30 May 2013

The Best Fish Shop in the World



The first week at our summer cabin in the Georgian Bay of Lake Huron.  I was going to show you the thick fog  I woke up to....and the stumps of 6 choke cherry trees the bloody beaver took down over the winter  ( Canada's national animal!!)...and the 1940s quilt I  have been mending.
  BUT, I do not have the camera cable. .,.




So,you will have to put up with a post about my winter in Nelson, New Zealand. 




Just down the road from our rented house is the very best fish shop in the world....GUYTONS........http://www.guytons.co.nz/about-us/




 We can see the fishing boats come in, laden with all kinds of fish I have never heard of....Blue Warehou, Butterfish ,Hoki, Gunard and tons more. All as fresh as fresh can be.

 


The staff are terrific, recipes provide, lovely smoked fish too. 
Can't wait to go back next year.




26 May 2013

Perfect weather for Christie




It was perfect weather for the Christie Antique Show yesterday. Bright sunshine with cool temperature...not so hot that folks were to exhausted to shop or so cold that they could not get their money out. I have experienced both over the years

 
Business was brisk and steady all day, so much so that I had no opportunity to take pictures of my own booth, let alone anybody elses. So you will have to make do with piccies of the van being loaded. Happy to report that I did not have to bring any of these blankets home again. Thank Goodness! One was a  Hudson Bay double length sleigh blanket ....about 18 feet long and I could not manage to fold it by myself.



 The only problem with being so busy is that you don't get a chance to chat with as many customers as you would like.
One of my first customers was Nina Stahlschmidt,looking at printed feedsacks, of course. I know she has published a book on this subject and I am determined to track it down.
Also Katherine and her mum, readers of this blog who noticed I would be at the show, sorry I gave you the wrong booth number, I am such a ditz. Next time I hope I have more of a chance to get to know you.
Also, lots of knowledgeable  folks well known the the quilting world...I always enjoy learning more.

Today I am very tired.



21 May 2013

hiding....



Hiding at the bottom of a tub of vintage fabrics .


About 30 printed feedsacks that I had forgotten about.



Some have already been sold at the Brickworks Farmers Market last Saturday, the rest are coming with me to  the Christie Antique Show this weekend.   ( Booth M6  hint hint)


Tons of information about printed feedsacks to be found on the web, whether it be history, sites to buy  or  images



My favorite in this once lost collection is this....pretty tea cups and saucers.




16 May 2013

a couple of finds




An interesting blanket label to add to my collection.
 Straight out of  'Jewel in the Crown".


And, another for my Jacqmar scarf collection .  How 50s can you get?


 Not a  new find , but the Liberty scarf I am currently wearing and enamored with , I'm sure I must have shown it to you before.




12 May 2013

The start of the Brickworks Farmers Market



The Brickworks Farmers Market has now moved outside for the summer and I have my old space back....  



  This year I have an extra 'bench' a lovely piece of reclaimed wood owned by Shelf Life, to use for display....very useful.


 May 4th was sunny and warm and I am happy to report I had a good day. Some of the above quilts found new homes. Its always useful to take photographs so I can see my glaring display mistakes, like the crooked pink table covering.


 May 11th not so good. Bitterly cold and windy. The music was supplied by The Horables.....that cheered me up.


 As usual, some super friendly customers, like this vibrant mother and daughter modelling the vintage Aran sweaters they bought from me and wore right away. It was the first time I had found a child's real Irish cardi, I think it went in the first half an hour.


Off to a good start for the summer market season.    I have lots of plans and new ideas.


08 May 2013

Blinked and I missed it



Day 1, April 24th, our magnolia is starting to bloom. This was taken from my second floor where I do the ironing.



April 26th, Mmmm, its coming along, I love the way it glows against the gray and chilly sky.


April 29th, filling in nicely, but I see bits of green leaves already trying to push the blooms away.


I stepped out May 3rd and this is what I got.



From 24 degrees to 8 in about a week. Blink and you miss spring here..... what a  climate!


05 May 2013

I think its today......




Today is the anniversary of  4 ( or is it 5?) years of selling vintage textiles on etsy. 


 I gave up on ebay as it had become such an ugly environment.
 Etsy is changing too, going from a handcrafted and vintage site to one packed with cheap factory imports. There are many dynamite shops there but they are increasingly getting lost in the huge increase of sellers and a somewhat dysfunctional search engine.
 I wish I knew the direction this site is going,  I don't think the administration know either.
  But I struggle on with my 3 shops.


  My original shop 'fabriquefantastique' started by selling vintage fabrics only.....but now I hardly sell any fabric, yard goods or remnants.


 'Boutiquefantastique' ...vintage clothing only,  jogs slowly on....I only buy for this shop something jumps out  at me.


And 'foulardfantastique' devoted to scarves. 

Must say, I still enjoy the thrill of the chase.
Please forgive the shameless self promotion.




01 May 2013

new tricks



You can't teach an old dog new tricks. I think that sums me up.
So what did I find at the thrift stores last week?



 Three more Liberty scarves for my vast collection.
The first  paisley in beautiful pinks and eau de nil......but....printed in a circle....love it and am wearing it as I type.



Two more old ones with my favorite sort of label, both a small foulard print.


  Rummaging around in the garage mini- warehouse I unearthed, under some tablecloths,  a whole pile of vintage gents scarves, about 25.  Good! some are up in my etsy shop already.



Now, who would throw out a vibrant, unfinished Ehrman  needlepoint kit? Do you know how much they cost??



For $1.99 how could I leave it?   I am very tempted to finish it myself.



Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...