Little Grey Rabbit and Friends

When my Grandma was an adult (not quite sure which decade), she bought herself a toy rabbit to sit on her bed. Our family were not very soft-toy adults - I don't think many adults were in those days. And certainly, when I saw the grey rabbit on Grandma's bed, I knew she was actually destined for me. I think I remember being amazed at my audacity in claiming her, and also quite surprised that my Grandma handed her over so indulgently!
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The thing is that I knew who this grey rabbit was. She was Little Grey Rabbit, my favourite character from Alison Uttley's wonderful stories, illustrated by Margaret Tempest.
But she needed to be dressed.

Grandma, my mum and I did quite a good job between us! She wore an old baby dress of mine - did I really have MOP buttons as a baby, or did I add them on later? Not sure.

And one of the adults sewed her a blue apron, which I later converted into a pinny when my sewing skills improved - note use of vintage hooks and eyes.

One of the adults mended her feet at one point - thank you!

And I frequently sewed up her neck, tail and ears!I'm astonished to find her so battered and faded. She doesn't look quite that shabby in my memory. I've just put all her clothes into the wash...

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The boys had favourite toys of their own, of course. Here is Donkey Blue, a short-lived offering from the Early Learning Centre. I know they only offered him briefly, because when he became indispensable to Son 1 we went to buy a second and they'd stopped selling him! Lots of mummy-mends on him, too...

And here is Tigger. Didn't recognise him? He's faded a bit over time, too.He is actually still indispensable to Son 2, who's having a bit of a struggle adjusting to secondary school. It's amazing the comfort we derive from our toys.

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PS For a bit of good news about Haiti, have a look here!

Nostalgia

I was looking for quite a different book today when I found this scrapbook, which has been in my proud posession since I was two or three (note my second birthday card on the front!). I don't remember putting it together with my mother, but I do remember looking through it with her at various stages in my childhood, and asking her about why I'd chosen particular pictures. I remember this little Christmas girl very well.

Here's a little Scottish boy - some years later we moved to Scotland for a while, and I wondered if we'd need Eskimo clothes!Most of these were obviously from cards sent to me or the family in the very early 1970s.But there were some magazine and newspaper cuttings too - I was obviously very taken with the 'live' Beatrix Potter characters.I think I thought this little girl looked like me, but I can see now why my mum never thought so.This was quite mature taste for a tiny girl, wasn't it?Someone drew the donkey picture by hand. It's initialled M.C. but I don't know if we knew the artist.I must have quite liked donkeys. Son 1's favourite toy was a blue donkey, so it's obviously carried on....Still like that donkey best...And these dogs are textured! I can see why a little girl loved them.Some favourite British and American childhood friends, here.And look at those blue flowers - I still love them!

Fantastic, surely already dated, child on her bike, and a mum and baby - a great image for a mother and daughter making a scrapbook together. I am so delighted that my mother made scrapbooks with me, and that I've kept at least this one.And look what came in the post - Ben's jam badge, so we can take some appropriate pictures for Snapdragon's most inventive catalogue...

Wartime Wisdom

Today is another public holiday in France - Victory in Europe Day. For a country that experienced occupation, resistance and liberation during the Second World War, it's still a day of national remembrance and pride, and international gratitude.

But today is a Scottish themed day for me, because in the midst of my mother's Edinburgh treasures, I found this wonderful scarf bearing British slogans from the Second World War. (Oh how I wish I'd ironed it before I took these photos...) We begin with the bloggers' favourite: This is a rather less remembered wartime slogan, but still useful for these days of financial worries:

Here is a question which now has a good environmental message. The same goes for this one, although the pun is cringe-worthy! So we move on to slogans which highlight how different lives were then:

This was all about War Bonds, I assume. My father tells me that War Bonds are still going! What? Did this one EVER rhyme?And on that rather cheesey and perplexing note, I'll leave you with the entire (although sadly un-ironed) scarf. A very stylish patchwork theme - making do and mending, of course!

I cried at the Braderie today...

Well, for those of you who don't know what a braderie is, this title is indeed as odd as it sounds. A braderie is only a hyper-organised version of a twice-yearly jumble sale (the French are in fact hyper-organised, despite stereotypes to the contrary), so what on earth could bring tears to my eyes?I'd gone along to the large but slightly down-market braderie near my Thursday lunchtime lesson, mainly in the eternal search for more trousers for Son 2 and some fabric for my stash.

