Hazy purple vintage fabrics at Rag Rescue

Just a quick message to all new customers trying to create an account on the Rag Rescue website. I have been alerted to a fault on the 'New Customer' part of the site. We have been having a large number of spammers creating accounts and my web designer has been trying to stop this. I think that somehow the solution has created an error in the above area. I do apologise for this and hope that the problem will soon be resolved. 

Just had a message from my web designer he has fixed the fault and everything is working again. What good service, I only got in contact five minutes ago and look at the time.

Vintage French and German fabrics in lilac will be listed tomorrow at Rag Rescue

Make you own cushions at half the price of the Laura Ashley purple haze collection prices.

Lovely squares of vintage fabric on Tuesday

Rag Rescue website Tuesday 30th March

Vintage fabric scrapbag Monday

More lovely vintage fabric scrapbags will be listed tomorrow - Monday 29th March at 7am BST.

Am I going mad or what.

Well if you looked at my website today you would have seen that the items in the 'New Listing' category are NOT what I blogged yesterday. Oh!, I suppose there is always a first time for everything. I think it was because I had been looking after Molly all morning, then taking her to nursery and fetching her back again etc. etc. Well that is my excuse anyway. 

So above you see the lovely vintage postcards that were placed on the website today and the vintage fabric patches will be listed tomorrow (previous post)

Don't forget to put the clocks forward.

If you live outside the UK we change from GMT to BST tomorrow  so the items will be listed at

7am BST

Vintage fabric hexagonal patches

At RAG RESCUE WEBSITE on Saturday 27th March

Larger lengths of vintage fabric c. 1930s

Larger lengths of beautiful lilac printed rose designed French and german vintage fabrics - c.1930s.

Being listed tomorrow at the Rag Rescue website

Thursday is vintage fabric squares day

All can be seen at the Rag Rescue website tomorrow.

Vintage fabric scrapbags for Wednesday

 

All will be revealed at the Rag Rescue website tomorrow.

What a hectic day. I've been multi tasking all day and am now so exhausted. A local auction house is so small that on auction day we have found it to be rather an unpleasant experience. We therefore now view the day before and I sit at my computer all day listening to the auction on the computer and bid online. Today I thought whilst I was waiting for the lots to come up , I would catch up on some paperwork as the end of the financial year is within sight. This was OK except that at the same time my web designer was making alterations to the Rag Rescue website and kept emailing me and then having had problems with the server I had to get in touch with them, wait for and an answer and pass it back. All this following a sleepless night meant that I was working so slow and didn't get all my paperwork done. Still there is always another day or night and at least I have a much more efficient admin site making the time I spend on the computer far less. I did also win a handful of lots for the antiques side of the business so it was all well worth it in the end.

Postcards from the past

Lovely postcards will be arriving on the Rag Rescue website tomorrow. 

There is a whole variety, Victorian, Wartime Sweetheart card, Vintage Easter cards and cards sent from Germany.

Mondays antique and vintage lace

Well my customers have certainly kept me busy this week, a big thank you. I have been so busy that I have only finished writing the pre-listings although there will be 10 days continuous this time. The fairs are on the horizon for beginning of April so I thought that as I have so much to do regarding the antique side of the business I had better give myself a few days of extra time before we set off on Easter Sunday.

Tomorrow is the first of those 10 days listing and will show antique and vintage lace, collars, large and small pieces with some very pretty designs.

Rag Rescue Website

Well my working day is not yet over as I have two very large orders to sort out before I can relax.

Beads, embellishments and quilt fabric

All will be listed tomorrow at the Rag Rescue website

More vintage fabric squares tomorrow

All at Rag Rescue website

We have bought so many antiques for the fairs at the beginning of April that I am going to sort out my older boxes and leave some behind as we won't have space to show everything. I'm hoping to do this at the weekend and put some vintage goods on the site next week. I am sure that I have lots of lovely items that will wet your appetite.

