Should we or shouldn't we make an offer?

It's just around the corner. It's an ugly shop. But the fabrics would be at home I am sure. An active workroom it would be - only limited time to open to public as the kiddies are a priority. Thinking about an offer all weekend and will make decision Monday...

Thinking, thinking...

Anniversary

It's our first wedding anniversary today. And we're celebrating 10 years loving each other dearly in December. It was lovely to hear "I love you, my wife of one year". I still like being called wife and I still love him after a decade. Who would have thunk it? No work for us today - uploading new fabrics tomorrow :)

It's official....I'm scared...

I am so grateful to have had the day we've had. Much merriment in vegie garden madly clearing dirt, planting a plethora of vegies and herb and satisfying trip to hardware store for sander (for renovating first room!) and pea straw to keep as much water in our vegie patch as possible. We're heading for harsher water restrictions - they have altered our stage four restrictions for daylight savings hours and we are now only allowed to water our garden beds for one hour, twice a week. We planted corn, tomatoes, carrots and yummy lettuce....ooohhh...can't wait for the crisp lettuce...

There are two things on my mind tonight. Love me or hate me - but this is what I am thinking about:

1. Why do people in our region/town continue to water their garden beds filled with roses, pansies and pretty things? Why do they waste our precious resource on trying to keep plants alive just because they like them? I am only using our water for sustenance - vegie patch and herbs - but one of our neighbours continues to use her alloted watering days ensuring her lovely roses, creepers and other things and kept alive and well. In times when there is a plentiful amount of water - fine - in times like this when farmers are battling to give us food? Shocking.

2. The melamine scares in China and now Hong Kong. Now melamine has been found in eggs in Hong Kong that were imported from China. That's right - this melamine has made it's way into chicken feed. So not only has is killed kids, dogs - but now chickens. I am horrified. Horrified.

Seriously - I can't plant enough in the vegie patch when I hear that type of news. At least I know what goes into my dirt!

Growing up with The Court Jester

As you can tell I am loving YouTube. Hated it before these last months - but now I understand why people become addicted to it. It's a visual library - your memory - television and an encyclopaedia rolled into one.

I grew up loving the ye olde' Saturday and Sunday midday movies. As I grew up in the 70s I had a plethora of 50s and 60s movies to watch - lots of Elvis and lots of classics.

The Court Jester with Danny Kaye is one I have never forgotten - and I found myself telling a friend today about the famous 'chalice with the palace' scene. As I couldn't remember the verse I YouTubed it and, sure enough, there is was...and here is it :) Enjoy. Classic scriptwriting, classic acting and the usual Hollywood sets and costumes...:)

Motivation from The Scarlet Pimpernel

There are definite times in one's life that make an impact forevermore. I remember when I came home from school camp and was really tired (and more than likely grumpy) but my Mum begged me to watch a little of the movie The Scarlet Pimpernel as she thought I would like it.

She started a lifelong fascination with the movie, the book by Baroness Orczy (in fact - the whole Pimpernel series) and, of course, I also got addicted to the French Revolution as well.

I think the fact he is such a dandy but behind the mask lies such a courageous, compassionate and beautiful character really intoxicates me. I love a little mystery - and a great love story. And the love story between Sir Percy Blakeney (TSP) and Marguerite St Just has always made me swoon...

It's a story that always motivates me, for some reason. Yes - a totally made up character can bring the best out in me. Strange, eh? And what a fabulous quote to leave you with, by the author Baroness Orczy herself:

"In the chain of my life, there were so many links, all of which tended towards bringing me to the fulfillment of my destiny..."

Colour...in vintage fabric and everywhere else...

I am finding myself obsessed with colour at the moment. In almost everything I am doing colour is playing a prominent - and very important - role. Get the wrong colour and it could ruin all sorts of things. For one, we are starting to renovate our 1970s home. We don't want the modern dentist style of renovation, either - we want something in keeping with the kitsch design of the house and also something intrinsically us. So I want white - with a hint of lovely colour here and there.

