Thursday, March 19, 2009

Vintage Thingies Thursday




I was over visiting Rechelle's blog and found this fun way to show vintage things. You can find other Vintage Thingie Thursday blogs over at Colorado Lady blog - a wonderful blog.

Rechelle had a red bowl - which I also have - and it got me to thinking about how much I do love vintage things. I have teapots, linens, pine cone dishes, silverware - oh the list goes on and on . . . I could have posts from now until . . . well until I run out of pretties to show - which would be a long long long list of Thursdays.


Today I'll share some vintage linens - one of my very favorite things. I look for them at flea markets and swap meets, at yard sales and thrift stores.


This is my most recent find - a lovely Irish crochet edged pillowcase. I have tried and tried to do Irish crochet, I just can't seem to get those little roses to look right. After looking at this I just might give it another try. I would love to have a bedspread with Irish crochet roses - ohh that would be so sweet. Do any of you have any hints that might make the Irish crochet come out standing up so pretty like on this pillowcase? I'd surely appreciate any ideas.

We go to Skagit County (here in Washington) once a year for their annual swap meet. It is huge - held in the fairgrounds and emcompasses many buildings. By the time we've hit every building - or at least most of them - we are ready for a lunch break, or at least a sit down break.

I came across a booth in one of the first buildings that was selling BAGS of vintage linens for 2.00 a bag. I wanted all of them - but they had over 100 bags so I knew I wasn't going to get all of them - so I picked through and got 7 bags - and what treasures I found. Some other booths had linens for sale also but they were selling for 1.00 to 3.00 each - I really got a bargain!!!

Table runners, doilies, dresser scarves - many with pretty hand crocheted lace edgings . . .

Some napkins . . .

And ever so many pretty hankies!!!

My plan is to make a crazy quilt using the vintage linens - but in the mean time I am using some of them in other projects.
I like to make angels - all colors - with fun embellishments . . .
Their heads are felt - their wings are felt backed quilt blocks, hand stitched buttonhole stitch around the edges. I use mini 9 patches - each nine patch quilt square is 3"x3" - just the perfect size for a pair of angel wings.

A lot of the nine patches I got in a swap I was in long ago, when we still lived in CA. We had a color theme each month and we'd all make zillions of the little nine patches to send off in the swap. I've used the swapped nine patches to make whole quilts, used them in about 7 other quilts, given bags and bags of them away and still have two plastic shoe boxes full for other projects.


I can get four angels from one hanky if the hanky has design on all four corners. Napkins make one angel, since they usually only have design on one corner. I make a basket full of the heads and wings and then search for hankies to match the thread and nine patch colors. These are fun to make - nice handwork project for in the evening when we sit in the living room and Don reads to me.

My angels have flown all over the country - some even flew across the sea. I've had requests to send them to children undergoing medical treatments, to people who are lonely and need a bit of cheering up, to friends of friends who need something uplifting in their lives - and then I've also sent them out as give-aways on my blog and to friends and relatives. I just love making angels. Do you know someone who might need an angel?

18 comments:

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

Oh, how lucky you are to find all of these vintage linen items. I love your cute little angels. Nice job.
Molly

Melanie said...

I love your photos today. I just have this "thing" for old lace... It seems to me they just don't make like that anymore, or at least they don't use it as much.

PC said...

Love these angels - I have dozens of my grandmothers hankies - I could like to make these angels for my girls for a Christmas ornament...they are lovely..thanks for sharing! Paula from Idaho

SmilingSally said...

Those angels are delightful; what a good idea. Happy VTT. Here's mine:
http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/2009/03/grandpas-needle-and-safety-pin.html

Crispy said...

My sister and I would spend HOURS going to all the great antique malls that were available in Michigan. You asked if there was anyone I thought would like an angel, well, I made some comfort blocks for a 7yo girl with a brain tumor. If you go to my blog, click on Comfort Blocks in my lable list, there is a link to the lady who is collecting blocks. I bet an angel would be appreciated too. Perhaps you could e-mail her and see what she has to say. Sandi is a great lady.

Crispy

Moon Daisies said...

Oh my goodness, what a lovely vintage fair, I would so love to go there. You were very lucky to find so many treasures. I think your angels are very sweet.

Unknown said...

You got some great bargains, and your creativity in using them is amazing! Those angels are wonderful. Welcome to VTT!

Coloradolady said...

These are really cute! I love vintage linens and this is such a cute idea...have you posted a tutorial about how to make these? I am glad you are participating in Vintage Thingie Thursday! Great Post today, and may I say, what a find on the bags of treasures....I would have walked away with more than what you did!! LOL I know no limits!!

CC said...

Aahhh, more areas of weakness for me. Vintage linens, hankies...and angels. Your angels are just beautiful..you have such talent. I sure wish I could find bags of linens like that..I would have as many as I could possibly carry. :).
Happy VTT and have a lovely weekend.
P.s. I added you to my favorites so I can come look at your wonderful tutorial again..maybe I can make an angel for myself.

Teresa said...

You have to be one of the sweetest more generous people I know. I cherish my angel and I even see her in your blog post.

I, too, love vintage doilies, napkins, etc. I am forever checking out antique shops and other places to see what I can find. Never have I found a bargain like you did. Just imagine the hours and hours of work involved in your treasures.

Bea said...

I love vintage linens. Thanks for sharing yours. Those angels are darling!

fitty's pinky rose cottage said...

vintage linens are my fave collection.. and yours are so beautiful! I love it.. thanks for sharing and have a good weekend!

Jocelyn said...

You certainly came upon a real bargain. I love old linens. I have a few that were my mom's. Thanks for sharing about your angels. They are so precious.

Sarah said...

Lovely linens and what a great find!

Amy said...

My my! Such beautiful linens and needlework!

Anonymous said...

i love vintage linens and i'm drooling over your lovely collection..and those angels are very cute too :)

Ramblings From Spain said...

How lovely to find so many things you desire in one place! I would love to see a quilt made of vintage linens..and those angels are super cute too x

Miri said...

Lovely vintage linens with lovely embroidery...lucky you!