Fleamarket!

I haven't been to many fleamarkets lately, for different reasons, so I was really looking forward to the one today. Unfortunately it started to rain after a while and it is no fun trying to recognise things under a wet plastic foil. I was hoping to see some old beads or jewelry that I could take apart, but all I got jewelry-wise was a clasp for one of my WIPs from a commercial supplier.
Still it is rare for me not to find anything at all and this time it was not different.
Here is a bead set from the 50s or 60s maybe? I haven't found out anything about the company yet, but the graphics on the box seem to be that old. When I took it, my sister told me to watch out so the beads didn't fall out because the box had been secured with a rubber band. What a surprise it was when I opened it and it was still sealed! I have no idea if I will only use it as a prop or as deco, but it was so cheap I had to take it. I still remember the coasters made from beads like them from my childhood. I loved to play with them because they felt so heavy and funny to the touch and if you don't squeal on me I'll even tell you that once a thread ripped because I handled it too hard and the beads were all on the floor. Don't tell my mom ;-)



Yarn. I am not the best knitter in the world and I only knit while having my "phases" as I call it. At the moment I have a sweater I work on. It's a simple pattern and I am confident about it being finished around winter 2012. I only knit while waiting at the vet's usually, so progess is very slow.
But how could I resist this great offer? I looked at the yarn (produced in the small town that the fleamarket was held, I always liked this company's yarn and especially their crazy sales, but that story is too long for this post) and asked the guy at the booth how much it was. The way he stood a little aside of the booth should have told me he didn't want to have anything to do with it and he also told me why. "My wife has just gone, well, eh ... She'll be back in a minute." So we had a pleasant little talk until his wife was back. I had just seen the plastic bag with the yarn, but she said there was more and pulled out a tote bag with an unfinished sweater. Sadly she told me she couldn't knit any more and offered me the WIP, the yarn, two pairs of needles, the description and even the tote bag for just 7 $. The yarn is a silk/virgin wool mix, what a great deal! I felt bad for her and almost wanted to embrace her and tell her that. I think she was happy we had a nice talk and that I was so happy about my purchase. I won't be able to finish the WIP because there is no chance one wouldn't see the difference between her knitting and mine, but this will be one of my good fleamarket experiences.


Have you ever heard about a "reading clock"? Don't feel bad, nobody I know has. Unless they went to school in Göppingen, my home town, and even not all of them know it. I am trying to find out more about this "Lese-Uhr" that was produced in Göppingen as well and which was used in my elementary school to teach reading. I found a picture of an older looking example, not from plastic, but cardboard, it seems, that has been pictured on a school museum's site. I think I'll write to them and ask if they can help me out with more information.
This clock I found at the fleamarket also. Number three in my collection. The lady selling it asked me if I also needed a box with magic tricks or chemistry stuff for kids. You should have seen her face when I told her the clock was actually for myself.


Not bad for a rainy day, huh? Now I'll have to save change for the next one - with beads, I hope!!