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.
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:
Oh, my! I wish you were selling online!
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!
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 :).
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?!
I love to collect vintage linens, too! It is amazing all the work put into these lovely pieces.
Michelle
I love them too, when I need some cheer, I pull out my vintage red roses and spread it out on the kitchen table! :)
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!!!!
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
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.
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~
Becky
Beautiful finds!!
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
Such beauty for the eyes to behold - amazing. You really did well at that sale. Thanks for sharing the beauty with us. Hugs ~ Mary
I love vintage linens, too...especially those with a touch of red! ♥
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.
What loveyly linens!! I love embroidered pillow cases best!!
The heart shaped runner.... to die for!
chris
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
What a mother lode! I adore the one with the cherries.
Brenda
These are beautiful pieces of handiwork and they do last!
~Judy
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.
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!
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
I love the linens you saved! Where is your shop, may I ask! Have a great day! Hugs,
Mickie
mother lode is an understatement!!! awesome!!!
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
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.
Oh my word- you really DID score- those are AWESOME!
WOW!
WELL DONE!!!!
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.
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
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)
Beautiful linens - I love them ALL!
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...
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