Monday 31 August 2009

ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE LACE WEEK - DAY 2

Just a couple of tasters of what is to come up on the site tomorrow.

Lots more lovely lace coming on the site this week.

Friday 28 August 2009

MY FIRST BLOG AWARD



One lovely blog award
I would like to say a big thank you to Tracy at Boboho for selecting my blog for the this lovely award. this is my first award.


The rules of this award is
to accept it and post it to your blog along with the name and link of the person who bestowed it to you. You must post the name of fifteen other blogs that are new to you, contact them and ask them to do the same.

http://vintagetovictorian.blogspot.com/


http://cabanedeviolette.canalblog.com/

http://redwoodhouse.blogspot.com/

http://thewasherwoman.blogspot.com/

http://trocbroc.blogspot.com/

http://raggedroses.blogspot.com/

http://www.vintageheaven.blogspot.com/

http://beadlust.blogspot.com/

http://beadingatthebeach.blogspot.com/

http://sewingmagpie.blogspot.com/

http://janeandthehappycrow.blogspot.com/

http://vintageatthecornerhouse.blogspot.com/

http://countryinthetown.blogspot.com/

http://thewhiteverandah.blogspot.com/

http://talesfrombeyondtheglimpse.blogspot.com/


Wednesday 26 August 2009

VINTAGE FABRIC WEEK - DAY 4



Yes, the last day of listing this week. It has been very hectic with orders coming in fast and furious, thank you to everyone.

Next Monday I shall start the LACE week as I have a large amount of lace piled up just waiting to be recycled.


Over the past ten years we have been exhibiting at the Arthur Swallow Fairs at Swinderby showground. The owners of the ground have decided to remove the underlying gravel on the site very shortly. For this reason the Swinderby Home and Antique show is moving to the Lincoln showground just up the road.
The IACF owners have decided to jump in and hold a fair on the old Swinderby site at the same time as the Arthur Swallow Lincoln fair.
Please do not be confused by this and think that it is the same organisation running it.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE LINCOLNSHIRE ANTIQUES AND HOME SHOW

RAG RESCUE WILL BE THERE





Tuesday 25 August 2009

VINTAGE FABRIC WEEK - DAY 3



I don't normally buy a great deal of old French toile but in June of this year I found some pieces that I couldn't resist. I thought that they would look wonderful on cushions or bags. The first piece shown above, is a linen piece which I was told is getting harder and harder to find. Such a wonderful subject. The second piece I just couldn't resist. It must depict some French festival probably in Spring. It reminds me of dancing around the maypole although in this case around a tree with a garland of roses and a cherub flying overhead. Such detail, I just love it.

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE NEW LISTINGS

I've decided to end my listings on Thursday this week as I had forgotten that I am at auction on Wednesday all day. This means that I will not be listing vintage stashbags on Friday, they will have to wait until a later date.

Coming up next week - Vintage Lace week.

Monday 24 August 2009

VINTAGE FABRIC WEEK - DAY TWO



Two of my favourite larger pieces of fabric being listed tomorrow.
1. - A 19th century blue toile with cupids and garlands of roses
2 - A wonderful piece of old woven silk fabric from France in unused condition.

Lots more of large pieces of fabric being listed on the RAG RESCUE WEBSITE tomorrow at 7am BST

Sunday 23 August 2009

MY FAVOURITES FROM TOMORROWS LISTING DAY OF VINTAGE FABRIC SQUARES



It takes me such a long time to create an image of all the items I am listing the next day on the website. I have therefore decided to choose two items each day which are my own favourites.

Tomorrow I will be listing approx. 20 different design of vintage fabric and some will have multiples of 4", 5" and 6" squares.

Take a look at the RAG RESCUE WEBSITE tomorrow Monday 24th August after 7am when they will be listed in the 'NEW LISTINGS' category.

I've prepared Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday listings so I think I will have a little break and try out some machine embroidery on my felt works.
Until tomorrow.......

Saturday 22 August 2009

VINTAGE FABRIC WEEK


Preparations are being made this weekend to start the vintage fabric week at Rag Rescue
Today I have been washing, ironing and cutting around fabric and fabric and more fabric.
Some fabrics were easy as they were undamaged, but others had tiny holes and wear in places so they had to be carefully scrutinised, held up to the light and tested for strength. What you see above (sorry its a bit out of focus) is only a fraction of what is to come next week. I'm not sure how many days listing I'll do yet as it depends on how I get on and how my frozen shoulder holds up, it would be my right one this time, typical. I do know however that there will be days of large pieces and days of squares and days of new scrapbags. I may not have time to take photo's for previews but will update you all on what is coming up the next day.

Friday 21 August 2009

VINTAGE BUCKLES AND BUTTONS


These wonderful vintage buckles and buttons will be listed shortly on the website.

Today is the last day of listing for this week. All customers who have 'wish lists' for this week will get their invoices by Sunday.
New listings start again on Monday 24th August.

Thursday 20 August 2009

MISTAKES ARE THE SECRET OF SUCCESS - OOPS!

There is always a first time for everything , I suppose.

A big mistake.

Yesterday I placed two days listings onto my website database at once. One for today and one for tomorrow. Normally I have no problems. I click the one day button for next day and the two day button for the following day. I just don't know what I was thinking of when I clicked 2 days for both listings.

SO

I'm afraid when I checked this morning, the lovely 1930's hexagonal patches you see on my previous post where not there....HORROR!

Well it shows I am human after all.

Sorry folks you will just have to wait until tomorrow, when you will also see lots more vintage buttons and buckles.

WHAT MISTAKES HAVE YOU MADE?

I'd love to hear them, please comment.

