Thursday 29 January 2009

More stock for Retro Age Sunday Market

It reached 45.5 degrees here today (113.9F). I. could. not. move. Could. not breathe. Could. not.fathom. how. it. could. get. this. hot. HORRID. But I got the energy to pop four fabrics into the Retro Age Sunday Market. I think ruched fabric has to be the hardest to photograph. If you look at the photo up close though I think you would agree it looks like a fantasy fabric landscape. Just lovely.

Wednesday 28 January 2009

Hideous

Not the fabric.

The weather.

Day 1 - yesterday - 40 degrees celsius (104F)
Day 2 - today - 44 degrees celcius (111.2F)

Tomorrow is going to be even worse.

The earth is changing. The climate is changing. We need to act - and act fast :(

Tuesday 27 January 2009

Scorching...

It was a hot day today in Victoria - and the next four or five days are going to be even hotter - 40 degrees plus. Ugh.

It's very hard to handle fabric well in the heat so I didn't do much with it today - but I did get the opportunity to add some more general stock onto the website - and some more additions to the Retro Age Sunday Market...

Lots of beautiful old rayon and synthetic blends went onto the website - the above one, in detail, is just amazing...

And then you have my favourite mod prints - I just can't get enough of them!

I am hoping our state will remain fire free tomorrow and in the coming days. We're bare, we're dry - we're hot. And there's wind. All the ingredients for another Ash Wednesday. Please no.

Monday 26 January 2009

Retro Age Sunday Market open - grab a true blue bargain, early birds!

We have brought the Retro Age Sunday Market onto the website - well, we don't have a Sunday Market, but we've brought the whole 'market ethos', nonetheless.

The whole selling strategy we have been implementing at the Mill Markets seemed just too obvious for the website - so obvious, in fact, that we didn't think of doing it until recently. Sometimes those wonderful ideas take a very long time to come, don't they?

Even though it's Monday we've launched the Retro Age Sunday Market today - there's going to be a tonne of fabric in there within the next week or so and I managed to get around eight up today. There are bargains to be had!

The Retro Age Sunday Market only has fabrics by the piece - not be the half yard/metre etc - so most of the fabrics are very long and intact, as found. For example - the piece pictured at the top of this post is a silky georgette, 510cm long and it's only $35.00. Postage is free Australia-wide.

There shall be an eclectic mix of fabrics in our Market. Knits, wovens, cottons - we hope there will always be something new to look at and offered at market prices so everyone has the opportunity to grab a genuine vintage fabric bargain!

Sunday 25 January 2009

1940s vintage wool challis fabric brooches

We have been busy little bees recently. Here is a small serving of our vintage fabric brooches - this set is made with lovely 1940s marone wool challis.

We have made four brooches, each with their own print and unique style...

The brooches truly look so lovely on - they are 4cm (1.5") wide and made with metal bases and matching metal pin.

The one above is my favourite out of the set - I love the rich colours and the hint of the nouveau design :)

The four brooches are available for sale here - more coming soon...

Exhausted - but oh so happy and satisfied!

We are nearing the third day of a long weekend here - it's Australia Day celebrations and we're all out and about loving the nice weather. As you know, I decided towards the end of last year to focus on spending as much time together enjoying ourselves as a family unit and spending 'family' days together to experience life and all it has to offer...

We have had a huge two days and are thoroughly exhaused - but just so happy and satisfied! Firstly, we got up at 5.3am to drive two hours to the famous Fryerstown Antiques and Collectables Fair in Frystersown, Victoria. As per usual, we got a little lost, but made it there at around 8.30am, thinking we were early...however it opened at 7am and there was cars everywhere and it was FULL of people. The town usually only has a population of 150 and welcomes around 30,000 visitors to this far over three days. It was wonderful - dusty, packed and I felt like a sardine - but there was everything to buy you could ever want. Vintage fabric? Nah - not much leftover by the time we got there - walked away with four pieces after dealers had already picked through on the 'not open' Friday :)

We left Fryerstown before it got too crowded and hot and drove to Chewton and Castlemaine to have a look around. We also had a lovely time in Daylesford - only the second time I had ever been through. We looked through the Mill Markets and had lunch and went down by the lake...it was a lovely stop to feed the ducks...

Today was also jam packed with a drive down the Great Ocean Road to Wye River (well - we were going to Wye River - but couldn't get a park - so we beached at Separation River instead)...there was fun to be had by all and it was perfect beach weather. Not hot, not cold - not much wind - in fact, darn near perfect. My Mum even loved it...amazing! Even tried to sun those lily white arms of hers :)

After a full two days driving here and there, laughing our little heads off and running after two very excited (and now tired) boys we are sorry to be back...but rejuvenated, mind you. It's amazing what getting away for a couple of days does for you...

Wonderful family memories...wonderful days...

