Monday, July 25, 2011

Found in France Giveaway

There's nothing better than going to France and digging out treasures - than the day the treasures arrive back in the states. Last year, I lost a box of beauties, it just never arrived - "fell off the truck" was all the shipping company could say. Meanwhile I envisioned some lucky person "finding" a box full of 18th and 19th century French fabrics and having a field day! So this week, when I got the call that the boxes were ready to be delivered, I dropped everything, and ran to the shop waiting patiently for everything to arrive safely.
It's such a thrill to open boxes and see old bits of French history come to life again in a whole new environment....17th century land deeds, hand scripted on paper that has been waxed so it can be reused for years; early 1800's silk pin cushion that advertised a cashmere company in Toulouse before the cashmere trade was shut down by the Marquis; a piece of primitive thistle fabric probably from the late 1700's (given to me by one of the guests at the chateau!); and even an old, turn of the century, wooden toy - which if used improperly could take a finger off. Unwrapping each item, I wondered how each had been kept safe for so many years, who had taken care of each small trinket and what history had been passed on with each treasure.
In anticipation of our upcoming month at French General, Found in France, I thought it would be fun to give away a box of old French treasures - old silk hat labels, bits of ribbon, beads, antique paper and some faded millinery flowers. Leave us a comment about your favorite find ever and we'll pick out a lucky winner or two to receive some of our luckiest finds this past summer in France. Thanks for playing along!

102 comments:

Darcy said...

I found a beautiful Victorian shadowbox containing a basket of silk, paper and velvet flowers. It is, by far, my favorite find!

Anonymous said...

Oh la la! Your generosity it humbleing. Thank you for being 'you'. katnov1957@aol.com

Cassie said...

My great-grandma's silver thimble with an E monogram that matches my married name, a small German lithographed cardboard sewing box with children in a goose cart, a homespun looking 19th century child's apron/pinafore with elaborate hemstitching, and a seashell sewing box souvenir from Puget Sound dating from 1909 are some of my favorites. But even little medicine bottles of antique beads, fragments of ribbons, and pearl buttons make my heart beat a little faster!

becky up the hill said...

One flea market day a few summers ago. I spied a box of what looked like Edwardian whites. It was not out on the table yet. I asked the seller if I could look through it and she happily said yes. Beautiful monogramed night gowns, with faded ribbons, baby gowns..to much to fathom. The seller said I could have the whole box for $40.00 dollars. I came home and I still remember opening the back of my van and squealing as I pulled out pantaloons, chemise, bloomers and a few shirtwaist. Some of the fabrics are starchy and a few like silky heaven. The youngest piece was a WW2 women’s uniform. Just researching that was a thrill.

Audrey said...

Going through my grandmother's garage and finding her 1960's sewing machine. It's ugly as sin, but it works like a charm! I love it!

Margaret said...

My current favorite find is an antique toy sewing machine, complete with all accoutrements and original box. It's so cute, and it works too!

Kara said...

One day when in NY on a vacation I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, just on the other side there were chalk signs on the sidewalk advertising a flea market, I followed the signs and was disappointed to see a few small tables set up, I didn't see much of interest, and what I did see was marked pretty high, but I found a junky old box, I opened it up and it was overflowing with old shell and jet buttons, crystals and rhinestone clips. I figured it was going to be expensive, but I asked how much, $5 was the response, I figured that was just for the box, but it turned out to be for the box and everything in it. I carried that box around with me all day, it was so dirty that some of the dirt never came off my shirt, but it's still a treasure and I still store some of those things in that junky old box.

Shane Pollard said...

Oh Kaari

How exciting - I'm drooling at the thought of French treasures!!!!

We would never find anything like that at our flea markets - I would be ecstatic to open such a gift!!!!
Then the fun of creating something beautiful and re-purposing - aaah!!!

Please enter my name and thank you for your sweet offer!

Shane

Leslie said...

