Bonjour à Nouveau France!

Yes, I know, it has been a while since I posted last. Two years ago I left France for Berlin Germany. After six months in Berlin it was off to the United States. At that point I quit posting on my blog. Since the United States, there has been a three month move to China, no chance of being able to post on my blog there, and now after a short vacation in the United States, I am back in France. Not forever, just four months. But those four months, I should have time to post again! What is it about Europe that makes me able to be creative.

Two weeks ago, I flew into Paris CDG. It was a perfect time to spent a long weekend exploring Paris. Why not take a little down time to explore the sites with the hope of finding a weekend flea market or a fun second hand store? Of course the fabric district was on my list of stops.

Yes to all three. I found the second hand store, I found a flea market and I had time to buy fabric at one of the stores in the fabric district. Also, there was time to stop at wine bars and meet up with friends for dinner. It was a good weekend.

So what did I find?

I found a second hand store that carried sheets and towels. Normally into that mix is the occasional old item that I might be searching for. I got lucky. In the very back of the store were old goodies were heaping over the edge of a small basket. The shop had put a sticker on everything with the date it arrived in the store and the price. Unlike a flea market everything was washed but not ironed. This sticker shows that the item arrived on the 17^th of August 2016 and that it cost 4.50 euros. The item with the sticker is a pillow case with beautiful hand fagoting around the edges. I love fagoting and love it even more when it is done on linen. Only thing missing were the buttons.

After Berlin, I have many vintage linen covered buttons I can sew on. I am not sure there ever were buttons on it as there were no marks. I am not even sure the pillowcase was ever used based on it’s condition. 

Mine now and with the buttons sewn on it, it is already in use on the bed.

At the same store, I also found a pair of curtains also dated on the 17^th of August. 

Maybe from the same donor? Here is a picture of one of the two. 

The knotting on one of them has holes but the condition otherwise looked pretty good.

I found a couple of doilies as well.

At the flea market I found lots of lace bits. I had to come back to the stall as there were 5 Chinese tourists buying all sorts of items. One of them spoke French and was trying to bargain like they do in China. I now know what that is like as I was there for 9 weeks working this summer. The shop keeper would have none of it. No matter what the Chinese woman said in trying to bring the price down, she held firm. I enjoyed watching the two cultures, I now have a better understanding of, clash over how one buys things at a flea market. In the end the final tally was 360 euros (around $400 US) they bought a lot of things for that money. Her prices were good. They were interested in completed garments. As they, the Chinese tried to negotiate I was able to get into a corner of the stall to watch the action and conveniently, while I was there, to sift through two boxes of lace bits. I found some beautiful things in those boxes. 

Once the Chinese had left with 2 large bags of garments, the shop keeper turned her attention to me. She tallied up what I had bought. “It is refreshing that you did not try to negotiate prices with me” she said clearly in French. I told her that I had just moved to France from China and that the negotiating was the way most everything was done. She told me the Chinese negotiate too hard which is why she does not negotiate prices with them anymore. “My price is what it is.” She told me. She then counted 14 items as 10, took 12 euros off of my total and threw in a small bag of lace bits.

So what did I get? I got a selection of lace medallions the top from an undergarment and meters of beautiful lace. All of it needed washing as, as usual, it smelled like mold.

The last stop was the fabric district. I found some linen. I bought the rest that was on the bolt. I only needed about 1 meter of two of them so give or take a couple of centimeters, who cares? The man cutting the fabric gave me a deal on both of them. 

At Coupon de Saint Pierre I bought 2 three meter pieces of a very light weight silk. I have a Craftsy.com class I want to do on sewing light weight fabrics. I bought the class, watched it but, in my stash I did not have the correct type of fabric. Now I do.

The sewing machine is off and running. it is about time!

Pet Peeves

I don’t get it, may I whine a little? 

You buy a craft kit, as you know, they are not inexpensive. You put hours of work into the project contained in the kit (your work is beautiful, by the way), now it is time to put all those beautifully crafted pieces together…

Whining starts here...So tell me, why do manufactures do this to us?

Exhibit #1 Christmas Around the World “Victorian Hearts” Counted Cross-Stitch Ornaments, designed by Bonnie Smith Disotell. Kit was made by Bucilla, who knows how many years ago.

The complete kit includes everything you need including the lace (lace may vary).

