I’m doing a major “getting rid of ” here and starting with my big old trunk of vintage fabric, there’s all sorts of stuff in there – I don’t even know exactly what any more but for optimum productivity and mental health some of it has to go. There are a few big pieces but it’s mostly smallish scraps, it’s all vintage and some bits I’ve had my entire life; if you would like some just leave a comment to this post that you would like to be included in the drawing. I’ll pick 3 names this Friday, September 18th and email the winners for their addresses. Also on the subject of free stuff for you I’ll be posting a tiny tophat pattern/ tutorial later this week.
* Comments are closed, names have been drawn and winners emailed. Thanks for participating everybody! *
I’m working on owls.
And a photo I got at the flea market yesterday. I wish I had time to go through the box carefully. I usually look at pictures like this but don’t buy them – trying to have less stuff – but I had to take this one, so many things to like but mostly the little white dog, he seems to be the only one not in on the fun.
This little white donkey is tiny – not much bigger than my thumbnail. I love taking his picture, this one makes me think of kaspar hauser.
Or amulet, or talisman, a lucky or magic thing made from a glass bottle stopper washed up on plum beach in Brooklyn that came to me by way of the park slope flea market and bits of 19th century threads collected in Japan by my friend Stephen.
I love the idea of all the things that had to happen in the world for these little bits to come together.
And Jason and the Argonauts.
I’ve been going through old files and came across this still from the film I cut out of a newspaper. I love the image just on it’s own and I loved the movie as a kid, especially the stop motion bits. You can see them here on youtube if you like.
Acquired this weekend at the park slope flea market:
All of it dug up, washed up and fished out at plum beach brooklyn. Good stuff. Happy day light savings time.
From the Park Slope flea market, bits of old glass, fished out of the ocean by the same fella I got these from this time last year.
I just got a great box of old fabric, it’s very old- 1900-1910 but most of it is unused. The pieces are cut in pattern shapes so I’m guessing it originally came from a tailor’s or dressmaker’s estate. My estate has a lot of birds in it. Anyway, it found it’s way to me and I love the little prints, especially the black and whites. The one on the lower right makes me think of Lena Corwin’s blog ( as always,you can click the image for a better view).
And something else: little bird couples all dressed up and waiting to have their official portrait taken.
A magnificent mini iron and trivet I got at at the park slope flea market yesterday.
And nice winter light here this afternoon.
Here he is coming
and going.
And something I got at the flea market.
The lower half of a metal naked lady statue; it’s currently the best thing I ever got for a buck.
* shop update! Monday October 29th Tuesday October 30th- more info to come *
I’m working on a mini version of my owl. Part of the plan was to simplify him a little but I don’t think that’s going to happen.
I’m making him from a quilt I got at the fleamarket here in Park Slope a couple weeks ago ( I’ve been getting tons of good stuff lately and will post more soon). The nice lady I bought the quilt from said it’s made from WW1 army blankets. It has a beautiful indigo edge that I’m using for his legs and wing linings and probably his beak. I love the colors of the quilt and the check pattern; it is all hand sewn and must have been an immense amount of work. I didn’t buy it with the intention of taking it apart and would not be ( I feel a little badly about doing it) but it has some issues that make it unusable as a quilt.
Thanks very much to everyone who commented and offered advise on the bird rip-off post. I’ll let you know what, if anything, happens and I’ll probably have a tiny bit more to say about the situation in a little while – if you visit here regularly you know that that’s pretty much the most I’ve had to say about anything ever and it kind of wore me out. There is also a lot going on in my terrarium and I’ll be sharing that as well as the date of the long overdue shop update that I am working furiously towards later this week.
Top notch flea market in Park Slope ( 7th ave between1st and 2nd streets) this weekend. Lot’s of good stuff for future terrariums and dioramas and some beautiful old Christmas decorations.
All the stuff above was from one big estate, all their precious things – treasured for a lifetime, now on the sidewalk. That’s always a little sad and sort of jarring- even more so on this occasion because I got there pretty early and it seemed so complete.
Here’s the *special edition* part also from the above estate.
It’s a book made by a little girl in the 70’s (I’m guessing) called Runaway Tom. You can click here to see the whole book and read the story (just scroll down for the pages).
These last corroded things are from my other favorite flea market guy.
I’m not sure of the particulars but I know they come out of the ocean.
I got a CD of images of the show this Saturday. I love them. I’ll post my favorites here and there is a little slide show on flickr. (I’ll credit the photographer as soon as I get her name from tinlark).
This spiderweb is made from little last bits of very old and mostly handmade lace. I thought my huge antique lace collection would last forever but all of a sudden it’s almost gone. I’m going to at least start to replenish it at the Brimfield Antiques Show . I haven’t been in years and years but I’m hoping to hook up with a couple very serious flea marketers (they put me in shortpants)- my aunts Annie and Rita for a visit to the September show.
A new ship for the Tinlark show, The Bonnie Prince Billy
(you’re welcome to contact the gallery for purchase info on ships)
I’ve been a slacker on my flea market reports lately
I got this green pot a couple weeks ago. I love it, it’s my current favorite color.
WIP: another sail for the Ginger Rose and some first thoughts on a new ship.
I’ll start with the ballerina:
She was a special order but I plan on making more – maybe some swan lake ballerinas.
The fleamarket – an embarrassment of riches.
I’ve been kind of looking around for a new sewing box for taking the bird operation on the road and this turned up on Sunday.
A perfect box WITH STUFF IN IT for almost zero dollars !!! The little bit of fabric didn’t come in the box. It’s a swatch from a vintage coverlet – pale blue seersucker with tiny roses. A guy was using it to wrap furniture. It’s great fabric and I’m gonna make the daily bird out of it (8pm est). I think my favorite thing in the box is this button:
And the rest of it. An entire fisher price family? Oh my.
I’m not sure there is anyone, anywhere, having more fun than me. It probably wouldn’t even be healthy.
The daily bird for today, liberty:
She’s made from a vintage liberty of london tie purchased at the flea market this past weekend. She’s one of a small edition -till I run out of tie – and she’ll be in the shop at 8PM EST.
Here are some other fleamarket fabrics – a couple dresses, handmade handkerchiefs, some bark cloth. Good stuff.
I think that little rooster will be a flag for a ship.
