A Sampler of Lace, Linens, and Love

If you have been reading the blog for a while now, you will know Teri and I have a great love for all things vintage—especially linens, clothing, or lace. Teri recently shared her story about a special dress in A Vintage Pinafore, Tea, and Friends, and I shared the story of my apron collection in Apron Strings. We even wrote a post together about our quest for vintage treasures in a Hershey, Pennsylvania, antique mall in Vintage Treasures Newly Acquired. We love seeing the handiwork of those who have stitched before us! 

Long ago, hand work was a required skill for many young women all over the world. Whether it was  stitching on everyday items such as bedding, or a skilled craft such as lace-making, creating beauty with one's hands was far more commonplace. Thankfully, my time in Germany has allowed me to find and view some vintage treasures found here in Europe.

On our trip to Wales, not only were we able to see the fantastic Welsh quilts in Jen Jones's collection, but there also happened to be a sampler exhibit on display at the same time. It's a challenge to get good pictures of framed items, but here are a few of the wonderful samplers in the exhibit:

Sarah Evans, 1866

Sarah Jones, 1875

Mary Evans, estimated 1850

Gwenllian Jenkins, age 14, 1836

Anne Edwards, no date

Margaret Davies, 1829

Anne Evans, 1856

M. Reeves, 1883

Anne Williams,  age 15, 1861

Recently, I traveled to Brugges, Belgium, which quickly became one of my favorite European cities thus far. We were there for a beer festival, but thankfully, we were able to do a little window shopping. Belgian lace is a beautiful, bobbin-made lace that has been around for centuries. While I wasn't able to bring any home this time around, I was able to take a few pictures of the shop windows.

Some beautiful examples

I don't know how they keep all those bobbins straight!

I still don't know why one of these pendants
didn't make it into my suitcase!

Fun lace bags

Not all my recent travels have been to other countries. Thankfully, there is a wonderful lady here that puts together antique and thrifting adventures. It has been on a few of these adventures that I have picked up some vintage linens to add to my collection. 

I fell in love with this apron and am excited to add it to my collection!

Maybe they had laundry fairies long ago!

"Good Weather"

I think this might have been a table runner at one time.

A bread bag from the past

Dutch themes must have been popular.

While I do enjoy finding old linens, I love old trims and laces as well. My collection is accumulating, and sometimes it is nice to create with some of them. Last week, I was invited to a brunch with a few of my German quilting friends. They often give little gifts at these brunches, and I have been on the receiving end many times, so I thought I would make something for them. As Valentine's Day was approaching, hearts seemed like a good choice. I ransacked my collection of trims and scraps and came up with a little heart bag that would be able to carry a piece of chocolate. My ladies enjoyed them, and they were very easy to make. I was also happy to use some of my antique trims.

A little bit of vintage trim, an antique button, and some wool

A rosette made with the trim topped by the button

Stitched together with an opening at the top

A little bit more trim for a handle and they are ready to carry their piece of chocolate!

Hopefully, you have enjoyed a little view of the stitching prowess of European stitchers of the past.  From samplers to bread bags, needlework (and bobbin work) is such a wonderful way to add beauty to everyday. Do you enjoy collecting vintage linens or trims? Pinterest is full of ideas for ways to use them creatively. Now, if I just had a few more hours in the day...

Happy Valentines Day!

Apron Strings

Apron: A piece of clothing worn on the front of the body over clothes to keep them from getting dirty.

This is Webster's definition of an apron, but growing up, my sister and I (Kara) had a different definition for the apron. Aprons were the springboard for some amazing fashion pieces that she and I created using the collection of aprons that our grandmother had. To set the stage for how we were able to attempt this next new fashion movement, I should share more about my Grandma Killian.

Grandma Killian lived in St. Joseph for most of her life and had even been a Blossomland queen when she was young. A picture of her as the Blossomland queen is painted on the carousel at Silver Beach in St. Joseph, Michigan.

Alice Merson (my grandmother) at the blessing of the blossoms

Another pageant picture

The Silver Beach Carousel

My grandma when she lived on the Lake

Grandma was a widow during the time I knew her, and during that time she lived in an apartment right on Lake Michigan in St. Joseph, Michigan. We would visit her every summer and spend a few weeks at a time with her, usually without our parents since we lived so far away. She loved living right on the lake and had an impressive collection of beach glass and interesting rocks. (Okay, the interesting rock collection might have been from all the rocks my sister and I brought up from the beach.) 

