What on earth do you do with your fave skirts and nightgowns when they meet their demise?
I have been known to turn bits of clothing into just about anything.
A skirt becomes a tablecloth or a curtain in 2 seconds.
So, when I didn't know what to use as a tablecloth for my lil' cottage table – I thought about my pile of 30+ Eileen West nightgowns that were torn, worn out and done. I have kept them over the years, as they have beautiful details on them. But had not used them for anything quite yet.
I chose a couple and chopped them up.
I always save the lace and edging of my nightgowns that are too worn out for anything but handkerchiefs for Mister Lovee.
Others aren't sooo worn out, but are pretty torn and thin.
I catch on a rose bush, or on a table corner, and that's that.
It happens all the time as I scurry about, with billowing cotton.
I am a hot water/bleach sorta girl, which probably doesn't help my poor frail crisp cotton gowns much (I am gentler in washing them now). Sometimes Matty jumps on me, and goes right through my nightgown like a pirate through a ship sail.
I am not a very proper maker of things.
I can follow directions, but I can't.
You know what I mean?
I don't measure properly, or any of that.
So, I had to come up with a quick plan (lest I lose interest), when I decided to make a nightgown tablecloth.
What I did was measure the top of my table, and add two inches on each side (for sewing purposes). Then I cut out a rectangle using those measurements, from a piece of white fabric, for the top.
For the sides I chose 4 nightgowns, cut them along a side seam (you will need the whole length if you pleat), pleated them a little in the sewing machine, and then sewed them onto the piece I cut for the top.
That's it.
It pretty was easy.
You will have a seam in the middle of your panel, like in the ruffled pink piece above, but you really can't even see it at all hardly.
I wasn't careful about the length, so one side that was too short got an extra piece of lace, which fixed the entire issue.
Yay.
Now we have a special little place to sip tea and have breakfast, whilst looking out the window. (or coffee for Mister, I gave up caffeine as it made/makes me so sick – almost two years ago - but I can have a little Earl or Lady Grey tea without feeling too rotten, and of course herbals are a-okay)
Best part is finding a cozy other spot after breakfast for nibbling grapes and ginger.
Me up in the sleeping loft, Lovee in the comfy chair.
Then we switch.
Later I get to work, and he stays up for a little longer.
It's our vacation spot, we've decided.
I know I have to finish the inside – alas, I am not there yet.
I am going slow.
I know it's terribly annoying.
But I will be done soon.
Soon when?
No se.
(I don't know)
But I am trying.
🙂
As I was cuddled up in the big cozy chair, reading a few more pages of Fanchon the Cricket, a lady bug flew onto my thumb.
Yes.
I couldn't believe it.
(she even stayed long enough for me to grab my camera)
The place is airtight.
What the?
Awesome.
Happy happy, joy joy.
Then I put her in the garden.
And, that was that.
Have to run to Le Poste…
See you soooooon!
Love, V
ps:
Love it.
(source)
Vanessa:
I love the idea of recycling your old nightgowns for the table cloth. Really, that’s essentially how folks used to make quilts. They didn’t buy the fabric back in the “old” days, they used what they had on hand. An old piece of gown, or cloth from a worn out shirt…etc.
I still have all the quilts my mom hand quilted when I was little. I can look at them all day long and pick out the fabrics that I remember. She used to make a lot of my clothes and she’d use the left over material for quilt blocks. I have quilts that have blocks made from my clothes, her clothes and other pieces of scrap fabric that I remember from my childhood.
What a lovely tablecloth to set your cup of tea on. Something that was once loved and worn is now something loved and new!!
xoxo
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
Your lady bug is a teeny tiny omen that today will be a beautiful day x x
So pretty!
Beautiful job recycling nighties in to lovely tea table toppers. The decorating of fine vacation cottages takes careful time and consideration sprinkled generously with imaginitive flights of fancy. After all it is your vacationing oasis.
Perhaps the lovely lady bug caught a ride in on Miles and stopped off to visit with you a while. We have a doggy door so the Delicious come and go, to and from the back yard kingdom as they please. Sometimes mosquitoes have been known to ride in on the Delicious. Nowhere near as fun as a lovely lady bug. -lol- Luckily it only happens once in a blue moon.
Have a really great day.
Always, Queenie
I was just thinking that!!! hahahaaa!!!
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 8/13/2012 4:12:08 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Such a wonderful idea for a table cloth! I just found your blog in the Somerset Life….and i’m in love! 🙂 🙂 Your blog is lovely and sweet, i’ll be following along 🙂 Happy Monday! xo Holly
Wonderful ideas, Vanessa! You have a lot of gowns at your disposal, haha 🙂 Today it is 108 degrees…is it that hot for you as well??? I am dying!
