there are some people who tend to buy their souvenirs ready made...
and then there are not
i am a "not"
i went with a list... and came home with it all
new and vintage lace
the new
from truro cornwall
the vintage
i have had a thing for monograms
since i was a very little girl
such an elegant name-tag
i have been studying them for years and was thrilled when victoria magazine devoted a whole issue to them earlier this year
twenty-five years ago i bought a special piece of linen, thread and an italian cutwork book so i could make something monogrammed - i am almost ready to tackle it... but in the meantime i buy them when i see them and can afford it
more vintage
i found my vintage lace in york
english floral fabric
"woolens"
also from cornwall
i couldn't buy much of this, not sure what i am doing with it knowing i am allergic, but i loved it too much to leave it behind - i'm tempted to fringe it and leave it whole...
tweed
"glenlyon from aberfeldy"
the colours influenced by the surrounding glen (valley)
so said the charming young man in full highland regalia (he wore his kilt sooo well) who was curious as to what i would make with it
i told him i had no idea but that i would likely pet it every day until i decided
dark mother of pearl buttons from a charity shop in stow-on-the-wold
a tiny bracelet bought for 50p in a charity shop to be cut up for parts... now i am not sure i can bring myself to do it...
corset hooks from john lewis in london - a truly wonderful shop!
lace, also from john lewis
another bracelet from a charity shop bought for parts
teeny, tiny little polka dot buttons to make more of these...
vintage buttons from duttons for buttons in york
this beauty was also bought in york
a pewter rose button purchased in inverness on the way to the bus station to go tillicoultry
i will always think of that day when i look at this button - it will have to go on something very special i think
from tourist information in dover, kent
i couldn't help myself - i love the red, white and blue
i really badly wanted to buy a length of flag bunting but it was just so expensive and by that time i had spent my budget - so i contented myself with these pretties and i'll make my own
and now, the shirt...
one thing on my list was men's shirting fabric
one thing on my to do list was to visit savile row
the geographic society was there, at #1
(think mt. everest expeditions)
the beatle's apple offices at #3
(think their last live performance on the roof top )
and men's bespoke tailoring in the shops
there was just no time so it's at the top of my list for the next trip
i didn't come home quite empty-handed though
in a charity shop in stow, i found a brand new pin-striped one hundred percent cotton men's shirt
for only two pounds
perfect!
i'll cut the buttons off and take it apart
that night in the b & b as i pulled the day's finds from my bag, marc pounced on the shirt immediately
he also knows a good men's shirt when he sees one...
"you bought me a shirt" he grinned
"ah, er... well, no i didn't"
"it's for fabric"
completely ignoring me he did his own version of tom cruise in risky business and fairly danced around the b & b, buttoning it up as he went
thankfully i had bought this size...
and it was too big!
fast forward to another charity shop in york...
and another just as nice plaid shirt, brand new, complete with tags
only three pounds
nicer buttons on this one
(i am a more discerning shirt-for-parts shopper now)
and thank heavens it was a small
so there you have it, some of my favourite treasures from our grand tour
i know i am not alone in not buying my treasures from foreign lands ready-made
as we passed through canadian customs i had to explain to the fellow there just what i had brought back with me
i got as far as fabric, ribbon, lace, buttons and he smiled, stamped my card and welcomed me home