It’s true – but only a little bit – all is not lost – honest.
Before I ‘fess up however, a bit of a distraction. It’s a bit nippy today but beautiful – they did predict some snow and they were right – so,when I set out for our walk this morning, as well as a lead, a couple of tennis balls, a ball launcher and three dogs, I hauled my camera with me.
The view from halfway up my garden this morning.
These logs will need getting down to the bottom somehow.
Perhaps we could rig up some sort of dog sled thingy.
Anyway, back to my falling off the fabric wagon. A couple of weeks ago, we held a fund raising event for Dog Rescue Carcassonne and the Twilight home for old and/or sick dogs where a wonderful couple here in France have dedicated their lives to looking after these dogs that nobody else will take on. Anyway, I didn’t have a stall myself this time and just went along to chat and spend money help out. Some of the stalls had set up the night before and one had some fabric ‘scraps’ for sale. The stallholder hadn’t yet arrived and I went over to have a look and spotted a tempting bit of something that looked a bit vintagey and a bit storybooky .
When I had a closer look , there was around a yard and a half of vintage Red Riding Hood fabric with such cute designs like this
and this
that, without thinking, I nabbed it and, when she arrived, paid the 2 euros!! and put it in my bag along with 20 euros of cakes I’d just bought (oops ).
It wasn’t until a couple of hours afterwards that I remembered I was on a fabric fast. But it was vintage. It was 2 euros. It was for Dog Rescue. What would you have done? I’m back on the wagon now, honest.
I had taken along a couple of little dog coats that I had knitted because I was hoping that – being a doggy related event – somebody might come in with the right sized dog that they would let me dress up and use as a model. Sure enough, a couple came in with their cockerpoo (a cocker spaniel mixed with a poodle) a lovely girl called Saren and she was just the right size. I must admit I’m a bit confused that, all my dogs are mixes of something or other but are generally called ‘mutts’ or ‘mongrels but cockerpoos, shihpoos, labradoodles, etc. all have their own names. They all seem to include poodles. I’m pretty sure none of my dogs have ever been near a poodle so maybe that’s why. The nearest I could get with mine would be a bordador or a shepcol and even they would be a wild guess. Anyway, I digress, she was a lovely girl who patiently modelled my knitted coats.
I wanted some photos on a model in case I decide to add them to my dog collar shop as another item I can sell to raise funds for Dog Rescue Carcassonne.
Or, I have asked if Twilight might be able to use some for the old dogs to wear this winter. I’d better get a move on with my boyfriend cardigan then in case they say ‘yes’.
Off to re-light the log burner.
Tialys 
#1 by mandymunroe on November 24, 2015 - 12:28
SO glad you bought that fabric, it’s gorgeous!
#2 by tialys on November 24, 2015 - 16:51
I’ve no idea what I’m going to do with it yet but something will come up I’m sure.
#3 by poshbirdy on November 24, 2015 - 12:36
Those dog coats are wonderful. And no-one could resist that fantastic fabric. Love it!
#4 by tialys on November 24, 2015 - 16:52
I think it was destined to be a curtain as somebody has very carefully joined two lengths and matched the pattern exactly. However, the top and bottom edges are not finished so it never fulfilled its potential.
#5 by katechiconi on November 24, 2015 - 12:45
Now listen, vintage doesn’t count. It’s *recycling*. Fabric fasts are for new fabric. Plus it was for a good cause, and on top of that the princely sum of 2 euros isn’t exactly lashing out.
Gorgeous dog jackets; I especially like the colours of the second one.
#6 by tialys on November 24, 2015 - 16:53
I knew you would understand (and think of a good excuse) – ‘recycling’ it is.
#7 by katechiconi on November 24, 2015 - 20:03
🙂
#8 by Beth on November 24, 2015 - 13:03
Beautiful photos, beautiful fabric (2 euros?! Worth breaking your fast!) And beautiful dog! 🙂
#9 by tialys on November 24, 2015 - 16:53
Thank you Beth.
