VINTAGE FABRIC SQUARES

For the last day of listing this week I've been sorting through my vintage fabric and cut many new squares. These squares have proved so popular of late as crafters have been busy using them for cushion making and bags, lavender bags and appliqué work adding them to skirts, jeans and Summer tops cutting them into wonderful shapes.

Hubby is away at the moment for a few days at another fair but I've stopped behind to prepare for the next set of listings. I shall enjoy walking Ludo my dog on the beach and in the woods, weather permitting and although I love my hubby dearly it is always good to have some space when you are in each others company 24/7.

Family problems may take me away next week for a few days but the site will remain open if I have to go away quickly. It will just mean that posting will be delayed by a few days.
I'll keep you all informed on this blog.

MORE BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE FABRIC AND EMBROIDERIES.

Something to cheer us all up during this rainy week. Helping us to keep a smile on our face when Summer seems to have hidden away for a while.

Ten new scrapbags each containing 4 different fabrics and 10 lovely vintage embroideries just waiting to be appliquéd onto your garment, cushion, bag or your latest project.

All these being listed tomorrow morning, 7am BST

WEDNESDAY'S LISTINGS AT RAG RESCUE

Lots of vintage appliqués, ribbons, embroideries and buttons coming up tomorrow. Also lots of linen thread reels and antique wax flower buds for those restoration tasks of antique wax wedding headdresses.

Listing tomorrow (Wednesday 10th June at 7am BST) Japan 15.00hrs

VINTAGE FABRICS LISTED TOMORROW

40 new items being listed tomorrow Tuesday 9th June at 7.30am BST

WEBSITE OPEN AGAIN.

Just to let everyone know that I am back home and that Rag rescue website is open once again.

Unfortunately on my return home on SaturdayI found that there was a problem with my telephone line at the exchange and they have only just connected me again.

Technology is great until it stops working.

I now have a mammoth task of getting the new listings ready for tomorrow. I will however do my best to place a multi-picture on this blog this evening and hopefully get all the emails off to my customers.

NEWARK INTERNATIONAL ANTIQUE FAIR

Rag rescue will be standing at the Newark International Antique Fair on Thursday and Friday 4th and 5th June.
You will be able to find us in the New Sir George Stephenson building. In the building there are two very large rising doors, one at each end. We are right infront of the rising door at the very end of the building. Our door is usually closed although if there is no wind and the weather is warm it may be open.

The fair opens to the public on the Thursday at 9am.

Please note that I will not be taking any website orders from midnight tonight until I return from the fairs on Saturday or Sunday 6th/7th June.

SWINDERBY ANTIQUE AND HOME FAIR

I'm busy preparing for the fairs again. I thought I'd show you a few images from the Swinderby International Antiques and Home show website.
You can see more details Here

The fair is open to visitors on 2nd and 3rd June.

I will be leaving home on Saturday 30th May and will be away for a week.

AS FROM THURSDAY EVENING 28TH MAY I WILL NOT BE TAKING ANY ORDERS ON THE RAG RESCUE WEBSITE.
The website is now automated to stop orders whilst I am away as I may have sold items at the fairs. I will however clear items as soon as I can on my return and re-open for sales as quickly as possible.
If there is an item that you are particularly interested in at the moment please get your orders in either today or tomorrow so that I can post them before I leave.

This is a map of the site at Swinderby. If you are visiting you will find me in TENT TOWN Marquee B right at the back of the marquee, centre aisle.
I will have some of my Rag Rescue goods with me as well as my Oddities Antique items.

I just couldn't resist showing you this photo. It isn't my dog, but my Ludo will be with me at the fairs, eagerly awaiting the arrival of his human friends who bring him doggy treats all the way from America.

Tomorrow more photo's and explanations of the Newark International fair.

VINTAGE FABRIC PICK OF THE DAY no.3

Antique French fabric Art Nouveau design.

Such a wonderful Art Nouveau designed fabric.
Measures:- 30.5"/77cms wide x 60"/153cms long.

NOW REDUCED

You will find it here on the Rag Rescue website

VINTAGE FABRIC - PICK OF THE DAY no.2

Unused vintage Liberty fabric with roses.

This is superb unused old Liberty fabric. It still has the dressing in so I haven't washed it in case you want to use it in its stiffened state. If washed it will be beautifully soft.

NOW REDUCED IN PRICE

You will find it here on the Rag Rescue website

VINTAGE FABRIC - PICK OF THE DAY-no.1

1950s English sheer rosy fabric.


This fabric is very floaty and you can see through it.
Pink in colour and covered with bouquets of roses and other flowers.

