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

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

74 different designs are hand embroidered

on this one cotton cloth. Once again.........I was rummaging through a dusty  junk place and wadded in a basket of mix match tattered linens was this breath taking piece
(with no stains or holes)
I think the whole store heard me gasp and cry out with glee as I clung the piece close to me and took off like a chicken with a prize worm. 
Someone worked so many hours on this and it looks to have never been used. 
Each design has been carefully and accurately placed to balance out the cloth. It has been hand hemmed 
It is the size of a queen size bed and I am thinking that maybe the person who stitched this was planning on making it into a quilt perhaps? or maybe just a lovely spread for the bed?

There is a mixture of flower designs

stitched so excellently and in such vibrant colors. 

There are also beautifully stitched Southern belles.

Some designs are very vintage

Each one in perfect hand embroidery 


and well thought out color scheme. 

My dilemma...........I collect vintage linens
I sell vintage linens........
I can't decide whether to sell this piece or to hang onto it.
I don't feel it fits our bedroom decor.........it really is very feminine maybe more for a young girl/teens room or a single lady.
I am really on the fence with this one.
I can't decide on what to use it for except to store it away in my collection ...........
what do you think?


14 comments:

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

It would be impossible for me to sell it but maybe you can enjoy it for awhile and then sell it. How beautiful! Sweet hugs, Diane

Marianne said...

Kathleen, I am stunned!!! I had to laugh when you described your escape like a chicken (hen) with a prize worm...funny image, and I can imagine your excitement.

This piece is absolutely stunning!! The work that went into it is phenomenal, as well as beautiful. I am in awe. What are you going to do with this beauty? Oh, I envy (in a good way :) ) your 'junk' stores or thrift stores. I rarely find anything of such magnitude in ours. And I will say that the piece you found would have most likely been quite a few dollars where I live...that is if it made it on the store floor. I know that the women in the back pick and choose the best items that come into the store and keep them :/

But I did manage to find some really wonderful fabric scraps today, as well as some wonderful ribbons and bindings, a pretty little box, some white millinery leaves, and more. So I feel rather a bit roosterish with my 'loot'. Maybe tomorrow, if we see the sun (or not) I'll take some photos of some of the stash, and post it on my blog. It will be fun to see what I do with them.

Glad I stopped by, as always. I hope you're doing well with all the rain - if you got any that is. We're doing fine in our neck of the woods, though the creeks need to have the chance to subside more.

Blessings to you my dear,
Marianne xo

Sherri Farley said...

Funny,funny story.....I can just imagine you clutching your prize. I say keep if for now & decide later!!

lil red hen said...

A very beautiful piece! Wouldn't you love to know the history behind it! I'm with Sherri ~ keep it a while, then decide.

Unknown said...

Your story is amusing, had to laugh! I have performed the same grab and run tactic. I think it is a lovey piece of embroidery that someone put a lot of work into. I'm like Sherri, decide later what to do with it.

Shami Immanuel said...

Lovely piece of embroidery designs. If I get such a piece I will not give it to anyone. Keep it with you.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Oh my! What a wonderful piece. But such a shame for it be stored away. Perhaps if you can't enjoy it, someone else will. Best wishes deciding, Tammy

Laurie said...

I would have the same problem! It's so beautiful I would want to hang onto it, but then again someone else may feel the same way as you do, and have the perfect spot for it. I'm glad you have to make that decision and not me!!

Bits of Stitching! said...

How lovely! I wouldn't have the heart to sell it :-). Whatever you decide to do, still was great that it was you who stumbled upon it!

Bits of Stitching! said...

Oh, forgot to mention... I recognized some of the designs as part of the Aunt Martha's transfers!

KathyB. said...

I think you stated your dilemma perfectly. I would have the same "problem". If it were me I'd hang onto this piece for awhile. At some time you will know what to do with it. It really is a treasure and being found by you, someone who can tell how much time and skill was invested in it is a very good thing !

DELETED said...

lovely blog! thanks for sharing...

A Colorful World said...

What a treasure! I would have gasped and squealed too! I think, because it is hemmed, that it must be a sheet. I can't imagine the beautiful designs "hidden under a bushel" though but if it was meant for a coverlet it would be too thin. I guess a quilter could have hemmed the edges just so it would stay intact during the months of handling as it was embroidered...perhaps with the intention of quilting around the designs as a whole-cloth quilt. I think it would make a perfect gift for a young lady to use in her room, either someone you know, or to place in the shop for a quilter to turn it into a whole-cloth. It is absolutely stunning!

letslearnembroidery said...

It's really pretty, no wonder you were so excited finding it.