yard sale and knitting

Dropped by a yard sale on my way home from the market on Saturday...it was almost 2pm and not much left, BUT, 10 balls of 4ply ,I was a bit disappointed to find it was 75% acrylic, guess I didn't look too closely as I was so thrilled to find old yarn. Classic useful grey.

7 balls of wool crepe, nice chocolate color. I think these English yarns are from the 70s. It was so hot and humid I suppose nobody could bear the thought of winter wool.

and then, as I was chatting with the family they mentioned that they had just taken some linen back into the house, and I scored this fabulous, large linen cloth with wonderful cut work. I have not gone over it closely yet but it looks pretty good. Can't bear the thought if ironing it.

Do look at this blog from knitonthenet, a great post on intergenerational knitting. OK, OK, I did send them the photos. Funny I should pick up yarn this weekend....have not bought any for at least 4 months!! (take that back, 1 month)

A sweet mention from my artist friend Barbara Muir on her lively blog...she was the one who inspired me to blog and she also painted the portrait I use as an avatar.

Market Day and more

Yesterday at the Brickworks Farmers Market I was given a new spot! No walls....and I don't like change. However the position is great and I had very good feedback from the customers. I need to work on this a bit, as in, where do I put my chair? or, how to have a cohesive look (quilt rack is hidden at the back) I had a good day , sold a couple of lovely quilts (why oh why do I not take more photos, so sad that I will never see them again) and some vintage curling jackets.....again why do I not take photos of these good looking guys?, one mum bought a 50s Irish sweater for her 9-10 year old, what a handsome little boy, he looked great.

Deer Valley Venison had chickens today, such nice people to work with.

Pimenton, who make lovely Spanish food, having a good time
and look at this veg, from various farms. I love the way they look like fabric designs.

Came home to two lovely etsy treasuries. What is it with souvenir scarves these days? I'm not complaining , as they are always interesting,but yet another was featured in On the road again, curated by Heart City, a fun, quirky collection, put together with a sure eye.
and some vintage 60s quilt blocks in Yard Sale, put together by Saxib, colorful and pleasing, Check out her recycled, repurposed hair bands.

Pubs I knew.

Another lovely treasury comes my way, my featured souvenir scarf of London was sold so I'm showing another one. This treasury Get the London Look, made me quite nostalgic. I was born in Shorditch, which is in the east end of London. They say only people born within the sound of Bow bells, which I was, can call themselves a true cockney. In fact, my parents were running a pub called 'The Bell' at the time of my birth. I then went on to live in

The Marquise of Granby, I believe on Goodge Street

The Cock, Kilburn High Road

The Gregorian Arms, Jamaica Road, Bermondsy

then my dad decided he did not want his 'girls' bought up in the docklands so we moved to

The Kings Head, on the East Kent coast, Margate

and finally The Captain Digby in Kingsgate.

Quite a long journey to a lovely, tiny island on the Georgian Bay of Lake Huron!

taken in May, on our first trip up this summer ( my knitting view)

Taken this week....son-in-law and granddaughter enjoying some artistic time together and the view the other way (my g&t view)

Its the day after Thursday so it must be Hermes day.

souvenir scarves

I have always liked old souvenir scarves, they work on many different levels. Design wise they are very decorative with their own art form. Geographically, historically and socially most interesting . Fortunately, for me, they seem to be in vogue once more and are selling steadily on etsy and doing well at markets, also.

last Friday as I listed groups of vintage pillowcases 2 sets were featured in treasuries as I was putting them up! that was exciting.

from my blue heaven

from pretty in the summer

market and thrifting

Hurray!!!! I have finished my self imposed month hiatus from thrifting and headed out this morning. I found this home made quilt, in perfect, gently used condition. The tag reads " stitched with love for .................. by her Gradma............. 1998 .....place" I left out the names and place (right here in Ontario) because it would be like 'calling out'. Who in the world would throw out a quilt made by her Grandma? I bet she will regret it.

But, then again, I will never know the whole story.
Just as I though I was running out of overshot blankets I found this blue one in the 'fill a bag for a buck' bin. Its not in the best condition with some fading and a 6" mend, but too wonderful to pass up. Whenever I find a treasure in the 'fabb' bin I never find anything else I would want.

The red and blue blanket was inside a 30s quilt I unpicked on Saturday. again very,very worn and faded, but still lovely.

Sunday at St Lawrence market. My buddy Jeanette does orange this week.

I had a not bad (not wonderful) day. I sold several pieces of fabric. A deposit on the 19th century blue 9 patch and the 30s Dresden Plate' quilt. The 'plate' quilt was a touching sale as the buyer started to cry as memories of her mother came flooding back as she saw the quilt, apparently she was 11 when her mother died: this , and many other mother memories were shared by total strangers who were in my booth at the time.

The north market is going to be torn down soon, here is some idea of what will be done on the site. Toronto defiantly needs a weekly or weekender vintage market, I can't think of another major city that has so little. The Department of Tourism seems to have little or no interest in promoting one.

Raising the Titanic

I usually take some mending or restoring up to our cabin. This time I sort of missed as I was throwing a 30s quilt onto the dock.....it sank to the bottom of Lake Huron. Next day I organized the dive team (my husband) who donned mask and flippers to search for the quilt. It was akin to rescuing the treasures of the Titanic, but he did it. Above, sodden quilt lying, gasping on the dock.

Next day, recovering on the deck, not too worse for wear. There are many seam separations(from the weight of the water, I think), a few holes/tears in the backing and it will need a recut and rebind, at the moment there is a sweet 30s print back that is folded to the front to bind, I may be able to redo that.

That adventure left me with no textile work (well, I do have some 'car' knitting on the go) so what to do to keep me amused and busy. There are several lovely blogs that I read on what to do with vintage sheets and pillowcases, and I have a cabin full (Pam has another sweet blog) I sorted, photographed and intend to put a few lots up in my etsy shop. Here is a preview.

could't resist the pic of a group of young canoeists who paddled by and sang for me.

As it is Thursday (all right, the day after) it has to be Hermes day. I have many more up on flickrer

summer stripes

A small pile of striped vintage fabrics, measured, priced and ready to be taken to market.

whilst I had stripes on my mind, I browsed etsy and came up with this fresh selection.

pin cushions from dottyral. I bought from dotty last Christmas and everyone was delighted with their little gifts. Expect to hear from me soon, Dotty.
A French seller ikabags, fresh and summery
park and beach, love those retro colors
loulahbelle, always a favorite...does she really come from Huddersfield?

last week I was delighted to be invited to join the Textile and Fiber Art list. The more I browse the membership list, read profiles, visit websites and blogs, the more impressed I am.