Collections - Neat Items to Collect

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Building a collection no matter of the age of the object/s we seek is both fun and rewarding. Sometimes a collection occurs by happenstance and other times we start out actively looking for that item of choice. Regardless of how we start it is the good time we have along the way. In many instances social ties and friendships are formed from the common bond of our collections....

Want to read more? I have put together a small sampling of photos with text from my Squidoo Lens of collections that would be fun to put together.

please click here to enjoy

Hope you will visit often as I will be including more photos of other items that would be "neat to collect.

From The Linen Closet ~ Antique Turkey Red Embroidery Work

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Turkey red embroidery has gotten its name, so some historians state , from the color of the Turkish carpets made at the time. Be it true or not it does make a good story. Certainly the color of the carpets and the red embroidery thread are of the same hue. Household linens & even garments with this red embroidery thread were created from the mid 1800's to about 1930's with the heyday late Victorian - 1920's. Just before and after 1920 this type of work had started to wane with not much done passed this time. Although, I just recently had a quilt dated 1932. This embroidery work was usually a fairly simple embroidery chain stitch but still others I have seen are with elaborate needlework. An array of linens were decorated from fancy pillow shams with motto's - such as "Good Morning on one sham & "Good Night" on the other. Towels, tablecloths napkins, splashbacks, tray cloths doilies of all sizes. And quilts from simple embroidered stitched blocks to eye dazzling motifs. Lady's aprons was a favorite for this type of embroidery as well as bed jackets & combing capes. The stencils to do this type of work seems to be endless. But even so it is hard to find two that are exactly alike as each person had their own adaptation for executing the embroidery work. I hope you have enjoyed this tidbit of information regarding this ever popular embroidery work and I hope you will look forward to the next discussion from the Linen Closet.

A delightful subject matter especially for those that love cats.

Hand Crochet Lace ~ Linen Closet Lesson

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The making of crochet lace is with a single pointed crochet hook in patterns that seem endless. The art of crochet as I read is a very old form of lace making established & known in parts of the world by different name such as pdming (Sweden), pjoing (Norway), shepard's knitting (Scotland) gobelinstch (Germany) and crochet de Bosnie (France). in Scotland the earliest known shepard's knitting was 1812. Most of the examples of crochet lace making here in America dates late 1800's on, although there is documentation of earlier pieces. But for practically purposes if you are collecting crochet the later time frame of items are more readily available.

This type of lace will be found on household linens, garments of all kinds both for children & adult. Lace was made for trims as well as the entire piece worked in crochet. Pattern books abounded to give the lady working instructions for all types of items. Occasionally one finds sample patterns either stored loose, in handmade book form or even just stitched to a paper backing with the names of the patterns neatly penned beneath the pattern. She would always have at hand a sample of a pattern if she needed to refer. If you are collecting, it is always a treat to be able to buy one of these sample books, sample pages or just loose patterns stored in a box.

September - The Beginning of Fall

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September, even in sunny southern California, hints of the fall season are beginning. Our huge maple trees are testimonial to the fact as the leaves start to drift to the ground a few at a time until towards the end of October when we are hit with a barrage. Although we don't have the beautiful fall color show that is predominate of other parts of the country there are still some individual leaves that are so strikingly beautiful. Colors of red & gold mixed with the green & yellow.

I do love to garden so I spend as much time as time will allow planting & caring for flowers. This season I planted a small patch of Black-Eye Susans. Their showy little blooms are providing the most beautiful array of fall colors. Later on when pumpkins are available I will stuff a few in among the blooms to create a festive decorative touch. Decorating the outdoors, to me, is as much fun as decorating the inside of my home.

The fall season is one of the most colorful times of the year ~ may you all enjoy!

The House of Boue Soeurs / French Couture Dress

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So purely elegant and so fashionable for a bride of the day circ late teens - early 1920's. Although these dresses are not labeled they have the earmarks of being created by the Boue Soeurs' French Couture House. Both of the dresses were purchased from Arlean Andres dress shop, 300 Delaware St., Buffalo, N.Y. and delivered to Mrs. R. Weed, Fairfax Hotel, Buffalo. Marked on another portion of the box is a label with the handwritten words "2 Boue' dresses Jane's & mine". I am very confident with this information plus further investigating these dresses are indeed from the House of Boue' Soeurs. It has been a delight to read of the two sisters who founded the Boue Soeurs', plus with further reading of Buffalo, N.Y. during this time period. It is my understanding Delaware Ave. was dubbed "Millionaire's Row" of fashionable homes & upscales businesses. So with this is mind parents of the bride would want only the finest for their daughter's wedding. And what could be finer than to purchase a lovely French "lingerie dress".

The bride's dress is of embroidered organdy & it is my understanding the embroidery work for the sisters was done in Venice. It truly is magnificent of Grecian style urn of flowers (10" tall x 12" wide) in center of dress with border of birds, flora & leaves near the bottom of dress as well as the yoke of dress. Lovely hand darn work lace (2" wide) in a stylized flora edges the round neckline & cap sleeves of the dress. This same lace is used as insertion at other various points on the dress including the hemline. Tiny rows of pintucks runs horitzal along the hem as well as 7" rows on either of the sides. Open "ladder" work from the yoke through the center of dress to the embroidered urn. In this area near the waist are two finished slits for inserting a ribbon sash. Snap closure down the back of dress to about the waist. Silk ribbon rosette cluster in a circular pattern decorate the shoulder of the dress. Again, it is my understanding this circular rosette cluster was a trademark of the sisters.

The Mother's dress is just a beautiful creation of hand embroidery on organdy of stylized flora, tiny leaves & buds. Almost the whole center front & back of the dress is of white organdy appliqued to the almond organdy of the sides & sleeves of the dress. Another signature trademark of the Boue' sisters as they used pale and muted colors, reminiscent of tinted almonds & spring colors. Insertions of hand darn work lace in stylied flora & roses fill the sides of the dress to below the hips. Finished openings on both the front & back at the waist for ribbon sash. Round needlework of cherubs on either side below the waist. Darn lace finishes the hem on the sides & back. The front hem line is of the organdy fabric. Scoop neckline with short sleeves finished in embroidery work. Back of the dress is of the same decorative panel as the front except the a few short pin tucks at the waist on the front. Slight "A" line flare to the dress.

These dresses do speak of the artistic beauty of a gentle time long ago.

Double Irish Chain Handstitched Calico Quilt c 1900

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The Irish Chain quilt is an attractive quilt made up of rows of fabrics in a small diamond shaped. As these diamonds are linked together forming a larger square the pattern of the chain starts to evolve. The Irish Chain was made in single, double & triple pattern. The one I have photographed is a Double Irish Chain made towards the late 1890's or early 1900's. It features a red with black print calico on a white with black calico. The backing of this quilt is also a white with black print but different than the fabric on the front side. This quilt is all hand stitched in a nicely done manner, however, of simple stitches.

A tidbit of history I read regarding the Irish Chain and thought I would share. A quilt made of Irish Chain was considered one of the 13 quilts in a girl's dowry collection. Irish Chain was probably an early quilting pattern although I didn't find any information to document a date.