Oh my I would love to win this box of goodies. My best find was sewing items that my mother had kept for many years and I didn't know about until after her death. I was able to incorporate them into art work that I made about her to keep my memories alive.

Jane, Naples, Florida said...

I found an old handstitched quilt
at my favorite thrift store. It is
the double wedding ring pattern.
The fabrics are from the 30's and 40's and I love it. They marked
it $8.99! It is my treasure!

Jane
Flora Doora

Anonymous said...

An elderly lady who volunteered at the shop where I used to work invited me to her house because she was cleaning out her garage. She wanted me to look through her boxes of books and take whatever I liked. There were tons of beautiful old hardcover books, some from as early as the 1800's. I kept showing her the ones I thought were the most special in case she didn't realize they were there, but she just kept saying "Take them! I'm going to throw them away if you don't." So then, I considered it my duty to "rescue" many of the books from being thrown in the trash. I ended up with a whole carload! I gave some away, but still have a large collection, and I think of that sweet old lady whenever I look at them.

Unknown said...

Finding a Featherweight machine at the Goodwill!!!

The French Bear said...

I would love to win this, how wonderful to have anything old and cherished from the past......I don't have anything from my Mom or Baba. I love the thought of having an old sewing box filled with memories.
Hugs,
Margaret B
xx

Birdie said...

I bought a beautiful Robin's egg blue Cashmere sweater at a Tag Sale and it wasn't until a few days later that I found attached to the inside of the sweater was a beautiful amber Cameo. Not sure why it was attached to the inside if the sweater but it was a treasure within a treasure.

Thank you for sharing your lovelies with the winner.

Laura @ 52 FLEA said...

OK, I must calm down...the very thought of a box full of French treasure is making my heart beat out of my chest! Since I am a flea market fanatic and have been a lover of all that is old since a girl...it is hard to decide which is my favorite...but, certainly, among my favorites are two wonderful old hats filled with delicate flowers, old linen and hemp sheets, tiny bits and bobs...oh phooey...I don't know...I need to have a glass of white to relax now. Thanks for a chance! :)

Denise said...

I just spent a month in Paris and purchased a really cool cake stand at a small shop in the Marais selling old plates and pastis bottles. It's from around 1900-not very large but really quite pretty and the shop owner also was very nice.

Bertie said...

Heartbreaking to hear your box "fell of the back of a lorry".

Finding a Turkish embroidered towel between a pile of old handkerchiefs in an antique shop, that made my day:)
Thank you for the opportunity.

jackie said...

Just this weekend I found the most awesome old velvet photo album.......I even blogged about it on saturday! It was in great shape and the color and hardware is not really worn to bad.
Thanks for the chance to win this wonderful giveaway! Hope I win...........

donna said...

A large first edition book of photographs by Alfred Stieglitz. Confession: found by a kind friend who thought of me.

Unknown said...

oh..this would be a dream come true! so many tres jolie tresors! now..my "best find ever?" wow....there have been many but i would have to say it was a french souvenir bracelet. I found it at a local flea market. it has all of the famous sites in France like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, etc Each is a silver charm on mother of pearl. it's gorgeous and...i got it for 15.00!!! Oh happy day and i remember it well! Merci for the opportunity to win this lovely giveaway!

Sheila said...

I found a box of the most beautiful and delicate antique lace at a yard sale. I used to take it out to swoon at the beauty, just me and my lace. Some time ago it was lost during a move. Much like your lost box of fabric, I've always wondered what the finder thought. I hope they love it as much as I did.

Laurie in Iowa said...

My favorite find was a silk drawstring purse with embroidered motifs. It's hangs from my stitching cupboard so that I can enjoy seeing it every day.
I'm so sorry to hear that a box of goodies fell off the truck. I do hope whoever found the box enjoyed the contents.

Laraine said...

I've been a greet lover of old samplers and have collected and stitched a few. When browsing a local antique store I spoted an old lettering sample in black and red. Not that attractive but I had to have it as it was completed on the 16th April 1867. The 16th of April is my birthday and I felt it was waiting just for me!

