Sunday 8 May 2011

Nothing better than a boot fair on a Sunday morning

Usually during the summer months, we have two boot fairs on a Sunday morning, in fields, one which starts around 6am ( yaaawn, too early for me, we normally get there around 7ish ), and one which starts around 9am. Because we had a little bit of rain on Friday night, the early Sunday morning one was cancelled, boo hiss, but the later one was on, hurrah! My DS Nick kindly went with me, he doesn't particularly like it but bless him, he drives me anyway.

The first few rows were very disappointing, just clothes, toys, dvds, modern household stuff, and more clothes and toys. By the time I had worked my way through 3/4s of the boot sale, I had only bought two little stamps, a battered silver jug, a book and a bit of trim, which is modern, but quite country/cottagy, because of the jute used in it -





And then, I turned into the second from last row, and there it was, the sort of stall we all dream of! Fabrics, buttons, ribbons, trims, lace, my heart really skipped a beat, but I did just about stop myself from drooling, lol. I dove straight into a box with bits and pieces of lace, and sorted out a handful of lengths. Gorgeous, very vintage lace, a couple of antique lengths as well. Then I stopped for a minute and looked at all the other women at the stall and the expressions on their faces. I am sure my face went through exactly the same sort of emotions............. intense concentration, frowns, delight, secret little smiles, disappointment, huge joyful smiles.......... and then it was head back in the boxes looking for other stuff. This is what I came away with from that stall, having spent most of my money there -



Gorgeously soft chenille trim -


Ricrac in the sweetest shade of robin egg blue, gently faded in places -


A roll of vintage white seam binding and a cone of pink satin ribbon -

Then there is the LACE !!! I just pulled out some pieces to show you close ups -


I wasn't sure about this knotted cotton netting, but then I thought I would be great for pockets on fabric collages for example -


And the best thing about it, it is FRENCH LACE! The guy bought a whole bunch of stuff from a shop in France which had closed down. Sigh, why I don't ever see shops closing down in France? And why didn't I come across this guy earlier when he still had loads of stock instead of just this one box full of lacy bits, sigh?

I fell in love with these very vintage wooden spools of fine wool thread, beautiful vintage colours, and despite their age, the threads are still very strong -


The wooden spools are quite large, approx 15cm long. I wonder whether I will ever use up the thread to actually get to the wooden spool, lol. I doubt it. I do love them though -


I also adore big bold fringeing trims, they look fabulous on cushions and bags and even make great fringes on tags and cards, so these two had to come home with me as well -


The next one is probably my favourite trim ever, the colours are so gorgeous, shades of peach and salmon and golden wheat -



I have to use this one straight away on something, it is way too pretty to just leave lying around. Any ideas what I could use it on? Feel free to let me know, lol.

Well, that was just about it, I had spent most of my money at that stall, so I rushed through the last couple of rows and only stopped once when my radar bleeped! I just quickly homed in on this richly embellished tablecloth, -


and this beautifully embroidered mystery cloth, and then went home-

I am not entirely sure what it was used for. It is quite large, larger even than the usual antique French linen or cotton towels, but too small to be a sheet, unless it was a sheet for a crib ( hmm, possible ). It could even be used to cover a small window or glass in a door. The embroidery is first class and just look at the darling little cherub, so sweet.

Thats it, folks, I am off to try and catch up on all the posts I have missed during the last 10 days or so.

I am linking this post to Blue Creek's Treasure Hunt Party HERE. Have fun visiting all the other participants as well.

Have a lovely Sunday, especially if you are in Europe or the States or anywhere else where Mothering Sunday is celebrated today.

Toodlepip xxx

16 comments:

Larisa said...

wow! All goodies are so great! Love the laces so much! I have never seen the same beauty before even... And the rubber stamps are so cute! I am mad about rubber-stamping, but I have not any nice rubber stamps or clear artist stamps at me...
hugs. Larisa. xx

Scrummy Scrapz aka Lizzie said...

Fabulous finds, will have to come up north sometime cos the boot sales we have around Wigan are so boring, nothing interesting with the exception of really old woodworking tools (which I sometimes buy) or absolute junk!

Unknown said...

The goodies you bought are superb! Im so envious because there are NO finds like that in Toronto... And I would know, I hunt around all the time -.- But fabulous finds you have! Wonderful!

Hugs,

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

Hi Liz, I'm glad you felt better and could go on the hunt. You've found some great stuff again. I love the silver jug and certainly all the pretty laces and trims. The tablecloth and that mysterious cloth are both beautiful as well. It's funny, I bought a mystery cloth today as well. It might have been a thin coverlet for a day bed but I'm not sure at all. I don't care, I just loved it.
Hugs to you,
Julia

Barbara Jean said...

Hey girl. Welcome back!

I have not had much time to blog lately either. Health OK, just too much going on.

Great finds. Of course love all the laces, and the spools, and your book, great find!!

Off to see more, then get ready for company for lunch.

blessings
barbara jean

Lynn Stevens said...

Oh My Gosh, this is what dreams are made of, what a fabulous collection of lace. I'm the most lovely shade of green right now! LOL
Enjoy your treasures!
hugs Lynn

Regina said...

Oh Liz...some amazing finds. Thank you for sharing with us. You always seem to find the best items. (Drooling...LOL)

Happy Mother's Day my friend!!

VintageVicki said...

We had a bootsale free day today (not my choice) - just hoping i've not missed any finds as wonderful as yours.

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

Isn't it great at a boot sale when you've all but given up of finding treasures and you find that stall that you want to buy everything from!

Victoria xx

Tina said...

This is wonderful finds Liz. love those france lace pieces. They are just awesome. Wish I could something like that over here.
xo Tina

Marie Lost Bird Studio said...

Hi Liz,
what fab. finds again!! So glad you are feeling better.
Have a lovely evening.
Hugs,
Marie

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Liz,
This is the kind of stuff that I dream of finding! I am drooling over all of your lovely laces, ribbons and pretties.

hugs
Sissie

Romeo said...

WOWSER! What great and wonderful finds! I didn't tell "her" about it though, you know how "she" gets when lace comes into view.....and getting drool out of the cracks on the keyboard? Well, can I tell you it's just about impossible?! So for now, let's just keep this a secret between you and me, okay?

I hope you are doing well! And btw, you little inchie is cute - purrfect for Mother's Day don't you think?!?

Purrs!

Romeo

P.S. - Thanks for believing in my ferociousness ;)

Sonya Badgley said...

Oh my goodness,Liz! My heart is pounding! You found some fabulous things! I love ALL the lace. Especially the knotted cotton netting! And the robin's egg blue rickrack! Wow! You lucky girl!
I want to go to a boot fair!
The chenille trim is gorgeous too. And the old spools of wool thread, wow! Beautiful colors.
Have a great week-it sure looks like it started off to be pretty great!

Hugs, Sonya

Dorthe said...

Hi Liz,dear
OHHHHH MYYYYY goodnes ,you just did it again, what fabolous finds,
all those tassels are fantastic beautiful-and all the lace- you are such a lucky lady, dear.All that in one -it is fantastic.
Hope you are all well again,-
Hugs-Dorthe

Karen said...

Girl, you ALWAYS find the best stuff. And I laughed at your description of all the ladies' faces. PERFECT! I would've swooned and spent all my money there too.
HOW FUN!
Love it all. :) Karen