Japanese mon

Listing tomorrow morning at the Rag Rescue website

In case you are not familiar with Japanese 'mon',  I have copied the following from Wikipedia.

'Mon' add formality to a kimono. A kimono may have one or three or five mon. The mon themselves can be more or less formal; more formal kimono display more numerous mon, and frequently in a manner so as to make them stand out more. This may help dress up or dress down the formality of a kimono at the wearer's discretion. In the dress of the ruling class, the mon could be found on the kimono on both sides of the chest, on both sleeves, and in the middle of the back.

It is thought that mon originated as fabric patterns to be used on clothes in order to distinguish individuals or signify membership in a specific clan or organisation. By the twelfth century, sources give a clear indication that heraldry had been implemented as a distinguishing feature, especially for use in battle. It is seen on flags, tents and equipment.

Like Western heraldry, mon were initially held only by aristocratic families, and were gradually adapted by commoners. On the battlefield, mon served as army standards, even though this usage was not universal and uniquely designed army standards were just as common as mon-based standards. (cf. sashimono, uma-jirushi) Mon were also adapted by various organizations, such as merchant and artisan guilds, temples and shrines, theatre troupes and even criminal gangs. In an illiterate society, they served as useful symbols for recognition.

Japanese traditional formal attire generally displays the mon of the wearer. Commoners without mon often used the mon of their patron or the organization they belonged to. In cases when none of those were available, they sometimes used one of the few mon which were seen as "vulgar", or invented or adapted whatever mon they wished, passing it on to their descendants. It was not uncommon for shops, and therefore shopowners, to develop mon to identify themselves.

Rules regulating the choice and use of mon were somewhat limited, though the selection of mon was generally determined by social customs. It was considered improper to use a mon that was known to be held by someone else, and offensive to use a mon that was held by someone of a high rank. When mon came into conflict, the lower-ranked person sometimes changed their mon to avoid offending their superior. The mon held by the ruling clans of Japan, such as Tokugawa's hollyhock mon and the Emperor's chrysanthemum mon, were legally protected from unauthorized usage.

Occasionally, patron clans granted the use of their mon to their retainers as a reward. Similar to the granting of the patron's surnames, this was considered a very high honour. Alternatively, the patron clan may have added elements of its mon to that of its retainer, or choose a completely different mon for them.

Antique and vintage fabric squares on Tuesday

Click the picture to enlarge.

All at Rag Rescue website tomorrow at 7am GMT

Happy mothers Day to every mother out there.

I'm going to pamper myself this evening. My wonderful son sent me a Marks and Spencers pamper set. I shall lie in the bath in the delicately fraganced candlelight, drink the champagne and eat the fruity chocolates. Then cleanse myself with rich and luxurious body wash and afterwards soften and moisturise my skin with a rich body cream with the delicate fragrance of magnolia, jasmine,rose and Summer freesias mingling with sensuous woods heliotrope and patchouli.

He knows how to spoil his mother, thank you Daniel .

Until then though, there is work to be completed. So here is a taster of what is being listed tomorrow 

on the RAG RESCUE WEBSITE

Last year's celebration of all things vintage and homemade is set to continue

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE tomorrow.

What is taking the market by storm this year?

Interest in sewing, dressmaking and home decor continues to gain momentum.

Last year's celebration of all things vintage and homemade is set to continue, with traditional patterns, such as red and white checks, flowers and beach-style prints, very much in favour. 

Colour-wise, anything girly will be in vogue, with light pinks, yellows, blues, purples and white all in fashion. However, two-tone pieces will also be popular, particularly ones featuring similar colours in a range of different tones, such as pinks and oranges.

Animal prints are also going to be huge in 2010, with leopard, cow, tiger and zebra-inspired pieces set to be particularly popular over the next year. In terms of colours, black and white designs are definitely worth looking out for, as are fabrics in varying tones of orange and brown, including deep ambers and mahoganies with slightly red undertones.

