The Wistful Grandma
  • Blog
  • Newsletter
  • About
  • Contact
  • Grandma Dolls
  • Traditional Plaited Wool Rugs
  • Seasonal Items
  • Main

The Bag Sale

5/2/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
One of my favorite ways to get materials for my craft business is to go to bag sales. You can find a lot of treasures lying on tables, hanging on racks and sitting quietly in out of the way corners. I always have an idea of what I'm looking for but the unexpected finds are sometimes more fun. This past weekend beautiful wool, softly worn materials, random bits of silverware and vintage ribbons found their way into my bags. I also was able to talk and laugh with interesting people. One conversation I overheard has stayed in my mind all week.

As my husband was returning a hanger from an exceptionally beautiful orange wool coat to the church ladies manning the checkout table, I overheard them tell him "That was Gloria's coat". I have no idea who Gloria was. But I do know her coat is beautiful. As I cut it apart this week to add to my material stash I admired the color and softness of the material. I could envision it as a colorful strand plaited through a rug. Or reshaped into a soft pumpkin. Or sown into an accessory for a primitive doll. A second life for an ordinary orange wool coat.

Those items in my bags are treasures. There is no substitution for using the bits and pieces of the old to form something new. The worn edges, the soft fibers and faded colors are magic pieces from other people's lives that I borrow to form my crafts. Random, unexpected and interesting. Thanks Gloria.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Classes
    Sign Up Now!

    2025
    Wool Rug Braiding Classes:

    Sat Mar 15, 2025
    ​9:00 am - 2:30 pm
    ​

    Craft Shows

    YMCA Camp MacLean
    ​Craft in the Woods
    31401 Durand Ave
    Burlington WI 53105
    Sat Nov 29, 2025
    9:00 am - 4:00 pm


    ​

    Links

    Old World Wisconsin

    Blog Categories

    All
    Car
    Cooking
    Crafting
    Death
    Family
    Garden
    Grandchildren
    Holidays
    Home
    Inspiration
    Life
    Seasons
    Time
    Wisdom

    Blog Archives

    December 2019
    October 2019
    June 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

    RSS Feed