And in our creative vintage fabric projects we are finding it so much fun to combine colour. The colour of a pale lemon lame brocade couture with a pink satin stripe fabric. Sounds horrid - but looks divine.

And...lastly...should I join the legion of women worldwide and start to colour my hair? I did it when I was a younger lass LOL - but, at 35, I am starting to see some highlights on my head I haven't seen before. I call them reflections. I see them in the mirror, glinting here and there. I am wonderful whether to return to my youthful glory days and locks or let it go. Let myself my honest. Maybe I should go red for that?

Atticus Finch and To Kill A Mockingbird

If it's one lesson I am trying to instill in my sons (well - the one who can talk!) it's to never forget to see as many new things as you can each day - whether it's the same object or person from a different perspective or something totally new...and to never forget to try and learn something new every day. Like a new word. A new experience etc.

I have just been having a hilarious time watching the British Parliament. What is with all of that standing up and down business - I take it it's all in vain trying to catch the Speaker's eye, but the constant up and down just served to get me distracted! I have only ever seen that Parliament in quite a rigid sense - but the ritual of standing to ask a question was something I had never seen before.
I learnt the lesson of always looking at things from a different perspective not from my parents, but the wonderful character of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. I remember him telling his daughter Scout to always jump into the other person's skin to see the world through their eyes. Such wonderful advice - and such a powerful and poignant part on not only the book, but the movie as well. If you like the film here is the theme - sorry, couldn't find the actual 'skin' scene :)



I am trying to remind myself of how special each and every day is. I try to find happiness in daily things, beauty in things I see all of the time and I try and feel my heart's joy at what most satisfies and delights me. My husband, my sons, my family, my friends - and, yes, vintage fabrics :)

Nights in White Satin (vintage satin!)

It must be my age. Or my hormones. Or my love of the vintage eras....but, at the moment, I can't get enough of old music. Old classics. Beautiful classics. Nights in White Satin is one of them. Such a gorgeous song by the Moody Blues. A shocker of a video...but they didn't want to move their bodies back then, did they? Just the tap tap tap of the head and feet and the occasional move by the flautist. Still trying to work out what they are standing around. A gold pylon of some sort :)

We have been busy with orders and gift vouchers and new things on the horizon. My brain is ticking over way too much and I am starting to feel the classic insomnia return. I have always been a veritable night owl - I think better at night, feel calmer and more awake (if you can believe it). My best creative stuff is always done at night.

We have the second lot of vegies heading for the vegie patch at the moment - and more herbs. By the time we're 80 it should be finished! I can't wait...the first batch of herbs look a treat and I am looking forward to harvesting our first garlic crop in Summer. Homegrown garlic. Yum.

If I can get the website functionality right there should be five new fabrics up. Should be being the veritable words :)

To be loved and to love

There is nothing like loving and being loved. Another piece of beauty.

Too busy to upload fabrics today - hopefully tomorrow :)

Enjoy...

Vintage fabric sale

We've chosen another 20 gorgeous vintage fabrics for our Wednesday sale - visit the lovelies here.

Vintage fabric eye candy...

As Justin says I haven't taken my pink or blue pills...am just a tad tired after a busy few weeks. So few words tonight - I'll let these shots do the talking.

All waiting to go up on ye ol' website :)

A week of beauty - Brokeback Mountain

2.07 minutes of absolute beauty. Simple beauty. A wonderful movie. I don't dig country music, which was largely the soundtrack, but the instumentals are just so lovely...heart-breaking, you know?

A Week of Beauty - An Affair to Remember...nearest thing to heaven

Being a fan of anything 50s and 60s you would expect I love old films. And I do. With a passion. My Nan and Pop brought me up on them and I have continued to love watching them. Anyone worth their salt would know An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr...and that scene where he realises. He realises. Of course by this time you are already crying...but it's one of the most wonderful scenes in any old film...mwah!

Enjoy :)

Vintage fabric sale

New fabrics on sale for one week starting tonight, Wednesday 8 October 2008...including two gift certificates! Great ideas for Christmas pressies...can you believe Christmas is only two months away. Eeekkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk...

View sale fabrics here...

