Monday 31 March 2008

Lovely vintage fabrics on sale...


I am loving the sale functionality I finally worked out how to use on the website. Apart from listing around 20 new arrivals in the last couple of days, I've also popped some fabrics on sale. Great sale prices (don't tell Justin I'm doing $5.99 per quantity...!) , great fabrics...and it's so much fun offering something for sale finally!

PS. Cross your fingers and toes my gorgeous Uncle Dearie (aka Pearl) finds the Gocco of my dreams when he jetsets to Tokyo for four nights...if anyone know where you get them from can you please let me know? I'm after the large A4 one so a price would be great, too :)...

Sunday 30 March 2008

Wow! Retro 60s 70s border print cotton crepe





I just had to show you this piece. As you can see it's an amazing vintage fabric, circa 60s or early 70s - a rare retro op art border print, as bright as the day it was manufactured. I have just popped it on to the website and can't stop looking at it. Anything is could be used for would look amazing.

To view click here.

Friday 28 March 2008

Spongetta and the bag that haunts me...


I haven't got much to write about today as I am dog tired after Easter orders etc but I just HAD to tell you about this bag...

This bag HAUNTS me. I don't know why. Blame it in the creative Spongetta on Etsy. Talented woman.

Trust me, I am not a girly girl. I barely wear make up and I have no idea when the last time was I wore a skirt...okay, okay...when I got married...when we go out at night...but other than that I call myself a 'hermit crab' and am lucky if you get me out of my day to day clothing :)

But this bag speaks to me. I think it's the gorgeous use of the vintage lace fabric - or perhaps it's not vintage, I can't remember. I don't like overdone stuff - especially with fabric. I like fabric used really simply and used well - ie, the texture used to enhance a bag, the textile design used to enhance a bag...I don't like much thrill and kill...much Miami...just plain glamour...

So pretty...

Have a great weekend all!

Wednesday 26 March 2008

Sale functionality added to website - woo hoo!





I can't believe it. I am overloaded with easter cocoa and not myself by a long shot. But here I am working out how to put some fabrics on sale on the website. Woo hoo...horray for dark chocolate and cocoa addiction...

Have added two fabrics to make sure the functionality works - and thus far it has. They'll be great fabrics, great prices...and super cheap postage makes our sale fabrics super buys :)

See fabrics on sale here. More added soon - the brown one and the purple fabrics pictured above will be two of them! The other two are of fabrics that will be going on to the website or Etsy soon...

Enjoy your day!

Thursday 20 March 2008

Happy Easter!





Hello all

A quick post tonight as I am pooped keeping up with Easter orders - yes, people still want fabric over Easter!

I just thought I would pop on to wish you all a safe Easter with your family and friends - take care on the roads, chill behind the wheel and enjoy the drive and have a lovely time with those your love...:)

Oh - and may the Easter Bunny bring your little ones some egg hunt goodness :)

PS - Fabric to go up soon onto website, with perhaps some sale half yards onto Etsy...psycho trippy cottons from the same estate...she must have loved pink and purple!

Saturday 15 March 2008

Join the Retro Age Vintage Fabric Google Group!

A lovely 1950s barkcloth sampler...so pretty...sigh...

Hello all

We have many people who like to know when new fabrics arrive and when they're uploaded on to the website or even when they're uploaded on to Etsy. There's never been an easy way to let people know - Flickr can cover it photographically but not time wise...and it's not a forum style area for vintage fabric lovers to meet, chat and learn from each other...

We've started a Retro Age Vintage Fabrics Google Group. I am still learning my way around the site, but I think I can email people with new Retro Age alerts etc etc...so, if you want to stay in contact with us (and I am thinking about a discount card for our Google Groups members...thinking, thinking) then email us to subscribe! It's a private group and you can stay a lurker if you like :)...or you can run amok and chit chat vintage fabric all day...

Email us if you're interested...or subscribe using the link provided in the left hand top corner of the blog...

Have a great Sunday!

Friday 14 March 2008

Cool Scandinavian fabric for AUD$30...





This Ebay shop has some fabulous Scandinavian fabrics (be careful about the new fabrics they are offering!) for $30AUD plus postage. Very cool if you're after that styling in old fabrics...

Have a gander at the fabrics here.

I would tell you more about our day but I'm just too pooped - too hot here, around 40 degrees. Ugh.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday 13 March 2008

New vintage fabric arrivals...gorgeous samplers







I have popped these gorgeous new arrivals up on Flickr tonight as I can't stop looking at them - and I thought some of you would like to have a look too! We have more than 70 samplers around the 5ocm x 55cm size, all from the one collection and all, as you can see, in complementary colourways. I have taken a full width, half width and a close up shot to give you an idea of the scale...if you look at the majority of the ones I have uploaded tonight they are the sampler ones...

These are genuine early 1970s pieces and the collection includes some major rarities. You can view some of the collection here.

They'll be up for sale on the website as I get time to get them up there! (time - what time??) , starting tomorrow. Prices will range, depending on rarity, colourway and design...

The collection (believe it or not) included some really basic old fabrics - but these are the new 'in' fabrics - the original modernist ones without pattern, just weave. Genuine vintage, too good to throw out or to give to thrift stores (they apparently throw out basic fabric??) so I thought one of you might like one or more of them...