Rebecca D said...

While cleaning out my mother-in-law
's things, I found a handmade antique baby dress, and then found a picture of my father-in-law wearing it -he was a very cute, but masculine little guy in his baby dress; also found his baby book. What a treat to display them together- such a family treasure! Thanks so much for the "virtual" trip to France for those who couldn't be there.

Suzanne said...

I recently came across a box full of old metallic threads at a flea market for a small price and I still am thrilled with that find!

Stitched With Prayer said...

My hubby and I were at an estate sale too many years ago to mention and picked up a small figurine of a man and woman standing together, the woman with her arm in the gentleman's. Both are dress in very 17th century finery. It isn't something that stands out...the detail is such that you can tell it was not painted by a talented artist and it is only 3" tall. All the same, I loved it and it was marked 25 cents, so I picked it up. When we got home, my hubby looked closer at it and on the bottom is printed by hand, in small black painted letters "Made in occupied Japan". We took it back up to the family explaining that it was a rare piece and we didn't feel good about taking it from them and the young husband and wife team selling their grandparents possessions said "It looks like junk to us". We talked to them further and discovered that the man who had passed away had brought some items back from Japan after being there in the military, but they didn't want any of it. We felt it was very sad that the family didn't realize the importance of those items and we didn't purchase any others, but we came home with the piece we had tried to return and it has been kept in a 'place of honor' in our home for over 30 years. Though it isn't beautiful, it remains my favorite find ever. Hugs...

deanna7trees said...

a beautiful indigo dress that looked brand new at the thrift store. made it into a blouse and will use the rest in a quilt. thank you for including me.

Anonymous said...

A box of old photos of my grandmother at college in the 1920's. She was studying to be a school teacher. There were photos of my grandparents on the beach in Atlantic City in the '20's. Nana was in her sailor dress with stockings and Pop in his bathing suit.

Kathy G

Ruth Ann said...

I have spent many months cleaning out my parents' home. It would be hard to name just one found treasure. I did find my dad's razor from WWII. It is in a silverplate case with USN on top. I am proud of his service and treasure the razor!
I would love to win the box of French treasures!!

Robin Sanchez said...

Oh what a fun give a way!!

I work in a retirement community and when one of the residents passed away her daughter gave me all the clothing in her hope chest. It was vintage clothing of her well-to-do grandmother made in Paris. My favorite is a cream color floor length jacket of handmade lace lined with silk. It is to die for. The daughter said take it all. I was in heaven!!!
Robin
ltlblonde@sbcglboal.net

JudyAnne said...

Its hard to say, most recently a beautiful perfect pink glass vase.

Jenni said...

So love following your blog to hear tell of your great finds. I have 2 favorite finds- one was at my gramdmother's house after she moved to my hometown many years ago. I found a sampler which was in less than perfect condition but had been completed by her grandmother before she'd left England for Australia. It had at one time been stored under apples and had some stains but I had it carefully framed and for something from 1837 that has travelled the world - it looks good. Gran then gave me two other increasingly finer ones completed by her grandmother so now I have a set of 3.
A few years ago in China I was in a market in Xian when I found a stall selling all kinds of things. In a corner was a pile of fabric - I noted the stall as we were hurrying to a temple and I couldn't stop then. Later I found the stall again and when I found the fabrics I discovered old embroideries. At the bootom of the pile I found a really old piece of a temple hanging which was gold and heavily embroidered with dragons and water. I bargained hard and had to walk away twice before I got it. Later, speaking to our translator I found that it must have been important as yellow cloth (silk) was reserved for nobility and of course the dragon is also symbolic of the Emperor. It is only a fragment but I treasure it.

Sherri said...

My favorite "find" was receiving three dresden plate quilt blocks pieced by my great great great grandmother. I was able to applique them to background fabrics and consider them treasures. Some old wooden spools found in my great grandmothers sewing table drawer were another treasured find!

