Paper Potter

My family are well trained - they know I love a nice eco gift! This Paper Potter was a Christmas present from my brother and his family. I have only just got round to blogging about it because I had to wait til Spring/Summer to use it!



I spent a relaxing evening cutting up newspapers and rolling them onto this little pot-making implement back in early Springtime. It takes a little bit of trial and error, the first few I made weren't that great. But after a while I started to build up quite a production line in the end, practise makes perfect and all that...



I think they look great grouped together, and they work really well. I grew sunflowers and nasturtiums in them back in April. They have been potted on and the newspaper will have rotted away by now.



I highly recommend these paper potters, just the fact that the company who make them have one of the best names ever is a good enough reason to buy one! they are a great way to make a small, ecofriendly change by rejecting plastic pots and using recycled paper!

Vintage or not?

I bought this large piece of fabric recently, I bought it because I loved it, the design, the colours, everything about it appealed to me. It almost has a screen printed quality to it and the pattern is made up of the most amazing acid green, teal blue, chocolate brown and taupe detailing.



When I got it home and took a closer look, I started to think that maybe this lovely fabric might actually be vintage. Usually I can spot vintage fabric a mile off, but I'm not so sure with this piece. My first inkling that it might be vintage was the narrow(ish) width. It is 46 inches (117cm) wide which is narrower than most modern fabric bought off the roll, although not as narrow as some very old vintage fabric.



The main thing that made me think it might not be modern fabric is the texture. I bought some 'orange circles' vintage fabric a few years ago an it has exactly the same feel - the photos below show the fabric I purchased still on the bolt and with it's original labels. The brand name is Cepea and it says it is in "duplex print". I am wondering if the fabric I am currently trying to identify, which has an almost barkcloth feel to it, is made from the same type of stuff...





It is in such pristine condition that I really can't tell for sure. I don't mind if it isn't vintage, I really like it anyway. But if I use it to make something to list in my online stores, I don't want to say it is vintage, if it's not! Plus, I am just curious and I would love to know if anyone thinks this fabric is modern or vintage, perhaps you recognise it and could let me know the brand name or its possible age!!