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"Even though my daughter lives in Milan, the fashion capital of Italy, I knew nobody would have something like this."

That's what the buyer at the Southwest Fiber Alliance show said when I asked why she had picked this sweater!

 

I was astonished by how soft the sweater was when I picked it off the pile at the Portland, OR Goodwill outlet… and then I was dismayed because it had, well, quite a few holes. 

 

I wore it for six months in England while I worked on the repair. 

 

The buyer just send me an email saying her daughter loves it!

 

I felt so honored! Discarded in Oregon, in-process in England, purchased in Colorado, now worn in Italy…my sweater has come a long way!

Vera Bradley Totes Your Treasures!
Dallas, TX

I was stunned to see this vintage Vera Bradley on the top of the pile at the Goodwill in Dallas, Texas. 

 

She was still in solid condition with just some wear on the handles and corners. Plus, I'm a sucker for colorful patterns on a black background… so she was definitely coming home with me! 

 

Fortunately, I had just the right combination of colors in my stash to pretty her up. 

 

It was a challenge to sew around the corners of the bag and to wrap the patches over the handle. But it worked out great. This is one of my favorite projects so far! 

 

Are you looking for a new bag? This one is a head turner!

Black and White Makes a Statement! - Portland, OR

Vintage GAP Ladies Size Medium

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This vintage double-knit 100% wool sweater is super cozy, now that a few small boo-boos have been taken care of. I was amazed to see such a beauty on the top of the pile at a thrift store outlet. With gorgeous pewter buttons and two-layer construction, it's warm and stylish.

 

This sweater features an assortment of mending techniques including patching, darning, and re-weaving (or in this case, re-knitting on the cuffs).

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I pushed my skill set, and we're bringing this gorgeous garment back to life!

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It's ready for a new owner.

Cozy One-of-a-kind Corduroy!
Portland, OR

Ladies Size M

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This jacket was a donation from a friend...so cozy and comfy!

​But...no pockets! (That's a no-go for me.)

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So I added a couple of back pockets from a pair of brown velvet pants with some new jazzy embroidery. But one had a small stain. Time for a beauty patch!

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These patches are embroidery floss from my mother-in-law. And I custom-designed all of these patterns.

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Fleece-lined, it's one of the coziest jackets I have every warm, perfect for over a sweater on a crisp fall day.

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When I wear this, people stop me in the streets! Eye-catching, head-turning...and a walking work of art.

Leather's not lost...

I love leather purses, but they're not always easy to repair. Fortunately, this vintage woven leather bag had an open weave that made space for my needle and thread. 

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So grateful my Durango, CO buyer saw its beauty and utility. It had just the right shape to sit on your shoulder and stay tucked under your arm.

"I plan to wear it on the slopes!"

This buyer was looking for something rugged, stylish, and one-of-a-kind.

 

When I dug through the Brentford, UK, pile of scrap yarn… I was astonished to discover some gorgeous cashmere!

 

I wanted a reversible pattern that would look good no matter how it was wrapped… and provide plenty of places to tuck in the yarn tails because some of the scraps were tiny! 

 

I'm so proud my work will keep her warm and stylin'.

Embroidery Lives Another Day

Sometimes you wonder whether you should take a chance...

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This gorgeous hand-embroidered South or Central American Wool purse had not one but two major issues: holes in the bottom and the handle. Was it worth repairing?

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But then I thought about how many hours the original maker had spent, lovingly crafting the beautiful decoration...and I knew I couldn't let it go.

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This was one of my early pieces that convinced me of the value of mending.

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I'm so happy my buyer saw its beauty. It's thriving in its new, happy home.

© 2018 Robin F. Pool

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