Sewing In CT said...

We had an Easter tradition at my brother's house. There was an antique shop, where we would visit. Everything my sister liked or loved in that shop was never for sale. One year i found a very old white linen table cloth and 12 napkins with mine and my husband's initials. It was the only time any of us ever bought anything there. For me it couldn't get anymore perfect.

Lori said...

I don't have much in the way of "found" treasures, but I did find my grandmother's thimble when we were moving my mom about 2 years ago. That is something special to me.
Thanks for the opportunity to win some treasures.

Gina said...

This one is easy. I found an autograph book from a young woman in a Swiss university from the 1920s. On the page opposite the autograph is a small photograph of the person. The book fell open to a picture of a beautiful woman sitting on a big old couch covered with tapestries sitting on an oriental rug. It looked straight out of Sigmund Freud's office. On a whim, I googled the woman's name. It turns out that she and her husband were both psychoanalysts who studied WITH FREUD, and that they emigrated to the United States before WWII and had a son. The son is a professor of psychiatry at Tufts. I emailed him the picture and the autograph message and it was his mother!

Josephine's Girl said...

My husband's grandmother's sewing machine was given to me by his mother. The machine, a White, was made in the teens and is encased in a beautiful cabinet that I am currently refinishing -- the wood work is amazing -- the hardware is sweet -- it has a bronze pull on the door that reminds me of a woman wearing the perfect earrings. The machine is a site to behold; it's black and embossed with metal flowers -- all it's feet are neatly contained in a metal box. All that beauty and then I realize that that machine has seen my mother-in-law's mother, my mother-in-law, and my sisters-in-law through prom dresses, wedding gowns and a host of other events, including the family's everyday mending. I wish the machine could talk; but I'll have to be content to let it keep its secrets. It's an honor to have this family heirloom; and I'm thrilled to be the seamstress and caretaker of such a treasure.

Cheryl Carey Bass said...

Best find I've found so far is a vintage "Gone With the Wind" movie poster. It was wrapped up with some old rolls of Christmas wrap out in the garage. I don't know how I happened upon it. It must've been my lucky day! I'm keeping that sucker.

Stephanie M. said...

My favorite find would be my great grandmothers tea cup collection, just love them. Would love to win the box of French treasures! Merci, Stephanie

Connecticut Chronichols said...

I can think of two favorite finds. The first was found several years ago at a flea market. A vintage grandma's flower garden quilt top in mint condition. I think it was completed and put away. I still need to turn it into a finished quilt. The second and my best find ever was an old felt needle book that my great aunt made. I never met her but I feel very connected to her whenever I sit down to stitch on a quilt binding, using the little needle book with her initials on it. Thanks for an amazing give away.
Sue suebasket at aol dot com

Nancy Wethington said...

Other than unearthing family treasures, my favorite find was a velvet box that opened to reveal pearl handled fish knives. I had seen something like these in France before but was unable to purchase them. Years later, I found them at a flea market in St. Louis MO and couldn't resist.

Del said...

A silver tea set in a box from my husbands grandmothers military travels.

It is wonderful!

Cathy said...

I finally looked through a box of my baby items that my Mom had given me. I found a baby dress, some glass jars (the kind that they use to put cotton balls, q-tips etc in), an embroidered piggy that someone gave me and a few other treasured items. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

Anonymous said...

A little blue and white bowl in an antique shop in Sorrento Italy. I was smitten with it and snuck out of the hotel and went back and got it just as they were locking up for the night.
And a French provincial budoir chair I got for $10 at an antique store in Dewey, Ok. The fabric is blue green with a pineapple motif. My brother said it looked like it had been dragged behind a truck. He doesn't appreciate antiques!
Bette Anderson

Mary said...

