We’ve chatted on it before – the lack of whimsy in modern design. Yet my recent introduction to the Disney Dress Shop has restored my faith in fanciful and fun fashion. The bright and cheerful fabrics are so delightful and I found myself thinking, where have I felt this gravitating force before? Oh yes – […]

Hi guys! Life has been crazy lately. I went to an estate sale 2 weeks ago and I'm just now getting things out of the boxes!. I have had numerous trips to the chiropractor, 6 fillings replaced because they were apparently old..or the dentist needed work? (Hope not!) There was a church Thanksgiving luncheon for 100+ senior citizens and one funeral reception to serve.Not sure how I end up on all those committees? Anywho..feed sacks. I loooove these. I got a goodly stack. The ones on the bottom are actually doubles. The ones on the very top are an apron, an almost finished apron and 2-3 cut out aprons. The middle ones are singles and a couple have some pieces cut out. These will eventually be going to Ebay and Etsy. The next couple months are going to be nuts. Thanksgiving, Alexa's bridal shower, Christmas then Alexa's wedding the first part of January. Oh..and we got new flooring delivered this week so someplace in there, that needs to go down...and the walls painted..and the ceilings painted..and the baseboards beefed up and painted..and....quite possible a nervous breakdown in there someplace! Pssht.. anyways this feedsack was even stamped on the selvage..never had one like that before!These bags came with chicken feed, flour, sugar etc. in the 1930's-50's. They were basically a yard of fabric each so for a ladies dress you needed 2 matching ones.So many cheerful prints! I got this antique cotton skirt too. It may be a petticoat. The sides are slit open from waist to mid thigh area and it has a bias tape and hook and eyes waist and pleats on the front..or back..not sure. The waist is tiny though. It was in a wad on the floor of a closet and I recognized this as old fabric..pre 1900's. There are a couple smallish holes but overall lots of cool yardage. I got scads of lace, some hand crocheted. Also a petticoat with no waistband so it was cheap and a antique eyelet toddler's dress. It has some split seams and I am going to see if I can repair it. Marcasite cut steel shoe clips..these may end up in upcycled jewelry.Not sure WHEN! After the Thanksgiving dust clears I am going to be sharing things/decor from Alexa's bridal shower and maybe some OMG befores of my house. Stop back and see what I'm up to! Til then! Julia

This is a variety pack of 75 different pieces of 1930s-50s era feedsack fabrics, each in a different pattern: the smallest pieces are 2”x 2”; largest pieces approximately 4”x 4” or 3” x 5”. In excellent condition - a range of small and medium floral prints; abstract and geometric, novelty (bows; picnic checks, equestrian; lambs, southwest), plaid & check prints in a range of colors. Perfect for quilting and quilt repair, journaling; doll clothing or quilts; or other vintage inspired design projects. Great colors. -

We’ve chatted on it before – the lack of whimsy in modern design. Yet my recent introduction to the Disney Dress Shop has restored my faith in fanciful and fun fashion. The bright and cheerful fabrics are so delightful and I found myself thinking, where have I felt this gravitating force before? Oh yes – […]

Have you heard about feedsack and floursack fabric? Womenfolk.com explains, "Initially farm and food products were shipped in barrels. Between 1840 and 1890 cotton sacks gradually replaced barrels as food containers ... Women quickly discovered that these bags could be used as fabric for quilts and other needs." Tuscan Rose Feedsack ATCs Feedsack Dress National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Feedsack Patchwork Chook by Shula French Feedsack Footstool Links: * A feedsack quilt from 1931 * Feedsack print package tag kit * A Feedsack Quilt, A Doll, and a New Online Exhibit * An Our State: North Carolina article about feedsack history * Some feedsack books. * Flour Sack Art Museum * Collectible Feedsack Cloth: The Past Revisited by Patricia L. Cummings. * Chris Hammacott explains the quirky allure of quilts made from antique American feed sack fabric. * Zaroga remembers wearing flour sack dresses as a child. * Feedsack Friday

This is excellent vintage feedsack fabric that features a pretty red and off white geometric design. The half feedsack measures 36 1/2" wide x 18 1/4" in length. The feedsack has been hemmed on both ends. The feedsack was probably cut prior to hemming. The fabric is an excellent quality with a tight weave. The feedsack is in excellent condition. The fabric has been freshly laundered and is ready to use in your next project. Please convo with any questions, and thanks for looking!

When I first started writing about feed sacks, I had a tiny stack of 12 of them and promised myself I wouldn’t get more. As a fellow fabric lover, I’m sure you know how well that went. Though my interest initially was about the culture and economics of the feed sack era, it wasn’t long before I was sucked in by the colors and tens of thousands of different patterns. What was once a tiny pile in my sewing room has grown to fill six shelves. And there’s no end in sight.

