easy cushions

Another big thank you to Graphics Fairy and her apparently endless source of great design material,  as I put together these fun cushions for lounging about outside.

The first one was made with my favourite and  French vintage tea towels  I used a Graphics Fairy transfer pattern that I already used on my apron , three buttons and four tassels.  I made it big, the right size for a rectangular bed pillow.

Everyone here liked the big size cushion so much that I made up another using burlap and vintage linen.  The black and natural tone seem to look good together.  It closes in the same way as the first, with three buttons behind, and it has four black tassels, one at each corner.

Here I used black ribbon to fasten the buttons instead of button holes - chic non?!

By this time I was enjoying the whole burlap + passementerie thing so much that I surged right ahead and made a burlap cushion cover, using part of a grain sack and finished off with red and green bobble passementerie.  Long and thin, good at the base of your back.

Voila!  All three of these cushions are sitting on the front shelf in my etsy shop!

I am linking this post to Brag Monday chez Graphics Fairy

and to Marketplace Monday at Finding Fabulous

summer sales chez moi

I'll soon be telling you about these new cushions that are up for sale.

But for now it's nearly the end of the summer sales here in France, so I decided to join in on the fun.   If you pop over to my etsy shop you will see what's in the sale.

I have put one of my beautiful linen bedsheets into the sale.   This sheet is a hundred years old at least,  in perfect condition and huge.  It would make a lovely bed cover or even a curtain.   The price has gone from $185 to $110.

I always loved this vintage Villeroy and Boch coffee service.  The colours are sweet, and the style deliciously retro.  This is reduced from $105 to $75.

SOLD

I have also cut the price on these architects squares that were found at our village foire a tout.  I love the different colours of the woods.  These are reduced from $60 to $30.  Don't forget that all my prices include shipping.

SOLD

The same reduction is made on this lovely French passementerie.  I'm enjoying trimmings at the moment as you'll see in my next post.   This selection of lace, ribbon and bobbles would finish off many  sewing project with a truly French touch.

SOLD

You might also like to check out these new items that I'm putting in today, fresh from my latest brocante finds.

This pretty tea service is totally charming, nearly 100 years old and in almost perfect condition! 

I'm selling this old book for someone who's looking for French prints to frame. There are fifteen full pages of drawings begging to be framed and hung in a group, plus loads of smaller illustrations. Ideal for a husband or father who like fishing.

In my next post  I'll be telling you all about those new cushions.

Bon shopping!

my giveaway winner

A HUGE THANK YOU

to everyone who took part in my first giveaway.  I was thrilled to see so many people and Patricia was thrilled about all the compliments paid to her handwork.  It's been a wonderful way to meet a lot of new faces, I've even become a follower to my first Ukrainian blog!

Thank you also for  the lovely comments and emails you wrote about my etsy shop. As you know this is also fairly knew to me, and thanks to your help, I've been able to understand more about what you like.   In particular I have changed my approach to shipping costs.  After a long chat to our village post office, I was able to improve the cost of posting out my little treasures.  Now, instead of bothering you with the details of how much shipping costs, I'm just putting up the items at an all inclusive price, delivered to your door!

So here, without more ado,  I am happy to announce that the winner of this pretty set is

Mara

from

If you don't know Mara's blog yet, you should pop over and have a look.  She is Italian, from Padova, and her blog is full of the happiness and lightness of spirit that the Italian girls seem to do so well.

Congratulations Mara, send me an email with your address and the little packet will be on  it's way!

I love etsy

I am so excited, I made my first sale on etsy today, and I need to celebrate!  What better way than to feature a couple of other etsy sellers whose stuff I like.  I know it's stating the obvious but etsy is an amazing tool.  It enables so many people, particularly women, to sell from home to a world wide market.  I love it!

I adore this painting, it is fresh and happy.  What's more  

we need to protect our bees, they're good for our planet.

I've always loved pincushions, they make mending more 

fun and this one is particularly pretty.

Some people are very clever at wrapping gifts with ribbons and 

fancy paper,these labels are so sweet, they'd look

great even against a plain paper wrapping.

Voila, some retail therapy for your weekend, have a great one!

photos.  bees,  pincushion,  tags

Les affaires reprennent !!

I was so happy this weekend,  we had our first local antique fair of the season.  'La foire a tout'.  I hauled my youngest son out of bed, (my boys have always loved these fairs)  and hidden behind scarves, woolly hats, gloves, duffel coats - well you get the picture - off we went before breakfast!

We weren't disappointed, there were loads of people, but I still managed to find quite a few fun things, some of which have gone straight onto my etsy page. 

I managed to resist the turquoise rocking swan - a will of iron, I know

I steered the boy clear of the green tank, tempting but no  ....

 

but I did find some pretty china

 

 

 

And what did you do this weekend?