Friday, 29 January 2010

Lincolnshire Fair -



I thought you might like to look at these photo's of previous shows. I will be at the Lincolnshire Antique and Home Show on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

Vintage fabric scrapbag Friday

 

Guess what? I was so busy catching up on paperwork yesterday that I forgot to write my blog. Anyway here is the picture of the scrapbags that have just been listed on the site. I notice that they have come out rather dark I'm afraid. It is the January light, very dull days of late. Sorry about that, the fabrics are really pretty so I'm afraid you will have to use your imagination a little on these.
Well I must get on, things to do and people to see before I go off on Sunday.
Please don't forget that all orders placed after midnight tonight will be posted on 8th February on my return.

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Thursdays mix of antique and vintage fabric etc



Another busy day here at Rag Rescue.I spent the morning getting orders ready for posting, such a lot today, thank you to all my wonderful customers. This afternoon I've started packing the antique boxes ready for the fair. Its a good job mum has returned home because I think every room has either boxes, paintings, Victorian scooters, French champagne racks, bobbin winders, large wooden mill spools or cart wheels in. That is before I start packing the Rag Rescue goods on Saturday afternoon.
I did have a lovely surprise this morning though, some wonderful Victorian and 1920's black beadwork arrived via our lovely postie. That will stay at home, I don't want it getting pulled about at the fairs.
I'm building up quite a list now of items people want me to find, so if you haven't already contacted me please do so before Sunday morning.

Sunday, 24 January 2010

Colour it lilac with vintage fabric on Monday



Lots more Vintage fabric scraps being listed this week.
The image above shows the eight that are being listed tomorrow.
There are vintage fabrics from France, Germany and England with a couple of Victorian quilt fabrics thrown in.
All at

Monday 25th January 2010 at 7am GMT

Well the fairs are almost upon us yet again. I go away a week today, so I'd be really grateful if all orders could be paid for by 5pm next Friday 29th Jan. This will give me time to parcel up and post on Saturday. Of course any orders paid for before this date will be posted either the same or the next day.

I'm going armed with my laptop this time so the website will be left open for orders but of course items will not be able to be posted until the 8th February.
As this is a big crafting time with Valentines Day, Mothers Day and Easter looming I've decided to list new items during the week I'm away. I'll set up the listings before I go so the system will do it automatically. The new listings during my away week will not be taken to the fairs so there will be no chance of them being sold there.
I just thought this might help you with your availability of stock.

Thursday, 21 January 2010

Sunday, 17 January 2010

Trimming up Monday with vintage trims.


Vintage trims and embellishments being listed tomorrow at

So what has been happening with Sandie at Rag Rescue?

Phew! well, after having my 82 year old mother staying with us for the past month, she finally went home today so I've managed to put the next two weeks listings on the automatic update on the website today.
My mother is not well having suffered with cancer, hand trouble, and angina etc since dad died 6 years ago. She has realised that the time has come when she needs to be looking at moving in with us. Unfortunately as you all know it is a bad time to sell a house so we are trying to split the Winter months up with long stays at our house. I am so pleased that she wasn't on her own during the artic weather we have just come out of.
So as well as running the Rag Rescue website and being a carer for my husband I have been caring for mum as well, doing all the little caring jobs that her carers do for her when she is at home. Unfortunately we only got out a couple of times and you can well imagine why but at least I had breaks away from the computer.
We did manage to go to an auction yesterday, our favourite one, so our antique stock levels have risen slightly. Hopefully after the two auctions next week we will be back up to full strength in that department. Of course now I have to log everything in, wait for hubby to clean everything and then I will be able to price and label the items and finally next week start the packing. Its a good job mum has gone home  as the house becomes very busy and cluttered and she might have changed her mind about coming to live here. Still she is very adaptable, fortunately.
Having said all of that please excuse me if you only get the photo's of the next days listing for the next couple of days as I shall be busy, getting the stock ready, emailing, wrapping and posting orders and going to auctions.
SO you can see my life is very full of lovely things to do but I must admit I flop in front of the television of the evening and wait for my wonderful hubby to serve me my dinner.
Housework!! not for the next couple of weeks, just hope that know one calls in.
Bye for now.

