Blogtober 6 - 'New' Vintage Embroidery

One day this past week, my Dearest Sister at Iron Needles mentioned buying books at the used book sale sponsored by the Friends of the Library. She indulged herself as her reward for getting through a tough week. (but she would have gone to celebrate an easy week, if the circumstance was different!) She reads voraciously, as evidenced by the list on her side bar.

Sometimes I buy books, but I don't read as much as I have in the past. I just don't have the discipline to put down a good book! I stay up too late, and read when I should be doing other things, until I am finished!

So, my 'reward' is to browse thrift stores!

This past weekend, The Mister and I made our third annual trip to Bishop, California for the "Fall Colors" car show. It is a lovely place and we enjoy getting together with friends from southern California as well as northern California. This year, we met the group from So-Cal in Mohave, CA and traveled together the rest of the way.

The Mr and I were up and on the road earlier than planned, so we got to Mohave with about 45 minutes to spare. Mohave is one of those places that has withered after the interstate bypassed, so there is not much to 'amuse', but as we drove in, I saw a little thrift store that looked a little 'dodgy' from the outside, but I found some wonderful treasures on the inside!

This piece is about twelve inches across at the widest part. The base fabric is sheer and creamy white colored. It is unfinished, but I believe it was probably meant to be the front of a boudoir pillow.

I think the face is just beautiful!

The skirt is made of layers of lace edging, that I think was 're-purposed'. I didn't have an iron with me to press the bow, so it is still creased from years of being folded.

The butterfly wings are tinted, as well as the girl's hair and blouse.

I am thinking she is from the thirties, maybe, from the style and the colors.

I got several other pieces by the same stitcher, I am sure. All are unfinished, except for the embroidery. And they are all beautiful. And a little sad, too, I think.

All that beautiful work folded away to eventually wind up as a donation to a thrift store. But I was thrilled to get it, so my regrets on behalf of the woman who stitched them so many years ago, is brief!

Along with the car show, the Railroad Museum in Bishop hosts their annual 'swap meet', also at the fair grounds.

I picked up a few things that were fun, but this was the coup de grace!

I have mentioned more than once, that I already have enough floss to last several lifetimes. This is probably enough for part of another!

I just hope that if any of my embroidery work ends up at a thrift store in 60 or 70 years, someone like me will come along and give it a good home!