Vintage textiles ..... a trip to the antique mart.... be still my heart

The Brimfield Antiques Fair is an annual event in Massachusetts that draws vendors, lookers and buyers from all over the country.

The Fair runs three times a season for one week in June, July and September.  Twice during the season the Antique Textile Show leads off the week of general antiques. The quotes below describe the Antique Textile Show

Country Homes Antique Magazine: This show kicks off Brimfield week ...for some our staff, it's the best part of the week."  Country Living Magazine:  One of the years most anticipated shows.  Boston Globe:  The Aisles of the Vintage Fashion and Textile Show may offer a window into the past, but it also can be a look at the sartorial future. It's here that major design houses come to find inspiration for 'new' looks, which sometimes become the next big trend. It's also where more and more vintage fans are coming to stock up."  Long Island Newsday:  This way to textile Mecca.  Antiques and the Arts Weekly: This is the place where visitors find bed covers that are fine art, signature fashions and folk art in textiles.

We drove down on Monday  morning for Antique Textile Show in Sturbridge which is just one town over from Brimfield. 

This show is jam packed with all manner of antique and vintage textiles and period clothing as well as a smattering of vintage ephemera.

It takes over a good bit of the Host Hotel in Sturbridge Massachusetss  ~~  including the grand ballroom and several smaller rooms.

Lots of vendors.  Piles of vintage fabric.  Linens.  Period clothing.  And you name it.  Jewelry.  Shoes.  Coats.  Accessories.

I was in heaven...........................

Here is a bit of one of the Japanese Obi that I bought.

More vintage than antique.  But I am in heaven.

On Tuesday, I found Diane, a vendor from Pennsylvania.  She is a fiber artist who works in silk fusion and creates delicious vessels and accessories.  She also produces wearable art with vintage and contemporary textiles and nuno felt.  From Diane, I purchased silk Obis, one a stunning orange, the other in more traditional Japanese motifs.  

Oh, I see projects in my future!

 

Thank you John Waterhouse.

This is the indigo resist I purchased
--sweet--
it just called to me

 I didn't get the vintage silk Ikat .... it was in my hands .... oh I liked it .....  but wanted to think about it.... laid it down  (duh)

in a flash it was gone!

here is another of the Obis that I bought  ~~  this time in traditional motif.

enjoyed a together outing

walked about
under the sun

watched people watching

window shopping

laughed at the absurd

the truly bizarre
a seven foot
cement
buddha

With so many vendors over acres and acres of fields and lanes, it helps to have in mind a plan for purchases.  Otherwise it would be so easy to get side-tracked and come home with a 7-foot cement buddha!!!!