Wednesday, 13 January 2010

Vintage fabric patches 2


More vintage fabric patches tomorrow at
at 7am GMT

Well had a laugh this afternoon. We donned our Winter woollies and set off in the van to an auction in the Pennines. We hadn't been there before but had heard that every Wednesday evening they had a collectables sale.The road were reasonably clear although the snow was piled up at the sides. Then it started to snow, only lightly but I wondered if we would get home later if the snow became heavy. Well as you can see I'm home, had a Chinese take-away and a rest. Not sure what happened to the collectables, well there were about 20 lots of pottery in one building, not my scene any more as it doesn't sell like it used to. We move over to the other building as there were plenty of people milling about. Yes, plenty of farmers. The building was the venue for the animal stock auctions. There were a few pens with household goods that someone no longer wanted and rows and rows of chickens in tiny metal cages. In another part of the building there were people selling, snakes, hamsters, rabbits etc. In the third building it was like a Sunday market with traders selling cheap items. So we had travelled in the snow for 1 hour and 20 minutes to see this. As you can imagine we turned around and came back home very disappointed and still without any new stock to take to the fairs in two weeks time. Apparently it isn't normally like that we were told, it was the weather, the auction room is normally full of collectables that people no longer want. I think we will wait until the weather warms up before we venture there again. Still as our dealer friend used to say 'If you don't go, you don't know' Hmmmm!
Perhaps our auction on Saturday will be more fruitful, at least there is a catalogue of items for sale.

Tuesday, 12 January 2010

Vintage fabric patches 1


Tomorrow starts the first of the three day listings of antique / vintage fabric patches.
Listed at

7am GMT

Monday, 11 January 2010

Vintage fabric 2


A mixture of vintage fabrics are being listed tomorrow. Some lovely dark purple cotton for use as is or edging around cushions and bag. A fabulous long piece of vintage slub linen unused sold by the metre and a piece of pretty pink 1950s rose decorated nylon. There will also be some more strip rolls.
See them at RAG RESCUE at 7am GMT tomorrow.

Sunday, 10 January 2010

Vintage fabric 1


Tomorrow is the first day of two days when I am listing larger pieces of fabric.
On Monday 11th January I will be listing the above 10 fabrics.
There are two pieces of retro 1950s fabric, three pieces of 1930's fabric and five other vintage fabrics that are ideal for making bags, cushions, skirts or blouses.
All will be listed at 7am GMT tomorrow
at

Thursday, 7 January 2010

Vintage embellishments


I thought I would list a few new vintage embellishments tomorrow for a change from fabric. I know my designer customers love to use them in their designs.
You will be able to see them at
from tomorrow morning 7am GMT onwards.

The big freeze continues


Hubby is ill in bed so it was my turn to walk Ludo this morning. After donning on all of my thermals, I set out down the road just after dawn. the tide was coming in and all the birds were waiting for their breakfast on the shore. The snow on the mountains of the Lake District had a wonderful pink hue and all was quiet, not a car or pedestrian in sight. Only the bird song broke the silence.



We haven't had as much snow as the surrounding areas but apart from the main roads nothing has been gritted. the pavements and the prom were lethal for what snow we had had was trampled down and turned into solid ice. It is at least 15 years since Morecambe has had snow like this  and we have now had snow since just before Christmas with only a couple of days in between when it almost cleared.




Ludo loves the snow, having four legs helps I'm sure. he ran around madly whilst I held onto my walking pole and tottered along like an old lady.

So today I stay in again for most of the day. I'm not going to risk going to the auction on my own, those country lanes will not have been gritted and although I don't mind driving in the snow, ice is a different matter.
The schools here are still closed. I remember when I was teaching that the head insisted that we get into school. My friend and I drove 18 miles in a blizzard with huge snow drifts either side only to discover as we thought that no children had turned up. All of our children had to be bussed in and of course the bus company wouldn't risk it. No health and safety measures then.
Keep warm all of you.

Wednesday, 6 January 2010

Vintage fabric and the big freeze


Well first things first. Above are the last eight of the new scrapbags I have made. They will be listed tomorrow morning at 7am GMT as usual.