Friday 23 January 2009

The Land of Remnant and Offcut - Ms Shirley's House

Obviously hopelessly unfinished - but a fun work in progress, nonetheless. It is part of the Land of Remnant and Offcut series - this is Ms Shirley's house in the woods. Ms Shirley is elusive, with a questionable past, but a woman who prefers her own company instead of that of others :).

I feel the need to intruduce the 'red light' house next...ohhh...the shame...

Happy Australia Day!

Thursday 22 January 2009

Another five ebay auctions...





I know I've already posted today - but I thought you may like to know we popped another five auctions on ebay tonight - all are available worldwide, with free postage Australia-wide. Isn't last last piece a cracker?

Some old vintage fabrics for a quilt

Here are some photos of the old fabrics we have popped aside for the buttons. Although now I am thinking vintage fabric notebooks - or swatch books? - may be cute, as well. Until I have a spare moment they shall sit there waiting for their sorting to be complete...oh my...

Here are some close ups of my favourite prints. Aren't the blue bows just gorgeous? And the black mod trees (or clouds?) below always gets to me...

There are a tonne of original polka dot and herringbone fabrics in the most divine colours - they will looks super as little buttons. I love the thought they are all original fabrics - perfect for designs who have a mid-century aesthetic...

The pieces are all rectangle, triangle or square - more than likely chopped for quilting - but, of course, never used. One of my other favourite prints is in the pic below - the red cherry. So of its time...

More ebay auctions going up soon :)

Wednesday 21 January 2009

Our lovely fabrics for auction on ebay...

Am I a glutton for punishment? At 9.41pm I am wondering if I am. I decided to start popping some fabrics onto ebay tonight and shall keep it going for a while. I figure if we're offering some fabrics on the website and at the Mill Markets why not good ol' ebay, too? There are no double ups, either - the fabric is only for sale in one spot...so ebay fabric is just ebay fabric, for now! Above is a stunning pinwale cord...and there are four more lovelies below. If you'd like to view the auctions click on the link on the left nav bar :)...and we're offering the fabrics with free postage in Australia, too!

Black and white mod paisley...

Romantic rose barkcloth

Beautiful mod cotton velveteen...

Lovely lolly pink synthetic crepe...

A button conundrum...

I have a little conundrum. I was hoping to have the intelligence to work out how to do a Blogger Poll and ask you all about button sizes and set numbers you would prefer - but every time I do it and save all it says is the poll has finished or has been deleted. Blogger gremlins, methinks...

I have around 600 small pieces of 1930s-1940s cotton we want to use in our buttons. All of the sizes we make are popular - but the standouts are the small 2cm sets of six and the large 4cm sets of two.

Before we start using these rare and gorgeous fabrics on the buttons I wanted to ask you - what size would you prefer? And how many buttons would you like in a set? If you have the time please leave a comment - or look for a poll at the top of this blog if the Blogger gremlins go home and have some dinner!

Monday 19 January 2009

Vintage fabric stack


Vintage fabric stack
Originally uploaded by pouch_designs
And look at Pouch Designs vintage fabric collection! Oh - how heavenly...if you click on the photo above and visit their 'vintage fabric collection' set you'll be on 'vintage fabric cloud 9'

Pouch Designs in the UK

Pouch Designs is one of those websites I look at and sigh - such beautiful fabrics, such beautiful pieces and made with such love :) - I admore their peg bags (note to self to make one for me! - or buy one!) and their dilly totes are delightful - as pictured...

The more I handle vintage fabrics - and it's been thousands of hours now! - the more I realise I can make so much with them. Even though I am a creative person - a writer - imagining with fabric does not come naturally. I am really having to work with it. But I am getting there - I hope.

However - nothing is going on around here until everything is neat, tidy and booked in! So much to do and such little time...

Sunday 18 January 2009

Vintage Fabric Charm Notecards

I am on strike for the second day now - I forgot my camera once again today and missed out of taking some lovely shots...one of which was our firstborn getting his first pair of school shoes. Sigh - the sentimental things I love...

So I thought I would feature a fabulous idea for vintage fabric instead :)

I hope you have a great week where-ever you are!

Saturday 17 January 2009

I am on strike - I am so O V A H the missing camera


Can I just mention how sick I am of forgetting to take my camera everywhere? How O V A H my forgetfulness, am I? Very O V A H. Today we did so many wonderful things - Logan did his second dragon karate class, we had a wonderful day at the Cottage By the Sea Fete, had a gorgeous lunch filled with things from our garden and then slothed around the late arvo taking nana naps and the like...

So many gorgeous photo opps had I remembered to bring the bloody camera. I could have shown you so many lovely things...sigh...when we I get my camera-action-act together?

So instead of just showing you a recent vintage fabric shot I have decided to go on photo strike and offer you the Australia Post 'free delivery within Australia' logo instead - note it's not a photo. Thought this was okay to pop this on as we do offer free postage Australia-wide for all purchases on the website...

