One of my favorite things to collect are vintage textiles. These sweet vintage embroidered towels were sent to me by my sweet friend, Marta, who has me pegged and knows I love Scotty Dog things! Thank you, Marta!!!! 
I used an old ladder, that came from the side of a toy crib, to hang some of my towels and crocheted potholders on.
This little cabinet door makes for a great place to drape a little towel over.
Vintage textiles can be repurposed into bags, totes, pillows, etc. This bag (which I know I have shown before) was made by the talented Beth, over at Beth's Bagz. 
A sweet vintage motif ~ I sold these and now wish I hadn't.
A vintage laundry bag with a fun embroidered design.
An antique monogrammed linen bag.
Charming little doily with sweet embroidery and crocheted edging.
I have many framed samplers, and this sweet one hangs in my kitchen. Vintage samplers also make great pieces for pillows.
Here I salvaged embroidered pieces and used them on pillows 
You can find vintage inspired iron-on transfers for embroidering. This pattern came from Turkey Feathers. I love using red DMC floss to stitch the design and adore Redwork.
Some of my work using vintage embroidered pieces. Below is a pillow made from a vintage tablecloth. Red ticking and pom pom fringe give it a nostalgic look.
This little pillow was made using a piece from a vintage towel.
One of my favorite tote bags that my sweet friend, Sharri, bought. I used one end of an embroidered runner for this one.There are endless things you can make, even if you don't own a sewing machine. Many small quilts, sachets or small projects can be handsewn. Now go and get busy creating!!
59 comments:
Oh my gosh Becky! I am hyperventilating!! Beautiful linens, beautiful sewing! I went to buy that laundry bag this morning and it was gone! I am in love with those little kewpie linens!
Ouuu a girl after my own heart!
I too love love love vintage textiles!
I adore your collection...and I spyed some cherry goodies in there too!
:-)
Oh La La! What a fun post!
Thanks for shareing!
Hugz, Dolly
These are so great. I love the variety of uses as I can never seem to part with mine when they aren't really "pristine" anymore.
Hello Dear Becky, your things are all so sweet to look at . I have started decorated more in the Primitive style,but I still need to have something cutsy around to look at. I do so love your style of decorating,you really have a special way of displaying your things. I love visiting you.
Blessings,Shelley
Oh. Becky. I am so in love. The totes, pillows, everything just inspires me to no end! Thank you, you have a wonderful eye and make such beautiful things!
Oh my, Becky. I've had such a wonderful time visiting you this afternoon.
A lovely post. Such eye candy. Thank you for sharing all of this with us.
Blessings
Oh my, Becky. I've had such a wonderful time visiting you this afternoon.
A lovely post. Such eye candy. Thank you for sharing all of this with us.
Blessings
Every single thing you have made ( and displayed!) is just gorgeous! Really lovely. I can relate to the "wish I hadn't" sold stuff! Unfortunately, I have done that, too. I always think- "Well, I can't keep everything" - but then later, I think - "Oh, but I wish I had kept that. I should have kept that." Oh, well.
I LOVE it all!! I especially love the scotty dog linens, the bagand the pillows you made from embroidered linens and I love the bedroom they are in!!
Michelle
Oh wow.
What fabulous eye candy
You have created so many lovely things
Alison
Hey Becky! My dear friend! I am at the library in HMB showing my parents the magic of computers! thought I would click in and show them my blog and show them you! LOVE your stuff as always! Lots of love, my parents say hi! Love, Esther/FP
I still use embroidered runners on my dressers. I love doilys and runners. I can't be home until they are on my tables. I love the pillow idea, it is great.
Oh Becky....your posts are always filled with such wonderful eye candy .... beautiful .... beautiful .... beautiful!!!
:-) Rosie
I so enjoy looking at all your pretties Becky.
Hugs,
LeAnn :)
Oh Becky! You know that these photos of the linens are after my own heart! I love the way you've used them and displayed them. You are so very talented. This is really such a great post! Thanks for sharing it!
Patricia :o)
I absolutely LOVE your blog and have added it to my favorites on my blog! When I vist, I feel a warm, sweet spirit here! Thanks for making my day brighter! Maryjane
OMG what an inspiring post. I love all of your vintage linens that you showed. But I LOVE what you did on your beds with all of those pillows. Simply yummy.
Happy Spring - Karen
Lovely, lovely, lovely. I love your ability to transform vintage linens into something new yet which enhances the beauty of the original.
Kate
Wow! Everything is so beautiful and you are quite an accomplished seamstress. I've collected many linens, here and there and look forward to doing something with them once I'm retired and have some free time.
~elaine~
I must say, your pictures are very inspiring, even for non sewers.
Thanks so much for sharing,
Rosemary
nice!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the vintage look and one of my most favorite things is Red Work,,,,,,,, you have created some wonderful pieces........ kudos...........
Ahhhh Becky those Kewpie DOW towels are adorable, I'm sad you don't have them too...and that simple linen bag that is monogrammed..lovely..you are the Seamstress Queen and no you can't teach me...I didn't get the sewing gene! Love all your repurposed pillows...your bag that Sharri bought is lovely..this was a fun textile blog! becky up the hill
Loving the embroideries Becky! The bag you sold to your friend is amazing!!!
I'm back home now, will email you tomorow (but have done your pendant!)
Hope you had a lovely Easter xoxo
Becky
All of your textiles are so beautiful, I seem to find all the "time worn" ones that I still can't stand to part with. I use them for many of the same things you do and I also use the towels for drying dishes. It makes me happy every time I see them.