The Aida cloth is beautiful 100% cotton and high quality, the velvet ribbon and floss are top notch.

The  cross work design for the last one is complete, but not yet assembled:

The lace however came from the $1 (or Euro) store. 100% polyester, cheaply made and it shows. 

Applying this lace to this project completely cheapens all of that high quality materials and work put into the project.

Funny, the lace looks pretty good in the picture, but take my word for it is not worth sewing with. Ewwww.

Exhibit #2 Pattern unknown. Instructions and any other information missing from the project bag. The base is plastic with a grid holes, the ribbon appears to be silk, the embroidery thread is nice quality embroidery floss cotton.

The lace, not again! Cheap looking polyester edging. This time, the picture does not lie.

...Whining ends here...

Both of these projects are courtesy of my mother from her stash of UFOs. They are mine now as the counted cross stitch portion is complete. I do not do counted cross stitch as I can not count.

So here is the plan, the Christmas Around the World “Victorian Hearts” should look, well, Victorian. The Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign (1837-1901). These laces might not be from that time frame, but they are close and a nice match to the rose heart.

 As for Exhibit #2 Pattern unknown,  I don't believe it needs a lace edging so instead the two finished pieces will be placed back to back and some sort of binding will be attached to finish them off. I am in search of a good match down in my sewing stash.

Stand by...

No Matter Where You Go, There You Are

It doesn't matter where I am in the world, when it comes to finding lace bits, buttons and otherwise vintage textiles, I seem to be able to find them.

A couple weeks ago a friend told me about an Estate Sale nearby. Included in the estate sale was  quilting fabric, and a lot of it. The owner of the house had been a quilter and had amassed quite the stash of fabric. Most of it was in fat quarter or half yard pieces.

Before heading down to the sewing room, I instead went to the dining room and went for a search of a linen closet. 

In the dining room I found a stack of vintage linens and doilies. Sifting though them I noticed that all of them were hand made. Here is a picture of what I found:

In the linen closet upstairs I found 3 pillow cases with pulled thread work:

On a lower shelf in the linen closet I found a dust ruffle, you know that fabric, meant to hide underneath of the bed. I fits a full size bed. like new condition.

Finally I had time for the sewing room. 

Ignoring the fabric, I found a bag of buttons. I picked this bag because of the little black buttons I use so much in crafting. 

They are hard to find and can be expensive, This bag had many of them and as it was stapled shut I could not open it to inspect further.

Once I got home and was able to open the bag, I found:

Coat buttons of various sorts:

Red Glass buttons:

Mother of Pearl plain and carved buttons!!!!:

And other assorted buttons that I might never use that happened to reside in the bag:

Last but no least, and nothing to do with sewing, I found a reindeer in the den. I saw someone make a pin cushion out of one similar to this one.

Making a pin cushion was what I though when I bought it, but after lighting it's candle I really like it just the way it is and so it will become part of my holiday decor. Living is so many places, I don't have much of that.

And speaking of holiday decor, my Christmas ornaments are done and mailed. I thought I was done with them and then decided that they needed just a little sparkle. I made a run to the craft store for some glitter glue.

Yes, Sparkle is every fairy's best friend. 

Now it is time to get back to sewing....

Portia Smallwood Whitley and the Broken Compote

Three countries in less than a year has taken a toll! Talk about busy! 

I am finally to the point of unpacking boxes.... of which there are many.

While unpacking I ran across a lid to a compote that was given to us years ago by my mother-in-law. She had cancer and before she died she divided up all of the family "silver" in writing, among the children. With each piece she wrote down who got it and the history of the piece if it was known. We were given the compote lid. 

I remember packing the lid, as well as what was once it's match, one with both base and lid, safely away in a box before we left for Europe. 

In the bottom of the box I  unpacked was a note from my Mother-in-law.  

The note said:

The clear glass top belonged to a Cabbage Rose patterned compote, the mate of which sits on our sideboard. there was a pair but Portia Smallwood Whitley (1853-1925) poured hot jelly into one of the dishes, breaking it. The top has been saved in case the other top gets broken or if a second compote is found at an antique store. Since it is a known pattern it does have some value.

Poor Portia Smallwood Whitley! To be remembered for breaking a compote! It must have been traumatic to say the least for the family for this tidbit of information to still be known today.