Hopefully the camera shall show you something tomorrow - you never know your luck :)

Friday 16 January 2009

So true!

Another one of my facourite blogs is True Up - all things modern and vintage fabric! I found Kim on her other personal blog after she gave birth to the gorgeous little Otto and have followed True Up from the start. It's a wonderful blog about all things fabric - there's great weekly themes, some great interaction with readers and Kim's always on the beat with fabric forward designs, history and the 'who is who' of the fabric industry worldwide. A fab - and highly recommended! - read...

Here is a recent post Kim asked as to be a part of :)

Thursday 15 January 2009

Good Gracie = Fab Grocery Bag!

The lovely blog Good Gracie is a wonderful read if you love fabric and craft - and who doesn't? We have been enjoying adapting bag patterns to see what bags we can produce - and producing a funky shopping bag is definitely on the list. There's a fab tutorial on Good Gracie if you've got some fab fabric or a teatowel, a sewing machine and a love for our earth :)

Tuesday 13 January 2009

I always like what they have to say


I only started truly reading blogs last year. One of the first blogs I ever became aware of were Applehead and Meet Me At Mikes - and from there started a passion of following the lives of wonderful people...

I miss blogs I follow if I don't catch up every second or third day. I get come type of withdrawal symptoms. I pine, I think :) So I thought I would tell you some favourites on my very long list of fave blogs...in no particular order...

Tree Fall
- I love living life with Manda and finding out about her latest fabric passion and what she makes out of it. A lovely blog to follow if you love craft and love living life with someone, ups and downs included :)

Nikki-Shell - has to be admired for several reasons, but most of all for her drive in living life honestly - for herself, her family and her planet. Always such a good wholesome read.

Aunty Cookie - cracks me up and gives me a giggle. Her fabric design and creativity is just a bonus with this blog - the other life bits are the best :) - such as her current post about massage and the fears of body reactions...

Inside a Black Apple - Etsy's premier seller and a lovely lass at that, Emily Martin has taken indie prints and a small business into something big and wonderful. Her quirky posts are always fresh and just so inviting...

Monday 12 January 2009

Vintage fabric for sale right now right here!

We have had a lot of customers and followers of the blog email us about the stock we have been filling our Mill Markets stall up with and if they can in any way purchase it. Thank you for your interest! The Mill Market stock is sold by the entire piece instead of per half metre/yard, per pattern repeat etc so there are some really good buys - so I can understand the interest...

J and I have decided to offer some of the fabrics up on the blog before we pop the stock into the Mill Markets. It seems only fair to offer it to people who can't get to Geelong - let alone Victoria, Australia - online via the blog and for exactly the same price we'll be offering it for in the stall. All of the fabrics are still numbered so if you see anything you'd like let me know and I'll be in touch.

Prices are per quoted piece, in AUD and don't include postage/shipping - that will be extra. The postage for Aussie customers is listed below...

Fabric 3266 above and below (and top of blog) - This piece is a super rare mod jersey fabric in a rich midnight blue, white and yellow colourway - not as dark or as rich as what is pictured. It's basically a t-shirt weight cotton with very little stretch. The piece measures 134cm wide x 218cm long and is $22. Postage for this piece in Australia will be $6.00. Photos show close ups and half width.


Fabric 3265 above and below - fabulous vintage medium weight cotton knit in a colourway a little different from what is pictured - the lighting was really off today! The base is a pale grey and the motifs are charcoal grey and warm grey/blue - a hard colour to describe! The fabric measures a massive 140cm wide x 316 cm long and is $25.00AUD. Photos show half of the width and a close up. Postage for this piece within Australia is $11.00.


Fabric 3264 above and below - This is a modern fabric and is a cotton blend with a slight give on the width. It is a deep navy blue and white colourway (deeper than pictured) and measures 88cm wide x 305cm long and is $17.00. Postage around Australia would be $6.00. Photos show half of the width and a close up.


Fabric 3263 above and two below: This is a light cotton (with perhaps a light blend) and it has a white base with deep navy polka dots - sorry it looks a little blue-ish! The dots measure 2cm wide. The piece is a huge 108cm wide x 4m long and is $20. Postage around Australia is $11.00. Photos show half of the width and close ups.



Fabric 3262 above and two below: Once again the camera didn't pick these colours up correctly - it's actually a black base with white flowers and rich mustard centres...sorry for the lightining! It's a light voile and is the last of a bolt - it has bolt tape marks on the end and some storage marks in the middle that are literally just dust. The fabric measures 90cm wide x 250cm long and is $20.00. Postage for this Australia-wide would be $3.00. Photos show half of the width and close ups.


Lots more to come in the coming days and weeks - and new arrivals on the website later!