Tales From the Flea Market: Episode 3 Fabrics, Textiles and Embellishments – First Sunday of the Month
With today being dubbed Vintage Green Day, we think it is a great
idea to promote GREEN Shopping. Our favorite way is with vintage, of
course. Join our special guest Cindy Cooper as she brings us Episode 3
of Tales from the Flea Market straight from Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire.
On
this trip to the Alameda, the focus is on Fabrics, Textiles and Embellishments.
Out
there are many incredible vintage fabrics and textiles and the possibilities of
re-working, re-purposing and re-using are endless. You don’t see this type of quality and workmanship
in today’s cloth. The cottons and linens in particular offer a subtle
softness. I collect vintage pillowcases
for just this reason – they are so perfectly soft and look great on the bed all
mixed up. It’s original, comfy and pretty all at the same time.
Like
jewelry, fabrics show in time frames. The
Victorian era showed us amazing re-inspired damasks, lace and velvets. The 40’s brought bold bark cloth. The 60’s
introduced us to groovy paisleys and patterns on everything and this is also
about the time wear-able polyester came into play. Who wants to remember the PPO’s (polyester
pull-ons)? You know the ones – thick polyester with a slight flair, elastic
waist and a seam right down the front.
It seemed light blue was the favorite PPO color. Having a bad flashback.
Every
time I’m at Alameda I stop by Euro-Linens – www.euro-linens.com. Their set-up and offerings thrill me every
time and every single piece is original ranging from 35 – 135 years old. They
have vintage French linens made into pillows, and other boudoir comforts. Those O M initials in the picture below are
cross-stitched in red thread! The workmanship is splendid and the prices
very reasonable and more than that –they are striking!
European Linens – Row C on the corner next
to George. You’ll see em.
Inside European Linens – One space
to the right on Row C– Alameda.
I
haven’t been getting too far past the front gate lately so after the Euro-Lines
stop by I’m heading straight for the outskirts of Alameda – Something wild like
Rows U-Z to see what I’m sure, I’m missing.
Oh
wait – before I can head to the outer banks, I want to go by what I call embellishment
central. Embellishments can be anything that adds design interest to a piece and here you can find all
kinds. Monopoly pieces, plastic
checkers, doll heads, keys, drawer pulls, fixtures and even numbers and letters
are available for as low as one dollar. Many
collage artists and scrapbookers delight in the small and original chotchke
items this vendor has to offer. Fun
stuff. I picked up a blue plastic
princess phone key chain which is a replica to one I received in Kindergarten
for learning my alphabet. Ma Bell used to give them out as swag. I also bought
my friend Rita a majong piece with her favorite number. Oh and a gold drapery
tassel with cording that will make a beautiful trim embellishment on a pillow
perhaps.
Alameda Row G - $1 chotckes and more!
Moving on up the rows, I spot Jennifer Saxton
and her linens. She embraces the notion
of re-cycle, re-do, re-find and even has her own children’s clothing line, Princess.
Princess features little jackets and dress sets made from some of the most
sweetly colored cloth – some chenille, some florals – all darling. I was most intrigued with a beautiful piece
of bark cloth (circa 1940’s) that made me want to reupholster everything in my
home. The peacock blue, the fuchsia pink
– all so vibrant.
Jennifer Saxton Vintage Fabrics &
Princess Collection
Now, clothing at the flea market is hot - there
certainly are some fantastic finds that can be worn as is or re-purposed into
something even more fabulously wear-able.
Hats, sweaters, coats, dresses, shoes and more are plentifully found at
Alameda. What’s fun about vintage
clothing are the fabrics, patterns and built-to-last quality typical of vintage
workmanship. I swear this is where designers and retailers such as
Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters and the like get their inspiration.
As you can tell – there is much to be found
and as usual I’ve hit just the tip of the Alameda iceberg.
Stay Tuned – Tales from the Flea Market will next
take on furniture finding and re-purposing or re-inventing finds. Last month we
ran out of time to check out the loading zone – I’ll get to it maybe next time
or the time after that. Also, I’m
planning a Rose Bowl run the second Sunday in April. I’m literally weak in the knees thinking
about what I’ll discover.
- Cindy Cooper
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About the Flea Market - Alameda
The Alameda
Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire or simply “Alameda” if you are in the
know, offers a stunning array of vintage finds from jewels to furniture to
collectibles and everything and I do mean everything in between.
I’ve been foraging Alameda for about eight years with stunning success and much happiness. I love everything about this monthly event - the wares, the people, the typically cold weather and the view of San Francisco Bay Bridge and skyline. This market is second only to the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena! Fabulous.
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Vintage Indie is happy to welcome Cindy Cooper as our newest
Guest Contributor. She'll be joining us for "Tales From the Flea
Market" a new series sharing real life stories of trips to the flea
market. Cindy Cooper is also a vintage jewelry aficionado and would
love to help answer your vintage jewelry questions.
Alameda is THE best!!! It's almost overwhelming there are so many beautiful things there...even the surroundings are beautiful, with the Bay Bridge in the background!!!
Posted by: Cindy~My Romantic Home | April 23, 2009 at 09:25 AM