Vintage Fabric and Visiting the Japanese Bookstore

On Saturday Charlie took the baby for the morning so I could do some things by myself. I decided to check out a Japanese bookstore in Waltham, but it didn’t open until noon. I drove over to Waltham at 10:45 and stopped at the farmer’s market and bought sugar snap peas (yum!), fresh strawberries and little cauliflowers and and some broccoli for Roxy. Then, I drove down Moody Street and found this thrift store.

What an awesome thrift store! In the back there were tons and tons of textiles – sheets, tablecloths, placemats and curtains – and bolts and bolts of fabric! Not just any fabric. Wool blanketing. I kid you not.

I have been on the hunt for wool blanketing ever since Fiona mentioned that she uses it to make all her lovely cats. After doing some searching at my local fabric store and online, it seemed that wool blanketing was not only terrifically expensive, but also only available in Australia. But no! It is actually available right nearby. The guy who worked there said that they had gotten it from a fabric store that went out of business. There was way more there than I could haul home. I ended up with four or five yards (for less than $3!) plus lots of other goodies.

Two lovely vintage curtains that will make great doll dresses.

Two pillowcases.

And then I went to the Japanese bookstore. They guy was really nice and showed me where to look for the crafty books. There were a lot to choose from and I’ll need to go back again, but these are the two I picked.

I love these owls.

And this origami book.

And I thought a greeting card with these carp would be so beautiful.

When I got home, I reorganized all my fabric to make room for the new stuff.

I put my sewing machine by the window. As Bella Dia mentioned, I am torn sometimes in the summer between spending nap times outdoors enjoying the sunshine, or inside crafting. At least now I can look out the window while I sew.