Wednesday 3 February 2010

Come on in and waste some time!

Because I haven't really made anything much for a while, I've decided to show you some thrifted stuff which I acquired a couple of days ago.  
Can't resist old buttons, of course.   There are some really pretty glass and pearly ones here, for which I sacrificed my (already grim) fingernails to scrabble out of the bottom of an old toffee tin.



A few lengths of fabric.   Top one is wool, I think, judging by the dainty moth-holes nibbled here and there.   Middle one is chiffon-y, and looks like it might be good for nuno felting something summery and delicate.   Bottom one is a Nina Campbell bit, which I lurved the indigo colour of and it had a kind of sashiko embroidered look about it too.   Don't, please, ask me what I'm going to do with it.   The answer will be rather along the lines of:  'take it out and look at it from time to time, daydream about what it could be made into, stroke it fondly for a while and then put it away again till the next time'.   Don't tell me that you haven't got stuff like that     ......    I won't believe you.
Tablecloth:  thought it looked to have a Japanese influence - what do you think?   I'm afraid it will probably be cut up and be used to decorate other things as I am a girl who definitely does not need more tablecloths!

Books:  I always look in the children's book section at the thrift shop and am always astonished that people discard some beautifully-illustrated ones.   Perhaps the stories are a bit old-hat for today's enfants, but it does seem a shame all the same.  

This one really caught my eye.   It had a real Edward Bawden look about it and, lo-and-behold, I discovered that David Gentleman studied under him at the Royal College of Art.























Astrid Lindgren is best known for her Pippi Longstocking stories, but this is an illustration by Svend Otto S.(orenson),  from a very sad tale called My Nightingale is Singing, about a destitute girl living in a workhouse.  I love the crispbreads drying in the rafters above the fireplace.



Nearly lastly, the adventures of Harriet an escapee hamster who falls into the garden pond.   The story and illustrations are by Deborah Inkpen.  This appealed because my godson (now in his 30's) had a hamster called Harriet, who disappeared under the upstairs floorboards somehow and was never seen again.  


And finally, (to the sound of a trumpet fanfare), I have actually made a few things, just small scraps of nuno felting which I've attached to the covers of some sketch books.   There are some others in teal and lime green, but I can't get good photos in this horrible grey light we've got in the East of England.

Oh crikey I ought to be doing much more useful things than blogging .... so hope you've not been reading this when you should have been doing the ironing/washing the kitchen floor/knitting socks/bathing the baby, or other worthy and honourable tasks!

15 comments:

Things Hand Made said...

No much more intersting to see how other people avoid doing any work! Love the buttons. Have you see the pictures of Pennly Lever Greens exhibition on button phobia?

Anonymous said...

Of course I have ..... but it's so much more enjoyable to be reading your blog. Those glass buttons in particular are so delicate and pretty - lovely photo. Ah well, back to the grind .......
Anne

gerfiles said...

Time spend in thrift-stores, or reading about it, can never be a waste - nice booty...

Gina said...

Some lovely finds... especially those buttons! I love the David Gentleman illustrations.... I'd better go and peel the potatoes!

JP said...

yes of course Chrissie - I have loads of fabric that I just like to look at! - and yarn! - and wool tops - and threads! and..........!

Deborah said...

Fabulous finds!

menopausalmusing said...

What a delicious bunch of finds! I want the buttons!!!!! Love the illustrations, particularly the hamster! So appealing.

LAC EMP 2020 said...

These are great finds Chrissie and I am so envious of that David Gentleman book!I have loads of his books and think he is great. I'm like you, always on the look out for great illustrations in books and floaty scarves to nuno into whenever I visit a charity (which I do - a lot!) I went to an exhibition yesterday about button phobia - something I definitely don't suffer with! I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with the Nina Campbell fabric.

Anonymous said...

What is it with buttons? I have just been trawling through Granny's button box too. Love the children's books also. I am off to the nearest charity shop for a look now! Gorgeous fabric journal- very cheerful.
Penny

florcita said...

Lovely bright notebook there!
I love those fabrics you got. I never see anything good at the thrift store here. Maybe it's not big enough or...dunno... just never find anything...
Can not wait to see what you will be doing with that table cloth...it does look japanese!

Anonymous said...

Hi there,
Iv'e nominated you as one of my Sunshine bloggers, so please accept this Sunshine Blog Award for positivity and creativity.You can find out more from my blog post at http://fibrefrolics.wordpress.com/
Best wishes,
Penny

Ange said...

I don't believe it Chrissy! I had been going through my side bar trying to figure out what wasn't right as I'd made a couple of false manoeuvres ... I realised you had disappeared. ARGHHHH - SO I'M BACK - and so are you! Sorry to have been away for so long. I'm with you on the illustrated children's books and LOVE the colour of your own work!

Katie said...

Great thrift finds. Those buttons are GORGEOUS! Buttons are one of my favourite things in the world...I never tire of having a good sift through button jars! I confess, I also have fabrics that I've bought and just get out every now and again to look at (with no clue as to what I'll ever do with them). ONe of life's little indulgences I think! Happy felting. Katie x

Popsicle said...

I should have been doing the ironing but I enjoyed this....

Amelia said...

I have seen so many nice things today on my blog run, it is really nice to see such inspiration everywhere. I love your felt stones at the top!

Amelia.x