Home sales....

Last year I attended this "Home Sale" in Taunton.

A good friend holds one of these every now and then, and they are always fun and there are certainly lots of tempting things to buy.

Bronia is holding a sale on the 10th and 11th of June. If you want to attend, just give Bronia a call on 07760 392518 for an invitation and directions.

Above is a tantalising view into her garage, which is set up as a shop!

Collecting British Costume cards and a new job!

I have recently acquired these Brooke Bond cards from the 1960's. (when they came free with packets of tea). As I handled them I was instantly transported back to my childhood.

I used to collect them in the 1960's and played endless games using the figures as paper dolls, and my fascination for Antique and Vintage costume has stayed with me all these years. This Summer I was approached by a friend who wanted to know if I would be interested in a job at an Auction house?

Of course I was interested! It sounded like the dream job for somebody who has been rummaging around auctions and selling Vintage clothing for the past 25 years. After an informal interview the job was mine and I launched into assisting Samaya with her auction last month. It was a fabulous auction, and now the dust has settled it is my turn!

 So, if anybody would like to place anything in the next Dreweatts Vintage Costume and Textiles Auction in Bristol please contact me at this email lhasselt@dnfa.com or phone 0117 973 7201. We are looking for Antique and Vintage clothing/costume, shoes, bags, hats, textiles, lace, fans and costume jewellery. The auction is set to take place on Tuesday 3rd April 2012, so a definite date for your diary! 

From a Vintage Nursery.

 I have a real love for Vintage Children's clothing, Textiles and of course toys! (see my other blog if interested in old toys!)

Recently these beauties came into my possession. A collection of hand embroidered items that must have graced a child's bedroom or nursery at some point in time...

I love the simplicity of this one.

 A pair of ubiquitous Dutch children. A motif that was used a lot in the past. These 2 are stitched onto little draw string bags just big enough for a toothbrush or facecloth.

 I am guessing these date from just before the 2nd World War. These absolutely gorgeous  kitties form part of a pyjama case which has the words "Good Night" embroidered on it. I have enjoyed these for a few weeks, but sadly I cannot keep everything that comes my way. They will be accompanying me to Ardingly Antique and Collectors Fair on Tuesday 19th and Wednesday the 20th. Might see you there!

New stock coming to the fairs this week...

Having just returned from a buying trip in France, I am about to set off  again to sell at the Decorative Living Fair at Eridge Park near Tunbridge Wells on Thursday.  I will be taking along some English and French Textiles, trimmings, lace, buttons.....

As well as Beautiful old shell boxes from France, hats, corsage, sequined scarves, floral oil paintings, floaty vintage dressing gowns and a smattering of French enamelware.... an eclectic mix I hear you say... That is what happens when I am let loose buying in France!

If you are unable to get to the fair in Kent, never fear.. I am doing the Avalon Textile and Decorative Fair in Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury  BA6 8DB on Friday the 20th of May. The fair is open from 9 am to 4 pm. Entrance is free to the fair and museum buildings.

Busy days.....

It has certainly been a hectic few weeks at Washerwoman HQ. Spring is in the air and I have been washing and ironing like a crazy woman. Here a few of the gorgeous items that will be coming with me on my travels over the next few weeks....

 Oyster coloured 50's Duster coat, size 14.... teamed here with a mint condition size 16-18 50's pink dress (still with original shop label!)
......CC41 Utility dresses and pinnies.....

 Flossie is modelling a selection of beautiful 40's knitwear. All with their original scrummy buttons.

 A new collection of 40's inspired hats are a new find.

Moygashel 40's print dress with spring flowers... and a printed velvet wrap-over jacket by "Valerie" of London.

I have also managed to get a few items for the chaps too! Evening shirts, studs and scarves. Hope to see you somewhere at one of the many fairs taking place this month. See the sidebar for details of where I will be. Although Some of the dates do clash with other events, so I am not able to attend every single one! if anyone would like a comp ticket for Shepton Mallet Antique Fair - please leave a message via the blog. Thank You.

Winter wardrobe and Shepton Mallet 3 Day Antiques Fair and .....Kirsty!

Busy, Busy this week (despite catching Mr W's rotten cold). I bought these amazing barkcloth curtains at the Frome Retro fair 2 weeks ago. I plan to use them as a backdrop in my stand at the Antiques Fair this weekend.

Here are a few of the Winter warmers.. vintage jackets and coats that are coming with me to the fair. Above is a French 50's coat, size 14 approx, very cosy.

Along with a selection of gorgeous vintage silk scarves (a few sold on ebay last week, but still have a HUGE stash of them!)

This gents cashmere coat is pretty cool, I also have it in navy, but that one has gone into the Dairy House as Sue is always asking me to put more vintage clothing onto my stand, so I have obliged!

This fur trimmed jacket comes with a matching skirt, very Mad Men I think.

 

Lastly this little gem of a childs coat! I bumped into a friend in a carpark in town yesterday and she has already said she wants first dibs on this one!! I still have a couple of reduced entry tickets to the fair so please leave a message if you are interested.

 PS. I have to add how much I enjoyed Kirsty's programme last night. I watch very little TV, but I felt this was worth giving up an hour for! Anyone who promotes reusing, recycling and making items for your home has to be applauded. Of course a lot of what she says and does it what many of us have been doing for years, BUT it is about time that this country's obsession with "buying new" needs to change. I will now step down from the soap box before I get started on Christmas!!!

Babyhead? Name the mannequin.

This week I have been busy sorting out my stock for the next run of fairs. I have quite a few new items, including vintage buttons, Victorian and French ephemera, postcards, vintage cut-out dolls, books on fashion from the 1850's to the 1950's.

I also have accrued a small collection of Vintage children's hats and clothing that have come my way over the past few months. I bought this child mannequin from Niki some years ago when she had a stand at Shepton Mallet Antiques Fair. Most of my mannequins have names, and after meeting Jo I realised that I had never given this one a name. Now, I am never really sure whether this is a boy or a girl? So, was thinking "Bertie" might be a suitable choice as it could be short for Albert or Roberta. Any suggestions please. It really is about time the poor child had a name!

Anyway today the mannequin is modelling a funky selection of Vintage children's hats which I just could not resist.

A selection of some of the vintage dresses I will be taking to Ardingly and Frome in the next week. It is the big countdown until the Vintage Bazaar that Clare and I have organised in Frome in Somerset. For anybody who hasn't heard about it, just click on the word Frome above and it will take you to the blog!

As well as the above, I have some fantastic vintage silk scarves and cashmere jumpers..... alongside my usual rails of winter coats, baskets of hand knitted gloves, hats and scarves

Vintage Jacqmar scarf from the 1950's modelled by ??? Wots her name?

Vintage clothes & the mysteries they hide....

I recently purchased this gorgeous jacket & at first believed it to date from the 1940's. Imagine my surprise to find a handwritten note in the pocket which gave a lovely insight into the previous owner. Here are a few lines from the note.
"This Irish tweed Hebe sports jacket was bought in a "posh" small shop in Keynsham on the Bristol to Bath road in about 1952. I liked it because it reminded me of a field of buttercups & daisies!!! (But I was young and silly then!)
I saw many of these suits in Bath, but few in Bristol, but i have heard that the money is made in Bristol and spent in Bath!"

However, this dress (shown below) does date from the 1940's as it has a Utility label and came with its very own "make do & mend" wartime brooch made from plastic covered wire. It came complete in the bag (above) with its price label & shop bill. The mystery is why it remained in the bag for over 60 years and was obviously never worn.