Learn all about vintage and antique colorfully printed feed sack fabric, including its history, values, and where to sell it.

You will receive the item pictured in the first image only. Other photos represent similar items also available in my shop. Vintage CALICO FEEDSACK FABRIC TAGS! Download 12 1.75 x 3 inch images ★ MANY USES! Bottle Caps Cupcake Toppers Pet Parties Scrapbooking Digital Cards (greeting cards, wedding invites, birthday cards) Printed Paper Products (stationery, cards, tags) Jewelry making Wall Art Business Products (business cards, stationery, logos) Craft Projects Home decor projects School projects ★ WHAT YOU RECEIVE: 1 printable files sent to your PURCHASES page as soon as you make payment Format: high-resolution 300 dpi jpg Sizes: 12 1.75 x 3 inch images on 8.5 x 11 inch page ★ PLEASE NOTE... This is a digital product which means no physical product will be shipped. After payment is received you will receive your downloadable files compressed into a zip folder in your PURCHASES page Watermarks will not appear on final products. ------------Terms of Purchase: You may use these images for (non-digital) commercial purposes. For projected sales of over 100 pieces per year please contact me for an extended commercial license. This is a one crafter only license. You may not re-sell these images as is or as your own work either in print or digital form. Not to be given away as a freebie. My images may not be used on Print on Demand (POD) websites such as Zazzle, Greeting Card Universe, and/or Cafe Press, etc. Not for use on Stock Image websites.

This is excellent vintage feedsack fabric that features pretty pink, blue, and wine flowers and green leaves on a soft white background. The half feedsack measures 37" wide x 21 3/4" in length. The fabric is a nice quality with a fairly tight weave. The feedsack has the Empire logo. The feedsack is in overall great condition. There are some tiny holes from the original stitching. The fabric has been freshly laundered and is ready to use in your next project. Please convo with any questions, and thanks for looking!

Learn all about vintage and antique colorfully printed feed sack fabric, including its history, values, and where to sell it.

FEEDSACK DRESSES A couple of months ago I bought a big box of handmade vintage feedsack dresses! I hadn't had the chance to "really" look at them so I got them out today to "air" them and let them get some sunshine and they were just beautiful!!!! To me they were a work of art hanging on the clothesline. I never knew my grandmother but my mother always told me about her making her dresses out of old print feedsacks and from the pictures I've seen of her this was the "style" that she wore. All the pictures were in black and white so I couldn't see the "color" but I remember the style. This lady of yesteryear had a nice and colorful wardrobe!!!! I just LOVE all the different prints!!! LOVE THE COLORS LOOK AT THE POLKA DOTS Ahhhh..the simpler times..........

From Fairlea flea market, Thanksgiving weekend.

This is excellent vintage feedsack fabric that features a pretty red and white diamond geometric design. I have two of these pieces available. Each measures 36 3/4" wide x 23 1/2" in length. The fabric is an excellent quality with a tight weave. The feedsack is in excellent condition. The fabric is clean and ready to use in your next project. If you purchase more than one, your postage will come out high. I refund all extra postage paid. Please convo with any questions, and thanks for looking!

When I post about a new finish I usually say, she's finally finished! Quilts always take a lot of time and energy. It always feels good to complete them, enjoy them and check them off your list. But let me say this time - shes. finally. finished. You may remember this quilt, called Pot 'o Flowers by Glenna Hailey that I started in November? I posted about it HERE. I approached my boss about making it because it was on my list of quilts to do and I thought I might as well kill two birds with one stone and make it as a sample for the store. We made kits up and we thought it would be a nice way to showcase 30's prints, as well as, something Springy for the store. Once I begun, I realized that it wasn't quite what I originally thought it was. I've mentioned that I'm kind of spontaneous and a lot of times I just dive right into a project, right? Well, if I would have looked a little closer at the details and instructions of this quilt, I would have realized that this quilt is small. Like 37-ish inches small. Total. The photo of it in the book [Sugar Sack Quilts by Glenna Hailey] was kind of deceiving to my eye. Everything looked bigger than it really was. I assumed that the checkerboard border was probably 2-1/2" squares [finishing at 2"] with some decent size flowers. I was excited for this little hand applique project. Well, little was right. Most of the flowers were about 2" in diameter and the sashing squares finished at 1". Cute. But definitely smaller. I had to switch gears. And that took me some time. For a month or so, I stewed over what method of applique to do. I didn't think I had time to hand applique it. It was a sample for the store so I needed to whip it out. Plus, with all of the little curves and crevices of the flowers, I knew it would be a beast. I went back and forth. I could feel myself putting this off in my mind. Dreading it. In fact, I was OVER it and kind of regretted suggesting to make it. I definitely had a million other projects to do and decided I didn't want to deal with this one. But I knew I had to get going. So, following the authors instructions, I decided to used the Heat n Bond method. But, instead of hand stitching around each piece per her instructions I decided to just machine applique them on with a straight stitch. Well, finally, she's finished. I just decided to dig my feet in and go for it. I am happy with how it turned out. The little checkerboard pieces are cute and it's a nice size for a wall hanging. I still think this whole thing would be cute if it were twice the size but hey, I guess I learned a few lessons ~ * Read the small print on any project you're about to start. * Don't take on more than you can handle - no matter how darling you think it is. * And sometimes, you just gotta buck up and do what you said you were going to do :) Happy Quilting! ~ Amber

