Hi I regret to inform you all that Marian passed away from Endometrial cancer on the 30th of October 2020 She will be sadly missed by all.

Please see your your doctor/physician for any unusual pains or bleeding. If they wont do anything persist or get a 2nd opinion.

Chris Clark

This is the link to the Tobin Bros website for Marian Clark

in turn they can light a candle and also leave a message in memory of Marian.

https://tobinbrothers.com.au/tribute/details/18148/Marian-Clark/obituary.html?fbclid=IwAR0Stw5EeuY5nGKJEb2XGdqAIYz7Sc6x9c7NbTTrUswbGpLFi1ziI0a8j6g#tribute-start

AUSTRALIANA

 I am still collecting and here are some of my Australiana collection for you.😀

The kookaburra is a thimble holder - it has a wooden post at the back of it.

....oooo....

Brand New Group on Yahoo!

Collecting Vintage Sewing

and Knitting

I want to announce a new group on Yahoo

called - Collecting Vintage Sewing and Knitting -

If you are a keen collector of anything to do with vintage sewing

and or knitting (including tatting, weaving, spool knitting, crochet, etc.)

and would like to join us, please do!

Vintage also does not have to literally be vintage! There are lots

of wonderful things to discover in this very wide field of

sewing and knitting.

Also, it is your collection and we respect that,  what you

like and want to collect....

be they novel, unusual, well-used, or perhaps reproduction.

I hope to see you there.

*******

Vintage Needlework Tools

VINTAGE NEEDLEWORK TOOLS

and ALTERNATIVES

How many collectors are finding it more difficult

to afford collecting needlework tools?

I had left my collecting of needlework tools for

about two years and was concentrating on

spool knitters or knitting nancies (they

are called by many names - you can catch

up with these great knitters on my other blog -

http://spoolknitter.blogspot.com

I have just lately again started to search

for needlework tools and found that the

prices have jumped astronomically!

So many items are now priced at over $100 and

well up to $200 (Buy it now) including needlebooks and pocket

sewing kits.

Therefore, I have come to the conclusion

that I will now just look for those items that

have a novelty/quirkiness to them of which I

have seen for much "reasonable" prices.

Just by my recent searches, I have found

 more affordable items are that made

of wood. Some are commercially made, and some are

handmade. A lot of them hold pincushions which I must say

suits me - I am a HUGE fan of pincushions.

One example below is - foreign made by

Klimax Gift Series. The box measures 9cms X 6cms.

The contents are - a tape measure which becomes the stand

for a cute little gnome, a very small pincushion, and a 

small mushroom which can be used as a 

darning tool (though this is not

mentioned on the box).

Now, if you are one of the faithful readers of my blog,

(and I apologize for the lack of posts), then you would 

know that I also love anything to do with crinoline

ladies.

I found this novel cotton/spool holder below.

Measuring at 20 1/2cms in height and 

16 1/2 cms in width at base there is no indication

of who or where it was made (I did purchase it

from the US)

In the boxed section at the base, there are 4 posts

to hold the cottons/spools. With a hole at the top for placing

on a hanger on the wall and 4 cut lines coming down from

the wavy section of the box, it becomes a dispenser -

 the threads would

be held in the cut grooves. You could also keep the 

needle packets/books and scissors in this section,

handy for quick repairs.

So though it is not a tool, it is still a lovely,

novelty sewing item to have.

I had at one time made some sewing stands for sale - a

photo of some are below - I do hope to make some

more soon.

There is a lot to be said for handmade, as so many of

the vintage needlework necessities were. They

hold a charm of their own.

I would love to hear your thoughts about your

own collections, and if you also make your

own "vintage necessities".

**********

Old Favourites

A love of collecting vintage sewing

tools, books, patterns

has always included searching

for vintage sewing accessories

to make.

I have a collection of felt

needlecases which include

the ever-popular

bonnet lady needlecases

and wide-brimmed hat needlecases,

I found these two patterns in

a vintage Madame Weigel's

(Australian magazine) Journal

of Fashion - October 1, 1945.

Here they are for you to enjoy.

(click for larger image)

******

Sewing Companion Dolls

++++++++

Among my vintage sewing

collections, I have many folders

lining the shelves in my

sewing room full of vintage

patterns.

Once upon a time, I used

to have a stall at a

trash 'n' treasure market.

I used to stock much of the stall

with bazaar items, many that I

had made using patterns that

I had purchased either from

new Women's magazines or

from vintage magazines that I found

myself at trash 'n' treasure markets.