The most beautiful piece of music ever written...?

Michael Nyman - The Heart Asks The Pleasure First.

Just the fact the heart asks is a gorgeous vision unto itself. This piece never ceases to please my emotions, nor my senses. As beautiful to the ears as a piece of lovely 1940s cotton is to the eyes and hands :)

Sale fabrics revealed soon :)

Have I told you about TUT of the Universe?

I try to live my life in a good way. A way I am happy with, a way that other people are happy with (ie - I try not to hurt anyone, I am always kind and considerate and I like to be smiling and positive in all experiences). When I was diagnosed at 17 with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome I went on a roller coaster ride of asking 'why me'? I went looking for reasons, blaming everyone and everything left right and centre for my life.


Before I got sick I was an only child - a nice one, but a little self-centered around my life and my happiness and my career and my money etc. After being diagnosed with CFS and having loads of time to read I started to read books that made me learn about myself, about my body, about the power of my mind and about the fact everything I do, say and think has an impact on my life and the lives of people around me - and, of course, my environment.

I can't remember how many books I read. New age, philosophy, religion, good living etc etc. I was a walking new age library. I leant a lot in those years I was stuck at home sleeping and getting better (and, yes, we're talking years) - but the most important lesson I learned is to have faith something happens for a reason and the reason is usually good, but you don't necessarily realise it until hindsight gives you clarity.

I love TUT - A Note From the Universe. The emailed messages I get always make me pause and contemplate and remember those important messages I learned those many years ago. This is what I got today...

"When you think a new thought, V, entertain a new dream, or mentally choose a new goal, your thoughts "leave" you and go out - in every direction, to the farthest corners of the planet. They carry a life force all their own, like ripples created when a pebble is tossed into a pond.

You can't change this, V, but you can use it.

You rock,
The Universe"

PS: V, I really did try to think of everything.

Amen.

Art deco lady fabric...unironed, but just had to show!

Can you believe I forgot we had this piece? I set myself to enjoying the sunshine today - and to photographing as many fabrics as I possibly could. I have just downloaded them to the laptop - approx 320 photos with an average of 2-3 shots per fabric. Eeekkk...that means 100 fabrics are waiting for me back at work tomorrow :)

I got to the end of my tether and got into a tizz - got overworked and then tried to just motor on, not caring what the fabric was or what it looked like.

Thus, I have some hilarious shots of unironed fabrics. Ironing is not my forte, I can tell you!

This is a piece I forgot we had - it's a vintage late 60s or early 70s shiny polyester with a border print of this lady's face - the face is huge, around 30cm high, from memory. I love it - and am sure it will look so much better when I iron it. I remember th lady I bought if from years ago explained to me that it's a famous art deco face...it looks more hippie 60s to me - but if anyone knows otherwise let me know...

Have a great week all!

Yes, we do buy vintage fabric :)

It's a question we get almost daily :) - so we thought it high time we answered it...

Yes, we most certainly do buy vintage fabric - in large quantities or in small quantities. We buy online and at private viewings - whether it's a personal stash or an estate sale. We prefer patterns over single colour as they are much easier to photograph for the online market and we prefer cottons as they are more versatile for our buyers. Having said that, we buy literally anything as long as it's genuine vintage (made before 1980s) and it's of good vintage quality - ie, not many marks etc...

We have been thinking of offering a type of service for people who have vintage fabrics but who don't want to sell it to people like 'us' (meh), but who would prefer to offer it for sale on our website and for a price they are happy with. If you are interested contact us - there would be a percentage we would have to charge and postage to the buyer would be covered by you, but I'd be more than happy to discuss possibilities...

Birdie fabric is divine, isn't it? From Sweden and hopefully going up on the website tomorrow or over the weekend...

Retro Age Vintage Fabric sale now on!

We've chosen 20 vintage fabrics to pop on sale for this week - the next sale will start next Wednesday evening. Sale is around 10% off the selected fabrics - and don't forget you don't have to pay for postage, either (Australian buyers only)...so if you've been salivating over any of these fabrics now is the time to purchase!

Our sale is here.