Valentine's Day, antique French linen, & monograms

A very pretty nightdress, with palest, palest blue handmade lace trim and monogram -  I bet it sent the pulses racing all those years ago...
nightdress now sold

 and here is the twin - there are two of them, very similar but with just a subtle difference in the lace trim
nightdress now sold

 

Made from metis - linen/cotton union - warm in winter, cool in summer

And for him - a pure linen shirt, with a tie neckline and a red cross-stitch monogram, all handstitched of course.  Can almost imagine Mr Darcy wearing something like it
shirt now sold.

The fabric has softened now and the red cross-stitching on the monogram is now a little faded by sunshine (remember that?) and laundering - these linen shirts must have taken hours to press.  I can only guess that they were pressed as to wear them without, it must have been like wearing corrugated cardboard!

And a most beautifully embroidered sheet - with a heart, flowers, ribbon and a pair of love-birds...
sheet now sold

and the bride's monogram, lovingly embroidered in pink

and the groom's too...


Have a great week, and a lovely Valentine's Day!

Grab a cushion, sit down, and read...

Flower Fairies now sold

Housewives now sold

All cushions now sold
I have some gorgeous vintage French cushions for sale right now - all made by hand, including the roses, the lace, the crochet cherries, the cut-out work... all made by the grandmama of the lady from whom I bought a large amount of textiles and linen. You can see the listings for them here - or just clic on my 'Vintage Fabric & Textiles' in my Ebay shop - one has already sold and on its way to Australia.

I have also listed a couple of books this week - all starting at 99p - that are so different, but each fun in their own way.

'Flower Fairies Of The Wayside' by Cicely Mary Barker - such a pretty, nostalgic book with adorable colour illustrations by her - a nice early copy from the late '40s.

'Badjelly The Witch' by Spike Milligan - an very early edition from the nutty genius Spike, illustrated with help from his daughter.

'1000 Hints For Housewives' by Helen Burke, the cookery book writer - lots of frugal tips for running a home, saving money and generally sorting and organising all domestic matters - should keep this one I'm thinking..even though it was written in 1934, there is so much that is relevant now.

Have a good week!

Pintucks - on vintage clothes

A nightdress, with simple tucks down the front, for comfort

Sorry, this is sold
Sewn by hand, and a nice monogramme in red as a bonus


close-up of the monogramme - more photos here.


This is a jabot or shirt front - you can see the button holes for fastening on a collar.

Sorry but this is sold
More complicated than the nightdress - more formal. I suspect this might be either for a young man, or even a woman as the neck is quite small. This has also got a small monogramme on the bottom tab - you can see more in the listing here.


Now this piece is really amazing - the pintucks are very well hand stitched, in perfect rows - and so many of them!

It's complicated and just lovely - the bottom of a petticoat I think - late Napoleon III (Victorian) edging into the beginning of 20thc/Edwardian age.

sorry, but this is sold
There is over 10 feet or 3 metres of it - you can read more here.

I just LOVE pintucks - imagine the patience needed to sew them... and really, they are quite unnecessary but so evocative of a lost time. Can't imagine many girls know how to sew pintucks now - I remember having to do (and re-do!) some on my domestic science apron back in the 1960s at my strict Lancashire school. And, sewing on my initials - couldn't call it a monogramme as it wasn't so decorative, but at least everyone in my class knew their apron...

My name is Carol and I am an embroidery addict...

I'm so lucky to have found this old cross-stitch wall hanging - it has had a difficult life, cut in two or three and with pieces added, pieces cut away... what a history it must have.


It is made from rough hemp/jute, with the embroidery done in wool - here is an anchor, obviously important but why?


These are obviously the owners initials, but why has been cut in two?


This is true to the actual colour - the anchor photo is a little washed out due to the intense sunlight, but I had no-where big enough to spread it out (the table indoors is full of OH's computer bits and a few other little projects he is working on)


I think it is early 19th century, possibly earlier, and sadly this might only be the right-hand third of the original work.