I would look for any of thoses that

included patterns for dolls and toys, bazaar items,

items for fetes, babies, and above all,

Christmas gifts.

Not to say that once I had access to

a computer ..... well, the whole

world opened up to me!! 

Sewing Companion Dolls

Would it be fair to say that these

companion dolls have evolved from

the chatelaine?

They serve the same purpose - to hold

all the necessary sewing equipment needed

and close-by for the needlewoman.

The pictures below are taken from

vintage magazines and a commercial

pattern. The dolls are both novel

and charming.

This is Grizelda, and she has the added

bonus of being a workbag.

(1930's)

 

This is Sally Spool from

Star Gift Book No. 48

The American Thread Company

(1930's)

This is the "Sewing Doll" from

Simplicity Crafts 5227.

(2004)

This is called "Johnny-on-the-spot",

a crocheted cowboy from 

Crochet Money-Makers for your Bazaar

Book No. 278 

J & P Coats . Clark's ONT

(1951)

 

This is "Sammy Spool"

another crocheted doll from

Gifts Galore by

Coats & Clark's Book No. 183

(1968)

This sweetie is a design from the

well-known Jean Greenhowe of

the English Women's Weekly, a fabulous

designer of dolls, toys, and

gifts, knitted and sewn as well as wooden

toys. (1983)

I actually picked up a handmade doll

from a local bazaar about 25 years ago, paying

just $2. I still have this doll (pic below)

and discovered that it is the Jean Greenhowe

sewing doll just 20 years later when I

managed to come across the EWW

magazine issue with the pattern included.

It may be not quite as well made as the

original, but I still like her.

One day I will attempt to make one of

my own.

In the course of "vintage

sewing" collecting, I have also

found these two delightful versions

below.

There is a website called "Gail Wilson Designs"

which sell as a kit or a completed doll called -

"The Ladies Home Sewing Companion"

All of Gail Wilson Dolls are an absolute

delight and worth the visit ....

Click HERE for the New Items

and scroll down to see the "sewing"

dolls.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Jennifer Murphy

Ever since I saw Jennifer Murphy

on the "Martha" show,

I became a fan of her work.

Her originals are a little

beyond me in price but I

am happy to go with the

licensed items of

her designs.

Being a Pin Cushion Collector

(among a million other things!)

I couldn't resist her little

Pearl the Pig pincushion (below).

Jennifer's website can be found

here

and she has a blog

here 

The links to her spot on "Martha" are

here for the pom pom bunny and  
here  for her pumpkin people.

(The particular segments can be
found at the right-hand side of
the page - you will need to click
on the arrow for further videos
on the show which are in two parts.)

∏∏∏∏∏∏∏∏∏

Christmas and Ahead

Oh my!.... how time has flown by.
It has been very busy this year and
I am pleased to say that things are
just starting to settle down.
There has been a lot going
on at home and with managing
two craft groups, and my time for
this blog had come to a stop.
I plan to remedy that beginning
with the New Year.
I will catch up with so many
things - crafts, friends, projects,
blogs, and my book!
So keep watching this space!

Merry Christmas
and Happy Sewing!

««O»»

Frédérique CRESTIN-BILLET

Frédérique Crestin-Billet, the lovely

and lucky owner of Mason Sajou,
has written many books
about her outstanding collection of
vintage haberdashery.
Here, I will show you one
of her books.
(I will post about another
two books next time).

Mercerie Au Rayon Des Fils
(Haberdashery: Thread Department)

(All of these images are shown with kind
permission from Frédérique Crestin-Billet)

You will find 238 pages of absolute
delight, written in both French and
English with so many gorgeous
pictures to look at.... so many
that I had a hard time choosing what
to include here.

Above - sold in the 1960's is this boxed set -
"Images de France", cotton thread on
tube spools decorated with French
regional figures.
Below is one of the pages from
wool section - this page showing
novel wool cards and some knitting
needle gauges!

Above - just love these wooden egg-shaped
darners, ... and
Below - a wonderful shop display board.

This is a fabulous book for the
vintage sewing collector!


◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

More from Sajou!

.... Continuing on with the

fantastique French haberdashery
supplier of Maison Sajou - there is
so much to see.

Below is just a very
small sample of the
glorious pages of items
available that are found in
the 152 page catalogue.
Really, every page is just
wonderful that I had a hard
time deciding which one
to include!

Frédérique Crestin-Billet has
given me her kind permission
to show you these pages
from her 2009 catalogue.

Below, these beautiful thread cards
are printed on both sides.

Below, threads and needles
including fantastic
needlebooks.