This is excellent vintage unique feedsack fabric that features a pretty blue, red, white oval floral design that forms a stripe. The half feedsack measures 36 3/4" wide x 20" in length on the short side. The feedsack is uneven on the ends. On the longer part of the sack the measurement is 21 3/4". The full feedsack measures approximately 44" in length. If you choose the full feedsack in the drop down menu it will be a continuous, uncut piece. The fabric is an excellent quality with a tight weave. The feedsack is in excellent condition. When I initially purchased this one I wasn't sure if it was a feedsack because of the quality of the fabric, but I checked my feedsack book and did find the pattern in these colors. The fabric has been freshly laundered and is ready to use in your next project. Please convo with any questions, and thanks for looking!

A vintage feed sack with an orange sprig and green berry design on a lavender line background. This is one of those crazy vintage color combos that is so wrong, its right. :-)

Hi guys! What a weekend! I started at 5am Friday morning getting up and out to an estate sale an hour away. It was 15 degrees! Of course the coldest day so far here! I knew there was going to be vintage feedsack fabric, but didn't know how many others would be looking for it too. I THOUGHT I got there early enough at an hour and a half early and an hour before they were to hand out line numbers, but I was already number 20 in the "unofficial" line. A lady came later and grumbled about the "unofficial numbers" and said bravely she had heard the lady that runs the sale doesn't recognize the unofficial numbers (she doesn't which is why we were all standing there waiting) and inferred she would "jump line" as we were "unofficial" and what was to stop her?" The number 2 guy said "The 30 people that are standing in front of you!" There was chuckling and she went off tail between her legs and got in the "unofficial line". You don't mess with people lined up for an estate sale! LOL We waited and shivered and chatted until they handed out the "real" numbers. I overheard that lady number 3 was also looking for feedsacks and silently sent her ESP messages to somehow slow her down (lol) and also both judged my chances versus her and berated myself for my judginess..(I am sure she was a perfectly nice lady!) We adjourned to the antique mall across the street for free hot cider and I found a few feedsacks there. Back to the estate sale and these were what I got there. For those who don't know, these fabric sacks were what feed and flour and sugar came in in the depression era to the 1950's. I love love love the cheerful colors and prints. They were about a square yard each when opened so unless you got a couple matching bags, they were mostly used for children's clothing and quilting. I have seen dresses, runners, curtains, aprons and more made from these cheerful cotton fabrics. This purple-y pink was a fav of mine..that color is yummy to me..pale magenta. I also like the ones with roses.... This frondy shaped one is also cool to me..so many different patterns were produced! I like how the top 2 sacks "play" together. Lovely chartreuse and bubblegum pink. Most of these will go to EBay and Etsy *sniffle*. I met a lady there who said she has over 300 sacks in her collection! After I got home from this sale we packed our bags and went to an antique auction in Indiana..more to come on our finds there. Stop again and see what I have found! 'Til next time. Julia

