Sunday 23 August 2009

Bootsale Booty!








I had decided not to bother with the car bootsale today, and have a well-deserved rest instead, but it was not to be. A French dealer phoned me to tell me she was there, and had put aside 2 bin-liners of Antique fabric for me to look at. As you can imagine, I needed no more encouragement, after all, not often is one offered an exclusive peek at newly discovered antique French textiles!

The first bag was filled with linen & cotton damask tickings in the dreamiest of colours, and a couple of pieces of really pretty fabric, one in an Arts & Crafts style reminiscent of a William Morris design, and another in a bold, styalised design in lovely colours.
The second bag turned out to contain some 50s florals, curtains, bedspreads, patchwork scraps and the like, but I decided against these as soon as I saw the contents of the 3rd bag... A lovely selection of unusual different handmade curtain panels, combinations of embroidery, filet lace, crochet, voile, net, linen, all in the deepest shades of tea & clotted cream. I had to have them! My favourite was a crocheted pelmet smothered in large flowers, and 2 life-size dragon flies! I have never seen a crocheted dragon fly before. I think I wil keep this piece, as it reminds me of my garden, which is currently filled with wonderful visiting dragonflies, heralds of midsummer.

10 comments:

  1. Just lovely , Lois, Lucky you, lacey loot from La Belle France! Elizabeth

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  2. You lucky, lucky girl! I actually didn't even bother car booting today as the last time was sooooooo disappointing!
    Lizzie x

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  3. How lovely, especially the variety of fabric treasures. You must keep the dragon-fly - it is very special. I once had a small linen tea-table cloth with a deep crochet edge of butterflies and sold it by mistake when it somehow got mixed up with textiles I was taking to a vintage fair. I so regret it.

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  4. Now why couldn't you manage to take home all 3 bags? Love what you did choose though. I really must learn how to control 'green-eye'!!!!

    Had hoped to go to Ardingly but have run out of DH decorating time, sadly. Maybe the next one.

    Sue x

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  5. Oh I so love the dragonflies too! I also love all the other wonderful fabrics and the lace pieces. Your boot sales are so much better than ours in the US.

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  6. It was a great morning! Our bootsale is definitely one of the best in the country, but I am biased, as I only love it so much as it attracts some wonderful dealers in antique and vintage French textiles, it is at Brighton Marina every Sunday morning if anyone is in the area!

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  7. Hi Lois, Thanks for the suggestions re the fabrics. Aren't they fabulous!
    Sue x

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  8. lucky you..the dragonflies are stunning

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  9. Hi Lois...
    OK, I admit it...I am so jealous! Not good I know, but I share your passion...great choice of delicious textiles. Once again I can't believe such riches can be found at a car bootie!
    Niki

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  10. We are sooo lucky to get sojme regular French dealers! xx

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