Comments On Article: Vintage And Or Homemade

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Grandma Donna wrote,

Karen S, when Madge, (my mother in law) passed away we found a very old quilt in the bottom of a closet.  It had three layers of fabric over the squares and no telling how old this quilt was.  If you can figure out a way to share a photo we would love to see what you are doing.  Donna

I’m not sure that this qualifies, but I’m washing, carding and spinning wool to knit a sweater, so I guess I’m reusing parts of some sweet sheep

I bought kids' used bookends at thrift stores and removed the add-on pieces of MDF with printed pictures on them, to create new bookends for the new readers in the family, tailored to their tastes.  I've painted the main pieces with a neutral background color then painted pictures on them, monograms, added small toys, etc.

I use my late mother-in-law's old hand-cranked nut chopper anytime I need chopped nuts.  I see similar ones in vintage and antique stores on occasion.  I keep telling myself to buy one - the choppers have a glass jar for the bottom, and one day, that jar might break.  It would be nice to have another one that fits if that happens. 

I apologize for posting a Christmas item in the non-Christmas forum photos. I got it mixed up!

I do have something I think you would like or be interested in. It is for napkins so they stay fresh and clean. It’s about 9” square and the bottom has cardboard in it that I can almost read through the fabric. I have another one that’s larger- about 14” square for table cloths. 

(not sure size of photos, hopefully okay)

Holaaa, hace poco tiempo compre de segunda mano una bella pieza vintage. Es un guarda pañuelos confeccionado totalmente a mano. Espero que les guste tanto como a mi. Saludos cordiales desde Argentina. 

Grandma Donna Wrote,

Lisa T, you get a check mark for it counts :) you are doing what a lot of us wish we could do so for that I will give you two checks and a star! :)

Joan S, thank you for posting a Christmas photo in the wrong category because someone had to do it. :)  You took one for the team. :) Your book ends sound like that you have made something that is going to be a happy memory for when they are older. :)

Lady L, those are beautiful napkin and tablecloth covers. I have a few of them for various things and I made me a cut out for one to embroidery because I love the ones that say napkins, or silverware, handkerchiefs and such. I have seen them in the vintage shops.  I love how simple they sewed cases and dust covers that just fold over.  It shows that today we sometimes make things more complicated than they have to be.  Thank you for sharing. :)

Ana R_2, thank you for sharing your lovely old fashioned handkerchief cover. :)

Edit: I didnt realize there was a forum. That makes a lot of sense! I am excited to share my (many) vintage and handmade Christmas decorations :) (we have too many of them, to be honest. Plenty will be coming with me when I move out!)
I dont have any pictures yet, as I still have many things in progress. That and I forgot to take pictures of my new crochet sweater... I wish I knew how to knit as I think a knit sweater would last longer. Alas! It is finished, and keeping me warm, which is the most important bit.
I am only doing one handmade gift this year, but it is out of my depth. I am making a wooden spoon for my mother. I bought a 'blank' and I have been carving it into a nice big wooden spoon for cooking. My mother is very practical, so I am sure she will enjoy this gift. When I have pictures to share I will try and come back to post them!
Previous gifts to my mother have included coasters, glass measuring jugs, and wooden spoons. So I know this gift should be appreciated!
My sister is a self taught carver and woodworker of all kinds. She is amazingly talented, and very willing to help me out. I am blessed to have her to guide me. She has already saved the project multiple times!

Grandma Donna wrote,

To everyone, I just deleted the Christmas photo section because it was confusing to have two sections, Christmas and the vintage and homemade section for photos.  So now the photos that you want to share of items that you have made or found thrifting or have that is vintage that you feel others may be interested in seeing can be posted in the Vintage and Homemade section up at the top of the forum page.  You also can continue posting photos in the regular comment section that goes with the blog post.  

Also one of our forum commenters, "Tea" sent me an email this morning that there was a suspicious post, thank you Tea. I reviewed it and deleted that post. If any of you ever see something that does not look like it belongs in our forum, please email me and let me know.  Thank you, Grandma Donna

Well, this is both vintage and homemade, or maybe home enhanced would be more accurate.  

I have had a lovely 1920s or 30s table for maybe 30 years and have always loved it, not despite of the knife cut marks on it or the rings or whatever but because of them, because it showed the marks of life from so long ago.  Last year, however, my son tried to stand on it to fix a light but it wasn't strong quite strong enough for that.  I thought I was going to have to get rid of it but I had a friendly handyman here and he offered to fix it so he did by adding some bracing.  Sturdier than ever now but unfortunately while he was drilling to secure the braces the drill must have slipped and moved across the table top leaving a rather deep gouge.  I tried to accept it as just adding more character but it wasn't quite working.  

So I thought I would take a page from the Japenese art of kinsugi where they mend things with gold.  

Bought gold markers from Amazon (I later read they weren't recommended for wood but they actually worked fine).  I kind of filled in the deep scratch and enhanced it a bit an while I was at it did the same for another part of the table that had some scratches.  I was so happy with the way it came - the gold picks up the light and shimmers and I love it!

I forgot a photo but can't seem to attach it now. I will add to another post if you don't mind!

the other photo:

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas. I had to come back to post this after Christmas because it is about a gift I received from my 14 y.o. son

He made me ( by hand, and no power tools) a cedar doll house. Complete with miniatures. He even covered little books for the book shelf. He said it was in "Edwardian Style Era"

Yes, I cried and cried:)

All of our Christmas gifts were homemade. Our few ornaments as well. We butchered a pig we raised and got plenty.

God bless you all

Rose P, that sounds incredible!! I would be crying over it too!
The most impressive thing I could make would be a spoon!
We have a lot of handmade ornaments on our tree as well. I want to say a solid 50% of them are handmade, in general. A lot of gifts gained over the years.

Thank you for saying so! I bet your tree is just lovely . I love homemade:)