Childhood memories....

 

A Singer sewing machine which thanks to the Singer website can be dated accurately to 1914 Made in Clydebank, Scotland from the serial number plate.

 My Grandmother had one similar to this and I used to watch her sewing as a child....she was a great seamstress and at Christmas she would present me with a little brown suitcase, full of beautiful clothes that she had made for my Tiny Tears doll.
I can remember them even now....especially the underwear.... little frilly lace knickers and petticoats..... they were so over the top compared to my own cotton ones!

Tiny Tears and my Grandmother are no longer here, but it was the purchase of the sewing machine that brought back childhood memories and remembering how I helped to turn the pretty handle as she pushed the material through...

And being fascinated by all the gold decoration.......

Then when all the work was done, all its prettiness was hidden away in a boring brown box.....

Just like the Tiny Tears clothes in the little brown suitcase....

Have a memorable weekend,
Julie x

Nice weekend and some reading to do......

Just a few photos of my stand at The Autumn Fair in Rheged, Cumbria before the doors opened....

glass cake stands and dishes proved very popular over the weekend....

As did pieces of pretty, floral china....

Isn't it funny how some things you think will  fly straight off the table sit there all weekend..... and things you thought would be slow sellers are the first to go.....strange...

On a completely different note..... I have a wonderful collection of Jeanne D'Arc magazines and books to read this week before returning them to their lovely owner Pauline who lives in the most gorgeous house...High Barton near Lake Ullswater....with fabulous views over the Lake and and an interior to make you go WOW....

Have a look at her website...www.highbarton.com to see what I mean....... she does B and B too.

Enjoy your week....

I don't think I will be getting  much done with all these to plough through!

It's a hard life I know.....
Julie x

Autumn Fair........

Some new decorative pieces for The Autumn Fair this weekend at  Rheged Discovery Centre, Penrith, Cumbria.....(see top sidebar for further details.)

A pretty, glazed cabinet for a bathroom...

A dummy board......life size, handpainted wooden vase and flowers.....to sit on a windowsill or in a fireplace perhaps?

And the dinkiest washboard and tub on its own wooden stand......
so cute!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend and a big thank you everyone who takes the time to leave a comment.....it is very much appreciated!
Julie x

In the shade....

Following on from the last post on "popover" shade making.....a very old, damaged, French toile pelmet produced two shades, an applique cushion and three pictures.....
 The little lavender pillow in the basket made from vintage toile and quilt fabric came from the lovely Jo at Hesta Nesta

What was left of  a vintage drawstring bag produced this little shade....

Whilst a damaged petticoat produced another shade from the pretty embroidered bottom edge.....

Why not have a go.....easy....honest!

 Julie x

Check mate...

 The last few days have seen me acquiring more red and white check items...

Curtains.... cushions....a vintage hand stitched quilt.......

The French check bag with initials L J...... a little worn but so sweet.

It is the same type of French fabric as the "popover" shade I made.....easy to do.... just a rectangle of fabric..... hem one long side, then turn over the other long side and create a channel for the elastic.
Sew the short sides together stopping short of the channel at the top.....
Thread elastic through the channel and gather.
Finish with a length of ribbon or tape and popover an existing lampshade.
( These covers work best on a shaped /waisted shade.....rather than a coolie style shade. )

Et voila....a shade that no one else has.....

Julie x

P.S. More inspiration to follow....

A vintage sense of humour......

When I first saw this vintage linen tea table cloth it reminded me so much of  Caroline Zoob

 Delightful embroidery of children picking apples.....the girls using their aprons to gather the harvest, while the little boy does the hard work up the ladder.
Even the bunny at the side of the fence is animated....one minute upright on its back legs... the next, keeled over on its side.... or..... maybe it's running away?

A red and white cross stitch French sampler from 1934.......

 H.K. must have had fun embroidering the chickens......one obviously struggling to run like the rest....then....oops....flat on its face!

 A predatory teapot with a desire for "getting together" with  the pretty little teacup and saucer.........

Oooh....the rascal.....

Don't worry though....he is currently being turned into a cushion so he can be sat on..... that will sort him out!

And finally...... this Victorian child's cup made me chuckle.......careful children.....

The Showman might not have a back on his camera......



Have a fun week whatever you do,
Julie x

   

MOO stickers.....

New MOO stickers from those clever people at MOO.com

I buy mini MOO cards to give to customers at the Fairs and they are very successful. People love the dinky little size compared to standard business cards and I know they keep them because of just that ....

So I decided to order some stickers....not knowing quite what I was going to do with them......

The first page is a bit of MOO advertising......

The rest of the book is my own advertising.......

Initially, I thought I could seal my customers bags or tissue paper parcels, but they are, quite frankly, too good to be ripped off and discarded.
I can't attach them directly onto fabric, so I have decided to put them on my card labels with my Cloth Shed logo on the reverse and hopefully people can keep them for a little while longer.

Can you believe I bought narcissus yesterday from my local florist to cheer up this old tin cooking pot that will be going to Durham on Sunday.....a variety called Bridal Crown with an incredibly heavy scent..... but at this time of year....?
Is that possible?

Have a good weekend,
Julie x

Tweeds, Wool, Paisley and Print......

Pretty lavender colours.....

Vintage Paisley gents dressing gown......

And a well loved "full" apron with pretty bow fabric.......

 So well loved, it even has a make do and mend neat repair.....

 All coming with me to The Vintage and Retro Fair at New College, Durham  this Sunday, 10th October along with more cosy, vintage goodies.

Have a good week......
Julie x