The theme of garage sales this weekend (meaning at least three of the same item was spotted at three different sales) was car vacuums that you plug into the cigarette lighter place. It likely has to do with spring cleaning and perhaps others finding, as I have with car vacs, that I could likely inhale with more power than they provide. The thought occurred to ask for a demo ……. one way of getting the car floor cleaned ….. but I lacked the courage ………
This looks like it has to do with spinning – but I have no idea what. ???? It is old and lovely and has fibre wrapped around it and it twirls – so I bought it. I imagine I will learn what it is used for and find I need it.
The people selling this thought it had to do with rug hooking and looked a bit doubtful but nodded hopefully when I asked if a strand of – wool? – cotton? – jute? – could be pulled out without disturbing the rest. (It can – I tried it when I got it home.)
Once again I was intrigued by how many things are at garage sales that the sellers seem to have no idea about. I don't mean the ones that I am told they are selling for someone else or the ones they got at a garage sale or the ones that were in the house when they bought it………… no, I am talking about picking up something and asking what it is and the people looking as if they have never seen the item before – but who put on a brave front and give me a price (usually low because how the heck do you put a cost on something sort of anonymous). I know it is harder and harder getting rid of 'stuff' so maybe the practice is now in effect where people slip their unwanted stuff, unnoticed, at other people's garage sales. Hmmmmm. I have hung the wreath of colour in a doorway for the moment. Some extreme embroidery or clothes (rug) hooking comes to mind.
This was a needlework kit for a tablecloth with some of the floss missing but no work on the linen (I think) cloth and it was this cloth that was the attraction. It was stiff and a good wash in hot water removed enough of the sizing (or whatever) so now I can proceed to turning it into a garment. I will see how the material responds to my intent ; perhaps it will change direction.
Some Japanese yarn (I have to find someone to translate the ball band for the fibre content – it's 44, 44 and 12 and I am guessing wool and acrylic but am interested to see what the 12 is) and a lemon balm plant and some 30 lb test fishing line (for further experiments in architectural knitting) were the other items.
And, as always, it is not just about aquisitions but the entire experience – chatting with old friends and new strangers; browsing busily; travelling to parts of Victoria I know and coming across entirely unknown areas; getting out and about in the early morning; watching people; learning.