Old-Timey Motifs

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I'm fascinated with old cars of all kinds so I lit up when I saw these. This is from a small sheet with many old-timey motifs. To tell the truth I've misplaced the sheet since I scanned this in my thoroughly messy craft space (crafts + income taxes = chaos). As soon as I find it I'll describe the rest of the sheet - all I can remember right now is a gas lamp, old-fashioned telephone, and the cute little pram below... Enjoy!



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Sweet birdies

I love how these sweet tiny birdies seem to be giving each other the eye. I enlarged them about 50% - they are tiny on the original sheet. My sheet is cut and incomplete but there are tons of other designs - swans for pillow cases, 2 applique pan holders, fuzzy bunny with a lawnmower, fuzzy bear, kitten, and dog, tiny elephant, rose, floral alphabet, and baby bib design.

Cross-stitch alphabet

These cross-stitch letters can add a little zip to any of your embroidery projects (I think I've overdosed on Vogart envelopes because I'm beginning to sound like one!) :) In any case, seriously, these are fun. Take for example last week's pattern which was cute but... somehow lacking something.

Let's say you want to say something cheeky on your tea towel like:


Just throw these cross-stitch letters in Photoshop and let your imagination be your guide!

My sheet is cut and incomplete - also on the sheet are 2 patterns for crosses, an "ihs" surrounded by grapes and grape leaves, a larger script alphabet, a basket of flowers, and a cutwork pattern.

#66 - Dating Dishware

"Gimme some sugar!" says Mr. Creamer... And you thought kitchen crockery wasn't capable of romance, didn't you? But I've got a whole sheet that proves otherwise, with cavorting dishes, saucers, and silverware for each day of the week. My favorite thing about this pattern is... Mr. Creamer is wearing penny loafers! Oh, how I love penny loafers.

Unfortunately my sheet is cut and incomplete, so I only have Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday of these "gay animated tea towel designs." On the same sheet (numbered 66) is also a pattern for homemade slippers, a large, lazy-daisy stitch alphabet, and a small cross-stich pattern for a bookmark that says "Give Us This Day".

Thanks Hannita, for pointing out these are in the Hoop Love group! Here is Thursday (you can see a tiny image of Friday in the upper left) and Sunday.

Asian motifs

Okay guys, help me out on this one... does anyone know what that character on the upper left is? Being a pretty clueless westerner I'm calling these "Asian motifs" (although I do know the difference between Japanese and Chinese when it's spoken, thank you very much).

This is an uncut sheet, 8 by 19 in. Also on the sheet is a dragon that looks like he's sneezing up a fireball, pagoda, bamboo, spiky tree, and kooky-eyed lion-creature with its tongue hanging out.

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Mailorder 2-947 - Kindly Lady

I like this lady - there's something of the kindly syrup-bottle matron about her. It also reminds me of the tender times of yore when older ladies actually looked older instead of today's times where 50 year olds look younger and hotter than 30 year olds... :) This sheet calls her a "colonial girl" and suggests using "turquoise, yellow, rose, green, or black."

This is a large sheet, uncut, 30 by 44 inches and numbered 2-947. Also on the sheet are patterns for a "cart pocket" for an apron, apple blossoms, fruits and veggies, scary clown, flying ducks, and a tiny ducky border.

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Holly Hobby-esque

Do you remember Holly Hobby? Back in the day I was a huge Holly Hobby fan and I remember my Holly Hobby lunchbox with special tenderness. I treasured my lunchbox and matching plastic thermos with all the love in my first grade soul, that is, until I lost it and found it... with a half-finished drink in the thermos and rotting cheese sandwich locked in its horrifically smelly depths. But now, Holly and I are reunited again! And this time with no accompanying bad odors.

This is an uncut, 8 by 19 in. red-lined sheet. Also on the sheet is a disturbingly faceless scarecrow, large poppies, and crazy-eyed Raggedy Ann.

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Four fuzzballs for a quilt

Okay, I've been away for awhile, so I sat myself down and did some serious scanning. Here are 4 cute fuzzballs ready to be embroidered on a baby quilt (check out the baby bear pattern for the skinny on making it). They're mostly harmless sorts, but what's up with the dog / timberwolf? Am I the only one that finds him a wee bit creepy? And isn't bunny a bit too excited with the shovel? Is it just me or could bunny be burying the evidence?

My sheet is complete, uncut, 20 by 22 inches and numbered 85. Also on the sheet are patterns for a hunting dog eyeing up a tasty pheasant, cross stitch flowers, two tiny birds, butterfly, puppy, and a good old basket of flowers.

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Tiny motifs

I nearly died from the cuteness of these tiny motifs. Best of all is, they're tiny! Think of how quickly you can finish stitching these - they'd look great on a corner of a napkin, a covered button, or a shirt collar. Maybe I've read too many backs of envelopes, but I can think of tons of sweet uses for these! :) This is a smaller rectangular sheet that also has two birdies nuzzling in a nest, two owls cuddling, a rose design, lotus design, and toadstools.

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Fuzzy Cat

Isn't this tiny cat adorable?! Best of all, this pattern magically captures that tense moment all of us cat lovers experience when kitty, intent on licking it's own chest actually seems to get stuck like that. Oh no, we all think to ourselves - will kitty be okay? Or will kitty freeze like that and never be able to eat again... OH NO! Then suddenly, kitty shakes its head and starts licking its nether regions instead. Thankfully, kitty is okay again. :) I think a Halloween version of this little cat would be sweet, maybe wearing a hat or next to a Jack-o-lantern? My sheet is cut and incomplete - also on it are a lotus design, some roses, tulips, and what looks like a snail shell drying on a clothesline.

