So Sorry...

...for the long delay here. Apparently, I have reached my maximum number of photos allowed by Blogspot and now need to start paying a monthly fee... would rather not do that so am looking into alternative options. In the meantime, please visit me at my Facebook page which I am trying to update a little more regularly.

facebook.com/remnantsbycarrie

Thank you!

Flekkefest 2012

Every year we try and make it back to my mother-in-law's home town for their annual town festival - Flekkefest. It is a strong Norwegian community and it is always found tasting the foods I grew up with (I am Norwegian and grew up in a strong Norwegian community too) and enjoying the other flavors of small town life. The boys enjoyed the blow up amusements and we had a blast at the parade (nothing like bringing home a plastic grocery bag 3/4 full of candy...). We also had a very nice visit with Grandma and Grandpa as well as Grandma's best friend from high school who was in town for the all-school reunion.

Enjoying the amusements!

Waiting for the parade to start! I may be biased but they sure are darn cute boys!

The approaching of the flag. The boys learned at an early age to stand,
remove their hat and cover their heart when the flag goes past. And if someone forgets the head of the color guard will remind them.

The Historical Society's addition to the parade.

A Norwegian festival isn't complete without a Norwegian longboat and a couple of Viking's!

Hope there aren't any fires in any of the neighboring in town! All the fire trucks for miles around are in the parade!

My Little's favorite! The troll on the toilet! (It is actually a stump but he like to think it's a toilet - more funny that way!)

Last Weeks Thrifting Adventures

Between all the activities last week (including a guest, Vacation Bible Camp, 18 innings of baseball and camping) I did fit in a few garage sales and an estate sale. Between these visits and some great finds from my Mom, I did end up with some nice things.

The week's finds, overall.

A vintage ice cube tray my mom found (soon to be listed on Ebay), a great vintage baby bib (already on Etsy) and a fabulous match holder (heading to Clear Lake) among other things.

A vintage butter mold, a Haeger Mary and Child (1 of 3 I found at one sale) and some great Mary Poppins Melmac dishes (not sure if I will list those on Ebay or Etsy).

Some great vintage books and all three of the Mary and Child Haeger pieces.

Market Day!

Today was another good day at the Goose Lake Winery Artisan & Farmer's Market! I have such fun going there!

I had a whirlwind sewing day on Friday so that I would have some new bags to bring and here they are...

A Western King flour bag with a blue and white gingham lining. My friend Zane (another vendor at the market) requested that I make some bags that would appeal to men so I did! Zane liked this one so much that he bought it! Thank you Zane!  I made three for the market two weeks ago and they all sold too (scroll to end of post for a few pictures of those)! 

A great bag aimed at the younger set. Features a vintage dresser linen with a horse and colt fabric-markered one half of the linen is on the front and the other half is the inside pocket. The striped fabric was once a pillowcase and the inside lining is a great piece of blue and pink remnant calico.

The embroidery on this one was one of four embroidered corners on an old tablecloth. Their were stains and holes all over but I was able to salvage all four  corners to use in my bags. The first is the lemon corner, complimented by a great gray and yellow vintage feedsack. The inside is some black and white gingham and a plain white flour sack.

  

Another Hubbard bag - this one featuring a menagerie of farm animals. The colors are nice and bright. What I love about these Hubbard bags is that the front and back are identical so I can get two bags from one sack. The inside of this one is a great bright yellow and white gingham. The outside is decorated with a vintage doily (covering a spot that was faded).

The last bag from one of my favorite tableclothes of all time! The bright pink poppies and olive green foliage are a fabulous color combination! I kept this one simple and didn't add any lace or doilies. I wanted the poppies to speak for themselves. The lining is my favorite olive green and white vintage gingham. I am at the tale end of this fabulous fabric and hope I find some more again someday!

And two bags from my previous batch...

A great bag using ultra-suede and an old banker's bag. The lining is a great ethnic inspired vintage print.
This one sold today! (Thanks Todd!)

One of the bags from two weeks ago. An Oneida feed sack with a red and white gingham lining. It sold it's first day out too! (Thanks Zane :) -!) 

Where Has The Time Gone!

I feel like I am sprinting at a amazing pace and yet not getting any one thing done to where I feel like I have accomplished something. The house is a mess, I have loads of laundry and work to do, baseball season will end just as football begins and our busiest month of the summer is just ahead of us. Whew!