Below, ribbons and laces
and trims.

Below top, sewing boxes/kits.
Left, an excellent range of the most
magnificent scissors you will ever see.
Right, wonderful needlebooks.

Vintage Sajou Albums are becoming
extremely desirable and sought after.
The two below would be from the
late 1800's and are crochet
albums/pattern booklets.
Clever needleworkers could also
use these designs for cross-stitching!


Next time, I will be showing three of
Frédérique Crestin-Billet's wonderful
books -
1. La folie des CISEAUX
2. Ouvrages de Dames - Mercerie, Broderie
and 3. Mercerie Au Rayon Des Fils -
à coudre - à broder
à repriser - à tricoter


♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

A love of all things French!

Bonjour!

We have a lot to thank the
French for - especially for
so many beautiful, decorative
needlework designs and items.

SAJOU
From 1830 to 1880, Jacques-Simon Sajou
was selling supplies of all types of
needlearts - and reached fame in
France and all of Europe.
Today, Frédérique Crestin-Billet
continues as the owner of Sajou and
presents the vintage designs and
articles as they were over a
hundred years ago.
Here is the website for you to
enjoy......... SAJOU!

You can also view the television
report - spoken in french - but
still a fabulous look into the world of
Sajou.

Below is one of the thread-winder
sets from Sajou.

The contents....

Here are some more
great French sites to enjoy -

Rouge
Coups de Coeur
E Comme Ecriture
Les Paniers - baskets
Idees
Machines - sewing machines

Viva la France!


---[XOX]---

A Pattern for You

I have a free pattern for
you for being so patient with
me!

I was fortunate to find a small
collection of vintage transfers in
an old Weldon's magazine just
recently, so I want to share
a fabulous vintage
crinoline lady transfer
pattern with you.

You could use this lovely design
for many different things.
Lots of linens, pillow shams, peg bags,
sewing bags, aprons, - sewing
and painting!


~~~~~~~~~~~~


I want to also draw your
attention to a delightful blog -
(how's your French?)

"Heritage brode de Victorine"

You will love the images even
if you don't understand French.
Or you could translate the page
via Google.
Enjoy!


...:::[[]]:::...

Children's Craft Sets

It is known by some of you

that I have a collection of children's
sewing sets and embroidery sets.
You can see them here and here
and here and here and here.
I also have many spool knitting sets
of which you can read about on
my SPOOLKNITTER blog.

It is also no secret that I adore
the Spears Games Knitting Nancy
(female form) and I am fortunate
to own some sets of these
as they are now becoming
highly sought
after and because of that
extremely expensive!

I thought I would share with
you another two craft sets which
are made
by Spears Games.

The Little Basket Worker below is
from the 1920's - 1930's and shows
delightful graphics on the top of the
box of three children making
their little baskets.


After all of these years, it still
has some of its contents.
On the box top it reads -
The Little Basket Worker
Spear's Improved Edition
Registered SPEAR'S GAMES
In Great Britain
Manufactured by
the Spear Works Bavaria
Designed in England
(no date)
The directions are under the lid.

Up until now, I had never seen a date on
any of the vintage Spear's Games sets.
It was certainly a big surprise when the
next set arrived.


Beads
and how to use them
A Pastime for Children
- and it further reads -
Registered SPEAR'S GAMES
Great Britain and Canada
Manufactured at
the Spear Works Bavaria
Designed in England
Copyright 1929

Another lovely picture
is shown on this box!
There are many wooden beads
still with the box and it also
contains its instructional leaflet.

I also cannot resist showing you an
advertisement shared with the above
leaflet.......

No doubt, I was very happy to find this!!

You can see many delightful games in the
book - Games We Play - History of
J.W. Spear & Sons and written by
Helmut Schwarz & Marion Faber
The text is English and the games
are those found in Germany,
lovely to look at and
read about!

You can find the book here.
Please note that it states
that you "Ask Francis" and not
use the button on the
"Buy the Book" page.
Francis Spear is a delightful
gentleman and will answer
your questions and be able
to send you your book.
A small photo from inside the book
is this sweet little sewing set
Puppenmutterchens Nahschute 1937
(Making Dolly's Dresses).

The paper dolls sets are delightful!... as are
so many of the games found in the book.


---:::[[]]:::---

Small Display

There will be a post
coming up shortly!




--ooOOoo--

Vintage Tatting Shuttles

This time we are taking a little look at
vintage tatting shuttles
found in a vintage
"Antiques Collector"
US magazine.

(click for larger image)

(click for larger image)(click for larger image)

*************