Thursday, March 8, 2012

For The Love Of Linens

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When I was a young girl, going over to spend time with my grandmothers was always such a treat. One of my fondest memories was to sit next to them on the sofa and watch them crochet or knit. I could not believe how they could have one eye on their soap opera and one eye on their project. How could they wrap the thread, count the loops and make something turn out so beautifully straight and perfect AND watch TV at the same time. Mind boggling, to say the least.



Nowadays I see creations that are being sold at garage sales and tag sales for next to nothing. Knowing how much time went into making a piece of crochet, tatting or knitting and seeing it sold for dirt cheap pretty much breaks my heart. Cast offs of grandma’s work that nobody wanted. Such a shame. I guess that this is why I am so drawn to linens – towels, runners, tablecloths, pillow shams – you name it, I love it. (Well not all…not the hot pinks or garish eye-blinding polyesters.) Call it textile rescue, if you will. Some I keep, others I offer for sale, however SOME are really hard to put a price tag on – but I cannot keep everything. Don’t I wish….



Last weekend I hit the mother lode of linens. Here are just a few of the finds for the day. The heart runner and the Swiss pillow cover are keepers. P1010114



P1010096 P1010104 P1010099 P1010106 P1010113 P1010124 P1010108 P1010115 P1010100 P1010118 P1010102 P1010101 P1010126 P1010130 P1010127 That’s it for now. Off to iron some of these pieces and get them in the shop.



Looking forward to the weekend? Looks like it will be a wet one here in Northern Cali. But that’s all good..we need the rain.



Tootles….



Becky

32 comments:

Carol said...

Oh, my! I wish you were selling online!

Mindy said...

What beautiful linens! I'm a sucker for anything vintage, but if it's handmade it doubly ropes me in! Like you I want to cry that anyone would sell things like these if there is a family attachment!

Happy@Home said...

It always makes me feel good to see these beautiful old pieces being rescued. I've done some rescuing of pieces found at thrift shops and I find it to be such a rewarding pastime.
You really did hit the mother lode. They are all just lovely. If you decide you want to sell the piece with the little blue house on it, please let me know. I think I heard it calling my name :).

Julie said...

Oh, I love these linens! You really hit the jackpot!

I have a large collection of embroidered linens, and I feel the same way you do - how could anyone just cast off the beautiful results of grandma's hard work?!

Rose Garden Romantic said...

I love to collect vintage linens, too! It is amazing all the work put into these lovely pieces.
Michelle

Julie Harward said...

I love them too, when I need some cheer, I pull out my vintage red roses and spread it out on the kitchen table! :)

from me to thee......... said...

I am with on the linens and hand made work....my mom was one of those ladies who could do anything, needles always clicking. I really love the strawberry tablecloth, beautiful!!!!

NanaDiana said...

WOW-BECKY!!!! What a treasure trove of linens here. It is sad to see them all sold and discarded to the thrift shops...that no one in the family wanted them...or cared about the work that had gone into them. You should set up an etsy shop to sell some of your finds! xo Diana

Kathleen Grace said...

Oh my goodness what a treasure trove! Those tablecloths have me by the heartstrings and that emnbroidered cottage is perfect:>) I'm glad that there are still people who treasure the work put into these lovely things. I hope the things I make are loved like that some day.

Diane Mars said...

Well yes indeed you did find a nice lot of Vintage goodies, I bet they will sell quickly in your Shop. Have a great Weekend~

camp and cottage living said...

Becky
Beautiful finds!!

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

I can't resist them either and wow did you ever hit the mother lode.
Wow, what pretties. I love the heart runner too.

hugs
Sissie

Anonymous said...

Such beauty for the eyes to behold - amazing. You really did well at that sale. Thanks for sharing the beauty with us. Hugs ~ Mary

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love vintage linens, too...especially those with a touch of red! ♥

Elsie said...

Ooo Becky I am guilty as I can be. I always take my crochet with me on trips and my hubby is always saying you don't see the sites.
Yes I do, I can crochet and site see at the same time. I don't have to see my stitches, I have been crocheting so many years I could do it the dark. I have done a lot of the Filet crocheting and the pillow case with the hearts you found I have crocheted. I have enough crocheted to make one pillow case but never did the other one. I use to graph out people's names and crochet them.
I would frame them and give them as gifts. I am a sucker for linens and if I could get to your shop I would be totally broke. LOL. Love your cherry tablecloth.

Perfectly Printed said...

What loveyly linens!! I love embroidered pillow cases best!!
The heart shaped runner.... to die for!
chris

Mecky said...

Oh I love those towels with the red check. They sort of look like my favorite towels from WS that I wish they would bring back! LOL

Brenda Pruitt said...

What a mother lode! I adore the one with the cherries.
Brenda

JG said...

These are beautiful pieces of handiwork and they do last!
~Judy

marie said...

What a wonderful find Becky! We never have anything quite like that here in Maryland. I've been looking for a couple of vintage table clothes for months...now I see I'll need to come to your shop to find them! : )
Oh if only I could!

I have a few wonderful doilies that my husband's grandmother made...I treasure them because I know how much time and love went into creating them.

Vickie @ Ranger 911 said...

You found some gorgeous pieces. I've been looking for redwork pillowcases and finally gave up and bought a pattern to embroider my own. Although, the pattern I bought is much simpler than that Swiss pillow. Somebody put a lot of hours into the many different stitches displayed on that piece!

The Farmers Daughter said...

I am so glad I found this blog. I immediately became a follower! I feel there's a kindred spirit here. I have boxes and boxes of linens that I just can't part with. I love them all. But, then I love anything vintage!
I'd like to invite you to visit my blog where you can see what a collector of vintage I am!
thecountryfarmhome.blogspot.com

Michele McLaughlin said...

I love the linens you saved! Where is your shop, may I ask! Have a great day! Hugs,
Mickie

Greenmare said...

mother lode is an understatement!!! awesome!!!

LAUREN at Faith Fuel said...

Your blog is beautiful, but more than that, it's like a respite. I stop over and feel touched by the beauty of it all- and I know that you are bringing this beauty and joy to others, by faith, on purpose.
God bless!
Lauren at Faith Fuel

wendy said...

That's the only bad thing about those gorgeous linens...the ironing.
I LOATE ironing.
But I have to tell you, those were some beautiful pieces you found.
and sometimes
Beauty comes with a cost and or sacrifice (like ironing)
have a great , wet?, weekend.

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

Oh my word- you really DID score- those are AWESOME!

WOW!

WELL DONE!!!!

vintageandart said...

Oh l love all your beautiful linens and couldn't agree more about saving them from the bin. All the work that goes into them....seems sacriligious doesn't it.

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Becky..I think my heart stopped for a few seconds when I saw those lovely linens! They are just gorgeous and I look for them all the time. Nothing makes me happier than to come across lovely crocheted things that someone else is SILLY enough, and ignorant of the work they were to make, to not want them! That's ok..and our gain!
Love,
Mona

Chenille Cottage said...

Dear sweet Becky,
How lovely your post is and thanks for sharing your fond memories of spending time with your grandmother. I, too, have many happy memories doing similar things with my gramma. I'm sure it's part of who I am today.
You are such a blessing to me, my dear friend!
Lovingly in Jesus, our Savior, our Messiah,
Carolynn...grammycarolynn(flickr)

Linens Lace and Lattes said...

Beautiful linens - I love them ALL!

janice15 said...

such pretty linens...o my I love them all but I would love to have the piece with the blue embroidered ducks...with love Janice
@ Mz.Witherspoons...