Last weekend we went camping and had a wonderful time at a small town festival with friends. Nothing like home grown, homemade food, a small town parade, a tractor pull and great company!

A small town parade is not complete without a vintage fire truck...

or a gopher (at least in Minnesota - we are the Gopher State after all)

A small town parade must have a tractor (or 10)!

And looks of awe on a child's face (or maybe that's the 10 pieces of candy talking).

The kids at work shucking corn. They had a blast throwing the husks at each other.

 And a little time was saved for a little R&R at the pond. Way too much fun (and food) was had!

Another Batch Of Bags Previewed At Last Week's Market

I am really having such fun at my machine. Here are pictures of the bags I previewed at last week's Goose Lake Artisan & Farmer's Market.

My Pretty Tulips On Parade bag! Created from a vintage tulip covered feed sack for the exterior and a vintage embroidered  towel for the inside. Trimmed with my signature coordinating yo-yos and vintage buttons.

Daffodils! Created from another vintage feed sack for the outside a pretty blue and
white sprigged repurposed fabric  for the lining.
Trimmed with a vintage doily, yo-yo and vintage button.
SOLD the first day out!

  

A great bag made using a pink carnation covered fabric I found at a farm sale. Topped with a salvaged piece of vintage embroidery (the other half is the inside pocket). The center of the embroidery had holes and stains so this was a great way to save someone's long ago hard hand work and give it new life. The inside is lined with a pink and white gingham.

Poppies! I love this bag! It was created from an old tablecloth (I have enough for one more bag),
vintage lace and vintage olive green and white gingham.
This one SOLD to the first day it was out! Yeah!

Another bag created using a piece of embroidery that had holes or stains that I was able to work around. The cute yellow butterfly is accompanied by three vintage yellow buttons, one of which is covering a mended little hole. The rest of the bag is made from vintage blue and white gingham and a fabulous blue and yellow flower sprigged calico. I wish I had more of this one! The pocket is created from a piece of the gingham where someone started to do chicken scratch embroidery but never finished. I love these little pieces of history where I am giving past new life.

Another Hubbard Sunshine bag. My first one sold so I decided another one was in order using the other half of the feed sack. These sacks are awesome because the exact same image is on both sides and they are large bags so I get two bags from each feed sack. The lining is an old green tablecloth and the pocket and part of the straps are a repurposed Laura Ashley pillow sham I found at an estate sale. Trimmed with two small vintage doilies.

My visitor through most of last Saturday's market. My mom made me take a picture because at home I work with a yellow lab at my feet and this guy decided I needed him to keep me company...laying at my feet.

I have 5 more bags already made to be previewed this week! Four of them made with men in mind.  One of them is a new design involving an old canvas money bag and ultrasuede. Very cool!
Stop by and take a peak! I will be taking photos at the market and will share them here next week.

Having Great Fun At The Sewing Machine!

I have been sewing so much this summer and am enjoying every minute I spend at my machine! Lots of bags being made and currently am working on some "dog show" pouches (more on those later) and an insulated lunch bag made vintage fabrics. Having "sew" much fun!

Here are some pics of some of my most recent bags. Yet to come are the bags I made and photographed last week. I also have 4 more finished this week that I will take pictures of on Saturday at the market.

A vintage Minneapolis Pillsbury flour sack.  Lined with a remaining bit of my favorite red daisy feedsack and some baby blue gingham. Decorated with coordinating yo-yos and vintage buttons on the front and a vintage doily and coordinating yo-yo and vintage button on the back. One of my favorite bags that I have made! And it sold the first day I had it at market!

My handbag style tote using a great piece of  vintage pastel floral fabric. Lined with yellow and white gingham. Trimmed with coordinating yo-yos and vintage buttons. 

Another of my handbag style totes. I made this one using a fabric from a 1970s tablecloth! Love it! Lined with green and white striped fabric. Trimmed with coordinating yo-yos and vintage buttons. 

A longer version of my handbag style bag. Made from vintage green and white gingham and the remaining bit of another favorite feedsack, violets. Trimmed with a vintage doily.

All photos were taken at the extremely photogenic Goose Lake Winery in Nowthen, MN.