Old-fashioned patterns will also be making a comeback, with polka dots, stripes and tartan-inspired fabrics boasting a very strong presence at the show. Black, pink and blue fabrics with large white polka dots will also be particularly popular, as will tartan-style pieces in deep purples, dark greys, orangey browns and navy.

Lady Gaga-inspired pieces are also going to be very much in favour, so anything bright pink, sequinned or shiny will be in huge demand, particularly beads, gems, embellishments and feathers in vibrant hues. Sequins will be huge in 2010, especially pink, red, black, gold and silver-coloured ones, as will boa-style feathers and Strictly Come Dancing-inspired designs.

(Taken from Craft Business)

So I'll be searching for vintage finds that are in trend this year.

Vintage fabric squares and new life

At Rag Rescue website tomorrow

The big day arrived and my grandson Oliver was born this afternoon at 2.30pm. He weighed in at 7lb and 9ozs, a good size to say that he was three weeks early. Mother and baby are apparently doing well.

More 'Signs of Spring' scrapbags today

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE

I don't know what is happening with blogger. I listed the post last night and it isn't showing so I'm trying again. Also I'm also having difficulty placing the photo's in first, just have to go back and put them in afterwards. Is anyone else having problems?

Tuesdays vintage fabric squares

 

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE

'Signs of Spring' vintage fabric scrapbags

 

Monday 8th March

at

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE 

Lighter mornings, blue skies, bird song, it makes you good to feel alive. Mind you I could have done without having to scrape the ice off the car windows this morning at 7am on my way to look for stock. Still the view across the bag made up for it.

Vintage lace, embroidery and braids on Friday

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE

Thursday is vintage haberdashery day

Rag Rescue website

Website Spring cleaning day

More larger vintage fabrics tomorrow at

the Rag Rescue website 

I've been a busy bee today. I've made a lot more vintage fabric scrapbags which I am calling

SIGNS OF SPRING

This is mainly because I woke up this morning early to hear the birds singing and I saw that the lambs had been released back into the fields. The vintage fabrics within the scrapbags are so pretty and I hope that they will cheer you all up after such a dreadful cold and dreary Winter. I've also prepared a large number of vintage fabric squares which I hope will  brighten you up also.

After doing all of this I decided that the website needed a Spring clean and set to to clear out over 350 items that had been sold last month.

I am feeling pretty pleased with myself today not only because of the work I've managed to get through but also because my daughter went to the hospital today to have another scan and was told that they are bringing her section forward from the 19th of this month to next Wednesday the 10th. So baby Oliver will soon be here. Molly his sister will be really pleased, nine months is a long time for a little 4 year old girl to wait. I must complete the mobile Molly and I have been making over the past few weeks. Just got a few more felt balls to make and put it all together. I'll show it on my 'Feltissimo' blog when completed.

What a joyous day.

Vintage fabric scrapbag Tuesday

 

OOps! I forgot to post these. Not very good photos on here I'm afraid. I'm using a mosaic maker and the scrapbags photo's I've taken seem to be chopped off. I suppose it is because the scrapbags are long and the mosaics are square. Still as it is 6.20 am only 40mins until they are listed on the website

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE 

Now I must go and travel a way to view an auction.

Monday is all squared up with vintage fabric

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE 

Why are there never enough hours in the day.

Short post sorry, must press on.

Fabric Friday

at Rag Rescue tomorrow

Thursday is all patched up.

More vintage patches at 

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE  tomorrow

Sparkly Wednesday

Lots of sparkly embellishments tomorrow

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE

Love hate relationship with computers

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE

ON

TUESDAY 23RD FEBRUARY

What a 24hrs I have had with problems on the website.

Yesterday an error message came up when the basket was clicked which was sorted pretty quickly once I found out and then this morning the checkout didn't work. I presume the checkout didn't work yesterday either. I wondered why things had gone quiet.