A very unusual early vintage fabric ideal for drapery or for those swinging skirt/dress designs of the 1950's.

NOW REDUCED

START SEWING WITH VINTAGE FABRICS

Find tomorrow listings by clicking
here
after 7am tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow is the last day of listing new items until the week beginning the 11 June.
I need to replenish my stocks now for the International Antique and Home fairs at Swinderby and Newark which start at the beginning of June.
More about those fairs in later posts.


As of this evening there are 1302 items on the website. Obviosuly a lot of them are sold as I haven't had time to delete them all. I'm always in a dilemma when it comes to deleting items. Do I leave a certain number on to show how popular the site is or do I clear the sold items at once to reduce the searching time. It is a tricky one.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, from both new customers browsing the site for the first time and those wonderful buyers who come back time and time again.

You will see some changes in the coming months which hopefully will help you to find your wanted items quicker and to see all of your favourites at a glance. I've got a brilliant web designer now who has ideas flowing as fast as a river.

More vintage fabrics.

Sorry of about the lateness of this post. Above are the items being listed tomorrow at the
RAG RESCUE WEBSITE.

I had a day off today with my 3 year granddaughter.
The weather was very unsettled but she so wanted to go down to the beach.
Armed with bucket and spade, dog and hubby we set off a couple of miles down the road to the salt marshes on the edge of Morecambe Bay. Fortunately the rain had stopped but the wind was incredibly strong, especially the further we walked out into the bay.
I love the photo below I took of Molly. The poor little mite almost got blown away. I'm calling this photo LIFT OFF

JUST VINTAGE FABRICS

Just fabrics are being listed tomorrow, from Victorian through to 1960's. An array of vintage fabric squares and vintage fabric pieces.

See them on the 'NEW LISTINGS' page
tomorrow from 7amBST onwards

VINTAGE FABRICS AND 18TH C. PEWTER BUCKLES

Fabulous vintage fabrics and 18th century pewter buckles being listed tomorrow morning Sunday 17th May 7am BST

CLICK HERE
in the morning to see these new items that have been listed.

The vintage fabrics include squares and larger pieces.

ALL AT AFFORDABLE PRICES

MORE VINTAGE FABRIC AND SEWING ACCESSORIES

I'm afraid I got a little behind today with my preparations for listing so unfortunately only 10 new items will be listed tomorrow.
Business is very busy at the moment after the article in the Sew Hip magazine, not that I'm grumbling of course.

GIVEAWAY AT GINGERBREAD.

I have met so many wonderful friends through blogger by following their blogs.

GINGERBREAD is a wonderful blog. She writes some really interesting posts.

At the moment she is having a GIVEAWAY.
Now we all like these, so why not go along to THIS POST and leave a comment and you could be the lucky one to receive one of her knitted needle cases decorated with a ladybird, a collection of needles and two cross-stitch kits.

Good Luck everyone.

VINTAGE FABRIC WEEK

More fabric squares tomorrow in cotton, linen and silky fabrics, both English and French.
listing always at 7am BST to catch the early birds.
More squares as the week goes on with some larger fabric pieces and scrapbags if I manage to get around to making them.
Don't forget the 'wish list' if you want to wait and see if there is anything you might like on further days, save yourself the postage, just let me know on your first order.

RAG RESCUE

VINTAGE FABRIC FLORALS

Brrrrrrrrr!! it's been cold today, the wind seems to blow straight through you.
I cheered myself up by sorting through some more vintage fabric and found some lovely odd pieces with summery flowers on. The steam from the iron kept me warm and by the time I had cut out all of the squares I felt much more cheerful and warmer.
I cut a lot of squares out far more than I wanted to list today but they will be coming in the following days as I've extended my 'new listings' now until next Wednesday.

I've also added some ribbons, a very useful vintage hemmer clip for turning up your newly made skirts,dresses and jeans - really useful, another lovely silky rose and a great mother of pearl handled crochet hook.
All being listed on
RAG RESCUE website
tomorrow at 7am BST.

Have you seen the new SEW HIP magazine?
I'm really pleased with the article they have written about the RAG RESCUE WEBSITE.

VINTAGE FABRICS, VIOLETS AND ROSES

For those of you that have only just come across my blog, every day until next Wednesday you will see a multi-picture at the beginning of each listing. This is a preview of the next days listing on my Rag Rescue website.
You can subscribe to this blog by the link on the right hand site column.
Alternatively you can go to:-
RAG RESCUE WEBSITE
or go straight to the
NEW LISTINGS CATEGORY
You can reach these immediately by clicking on their links

I will be listing new items every day at 7am BST

VINTAGE FABRIC SQUARES

I feel very refreshed today as I had a lovely walk along the promenade in the sunshine. There was a cool wind blowing but it didn't seem to matter as the view of the Lake District mountains across the bay and the incoming tide with the numerous birds feeding hungrily was so enjoyable.

