Vintage is good, right? I consider myself a little bit vintage these days as the old bones creak and crack a little bit.
I alluded to some vintage linens that I had given to my blogger friend Doreen who blogs at Treadlemusic last week and realized that I had never done the “reveal” of some of the linens that I had given her. So today is the day finally and even though these are just snippets of what she did it will give you an idea.
I had a bunch of vintage linens in my cedar chest. Yes, I still have a cedar chest. That box of the past also known as the Hope Chest. Mine is pretty nicked up and battered but it holds a lot of special things including a bunch of linens I have acquired over the years from relatives and other sources.
Doreen saved the border from a tablecloth and added it to these cute hanger covers. I would say she found the perfect fabric.
Doreen is a master quilter and has finished some quilt tops that were left by Chris’s grandmother for me so when she mentioned she was doing some creative things with vintage pieces I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to repurpose some of my linens that were relegated to reside in the cedar chest.
This was a card table tablecloth that was in pretty dismal shape until Doreen got her hands on it.
I gave Doreen no real instructions except to use her creativity and she did just that with the pieces that she completed. I am pretty sure you will agree.
My favorite piece has to be the table runner Doreen created out of a card table table cloth that had some really tough stains and marks on it. She was able to salvage enough to make a cute table runner that I will use a great deal. I loved these whimsical embroidered teacups and teapots and she brought new life to this piece for sure.
Most of the linens I gave her were dirty and had some holes or stains on them but she was able to work with those issues and create some pieces that I will be able to use in my home.
Three basically useless placemats were transformed into pillows . Brilliant idea, right?
Doreen documented her progress on her blog and of course I missed reading a bunch of those posts but I was thrilled when the final products found their way to me. I know she put a lot of hard work, design and sewing into the completed projects and I am grateful for having some items repurposed so I can use them in my home.
If you want to read a post detailing some of her techniques just click here. Search her blog for other vintage projects and see what a gift she has . Thanks, Doreen, for making my linens come to life again.
23 Comments
Leave a commentYour vintage treasures gave me so much pleasure to work with. I was honored that you thought of me. Bringing new life to pieces that were created with so much love many years ago is the “creative niche” I have longed to find on my stitching journey. BUT the absolute, number 1 thing that has resulted from this is your precious friendship! My heartfelt thank you for your sweet words. Blessings, and hugs, always to you (& Chris)…………..
Thanks so much, Doreen. I am so happy to have some amazing pieces to use in my home now that had been languishing in my cedar chest. Your talent is beyond words.
;-D
Wonderful! I love this- beautiful way to bring memories to life.
Thanks, Jena. I am so happy to have them done so that I can use them .
She’s a genius! These are really great – I especially like the hanger covers – brilliant! Oh, and I still have that blast from the past – my Mom’s cedar chest. It’s a Lane Cedar Chest, and somewhere in the house I have an illustration that was commissioned by Lane of my Dad for a magazine ad! In my cedar chest are my wedding dress, my Mom’s wedding dress and my Grandmother’s wedding dress (which is 104 years old now – I don’t dare take it out because I think it will fall apart!).
I think we all have those things tucked away that are vintage finds. I think it is pretty special that you have all 3 of those wedding dresses. I have mine which was actually my mother in law’s but I am thinking it might be time to donate it to be repurposed into something useable. I know there are some really neat ideas out there and honestly it is not going to be worn again so maybe I should give that some more thought. Hmmmm.
Oh my goodness! I can’t tell you how much I love what your friend did with these vintage items and I’m so glad you shared the results with us. And the teapot items? LOVE them! I actually have my mother’s cedar chest, which is full of quilts she made and some heirloom vintage ones that were made by my grandmother and my husband’s grandmother. They are in pretty good shape considering that they were made in the early 1900’s, but I also have some old linens that I hang onto that are stained, or torn or not in the best shape. This gives me some good ideas to repurpose them! I’ll check out your friend’s blog for sure.
There are a lot of great ideas floating around out there for using old linens and for whatever reason I am drawn to them when I am in antique shops. I still have quite a few in my cedar chest but I had to do a few at a time. Not sure if I would attempt to do anything with them on my own but I might one of these days if I get inspired. Let me know if you do anything with yours—I would love to see them.
I have a box full of vintage handkerchiefs that were my grandmother’s and I’ve been meaning to do something with them for years. Even found a bunch of ideas on Pinterest. But I haven’t found the time to devote to it…yet. 😔
Doreen outdid herself (is that possible?) with these creations. She amazes me with her talent and her energy. The results are fabulous and, oh, so perfect for you, my tea loving friend.
She really did a great job with these and i am so happy to have them in some kind of form that I will actually use them. I have quite a few more that I need to so something with but I need to wait a bit for those and maybe I will be inspired to do something on my own with them.
I love all the teapots and teacups. Perfect for you!
I had to get that one when I saw it on Ebay. It just screamed me and now it is a piece that I will actually use.
Absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful work and creative ideas! I, too, love vintage linens; I know these are special to you.
Thanks, Dianna. She definitely had some great ideas for repurposing them and they turned out beautiful.
These are very cute! Looks like a lot of work though. I’ve been thinking about blogging about old sheets, I must have gotten that idea from you!
Old sheets sounds like a great blog subject! I can’t wait to read it!
What a great idea!! They turned out amazing!! I can see you will treasure these in your lovely home. I too really love the table runner.
The table runner is my favorite as well. I don’t have it on the table right now but it will have a place of honor soon.
Amazing! I love that there are people out there who can do stuff like that. Love!
I know. I used to sew quite a bit but have never taken up quilting so anytime I see what someone can do like this it amazes me . And now I have some great pieces to use in my house that bring back memories.
What cute teapots! She has a gift.
(I have a pattern for knitted teapot images…want a blanket?)