Mexican oilcloth from Me Too Please
If you’ve seen the new book or indeed read the posts here, here and here, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of oilcloth, and particularly the Frida Kahlo-esque brights used for projects such as this kite here in The Crafty Kid. Children love the bright prints and I can’t stress enough how easy oilcloth is to wipe down when used as a tablecloth, apron or purse of any sort. It’s also pretty simple to sew, and I don’t bother changing the presser foot on my machine to an upholstery one (although you do have to take it a bit slower when stitching oilcloth if you don’t want to bust too many needles).
Ben Elke, the wholesale importer for Mexican oilcloth in Australia got in touch recently to show me some of the new range they’ll be bringing in, which is just gorgeous and very retro. Order direct here from Me Too Please, or from any of their stockists throughout Australia. My locals are Balmain’s Prue Trollope and Beezaar in Rozelle.
Dandi fabrics
Doily print fabric by Dandi
I’ve mentioned Dandi before in an earlier post but just realised I haven’t done a separate post yet on their gorgeous fabrics and homewares range. Check out their original, very Australian-vibed designs and particularly the oilcloths, which look fab on the table and wipe down so easily for low-maintenance kitchen chic.
Speaking of oilcloth, I’ve been buying up new designs from Cath Kidston as well. I’ve loved her modern twist on retro fabrics for ages but it was seeing them in every friends’ home we visited recently that had me returning to her stores not once but thrice. Also good for a look and online order if you’re feeling flush.
Fabric bucket kit (pattern & fabric) from Dandi
Dandi DIY fruit mobile
Two groovy mags and a Mad Men wedding
Cloth's latest issue
Georgina’s cloth shopper bag
Here’s a snapshot of the kitchen table this morning, where I’m working away on some last-minute things for the next book and drinking copious cups of tea… we go to print in less than two weeks (eek!)
Last week my editor, the crafts genius Georgina Bitcon dropped by, and brought this lovely gift with her: it’s a cloth shopper bag based on the same pattern as the plastic ones given out at the supermarket. I’ve been using it every day now and it works a treat. It also folds up nice and small in my handbag, so I have it at the ready when proffered a plastic one.
Georgina sourced the Japanese fabric from Quiltsmith in Annandale. I think it’s gorgeous, don’t you?
Coco Repose
Victorian jacket from Coco Repose
A while back I was flicking through The (Sydney) Magazine, and Megan Gale recommended Coco Repose as a great place to find high quality vintage clothing. I waited until I had a spare day up my sleeve to visit, and can attest: this is one of the most well-edited collections of vintage I’ve ever seen.
Owner Jessica Guthrie is lovely, and I’ve gone on to buy many items from her since – including this very rare silk jacket from the Victorian era.
Back of jacket button detail
I was going to play at fixing it, as the silk is so old it’s disintegrating, but can’t bring myself to touch it in case I ruin it. I’ve chosen to hang it on the picture rail as artwork instead – this is one item that doesn’t need reinvention.
Incredibly delicate lapel
Coco Repose
82 Fitzroy Street, Surry Hills
(02) 9356 4804
This week’s inspiration…
Crushed roses and velvet
Comes in the form of these lolly-like fripperies: a silk rose, sequinned starfish and a tattered black feather or two… what to do, what to do? I’ve already wasted a good half hour this morning calculating; turning them over in my hands, and wondering.
Michaela picked up the unusual sequins up for me from Spotlight when last there – see here for her solution. The silk rose is from Diva and the starfish, or firework burst, or whatever manner of shape the black sequinned business is, was picked up on my travels somewhere (along with the feather and Whitman’s sampler tin full of leftover bits and bobs).
See here for another flight of fancy with feathers and studs.
A tin full of possibilities
Imagine these beauties washed up on the shore
Bright and shiny
Shake your tail feather
Olivades
Cushion from Olivades
I found this new fabric warehouse purely by accident on one of my regular visits to Le Forge in Camperdown to drool over the furniture and French imports (and particularly the beds and bedding – so chic, it’s all along the lines of delectable homewares store The Country Trader, but more affordable).
Olivades, which has opened just next door to Le Forge, stocks divine French toile de jouy, voiles and upholstery fabrics, as well as a small range of homewares. I’ve already stocked up on a bunch of remnants, and ordered some pretty toile de jouy voile in a rosy hue to pin up in front of the blinds in the spare room. Perfect if you’re looking for a touch of French country house to add to your home.
Commode Aviator from Olivades
Panel of rosy toile de jouy voile
Speaking of Liberty…
I mentioned finding the sweetest Liberty print skirt at a flea market earlier in the week, which prompted me to trawl the website for these lust-worthy items. I’m off to the UK later in the year, where I’ll be making a pitstop at my favourite London department store.
Top of the shopping list? Reams of fabric, of course. But this suitcase – a collaboration with Paris’ new concept store, Merci – will be hard to resist.
Supercute suitcase from the Merci Paris/Liberty range
More from Merci Paris/Liberty range
Liberty sardines from Do Little Designs
A much-loved woollen beanie
More on hats, and more on Rebecca, who makes the most wonderful scarves and beanies and sources her yarns from Morris & Sons… for my last birthday, she knitted me this beautifully soft beanie in a lovely shade of eggshell. The delicious chill in the air has prompted me to pull it out from storage so I can finally wear it.
And check out the tag – yes, her handwriting really is that cute.
All Buttons Great & Small
Shiny red gnomes in the window display
This has to be my favourite button shop in the universe, although I’m itching to visit Paris’ La Droguerie later in the year to see if they can top my local for brilliant button finds. All Buttons Great & Small in Newtown’s King St always seems to stock just the button I’m looking for, and service is knowledgable and friendly. They also stock a wide range of vintage buttons, and do mail orders for non-Sydney-siders.
Here’s some pics from our Tuesday visit, foraging for glossy numbers in a shade of raspberry to adorn a vintage Burberry trench.
Perusing the blues
All manner of beautiful buttons
Olive the whirling dervish raids the buckles
Mellow yellows