Upon leaving a quilt shop in NYC a girlfriend & I saw a sign indicating a flea market with an arrow pointing the way. Of course we followed the sign into what was once a 2 level parking garage. Banquet size tables were set up in rows, items placed on the tables without regard to merchandising, some tables the items were in piles. Almost all the way through we happened upon a woman selling all types of notions. We purchased a box of 1940's era wrapping paper, brown & blue velvet ribbon marked Made in France & still on the paper bobbins and a box of Mourning Pins, intact. The next table over revealed 4 match boxes with the same intricate & 3 dimensional medallions decorating the top of the boxes. The size is perfect for pins or needles.

Leslie said...

My favorite recent find are the Morris and Co. stamps published by the Royal Mail. Beautiful! Thank you for the give away.

Anonymous said...

I think my favorite find has been linens found in my great aunt's estate. She had beautiful handkerchiefs, embroidered and edged with lace, tucked away.

Celeste in CA

studiohannafin said...

Years back, I found an old thread cabinet (which was used in a fabric store)in an antique barn in upstate New York. It was made of tin/metal, had four drawers which held at least 200 spools of thread. I repurposed the cabinet to hold crafting supplies such as vintage ribbons and buttons

Mary said...

An antique marble top table that had been in my family for generations is my favorite. It may not count as a find to some, but no one knew what had happened to it. I found it buried in my parents' garage under boxes and lint from the clothes drier.

Was the box that just arrived the box that was lost last year?

Traditions said...

Oh, oh, oh! What beauty! It's so hard to find the things my heart craves. When I do find them, alas, they're beyond my budget. I find that often I live vicariously through French General!

Ruth B said...

My favorite find was in a thrift shop. I wasn't really looking for anything in particular but when I was browsing a pile of household things I saw a bit of an embroidery design. I dug down to see what it was and there were 2 printed round white tablecloths in a bag for $2.00! Woohoo! They are so lovely and vintage and just the kind of thing I liked to embroider when I was a little girl. A treasure.

The Little Forest, handmade said...

My sister lives in Sweden and I love going to the "loppis" there. I found chandeliers, a cute chair, beautiful tea cups but my favorite piece is a very elegant side table and it was only 8 euros! Had some troubles fitting it in my car but I had to have it.

The Rambling Papercrafter said...

I think my favorite find was a copy of Peter Rabbit in Latin.

Dorian Fletcher said...

I found a rather beat up old music box at a flea market for $1.00. I was going to use the gilt flowers and butterfly on a stem for a craft project, thinking the music box did not work. When I got home and moved the stem with the butterfly, a slight tinkle told me I found the winding mechanism. I was too delighted to find "La Vie en Rose" was the sweet song it played. It now sits in a place of honor in my studio

Emma said...

Local estate sales always produce treasures. I've found linen sheets, French ribbons & laces, 1800s garments, quilts, fabrics, notions, photos and the list goes on. Thank you for offering the treasure box..I NEED it!

Gill said...

When my Mum died I found a fob watch belonging to my grandmother - it was engraved with her initials which happen to be my daughter's initials as well!

Beth in NEPA said...

I have been pretty lucky because I am constantly in search of treasures at flea markets, yard sales and the like. Probably my absolute favorite find was a series of Children's books I had as a child but were lost over the years. As I sat down to read the books after all that time I was transported back to my child hood for one magical afternoon.
Thanks for doing this special giveaway.

Heather @ The Beating Hearth said...

It has to be a picture of my Grandma when she was about 17 I'd say. She looks just like a movie star from the 40's.

Noga Malachi said...

Wonderful! My favorite finds are Kahla porcelain dishes... I love to win this giveaway and to combine these lovely finds in my fabric birds.. Thank you for the opportunity!

kclily said...

I found a rotary dial telephone at a garage sale. It is from Greece, mounted in a piece of alabaster. The alabaster is sitting on top of a silver plated engraved pedestal that is 3 foot tall. The nice part is the phone still works....but no caller ID!! Definitely my favorite find.

Barbara said...

I bought a beautiful old treadle sewing machine at an auction and was pleased to find all the accessories with a great little oiling can in one of the drawers - all in perfect condition.