Wednesday 19 August 2009

Tuesday 18 August 2009

CHRISTMAS COLOURS FOR CRAFTERS


Since the beginning of August I've been constantly asked for fabrics and trims in Christmas colours. So yesterday I searched through my stash and came up with 25 items which I will be listing tomorrow morning at 7am BST.

I'm going searching for more, around and about next week so if you have any requests please let me know and I'll try and find what you are looking for.

Sunday 16 August 2009

ANTIQUE WEDDING HEADDRESSES AND LACE


A new listing week begins tomorrow Monday August 17th at 7am BST, starting with wonderful wax floral wedding tiaras and antique lace.

Sorry it is such a short post but my visitors have only just left and I'm in a bit of a rush to get everything organised for next week.

Friday 14 August 2009

YORKSHIRE DALES




We had a lovely day out at Hawes yesterday. Hawes is a wonderful market town in upper Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales. We visited the Wensleydale Cheese production centre and the Dales Countryside Museum which told the whole history of the area. The best bit of the museum was at the end where you board a steam train and walk through years of history with artefacts from the beginning of the twentieth century. There were lots of old items for children to play with and even a basket of rags on the floor so that you could try your hand at rag rug making. The weather was glorious and we found a wonderful pub where we sat out in the garden which was surrounded with old stone walling, beautiful flowers and old pieces from the past like an old butchers bicycle, milk churns etc. Over the stone wall was the most spectacular view of the hills.

Now back to work. Lots of orders to get ready for posting.

A basket full of embellishments ready and waiting to be processed.

Thursday 13 August 2009

DMC THREADS, BEADWORK AND NEEDLEWORK BOOK


Just showing you a few more items I bought. There are some more wonderful silky threads and lots of beadwork fringing. I was also pleased to get ten boxes of DMC threads unopened and lots of lovely bunches of old velvet flowers. My favourite is the Theresa Dillmont "Encyclopedia of needlework" book. I have had a copy of this for many years and it is such a useful little gem. It has chapters on plain sewing, embroidery of all kinds, appliqué work, tapestry, knitting, crochet, tatting, macrame, netting, lace making and all kinds of needlework trimmings.

Wednesday 12 August 2009

VINTAGE FABRICS WAITING TO BE WASHED


This is just one pile of vintage fabrics waiting to be washed. I managed to get a wide variety of fabrics this time at the fairs, both scraps and longer lengths of French and English fabric. Of course the weather is hindering me now, rain, rain and more rain, typical English Summer weather. Although these fabrics look clean I still like them to be fresh when they go to my customers. I'm going to have to get my husband to iron the longer lengths at the moment as my frozen shoulder is really giving me some jip now. I will be glad when it freezes totally so that I can go and get some physio, until then I just have to put up with the constant toothache type pain in the arm. Old age creeping up on me I'm afraid.


Tuesday 11 August 2009

RIBBONS FROM THE CASTLE HOWARD COLLECTION



It seems that I'm attracted to ribbons, my basket is now overflowing with a wonderful array of colourful ones. The top photo shows what looks like black ribbon but it is a very long piece of thin edging silk cord. Well that is the only way I can describe it. The silk is attached to black tape and it was used for edging clothing. You found it around the edges of bodices to give a neat tailored look. This was purchased from the Castle Howard collection when they placed items from the seamstresses stash into auction. I purchased this and many other items of haberdashery from a dealer who was retiring.

Monday 10 August 2009

ROSES AND WAX HEADDRESSES COMING SOON AT RAG RESCUE


As I will not be listing this week I thought I would show some photographs of items that will be listed this month. I have spent the last 6 hours sorting through all of the items I bought at the fairs and logging them into my record sheets.

Above you can see some beautiful antique wax flowered wedding tiara's, strings of ribbon roses, ribbon roses on lace and superb ostrich feather powder puffs, all lying on the most delightful old silk satin fabric embroidered with roses.

Pipe laying is continuing in the house so the water has been off and on all day so I've not been able to wash my fabrics yet but I've taken some pictures to show you and will post them tomorrow.

Saturday 8 August 2009

BACK HOME SAFE AND SOUND


As you can see Ludo is pleased to be back home and was swimming in the sea only an hour after our return.
Whilst we were away we had the plumber and builders in so you can imagine what my first job was. Actually it wasn't too bad but then they haven't finished it all, so more mess to come on Monday.
The fairs were good but the weather was dreadful at times. The marquee we stood in at Swinderby flooded right in front of us and I stood watching the water getting closer and closer to the stall. Just in time the rain stopped and the sun came out making it very hot and steamy. Typical English weather. It was rather sad to be leaving the Swinderby showground, end of an era. Unfortunately we can't go to the new fair at Lincolnshire showground as we discovered that they don't allow dogs in the new building. We will still be going to Newark of course in October and it will be good to be taking fresh stock that hasn't been seen before.

I was so delighted to see so many of my website customers at the fairs. Thank you so much for coming along and having a chat. I can now put faces to names. I'd also like to thank you all for all of your purchases.

The new venture of keeping the website on-line whilst away worked extremely well with no problems at all. I got a good connection and no items were sold twice thank goodness. In future I will keep the website open whilst away.

Due to feeling very tired and having to sort out the house after the alterations, I will not be listing new items this coming week but will begin in earnest on the 17th August. I bought so very well at the fairs , four banana boxes full, so there will be lots of treasure to look through including, great French fabrics, trims and haberdashery plus wonderful bridal headdresses and other sewing related vintage goods.

All orders placed last week will be posted on Monday and I will be back now to posting the day after orders have been placed.

Thank you all for your wonderful support.