Mailorder - back to school kiddos

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I like to refer to these patterns as "the perils of public schooling..." :) Just check out cute little Susie - pert, groomed, and ready for learning. Contrast that with her backwoods cousin, who looks more like a character from the Dukes of Hazzard:


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Without even a shoe or chalkboard to his name, he manages to get himself to school, bandaged big toe and all... the boy and girl pattern are cut. I also have a schoolhouse pattern that seems to match their "Back to School" theme. They look like they'd be cute on a napkin or tablecloth corner.

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Mailorder 2-932 - Good Morning, Good Night

I love these 2 "bib designs"... but in my opinion they're a bit too grown-up for a bib. I think they'd be charming as a wall hanging or on a tea towel. I love the retro lettering and the smiling sun which makes me feel I've fallen into Roger Rabbit's "toon town." Also, look at those pudgy owl legs - is it just me or does he look like a roast chicken from the waist down? Either way, they're adorable.

This sheet also has patterns for a handbag, apron, glasses case, a cat bean bag, tomato panholder, a button embroidery design contributed "by a reader", His and Hers hearts, and 7 funky bowlegged veggies for tea towels or napkin holders.

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Crazy lambkin

This lamb is clearly over-caffeinated. Go ahead, drink that extra iced mocha latte with the double shot, and you'll look like that, too! And yet, our pattern producers would have us embroider him on a crib quilt, blanket, or child's garment. Maybe it is best to educate the "small fry" early on of the perils of overcaffeination....

This sheet includes patterns for a floral pillowcase, floral design for a blouse, a cutwork table runner, and a bathroom rug and toilet cover (yep, you heard that, toilet cover).

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Kid cuties

Of the 6 cute kid designs on this sheet, this friendly Eskimo is certainly cutest. I love the way he/she holds his/her little arms out as if to say "hot-cha-cha!" Okay, there is a cute little girl design that is a close second - she has Shirley Temple ringlet curls and stands under an umbrella in the rain... Also a cutesy bride (who is maybe not supposed to be a kid - that would be disturbing), a girl ballerina with a heart tiara, a "leprechaun"-themed kid and a boy with baskets of flowers who are equally glassy-eyed.

This sheet is smaller and rectangular in size, about 8" x 20" and uncut.

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Jitterbug dancers

First of all, allow me to begin by saying I don't use the label "scary cute" lightly. But these jitterbug dancers are most certainly scary cute, right down to this teenage girl's laugh lines. But even more endearing and unsettling are the duo of one-eyed dancers. These teens shimmy, stomp and twirl with the best of them, and all this, with only one eye apiece. I'm sure these dancers would look equally cute with 2 eyes. Just maybe not so scary cute... :)

This sheet also has a palm tree design, pineapple designs for placemats and coasters, a circle floral design, 5 small designs for "felt lapel pins" (girl's head, scottie dog, owl, leaf, flowers), and a few other floral designs. My sheet is cut, not numbered, and is missing one small motif.

Mr. Clothespin

Check out Mr. Clothespin - ain't he cute? There he is, doing his clothespin thing... on a bar of soap... like the clothespins do. Ok, I don't know what Mr. Clothespin is doing on the soap, even with those motion lines to guide me. Truth is, I have no clue. But he's pretty happy, and he's pretty darned cute. This sheet includes a pattern to put Mr. Clothespin on a bag - check out Carol's wonderful clothespin bag.

I have 1 uncut sheet which also has a large butterfly and lotus design for an apron.

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Happy Peasants

Being a peasant must not be all bad. I mean, if you're female you get to wear peasant blouses. And if you're male you get to enhance your rustic masculinity with embroidered suspenders, shiny shoes, and lederhosen. A lucky few were even immortalized on 1940's embroidered luncheon cloths, like this enthusiastic duo. I have one complete, uncut sheet, with a pattern for a peasant apron and hearts and floral embroidery motifs. Also a big bonneted girl stencil to make a big ol' trellis that just might keep doggies from doing #1 on your lawn...

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Mexican luncheon

I love this shocked-looking senorita - perhaps she's astounded at the sheer volume of fruit one can balance on one's head? Or maybe senor is singing something a bit risque to her, somewhere along the lines of "Aya en el Rancho Grande?" In any case, they make a cute couple, and according to this sheet, are a "corner motif". The center motif is cut out of my sheet and missing. The rest of the sheet has patterns for heart-shaped mother and daughter aprons and bonnets- cute, eh? Also a couple of kissing doves, smooching bunnies, and two shocked-looking fuzzy kitties, and cursive lettering that says "Big sis", "Little sis", and "mom."

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Mexican tea towels

Love... and a burro. Can it get any cuter than this?! Here are some Mexican cuties on an unnumbered sheet. I have 5 of the 7 tea towel designs - my sheet is cut and incomplete. Also on this sheet are some Mexican-style borders for guest towels, a cute panholder design, a pattern to make felt baby shoes, a bib pattern, and small floral designs for baby clothes.

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Little Girl DOW

Okay, I'll admit I squealed with delight when I saw these sweet little girl days of the week patterns. It's quite embarrassing for me to squeal with delight, so I'm glad there was no one around... :) There are 7 girl designs with the words: Cleaning, Baking, Washing, Ironing, Shopping, Mending, and Resting. I love the 40's-style drawing - it reminds me of old Blondie funnies. Also a cute winter hats border to use on clothes, some nautical designs (which give me terrible 80's flashbacks - ugh), a floral motif for a tablecloth, and 3 cute baby designs, one of which has a baby with a crown and scepter as if to say "I'm the man..." :)

I have one complete, uncut sheet from Eydie.

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