Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Vintage fabric and other gratuitous nonsense.

Now I  know I showed you the pile of old fabrics that had been in the back of the car for a while but last chemo round I washed them and ironed them. I know! Ironing! 


They were very pretty on the clothesline. This is what chemo drugs do to me. 



It seems to be some kind of bizarre nesting compulsion before each round. Last time I also cleaned out the pantry for the first time in two years.

We are talking the big clean where you completely empty it and throw out the 2010 Lavash crackers. Do not judge me unless you have a minimum of five offspring. 


I did similar things before babies were due. Stripped paint, scoured the linen cupboard, built shelving...as you do.

Last chemo I had the flu thing too so I was quite deranged. 


There may have been the culling of baby clothes and toys involved which forced me back to the oppy lugging unmarked black bags of booty. I don't like to see what's in them lest I become sentimental and relent.


I have been known to rescue a doomed giggling Ernie from a transparent plastic bag in a moment of weakness. It may have been the tragic giggling more than the clear bag.


I find if it is unseen for a few days I can rarely remember the contents and it is a cold and remorseless drop off. Easy. 

The problem lies in what comes home again. This sheet binge was just too good to pass up. Lucky that assistant took the huge carton away when only this much had been fluffed and folded into my booty pile.

So today is the last visit to the keeno club. Numero Six. I have mixed feelings. Dread and excitement. It's a bit like graduating. Will there be a certificate of completion? There is talk of a small stuffed toy given by the counsellor. If so, it may be heading for the Black Bag of Destiny. Anything that reminds me of the 'rooms' may end up in the bin as it brings on a little nausea.


I am hoping my retirement from the keeno stage might herald the return of the making mojo-hito. Some art might get finished, some domestic duties undertaken, some sewing machining and zip insertion may even take place. 


There could be a good year of sewing in this lot.  What have I done? Any thoughts on what to do with it all? I see cushions and tote bags and frocks...oh my!


All ideas will be appreciated as I twiddle my toes in their socks and stocks again and consider the mysteries of the universe and the sudoku app on my i-pad. Onward and upward, my friends!

29 comments:

  1. Onward and upward indeed Annie. Unfortunately my crafting ineptitude leaves me unable to offer any suggestions for fabric-usage. In my case they would be stuffed to the back of the sewing cupboard and eventually be found as various pet rugs, doll quilts or dress-up head wraps. I firmly believe pantry-cleaning to be a biennial event at best! All the best with this last treatment.

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    1. Head wraps! I should have thought of that one but I have such a big variety now that it didn't occur to me. I like it!!!

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  2. My name is Annie. I am a retro fabric junkie....

    I love all your textiles. I'd be whipping up homewares aplenty if I could sew. I must venture to your oppy one day for a field trip...

    Glad to hear chemo is over for now. I hope you never have to see that room again too. xx

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    1. I was actually going to open with that line! Seriously , it was al of $15. What's a girl to do?

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  3. Keeno retirement, what could be better! Old crackers perhaps? Lovely sheets.
    xo

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    1. I'm feeling old and crackers after this round.

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  4. So glad this is the last Keeno! I wishing for you good health and lots of crafty mojo. Love the sheets. <3

    Sharon

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  5. Last chemo- Woohoo. Go you.
    Yes cushions sound good, and bunting too. And maybe some placemats and aprons as well.
    x

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    1. You do mean I should cut the don't you? Why is that so hard. Dang your cushions look good. How about a zip tutorial.

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  6. Wowsie! Last freaky keeno!
    My imagine boggles at the possibilities of the stuffed emblem.
    A graduation luncheon should be the start of being keeno free.
    What an aray of retro style and colours.
    Sewn together they would make a statement as a BBQ tablecloth with apron and cook's hat for the Big Fella , of whom we haven't heard for a while except for his well-intentioned bias towards tidiness.

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  7. Of course I meant "imagination".
    These days my brain is in free fall.

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    1. If you look to the left you'll see the brain next to you is mine!

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  8. Those fabrics are amazing. So glad that you've finished your chemo, and I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that your sewjo returns asap!

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  10. Each tea towel, each piece of fabric, was better than the next one. What a great haul Annie. I really hope that your life after chemo is as bright as all those linens. I think my favourite is the yellow purpley roses/ikebana. But I also love the birds (pheasants?) and the butterflies on blue (I've got a pink version)

    Thanks for your comments today, it was really nice to hear from you. Take care.

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  11. That fabric is absolutely gorgeous! What about framing some of it? Stunning find!

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  12. Also, how about some beautiful book covers? Wishing you all the best, Neen

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    1. love the idea of book covers. in fact I was about to make a book for Shorty and a teepee for her birthday when all this started!

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  13. Annie, I know you don't want to hear this right now, but when you're feeling better, I reckon it's time for you to start producing some creative stuff for love AND money. With your eye for beautiful booty and your ability to create something from anything, I reckon you've got a brilliant exclusive craft stall right there - something you could take to finders keepers or even ... Home Festival 2013??

    Anyways, for now, rest rest rest, find as much peace in these spring days as you can, and please please please call out when you need a hand.

    Love jus x

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  14. I agree with Justine. I think now's the time to have a good think about where you go from here. Work doesn't need to be outside the home. You do have a marvellous talent, actually make that talents. And everything you do is fresh and new.

    I get sick of seeing the same 'craft'. You do things differently ... and you already have the blog platform. I'd visit your stall, you old hippy!

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  15. Great stash you have!! Just lovely, now what are you going to make with them I wonder!?!
    I hope that all the treatment you have put up with has worked it magic and you pass your Graduation with flying colours! I will be keeping everything crossed for you! Ada :)

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  16. I think I brought Lavash crackers to your place before I left for Samoa, mental note to self "Smiley's don't like lavash crackers".

    I feel relieved for you that you are finished the keeno sessions, remember when you couldn't wait to start and now it is done.

    Here here to Justine and Carmel and their art making suggestions, I completely agree.

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  17. Now you know which is my favourite if you stop to think about it ... that last with the baskets of apples.

    If Pinterest is to be believed the pinny is making a come back (no idea what that would be in Australian ... apron?) ... whatever you call them made from vintage fabrics I reckon they'd sell faster than you could make them :)

    Yay, no more keeno :D

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  18. That is a motherload of gorgeous vintage fabric there! I would not have been able to go past either! I am having similar feelings regarding a pile of baby toys sitting at my front door waiting to go to my sister in laws. I am torn - should i keep for my own children? it is still in the same family after all... Maybe I need to follow your lead and put it in a black plastic bag so I don't need to keep walking past and questioning my decision to get rid of a whole lot of stuff we just don't have room for anymore and that someone else is going to get a lot of joy from!
    p.s. finally did that full step by step tutorial for the tshirt scarf if you're interested.

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  19. I've just dipped into your blog care of Annie at Moving On and I have to congratulate you on your account of the last 6 months. I salute your honesty and can only offer my admiration of your amazing writing skills and my best wishes.

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  20. I'm feeling a bit better now I read this post.
    I love your fabrics.

    I'm glad you are done with chemo. Boy - I am looking forward to that day.

    I am 3 down of the first 4 (next last is Friday 28th), and have start another round of 12 little ducks in a row starting late October plus Herceptin.

    In my good weeks during chemo cycles, I've been de-cluttering and chucking outgrown , old clothes into bags , pantry cleaning, scrubbing and more etc - I thought I was odd.
    I found solace in it all.

    I too found- if it is unseen for a few days I can rarely remember the contents and it is a cold and remorseless drop off at the Salvos. I don't go in too far, I can open the door and dump them into the trolley bin thing.

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