More tablecloth galore

After my post on the car boot booty I purchased, I was reminded that I had committed to uploading pics of some of my vintage tablecloth collection.  Packing and clearing gave me the perfect opportunity- although I didn't iron them as they have now gone into storage.  So you can't appreciate their beauty fully as they are not crisp and flat and I din't have chance to dress them properly : (  Ideally, I would have showcased them on a table in a long grassy field somewhere with wild flowers in makeshift vases and a vintage cake stand with scones and then a mismatched tea set.  The perfect setting for summer days with ladies who lunch.
Alas, I do not live in an Enid Blyton book or within the pages of a craft magazine!  Here is my dining table, modelling some lovely hand embroidered pieces purchased on a shoestring!

 This tablecloth with 8 napkins was given to us by my husband's step dad (along with all the aprons if you recall).   The silverware was also given to us shortly after we were married but is in need of some TLC which I keep promising myself I will get round to.

Another large tablecloth purchased from a charity shop for £2.50.  It includes 8 napkins which are also decorated with beautiful peach flowers .  Not the car boot bargain price of £1 but I'm not grumbling

 I can't recall where I bought this one although I know I bought a load from another charity shop at £1 each and suspect this was one of them.

These are a combination of carboot bargains and gifts.  The blue and red check at the top is very large and was from my mum who knows I love gingham and tartan.  The middle blue check one is also quite large and from my husbands step dad.  The other two were in a suitcase at a carboot 3 for £1 so 33p each!  Ridiculously cheap.  I want to make a supersize picnic blanket from these with bunting to match.

This was also a car boot beauty at 50p and I hope to upcycle this into a quilt with this being the centre panel.  It may even be a wall hanging.  I like the idea of doing a bit of free hand quilting in the corner section and then green and yellow alternate patches around the edge as a border.  I may introduce another colour- petrol blue perhaps or brown....hmmm decisions decisions.

This was the tablecloth that drew me to the £1 box in the charity shop when I was able to pick up 6 table cloths and 8 tray cloths for under £10.  I initially wanted to sew a channel through the top or add tabs so it could be a little blind but it didn't fit the window I had in mind and so got put with the other pieces.

 It can't be seen properly here, but this is really thick linen and the embroidery is heavy/  I love the folky feel it has with the heart corners and thick border.  Another one I would like to upcycle rather than subject it to juice, gravy and wine stains!

And this....ahhhh, I love.  The centre detail is of little people holding hands and the colour and decoration are quite autumnal.  I bought this from a vintage and antique material shop in France last year for 15 Euro.  It is excellent quality linen again and I bought it with the plan of hanging it in my living room.  It was too big for the wall I had in mind but I also quite like it as a rug but am still deciding on it's use.

It was my turn to share a skill/craft at the Monday group I attend, 'Parent's Voice' where I showed 6/7 mums how I make little tote bags.  Not that I'm a whiz at sewing but I think because it's about having a go and developing confidence to try new things.  Most of the mums are my age (30) and older and haven't used a sewing machine since school if at all so were delighted with their makes.

You will no doubt recognise the material from the hen night goody bags.  The fabric was already cut and so saved time.

Here is the lovely Liz who is currently enrolled on a dress making course so was already comfortable on the sewing machine.

Lastly and currently, I am working on my challenge for this week which is 11 sets of kitten ears for a children's dance performance.  My friend is a dance teacher and asked for my help and I'm nearly there- 7 1/2 down!  Pics tt follow tomorrow hopefully on the project 52 page, along with last week's make which was also for this group- salt dough for a dozen kids.  Fortunately we didn't have to do it for that many in the end but I will upload what we came up with.