fabric, not sports

After a super late night on Friday night, I was not feeling the 'get up and go' yard sale wake up call that usually comes at 7am. But then I remembered - the neighborhood retirement home.

I've been to this sale before - it's mostly a bake sale, and what appears to be a social for the residents. But there's one little table of things for sale, and I seem to find a treasure there each year. This year was no exception - I found a small grocery bag full of this fabric, hidden under the table (always look under the table!).

I clutched my treasured bag, bought some baked goods (I had to), and had a little visit, because even if I wanted to leave in a hurry, these ladies were not going to let that happen. We chatted sewing, we chatted knitting, they told me all about the woman whose fabric I was buying (perhaps more than I wanted to know, actually...oh, scandal), and I smiled as they chastised the men (who couldn't hear them anyway) to 'take the sports talk outside and get out of the way!'. Ahem.

I went right home after the visit, knowing that I wanted this bag of fabric to be my single treasure for the day, not something amongst a bunch of other things. And oh, it really is a bag full of treasure. I gingerly removed each piece of fabric (oh, and with that sweet apron tucked in there too!), quietly smiling, while Ezra watched over me and asked, "Mama...why does that make you so happy?". Because it's old, because it's precious, and because it's pretty. I suppose that's why.

And this one here might just be my very favorite old, precious and pretty thing yet.

Comments

[charlotte lyons]

oooo, it would be my favorite precious, pretty thing too!

[Ashley]

Oh my, you DID score! That last one is simply divine...can't wait to see what you have in store for it!

[Melissa!]

Sigh...I never seem to find multiple treasures in a bag like you do...my friend & I have multiple laughs at what we do find though! :)

[kristin]

oh fantastic. how cool that you remembered about that sale. this bag of fabric was calling you. your must have tons of creative ideas swirling around for that new "old" fabric! what treasures.

[megan]

that's a lot of goodness! i have some quilt squares that look nearly identical to those. let me know if you want some more!

[Annie]

I am head over heels for that light mustard print in the top photo. Is the top of the apron just pleated, with no waistband? I'm especially fond of old "every day" aprons. What a wonderful find! I'm sure those ladies loved the chance to talk fabric to someone who so obviously loves the craft, and the history behind it.

[caroline]

ooh! You always find the nicest things!! We had a city wide yard sale this weekend, alas, no fabric, but a few fun bottles!!

[Qalballah]

I like that too.

[Elizabeth]

What a wonderful find - I love that last piece of material too, the colours and the prints are so evocative of the 1950s / 1960s.

[Nancy]

amazing -all the potential, all the history behing it, all the women who touched it, used it and in the future promise it holds

[jennifer]

oh dear sweet goodness! what a treasure - you definitely know where to look. makes the wakeup call worth it every time.
i took my little ones along to a rummage sale at a gorgeous old church in the city a few weeks back and was illuminated by each little scrap i uncovered, and we've almost recovered from the rickety elevator ride. as you well know i am certain, stroller + brown rice cakes = peace of mind for 10 minutes.

[Melissa]

I am always out at the crack of dawn for garage sales too. You found some beautiful fabrics. I got a shirt that has some fabulous embroidery on it and this neat old jacket with unique fabric. Lucky weekend!

[heather]

and the stories... the stories contained in a bag like that, my what a treasure.

[Eren]

Oh, I love that you know the story behind the fabric...scandalous or not. Great fabrics!!! And I love the little birdy one so much. Great post this morning Amanda.

[Alina]

Yes, you did score and I am just in love with that last piece of fabric in your post.

[Katherine]

Oh my! What a gorgeous find of vintage fabrics. I'm positively drooling over these. The best is yet to come though, as I know you will find beautiful, creative uses for each piece. As always, I look forward to seeing the photos of the finished projects.
Well done!

[Maiasaura]

absolutely love that last fabric, also the green with the circular floral pattern in the photo above. and what a sweet question from ezra. very perceptive, that one.

[lisa s]

wow - the bird and nest piece. gulp. yeah.

[Ness]

I just have to say how much I love your banner, what a great shot! Also I'm green about all those lovely fabrics you found. I wish we had such treasures here in Oz, I'm pretty sure there is no such thing as a feed sack or reproduction fabrics. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I guess I have to take a leaf from your book and get up with the worms...