I've been busy replenishing the stock of vintage fabric squares for the website. The squares have been so popular over the past few weeks. I am also going to try to make some different scrapbags this week as they too have been very popular.
I have so much more time on my hands now that the website is fully automated and I am able to get out more and search for lovely items for you.
It is the fairs again at the beginning of June so I have decided to continue listing until the middle of next week. I am hoping that on my return there will be a new feature available enabling you to place items in a wish list alongside your cart. This is under construction at the moment, so watch this space.

MORE VINTAGE FABRICS AND SEW HIP NEWS

I prepared a lot of vintage fabric squares last week and the new listings for Monday contain many English and French fabric ones plus some vintage sewing cottons and trims.
Click here to be whisked away to the new listings page on the Rag Rescue website.

Yesterday was very hectic as the new monthly 'SEW HIP' magazine had just arrived in the shops. I am very pleased with the article that has been written about the website especially as I was contacted only a day before I left for my bi-monthly jaunt to the Antique fairs and it was such a rush to get all of the questions answered in such a short time.
It is obvious that this new magazine is a big success and I can see why, as it is full of beautiful items to make, articles and inspirations.
The orders came in fast and furious yesterday, so there was no time for having a Sunday break. My husband managed to buy the magazine at a tiny newsagents in Morecambe but it is available on-line and shipping is worldwide.

LOTS MORE VINTAGE FABRICS

RAG RESCUE NEW LISTINGS
I've had quite a few good finds of vintage fabrics lately so you will see that this week there will be lots of vintage fabrics to choose from.
I'm starting tomorrow with a lots of vintage stripes and beautifully old vignettes of French toile fabrics. There are also some more of those lovely beaded jug covers to stop the flies eating your cream when you have your teas outside in the sunshine this Summer.

LAST DAY OF THE VINTAGE FABRIC SALE

Today is your last chance to buy vintage fabric pieces at a reduced price. This evening they will revert back to their normal price.

SEW HIP MAGAZINE

Have you seen the new 'SEW HIP' MAGAZINE? No. 7

RAG RESCUE is featured in issue 7
OUT NOW

VINTAGE FABRICS SALE - REDUCED PRICES

All vintage 'larger fabrics' have been reduced this week.

These SALE prices will only last until Friday evening when they will be returned to their normal price.

So don't miss out

SALE PRICES
FROM MONDAY 4TH - FRIDAY 8TH MAY

ENGLISH, FRENCH AND GERMAN VINTAGE FABRICS
AT REDUCED PRICES.

INCREASE YOUR VINTAGE STASH

Lots of lovely vintage items are being added to the RAG RESCUE WEBSITE tomorrow.
They include a number of stash bags - quilt pieces, quilt patches and new 'Create a picture' stash bags.
There is also a lovely piece of dress fabric, some buckles, lots of vintage hankies and hair nets as well as bells, French linen and 1950's net.
Also
THE PICK OF THE DAY
A superb 19th century French large tassel and matching braid.

This beautiful tassel and its matching braid were from the centre of the underside of a 'corona' above a bed. The fabric was attached to a wire hoop and the braid was stitched around it. The tassel hung from the centre. Unfortunately the fabric was too damaged to re-use but thankfully the tassel and braid are still in excellent condition with very little fading. The tassel is made from wool and the carved wooden shapes are covered in pure silk threads.

This would create a focal point over any bed in a corona or equally superb at the centre of swagged curtains or even on the end of a cushion or frame.

What ever its final destination I know that you will be pleased with this wonderful tassel and braid.
The top has a diameter of 6cms and the tassels hangs down12cms.

The braid is 98cms long and 3cms wide.

This is the last day of this weeks listings. The new items will go on-line at 7am BST tomorrow - Friday

VINTAGE HABERDASHERY

RAG RESCUE NEW LISTINGS ON THURSDAY

Just to let you know that Rag Rescue website feedback system is now in operation. If you enjoy looking at the site or indeed have had experience of buying from me, then please leave feedback.

