Happily my mouth is feeling much better a few days after I had my wisdom teeth out. Thank you all for your sympathy! I was so glad to be better because on Saturday this weekend I got to bring a friend to her very first Norwegian flea market! Melissa had never been to a flea market in Norway before. We met up as downtown and we took the tram up to a primary school in the outskirts of Oslo for this fun event.
We arrived about 10 minutes early but there was already a number of people waiting at the gates. By the time the opened the gates for the mad dash to the goods there was a large crowd.
Our mission was clear: Textiles here we come! We didn't actually take the time to take any photos in the textile room. We were so busy finding treasures.
Afterwards we sat on a bench for our lunch. A nearby stranger had these treats on his plate. The slightly sweetened raisin bun on the right is something Norwegians eat quite frequently.
When I left Melissa off at the bus after going to yet another flea market, she presented me with the nicest parcel of gifts!
These cards are so pretty and will be very useful. I am sure the top one is a gocco print and I wonder who made it?
The colors on these gorgeous cottons are very special, and I really love them.
This is just one of the several pieces of Liberty of London fabric she thoughtfully gave me! I am wild about this pattern! Thank you Melissa!
Actually after shopping for fabrics with someone as crazy about them as I am and talking about sewing and blogging I have had a huge rush of creative energy today! So I will show you some of the wonderful things I bought at the market tomorrow. Here is one of the things I made today.
Happy to be using more of the Japanese cottons I showed you awhile back.
I made one in navy and another in cream. I embroidered the dragonflies to the small bit of woven Japanese fabric freestyle. I just used the dragonflies on the fabric as a guide. Then I hand sewed the embroidered square onto the front of the needle book, before sewing it together.
Seeing Melissa in person, her lovely handmde skirt, handbag, and her beautiful embroidery was so inspiring. It is funny, I get to see her work all the time on her blog but I guess there is nothing like seeing things in person. Thank you so much for taking the time to take the trip to Oslo and joining me for one of my favorite past times!
It sounds sooooo good :))
Lovely needle books!
Posted by: méri | September 21, 2008 at 11:41 PM
How lucky you are, you sound like you had a wonderful time. That pale pink yarn is yummy and I really like the fabric too. Hope your creative inspiration takes you to wonderful places.
Posted by: cathleen | September 22, 2008 at 12:16 AM
Hi Emily, I so wish I was there. It must be great to have a blogging/sewing buddy to go flea marketing with!! The Liberty black and white print fabric is gorgeous and I would love to make that into a bag. Your little needlebooks are lovely and look like quick and easy projects to whip up. Evonne xx
Posted by: Hlltop House | September 22, 2008 at 02:19 AM
A delightful day, indeed! I particularly like the muffin picture. It has a certain feel to it. Have a happy week, Emily!
Posted by: Mary Smith | September 22, 2008 at 06:38 AM
Oh, I'm so jealous...I love going to markets and finding bargains. That rush you described at the beginning is always such fun! Glad you had a successful day to celebrate feeling better, and I saw you on the homepage of Etsy too. Well done.
Posted by: Clare | September 22, 2008 at 07:59 AM
Looks great! :)
Posted by: heli | September 22, 2008 at 08:21 AM
Oh, I love that blue dragonfly fabric!
Fleamarket makes me often sad, even though the items are really treasures sometimes.
Posted by: Devi | September 22, 2008 at 08:29 AM
Oh Raven,
how I like to do these Markets, you're a lucky girl, and I am sure you'll make the most gorgeous creations out of your findings!!!!
Posted by: fleurfatale | September 22, 2008 at 08:30 AM
What a lovely day! And great finds! :)
Posted by: Kreativlink | September 22, 2008 at 08:30 AM
I love dragonflies. They are mysterious. Your blog is always such a treasure chest.
Posted by: Matroskin | September 22, 2008 at 08:57 AM
You lucky girl!
Posted by: Tina | September 22, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Flea markets are SO fun! And even nicer when you can spend a day with your friend! :)
Posted by: ArtMind | September 22, 2008 at 09:16 AM
What a lovely day at the flea market and such beautiful gifts. Your Japanese dragonfly fabric is gorgeous.
Posted by: Gina | September 22, 2008 at 09:30 AM
Glad to see you have such a lovely day! The gifts are beautiful and I love the little needlebooks!
Posted by: Heidi | September 22, 2008 at 09:36 AM
That looks like the prefect way to spend the day! (those scissors are exactly the same my gran used for her embroidery)
Posted by: ingermaaike | September 22, 2008 at 09:45 AM
sounds like you had a great day!!!!
Posted by: karlita | September 22, 2008 at 10:03 AM
thank YOU emily- for such a great day! i should have explained about the cards- i took part in a gocco card swap last month- and the ones i gave you a sampler of the ones i received.
flea marketing with you was such fun- thanks again! x
Posted by: melissa | September 22, 2008 at 10:38 AM
How nice to meet a fellow blogger and crafter!! Looks like you had a lovely day :)
Posted by: Star of the East | September 22, 2008 at 11:00 AM
That pale pink cotton yarn is absolutely divine!
How lovely that you met up with Melissa for a special day.
Posted by: suse | September 22, 2008 at 01:00 PM
What a wonderful outing. Love the indigo and little stitchery you did. While living in Japan I went to shrine sales (like flea markets) and found many wonderful treasures. Such fun.
Posted by: Stephanie | September 22, 2008 at 01:07 PM
I have been away for the last few weeks, so I didn't see the doll I bought from you until yesterday. It is really, really beautiful! :-)
Posted by: HildeC | September 22, 2008 at 01:58 PM
How fun to meet a blog friend. I love the dragonfly fabric they are my favorite bugs. I just bought a new door bell thats dragonfly.
Posted by: Jewel | September 22, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Just popped over from tiny happy, looks like you girls had a wonderful day.
Posted by: carolyn | September 22, 2008 at 02:24 PM
Everything looks so beautiful! It has obviously gotten cold there. That looks like my winter in SC. I saw the textiles on Melissa's page and just can't believe such pretty fabrics are available at the flea market. -- Michele
Posted by: Michele C | September 22, 2008 at 02:32 PM
Hia Emily, glad you are feeling better. Thank you for the compliment. I did a quick zoom on the pic after you mentioned my plait just to make sure I had brushed my hair that day. Oh yes I do get so caught up in doing things that I forget myself. :-)
What a great looking market. I love old textiles too. Beautiful dragonfly fabric and lovely embroidery to match.
Posted by: Melanie | September 22, 2008 at 06:31 PM
That black and white Liberty fabric is to die for! Love what you're doing with the Japanese indigo fabrics too. Those are some of my favorites.
Posted by: Marisa | September 22, 2008 at 06:58 PM
Oh! I would love to go on a fleemarket. However my two small childen are not crazy about looking at fabrics for hours and hours (go figure...), and since we are rebuilding our house the hope of having time of my own without children seems to be really far away...
Posted by: Kaja | September 23, 2008 at 03:49 PM
Sjovt, Emily. Jeg så skiltene om loppemarkedet, da vi blev transporteret i bus rundt til besøgene på Oslo's skoler.
Posted by: Mette | September 24, 2008 at 03:55 PM
the needlebooks are delightful...I do sashiko stitching and am making an embroidery roll for all my bits and bobs, so maybe next I will use this as inspiration
sharon
Posted by: Handmaiden | September 24, 2008 at 04:48 PM