JOY!
HI Becky! Beautiful post and I love that tote bag with the embroidered piece - so pretty! -amy
I love all of your beautiful sewing and textiles !Sal;-)
I want to come tour your home!!! I could look at your pictures all day, they are gorgeous!
It makes me think of so many things to do with my kitchen!!!
Thank you for sharing :)
Stephanie
Wow Becky! You have an eye and the luck of the Irish on your side when it comes to finding vintage linens. How fun it is to see all of these. And you really sew the most wonderful items with them. I loved seeing all of this so thanks for sharing.
Hugs ~
Heidi
What a scrumptious post----just yummy and delightful and perfect (and what I expected as you never cease to amaze me!!!).
OMG I'm in love with that purse. It's so adorable. And I love all your pillows and stitcheries.
Wow! You're very inspiring...such beautiful work! My favorites are the pretty pillows on the bed. Such a creative and talented woman you are. Blessings, Victoria Lynn
Becky,
Your creations are adorable. I could curl up in your bed and just stay there.
Hugs,
Sue
I love all your beautiful linens. You have a fabulous collection.....
hugs, bj
The ladder with the towels hanging is so sweet..You create such beautiful things..
Michelle
Your house must be one of the sweetest places to be! Every photo is just precious, filled with collections and treasures! You must adore just being home surrounded by the loveliness.
Happy Wednesday! xxoo Hugs to sweet Doogs.
Melissa
WOW!!! Becky I am speechless. Every thing is so beautiuful. You are a very talented woman.
ginger
Thank you Becky for inspiring all of us who do not sew, or wouldn't have a clue how to use a machine, to get creative. I would love to have a go, but I just have to get prepared to start, with all the necessary materials! We all have sold things we wish we hadn't, the kewpie linens were lovely, but usually something else comes along which we equally love. Your bed is immaculate, how long does it take you to make in the morning, mine takes about a second just to sling the duvet over! x
Hi Becky, I love vintage textiles too. Loved seeing your wondeful collection and all the creative ideas on repurposing. The display of bed pillows is darling. Linda
What wonderful things. We love the vintage materials and we're always on the look out for them. You've made some very pretty bags...what a talent!
Margaret and Noreen
Oh Becky! Such beautiful "stuff!" You home must be lovely with such gorgeous linens and things.
Oh! Everything thing looks so beautiful. I really love the things you have that pertains to dogs. I am a dog figuerine collector. Some cats things. If they are really cute an vintage looking.
I just discovered your blog, and I have to say wow. Your work is wonderful.
Do you by any chance make these types of pieces by commission? I have been looking for someone with your skills for years to make pillows out of needlework I inherited. Just the type of pieces I see you using.
Beautiful! Beautiful!
I sew (hehe) want to visit your lovely home someday!! But for now shall visit via blogland.
Hugs,
LeAnn :)
P.S. Oh dear, I forgot to ask you to please come by today if only for a moment, I have something for you.
Hugs,
LeAnn :)
You are absolutely brilliant! They are all precious and you are ever so clever! Love it all!!!
I adore those pillows and vintage lines are a fav of mine but I do not own much. Would love to have you visit my blog sometime. I am just getting it going and it is so much fun.
Your vintage linens are wonderful! I love how you have them displayed on the little red ladder. You also make the most beautiful things Becky.
I LOVE EVERYTHING BECKY!!!
Please Please Please keep sewing so I can get some more goodies from you...
Hugs and Love, Amy
(PS...can I come live at your house??)
Becky, What adorable Kewpie towels! And as many of the cute crocheted pot holders I have, love the red hat on the left! Lori
Your linen collection is drop dead gorgeous! You just take it up another notch with your beautiful sewing creations. I just bought a crochet booklet that has a potholder basket like the red and white one you have hanging. I can't wait for it to get here.
Becky.. just curious.. do you have the whole set of those embroidered dish towels with the scotties?.. in the first picture? :-)
I LOVE your collection of vintage pretties Becky! Timeless and as popular & desired as ever! I love all your handiwork too! You are such an inspiration!
Hugs,
Maryjane
The cabinet with vintage linen with dog and porcelain dogs really shows off all your loves.
After reading this, I finally know how I'm going to do my bedroom, and I have boxes of vintage linens already on hand that I've been collecting but didn't know what to do with! Thank you for the lovely post, pic 11 of the bed is so pretty I almost want to cry. And, by the way, I saw patterns for those same scotties towels in the latest Keepsake Quilting catalog. Thank you for all the wonderful ideas!
looking for the potholder you have with the sunflowers and red rose in the middle in a basket. Never have I seen this one or a pattern and I have been searching for over a year for a pattern for it. Wonder if it is from overseas?
Becky, I just love all your vintage fabric sewing ideas. I thought you might like to know that I'm hosting a $65 Etsy shop giveaway on my blog this morning.
livingvintageco.com/2015/02/sewing-ideas-using-vintage-linens-giveaway/
Best,
Kim
Love them all and the tote is such a treasure. Your home is absolutely beautiful. Looking at your photos has put me in the mood to go shopping for vintage goodies. We'll see what I can find :) xoxo
I love your post! You have given me such great ideas to use for the very vintage pieces I have of my grandmother who passed in 1969 at the ripe old age of 92. She was born right after the Civil War. I have had them stored in a box as I didn't know what to do with them, but with so many kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and nieces and nephews, I can make oodles of things for up coming birthdays, Christmas and such. :)
Love all your ideas and your beautiful blog. Thanks for posting!
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