Among the linens I have........... waiting to be embroidered,

I have quite a few pillowcases that are missing one of the pair.

I have been given these by friends and have picked up a few in shops along the way. Always looking for a match to make a pair with. However,

just one really does serve a purpose. Through the years, a friend will stop by to spend a few days..........a retreat to come to................

 away from the hurried pace of life.

I love to have embroidered guest towels in the bath,

embroidered napkins at the table,

and embroidered bed linens,

to make them feel welcome and special.

One guest only needs one pillowcase to rest on. So I always embroider these and stack them in the linen closet..........waiting for a friend to visit.

This pillowcase had such a lovely design, I could not resists taking needle and thread to it.

How about you?

Do you have a single pillowcase in need of embroidery?

Come on...........grab a needle and some floss............

get to stitching!

you might just have a friend to come visit one day!

Recently, a dear friend sent me a box full of wonderful embroidery floss..........

many skeins were of this beautiful variegated collection. I knew I wanted to embroider with this, but could not determine how and on what design I actually would end up working this in with.  

I also recently came upon a box of different colored rick rack........... Rick rack..........something I have never really taken interest in especially when it comes to my embroidery design. However, sometimes, trying something different can be such a refreshing change.

(click on photos for a better view)

As you remember, I showed you my latest embroidered pillowcase set and had not decided on the edging at that time. I usually go for a more vintage and romantic approach, using lace or a crocheted edging for these. But since this set has been different even in the way I chose floss color...........I decided to do the same on the edging. The blue rick rack makes it look a little more modern, yet it has a welcome home look to it.................I think.

The variegated floss, helped capture all of the colors that I used in the design when embroidering and helped gap the space between bottom design and the middle design.

I used a feather stitch for this and it runs all the way around the pillowcase.

And now, the set has a cheerful and and perky look to it.......

don't you think?

How about you?

Do you use rick rack or variegated threads in your work?

I would love to hear!

The pillowcase design I have shown to you

and have been embroidering on for the past few weeks,

(click on photos for a better view)

is finished! It is full of flowers, blossoms, and vines.

It looks like a crewel design, but it worked up perfectly in regular hand embroidery stitches.........

don't you think?

 

As  I stated in earlier posts, I did not have the colors already picked out.............

I chose the colors as I moved along from leaf to flower............

trying to keep the colors different..............

yet, trying to make them all blend and balance for the design.

There was such an array of different petals................

and leaves....................

 and even a shy snail, gliding along..............

and a butterfly darting above it all.

I placed this design in the very center of the pillowcase............

and embroidered a smaller design on the very edge.

a pretty tulip or rose looking flower..........

with  a spray of daisies.

This allows the embroidery to be seen as on top of the pillow, with a pretty embroidered edge.

Now I am in the process of deciding on what crocheted edging I want to place on the very edges. I am not sure if I will place a fabric inlay on the edge..............

What do you think?

I found a vintage embroidered linen that I have never seen before.................

(click on photos for a better view)

Once again, in a basket, underneath a pile of crochet and embroidered pieces, this wonderful tablecloth was waiting. It has never been used and in wonderful condition. What intrigued me the most,

is that it has an embroidered cloth napkin, tucked into an insert on each corner.

Do any of you remember the days of going to visit friends for a luncheon or a game of Bridge?

Have you ever seen a piece like this before?

The embroidery is beautifully worked.

and the cut work to hold the napkins has been stitched in an expert fashion.

The napkins also are in wonderful condition.

On the back the writing on the corner of the table cloth says:

Kemp & Beatley, 1926

5 piece refreshment set.

Embroider with Mayflower cotton.

I researched both companies.........

Kemp & Beatley of New York is still in the linen business and

Mayflower..........I am not yet sure of.

There is not much history on either...................

are you familiar with these companies..........or their designs and kits?

I would love to hear!