#10 by nanacathy2 on November 24, 2015 - 13:20
First of all that fabric doesn’t count because it was a charity purchase and it’s utterly adorable and needed rehousing. Your doggie model is lovely as are the coats. My son just bought Sproker , Dad is a cocker spaniel and Mum a Springer spaniel. He is lovely too! The idea being to creating a more healthy dog.
#11 by tialys on November 24, 2015 - 16:56
Aah! Not a poodle in sight for Sproker then. I’m wondering if the addition of poodle in those other mixtures is to prevent an excess of dog hair shedding. I must confess my Dyson would be happier if it didn’t have to work quite so hard.
#12 by http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com on November 24, 2015 - 13:38
I love the petit chaperon rouge fabric, and quite understand the blip in your resolution! I too would have fallen off my fabric-fast wagon, but when I was at the shop-next-door to my local fabric shop, all ready to have a rummage, Hambeyance was closed for a family funeral.
#13 by tialys on November 24, 2015 - 17:06
It’s so sweet isn’t it. I don’t know what I’m going to do with it yet but, at that price, and at that particular venue, I just couldn’t leave it there. I knew you’d understand.
#14 by katechiconi on November 24, 2015 - 21:37
Personally, I think it’s crying out for a spot of fussy cutting into one of your lovely hexagonal boxes….
#15 by tialys on November 25, 2015 - 12:37
That would be good wouldn’t it?
#16 by http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com on November 24, 2015 - 13:40
PS The dog coats are gorgeous, as are the views from halfway up your garden. Our stove is lit, and there’s a cold deluge outside.
#17 by tialys on November 24, 2015 - 17:05
Yuk. I can cope with the cold but I don’t want a deluge. Keep warm and dry Viv!
#18 by Dartmoor Yarns on November 24, 2015 - 16:20
I would see it that you didn’t break your fast, merely made a donation and picked up a piece of gorgeous fabric. Your dogs are gorgeous – who needs a special name or being interbred with a poodle?
#19 by tialys on November 24, 2015 - 17:04
Exactly. Luckily, I am not on any sort of food fast as the woman who always makes the cakes at these ‘dos’ makes a fantastically moist ginger cake and she had some wickedly sinful millionaires’ shortbread on offer too.
#20 by sew2pro on November 24, 2015 - 16:35
You’re not really buying stash; you’re curating fabric that might otherwise fall into wrong hands – an important responsibility!
Very cuddly and lovely doggie cardigans, nicely modelled too. But mongrels are the best. I noticed a few mongrels in Berlin, very well-looked after with hipsterish owners. Maybe they’re becoming fashionable!
#21 by tialys on November 24, 2015 - 17:02
True, and I take my responsibility very seriously.
How do hipsters look these days? – I know the men have beards but I’m thinking that might not suit the women. I’m out of touch, tucked away here. I need to know in case mongrels do indeed become fashionable and then I will need to strut my stuff.
#22 by jendavismiller on November 24, 2015 - 17:51
First of all….I seem to be on an unplanned sewing and fabric and blog fast. But when I saw your title I knew this was going to be a great post. And it is indeed. Second of all I’d like to offer my services as a log hauler. It might take all winter, but well, those views! Love that you have a borador, a very distinguished label if there ever was one. Hub and I are ready for a dog (long past ready actually, we are both in serious doggie withdrawal) and are looking to help out a leftover one. I’d love a greyhound and (s)he would most definitely require a lovely sweater. Thanks for such a lovely respite, back to the business at hand. 🙂
#23 by tialys on November 25, 2015 - 12:44
I’ve never had a greyhound but we lived near Brighton in the U.K. where a lot of ex-racing dogs needed re-homing. I believe they are absolute couch potatoes but are terrible with cats. Gorgeous, elegant dogs though. I’m sure you’ll find just the right dog for you.