Apparently some malicious requests had been made on the site and it had tripped the security rule on the server. I suppose it is rather like your fuse box. I thought that all was well until another customer told be about the checkout this morning. Unfortunately I don’t know about these things until customers tell me, as the server doesn’t send me a warning. Computer systems are great until they fail ,don't you think?

Still my server was brilliant as they replied and corrected the security rule within thirty minutes of receiving my ticket. So all is well again and orders can be placed once again.

Don't you just hate hackers Gr..........!

French vintage fabrics

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE 

Tomorrow, 6 French vintage fabrics will be listed on the website. They are all beautiful designs.

So what have I been doing today. Well my aim was to have the whole day felting in readiness for my granddaughter's visit next week. We are going to make a mobile for her baby brother who is due to be delivered on March 19th. 

After a morning of sorting out the website fault with the server I managed to start on it after lunch. I've really enjoyed myself making the various pieces so that she can embellish each piece whilst sitting on my knee. She is only just turned four so I'm, sure she will love this pastime on the embellisher. She has been making wet felt with me since the age of two but the embellisher will be something different. Her new brother Oliver will have a bird mobile with vintage silks on the body and 1920's feathers for the tails.

I thought I'd also better make Molly a mobile or she might get a wee bit jealous, so I thought she might like a fairy one made with felt and vintage fabric. I'll list the photo's on my other blog 'Feltissimo' when they are completed.

So, back to work again tomorrow taking more photo's of items to list the following week. It is amazing what you find when you clear out your stock room.

Rag Rescue website is go again.

For those customers that had difficulty using the site yesterday afternoon and evening, I would like to tell you that the site is now working fine, It was a problem with the server.

Thank you for your patience.

A Alicia

 

A Alicia

One of my customers has a wonderful website that is well worth a look. 

Here is a statement from her website:-

ABOUT A ALICIA

London based designer-maker A Alicia produces exquisite handmade fashion accessories based on exploiting the textural and sculptural possibilities of ethically produced fabrics, as well as their fabulous depth of colour.

A love of craft and the skills involved is fundamental to A Alicia’s work, with contemporary and historical craft techniques providing constant inspiration.

All A Alicia products are exclusively designed and handmade by A Alicia.

A Alicia is committed to being an ethical, sustainable producer with minimal environmental impact.

I use only fabrics/wool which are made from fairtrade, organic cotton, or which are recycled.

Thumbs up for NHS acupuncture

I am so very pleased with my acupuncture treatment for my frozen shoulder. I've been visiting our local hospital physiotherapy department since before Christmas. Initially I rejected the offer of that dreaded injection and asked if I could have acupunture as it had worked a few years back when I tore my Achilles tendon and also when my left shoulder froze.

My physio has been brilliant. He is the triage physio at the hospital and has been trained in acupuncture for many years. I wasn't able to go every week due to the fact that he was often away on courses for frozen shoulders, but he tried what he had learnt on the courses on me. No more gruelling exercises or tugging and pulling  just gentle massage and acupuncture needles, that are so fine you can hardly feel them.

He has been so very amazed at my quick recovery as he said that he had rarely since such an intensely frozen shoulder before.

Last week I only had one needle and that was put in my right lower leg, strange I know but afterwards I could fasten my bra at the back for the first time in many months. I thought that this week he would dismiss me but he offered me two options. The first was to go away and let nature continue with the healing and the second one which I chose was to have an acupuncture patch. It is a tiny plaster only 8mm diameter and in the centre is a little metal ball which I have to place on a trigger point on my right leg. I have to press it occasionally until I feel the pain. I go again to see the progress made but he think that if I wear one every day for the next few weeks the healing process will be complete.

I can't tell you how relieved I am to be out of pain all day and not to wince every time I stretched out of my comfort zone.

I have written this post because I firmly believe in acupuncture because it is holistic but mainly because I have first hand experience that it DOES work. ALLyou have to do is follow the instructions given.