Now are you all managing to keep warm in this big freeze?
It is dreadful here in Lancashire. -6 degrees last night and we are having to keep the heating on day and night to stop the pipes freezing. The roads are icy and the pavements treacherous. I can't tell you how many people we have seen falling over outside our house. My 83 year old mother came to stay two and half weeks ago and has only been out of the house once and that was to have her eyes tested. The glasses will be ready on Friday but unless conditions change there is no way that I dare take her out into town.
So we didn't get to the auction to view today and won't be going to buy tomorrow unfortunately, well not unless there is a big thaw and that hasn't been predicted. We were hoping to go into the Pennines this evening to buy at another auction but we have changed our minds after speaking to some dealer friends who live close by. Apparently they have a foot of snow and although they aren't totally cut off the shops are beginning to run out of food. So that auction is off as well.
So I have spent the day wrapping up orders - thank you to all those lovely people who spent last evening browsing through the website and choosing items to buy. The afternoon has been spent on book-keeping, something I hate doing but unfortunately there is no escape from it in business.
Tomorrow should see me pre- listing next weeks items. Lots of large vintage fabrics at reasonable prices - as always.


Tuesday, 5 January 2010

Vintage fabric scrapbags 2


Listing tomorrow 7am GMT

I woke up to yet another Winter wonderland. It had been snowing all night and continued off and on all day. I'm glad I was able to stay inside all day. I just hope that it thaws overnight as I have to go to view an auction tomorrow and I know that the roads could be very thick with snow as they are not major roads. Fingers crossed we manage to get there.

Monday, 4 January 2010

Vintage fabric scrapbags


First of all I would like to apologise for the quality of the scrapbag photographs that I am listing in the next couple of days. Unfortunately with all of the sleet and snow around the quality of light was very poor and I just couldn't wait any longer to take pictures.
Tomorrow I will be listing the first of the new scrapbags I have made up. They are a mixture of vintage English eiderdown fabrics and vintage French fabrics. Lots of lovely roses and pink for those romantic items I know you are waiting to get started on.
For those of you who have not come across my scrapbags before  here is a brief description.

Each of the four pieces in the scrap bags measures approx. 18cms x 12 cms.
There are four different designs
These scrap bags are ideal for crazy quilting, applique work, card making, fabric postcards, ATC's, for use with the embellisher machine and all kinds of fiber art.

Listing tomorrow at 7am GMT
at

Sunday, 3 January 2010

Stock up on your vintage fabric squares


Although we are still in the depths of Winter I am thinking of Spring and Valentines day and Easter in the crafting world as no doubt a lot of you are.
These long dark evenings are ideal to sit around crafting and what better to start by choosing lovely pretty fabrics.
All of the vintage fabrics above are sourced from vintage eiderdowns. I managed to buy the fabric of the eiderdowns thank goodness and so have managed to cut many squares from them. there will be a few larger pieces next week but tomorrow I will be listing just squares.
So here is hoping that these pretty pink roses and paisley's will brighten up your day.
Being listed tomorrow morning at 7am BST
at

Saturday, 2 January 2010

Scrumptious vintage fabric



A Happy New Year to everyone.
I've been spending the last few days preparing items to list on the website.
The picture above gives a sample of items that will be listed next week starting on Monday.
I must admit I've been struggling with  the photography this last week as the days have been so dull and the light quality so poor, so please forgive the quality of them here on the blog and on the website.
I managed to buy some lovely vintage eiderdown fabric at the last set of fairs. the lady had painstakingly unpicked the eiderdowns and cut out the good fabric. If you have never done this, then don't. I have only unpicked an eiderdown once and the feathers went absolutely everywhere and I was hoovering them up for weeks. It is amazing how far the feather fly.
From the fabric I have made up some lovely scrapbags and lots of squares with super pink roses. On Friday next, I will be listing some embellishments both antique and vintage, the lovely gold metallic lace, white rose ribbon and satin embroidered ribbon can be seen in the centre of the picture above.

As usual I will be posting a picture of the items be listed on the eve of their listing so keep an eye out from tomorrow evening, Mondays listings are lots of lovely vintage fabric squares.