Excuse the dead leaves by the well - it's been so dry, the magnolia is shedding and it is a daily task to sweep up the dead leaves...


Sorry this is sold
This is another piece from the same source - it was the top of an old cushion which was literally falling apart. I unpicked it to salvage the embroidery. I think it is ecclesiastical and dates from the same period as the hanging and is from a pew seat or kneeling stool


Lovely pastel flowers

Sorry, this cloth is sold
This is a small table cloth - trimmed in blue silk fringing


A small oval cloth - hand worked mother-bird and her nest - quite sweet.

Sorry, this bird cloth is sold
It would be great under glass on a vintage dressing table or tray.


Ever popular - fine cotton worked with pastel cross-stitch flowers and leaves, with a pink scalloped edge


Again, this would make a lovely tray cloth or under glass


I ADORE this bear - he looks so intense as he rows his friends in his boat. Stitched by a young girl perhaps - a lost art I think these days -how many girls (or boys!) are taught sewing at school?

Sorry, this bear is sold
This would be lovely framed for a nursery, or topping a pillow or cushion.

Sorry, this cloth is sold
Another small square table cloth - harvest table perhaps as there is an ear of corn on opposite corners.


Sorry, this torchon is sold
A nice embroidered torchon - or tea-towel, love the lemons! Blue hearts are nice too.


Here is that ear of corn again - stitched by hand

Sorry, but this is sold
And on the other two corners is this spray of flowers.


This table cloth is just perfect for summer - just look at those Van Gogh sunflowers... just right for a picnic cloth too...the yellow silk is virtually encrusted onto the cloth.


Sorry, this sunflower cloth is sold
Well, just a few embroidered pieces I have, all of them French, ranging in styles, colours and use. You can check out my listings for these and other pieces on my Ebay shop here or just email me for more info.

I'm going to be rather busy - I have just bought another 3 bags of linen - it must all be laundered and hung out to dry - and guess what? The drought has broken and it's raining!

A few new listings for sale

This is a lovely egg-shell/pale turquoise cotton, printed with gorgeous pink roses - it's quite a large print as you can see by the tape-measure


sorry but all this fabric is now sold
It has never been used - probably left over from another project - and the best thing is that it is extra wide - 2.80 metres in fact! I'm selling it in one whole piece - perfect for bedspread or curtains, and my supplier has more if anyone needs extra.


This is a very popular fabric for the Christmas season, especially amongst my American friends, several of whom have made Christmas-tree skirts for their homes.


It has a woven heart with a sage-green twist - all the right colours for a traditional Christmas...


Makes wonderful lavender hearts too...selling by the half-metre.


Such pretty flowers...

and fancy feet...


Sorry, but this clock case is sold
This is a beautiful porcelain clock case, made around 1900 in the Royal Bonn pottery, Germany and was exported to USA to the Ansonia clock factory. A little vintage gem in pink and lavenders - perfect to house that little clock movement tucked away in the back of the drawer...




Sorry, this cushion is sold
This is a frilled boudoir cushion, stitched in blue and white on an oatmeal background. Notice the Gothic-style windows where the background fabric shows through? I just love the lady musicians and dancer, all dressed in Medieval costume.


Sorry, but this is sold
A lovely vintage bag here, perfect for everyday use or storing wool, sewing etc. Handsewn in a chunky printed linen, lined with oatmeal linen and a pair of bamboo handles. Amazing to think everyone is making these bags now, but this one has been around in France since probably the 70s..and still as stylish now as then.


Sorry, this piece is sold
This is a nice piece of cut-out work, in oatmeal linen, stitched in white. It is the top of a boudoir cushion and could be used again as such, or any other re-purpose project...

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For details and further information on any of the items, just press my Ebay shop button on my right-hand sidebar or contact me on my comments page.

Thanks for looking - oh, and enjoy half-term everyone :)