Antique Burgundy Chemise de Nuits

Jam jars in small medium and large they are thick and heavy. The  large ones have 10 facets.  I like to re-purpose things, as we do. Traditionally they were sealed with a layer of paraffin and covered with cloth tops tied on. They just have a lip no screw tops.

I bought a large bag of darning thread on  great old cards.

This I understand is for fish I imagine it's something that you lower in the water and the sprung  lid above the bottom  compartment must be there to stop escapees.It's an intriguing object that I will use probably for drying herbs. 

Wooden boxes I will reuse for display after I paint and distress a bit. 

Handmade jacket with bone buttons. I have been wearing it  since I bought it last week. I don't think I have bought any new clothes at all for a year, maybe some knickers. I have found some wool for socks and then I found already knitted socks, very finely knit. I think, although I really like knitting it does get in the way of painting somewhat.

I also managed to find this large piece of ticking or mattress covering. It's a grey green  with a few darns and discolourations. I just have it on my project shelf at the moment so I can come up with something to do with it. I am tempted to make a skirt or dress.

A Fauteuil, or a chair for lounging! I think this one is probably an Arts and Crafts equivalent. I have been looking  for one for a while. It's not a really old one. Ideally I am looking for one with turned legs and rounder. I like the top on this one and the attempt at curves on the arms. It goes a little way to make up for a 2 seater sofa I left behind in England bought for £2 from the Auctions at Kidderminster. I used to visit Kidderminster Auctions before the livestock market was demolished. I had a small van and would get up extra early to try and make the outdoor auction of the things that were deemed too lowly for the Auction House. If nobody wanted the things it went into a big skip. I managed to find some wonderful things there and because many of the buyers were after old T.Vs or things they could sell at Boot sales. I picked up all sorts; early Vogues, Belling oven, a sofa . There was also a carpet sale and a plant sale. I worked in a couple of gardens at the time and so I could also buy cheap plants to sell to my clients. Anyway I digress someone just came in and said those are nice photos but they don't really do justice to the chair! I bought this one today.

I bought all these things from the same person as I bought the chair from.

I love these cream jugs and find it unbelievable that the lids are still intact.

Sunday is the day when most of our village sales are held. This one wasn't in the adverts until the  last minute. I saw a poster at the supermarket. It's always a real treat to attend especially when the village is so lovely The setting too, beautiful, set on the side of a gentle undulating valley. It has lots of lovely old stone rendered cottages, a great old mill building, still with the old pulleys and original doors. The streets are narrow with an open square. There are even the old Arab style toilets. Below is a 'Tube' like mine, but this one goes. The guy said he may have a front grill which mine is missing. I am also missing a window screen. My screen is the newer non split variety. The lights seem to be the same as a 2CV of which we have. There was a list of 'charcuterie' and prices from when this little truck may have been used as a little shop.

Inside of the little truck. It has a sliding side door.Wheel arches that you can sit on  and this one like mine has the one big door to open up the back, hinged at the bottom for the cows to walk up. I think it's a Betaillier. Or if you wish sliding up large pieces of furniture. This one belongs to Roger La Brocante.

I bought a little cheese strainer from this stall. I shall photograph it later. I like the little cottage behind in traditional colours. The glass above the door and doorway in the roof is typical of the area.

I love looking in boxes on the floor, rummaging. I found a pair of  old secateurs and a copper pot stand here. A lot of lace too, unpicked from old clothes.

I have been looking for a weaving loom for sometime, mostly on ebay. I found one at the sale, boxed, never been used. A perfect starter one. I have already managed a small woven tiny rug from garden string and thick wool.

It's been a funny May. The rain has been here more so than usual, like good old blighty with it's Icelandic weather. Today we went out to Autun to look at the market among other things. I love the 23 mile journey there too with the verges brimming with flowers. I have discovered a big wholefood shop close to Atac the supermarket if you ever go I recommend it. It has a huge variety of things. I am able to buy wholegrain rice again in brown paper bags, Yogi tea and Ecover delicates wash. It has wonderful bread and organic veggies. Then I had a little look in Emaus and bought 3 stripey french Picasso t-shirts all for less than 5 euros. I had a walk up to Morvan Broc, it always has the most wonderful things in there. A man was there choosing something, maybe jewelery from a large tray. I asked to photograph the above. I'd loved to have bought it really. Then the chair below for less than the above. It's slightly wider slats than mine and wonderful colour now makes me feel I should have gone for it.

This is my new bag I bought it from a lovely lady who popped in some bits of lace for a little cadeaux. The bag was only 2 euros so it was a sweet gift. I had to go for a bit of stitchery to keep the big studdy badge on proper. I am a very happy keeper of this bag now. It doesn't look big but it seems to hold a fine amount of things.

I bought matchboxes because the man in Morvan Broc let me go ahead and photo things.

Bocaux. I have a few of these now. They weigh a lot,  handblown into a mold and you can still buy the seals at every supermarket in all sorts of sizes.

This I did not buy. Foxes are fascinating creatures. I saw this at a brocante.

So this is why I have not been so busy with the brocantes. It's often a bit rainy. I bought Tupperware from this lady. All plastic boxey things seem a bit expensive in France so it's good to go vintage and buy the stuff my mother also used.

My first outing to the Brocantes last weekend. I bought a handful, about 60 clay balls. They are early 1900's. I also found a big watering can with a rose. It leaks a bit.

Label on one of my sheets, Metis is cotton and linen mixed.

 

So here is how I filled in the hole. I bought some balls of wool from the charity shop, all kinds of delightful shades. Then I just blanket stitched. I had trouble stopping once I had begun. My new cardi was cutomised too. I did this while George made tomato soup listening to Radio 6. Danny Baker mapping Middle Class pursuits in the UK. It really made me laugh out loud as listeners described crafting, farmers market trips, trying out new violins, arguing about Farrow and Ball colours,researching types of oil to use on an olive wood chopping board etc.realising how Middle Class they really are.

I have been sewing this last few weeks. I combined a piece of crochet with one of my damaged linen sheets to make pillow cases.

The crocheted piece disguises a hole.

Here is a piece of 'chanvre' or hemp I used to cover a shade from a charity shop bought lamp. The light is obviously softened a lot. I will probably add more buttons and things and either patch the hole or I may wind hemp string around to band of metal and leave the hole.

I am also branching out into hand knitted finds and 

this rather splendid shawl was a great find. I think it's barely been worn

Here is a grain sack that I have sewn a long crochetted runner on.  I use it as a long cushion on the back of the sofa that is against a wall.