Tuesday, 29 December 2009

A white Christmas in Morecambe

Well it was a white Christmas for us here in Morecambe. I can't remember the last time I had a white Christmas.We have lived here now for 7 years and it has only snowed twice in all of that time and never lasted for more than ten minutes. Unfortunately I was so very busy with Christmassy details that I didn't get out to photograph it until it was too late. However there was the remains of what had been a wonderful ice maiden snow sculture on the prom but I didn't have my camera with me as I thought all of the snow had disappeared, typical of me. However if it snows again which it does as if it might I will take photos and post them here.

Well it is back to work now. I'm busy washing, ironing and cutting fabric so if the light improves I will be listing again very soon, probably at the weekend. I have some lovely vintage eiderdown fabric in wonderful shades of pink with roses and paisley designs plus a lot of other treats.

I don't think I will have time to post again until after New Year so I wish you all success in the New Year.


Thursday, 17 December 2009

Could things get any worse.....

Midst all of the preparations for Christmas which I was way behind on anyway, disaster stuck not only once but twice. Two days ago my computer pc died on me. I have no idea what happened, it was running perfectly and decided to re-boot itself then got stuck and apparently the NTLDR was missing.
So I packed it all away to get out my laptop. Unfortunately I hadn't backed up since I came back from the fairs so I'm having to all the work again, fortunately I kept all of the paperwork. However there are lots of things that I am missing like my family photo's that were taken recently and of course all of my emails. I'll have to get it sorted out in the new year.

So I decided to wash all of my lounge curtains for Christmas just to take my mind off it. Everything went well with the smaller windows but the larger windows are very large and I hadn't washed them before. I just managed to get one curtain in the tumble drier but....although I kept taking it out to shake it when it was finally dry there were huge scorch marks on it. The curtains are white, all white so no pattern to hide the marks. I've searched the web and found that hydrogen peroxide removes the scorching marks so guess what I'm going to be doing all day, that is when I can get hold of the peroxide.

Just waiting for the third thing to happen now.

Monday, 14 December 2009

A CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO YOU ALL FROM RAG RESCUE


I would like to wish all my customers old and new a very Merry Christmas.
To show my appreciation I am offering a 15% discount on all orders this week over £20.00.
I am unable to put this discount into the website system so will send the discount as a refund on paypal payments. For cheque and bank transfers I will send you an email with your final total.

As I am so very busy from now until Christmas and so far behind with Christmas activities like writing cards and buying presents I will not be listing new items again until after Christmas. I am sure you all understand.

Thursday, 10 December 2009

Beautiful cards from days gone by.


Being listed Friday 11th December at 7am GMT

Who can resist these wonderful old cards. Ideal for framing, copying and adding on to bags and cushion or just collecting.
I think my favourite is the guardian angel.
I hope she is looking after my granddaughter this Christmas.

Wednesday, 9 December 2009

1940's felt flowers and vintage French buttons etc.


1940's felt flowers, vintage French buttons, ribbon roses and a 1940's
 embroidery silks holder.
All being listed tomorrow morning (Thursday 10th Dec.) at 7am GMT
Its just a short post today as I have to sort out stock for the Stafford fair which starts on Friday.
I will not be going but sending my hubby instead. He will be taking lots of haberdashery as well as tables full of antiques and collectables but very little of the Rag Rescue items.
I'm staying at home in the warm so that I can continue to list new items and take orders and prepare the house for Christmas.

Tuesday, 8 December 2009

Sharing happiness and joy at Christmas time



We can share happiness and joy at Christmas time by sending present that incorporate rose designs.
Above you can see a wonderful vintage chocolate box covered in satin with a superb design of roses. It would make an ideal sewing box to store sewing items in. Perhaps the little hat needlecase decorated with wonderful ribbon roses or the rose decorated pincushion would be little extras.
A boxed vintage rose decorated handbag mirror would make a superb present or the gold lace mat with three roundels of rose petit point. A lovely rose designed vintage fabric strip roll or a length of ecru coloured lace with lilac roses and a French circular rose fabric bolster end would get your crafting friends in a frenzy.

All being listed tomorrow morning (Wednesday 9th December) at 7am GMT
At
Don't miss out.

Monday, 7 December 2009

New items being listed tomorrow - vintage embroidery silks


 As the vintage silks I have listed previously have been so popular, I am listing some more tomorrow. There is a mixture of Jas Pearsalls, Bertha Regina, Broriche, DMC, Penelope, and Vicars threads.
A lovely array of colours.
I am hoping to start listing the items I bought at the fair on Wednesday if the light is better than it is today.

