I finished my white on white Christmas tree table runner. ....
It's such a dreary day so it's difficult trying to get the rich colors of this in natural light. I only have so much time to devote to taking pictures folks, so this is the best I can do. The picture isn't really showing all the "snow"french knots, but they're there. I had planned to use a vintage off white linen fabric to back this table runner, but ended up using wool for the backing instead. I really think it would be wonderful with a crisply starched and ironed linen backing but that would've required me to force myself to cut into this wonderful old vintage mantel scarf ....
I think it's a mantel scarf ... it's really long. About 5 1/2 feet long and it's absolutely beautiful linen with no stains or signs of age. I've had it for years and I think it must have come from my mother-in-law, but I just don't remember how I acquired it.I'll never use it for anything as it is so I really think that I could best use it as backings on my penny rugs.
But look at all the hand-crocheted work on this ... I have plans to use that crocheted work too. I have a pin keep heart design that I've made before and I can use these crocheted scallops on the top back of the hearts.
But I just CAN NOT BRING MYSELF TO CUTTING THIS UP!
I guess I could sell it for a few bucks to someone who might use it, but the linen is soo sooo nice ... I could never buy linen like that now without spending a fortune. So I really should cut it up ....
I guess I could sell it for a few bucks to someone who might use it, but the linen is soo sooo nice ... I could never buy linen like that now without spending a fortune. So I really should cut it up ....
There's a show on the A&E channel called "Hoarders".
Now if anyone has ever watched this show, you will know what I'm talking about here. It's just scary. Sometimes they are ordinary looking people but yet they have this NEED to keep absolutely everything. Trying to get them to even throw away an empty prescription pill bottle is like torture.
They always have excuses and reasons for keeping every single item that they have and the ones on the show are the very extreme cases. Houses filled from floor to ceiling with STUFF.
I do not ever want to use MY 15 minutes of fame depicted as a crazy hoarder with stacks upon stacks of vintage linens and wool crammed into one 12' x 12' spare bedroom. Wait ... I do have stacks and stacks of wool crammed into one 12' x 12' spare bedroom. oh. no.
Should I cut this up and use it or should I pack it away in the spare 12' x 12' bedroom? What would you do with it?
In other news, I went to the local Salvation Army store yesterday, looking, of course, for more wool. Didn't find any wool that I wanted but did find this bag of "Dinos" and this bag of Lincoln logs. Both were only $2.99 each. My grandson loves Dinosaurs now so this abundance of dinos will keep him occupied for a while.
Even though we already have Lincoln Logs, I just can't resist a bargain so we now have LOTS of Lincon Logs to play with.
Ohhh NOooooo .. am I becoming a Lincoln Log hoarder?!?!
I think I need to stop watching that tv show. It's making me paranoid ... or is it a reality check?
Ok, I'm outta here ...
Happy Day everyone!
17 comments:
LOL - I think we're all hoarders! You're in good company. :-)
Keep that mantel scarf - you'll use it when you're ready.
Cut into it! You'll be happy when you put it to use. It will also motivate you to use the edging. Love your site, Sandra
Can't help you about to cut or not to cut. But I have seen that show about hoarders and eeewwww! If your stuff is clean, and I know it is, I don't think you have anythign to worry about! LOL! But in all seriousness, I feel so bad for people who live that way. It must have a powerful hold over them to live like that.
Have a great day!
I too am a hoarder!! The show scares me as well... Don't cut it. It is beautiful and should be saved. You will come upon the right place or right person who will treasure it.
LOVE the white tree table runner.
I say cut it up! My mother-in-law passed away a few years ago and I got all of her wool skirts and stuff. It took me a while to be able to do it.....but my husband assured me that she would be proud that I found a use for something that I could not wear. Funny thing, though......she was a hoarder too. Just an organized hoarder.
I shop for wool every chance I get and it is stuffed into every shelf in my sewing room. As well as fabric and vintage and antique linens,quilts, feedsacks and anything else vintage textile related. OH My I am a hoarder LOL. But I do love my stuff.
Seriously though I have started to break into my vintage linens and use them. For a couple of reasons.....
1. is the quality of the linen and fabric
2. is my new push to buy Made In the good old USA...and you can't get better than these vintage textiles
3. the cost. Why but more when these textiles give me a better look for my vintage projects for little or no money.
Whew that was a long reply. Excuse my ramblings. I love the penny rug.
Rhonda
I think we all hoard something or another. :-) Your little tree runner turned out absolutely perfect.
Your Christmas tree runner is very cute. I actually thought the french knots were tiny pearl beads when I first looked at it! I don't think I would cut the linen scarf! It is too beautiful in a simplistic way! It was once someone's beautiful hand work.
Oh My Gosh...
You are not one of those hoarders like on that show. They could only walk one little path throughout their homes, and not only that the one had ran off her children, fed her husband his dinner on the edge of their bed, and he was ready to leave her too. Unabelievable! No you are to organized for that. Collecting wool and doilies does not make you a hoarder.
Now if you decide you need to get rid of some of that wool, just let me know I can help you with some of that.
I love your tree runner. That is just the cutest darn thing I have ever seen. I love it. Thanks for sharing. I am so thrilled to have met you, as you have such clever ideas.
Have a beautiful day.
Country hugs...Sherry
If that's the worst you do I think you are safe from being a hoarder. I love that linen and wouldn't cut into it either. It's survived this long in such good shape, I'd hate to be the one to do anything to it.
Though if you put it out with a little one around you'd probably get it "damaged" enough to try.
There's nothing wrong with cutting into the scarf if you use it for other projects.
This opinion comes from a person in purge mode. I'm selling a bunch of stuff that's been sitting in storage for a long time.
Someone else can have a chance to enjoy my lovely treasures (I hope, anyway).
I say don't cut the scarf. I picture the person crocheting the edging and having to get everything just right and I could not cut into that.
Actually, I would wear it as a scarf around my neck. I think it would be beautiful that way.
Love your table runner, is beautiful!
I thought you had to be a hoarder to be a crafter...lol Dianntha
you know hoarders have actual trash and won't throw away rotting food right? Yes we have too much and get more of what we love, but I think if we had to we could get rid of too. You are ok!! I promise! And by the way you can NEVER have too many Dinos!! hehe
Hugs, Lisa
Yes Cathy this is my first visit to your blog through another blogger. I have a tendency to hoard but I am also a crafter and quilter and I always think "buuuut maybe I will need that someday" so then I keep it. Wow so much stuff. Love your blog. Go see me on my blog and I sell on ETSy also.
CATH,
You can cut into the mantel scarf ( use the back for your beautiful penny rugs) and still save the beautiful crochet for something to add as trim. I think we all are collectors - some of us are more so than others. I have spent this fall going through boxes in our basement of stuff that had been there for too many years. It has been satisfying to get rid of stuff and rediscover some treasures that I have had and forgotten. Believe me when I say their was lots of junk and stuff that should have been gotten rid of long ago.
My classic story of someone who was a collector is about a cousin of my husband's father. She enlisted my mother in law's help to clean out her place when she was moving. She had boxes labelled " Pieces of string too short to use" and " Dead Batteries". These days maybe the batteries were meant to be recycled to an environmentally safe place but not at that time. As for the string, I can't begin to see why somebody would keep string too short to use. It was too funny!
I have Lincoln logs in my kindergarten- I am sure the dino's will be a hit!
Regards,
Anna
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