Some things are too good to pass up, even when they’re a bit knackered.

(I’d like to nominate myself for inclusion in that category, actually.)

My most recent thrifty rummage yielded something for which this description is entirely fitting. It’s a tablecloth. Probably 1950s in vintage.

It has some lovely illustrations of Aussie wildlife…

Unfortunately, as you can probably see, as well as grumpy-looking koalas it also has it’s fair share of fading, staining, wear and tear.

But as it’s for us to use and not for sale, that doesn’t matter. Call it patina, or character. Whatever. It’s fine with me.

I plan to make it into a floor cushion cover, so it will no doubt have a few more stains before very long. It will reside in front of the fire, for us to lounge upon.

I scored extra floor cushions before Christmas, mainly from charity shops, as we didn’t have quite enough space for all the family on the sofas.

But I didn’t get time to make covers for the naked ones (cushions, not family members!), so I’ve been looking out for something to use to remedy that.

I’ll line the cloth with calico, to strengthen it. And I’m planning to back the cushion cover with some of this:

Quite a good match for the floorboards, eh?

This particular project may not get completed for a while yet though. Particularly as the above fabric is from Ikea. I have previously mentioned the torment and trauma that obtaining it is likely to involve.

I’m not sure whether the tablecloth originated in Australia, and was brought or sent to folks back home as a gift, or was made in England, back in that golden age of emigration to the New World, to remind families of loved ones overseas.

My guess is the former.

But for us, as well as cushioning our behinds, it will also serve to do the latter. ♥