Sewing Automotons

With the release of the amazing movie Hugo, automotons have suddenly become a newly popular source of fascination so I thought it timely to share some sewing themed ones.

I did a previous post about a wonderful sailing ship etui here.

Video of an  Antique French Royal Palais Sewing Etui and Music Box with Original Mechanical Dolls, circa 1870's.

Vichy Sewing Lady Automoton via Skinner

Tin toy sewing Automota via Cowan

Girl with Needlwork and Mouse via Theriault

Roulet & Decamps Elderly Knitter via Antique helper

Roulet & Decamps Knitting Cat!

(via The Automota/Automoton blog)

January 7th Show Update

The darling acorn and strawberry emery necklaces above are the project for the first ever

Truffle Pigs Workshop taking place during our antique show and sale

on Saturday at the Holiday Inn in Chantilly, Virginia (see post below).

The workshop/project are by the lovely and talented Deborah Hartwick of Heartwells.

The class will be very informal, come any time between Noon and 5:00 pm

on Saturday. All materials will be provided and there is a small fee.

Remember our show is occuring concurrently with the DC Big Flea right

next door at the Expo Center

so you can shop with Truffle Pigs and the Flea.

Come and join the fun!!

January 2012 Antique Show

Saturday

January 7 2012

8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Holiday Inn Chantilly

Grand Duke Conference Room

(occurring right beside & simultaneously with the

DC Big Flea, Chantilly, Virginia)

Fresh to the market inventory including:

antique and vintage sewing items • textiles &

 fabrics • ribbon & trims • dolls & toys

crafting items • clothing • quilts & more.

New for this show:

“Make and Take” Class

Debbie will be putting together a fun project

to take place on Saturday afternoon...more details to come!

Additional Dealers

A few of our good friends and fellow artists/antique dealers

will be joining us with an amazing array of antique fabrics, 

trims, toys and more!

 Hope to see you there!

The Truffle Pigs: Stacey Bear, Deb Hartwick & Kim Stout

Our Show in West Virginia

Deb and I had a fabulous time at Paul Gordon's show in West Virginia. We were thrilled to catch up with old friends, hang out with our artist chums and even get in some antiquing. Unfortunately the photos I took on my phone are not the best but you can see a great article about our weekend over at my sweet friend Jody's Blog. She has posted some great pics of all of us with our work!

Girls Trip!

Even Truffle Pigs need to take a break once in awhile and get some inspiration. We are hoping to get together in the next month or so and visit this delicious exhibit "With Cunning Needle" at the Winterthur Museum. The touchstone of the exhibit features the Plimouth Jacket, pictured above. Recreated at Plimouth Plantation in 2006 it sheds new light on the tools and skills of 17th century embroidery masters.

Box with embroidery pattern stamps

The exhibit also focuses on the tools, techniques, and the story behind a completed piece--something I have always been fascinated by and a direction I wish more museums would take. I always think to myself, "How did they do that?"

Silk floss

Incomplete crewelwork chair cover

I am hoping there will be lots of Berlin Work (wool work) like that pictured above--it is my favorite kind of needlework.

The exhibit runs from September 8, 2011 to January 8, 2012.

You can make a whole day of it by also visiting the Brandywine Musuem,

Longwood Gardens and of course lots of antiquing and fabulous places to eat--this place is my favorite!

Friends In Christmas Show

Deb and I will be at this show with our art work and antiques. This just may be my favorite show of the year! It is held in my good friend, Paul Gordon's studio which at one time was an old store and is filled with charming antiques available for sale including toys, sewing items, folk art and of course holiday collectibles. If you are lucky you can take a peak into the rabbit warren of rooms where he makes his amazing creations.

Customers from across the country flock to this intimate little event that seems more like a Christmas Party with lots of sweet treats and Paul's Special Punch. Everyone stays for the entire day, catching up with old friends and walking the streets of the quaint town of Martinsburg visiting all of the unique shops and restaurants.

Artists and friends chatting at the show.

Photo courtesy of King of Mice Studio.

Great News!

Truffle Pigs will once again be having a show at the Holiday Inn Chantilly, Virginia on Saturday, January 7, 2012 (occuring at the same time as the January DC Big Flea right next store at the Expo Center). Our show will take place in the Grand Duke Ballroom (same location we had in July).

Some exciting changes are in store as well. Paul Gordon, a great friend for many years and an amazing artist will be joining us. Paul has been collecting antiques for decades and is ready to deaccession some of his collection of sewing items, fabrics, trims, dolls and toys.

In addition, in the afternoon we will be offering some classes and/or lectures. Lots more deatils to be determined soon so check back to the blog in the coming weeks.

Halloween and Sewing!

Witch Scissors

Pumpkin Pin Cushion

Rat Pin Cushion

Black Cat Pin Cushion & Tape Measure

Black Glass Spider Button

1920's Halloween Sewing Patterns

Owl Tape Measure

Pierrot Half Dolls

Folky Sewing Box

Metal Insect Buttons

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

(all images courtesy of Live Auctioneers or Ebay)

Humble and Plain

Sewing "housewife" or roll up from a confederate soldier.

Steel Clamp

Duck spool box.

Yarn make-dos.

Silk Quaker sewing pouch.

Simple bird sewing clamp.

Cotton and linen thread.

(Pictures 1-6 via liveauctioneers.com, picture 7 pinterest)

Many Thanks

A gracious thank you to all who attended out first ever mini show this past Saturday in Chantilly Virginia. It was a HUGE success. We were a bit nervous not knowing what to expect when we decided to strike out on our own after we got the news we were wait-listed for the Big Flea.

Our event was held in the Grand Duke Room at the Holiday Inn and couldn't have been more perfect. There was ample room for shopping not to mention the air conditioning on a 100 + degree day! We enjoyed being able to chat and visit with our friends and customers which is sometimes difficult to do at a crowded show.  

Plans are already being made for our January 2012 event, tentatively scheduled for the weekend of January 7th---stay tuned!