I cannot count my day complete
'Til needle, thread and fabric meet.
~Author Unknown

Sharing a common thread with those who love the art of hand embroidery

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Vintage charm of yesterday created for today's use

A few posts back, I showed this picture of the white work I am beginning to do for my dining room table..
This is the vintage transfer that I decided to use. Well......

I finished! The center design at least. This shows the cutwork I love to do,


along with the different stitches....closed buttonhole stitch, french knots, satin stitch and so on.




I have always loved the old linens one finds at antique sales. The sheets and matching pillowcases done in white cutwork along with monograms, the sets of napkins(some 12 to a set) with either monograms or other floral done in white work. I have always wanted to bring that look back to today's tables and homes. That is my passion and desire. To have a line of linens for use in the kitchen, dining room, bedroom and bath, that is newly created and durable for today's use, but also have the charm of yesteryear. That is how I came up with my company name....Yesteryear Embroideries.



I now need to decide what I am going to stitch on the corners and the sections in between, plus I want to do some kind of cut work on the very edge of the whole cloth. So hopefully at a later date, I will be able to show you the complete finished cloth! For now....my attention must turn back to a cross stitch picture I am trying to finish for a friend. So my question to you all this time is..... if you were to decorate with linens.....which room would you chose to decorate? I always love hearing your comments and opinions, I can't wait to hear on this!






19 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is absolutely beautiful. I love a dining room decorated with pretty cloths/napkins etc. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to seeing what you come up with to finish it.

Lisa @ Life with 4! said...

very pretty! I've never done cutwork... how do you do it? do you cut before the stitching or after? I like linens on the dining room table although I don't use them right now because of little ones.

Conni said...

Beautiful cutwork embroidery! I'd use embroidered linens in the dining room and bedroom.

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

Hi everyone, thanks for commenting, and Lisa, cutwork is basically padded satin stitch. You do the stitching around the marked areas first, then you make the "ties" that tie the cut work together by doing closed buttonhole stitch over two strands, then you VERY CAREFULLY, cut away the bottom marked fabric making sure you don't cut your stitches. . I so enjoy hearing from all of you! blessings, Kathleen

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Oh it looks like it is coming along beautifully! Love the look of it! Have a wonderful week!

Childers Corner said...

That's beautiful Kathy! One day, I plan on decorating my dining room. I've always wanted lacy white curtains and a linen tablecloth and I have had a pattern for years for a seat cushions and rugs and just never get around to it.

Anonymous said...

I am in awe!!! truly wonderful!! You are gifted!
Thanks for showing us and inspiring me to do more embroidery.
Just A Gal...

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

Kathleen, That is SO beautiful. I have some of those old pieces and I love each and every one!

KathyB. said...

Your needlework truly is exquisite. I love the all white on white, classic. As for your question, I believe as the others have stated, my bedroom and dining room for linens. I do enjoy using cloth napkins on my woven table-runners, and embroidered pillow cases in the bedroom!I too look forward to the finished work.

Unknown said...

I am with the others....I decorate our bedroom with pretty linens and also the dining area...I do like to put a pretty runner on our coffee table too in the living room and have a corner curio cabinet that I have decorated with pretty crocheted linens peeking over the shelves....
I would like to do the cutwork one day too...very pretty

Linda said...

Kathleen, this is just so beautiful....I love the cutwork too. That is something I've never attempted, but would love to do. For me, I love using linens in my bedroom and the dinning area...hugs, Linda

Paula said...

Dear Kathleen,

The cloth you are embroidering is absolutely gorgeous and looks like an antique! Your stitching and the cutwork are incredible!!! I love to collect antique linens and use them in the dining room, bedroom and in our parlor. I love being surrounded by old things, using and decorating with them. You are making future heirlooms, and I am so excited you will be opening a shop. I love the name you chose!
Blessings,
Paula

FarmHouse Style said...

Oh my goodness, your work is very lovely! I am a big fan of cutwork. I have a nice collection of vintage linens and I scatter them through out the house but the main areas are the bedroom and dinning area.

Thanks for stopping by to visit me the other day. I hope you will come back again sometime.


Rhonda

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Once again, I am in amazment with your handiwork! This piece is so beautiful! I have a little something finished for you. Envelope addressed, just need to run it to the post office! xox

Hugs,
Maryjane

Cora from Hidden Riches said...

Absolutely beautiful!!!!! I, too, love old linens with the embroidery work on them. I pondered your question and have a hard time making up my mind which room I would choose. I love the dining room items, but also love dish towels, pillow cases, etc. So put me down as an "everything" kind of gal!

Cora

papel1 said...

Kathleen,
Your cut work and embroidery is beautiful. I love the white on white. That is something I will have to try.
Judy

Pam said...

Oh Kathleen, such beautiful work.
Blessings,
Pam

Ruth said...

This is absolutely gorgeous. What a great job!! Really amazing.
Ruth

Theresa @ Take A Sentimental Journey said...

Oh wow, the white on white is going to be so elegant looking !