Vintage Embroidery

Today I thought that I would show you a piece of vintage embroidery that I bought while on our recent guild Cape getaway. There is a big, red wooden building about a mile down the road from where we stayed at the Bayside Resort in Yarmouth. It's an antique/vintage mall with many nooks and crannies that we always check out when in the area. Just look at this wonderful, carved back high chair. Isn't it something! It is even on rollers!

I am drawn to pieces of embroidery. (Mind you, I have enough wonderful pieces that were done by my dad's sisters, but I feel sad for abandoned, sweet little pieces such as this one that I purchased for the whopping sum of ten dollars. Who might have made this lovely piece?

There are one or two condition issues, but nothing that a well placed embroidery leaf won't fix.

 

There were some  brown stains, but a two day soak in Retro Clean removed most of them. I followed the directions on the package and soaked the piece in a bucket. I never put vintage linens in the washing machine. 

Here it is after the Retro Clean.  I had soaked it for a day, and dumped the liquid only to discover not all the stains had been removed, so I mixed up more solution and soaked it for another two days. 

 

Isn't it sweet?

 

When I purchased it, I knew just where I would display it. I have a half table in my upstairs hallway. The blue vase was a piece that had belonged to my aunt's brother who had done the painting on the glass pitcher. I must have admired it at some point for after his passing I received it. He had put labels on various items indicating to whom he wanted things to go. Isn't that a wonderful idea?

Speaking of vintage embroidery, I did this piece when I was in college; it's dated 1973, so I guess it, too, would be considered vintage. :-)  I remember that Women's Day had an issue with all of the zodiac signs. Left to right  . . . my dad - July, my mom - January, my brother- October, and my birthday sign, also July. I traced the patterns, but I don't remember how I transferred them to the fabric. I do know that my dad made the frame for this piece. I came across it at the same time as I found the stained glass ship mirror that I posted about HERE. [You may click on any photo to see a larger version.]

By the way, if you follow my posts by email, did you know that you may scroll down to the bottom of the email and click on "Web Version," to see the whole page. Among other things, I have links to some of my favorite quilt related blogs, there is a box to leave a comment, contact information, and a search box in case you would like to find something from one of my previous blog posts.

I had intended to discuss coronavirus concerns, but I will wait until another post. Stay safe.