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.

Fete de la Treuffe a Poil

I went to a sweet fete this morning in a gorgeous and rather tiny village called Poil. Poil means 'fur' . Unfortunately I was in rather a slumber as I headed there early and forgot my camera. I maybe able to include some images of it as George remembered his .
Visually there was much to see, a great iron stove set up in the town square smoking with a long wonky chimney poking to the sky. A man in his shorts, looking after the stove was throwing logs in. He said it was for potatoes presumably he would be cooking them. I turned round to see a table with 3 great potatoes placed like they were very important. These potatoes were the record sized potatoes and names were written on the potatoes in marker pen, indicating those that grew them. I think as people arrive they would bring more potatoes for the competition.( I just looked up the word 'Treuffe' guess what it's a potatoe! )
There were lots of tables under a tree set up for an evening meal. The tables had bright blue cloths and the chairs were very nice french cafe chairs all metal and blue, from the 50's I imagine. I would like to have gone but I am vegetarian so a bit of a waste of  9 euros for me. I offered to go anyway because it looked so lovely but George has put his back out trying to hoist logs onto the saw mill, so next year.
There was dancing and accordians playing french jolly tunes and a bar serving small glasses of wine. At 10.30am, lovely cold white local wine Aligote perhaps, normally 1 euro a glass.

Hand finished ladder work detail.

This is such a lovely sheet very starchy and thick, incredibly  for its age it feels  newly stiff.

I bought a lovely stack of linens I like the linen ones rather than the mixed cotton and linen that are a lot thinner.  These ones I bought are not white but creamy with a few rust spots due to storing in humid conditions. They were traditionally laid out in fields after washing to bleach in sunlight.

I bought these 4 charming glasses too, modest sized. They are now our best glasses.

Nice stems!

I have started to look out for small pieces like this. There is often a box  full when I go brocanting and each one is a small work of art. I think a collection could be the beginnings of an interesting project. At the moment I am happy to handle them. I was wondering about making clothes and using the pieces as additions to simple tops or dresses. 

This old grain sack I picked up in Tamsay. I walked the length of a very long street amongst crowds of people looking through endless stalls on a Bank Holiday. I'm always glad I make the effort as I love wandering amongst the old cottages in villages I am more familiar with passing through by car. I love this old sack it has found a use as a cover for a big bolster. It may become a door stop but for the time being it is being used as an occasional cushion.

This I picked out because the needlepoint could've been created by my grandmother who seemed  always  to have a project of this kind in the making. I love the colours against the rich brown background.

So. I have been travelling.I went South to Grimaud near St Tropez. I visited this  market  Jazz Robert.

Lots of these Confit pots.

Part of old French rural culture; enamel wash-basin.They make colourful planters when fixed to an outside wall. This one has lovely colours, somehow enhanced by rust patches.

Brass cooking vessel on iron legs. These are often associated with men away in the fields at work. Meat and vegetables could simmer over wood. The French tend to have large cooked lunches and small dinners, which is said to explain the rarity of obesity in France.

A copper 

flower funeral urn; a cheese (curds)  pot, and a cute glass bottle.

An Arab kettle from North Africa. Ashes from the fire are held in the lower basin. The Arab Tea Ceremony requires a constantly boiling kettle. The underside of the kettle appears to be silver plated.

I bought this leather jacket at a village brocante. It looks very french resistence, maybe an old bikers jacket. It is supple brown leather with a brown woollen lining. It's heavy and warm.

I bought these from a lovely lady who said they might be used for making doll's hair.Interesting idea. I'm not sure  what they might be for although they are different thickness' and all unstarted. 

A huge magnificent ball of string.

Babies rattle

I come across many baskets but this one was  in perfect condition, no wood worm  or missing  weave.