Years ago I searched for a mate to my lid, that was right after it was given to us. I figured the lid broke before the bottom did due to the design of the handle on the lid. If we were lucky, someday I would find one. I recall even searching the internet, but to no avail.

On a whim I took a break from unpacking boxes and googled Cabbage Rose Compote. Up came this photo below and description from de Young|Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco 

There it is! And such a pretty picture too. You can read about it here. I learned that our compote was made by the Central Glass Company and that it is pressed non-lead glass. It was manufactured in 1870. This fits with Portia's lifetime.

Curious, I searched further on the Central Glass Company.  What I found was that the Central Glass Company was founded in Wheeling West Virginia in 1863. At one time it was one of the largest producers of glass items. These items were shipped world wide. They kept good records. The Cabbage Rose pattern is motif #140 which is how we know it was patterned in 1870. The tall compote with lid is just one of many glass objects that were made using this pattern by the Central Glass Company.

The next search was if there were any out there for sale. This time, right away I found one. I found a wonderful lady with an online antique glass shop named Phyllis Petcoff. She had a short footed compote base, a tall footed compote base and one lid. This fits my theory that the top would break before the base would. 

She was nice enough to sell me the tall footed compote base!

Now for the first time since Portia broke one some time before 1925, we have a beautiful matching set.

Portia Smallwood Whitley (1853-1925) may you rest in peace now (if you weren't already)

Phillis sent me information about  the Early American Pattern Glass Society. I am in the process of reading the contents of the website as there are couple other pieces we were given that I would love to know more about.

I would also like to know where one bought these. Were they expensive? Did you buy them at the local general store or 5 and 10 cent store? So many questions still remain.

Now I just have to figure where I will put them. On the fireplace mantel or maybe in the kitchen above the top of the cabinets. Now, just maybe, I will try my hand at making compote.

On the Road Again!

On the road (airplane really) again! As I get ready to move yet again, the bags are being packed, and truth be told, moving keeps one from collecting too much clutter. By the time it starts it is time to go, and frankly I am looking forward to a little flughafenbegrüβungsfreude (the delight of being greeted at the airport). Not that I have not enjoyed Berlin, its been really nice.  It is just that it is time to head off to the next adventure.

Some of the last finds should not surprise. Yes more buttons:

Fun vintage linens buttons:

 Vintage linens:

As I have not been here long, I was extremely touched when the woman who runs the Sew Creative group with the Berlin International Women's Club gave me a going away gift and thank you for all of the work I had done sewing items for the Björn Schulz Stiftung (Foundation) Before you see the gift and why she gave it to me, you should also learn a little more about the foundation.

The Björn Schulz Foundation offers help for cancer and chronically ill, as well as terminally ill children , adolescents and young adults. They offer help to the whole family. Services provided go beyond those offered by the national health system. You can read more about them here (Clearly in German)

For the past 6 months I have been participating in the sewing group where we have been making various items for either the need of the organization or for an upcoming bazaar they will be having where a table will be set up to sell various items. Since being here we have sewn breadbaskets, children's clothing, shopping bags, a little stuffed animal where the child can unzip a small pocket to tell it secrets and pains and then can zip it back up so that it remains a secret, and just lately sun pillows. The sun is on the corner of the foundation's logo. Here are just a couple of them made this last meeting:

Getting back to the gift...For the past 6 months I have been on S-Bahns, U-bahns, M-Bahns and busses going to different places in town. While other people listen to music, I sew. My crazy patch "kit" I take with me when I am on the go and it looks like this:

It was observed, more than once, that I work out of a plastic bag. I know, you would expect that I would have something fancy, but I do not. Well now I do!

Thank you Beatrix! The doily was made by Beatrix's mother years ago. When she died Beatrix ended up with a pile of the and had no idea what to do with them. Then I wandered into her life 6 months ago.

With no sewing machine now it has been hard to make anything big. I have been working on Christmas ornaments:

They are almost done but will most likely all be finished at the next place I call home.

I am barely keeping up with TAST with all of the preparation to move. I will fall behind this week with the move and will be way far behind by the time I can follow along again. But I will leave you with last week's stitch, the Feather stitch:

Not much show show yet, and it is a variation, but give it time, it will grow:

Or maybe not. Might I say I have never liked this stitch? I find it hard to start and once I start I can't wait to be done. That is a bad sign for any stitch. Instead of finishing the row doing the dreaded feather stitch, I got distracted with BUTTONS!