Kathy Hatz said...

When moving my parents, my mother wanted me to get rid of the things in her hope chest. Among themI discovered an old thread box with her beautiful long curls from her first haircut, a handmade baby dress and black leather baby shoes. Priceless....

Thank you for your generosity in sharing your lovely French treasures. They will be cherished by the lucky recipient.

sactovlr said...

A toile quilt in a pile of blah beddings at a local flea market...you would of though I found the Hope Diamond! PS - Love Wendy Addison! Thanks for having this delightful give-away!

The QM said...

My favorite treasure, found in broken down wooden box, was a silver dressing mirror and hair brush. Simply beautiful! The owner of the junk shop hadn't even realized it was there until I brought it to the register to make my purchase. Surprises of this kind are my favorite. Love the give away! (And have loved "being" in France with you this summer.)

Suzie Button said...

Oh, my favorite find... hmmm.... It would probably be a gorgeous southern lady stitched on a vintage bed cover that I turned into a wall hanging! Thanks for a chance to win! Susan purrpage3 at verizon dot net

beadgirl said...

After a childhood (and adolescence) spent rooting through my mom's buttons, fabric, and jewelry box, I have a number of sentimental objects -- a tiny broken fleur-de-lis, a silver bell from her charm bracelet that is now on mine, fabric from the baby quilts she made me (most of which, alas, are gone now).

Lyn said...

My favorite find was a set of the original 1930s patterns from the newspaper for the Ruby McKim Fruit Basket quilt, along with the vintage fabric kit of solid colors which you could order from the newspaper. I'd never seen the fabric with the patterns before, and it's still one of my favorite things. One day, perhaps, I will make the quilt using the original fabric.

Anonymous said...

kAaRi, i so agree with you about treasures from the past and what stories they can tell. i am so happy your french treasures came back to you. i have never been to france but hope to do so someday. thank you for your generous spirit. franc

Anne said...

The best and by far most memorable find was an old friend that I had lost contact with at the age of 14. After years of searching and coming close to giving up, out of the blue I get a call. OMG it can't be...She was on the other end. We screamed and cried like the young girls that parted years ago. Our conversation continued for 4 hours like no time at all had passed. We laughed until our sides hurt and cheeks were sore. We remain in touch today. Not letting time separate us again. When I thought it couldn't get any better...we both signed up with an ISP to chat. This was in 1990 when "you've got mail" was an addiction. Out of curiosity we searched for others that we had lost contact with over the years. To my amazement and much excitement we found a boy...now a man, whom I crushed over from a distance and was a mutual friend when we were all much younger. That first "IM" was very hard to send...after a little sweat and a few shorter fingernails...I did it! I sent it and fought turning off the computer so that I would not have to face rejection. I walked away and came back. To my amazement and utter JOY he responded. We began talking and chatting the three of us on a daily basis and not long after we started dating.Although it was a only a 5 year long distance courtship and many great traveling adventures it was the greatest and most fun loving relationship I have ever had. We still remain very good friends to this day and laugh together like crazy fools. The three of us get together as often as the Lord is willing to allow us. I am so grateful for this treasure :O). The love of precious friends.

Brenda Turner said...

My grandmother's woven metal purse with fringe! It's beautiful and some of the colors are still visible.

Charmingdesigns said...

Oh how I would love to win! I love hearing your stories of your trip. My favorite find is some shell buttons that my grandmother had snipped off a sweater that had a hole in it. She saved everything that was useful

Danee said...

I have yet to begun the hunt like most as I stay home with the kids but my hubby flies for Fed Ex and Paris is his favorite destination. I have sent him to the flea markets a few time and he brings random but sweet little things home… a beautiful ribbon, some vintage pharmacy labels, a note…..seridipity

Vicki K. said...

While helping a friend clear out her closet, we came across her grandmother's box of old labels and 'horn of plenty' style Autumn seals and sweet chicks and bunny seals. They were of NO value to her and she let me take the whole thing!

