She has now decided it is time to retire and to move on some of her most treasured pieces. I feel extremely lucky to have been invited to buy from her this morning; just to look through the vast array of delicious fabrics is a treat not to be missed.
These French fabric covered boxes are always one of my 'must-buys'.
Pure silk ribbons - I know these were hard for her to part with.
Millinery flowers in pastel shades.
Hand painted voiles, decorated with flowers and bows.
Colourful vintage buttons.....
(These are my favourites)
Scrap bags filled with silk velvets and French linens.
Rolls of French Toile de Jouy and frilly braid.
Some of the pieces have been in her collection since she was just 15 years old. To be the next custodian of some of these antique textiles makes me a little nervous!
I have decided that some will need to be documented and I shall create an album with an archive of the oldest fabrics. An old Victorian photo album that I have will be perfect for this, as I will be able to just slide a sample of the fabric into its pages. Here is a small selection:
Some of the pieces have been in her collection since she was just 15 years old. To be the next custodian of some of these antique textiles makes me a little nervous!
I have decided that some will need to be documented and I shall create an album with an archive of the oldest fabrics. An old Victorian photo album that I have will be perfect for this, as I will be able to just slide a sample of the fabric into its pages. Here is a small selection:
The samples above date from around the 1830's. The bird fabric would look stunning behind glass in an ornate frame.
Pretty florals from the 1920's/30's.
A charming cotton chintz.
This anemone printed linen is one of my favourites.
This anemone printed linen is one of my favourites.
Dainty roses on another French fabric.
A linen printed with vibrant Iris.
OK, the French reign supreme in the antique fabric stakes!
One last fabric....another rare textile, detailed flower bouquets printed on a soft and floppy pale green cotton.
One last fabric....another rare textile, detailed flower bouquets printed on a soft and floppy pale green cotton.
Hope that you all have a lovely weekend. Mine will be spent sorting fabrics....can't wait!
Niki x
NIki... OH MY GOSH! My heart is beating a mile a minute. Oh you ARE the luckiest girl in the world! What a treasured collection and to actually KNOW the history of who loved and collected them throught the years. I don't think she could have passed them to a better person as WE all know you will treasure them so much!
ReplyDeletethose gorgoeus florals and I love those BOXES!! I have searched and searched America for them and we just don't have them here. lol
xoxo Heather
Wow, You are a very lucky girl!
ReplyDeleteThere`s still kind people around,... that surprise us when we last aspect.
I hope you have lots of fun sorting your new bundle of fabrics, I`m sure you will take good care of them and treasure them FOREVER.
Kisses Kisses
Debbie
xxx
Wow, Niki! Absolutely stunning a collection! Lucky you and that lady who found you to sell such precious things!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week-end sorting all those beauties!
Monica x.
Oh Niki! What a fun day you had! I just love the colours in the anemone and iris fabrics. But I must admit what intrigues me most is those scrap bags! I bet you can't wait to get the time and space to just sit and handle every single piece! Just beautiful! What a lucky lady to have found you! t.xx
ReplyDeleteDid you hear that! I just fell out on the floor, plunk! How fabulous! xo, suzy
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic collection! I bet you are 'over the moon' ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat fabulous fabrics - you're so lucky!
ReplyDeleteVictoria xx
Sweet stonehouse chick, somewhere on my blog is a pix of my sewing room and my "stash"! Most people say they gasp when they see how much I have but I have even more in the garage attic. The room doesn't even need insulation because of the fabric, honey!! It's pathetic; I'm hopelessly in love with fabric!!!
ReplyDeleteSmoochies to another fabric lover.... :-)
Connie
Oh.... I love all your vintage treasures!!
ReplyDeleteI just found several table cloths and hankies this morning and I'm still smiling 3 hours later!
Delicious fabrics Niki. I was sent an invite to Caroline's sale too but haven't been able to go yet. Is there anything left? hahaha ;-)
ReplyDeleteSee you tomorrow x
Niki, I don't like using this word... but I am JEALOUS! lol What a treasure you have in your possession! Perhaps someday you can be a textiles curator in a museum (the V&A, perhaps)?! Your knowledge of, and patience with caring for, these pieces of the past amazes me!
ReplyDeleteFabulous buys, you must be in 7th heaven sorting through them all.
ReplyDeleteHi Niki.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely i love the new additions to your fabric collection,
thank you for sharing all your great buys.
Debbie.
Scrummy fabrics, I bet you can't stop looking at them all and smiling at your good fortune!
ReplyDeleteI think the sorting is even more fun than the finding...I even like to sort the fabric I already own...I love the old fabrics. vicki at hollyhocks.typepad.com
ReplyDeleteYou are such a lucky girl!.. I love all the fabrics.. very very very awesome purchased!.. you should open up a small museum for all the fabrics you have.. that would be lovely.. thank you for sharing.. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Niki,
ReplyDeleteI was sorry not to see you yesterday. I did not even know you were there until I found Sue shortly before we left to go home! Didnt have lots of luck yesterday but got a few nice things. The blue hat in my photo I had bought from you a very long time ago. Its colour is so beautiful! I loved seeing your stash of fabrics, what an incredible collection!
I don't know what to say, those fabrics are just beautiful, I'm so pleased that you were able to have some of them, you must have had a great weekend admiring your fabrics
ReplyDeleteKimx
Wow, I am literally drooling all over these gorgeous fabrics...!! What a privilege to be the new owner of such incredible collection!
ReplyDeleteIsabel
Ils sont superbes !!
ReplyDelete