Island Escape Madras Plaid Coffee Table

It’s time for the Craft Destash Challenge, hosted by Megan from C’mon Get Crafty. Crafters are challenged to spend no more than $10, then use their stash of crafts for the rest of the supplies. I spent $9.99 on one yard of magenta and orange Madras Plaid, then used things I already had for the rest.

Do you want to get away from the off and on winter weather this year? I do. In the South Carolina Lowcountry it’s sunny and 75 degrees one day, and 50 degrees (with wind and rain) the next day. The Yellow Jasmine, our state flower, is blooming, but we’re wearing sweaters. Will a hard freeze/frost occur and kill them all? I don’t know. I’ll have to let you know if/when that occurs. In the meantime, I’m reading Robinson Crusoe and styling an Island Escape Madras Plaid Coffee Table.

Madras Plaid is cool, lightweight, and perfect for the spring and summer. However, it’s not your average fair-weather fabric. Madras Plaid has an amazing history! It was originally spun in Madras, India (now called Channai). It eventually worked its way up to Africa, then caught the eye of King George IV (1822). The Madras craze in the United States began at what is now Yale College in 1718. Fabric historians reference Madras Plaid shirts being sold in the Sears and Roebuck catalog as early as 1897. Beginning in the 1930s, American tourists flaunted their leisure-class status by wearing Madras Plaid shirts purchased on vacations to the Caribbean islands. Today, Madras clothing has become iconic, and can be purchased at Walmart, LL Bean, Lilly Pulitzer, and everywhere else.

To make the coffee table cover, I bought one yard of the Madras Plaid, then used it as a pattern to cut the other fabrics. The layers of pink faux velvet fabric, fleece fabric lining, and the Madras Plaid were sewn together like a mini quilt. Then, I placed a yarn tack at every 2nd square. if you need a thorough tutorial on hand-tacked quilted table runners, read DIY SEC Football Table Runner.

Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe, was my inspiration. Until I began reading the book, I didn’t realize how old it was. Have you seen a picture of the author? You can read his bio here. Did you know that his book is 2nd only to the Bible, as far as the number of translations? Before Survivor, Lost, Cast Away, Gilligan’s Island, and Lord of the Flies, there was Robinson Crusoe. I really enjoyed revisiting this book. Throughout his story, the narrator laments NOT obeying his parents, and the Lord. It is a cautionary tale. I also included Swiss Family Robinson, by Johann David Wyss. I haven’t read it yet. I plan on reading it out loud to the girls, after we finish Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll. Using the links at the bottom of this post, you can read Swiss Family Robinson for free, or Robinson Crusoe for 60 cents in the Kindle app.

The big, blue wooden crab I found at a thrift store was the brightest star on the coffee table. I paired him with a Sand Fiddler Crab Coastal Christmas Tree Ornament that I made in 2019.

I bought the palm tree salad plates for a coastal tablescape. They are hand painted and signed with the initials “T.G.” I don’t know the artist’s full name, but I do like his/her work.

A lime Corelle stoneware coffee cup rests on a woodslice coaster. I own 4 or 5 of these cups in various coastal colors. I wish Corelle had a pink one. I think they have purple, but not pink. Pink is definitely a coastal color, in my opinion.

I bought the rustic “Sun, Sand, Surf” sign at TJ Maxx last year. I’m sure we’ll get many years of use out of this little guy.

I also styled the coffee table with the vignette facing the couch. I liked the idea of placing it where we (the people who actually live here) can see it. However, I also liked the idea of placing it where quests can see it as they enter the front door. In the end, I chose to leave the vignette facing the couch. How do you style your coffee table? Would you rather it face the people sitting in front of it, or not?

I hope you enjoyed my Island Escape Madras Plaid Coffee Table!

Happy Spring!

Kristie

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Every month a group of bloggers are challenged by C’mon Get Crafty to create a new craft or project from their own stash of goodies! Everyone is allowed a $10 allowance for necessities to complete their project (i.e. paint brushes, glue, etc), but the bulk of it must be created from their own stash of goodies.

Let’s meet this month’s bloggers!!

C’mon Get Crafty | Love My Little Cottage | Slices of Life

Domestic Deadline Purple Hues and Me | Modern on Monticello

This Autoimmune Life | Sew Crafty Crochet | Home Crafts by Ali

 

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