Saturday, 5 December 2009

BACK HOME - ORDERS BEING TAKEN AGAIN.


Yes here we are again back home in the warm. Gosh! it was cold at the fairs. Still a great time was had by all. Ludo enjoyed dancing up and down with Morris Men that entertained us at Lincoln whilst overhead the Red Arrows team practised every day, free displays for everyone.

Now that I'm back home I'm taking orders again.
I have bought lots more vintage fabric so will start washing and ironing and hopefully be listing again soon.

Thursday, 26 November 2009

Rag Rescue at the Lincolnshire Antiques and Home Show


Well it is the fairs time again. First stop the Lincolnshire Antiques and Home show at the Lincolnshire showground. I thought I'd show a photo of where you can find us. In the back of the photo is the brand new Epic Centre. In front you can see the shopping arcades which are full of the amazing items to buy. You will find Rag Rescue in the second marquee on the left of the this photo closest to the Epic Centre entrance.
Tuesday and Wednesday 1st and 2nd December

We then move on to the Newark International Antiques fair at Newark showground. Here we will be in the George Stephenson Pavilion at the far end, central aisle in front of the very large up and over doors.
Thursday and Friday 3rd and 4th of December.
We would love to see you there, please come along and introduce yourself.
Lots of vintage fabrics, trims and haberdashery plus many antiques.
LAST ORDERS TAKEN ON THE WEBSITE AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT
Reasons for stopping website orders can be seen on THIS blog post.

Wednesday, 25 November 2009

Blue skies, sunshine --I think not


Morecambe during the storm 1906



Rough seas at Morecambe 1928

Yes - like many Winters here in Morecambe the wind whips the sea up into a frenzy especially when it is high tide. Today was no exception, but fortunately now we have very good sea defences, in fact they are amongst the best in the country.
I don't know why it is ,but every time I go to the hairdressers ,which is only a stones throw from the sea, the wind is always blowing a gale and today it almost blew me over. So much for my new hair style.
Still I feel very refreshed and have found a new lease of life now and know that what ever life throws at me I can cope with it. Life is rather like a storm at times but also like storms things quieten down and all becomes calm again.
I'm almost packed ready for the fairs next week and looking forward to meeting all my friends especially as one has just picked up a lovely dog from the rescue centre. His name is BILBO --- what a fantastic name, I can't wait to give him a hug.

TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO ORDER BEFORE I GO AWAY FOR THE WEEK.


Thursday, 19 November 2009

MAKE YOUR OWN FLOWERS FOR CHRISTMAS


Items being listed tomorrow will enhance your home made flower brooches, pins, Christmas decorations. Lots of Vintage stamens and more floral embroideries to frame for presents. Why not give a sewing book as a gift.
All to be found at RAG RESCUE tomorrow.

THIS IS THE LAST 'NEW ITEMS' TO BE LISTED FOR A WHILE.

I start another round of International fairs again at the end of next week.
PLEASE place your orders early so as not to be disappointed.
The website will be closed for orders between the 27th November and 6th December.
As the weather will be damp and cold I've decided not to take my laptop this time. You will still be able to view the site but not order I'm afraid.
I'll keep you updated with posts on this blog until then.

Wednesday, 18 November 2009

VINTAGE TOOLS OF THE TRADE


Thursdays new items being listed on RAG RESCUE website.

Well the weather has not been kind to me, so clothed in waterproofs I ventured out at 7am and again at 1pm with Ludo. I actually enjoyed the long walks in the rain as the colour of the foliage left on the trees was so vibrant. Wonderful bright reds and orange.
I have got so much done whilst hubby has been away. The house has had an Autumnal clean and I've also managed to sort through all of the old stock boxes that were left from the previous fairs. Now all I have to do is to finish cleaning, labelling and packing the new antique stock. I can get down to my favourite pastime of sorting out the Rag Rescue stock and deciding what I'll take to the fairs. I've had a huge banner printed for Rag Rescue so all I have to do is work out where in the marquee I'll hang it and how.
I'm off to relax now and wait for the phone call asking me to drive to Lancaster station to pick up hubby. I'm hoping the lecture was a success and that he enjoyed himself in London, fingers crossed.