1. The green woven piece is original early 1960s, still with it's original price string attached. Been stored ever since - measured 142cm selv to selv and is 84cms long. Needs a good wash but is free from any other complaints. Slighly open weave - would make uber cool cushion covers or just a hang for a chair...price is AUD $4 plus postage...email me if you want it :)


The orange one is 130cm wide selv to selv and is 84 cms long and is RARE. Original 50s or 60s vintage, never used, but could do with a wash. Soft cotton - feels lovely, actually. Printed selv note - sign kirsti ilvessalo - a famed textile designer from Finland who is highly sought after...looks so simple, but looks who it was designed by! Woot! Price i AUD$25 plus postage.

Wednesday 12 March 2008

1970s children's novelty cotton...





Today I am grateful for all of our lovely vintage fabric...but you guys know why, so I'm not going to go into that...I just thought I would feature a recent arrival...

This is a medium weight cotton crepe, vintage 1970's. Isn't it just soooooo adorable? It's a border print with retro spots up the top and a border of a Hansel (as in Hansel and Gretl) style design complete with animals, cottage and cute trees...such a cutie, isn't it? I'll be popping it onto the website in the coming week or so...

I'll be featuring more of our fabric as I think that's what I love about this blog...show and tell :)

I'll also be offering some fabric through the blog - stuff we don't normally sell like plain old linens and cottons, but it's just too good to give away and I know you guys can do something with them. Nominal prices like AUD$5 for a piece plus postage - and if they don't sell here then they go off to fabric heaven...

Tuesday 11 March 2008

New vintage fabric Etsy arrivals...website, too...




Hello all

Sorry - have run out of time to post anything significant. Had a great time away over the weekend - lots of fun kite flying with a Dyson kite (gotta love the freebies when you buy a new vacuum cleaner!)...

Some of these fabrics went up on Etsy - some soon to also arrive on website but not at the sale price :)

Have a great day!

Sunday 9 March 2008

Gratitude List - March 9 - our very own group!




I have been looking into some type of direct marketing/group thingie for MONTHS. We used to use Constant Contact to stay in touch with our customers, but I found the software too time consuming to use so ceased to use it. Then I thought of designing a monthly flyer to keep everyone in the loop - but I bought a new laptop and just haven't gotten around to popping on InDesign again...ugh...

Then came Google Groups! It looks like a great interactive forum for people who want to stay in contact with us - ie, read up about new fabrics that have arrived, promotions on etc etc - and they can talk to other vintage fabric lovers as well...

I will put a subsciption box on this blog :) - we'll see if it works...

Have a great week!

PS The photos are of some of the fabrics going up on Etsy or the website this week...enjoy!

Friday 7 March 2008

Gratitude list - March 7 - Nick Cave


Since becoming a Mum I've found it hard to find time to listen to my music. Number one son hates our music, preferring the likes of Wiggles, Willy Wonka (!!!) etc...so, when I get the time to steal away, shove on the ipod or start up itunes it's a real treat...

Thank you Nick Cave for giving the world such beauty...

Today I am grateful for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds for creating such wonderful music that never fails to lead me on a wonderful emotional journey. Where would my life be without The Weeping Song, The Ship Song and his murder ballads...

Don't know about the latest Dig!!! one as I haven't listened to it enough...but, even at 50, Nick still keeps pushing musical boundaries to keep you with the shock of the new...

While I'm at it...

I'm also grateful for The Dandy Warhols and Jon Crosby/VAST. Uber fab music that I always have handy, no matter where I am...

Have a great weekend all!

Wednesday 5 March 2008

Gratitude list - March 5 - Google


Well - ya just never know what's in the food you eat, do you? My husband got food poisoning last night and we don't have any local chemists open 24/7 to get him dehydration relief etc - so I Googled for a recipe and found one to replace electrolytes etc etc...

So today I am grateful for having a computer, internet access and Google. Ya gotta love Google (sometimes...don't necessarily agree with what they do in certain countries, but the actual site is wonderful)...

For those who want a home-made gastro remedy click here and check the bottom of that page :)

Also - for some fabulous fabrics at cheap prices don't forget to check out our Etsy store - it has more than 100 fabrics in it now and all discounted...

Have a great day!

Tuesday 4 March 2008

Gratitude List - March 4

My scallywags

I sometimes forget I have so much to be thankful for. I whizz around day in, day out, pausing every now and then to think and contemplate. 2008 has been a great year for personal contemplation for me in more ways than one - and, even though I am a gemini and always fob off new projects after around a month, this path of self-realisation is still very much with me.

I am dedicating March to things I am grateful for...gratitude lists are a great format to remind yourself how rich your life really is...

So - to the first on my list...

1. My two sons
I am so grateful for my two sons. Even though I have just spent a day at home with them and I am absolutely spent, I have cried, I have sworn (not at them!) etc etc I am still so grateful to have them. Logan is a run a mile a minute boy - from the minute he gets up to the moment he (finally) falls asleep - and, I have to admit, he is a handful every day. He makes me tired, frustrated, angry, happy and elated all in the one moment...and then our sweet Gabriel is now around 3.5 months old and a delight...except for the fact he cried all day as he's teething early. Ugh.

So - even after one of the worst days you can imagine...I always am so grateful for my two boys. They really are the light of my life and the keeper of my heart...along with their Dad (he would kill me if I didn't pop that in)...