Pallet potting table.

Here is my new potting table!

I know this is not a sewn, knitted or spun item, but it is handmade so that's ok, right? Jamie and I spent the weekend building a potting table for our garden. My parent in laws were visiting and gave us a lot of help also with this endeavour. To be fair, Jamie is the total brains and brawn behind this creation, my role was more as the 'artistic director'. 

I have dreamt of having my own potting table ever since we moved to Newcastle and rented a house with a yard. Potting tables can be as unique as your garden is. Most often they are crafted from re-purposed materials that the gardener has managed to salvage from a local source. Random bits are nailed, glued and screwed together to create something for the garden that is functional, and in my case, pleasing to the eye.

This potting table is completely made from pallet timber I was able to obtain for free from a retired gentleman who lives near the town where I work. He builds chicken coops and bird breeding boxes in his spare time and was only too happy for me to take what timber I needed. I did offer to pay him for the timber, but he replied with a smile "I would be offended if you paid me, please take as much as you need". He spent almost 45 minutes with me discussing my design plans and selecting the perfect pieces for the project from his substantial timber pile.

Pallet timber is ideal for this kind of project. It is cheap, or possibly free, and is a standard size. Pallets are made from outdoor wood so this table will survive being exposed to the weather. What I also prefer is the timbers 'rustic' look. Every piece is weathers differently. Knots. Stains. Splinters. All slats are unique.

I am considering adding some nails or hooks to the upper part of the timber frame, to use as a place to hang my gardening hand tools whilst I am working. Rhonda also uses a potting box to prevent wasting some of her soil while she is potting. I am hoping I can whip one of these up with all the off cuts I have left.

Below is the photo I found on pinterest months ago that I used for the inspiration for this potting table. The table was made by Bruce at www.thedesignpallet.com. The image has been sitting in my Gardens folder for some time, waiting for me to get my hands on some pallets.

~ Image can be found at The Design Pallet here ~

Jamie was really pleased with how similar his creation was to the inspiration photo...

We finished the potting table as the sun was setting, so I am yet to actually use it to pot any seeds. Winter is a difficult time to garden as night falls before I am home from work, leaving me unable to garden most evenings. Sometimes I do a spot of weeding before work, but that depends on the chill in the air and me not hitting the 'snooze' button. I am sure this table will get much use though next weekend!

Sam xox

Sometimes the thrifty Gods are smiling.

There have been a few good things about our move up to Newcastle. Definitely one of the best as been the quantity and quality of the antique and op shops in the Hunter region. The antique shops sell wares for very reasonable prices, and there are at least 4 op shops in every town, over flowing with random bits and pieces.

I recently visited one such shop and found a stack of vintage patterns stuffed under a counter table stacked with miscellaneous crockery. I was told patterns were 50 cents each. As I was on my lunch break I didn't have the time to sort through the boxes to check the patterns individually for complete pieces and instructions. I asked what price they would accept for the three boxes, and just about fell over when the reply was $10. 

$10?!? I normally pay this for one vintage pattern on Etsy! So I handed over my blue $10 note and left with three boxes of sewing patterns!

~ The patterns all boxed up ~

~ Mt favourite little boy patterns ~

~ My favourite little girl patterns ~

~ My favourite of the vintage patterns ~

I spent an evening sorting through the boxes. There were soooo many patterns (expect a few giveaways people!) that I divided them up into piles: vintage patterns, more modern patterns I would wear, and those 80's style patterns that are just scary... I am set for children's patterns, the only thing I am missing are the actual kiddies ;-) The ladies vintage patterns were all darling, and there were also some odd ball patterns that are kinda cool. I have checked over half the patterns I want to keep and they are complete, which I am thrilled about.

~ What is it with cats, sunshine, and boxes? ~

What has been your best thrift store find?

Sam xox

Watercolour.

I came across this pair of watercolour paintings at my local thrift store recently. From the information on the back of the paintings, it appears both were painted by women named Joan (different maiden names and addresses) from a town on the south coast of NSW. No dates given, but they did name their works...

"Boronia"

"Pink Posy"

These forgotten treasures are now being admired once again, taking pride and place on my living room mantle.

Sam xox

Thrifty finds.

I wanted to share a few of my thrifty finds with you. These were all found in a tiny Presbyterian charity shop up the street from where I work.

~ Cuff bangle and red beads sitting on 2 meters of vintage fabric ~

~ Over-sized blue and white polka dot vintage blouse ~

~ White pencil skirt ~

I was thrilled that I actually managed to find an entire outfit in one thrift store! The blouse looks great tucked in to the skirt, and the red beads and cuff bangle are the perfect accessories. Best part? The entire outfit cost under $9!

What do you think I should make with the fabric?

Sam xox

Un personne, un weekend.