Of course the best thing is that it is absolutely free on the NHS

I don't suppose for one moment that my physio reads my blog but someone may and tell him.So a big thank you to Andrew at the Queen Victoria Hospital Morecambe.

All patched up on Friday

I can't believe it is Friday tomorrow. Where does the week go?

Apart from wrapping up numerous orders this week I've been attacking my stock room. Well you still have difficulty getting in it but I'm beginning to sort it out. Recently I managed to buy some lovely old drapers drawer boxes which are really large so I've been sorting out some more stock for the coming weeks. All the items that are on the website and go to fairs are numerically ordered so fortunately they don't need touching. It is all the boxes of haberdashery and embellishments that take up the space when they aren't sorted properly. Hopefully tomorrow will see a lovely neat and tidy stock room.

I'm going to be busy sorting out all of my boxes of ribbons tonight in front of the telly. One of my designers is looking for certain types so I'm just about to carry all the numerous boxes downstairs and start the hunt. I just love old ribbons so it will be a night of enjoyment.

Tomorrow I'm listing a few vintage patches from old quilts. This is the first of many in the coming weeks so keep a look out if that is what you like.

RAG RESCUE website tomorrow 7am GMT

Vintage embroidery

A lovely embroidered pinny ( on the left) and three lovely vintage embroideries being listed at

RAG RESCUE website tomorrow Thursday 7am GMT

Vintage black is beautiful

 

I just love antique and vintage black lace and bead work. I have been lucky enough to pick up some lovely Victorian and 1920's black bead work pieces, obviously once part of dresses. At the fairs I also managed to get some lovely antique French lace, two pieces shown above and a piece of a vintage English black lace.

All will be listed on the RAG RESCUE website tomorrow Wednesday 17th Feb. at 7am GMT

Lovely vintage fabrics on sale tomorrow

Large fabrics tomorrow

AT

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE

Happy Valentines Day

Where does the time go. I thought I would get so much done whilst I was on my own for four days and after the doing the business work, have time to do some creating. Not so I'm afraid to say. Well I've taken about 100 photographs and jpegged them and have just started setting up the new items for listing next week.

Actually I'm really lucky having such a wonderful husband. He may be a little eccentric due to his bi-polar condition but he does all of the shopping and cooking which allows me to spend the majority of the day working on the Rag Rescue part of the business.He won't be back home until around 9pm so we will have missed the majority of Valentines day but bless him he has just rung me up to wish me Happy Valentines day.

So here are the lovely goods being listed tomorrow.

All can be found at my RAG RESCUE website

 

 

Exciting news - V & A quilt exhibition

Set of Chintz bed hangings (detail), 1730-50. Museum no. 242-1908.

Taken from the V & A website   

What excitement I had today on opening an email. It was from Sarah who works on behalf of the Victoria and Albert museum. She had been reading this blog and saw that I was interested in quilts.

She thought that I would be interested in visiting the V&A’s major spring exhibition Quilts 1700 – 2010, which explores 300 years of British quilt making, showing more than 65 quilts predominantly from the V&A’s own collection.

She has invited me to a special preview of the exhibition. 

How wonderful, I feel so honoured. 

Unfortunately though, I can't go on that date as it is 2 days before my grandson will be born. 

I read down the email further and to my surprise she stated that if I couldn't make the preview then I could be sent a complimentary ticket to view the exhibition.

Now I don't go to London often and have never been on my own and......

I was wondering if anyone would be interested in joining me.

If so could you leave a message here on the blog or email me.

The exhibition runs from 20 March - 4th July.

I would like to go at the beginning of May. 

I know that a lot of my customers are interested in quilting so perhaps we could go as a group.

It would be great to meet some of you.

Vintage silk flowers and Irish crochet lace

I just love all vintage flowers as I know a lot of you do.