#24 by jendavismiller on November 25, 2015 - 17:42
Yes, the cat issue is a potential problem….my cats don’t move around much, so maybe the GH would think they are merely decorative. HA! btw, that fabric is fabulous – you had absolutely no choice but to buy it!
#25 by sewchet on November 24, 2015 - 20:25
There’s no way I could have passed up that fabric either, it’s right up my street! I have a ‘Chorkie’ which is a Chihuahua x Yorkie. I think they make up these cross-breed names simply so they can charge more – in reality, we paid £300 for a mutt!
#26 by tialys on November 25, 2015 - 12:42
I love these names that keep coming up. So, you have another that doesn’t involve a poodle – I must look into these crosses. I still think the name ‘Bordador’ – for my border collie/labrador/any old farm dog that might have been wandering around at the time – gives my old mutt a regal air and I might adopt it in the unlikely event anybody asks me what breed he is. 😉
#27 by claire93 on November 24, 2015 - 23:30
I don’t think this fabric counts as breaking your fast since money goes to charity ^^
Our dog is a Griffondor lol (Griffon x Labrador)
#28 by tialys on November 25, 2015 - 12:45
Please tell me you made that up!
#29 by claire93 on November 25, 2015 - 20:37
the Griffondor name? or your fabric buying?
Griffondor was invented by one of my children when we got Bjack – so fed up with people asking what he was and replying “un bâtard” lol
#30 by Abigail on November 25, 2015 - 00:54
So cute fabric!
#31 by tialys on November 25, 2015 - 12:37
Thanks Abigail – it just couldn’t be left lying there could it?
#32 by nettyg on November 25, 2015 - 05:00
I think we would’ve all been cross if you hadn’t nabbed that gorgeous fabric. Love all the made up doggie breeds, I’m not sure what mine could be, she’s a border collie, heeler/kelpie mix. A Collierkelp maybe?
#33 by tialys on November 25, 2015 - 12:47
Some breeds just don’t work with the naming thing do they. Perhaps they only choose to cross breeds that result in a good name.
#34 by nettyg on November 26, 2015 - 03:58
those cute names sure sell those dogs, so maybe:)
#35 by nettyg on November 26, 2015 - 04:31
I meant to add too about the greyhound and cat question for jendavismiller. I have a friend who runs a greyhound rescue, and she usually has up to a dozen greyhounds at her place, while they’re waiting for homes or foster homes…..and she has a couple of cats as well. The GH never bother the cats and often appear completely disinterested. Another friend has 3 greyhounds, and she rescues and fosters cats and can have a dozen or so at any time……the greyhounds get on perfectly well with all the cats, even the snippy ones, and it’s quite usual to see dogs and cats sharing a bed or a meal. Recently she had 4 tiny kittens, who thought the greyhounds were the best for climbing, jumping and teething on……the greyhounds weren’t at all bothered, mostly slept through it all. I think when they’re not at the track the idea of moving off the couch and chasing anything doesn’t cross their minds. They’re very gentle dogs.
#36 by tialys on November 26, 2015 - 10:59
That’s good news. I have never had a greyhound myself but my friend has had one in the past and now has a Spanish equivalent – rescued from the streets in Spain in a terrible state – and she also has cats. Apparently, Blondie – as she is called! – is fine with the cats while they are all in the house together but outside is a different matter. If they run, she chases them. However, one of my dogs does the same thing and she’s never been near a greyhound! The cats love her and cuddle up with her on the sofa in the evenings and can outrun her anyway. All dogs are different – no matter what their breed – and if Jen is getting one from a rescue centre they should have checked the suitability of homing it with cats as far as they are able.
#37 by jendavismiller on November 28, 2015 - 06:33
Oh good to see this, the track greyhounds can be rather sketchy from what I’ve heard. But this is encouraging. Cat testing is a must, and probably a slow introduction to the family. I’ve met several greyhounds, and they have been polite and gentle creatures. Fingers crossed………….