Monday 17 February 2014

Psychedelic patchwork and other nesting nonsense

I've checked in the diary and it is as I suspected, I haven't been away for the weekend at all this year yet. Yes, I've been out and about, and I've had visitors to stay, but the luxury of being in my own home, and not having to travel in the utterly dismal weather has been fantastic. I did seven years of travelling up and down the motorways very, very regularly and I now feel almost phobic about driving long distances.

So, what have I spent all this home time doing? Well, we've made progress on that bedroom! It's only been a year. It's not entirely finished, but we have varnished floors, freshly painted gloss work, undercoated wardrobes, and new curtains. Ta dah!
1940s barkcloth showing Spanish scenes, Senors and Senoritas! I had to have it. I lined the curtains with some recycled bright pink heavy duty cotton, which cuts out all the light. The only problem is, I don't seem to want to get up in the mornings.
























I've also turned my hand to patchwork for the first time in over 30 years. I did it old school, you know, squares of paper, tacked in then sewn by hand. You probably think I'm mad, but I did it watching the box and found it rather addictive.



























There's a couple of jumpsuits in there, one entirely handmade, the other altered, a dress which was handmade and one which I never finished. I haven't decided what to do with it yet.

Talking of patchwork, here's the next thing on the sewing pile. A pair of the most fantastic 1970s psychedelic trousers which need a little bit of reining in. There's too much fabric in the legs, which I keep tripping over in a most indelicate fashion. If I keep them like that, my obituary could read 'Death by voluminous loons' and there's just no call for that kind of trouser tragedy, is there?



































I had a rather lovely week off work during which I finally started putting some pictures up on the walls. This little black and white photo with the boy and the donkey has found its resting place above our bed.

Pocahontas is in the spare bedroom. That frame needs painting, but the picture is just so romantic, with the moon reflecting on the water. I wanted hair like that when I was a kid. Whenever my mum cut our hair, I would try to stick it back on with sellotape. It never ended well.






























They say we all turn into our mothers in the end. Well, this weekend I hacked my own hair off. The cycle is complete.

15 comments:

Vix said...

Yay, I've got you back! Firstly, those deadly loons have almost rendered me speechless - where did you find such beauties and why didn't I see them first?
Love the Spanish curtains - wouldn't they make a fabulous dress? The patchwork is beautiful so neat and pretty. I don't think I'd have the patience, I'm so easily distracted.
Love the cosy corner, that lady's hair is gorgeous and that basket looks right at home! xxxx

Helga said...

O MY DARLING MY DARLING MY DARLING!!!! YOU'RE BACK!!!!
Ooo, enough of the shouty! Back with a bang and a burst of crazy pants, gorgeously covetable Spanish themed fabric, patchwork and a Pocahontas (I call her Pocacuntas, actually) print!!!! ARGH!
The fabric makes me dribble, the pants are fecking madness and SO awesome!!! Death by flowing frothy loons is not really obituary worthy, so yeah, taking some fabric out is good!
I'm fond of patchwork but NEVER by hand!!!! It's super pretty. I haven't done patchwork for a while, dammit. Must.
So happy to have you back, I just need to get the URL to work properly!
Love you! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

mispapelicos said...

I love the Spanish flair, my dear friend.
The pants are magnificent on you.
The weather is warm. We are still waiting for cold, but the people around say it is as cold as it gets, and we are about 18ºc and much more in the sun.

Ivy Black said...

Aha! There you are. Brill.
I love those curtains and that gorgeous print.
Death by voluminous loons...oh yeah!
xxxx

Curtise said...

Poke-a-cuntas! Trust Helga, she's so naughty!
Oh dear, let's get this back on track... Curtains! Gorgeous Spanish dancers, and 1940s? Oh so lovely. Your patchwork is beautiful, and all done by hand? I'm impressed.
Oh man, I knew Vix would be swooning at the sight of those flares, they are just fantastic! Yes, slim them down just enough to prevent accidents, and you're away.
Gorgeous pictures, and that's a lovely little vignette (is that the right word? Should it be tableau? I dunno...) on your chest of drawers.
How much hair did you hack off? Show us, please.
PS. Thanks for your lovely comment. I'll stop being a misery soon, promise. xxxxx

Kylie said...

They are the most beautiful curtains I've ever seen Tania. D'you know what made me love them even more? Reading the words Senors and Senoritas because (thanks to a certain holiday vid) I could hear you saying them in your sweet little voice which made me smile.
I think your house and YOU should be in that mag, your patchwork is gorgeous and those pants are anything but (pants ie, they are most definitely gorgeous. Does that make sense?) x

Krista said...

Oh darling how I can relate to losing the desire to travel long distances in the car, so over it! Why this last trip to SD really kicked my ass what's wrong with me:)

I adore the new curtains but it's the pants and patchwork that has my dizzy with envy! Your home is as sweet as you beautiful girl!
Xxxxxxxxxoooo

Anonymous said...

I have seen the new and improved bedroom and it looks lovely. Dıtto the guest room :)) xx

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Those curtains are absolutely lovely!

Lyosha Varezhkina said...

looks very cool!

Lyosha
Inside and Outside Blog

Pull Your Socks Up! said...

Dammit!! How did I miss this? Yes, your domain name still seems to be up for grabs and I can't refresh your wonderful blog feed on my blog roll without weirdness happening. I digress. My frustration is due to the fact that I've turned to jelly at the sight of you in your fabulous 'loons!! Señorita barkcloth and oh heavens, patchwork!! Yes, it certainly is addictive and I too made mine to the background sound of the telly pumping out old movies. Lucky I wasn't too bothered about matching squares up to the millimetre eh? ;) I will find a way to keep up with you, perhaps a massive post-it note stuck to the side of my screen? xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

his_girl_friday said...

That's an amazing skirt.

bohemian vanity said...

There you are Tania! I missed you, thought you deleted your blog!
Glad you got it sorted dear!
The spanish curtains are so pretty, what a fab find!
I love patchwork stuff! Your creation is beautiful and i like the psychedelic pants too! They rock!
Thanks for the advice on the leather coat, i googled and read you can iron it with a piece of parchment paper (failed) or hang it in a warm place in summer. Guess i'll try it cause i've no other chance :)
XX Tani

Connie said...

Tania. So glad you checked in. How ever did I miss this post? So much to love! I would have to have that cloth, too. Right up my alley. And those are pants? Yeah, Baby. I am all about big pants. And patchwork. Oh, my head is spinning. So funny. When my daughter was about 5 years old when asked what she wanted for her birthday she said Pocahontas' hair!!!! Great minds! So, when do we get to see your bob?

Vanessa said...

The painting is beautiful! Love your collections/style.