My weekend was lovely. I had the house to myself and had absolutely no plans. Here's what I did with all my free time...

~ The housework got done ~

~ The washing was put out to dry ~

* I did not make this quilt.

~ Some magazines were borrowed from the library ~

~ An old woolen picnic blanket found a new home ~

~ The most amazing vintage store was discovered ~

~ Some vintage items may have been brought home from said store ~

~ Spring sewing preparations were made ~

~ Spring sewing began ~

* * * * * * *

I also did an 11km walk and a spot of gardening. I am now feeling very refreshed and don't want to go back to work tomorrow.

How was your weekend?

Sam xox

Thrifty finds and a giveaway reminder.

This week during my lunch breaks I have been exploring the local op shops. It has been a nice surprise to find that these op shops are a lot cheaper than the ones in Sydney. You can find many more sheets and pillow cases which have the potential to be upcycled (I have already began planning my Christmas craft projects).

Here are my goodies from this weeks visits...

~ A set of cream and mustard striped pillow cases for our spare bed ~

$1 for the pair.

~ An extra large mens grey hand-knitted jumper. Too big for Jamie.

Am considering making some cushion covers from it. ~

$1.

~ Gorgeous pink petticoat ~

50c.

~ Pair of vintage champagne glasses ~

$2 for the pair.

Have any of you ever cut up a knitted jumper and made cushions from it? What is the best way to do it to ensure the wool doesn't unravel?

Don't forget the giveaway ends soon!

Sam xox

A thrifty refashion.

I am super excited about this blog post! Do you remember this pillow case I thrifted a few months ago?(If you look closely at the pile of clothes photo you'll see it poking out). I thought the pattern was simply beautiful, and for only 50c, I thought it a steal. I admit at the time I had no idea what I would actually do with the fabric, I mean, it was only a single pillow case right?

The lovely bundle has been sitting on a shelf in my sewing room for a while now, probably thinking it had been forgotten. Not a chance! Inspiration struck me today, and with a little courage I took to it with scissors and thread, and within an hour I had whipped up a cute autumn skirt.

The first thing I did was stitch the hem down. First reason being I hate hemming and figured why not get it over and done with first. The second reason was I wanted a straight hem line so I could line the fabric up with the selvedge of some neutral calico I wanted to line it with (I wanted to keep the selvedge on the calico and make it a feature, by letting it fall a few centimeters lower than the hem of the floral fabric

I then cut out two rectangles of neutral calico the same width as the floral fabric, with the hem of the floral panel sitting slightly higher than the calico selvedge. I then secured the two fabrics together using a large gathering stitch. I stitched the skirt together down one side.

I cut a long thin rectangle from both fabrics and sewed it together to form a thin waistband. I then sewed the waistband onto the skirt.

I then sewed in a side zipper and finished the side seam, and voila! My less-than-one-hour-50-cent-creation was complete!

~ That's calico popping out underneath ~

~ The calico lining ~

Drum roll please! As I was home alone and couldn't find my tripod, please prepare for a photo with a quality so bad it's really not worthy of being on a blog, but here goes anyway...

~ If you squint you can see the skirt on me ~

I am super impressed with how this skirt turned out. It was super quick and easy to make, and best of all, I don't think it looks like a pillow case anymore.

Sam xox

psst! Just wanted to wish my lovely Jamie a happy 12 year anniversary (of when we began 'dating'... not marriage. We didn't get married when we were 14) :-)

Sew retro.

I have been accepted as a contributor to the Sew Retro blog!

If you haven't yet been to the Sew Retro blog, you simply must visit. It is a blog full of incredibly talented sewers and inspiring vintage lovers - I am thrilled to be a part of it! I just published my first post :-)

In other news, I un-picked all the lower side seams of the pink dress I thrifted. I restitched them with a very scant seam allowance, and would you believe it now fits me perfectly! Hip hip hooray for thrifty modifications! $2 always makes a girl smile too.

Sam xox

Thrifty finds.

I made some very exciting thrifty finds today at a local charity shop.

I went a little silly when I found this pink dress! It is made from soft pink fabric with embroidered detail. It appears to be handmade. It fits me perfectly on the top half, but is very tight on the bottom half. The seam allowances are really generous and there are 5 seams in total so i figure that will give me at least 2 1/2"... which hopefully will be enough. My fingers are crossed.

I couldn't resist this cardigan. It is very boxy in shape, but with a few alterations and some new buttons it will be super cute!

This yellow dress fits well, but is too big in the bust area. I am going to do some reading on making bust alterations so that it fits better. Also, I think I will do some top stitching along the bust seams as the lining is peaking up above the fabric.

I also bought this hand bag and a floral pillow slip.

Have you been thrifting lately?

Sam xox