Both searches were successful. Some nice linen here; much cheaper buying it this way:I also discovered the knot of vintage scarves for one euro that I'd turned down in the autumn:

The red, white and black one is smudged and ruined, but discovering that this Pierre Cardin one is a lovely silk, and in great condition, decided me... And this orange rayon one is great fun, even if it's in poor condition.For 33c each, why not?So, taking one last turn round a table I'd visited before, amongst the collected grot of the last two decades, I suddenly saw a glimpse something else:And tears prickled in my eyes! I didn't bawl, you'll be glad to know, but I was quite surprised by the strength of my emotion.

It's not very old, it's not even hand-stitched, but the pearl buttons and the cotton and the careful stitching speak of something else to me, something far away from the nylons and machine production of the rest of the braderie offerings.Even if it's not a fine example, more of a copy, I was transported from mass-production to craftsmanship.Seeing it there, unappreciated, at only one euro when everything else was going for two or more, I nearly wept for it!

But I think this little top has come to a good home now.Are there things in the fabric world that can move you to tears?

Going to the Vide Greniers

Come with me to the Vide Greniers at Bonrepos...They've blocked off the road through the village, so we have to park down the country roads and walk there...Past two memorials to the Maquis resistance fighters and civilians who died in the battle there...Here we are at the road block - the Vide Greniers runs right through the village - we'll see stalls all round the Mairie, the church, the village hall and even a pigeon tower! The Salle Polyvalent - the village hall, surrounded by stalls.First find - two cute little candlesticks, which need cleaning up but will really cheer things up this winter!

This stand looks interesting - it's run by two little old ladies. Look at the irises on this tiny piece of china! There are raised details - the texture is lovely.
The irises are around Mount Fuji - is this really Japanese, I wonder?

It's only a toothpick holder, but I think it's great! A quick look around - this is the view the old ladies are getting...But there's more on their stall! Two bundles of cards - 5 euros for the lot, which turn out to contain children in various costumes. They all seem to be collectors' cards from a local chicory coffee merchant.Loads of Catholic almanacs and memorials of First Communions from around 1907 - some very pretty pictures and sweet prayers. Look at the edging on this prayer card!And a bookmark from Lourdes, not far away. It says, 'At the Holy Cave I prayed for you'. The flower is hand painted.A few more cards which came from products - two perfumes and some bon-bons!Volcanoes seem to be a theme today - there is Mount Vesuvius, on the Pompeii perfume card, and on the back is a calendar from 1932.This fine avenue has led us to the centre of the village.The skies are still blue and it's quite warm!Here we are in the village centre.

Two little girls, for only 4 euros! 1920s, do you think?One book is almost empty, but the other has lists of meetings - the large writing is peoples' names, and the small notes above are 'Madame' or 'Mademoiselle'. There seem to be some shopping lists too.

Thinking of Mel's collection here! These china posies are tiny! Euch! A box of birds' wings! But what's underneath?Various bits and bobs of hat trimmings!Here are some terracotta birds on a modern pigeonerre - just an ornamental pigeon tower in the centre of a modern development where the stands continue! Householders have brought out tables and made their own 'garage sales' outside each house. Storm clouds gather and there is the occasional rumble of thunder, but no rain... Still dry! Here's some more brocante, in the shadow of the church.Oooh - you know I bought a cheap chandelier and am aiming to replace the plastic 'lustres' with crystal ones! One euro each...

'Clean them with dishwasher powder,' says the stall-holder. 'I put my whole chandelier in the dishwasher and it came up brilliantly!' he adds! They are pretty grubby, so I'll have to do something...

Time to head back to the car, but there's still plenty to look at on the way back.

A sort through a box of printers' plates turns up this:And I discover that I can't read backwards in French! The stallholder is a big help, and I'm able to decide on this one, for fine foods. He thinks it's rather amusing that I'm so interested in little bits of French history... but we all enjoy the chat.Back at the car, the obligatory flyers under the wipers about the next big events - I can't go to this one, but there will be others...So did you spot something you would have snapped up? Will you join me for the next Vide Greniers?