Hi Everyone! As you probably know, I'm still selling feedsacks and rickrack like a mad woman! And I remembered that I'd talk to you a bit about caring for feedsacks, so here I go! First of all, if you ever find feedsacks that are "perfect", it'll be few and far between. I seldom find one that doesn't have at least some staining and a few peck or pull holes. What are those you say? Remember that many of these sacks were taken to the coop or the barn and possibly thrown on the floor where the chickens could get to them and peck at them to get a nibble! Hence, you have a "peck hole". Or when the strings were being removed, they might be pulled a little too hard and you'll get a "pull hole". So there you are! The good news is that I believe that they must have used steel in the manufacturing of these things! Not really, but they are VERY durable! I wash all my vintage fabric when it comes into my house for a couple of reasons. First, you never know what you're bringing in with it! And secondly, since I sell so much, I want to make sure that the fabrics are stable, both in color and strength. My stain remover of choice is OXYCLEAN. This stuff is fabulous! It takes those stains away and doesn't fade the color. I love it! For feedsacks, I usually use a 5 gallon paint bucket. I fill it up with hot water and put 1 heaping big scoop full of Oxyclean in and swish it around till it's dissolved. Then I add 12-14 feedsacks. I let them soak 24 hours!! The biggest problem I find is when folks don't use enough product or they don't soak long enough. So don't be stingy with your Oxyclean OR time!! When that's done, take out the sacks and wash them in your washer with your favorite detergent. No, don't put them on gentle, or be afraid to agitate them! I'm telling you, they are made with steel!! Run them through the full cycles and throw them in the dryer! Yes, the dryer! You will be amazed at how beautifully they come out. If, by chance, after all that, they still have some light staining, then soak 1 or 2 at a time in a plastic dishpan with a couple of heaping tablespoons of Oxyclean for another 24 hours. If the stain is still not out, you'll have to live with it. But hey, if you're cutting them up, no big deal, right?? I generally store them without ironing them because I'd just have to do it again later. You've seen my sewing room so you know that I keep my stuff on open shelves. That's partly because I don't have much natural light in there. I don't think feedsacks fade easily, but if I had lots of light coming in, I might consider covering my shelves. Not just for those, but all my fabrics. So there you have it! The one thing I always stress to the audience when speaking about feedsacks is to USE them! I inevitably hear someone say "I have a whole stack of these, but I just can't cut them!" My response is "Well, then, sell them to me!" I'm just a believer in using what you have, but if you just want to look at them and fondle them, I guess that's OK, too. In any case, enjoy! Blessings~

Today has been such a lovely day already!! It is a beautiful spring day with the sun shining!! We've been having the most delightful spring weather and it sure makes me happy!! This morning I was able to finish up a pillow I started last week, Nova's Petal Pocket Pillow! I bought the pattern when she first came out with it and have had it on my list since. I'm so happy to have it done, and of course it is the perfect Spring pillow to go along with all the lovely days we've been having!! :) The cute little mushroom softies I made a few years ago so had to test out the pocket. On my list is to make some new little felt softies. Hopefully this week. :) I received a fun little package last week for my stash of some reproduction prints so I had fun using some of these. Aren't they pretty!?! Then right after I finished taking some pictures of the pillow, guess what arrived?!? Yep, Leciens Old New 30's!! Oh, that made my already lovely day into a fabulously fantastic day!! The fabrics are all gorgeous and it is so fun to see them on bolts!! I've made them into bundles, and since there has been so much anticipation for this collection I'm going to keep them in the bundles for now and not do yardage so I have plenty to go around (unless otherwise discussed previously). :) Mini Flowers Deers in a Meadow Tulip Bouquets Floral Hearts Petite Rose Buds and Pin Dots Spring Meadow Strawberries and Cherries with Polka Dots Aren't they so pretty!! There are 3 different fabric weights in the collection with some of them being 100% cotton and then some of them are a linen cotton blend. I just love all of them!! They will be popping up in my shop as bundles today! :) Hope you are having a fabulous Spring day too!!

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Isn’t it weird how whenever a generation discovers something, they think they invented it? Back in the 1970s we discovered ecology, and invented Earth Day. Young adults today discovered rec…

Large piece attached to unfinished quilt top. From the Ruby Rooster antique mall.

FEEDSACK DRESSES A couple of months ago I bought a big box of handmade vintage feedsack dresses! I hadn't had the chance to "really" look at them so I got them out today to "air" them and let them get some sunshine and they were just beautiful!!!! To me they were a work of art hanging on the clothesline. I never knew my grandmother but my mother always told me about her making her dresses out of old print feedsacks and from the pictures I've seen of her this was the "style" that she wore. All the pictures were in black and white so I couldn't see the "color" but I remember the style. This lady of yesteryear had a nice and colorful wardrobe!!!! I just LOVE all the different prints!!! LOVE THE COLORS LOOK AT THE POLKA DOTS Ahhhh..the simpler times..........

I wanted to save some of my mother's memories of wearing feedsack dresses back in the 1930s. Feedsack fabric was turned into quilts, curtains and other useful items. It's popular with collectors now.

Thank you for your concern about my stupid injury. I am moving around a little better now, but still can't sit or stand for very long. I did manage to get up and take a few photos today for the vintage fabric gallery. Although the size of my scraps varies wildly, I decided to take a photo of a

Brand NEW Book! This is my 4th book and I'm sew excited to be able to offer it to you! Feed Sacks: A Collection of Vintage Feed Sack, Sugar Sack, Grain and Feed Bag Prints and Designs Volume I. This book features OVER 1000 premium images of feed sack prints -- perfect for the collector or anyone who loves feed sacks. There are 167 pages. The book is softcover. Please check out my other books on quilting.