Don't you just love shopping for fabrics? Aisles of textiles, like rippled rainbows of glorious patterns and prints...loads of inspiration in every direction! Back when the hubby and I had dual income and no kiddos, I would shop aimlessly, coming home with yards of fabric for which I had no immediate intention of using. These days I try to avoid the fabric store unless I actually need fabric for a specific project. Over the past few years I've learned to be practical and frugal when it comes to sewing projects. For quite some time I haven't bought any new yardage because I have been committed to using the supply I had on hand first. During the last couple of weeks I rewarded myself for sticking to that commitment by making two trips to the fabric store! (Yay!) As it turns out I had a few projects I wanted to complete for the shop that I simply didn't have enough fabric for. I came home from the store with some very sweet and lovely prints and enough inspiration to get going on my projects!
I love making quilts and coverlets for doll beds because I get to design girly bedding on a small scale. The idea of making a full sized quilt is overwhelming to me, though I would love to tackle one someday! I enjoy sewing projects that can be completed in one evening. I guess I like the almost-instant gratification of it. And of course I love stepping back into my childhood to a world of make believe, where pretty little dolls slept in frilly, luxurious beds! This little bed was simply a bare wood frame when I picked it up at the goodwill...I am guessing that most of the people who walked by it didn't even realize what it was. Of course I spotted it right away and immediately tucked it into my cart! I gave the frame a couple coats of my favorite cream paint and cut a thick piece of foam to serve as the mattress.
The frame looked much better after it was painted but it still needed something. I added this little vintage metal frame that I had painted in that same cream color. I used a heavy duty epoxy to attach the little frame to the headboard. The sweet little basket of bunnies image was offered by Miss Rhea two weeks ago in her "Free Clipart Monday" post. I love this image so much that I will probably be using it for more projects in the near future! Thank you Miss Rhea!
I am loving the mix of birds and cabbage roses on the fabric I found for this coverlet and I think the white lace added a special touch to the overall look. Of course I covered the foam mattress and backed the coverlet with a soft flannel. Must be the little girl in me that worries about dolly being warm and cozy! I have a good feeling that this bed is going to be purchased for an American Girl doll because it's the perfect size. How do I know this? Well, I have a Samantha doll...(Christmas gift when I was 18...long story!) I thought about taking Samantha's photo with this bed, just for fun, but sadly she doesn't own any pajamas...so she wasn't appropriately dressed for the photo shoot.
I also completed a patchwork quilt for a baby doll cradle! This cradle was a thrift store find. It looks to be handmade and before I gave it the creamy paint/distressed treatment, it was dark brown.
I added a painted metal frame to the headboard just as I'd done to the other doll bed, only this time I decoupaged fabric beneath the frame and sealed it up with a matte finishing spray.
I love the whimsical look of polk-a-dots mixed with florals!
Whenever I take a doll bed into the shop, I notice that when I return to work on my display, the bedding has been completely rearranged. Once I even found a little bear from another display carefully wrapped up in one of my quilts just dreaming away. Hmmm....either those darling little girls who frequent my space are enjoying my doll beds, or the dolls and bears at Camas Antiques come to life after hours and make their way back to my booth to curl up with one of my tiny flannel backed quilts! Maybe it's time to do some investigating...could be a topic for a future post!
Speaking of darling little girls, this is Maggie...isn't she beautiful? She and her mom are dear friends of ours and she was nice enough to model one of my fabric bow headbands for this post! She comes to play with the little boys for a couple of hours each week. I must say, it is fun to have a little girl around the house!
This little wooden divided basket is a piece I recently painted and distressed. It makes such a nice headband display that I really hope it doesn't sell right away! I am in the middle of working on a tutorial for these floppy fabric bow headbands. I should have it posted sometime in the next week if you're interested!
It's amazing how far you can stretch a couple yards of fabric... I try very hard not to waste a single scrap!
The beds, headbands, wooden basket and several other items will be making their way to the shop this week! And I might just make my way back to the fabric store for a little more inspiration, because there really isn't enough of any of those lovely prints left to make another single craft project!
I hope you are having a wonderful week! Thank you so much for your sweet visit!
Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda
I will be linking up with the following fun parties today:
White Wednesday at Faded Charm
Wow us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
All Things Inspired at All Things Heart and Home
Transformations and Treasures at Pink Postcard
Wednesday Link Party at Tea Rose Home
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage
