Giant Jumble Sale and tiny Tinny Tim

One of the best things about blogging is when you step away from the computer and meet bloggers in person. You know what? All the ones I've met have been every bit as much fun in real life as they are online. Yesterday I got to meet Cate from Vintage Gal as we both went to the Vintage Bazaar Giant Jumble Sale in Frome. She's really nice, and Mr Robot and I had a good natter with Cate and her mum about fixing up old houses, spud-brained cats and so on. Also, I have to say this photo doesn't do her dress justice; it is absolutely gorgeous and I was dead envious! (Cate's post about her purchases.)


I don't get over to Frome very often as the train service to and from the town is abysmal, but I've seen a bit more of the place since switching to the Frome-based burlesque class. I'd been tossing up whether to go to one of the events in Frome for a while, and as I'd missed the Vintage Weekend owing to ilness, decided to go to this Bazaar. It was held at the Cheese and Grain (which a former workmate of mine who lives in Frome calls the Cheesy Groin, and I'm afraid the name has stuck with me).

I expected more clothes. There weren't masses of those at this one, but there if you can make clothes or enjoy crafts, it was heaven as there was masses of fabric and notions. I'm a bit of a sucker for the Victorian/Edwardian whitework embroidery; there was plenty of that but I resisted. I also managed not to buy any fabric - despite not owning a sewing machine, I've acquired a fair few fat quarters for crafting and really couldn't justify getting more fabric that would just be hoarded. Ditto buttons. I can use buttons on my knitting, but I have a box of unused vintage ones already. I'm kind of kicking myself now as the prices were really good, but it's better to leave behind things you don't need because there's sure to be someone looking out for exactly that item.

However, books are my big weakness, and when I spotted a Saint book on a stall, I crumbled. I ended up getting five books: two Saints, one wartime thriller I'd never heard of (Eleven Were Brave by Francis Beeding), a green-backed Penguin of Margery Allingham's Sweet Danger in really good condition, and a 1950s book by David Attenborough. DAVID ATTENBOROUGH! And he was only 32 when it was printed. It's all about the BBC/London Zoo expedition to Guiana. They were 50p each.

Other than that, I've been having a quiet weekend. I finally got round to planting some Thai Basil seeds. I like to use it in Thai and Vietnamese recipes, but it's not easy to find or cheap when I can get it, so if it grows successfully in pots I'll be really pleased. The 1940s Fair Isle cardigan is progressing - I've actually got to working the sleeve heads now, so once those have been finished I'll just have to do the button bands and sew it all together. ('Just'...) I'm really looking forward to getting it off the needles, it's taken so long. I'd thought I'd get it finished in time to join in a knitalong, but nooooo. I might make myself a 40s-style turban hat after that, just to make something quick.

Oh, and I bought a robot. Robots are excellent. This is Tinny Tim. I have a Plan in mind for him, but you'll have to wait for a future post to see how those pan out. I hope your weekend has been fun too, with or without robots.