the first fair of the season

As we arrived at the fair yesterday it was tipping down with rain  ... for the first fair of the season, UGH!

I was  about to drive away when I saw a little hand painted sign, nailed to a telegraph pole "in case of rain, brocante in the village hall"   .... how could I resist?!

I am sorry to say that I took no pictures yesterday, too wet and too gloomy for that, but here is how it went ....

It turns out that the - very very small - fair was organised by the village church to raise funds for a family whose house caught fire in January.  There was nothing very good on sale, but obviously for such a good cause, I was keen to find something to purchase.

Having walked around and around the large cold room several times, with only a pot of jam to show for it!  I finally spotted a couple, late arrivals, carrying in boxes and suitcases that looked very heavy - my interest was sparked, and since I had nothing better to do,  I offered to give them a hand unloading the car.

They were very friendly and chatty.  Once we finally had their car emptied, and they had told me their life story ! :), they began to apologise that they probably wouldn't have anything that could interest me ....

We set up their trestle tables, and started opening those suitcases.  It's true that there wasn't very much to tempt me, and I was beginning to sorely regret having left my warm bed so early to come to this tiny fair, but - just as I was about to bid them goodbye - the lady said "oh wait, I nearly forgot ...  I do have some very old sheets, nothing fancy, but the fabric is good" .....

The sheets she got out of a big canvas bag were quite old and in those beautiful soft shades of the very old homespun linen that I love so much.  The lady was right; there was nothing fancy about them, just strong, heavy sheets, some of which bear her grandparents' intials M+D -  a certain Madeline and Dorian ......

And right at the bottom of the  bag were these old portraits.  Possible watercolours, maybe pen and ink,  I'm really not sure.  Any ideas?....

So home I came with a bag full of old linen sheets, you can imagine the groans from the family ..."not more sheets!!"  - they just don't get it!

Besides the fact that the fabric is so beautiful, I also feel downright privileged to be the custodian of sheets like these.  Nobody makes them any more.

Plus one of the sheets is stained in the centre so I have no qualms in cutting into the fabric and using it to cover those beds I told you about!

I am taking this lucky find as a good omen for the brocante season ahead!  For those of you who have already booked for the group tours or for individual shopping trips with me, we are going to have such fun finding treasure like these!

If you are still thinking about the group tours, there are three places left on the April tour and more on the September tour.  If you have already received the information, but have questions, don't hesitate to send me a mail, I am happy to explain any details.