Tuesday, 17 November 2009

Home alone


At Rag Rescue tomorrow - Wednesday 18th November
Three sewing kits.....three bag handles.....two felt hats ....and a stitch in a magazine tree.
Well not quite but you know what I mean.
Home alone today and tomorrow as hubby is giving a lecture in London so I'm going to have a bit of me time, I hate to say it but I'm really looking forward to it. I just hope the weather is kind tomorrow so I can go for a long walk with Ludo by the sea or maybe in the woods we will see.
Speak to you all tomorrow with more goodies to show you.

Monday, 16 November 2009

LOTS OF SEWING BOOKS FOR INSPIRATION


Tuesday 17th November
at
the RAG RESCUE website

I love browsing through vintage sewing books when I have time. These books are very inspirational. I think my favourites are the 'Fashion bead embroidery' book and the 'DMC drawn thread' book. The latter book could be used as cross stitch patterns as well as drawn thread work.

VINTAGE BUTTONS


Now listed on RAG RESCUE WEBSITE

I'm afraid this post is a little late as I was feeling unwell over the weekend.

Thursday, 12 November 2009

Fantastic old embroidery threads


Friday at Rag Rescue

This has to be short I'm afraid as I have just finished photographing next weeks listings and have to record all of my new buys from the auctions this week.

Wednesday, 11 November 2009

Lots of vintage buckles


Thursday 12th November
Well today started off pretty roughly. We arose at 5am to travel for  over an hour to an auction which was a totally waste of time and diesel. Nothing there for us at all, so back we got in the van and travelled for over another hour and returned home very tired. Still the scenery was spectacular as the low clouds were hanging in the valleys with just the mountain tops clear.We hit thick fog the higher up we went and it was a good job that the traffic was light on the motorway.
Still there is always another day and another auction to go to. We are picking up some lovely items tomorrow that we won on the live auction site yesterday so all is not lost.
I always panic at this time, a couple of weeks before the International fairs, thinking that we haven't got enough new stock but of course we always seem to find things at the last moment. So fingers crossed.

Why not use use vintage buckles and vintage fabric to adorn your Christmas presents this year.



Tuesday, 10 November 2009

Vintage ribbons



Wednesday 11th November
Why not tie up your Christmas presents with vintage ribbons.

Monday, 9 November 2009

GLORIOUS DAY IN MORECAMBE


TUESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER

I have just come back from a long walk along the prom at Morecambe. It is such a wonderful Autumnal day. The sky is so very high and so very blue and reflects on the sea making it equally blue. The tide is in and the sea is like a mill pond, not a ripple. The flocks of birds are like little white pebbles on the sea, resting after their lunch ready to fly away to, I don't know where for the Winter.
in the distance the grey lilac hues of the Lake District mountains seem to rise out of the sea. It is on days like this that I remember how lucky I am to see these views from the bottom of my road.
As usual I didn't remember my camera until I was half way through the walk, so typical of me.

Sunday, 8 November 2009

ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE EMBROIDERIES


MONDAY 9TH NOVEMBER

I am starting this weeks listings with antique and vintage embroideries. Some are pieces which can be used again in your crafts or designs and others are complete vintage items.

Friday, 6 November 2009

POSTAL STRIKES CALLED OFF

Wasn't it great to hear the news this morning. I hope everything can be sorted out now for the postal workers.

So now you can order safe in the knowledge that there will be no more delays, although I must say our parcels have still been getting through in good time.

Thursday, 5 November 2009

Remember, remember - vintage is best and costs less.



Last of the vintage fabrics to be listed for at least a week.
I will expand more tomorrow evening on next weeks listings.
If you are going to celebrate Guy Fawkes night this evening, I hope the bonfire was covered up and lights well as it has been pouring with rain here in Morecambe Bay all day.

Wednesday, 4 November 2009

VINTAGE FABRICS AND MORE


The rain may be beating down outside and the wind howling. The waves may be rolling in along the shore but the birds are still  waiting for their supper as the waves get closer.
BUT
You will have to wait only a little longer for these delightful vintage fabrics to be listed as they will appear on the website at 7am tomorrow morning.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

'Gather ye roses while ye may
Old Time is still a-flying' - Herrick

Tuesday, 3 November 2009