Friday, May 15, 2009

Pink Saturday

For those who don't know, Pink Saturday is hosted by Beverly . Go visit Beverly to find other pink blog goodies.
I have a small but treasured vintage tablecloth collection. I've pulled out the ones with some pink to show their loveliness.
I'm really particular when it comes to purchasing vintage tablecloths. First, they have to have little to no stains. I've found that holding it up to the sunlight will show stains that don't show at all when laying flat on a table. I want no sunlight stains! Second, the tablecloths have to be either hand-sewn embroidered or appliqued OR they have to be high quality fabric.
So this first one, I don't know what this type of fabric design is called, so maybe someone can help me ... It's one of those that when flipped over, it shows the opposite colors. Like in this picture, the roses are white on one side and the same rose is pink on the other.
I like this tablecloth because of the pretty hand-embroiderd flowers on all four corners. Those little yellow things ... I'm puzzled as to how they were made because they're like little ropes formed into a ball shape but it's obvious they were handsewn.
This tablecloth, I found at Goodwill for about $5. It's in absolultely pristine condition and the detailed applique on this is just amazing. Such tiny little stitches are used to attach all the flowers make my eyes hurt just to try to see them! I have matching napkins for this too!

Here's a closeup of the flowers and the detailed cross-stitched edging. I think little sewing elves with teeny tiny needles must have made this because I can't imagine anyone taking so much time to do this exquisite detailed work.
The one bad thing about this tablecloth is that the white fabric is just cheap cotton sheeting. I don't know why someone would take so much time doing such beautiful work and not want to have it done on quality fabric but I still love this tablecloth.

Here's another hand appliqued one. Again, the tiny sticthes just simply amaze me. It's a work of art. The stitching is done on gorgeous linen that is so thin and delicate, I'd be scared to wash this.
Here's a closeup of the detailed flowers ... look at those tiny rosebuds!
Gosh, I love this one!

And finally, this lovely tablecloth, done on beautiful linen fabric was a wedding gift from a family friend. She wasn't even a close family friend . I treasure this tablecloth because so much time and love went into making this ... just for us.
The embroidery on it is so beautiful. The picture shows the center of the tablecloth but it doesn't show all the handwork that is on each of the four corners as well.
Here's a closeup of the this work of art. The pink scallopped swirls are perfect satin stitching. Again, I could never ever do intricate work like this and I'm so amazed and appreciative of the time and eyesite that is involved with making this.

Now, there's one last pink thing that I'll share with you even though I'm not happy with it...
It's this wool pink rose that I made. I have this wool candle mat with roses design in my head that I really REALLY want to make, but I just can't get the rose petals to look right. Sure, it looks like a flower, but I want it to look REAL. I've tried all different ways to get a more lifelike looking rose, but this is the best I can come up with and it's just not good enough!
Now, Rachel, my daughter, whose sewing skills are limited to using my Aleen's tacky glue on fabric for her latest project, and saying "mom, can you fix this please?", suggested that the colors are wrong. She also suggested that I should tighten the center petals. I think she may be right, especially about tightening up the center a little more. So, it's back to the drawing board to try it one more time.
If it doesn't work out, I'll just have to settle for the easier rosebuds instead of the full bloom rose.
Happy Pink Day!










22 comments:

Tara said...

You've got quite the collection going1 they're all very pretty. They can get pricey when you find them at antique shops. You lucked out on the one you found at the Goodwill. You gotta love the Goodwill!


Happy Pink Saturday and have a great weekend!

Lisa said...

Oh your linens are just the best! Thanks for sharing! I like the rose and think it would look more real with the petals tighter! I also understand your daughters need to use glue(i don't sew either hehehe)
Love the colors though!
Happy Pink Saturday!
Hugs, Lisa

Rebecca said...

These are just wonderful!
Thanks for the fuzzy pink welcome to Pink Saturday.

Back Porch Blessings,
Rebecca

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Happy Pink Saturday ~ I hope you have a great weekend ~ Susan

Beverly said...

Happy Pink Saturday, Cathy.

Your linens are so pretty. I love vintage tablecloths, too.

And, I think your rose looks fantastic.

Anonymous said...

I too love linens, such memories are stirred in looking at yours. TY for sharing them. Also love the pansy post! TY for visiting me today,

xJ
MaidenShade.wordpress.com

♥Mimi♥ said...

It's raining cats and dogs in Upper Michigan today with oodles of cold wind. Not very spring-like so traveling from blog to blog on Pink Saturday is really a treat for me today.

Thanks so much for sharing a little something of yourself today. I really need all the pink I can get with the weather we are having☺

Hoping this weekend is filled with the j♥y of being surrounded by those you love and those who love you.

Colleen said...

Beautiful tablecloths! I love to collect them and dresser scarves as well. I have several that were my mother's. She embroidered some and some she didn't (not sure where she got them). I think the inexpensive sheeting was used because it WAS cheap to buy and the idea was to make something beautiful with it. I know you enjoy your linens as much as I do.

I think your DD is right on the color for the rose. It's too much the same shade....IMO. :)

Claudia said...

They are all so beautiful! Such lovely work on each of them. Your wool rose is so sweet! Happy Pink Saturday!

Denise said...

Those are so beautiful!!! I just LOVE embroidery, I wish I could make something as beautiful as that beautiful table cloth you received for your wedding gift.

Happy Pink Saturday!!

Susie Jefferson said...

That first cloth is a woven damask - it's very unusual to get them in anything other than white, so it's quite a find! It's a lovely collection - I especially like the 30s applique one. A very Happy Pink Saturday to you!

Deanna said...

Hi Cathy!
Wow, I love your tablecloths. I think I have the first one but in pale green. I have a picture of it on a post somewhere around Easter time. I found it at Goodwill. It's really hard to find them nowadays at thrift stores.

¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·´ Happy Pink Saturday
Deanna :D

Melly said...

Hi Cath, what a gorgeous collection of table cloths you have and the last one that you showed that a friend made for your wedding gift is just exquisite. As for your wool rose I think it looks lovely, but like you said you want it to look real, try your daughter ideas the more you play around the closer you'll get to it looking real, like that saying goes practice make perfect :)
Have a wonderful Pink Saturday, Cath!
Melly:)

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Vintage linens add such a romantic and layered history to our homes. The tablecloths that women worked on with their embroidery really speak to me. Yours are lovely.

appleberrycottage said...

Your collection of vintage linens is wonderful! Do you use them for display, or keep them tucked away? I just found a Goodwill store not too far from here- you never know what you can find there! :)
Laura

Dawn said...

What pretty linens, the 'rope' stitch is a repeat winding around the needle, like a frech knot only your in and out stitch are going to be distance from one another. Happy ps!

Tolentreasures said...

I love your linens, thanks for showing them, they are beautiful. I think that your rose is very nice and I agree with your daughter about tightening the center. Just a thought, what if you made the outside petals wider? The center ones are usually more narrow than the outside ones.

Cathy

Char said...

Vintage linens are so easy to love and I love yours. The wool rose you made is gorgeous too, happy pink saturday, Char

Beansieleigh said...

It was a pleasure looking at all the beautiful tablecloths... Very pretty! Happy Pink Saturday, and have a wonderful week!

Bumble Bee Cottage said...

Hi Cath, I love your vintage linens. I have a problem when it comes to these but unfortunately or is that perhaps luckily my linen press is full to overflowing so I won’t be buying anymore anytime soon ;)

AK said...

Hi! Thank you for the nice comment on my blog! Sorry I`m late getting back to you! YOu make very pretty linens by the way, have a great week! hugs from Ak

Debby said...

So many beautiful linens and all so pretty.
Debby