Happy New Year To All

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A new year is almost beginning and we are saying our last goodbyes to the old year. 2007 has been an exciting year and a memory maker! I count many fond memories with family, new and old friends over this past year. It has been truly full of blessings. I hope your 2007 has treated you well and has been a memorable year for you, too.

Now as we embark on the year 2008, I wish all a very healthy & prosperous year. May you stay safe wherever your journey may take you ~ and in those quiet moments take a minute to smell the roses.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Victorian Ribbon Art Pincushion & Dresser Runner

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Each time I look at these two beautiful early 1900's ribbon art pieces I find them more intriguing. A lovely matching pincushion and dresser runner in a rose motif made of 1/4" narrow rayon ribbon (or rayon silk ribbon). The ribbon work is applied to a background material of a loose weave cotton mesh. Worked, I would say, much as counted cross stitch would be done. The ribbon is drawn from the backside to front counting over so many holes on the top side then drawn down to the back again. It seems to be of single layer although a certain amount of the ribbon is partially worked over the next creating a "padded" or raised flower motif. The roses are worked in two colors of pink. Green for the leaves and a golden for the branches. Most of the roses are 2" to 3" in diameter and with that in mind it would have taken quite a bit of ribbon yardage to complete this lovely project.

I am sure this was an instructional project that could have been purchased or a pattern offered in one of the lady's fanciwork magazines of the day.

This lovely set is available here

Season's Greetings ~ Postcards Of Yesteryear

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I believe this early 1900's postcard says it all very simply "A Merry Christmas". It is postmarked Oroweburg, Kansas 1917 with the inscription on the back of card "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, from B".

And it is also my greeting to one and all "A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year"!

Some of you will recognize this card as an artist signed John Winsch card, copyrighted 1911. There were many publishers in the flourishing days of the postcard with probably one of the best known being Raphael Tuck. He purchased the art work of many leading illustrators of the time period. Some sought after artist illustrated cards would be Louis Wain, Phil May, Bertha Corbert for her "Sun Bonnet Babes, and Kate Greenaway for delightful children's drawings. Another known artist for her drawing of children was Ellen Clapsaddle. Here is a darling example of one of her Christmas postcards.

The caption is "Hearty Christmas Wishes, Plenty of Good Cheer, Good Friends Forever Near". Ellen Clapsaddle's signature is in the lower corner of the card. The card is an embossed card published by International Art Publ. Co., New York - Phila.

19th C Victorian Hair Memorials Keepsakes

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Hair memorials whether made into jewelry, woven into wreaths and pictures or small locks of hair sometimes placed in a locket were a remembrance of loved ones or friends. We normally associate these memorials being made after someone was deceased but not necessarily so as they were also keepsakes of dear ones who might have moved away or soldiers who were away fighting in war.

I have several lovely framed examples of hair keepsakes. The first one is signed Henrietta Livermore, June 1, 1813. The poem accompaning the the woven lock of hair is very touching...

"Remember me when you away Remember me at dawn of day And when dear heart this you see O then bestow a thought on me"

Possibly she had presented a woven lock of hair as a love token to someone that was going away. The locket of hair is pinned with a silk bow and attached to paper. I find the plaiting of the hair very intriquing as it does seems intricately made.

The two other hair mementos are both from Ashland County, Ohio. Both are signed but no date, however, I feel they are within the same time frame to the one above. Both of these are in the original frames. The hair on both of these memorials are also attached to paper with a finishing touch of silk ribbon.

Signed John Carver Ruggles, Ashland Co, Ohio

Signed Obadiah H. Huffman, Clearcreek Ashland Co. Ohio

Fine Work Of Art - Hand Duchesse Lace & Drawn Thread Doilies

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I view fine handmade textiles as work of art with some very suitable for framing to be enjoyed as you would a fine painting. Any lovely needlework can be framed taking care it is framed properly as not to harm the textile.

However, my writing this post is to share with you a several lovely doilies from the late Victorian era. None of these doilies are larger than 6" diameter but each display in this small amount of space skill of lace making.

I am particularly fond of drawn thread so this intricate doily I found fascinating as it seems so perfect in scale & workmanship

The other two are of Duchesse Bobbin Lace. Again, both of these are not very large but oh so pretty. The first one is completely Duchesse lace while the other has a very fine linen center surrounded with Duchesse lace.

These lovely doilies are available for purchase along with other fine estate linens. Shop The Gatherings Antique Vintage for all your table and bed linen needs.