I thought they would cheer us all up and help us to put the cold days behind us for a while and look forward to Spring.
At well I'm sure you know, but in case you are new to the blog
RAG RESCUE WEBSITE
Tomorrow Friday - 7am GMT
Well the sky is blue at the moment here in Morecambe just right for walking Ludo.

A walk on the beach? We'll see.

But if we do he may need to be kept warm afterwards. Perhaps not, if yesterday was anything to go by when I took my granddaughter to the beach - Brrrrr! We had to get back in the car after five minute, these westerly winds cut right through you at this time of year.

Thursdays mixed pot

Something a little different tomorrow

at 

Rag Rescue website 

Must fly as I have to take molly back home and then help hubby to load the van ready for him to go off to the Stafford Bingley Hall Antiques fair tomorrow.

I'm staying at home in the warm, thank goodness and trying to catch up on housework (yuk!) and some buying I hope.

Vintage fabric squares on Wednesday

 

I've just cut out some new designs of vintage fabric squares this morning, which will be listed tomorrow (Wednesday). I thought I've got to keep you fabricaholics busy. After all you may want to make a quick card for your loved one for that special day on Sunday or you may be busy on the next task of Mothers day or even Easter crafts.

There will be more next week so don't worry if you can't find any you like.

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE

Bobbin lace samples,lace fan, cotton and haberdashery shop model

  

I would like to say first of all a big thank you for all of the emails I have received wishing me a speedy recovery.It was good to know that so many people were rooting for me. I am pleased to say that today I feel much better in myself just feeling a little weak so am working at half my normal pace. This perhaps is a good thing I know, as my body needs to recover it's strength.

So back to business, there are four more lovely items coming on the website tomorrow. A superb book of handmade bobbin lace, a lace fan, a historical pack of how cotton was made in England and a superb vintage model of a haberdashery shop.

All listed tomorrow

at

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE 

at 7am GMT

Mondays vintage fair finds

Tomorrow is the beginning of some new listings. The four items above were found at the fair I have just attended.

I'm struggling a little at the moment to fight off the flu but have managed to get some photography completed today and started washing some of the vintage fabrics I bought. The vintage fabrics will probably be listed next week unless I have an unusual spurt of energy.

Above can be seen a beautiful English boudoir cushion cover with hand embroidery and a garland of ribbon roses. It is probably 1930-40s. Also a French glove box, a French trinket box and an English needle holder tube, again 1940s.

Being listed Monday 8th February 7am GMT

at RAG RESCUE WEBSITE

If you subscribe to the Rag Rescue newsletter you will be getting a preview of more items that will be listed this week.

Back home early

I just thought I'd let you all know that I am back home. Unfortunately I didn't make the Newark fair. the fair at Lincolnshire showground was a success for us but the weather was dreadfully cold with night temperatures well below freezing. Even my electric toothbrush froze. I think I have caught a severe chill from standing out in this cold weather from 5am to 6pm each day. We packed the van up yesterday evening and I started shaking and aching all over and the headache I had had for the past two days just got worse. As we set off the snow arrived and we drove across country in a blizzard. By the time we reached my mothers house for the evening I couldn't stop shivering and the fever just escalated. SO we had to the make the decision to loose the £225 stall fee and head for home this morning as my health is more important.

Back home this morning I crawled into a hot bath and then into bed with a hot water bottle. After a couple of hours of sleep I am beginning to feel slightly better but still have a fever so will stay indoors for a while.

I will get orders packed up and my husband will post them tomorrow.

Thank you for your patience.

Just before I jump or rather crawl back into bed I'd just like to say that I bought lots of lovely fabric and beautiful items so will be listing them as soon as I feel better.

A patchwork of scrapbags

Coming up Monday to Friday next week

at

RAG RESCUE WEBSITE

Lincolnshire Fair -

Lincolnshire Fair - Overview

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.

Thursdays mix of antique and vintage fabric etc

RAG RESCUE

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.