Can’t wait for the completion of the cottage! It shall be a grand unveiling 😀
I love the saying at the end as well 🙂 xx
I used a human skirt for a tree skirt at Christmas!
Love your table 🙂
What a wonderful place for you to visit and escape to when you feel the need. Oh, and the sleeping loft! It must be so cozy even without the sound of rain on the roof! I don’t know how you find the time to do all you do, and squeeze in the making of a lovely tablecloth!!
I hope you share your beautiful cottage with us once you’re done fixing it up to your liking.
Vanessa! Nightie-table-skirts!?! Pure genius! And I am loving your vacation getaway spot 🙂 Thank you sooo much for sharing!
what a sweet post and the ladybug was the cherry on top!
And to think I just toss mine in the trash! Shame on me. Love what you’ve done!
-gillian http://www.seasonsgredings.com
Every time I see a great idea like this I think….I really need to learn to sew!! It’s on my long list of “someday I want to learn to…..”. The ladybug was certainly an enchanting little visitor, lol. Can’t wait to see the unveiling of your cottage 🙂
Angela
I love your Lady Bug photo. Another suitable for framing picture. Good for you on recycling your nighties…beautiful job.
I hope you have a happy day.
So romantic…..handkerchiefs for Lovee out of your nightgowns!
Actually, I used to see ladybugs indoors every year in my bedroom at my parents’ house:)
I was mystified at first – why so many? My mom has fifty or so rosebushes that she regularly cuts blooms from, so that was my first guess…
They were actually coming from a tiny hole in the corner of my window. nesting just outside there, and would wander into my room as they grew 🙂
Such a good idea! I have a hard time getting rid of pretty things too, even when they are worn out. This is a great way to re-purpose things that you love. Also, I wanted to tell you that the random number generator has chosen you as the winner of my giveaway! You win the tea cup ect., but you also get to pick a tea flavor from Chantilly! http://www.chantillytearoom.com/pages/teas.html
Just let me know which one you want, or if you have a favorite that you don’t see let me know because I think we have a decent number that aren’t on there.
Just a Luvin ur fanciful ways of Makin the Best of everything!!!!!!
So Vanessa, looks like Miles wanted to join in for some of the tea/ coffee time fun with Mr. L.
Too cute! ; )
OH FUN FUN FUN!!!! I too wear Eileen West nighties and have a drawer full of ripped ones. Would never have thought to cut them up and make things from them, but you are SO CLEVER to have come up with such a brilliant idea. And that Mister Lovee just earned more brownie points for carrying hankies made from your old nighties.
Oh Vanessa, I took a sewing class last semester and I have been stichin up britches made of old lace and ribbons…yummy to the eyes and perfect for pruning “-). Must send you a pici or something “-).
xoxo me
So pretty and such a good idea. I had to look out Eileen West gowns on line-they look so soft and comfortable.
I love ladybugs, but a few years ago we had an awful infestation of them in the house. I think they were hibernating in the the walls or something they were all over the house, in the windows, on the ceilings and they smelled awful. Lasted a couple springs but then they were gone (thank goodness). Now I can go back to liking seeing them—outside:)
Love the pics of your little cabin. Great you can enjoy it as you get it to the place you want it to be.
Love your idea for the tablecloth! I have vintage broom stick skirts I have thought about using for curtains or even between door ways hung up on a spring loaded curtain rod…Funky Hippie Style!!! Just take out the elastic at the waste bands and Wallaha! Instant curtains! There is usually yards and yards of fabric in those vintage skirts!
You must have ‘read’ the lady bug out of a book into the ‘real’ world, like in ‘Inkheart’ into your ‘air tight’ room. Magic I say! Magic at it’s best. Fantastic!
hugs
Miss Teresa
Love the tablecloth…super creative Ms. Vanessa! Love that you and the Mr. have turned your cottage into your vacation spot, tee hee.
Love that last quote for sure! I’m back in the hospital, ugh…making the best of it by visiting your world 😉
Jamie 🙂
What a fabulous idea, Vanessa!!!! Oh how I wish I could sew. I am most terrible at it! LOL These late days of summer call for take it easy kind of days. I’m really longing for fall – it is when I really feel alive. 🙂 I adore ladybugs – you found such a cutie. That sign, by the way, is amazing!
I love recycling old clothes, and your tablecloth is lovely. I like your idea of making curtains out of skirts or dresses, and handkerchiefs too. You’re so clever!
I’ve made quilts out of old jeans, and some from favorite dresses. My gram made my firstborn a quilt out of remnants of flannel that she’d used to make jammies for all of her grandkids.
Such wonderful designs again! It has got very useful information about how to decorate your table with homemade tablecloths. It is well as providing a great appearance.
Table Cloths