We loved to visit her for so many reasons. What could be more fun than spending summer days on Lake Michigan? Her apartment complex had a pool and a massive set of steps that led to the beach. My sister and I would spend our days going from the pool to the beach and back again—sometimes with cousins and parents, but most of the time we were on our own.

Shenanigans at the pools

Hanging out with cousins on the diving board

When we were tired of the beach and pool, we would hang out in the apartment and spend time in her spare bedroom where we slept.  The bottom drawer of the dresser in there held a treasure trove of aprons of all sizes, fabrics, and types.  We would create some of the most divine garments (at least in our eyes) and then force any adult present to sit through a fashion show. We spent hours with those aprons. My aunts don't remember that Grandma set out to collect aprons but believe her collection must have just accumulated over time. As the wife of the county prosecuting attorney, entertaining and cocktail parties were part of their daily lives, and during the '40s an '50s, the apron was sometimes a fashion accessory.  My grandfather, as an attorney for the local fruit farmers, was often given fruits and vegetables as payment. My grandma would then can the payment, so some of her aprons were functional as well.

Now I have started a collection of my own aprons. Most of the aprons have been purchased at antique stores or thrift stores. I've tried to vary the types I purchase when it comes to the fabric and the style.

My collection so far

I love the uniqueness of the pockets on this one.

This crocheted beauty probably wasn't very practical, but very sweet nonetheless.

A beautifully embroidered Colonial Lady

In my mind, my grandma's aprons symbolize the carefree weeks we spent with her. She loved us so much and allowed us to make some pretty big messes with those aprons. I don't know if I will have granddaughters who will spend hours playing with my aprons and making memories, but at least they will be there if I do. What do you have that is a special reminder of your grandma?

My drawer full of aprons

Vintage Treasures Newly Acquired

A few weeks ago, I (Teri) was visiting my parents in Hershey, PA, and found a treasure trove of mid-19th century samplers in an antique store. I marveled at the preserved beauty and history in these artifacts and contemplated whether I should splurge to own one. I snapped photos of them all and determined to study them and possibly return. Truthfully, I felt they should all reside in a museum.

This was the one I thought I would buy; I love the detail and the softness of the colors. Sadly, someone beat me to it.

So last week, Kara and I decided to road trip to the antique stores in Hershey to make a final determination as to which sampler needed a home with me. You see, Kara has this propensity to help me spend my money. Needless to say, we both left with a few new treasures for our collections.

This beauty was definitely in the running. It had much more wear, but the intricate design was just lovely. It would, however, have needed to be reframed and it was a bit more costly.

This is the charming piece that has found a new home in my living room. It is stitched on a sheer silk background with silk and wool threads. To think that these girls were stitching such lovely work at these young ages is humbling.

Growing up, my sister and I (Kara) spent many summers with my Grandmother in Michigan.  My grandmother had a bottom drawer in her spare bedroom full of aprons she had collected in her many travels.  My sister and I have such fond memories of spending hours turning those interesting aprons into even more interesting fashion.  So I've recently decided that I would like to have a collection of aprons just in case the Lord blesses me with a few granddaughters.  I was fortunate enough to pick up three "new" aprons for my collection.

A delicate lace and batiste beauty

Hand-crocheted

Serviceable wool

Here is a tip for shopping at an antique mall.  Check under tables and in corners to see if there are any hidden gems.  Here are four of the the twelve pre-printed bird blocks that I found underneath a covered table.  They are crying out for embellishment with embroidery.

And don't forget to look in drawers of dressers in the booths! You never know what you will find hidden away.

Adorable kittens on a pillowcase

We found this set of two unfinished puppy pillowcases: one for each of us!

Aren't these puppies dear?

Another set to share: we each got one of these embroidered tea towels.

Fabulous French knotted flowers

And beautiful bullion flowers

Bookshelves also hold many special finds. Here are a couple of our new acquisitions, which we will write more about in a future post. Both books are over a hundred years old.

Inspiration can be found everywhere. What a beautiful appliqué and embroidery piece this Staffordshire bowl would make!

What about you? What do you look for when you visit an antique shop? Where do you find inspiration for your stitching?