Embroidery

 

Oops.  I should have cropped the tri-pod out of the picture.  I was so blinded by the exquisite crocheted trim I didn't even notice it until just now.

The light is just not cooperating for me these days.  It is very gloomy and grey out and we have issues even on sunny days so these pictures aren't going to be all that great.  And I really should have maybe ironed some of the pieces before photographing them but I'm not very patient. 

This is one of a pair of embroidered and crocheted pillowcase hems.  Someone had the clever idea of just cutting away the worn out pillowcase piece and saving the pretty part.  Included in my five boxes of linen loot were a stack of vintage, cotton pillowcases.  Worn to silky softness from years of laundering.  I'm sure I can find a match for these pieces and sew them on.

 

I love the delicate colors in this hand towel.  Reminds me of the colors in one of my unfinished projects (the embroidered pillow). 

 

This was one of many small, card table size tablecloths.  I love the unexpected bit of black in the pansies.  It would never occur to me to do that and yet it really makes the embroidery jump out.

 

There's that pesky tri-pod leg again.

Kelly's great aunt had embroidered a number of these adorable tablecloths.  Lovely, simple designs.  They all have the same edging on them which at first I thought was a slender bit of crochet but on closer inspection is actually a really tight blanket stitch and every two inches or so she did a special little knot to give it a little more detail.  So what looks like a deceptively sweet and simple tablecloth actually must have taken quite a long time to create. 

 

Would you look at this diva.  One of a pair of pillowcases.  Someone carefully cut out a portion of the pillowcase and crocheted her hoop skirt.   I wish I had taken a close up of the crochet trim on this one because it is especially pretty.

 

I really should have ironed this before taking the picture.  I love this little tablecloth because it reminds me of when we first moved into our last house.  We had a sunny area behind the garage and next to my studio and I totally envisioned planting hollyhocks and foxgloves and pretty daisies along the back fence.  In my mind it looked just like this piece of embroidery.

 

I also envisioned sweet-peas but my sister Kate lived right down the street and she grew masses of them and my niece would pick bunches for me and leave them on my front porch.  Gosh I miss that.  

 

Most of the pieces so far have a 40's or 50's feel to them.  But this piece, a delicate little pillowcase seems older.  It reminds me of 20's lingerie with the muted peach fabric and the tea stained lace.  The lace is so delicate and the material is so fine that I can even imagine embroidering it in the first place.  I'm going to have to get a little pillow form to fit this. 

I think tomorrow we will take a break from the linens (and there is much more to come, let me tell you) and I'll share with you some of the china pieces and the adorable glass lamps.  In the meantime here's a picture of my assistant.  She has been helping me sort through all the linen pieces.