[sulu-design]

I'll get in line... that last piece made me gulp, too. Lovely.

[Emily (Five Flowers)]

Treasure is right! What a find. Nothing makes me happier than yummy finds like that (yarn, fabric, old oil paint)! I love all the flower prints in there!

[Donna]

What a fabulous find! But I think you should be rewarded for getting up at 7AM on a Saturday. I am usually a lazy lie-a-bed while Brian takes a turn with the girls.

[paper.string.cloth]

absolutely GREEN with bird-fabric envy..........xxxx

[3 to get ready]

Wow! You really have a sixth sense for finding great fabric. I can never find awesome stuff like that. What a treasure trove!

Incidentally, is anyone else curious about the scandalous story or is it just me? I always feel like it's the stories behind vintage things that add so much to their dimension.

[Kate]

Score!! There isn't a single piece that isn't perfect in it's own little way. Aren't old ladies and their "rummage" sales wonderful!! What little gems they are. And the treasures they have ... You are so good to indulge them in a little conversation.

[Alicia H.]

Speechless. Why don't I have this kind of luck?

[Lynn in Tucson]

Well, heck! I have a little bundle of old fabric here that I was going to send along to you as a "studio warming" gift, but now it doesn't look as though you need it!

Seriously, though, if you send me your address I'll pass it along. It's time for some spring cleaning around here.

[Sarah]

The birds are awesome! I am trying to remember that visiting should be half the fun of yard saling. Trying. Trying. LOL

[Leslie]

You lucky girl!
I'm feeling a bit, ahem, green over here! :)

[abbyjane]

Oh that kind of thing is the best! Always look under the table!

[Grace]

what beautiful finds! i, too, love that bird fabric!! that nest with eggs? too sweet!!

[Andrea]

Oh, you are just a lucky one... I remember those great yardsales during my time in the States... I really miss this here in Germany...

Those fabrics are just awesome...

Liebe Grüsse

Andrea

[KarenV]

Wow, what a fantastic haul! I wish we had sales like that over here...

[bellablue]

Oh, we skipped that one this weekend but last year I got an adorable linen swedish tablecloth in mint condition, much to the dismay of a few vultures (Oh, I mean fellow yard sailers) around me.

[tamara]

what a wonderful find for you and a chance to bring new life to things of the past.

[mary]

The God's of old, precious and pretty things is definitly smiling on you!

[beki]

You have the BEST fabric luck, ever!

[Heather]

HOT DIGGITY DOG!!!

[Amber]

What a treasure trove of wonderfulness! I absolutely love that last print of the bird with the trees... The tree designs are great on that one. I'm green with envy over here!;-)

[Stefanie]

Its official, you are the winner of "making me unbelievable green with envy!" I cant even pick out a favorite I love it all.

[diana]

the joy of unpacking that bag and finding all these beautiful pieces of fabric...

BTW: I now see your new banner for the first time. It's fabulous. When kids can just quietly sit and take in that beuaty around them...thinking heir thoughts. Great moment!

[Taimarie]

Not sure I could manage just a quiet smile if I found a bag like this. More like a loud YEE HAW! Would probably startle the baby. Nice job looking under the table.

[Toni]

That last one--oh yeah! I would say gorgeous!!

[Stefani]

I just had to peel my lower jaw off the floor! That birdie bit is SO wonderful! Whatever will you make with it? That's always my problem when I find something wonderful... finding the right project to use it on.

[emily]

oh MY!!!!

The whole shebang was impressive enough...but that LAST FABRIC?!?!?!
Jealousy. To the 100th degree!
xoxo

[meg]

my head is popping off from the fabulousness of all that fabric.

[Laura]

I live for fabric like the last one pictured. I'm always on the prowl for pieces exactly like it. I guess I've been looking for love in all the wrong places. I'll have to start hanging around the local retirement home (an odd thing to write)instead of Goodwill!

[Dawn]

SCORE!!!!!! I love the bottom one and the top green one on the right. YOU are sosososos lucky. I LOVE vintage fabric. It is my passion. xoxo

[Jody]

Wow! That's wonderful treasure. Yes, the last photo is wonderful fabric. Enjoy it.

[leslie]

so glad you got up and went to that sale, score! good job amanda.