For further reading on antique hand made laces, indentification & history read here

Antique & Vintage Textiles ~ Buying Expertise

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I advertise my items as antique textiles or vintage textiles (antique prior to the 1920’s and vintage from 1920’s - 1940’s as basically this is my time line of selling). I am interested in all textiles but my passion lies with clothing & accessories, bed & table linens, laces & sewing notions. These are the buying and selling areas I have been the most involved and the area I have gained the most experience. If you have purchased from me or planning to purchase you are buying not only the item but you are buying my expertise.

I have been dealing with cloth items for 30 years buying & selling in many venues including a brick & mortar store. Over the years my knowledge has expanded by sharing and gaining knowledge through other collectors and dealers. Also reading resource books both new and old plus all types of articles written on period textiles. Over the course of years I have visit museums studying the various textiles on display. But my vast knowledge has been acquired through the handling & studying textiles that cross my path. This is, in itself, the best learning experience one could ever hope to gain. Seeing, feeling, comparing is a great educator as there is history to cloth & looking for those clues unlocks the secret to the age.

Looking for clues to the age of this lovely doll dress first lets examine the fabric. It is of a lovely calico with a turquoise & reddish small print on the cream background. The fabric dates to about the mid 1860's or 1870's. The dress is a two piece with the bodice a long jacket style. A bit longer in the back than front suggesting a bustle. The skirt is full and fairly even. The sleeves are on a bishop style. Again, suggesting the dress is also later 1860's or early 1870's. The dress has both handstitching as well as machine stitching (tredle please - no electric here). All these are small clues but putting the clues together starts to give a time line on the item.

So Vintage ~ 1923 Butterick Child's Bonnet Pattern

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Now this is a real sweetie! Size 2 child's Butterick bonnet pattern from 1923. As the description says on the envelope, "the deltor, enclosed with this pattern, show you with pictures how to lay it out, put it together and finish it so that it retains all the style and beauty of the original model. Just a darling bonnet! This is a complete pattern with all pieces in good condition.

It is always a treat to be able to find and offer for sale a pattern such as this one.

1920's Italian Trouseau Sheet & Pillowcase Set ~ Cut & Embroidery Work

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I recently purchased this lovely Italian linen bed sheet & pillowcase set and just wanted to share a couple of photos with you. It dates from the 1920's and was part of a trouseau. The set is of cutwork embroidery featuring a large basket with a bouquet of flowers with a ribbon tied at the top of the basket. As the flowers spill from the basket they cascade along the the entire width of the edge of sheet. Wow! 84" of beautiful fancy work! The very edge of the sheet is scallop turning the corner at either side and extending 22" for the sheet return or foldover. Very nice quality linen.

And the pillowcases. Blue tissue has been placed under the design to give you a better visual look at the beautiful work.

Aren't they absolutely stunning!! And to believe they have been stored away all these years never being used.

Want to purchase this set? Please visit my Ebay store The Gatherings for complete details and price. While you are there you will want to shop my listings for other quality estate linens. Both for dining and bed.

Greeting Old Friends - Christmas Ornaments From The Past

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Tis the season and soon I will be greeting old friends ~ Christmas ornaments from past seasons. Each year I store away these wonderful treasures I have collected over the last decade or more and each year gingerly unwrapping each glass, spun cotton & scrap ornament it is like greeting old friends.

My ornaments span the time from late Victorian / early 1900's to the ones from the 1940's and '50's. The latter ornaments are like the ones I grew up seeing on our tree at home so they do bring back a sense of nostalgic. Some were from my husband's family but most have been purchased here and there. And yes, even though some of these are a bit worn they do not lose their appeal. Again and again a magical moment happens as each illuminate their brilliancy once they are placed upon the tree.

My tree is also a wonderful 6-1/2 foot feather tree dating from the late 1920's - 1930's. When the branches are open it has a span of about 48" wide so it is quite good size & does hold a good many ornaments. And yes, I do put small Christmas lights on it and believe me its a pain! Still the end result of seeing the tree decked in all its glory makes it worth the effort. It usually takes me about 5 hours to complete this whole task.

The ornament in the foreground is an earlier ornament of tinsel and spun wire. A bird scrap adorns the center of the ornament. The glass & enameled garland I am especially fond of & was so thrilled when I discovered it. Actually, I purchased about 8 garlands all at the same time and all from the same lot although only two were the same. The one pictured is about 2" diameter. Usually the smaller beaded ones can be found readily but the larger ones not as easily. If these were made though there definitely had to be others. The glass is very fragile on the garlands so they would have broken quite easily and possibly not many survived.

The beaded glass ornament with the long loops is a Japanese import to America from the 1920's maybe a little later. It is a special one found among my mother-in-law's boxes of Christmas ornaments and it always holds a special place on the tree each year.

I love old Christmas ornaments but I am not a true collector as other friends of mine that are members of the Golden Glow Club. If you want to know more about this organization read here

It is fun to share and hope you have enjoyed reading my post.