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?

I often find vintage pillowcase sets

with lovely hand embroidery and drawn thread work on them...........but many of them are either heavily stained.......or have tears and holes.

Because of this, they are usually not looked at and not wanted.

So I am thrilled to find them. I take them home, soak them, wash them and decide whether they can be repaired or re-purposed.  This set came out clean and spotless, but the body of the pillowcase had too many holes.  

So I salvaged the hand embroidery and drawn thread work and then sewed them onto pretty floral print fabric and added some of my own embroidery stitches. 

I then added hand crocheted trim

and turned them into a set of pretty his and hers hand towels. 

Making them into a " something old, something new, something blue set" perfect for  the newly wed, or as a house warming gift.........or for a guest bathroom.

I found the sweetest little porcelain, hand painted tub soap dish

that matched the towels perfectly to make a sweet set.

It always goes back to a saying I remember, 

Use it up, wear it out,

make it do, or 

do without.

Do you remember that?

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