VINTAGE FABRICS, BAGS AND HABERDASHERY

There is nothing nicer than a pretty Summer bag for those special occasions. Tomorrow I am listing three such bags, an Edwardian linen bag embroidered with violets that can be hung around the waist and a beautiful 1930's crochet bag lined with pink silk and embellished with ribbons.
I am placing these three bags in the 'Crafted Goods' category which soon will have its name changed to 'Vintage items'
For all you crafters out there that love to make there own bags I'm including some very large Victorian press studs and hooks and eyes. These are still in perfect condition as they are brass based and rustproof. I use the large press studs myself when I make felt bags.
Also included are some old boot buttons, ideal for toys, some beaded lampshade fringing and some more of those lovely scrapbags plus a pack of Victorian quilt fabrics.

VINTAGE FABRICS - SQUARES AND SCRAPBAGS

Tuesday morning will see a variety of vintage fabrics listed. Lots of six inch English fabric squares and gorgeous French and English fabrics in the form of scrapbags. there is also a wonderful needlecase made by Kirby Beard & Co. Ltd. Redditch.

RAG RESCUE NEW LISTINGS

Listing at 7am BST as usual.

ANTIQUE LACE AND VINTAGE ROSES

These items will be listed tomorrow morning at 7am BST

Sorry folks, this evening's blog post is short. I've been listing all day and have prepared 76 new items for listing this week.

Excitement at the Rag Rescue base camp

I have spent all yesterday in contact with my new web designer who is an absolute star. As you know I list every day for a week but have been having to list the items the previous day in order to upload them all at a set time the next morning.
I suggested that it would save me time if I could list and save the weeks items all in one swoop and somehow just itemise certain ones to list on a particular day.

Well, now I can do that.

In fact it is better than I imagined. Once I have listed and saved all of the weeks items, the computer does the rest, I don't even have to be near it.

Its magic!

No more getting up at 6am to get ready for listing I can stay in bed and know that my days items have been listed and if any orders have come in they will all have been put on hold.

How cool is that.

So today is the first day of this weeks listings. I haven't prepared too many just in case there is a hitch. For that reason I haven't done a preview photo - sorry.

There will be some more scrapbags and some hexagonal quilt patches for starters.

If everything goes well then the listing will start in earnest on Monday. I have some lovely vintage made items from the 1930s as well as vintage fabrics, haberdashery and embellishments.

COMBINED POSTAGE - 'WISH LIST' reduce you postal costs further.

ONE WAY OF REDUCING YOUR POSTAL COSTS FURTHER

I tend to list new items on alternate weeks.

Why not join our 'WISH LIST' scheme.

During a listing week you can place items on your 'WISH LIST' by ordering through the checkout system but instead of paying by Paypal immediately, select the 'Bank Transfer' option. Then just email me through the contact page to tell me that you would like a 'wish list' that week.
If you see items on further days during that week, follow the same process but there will be no need to email me again that week.
I will move any further orders onto your first one of the week.

By logging into the website, you will be able to keep a check on your weekly order in your account. At the end of the week I will send you a paypal invoice for your total including the postage cost.

I have been trialling this with a few customers and they are very pleased, how easy this is and grateful for the amount of postage/shipping they have saved.

Every little helps.

ROYAL MAIL increases are not affecting Rag Rescue shipping.

I thought I'd let you know the good news.
Although Royal Mail have increased their costs for postal services, I've decided that for this coming year anyway I will not increase the postal costs for UK buyers of the shipping costs for overseas buyers. The reason for this is that I try to keep my overall charges low, for both goods and postage, especially in these hard times.

New Image facility on Rag Rescue

I am so excited about my website. My new web designer has not only completed the automation of the site, giving me far less work to do but has also started to enhance the site. Previously when you went to a photograph of an item and clicked it to see a larger image you was taken to a new page and the image was on the left. I was never happy with that. Now you will find that the background fades and the pictures centrally and all on the same page.
Have a look and send me your thoughts please and any other ideas that will make your viewing easier. I have a few of my own but ideas coming from the other side of the fence, so to speak are always a help.

I will listing new items again towards the end of the week. This gives me time to sort out customers 'wish lists' and get them posted.

1960's fabrics and more.

I have heaps and heaps of 1960's dress/skirt/blouse making fabrics in my stash and I've just got around to listing it. It will appear in the 'New listings' category tomorrow morning at 8am BST.

You can mix and match it, use it for yourself or make children's clothes, dolls clothes, use it for cafe curtains, anything really. There are metres of it so you can buy just one metre or a whole length. Some of it is layered with the fabric separated with lovely vintage cotton lace and some has edging lace as well.

VINTAGE TASSELS,SEQUINS AND FABRICS

Tomorrow I will be listing a selection of vintage tassels and vintage sequins that came from an old haberdashery shop that closed in the late 1950's.
With these there will be vintage squares of fabric and superb Victorian fabrics sourced from old quilts.

