Saturday 18 August 2007

16è grande Foire à la Brocante à Ribérac

Edit - heading has been altered.  It wasn't the 19th, but the 16th and, yet again, I got my French wrong!  Think I'll give up trying :-). 

This is one day in the calendar that is kept clear.

The first year we were here we bought the huge armoire in the salon and a beautiful Art Deco carving set. Since then there has been not much to write home about. Prices are rocketing and it is more of an amble round the stalls constantly saying "I wish".

Today there were quite a few stalls selling antique fabrics - the beautifully embroidered linen sheets, night clothes, French toile, curtain fabric, upholstery etc. The prices are "don't even think about it" level, but there were some stunning pieces.

Take this for instance. The prices was 250 Euro. The material in the centre is over 200 years old. It has been hand quilted. Not in a fancy design, just to keep it together. There was an English woman and her Mum looking at it. They were quilters cos they were talking about backing and basting (don't you long to join in!!) and when they had finished verbally taking it to pieces I managed to get a look at it. That's when I found out how much the stall holder was asking. It screams out for sympathetic restoration, but not at that price.


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There was another stall selling antique quilts - prices weren't as high, but the quilts weren't in such good condition. Still out of my reach though.

How much do antique quilts sell for in the US? Nothing less than about 100 Euro over here. Fabric is usually in one piece and the quilting is exquisite in some cases.

Funnily enough. Whilst I was rummaging about on a stall having a field day going through musty fabrics, there was a woman standing next to me buying a really heavy brocade. Alex and I edged a little closer trying to catch what she was saying as she said she wanted this heavily embroidered, weigh a ton fabric for "patchwork". Wonder what she is going to do with it? Hang that on the wall and it will pull the wall fixings out! Sleep under it and you are liable to suffocate!

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And then oh joy of joys. The rummage produced something that really did hit me in the eye. 5 Euro this was. I'm not going to cut it, just baste it, back it and then hand quilt it to produce a wall hanging. Black border don't you think?

Fanfare please - Little Acorns is quilted. Although pleased with it, making this quilt has really dragged me down. Don't know why, but it has made me feel a bit depressed. Now to get it bound, washed and parcelled up and then perhaps the feeling will go when I start piecing Tamzin's quilt.

DS-D and her partner arrive tomorrow lunchtime at Angouleme so won't be around much until the latter part of next week.

Hope you are having a good weekend.

8 comments:

Cheri said...

Such a wonderful wall hanging that will make! I'm glad you got to bring something home after all that wistful looking.

Vivi said...

Is it the weekend? Working without office hours makes all the days blend together! That piece is going to make a gorgeous wall hanging! I'm no quilt expert but I think a black border will be very nice. And congrats on Little Acorn! Are you depressed because you're finished or were you depressed working on it?

Lily said...

Clare well done on your finish. Sorry you didn't enjoy the experience as much as you would have liked. Love that fabric you picked up - and yes, 5 Euro is much more within my price range too! Have fun with it :)

Finn said...

Hi Clare, I love your piece of rummage! I think preparing it and quilting it as is, would be perfect. Very artistic piece and it can certainly stand alone. Just left you a comment down on Aug. 4th, not sure if you get notified of a new comment or not.
Glad you are finished with Little Acorns. Sometimes it's hard to know why a piece affects us, whether good or badly, bless it and send it on it's way..better days ahead! Hugs, Finn

Tonya R said...

I hate seeing all sorts of cool stuff, none of which I can afford. sorry that it's been a drag finishing off Acorns. Bet it's fabulous tho!

Bobby (UK) said...

Love your fabric Clare - such sumptuous colours - black will set it off a treat! I admire your self-control in not joining in the 'patchwork conversation' - I couldn't have stopped myself LOL! I empathise too about your feelings of depression - it's happenned to me in the past and I've no idea why. Keep smiling, my friend. Big hugs!

Angela said...

Oooh -- that fabric is lovely and yes, black borders to set it off. What a fun wall hanging -- and you know, I have a wall that would simply love it...(joking!). What a great find!

WiP Wednesday : 23-04-2008 « DORDOGNE QUILTER said...

[...] Remember Ab Fab? The fabric I got at Riberac Brocante last year. [...]