I was given a card of them by one of the ladies in my walking group. Very plain, Very Mother of Pearl. Way too much fun not to use. The flowers need petals and I don't like what I have so far. In the mean time I have several more places for buttons on this sections. The beautiful embroidered linen strip is from an old handkerchief. It was ripped on one side. At the thrift store check out, the man behind the counter gave it to me for free since it was damaged. they have no idea what I do with this stuff do they?

Vintage Souvenirs

One of the things I love to find on my hunt for vintage lace bits and buttons are old souvenirs.  Souvenir in French means to remember. When we buy souvenirs it is to remember our trip or travels.

In years past, to buy handmade items with the name of the place visited was the norm. I have read accounts where some inhabitants of the towns made this type of thing as it gave them a means of employment. Now it is hard to find something not made in China. 

Unfortunately relegated to second hand shops and flea markets are some of those old souvenirs. Here are just a couple of the ones I have found lately in my wanderings through Berlins' second hand shops and flea markets, so sit back and enjoy the small tour.

A recently find was this red work souvenir. It shows the old castle in Heidelberg and is linen with cotton redwork embroidery. From the look of it, it once hung on a wall or over a small window:

 The words "Alt Heidelberg du Feine" comes from The Badnerlied (Song of the People of Baden Germany) is the unofficial hymn of the former state of Baden, now part of Baden-Württemberg.

The words were taken from a poem "The Trumpeteer of Säckingen", written around 1852 by Joseph Victor von Scheffel, who resided in Baden.

Verse 3 of the song:

Alt Heidelberg du feine,

du Stadt an Ehren reich

am Nekar und am Rheine,

keine and're kommt dir gleich

Old Heidelberg, you noble city

rich in honors

On the banks of the Neckar and on the Rhine,

You are without equal 

The things you learn when you find old linens...

Redwork like the above example were a very common purchase for a souvenir. In storage right now is a small collection of similar ones from Alsace I picked up when I lived in France. I have no pictures of them, but when I picked up the first two I thought how fun it would be to make something with a number of them if I was ever lucky enough to find more. I might now have enough of them.

Also common to purchase were handkerchiefs. Here is one from Kirchberg Austria in Tyrol. Tirol is a beautiful vacation spot in both winter and summer for tourists. 

This handkerchief is hand embroidered on a cotton fabric using what appears to be silk thread. The lace work is the type I have found that predates WWII.

Moving into France, Saint-Quentin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.  One of the 10 Dioceses of Belgica, The town has been identified as the Augusta Veromanduorum of antiquity. The town was named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred there in the 3rd century. Of course there is a church and would be of interest as a tourist destination.

Notice here a date on the handkerchief of 1916. 

If any of you collect old lace, you can put a date on when the pattern of the edging lace now. The embroidery hand done in silk on a cotton fabric.

Lastly, I will point out the handkerchief in the back ground of the last two pictures. It is certainly from Belgium. I have seen these on my visits there in museums and for sale in shops. When they have been for sale, they have be very expensive.

The handkerchief is hand embroidered edging on English netting. The workmanship is stunning!

Lastly, no post would be complete right now without a look at last weeks TAST. We were asked to do the blanket stitch and so here, in blue, right up next to week 1's design is my rendition:

TAST week 1

Pintangles has begun a re-run of the TAST (Take A Stitch Tuesday) challenge. You can read more about it here. I did not know about it the first time it ran, but since I am making my version of a "Peaches and Cream" crazy patch bed runner, ideas are always welcome. I had forgotten how hard it was sometimes to get ideas and inspiration for what to do next.

For the TAST challenge, this is week one and the stitch is the fly stitch. So much inspiration just this week alone. I was flooded on facebook with ideas. So many ideas what to choose? So many versions of what one can do with this stitch! So here is my version of it:

Do you see it? 
How about now?

It is the pale green stitch that makes up the base and outer area of the bud.  Ya I know, very subtle, but it is there! 

The little orange colored buttons are glass and vintage. The lace behind the stitching is left over from  The Second Filet Bag I finished earlier this year. Block number 3 is coming along nicely now. The tree is completed on the other side of the block and finally has some under growth:

The inspiration for this tree came from JennyPennyPoppy.

Here is her version:

She does beautiful work! 

I have to start block #4 soon. Here it is without anything added to it yet. It is waiting for an idea to come around.

I will be starting it soon.

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