Listing will be at 7.30am BST

Thank you to all of those customers who bought from me today, it makes getting out of bed early, worthwhile.

Friday morning new listings.

Here is just a sample of the 24 new items I will be listing tomorrow morning at 7.30am BST

I am sorry that I have not had the time to do a block picture of more of the items. Today has been another busy day working on correcting the website.
The great news it that it is fully automated now, thank goodness. When a payment is made by paypal, the items are put on hold immediately and your invoice shows up in your account. This means I will have more time to prepare new items and find them for you.
What a relief.
If you do have a problem please let me know as soon as possible so that I can get it corrected.
Thank you for your patience.

What a busy day I've had. Up at 5am to go to an auction, returned home and listed many items for tomorrows listing, in between testing the sites automation system for hours.
So now I am ready to list lots of lovely items tomorrow at 7.30am BST

A PREVIEW OF SOME OF THURSDAY LISTINGS

Sorry no listings tomorrow. Two reasons, the first is my memory or rather lack of it as I had forgotten that I am at auction all day tomorrow. As you probably know I have had great difficulties with my site with regard to placing sold items as 'sold' and therefore I don't want to risk someone paying again for an item which has already been sold whilst I am away from the computer.
The second reason is that we have been testing the new logic on on the site today and the first part is successful when ordering by cheque although we haven't put it into operation at the moment because we want to get the paypal side tested.

The good news is that I have been taking many photo's today and the photo's above show some of the new items that will appear on the website on Thursday morning. I'm not sure at what time but I will give an update tomorrow evening on this blog.

I've had another piece of absolutely brilliant news today, totally unrelated to Rag Rescue but I'm bursting to tell you all.
A few years ago my mother had ovarian cancer a huge one, the size of a rugger ball. She had this removed and amazingly ,as she was 80 years old, she survived but of course as is usual, there is always the doubt that it would return. Three weeks ago the doctor did some tests on her pancreas as she had been unwell and lost yet more weight. We were all concerned that the cancer had returned BUT today she was given the all clear. It was just the pancreatitus again, not just but you know I mean. Phew! we can all relax again.

I think I good stiff drink is called for.

LISTING NEW ITEMS BEGINS TOMORROW

I'm starting this weeks listings with Vintage Fabrics. I've bought so many fabrics lately that I thought it best to reduce some of my stock. I know that scrapbags and squares are many of your favourites, so I'm starting tomorrow with a selection of these.
Listing will be at 7am BST
Don't forget that I put a preview of some of the listings here on this blog on the eve of listing day.

Busy preparing for more listings.

The fairs were very busy, I've never seen so many people visiting them. I'm not sure what happened to the recession, it certainly seem to be around last week.I did however manage to find time to go out buying and found some wonderful old fabrics which are now drying ready for ironing and being organised into scrapbags, squares and stash bags. I also came across two boxes of haberdashery hidden amongst a pile of furniture. It contained loads of tassels and packets of old sequins amongst other odds and ends. I also found some more old lace, collectors will be pleased to hear. All will be revealed in due course.

The other interesting thing was that I spotted a furniture dealers van from Scotland. I recognised the the name as we had seen the advert for them at the side of the road on our holiday last October. My husband spoke to the owners as we had spotted outside their stall, a wonderful carved wooden bear stool. Unfortunately we didn't buy the bear as he was over a thousand pounds but we did find out something interesting. During the course of the conversation my husband told them that we were looking for old fabrics and to our delight he said he had cases of old fabrics stored away. A trip to Scotland is now on our list of things to do very soon, I can't wait to rescue these fabrics from their storage. Fingers crossed that they are just wonderful and still usable.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS AGAIN.

Ludo is glad to be back home again. He will probably sleep for the next week and hardly eat anything as he is so spoilt at the fairs. His favourite American lady bought him his usual bag of goodies and treats and he was petted and stroked to almost oblivion by his new friends from Prague. Ludo is well known at the fairs and everyone knows his name even if they don't know ours.

The fairs were great this time and I've never seen them so full of people, buying, buying and buying. The weather was kinder also so I was able to go out hunting for goodies for the website and for those items that my customers asked me to find.

I think I've managed to cross off all of the Rag Rescue sales so
THE
WEBSITE
IS NOW
OPEN AGAIN.

I am hoping that we will be fully automated sometime this week so if you have difficulty at any point this week getting on to the website, please email me as we may be testing.
When this is all completed I will be listing more items once again.

Thank you for you patience during the closure time.