Amy B said...

Ooh la la -- a most generous giveaway! One of my favorite "finds" was a vintage paper mache jack-o-lantern with in-tact paper face in perfect condition at a neighbor's yard sale. She gave it to me gratis...not even allowing me to pay the $1.00 she had priced. - Amy Bauer

Dee said...

i wish I could have been there when the truck came! How fun!

It's All Sew Pretty Wonderful said...

I have enjoyed reading all the comments! Even though I was lucky enough to be there with you, when you dug through dust and rust, I still want to participate! lol. My favorite find was an old wooden box on a young man's trailer at a flea market. I could tell he was getting rid of a deceased loved one's "junk". The small box was covered in, oil, grease and had old screws and nuts in it. I could tell through the yuck that it had advertising with my family name "Wilson & Co"...It was from a meat packing company that was open between 1916-1960.it 's been my favorite so far. I keep all my vintage button cards in it on a special place in my sewing room. So worth the 2 bucks I paid for it! =)

cakegirl said...

40 years ago I found a large carton of Quimper at a garage sale. The price, $1.00. Thank you for sharing your finds.

Diane said...

I was going through an old treasure box when i found an old letter that was addressed to me but never opened. The date was june 1966. I opened it up and it was the sweetest letter to me from my mother who was sick and far away. She wanted to know who had combed my hair and was I wearing my favorite blue dress. Had someone put my unicorn pin on for me.It was the dearest letter and I treasure it still.

Diane

Juels said...

I found a handwoven linen tablerunner in a little antique store in a small town in Washington. It was a Summer and Winter pattern and woven with very very fine threads - probably 90 threads to the inch. It is in great condition and I love it! I'm sure someone did not understand the amount of work it took their greatgrandparent to make this very special piece. But I did.

Susan said...

I guess my favourite find was in my mother's cupboard - 2 samplers she had done in her teens - nothing special, but she did them, and that makes them special to me. I haven't found any bargains at flea markets, but that doesn't stop me from looking. I would love to hunt for treasure in France someday soon.
Thanks for the chance to win this delightful box of treasure.

Jacky said...

My favourite find was an old padded japanese kimono with a lovely chrysanthemum design....just hanging in a second hand shop...I swooped on it of course.
The fabric is very fragile, but is in wonderful condition nevertheless. Beautiful hand stitching and hidden inside (for padding) more fabric treasures.
It made me swoon.

Jacky xox

Lee said...

helping my dad move I found some of my great grandmothers hand tatted napkins used to wrap up some sweet ceramic birds. So fun to find! What a sweet giveaway!
Merci!

Sherie Graysmark said...

While shopping at the Santa Cruz, California Flea Market my sister in law and I purchased a box of very old buttons. As we returned to our little rented house we spent two days looking through the beads, cleaning and talking about the jewelry projects we could do. We decided to meet up again in two weeks and make fun jewelry pieces out of our find. We made so many unusual wonderful pieces for different people in the family thinking about what each person would like. Every time I wear my pieces I think about those wonderful weekends we spent drinking wine, laughing and creating.

Chris Gray said...

I found a load of delightful bits myself this year....buttons, hand-made lace, old needles....

...but I'd still love to have a few more bits if there's a chance :-)

nonnie said...

what a fabulous giveaway...my favorite find was from a flea market in a little town in northern minnesota...not expensive, not a lot of value i am sure...but i love it...a blue glass mermaid trinket dish...i keep straight pins in it...very whimsical, cute face...makes me smile every time I glance at her...thanks for the chance to win!

angelework said...

One of my favorite finds was an estate sale treasure. It was a tiny paper packet with the name of a French shop. Inside, several beautiful lace medallions. And written in pretty blue script on the back of the packet was, "For my caps, when I am old and bald." I imagined some beautiful young girl with long golden curls laughing as she wrote that, after purching the lace on her honeymoon to France.

