Saturday 9 March 2013

A new patchwork doona cover, and some photos

For some reason I own a single bed doona (duvet, whatever) but no cover.  Living in a house heaving with scrap fabric, I decided that the best course of action would be to make a patchwork cover instead of just going out to buy one.  Because there were only 35 squares, the project was super quick.  The backing ended up being the remnants of a striped double bed cover which died a while ago.  A form of resurrection, perhaps?
There is a story behind every patch: an old skirt, dress, blouse, scarf, tea towel, pillow case, even a fabric that I designed for Seed.  An apron from my aunt (the pocket in the centre!), beautiful scraps from my friend Anna Banana, op shop finds, even a screen printing experiment from a CAE course that I did centuries ago.  There were also a few scraps from a splurge at a beautiful patchwork fabric shop that briefly graced Auburn Road....
While I was piecing this together last Sunday I watched Kevin McCloud build his shed from discarded materials, and felt similarly virtuous.


I am also trying to take more interesting photos of my work.  I find styling frustrating but also quite rewarding.  On a whim I decided to take a workshop with Sibella Court next month, and I am very much looking forward to it.  In the meantime, I have begun wondering whether I should buy myself some styling props: perhaps a mini world globe, a few sheets of vintage wallpaper, or some interesting crockery?
(Of course if I succumb it will pretty much negate my virtuous non-consumerist patchwork cover making.)

7 comments:

jenni said...

just love this Sandra, your patchy's always look so celebratory!! stylin' class sounds ace! Have a great weekend :) x

Sandra Eterovic said...

Thank you Jenni! I think that patchwork is a magic thing. Hope you are having as cool a weekend as possible....

Saskia said...

LOVE this Sandra, and very impressed you whipped it up so quickly. So gorgeous that every patch has a story (especially love the pocket patch – I guess you could store your hanky in there in the cooler months). x

Sandra Eterovic said...

That's a fine idea Saskia, thank you -- I am getting a bit anti-tissues lately, so I will definitely store a hanky or two in there for my guests during the cooler months! You are an ideas woman. :)

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous quilt, has given me inspiration to do one of my own with my (heaving) piles of material scraps. But let's face it, I probably won't. sigh.
They are so attractive though, aren't they?
re: props, yes to that! Back to Waverly Antiques you go!

Sandra Eterovic said...

Hi Jo, if you make the squares ENORMOUS -- say the width of a teatowel -- you will get it done in no time! You could cut them out one evening, sew them up the next day.

LOVE any encouragement to go back to Waverley...I am due, you must be too??!!! ;-)

Anonymous said...

Oh I need a whole day there (or at least half).
That 4.45 bell was too stressful. hehe