any case, I've found lots of (what I consider) treasures. 

Lace edging detail

I like going from room to room browsing through old china, vintage jewellery and bric a brac. Sometimes the houses themselves are the main attraction, such as the one I visited a few months ago with red shag carpeting in the basement and shag carpet wall murals. I like talking to family members to hear the history of the items I'm interested in, such as the antique quilt that I purchased recently. 

Centre detail of quilt - love the touches of solid red!

A corner detail

Beautiful leaves and look at those prairie points
which are all around the quilt edge

Hand appliquéd and hand quilted, it's still in excellent condition and I love the colours in it. I was glad that I picked it up right away as I could feel envious eyes on me as I made my way through the rest of the house. 

Another view of the leaf border

While I can wear the jewellery and clothes that I purchase, what am I going to do with the vintage linens that I've purchased? 

Vintage wool blend bolero jacket with mink collar

Detail of stitching - quilting motif inspiration

Hankies, table cloths, cloth napkins, doilies, table runners, luncheon cloths, none are left behind. Beautiful and cherished, what am I going to do with them? 

Being a quilter, I love looking at all the designs and colours used in the items and the feel of the various textures. I can imagine how they were originally used, reserved for special occasion dinners or tea with cherished friends. This is the "honeymoon" stage, where we're getting to know one another. Then I start to think of how I can give them new life and make them useful and vibrant again while still respecting their past. 

I'll let you know some of my ideas for these vintage linens in my next post. In the meantime, I'd like to know if you go to estate sales, and if so, what are your favourite finds? If you collect vintage linens, do you use them to create new designs? I'd love to hear your ideas.