Anonymous said...

My favorite find was actually an old quilt that was gifted to me by my Aunt Marie, she was married to my dad's oldest brother. My dad's mother had handstitched quilts for each child in her family, in which there were six children. Since I was the second child in my family, my dad's quilt was given to my older brother. When my uncle died, my aunt sent his quilt to me! It was wrinkled up and hadn't been washed in years, but with a gentle handwashing and hanging it out in the sun to dry the beautiful Star of Texas pattern appeared in all its glory! I am very proud to have had a piece of my family's stitching heritage! Thank you for the nice give-away!

Julie B.
tabbytribe@earthlink.net

Christie McGetrick said...

So glad you all are back safe and sound. My favorite treasures are usually old books I find here and there.

Would love to have some wonderful treasures from France.

Cathy said...

I do love "stuff" & would be ecstatic & grateful to receive your giveaway.

I must say, my favorite "find" is the 9 kitty cats that I've adopted over the years, they were all foundlings & I still have 5 :)

Lilla said...

Kaari, thanks for email and for including me in the give away. Love to win the box of goodies. Crossing my fingers and toes
love and aloha Lilla

Anonymous said...

Discovering very old jewelry that belonged to my husband's grandmother--- absolutely precious!
Thanks for the fun contest.
ditetre(at)mac(dot)com

Karen Piehl said...

my favorite find is the next one!

love your blog and have many of your fabrics in my collection, love, karen
primspirit@gmail.com

Linda said...

One find I was thrilled with was an entire box oF my favoraite Dennison red labels. Thank you a chance at your lovely giveaway!

Maminka Girl - Loribeth Robare said...

I will never forget the sight of a stack of old tablecloths many years ago at a yardsale. This was before such things were so popular. the lady selling them only wanted $1 each and was so happy to get rid of them! I still use each one every day.

Texasgal said...

A box of French treasures - the thought makes me giddy! My favorite find this year is a tiny mechanical bird perched in a gilded cage that sings his heart out when wound up. Always makes me smile!

Alexandra said...

I am an avid book collector, so one of my favorite finds was a copy of Martha Finley's "Elsie's Holiday" published in 1893. "Elsie's Holiday" is the second in the Elsie Dinsmore series by the same author. I remember seeing it sit on my grandmother's shelf for years, my earliest memory of it was at age 8. She was clearing through her books a couple of years ago and I was given it. Another great find was given me by my godmother. A large white antique trunk, tin on the outside and teak on the inside.

Valita said...

Oh Fun Kari!
I can't wait to attend your week in france with you next year but until then a box of treasures would be amazing.

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness! I love this. My greatest find ever was probably more of a "given" to me. My grandmother (deceased) had an old bone tea set from Germany and it has since been passed on to me. It's beautiful, historical, and German, and I love it so much. :)

Babsarella said...

Oh what lovely treasures!! My favorite find is a small photo book filled with tiny tin-type photos. I love it!!

Anna B said...

My friend and I went to NY. We both love beaded fruit and hoped to find some even though it was expensive. Well we found it, we were so excited. A wonderful variegated pineapple. It was $36 which seemed so high to pay for one piece. But we were in NY and found it together which made it even more special. We bought it and decided we would share it, six
months for her and six months for me. After many years our collection of beaded fruit has grown,we still get excited to see it and love it all.

Patsy said...

I always think about the past life of objects I treasure and have found at estate, garage and rummage sales. It is often bittersweet to attend an estate sale and I always try to honor the previous owner in my thoughts for what is now my treasured item. I also can't help but think of the day when someone will, hopefully, do the same at my own estate sale and think of me a little when they become the new owners of my treasured items.

Dear Jo said...

Nothing is more lovely then finding things from the past. Living in an old house with a big attick, I still find little treasures whenever I start re-organizing there. I collect my treasures and give them a place in the living room. They remind me of my mother-in-law who I never got to know and of the history of this house build in 1902.