We took a drive over to Hungerford at the weekend and popped into the Antiques & Collectibles Arcade for a browse around. It’s a really interesting old beamed building, with over 100 traders worth of walk-in units and cabinets all housed in one place. So much fascinating treasure to look through, books, furniture, jewellery, crockery, ornaments, watches. As you get older there are more and more items you recognise from childhood and of course wish you’d held onto them!
We didn’t go with the intention of buying anything but I couldn’t resist this vintage retro tiered sewing box – not because it’s a beautiful item, I actually think it’s a bit ugly – but because it was full of sewing treasures…
One top drawer holds a range of Sylko threads in blues & greens – the majority are on those lovely old wooden bobbins. The tier underneath contains almost 50 reels of Gutterman thread – the thick topstitch stuff – and a few reels of Coats Drima thread…
On the other side, the drawer is full of light, dark, pinks and oranges – again mostly wooden Sylko bobbins. Underneath there are all manner of needle types and sizes, tailors chalk, a Dean tape measure, press studs, safety pins…
…and in the bottom tier a mixture of all kinds of old mending things. Hooks & Eyes, boil proof elastic, wundaweb, nylon threads for mending stockings, darning wool and plenty more.
There was also this very dirty but rather sweet little hand embroidered needle case. It looks as though it could have been made by a youngster and perhaps given as a gift. I think I’ll have to risk giving it a wash and hope it doesn’t disintegrate!
There was also this very dirty but rather sweet little hand embroidered needle case. It looks as though it could have been made by a youngster and perhaps given as a gift. I think I’ll have to risk giving it a wash and hope it doesn’t disintegrate!
The sock garden 
I SAY, I SAY, I SAY