Tuesday, October 6, 2009

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!

13 comments:

Lynne said...

Oh! She's beautiful!

You're right, it is sad. Wouldn't it be interesting to know the story behind all that unfinished work?

Isn't Bishop, CA where Jill Kinmont the famous teen skier lived? The movie "The Other Side of the Mountain" was made about her. I think she's still living there too ...

Iron Needles said...

So what if I rewarded myself for any sort of week? Books are good! Mother taught us that!

Iron Needles said...

PS The little lady is very nice, too. I admire those who can put a personality into an embroidered face. Mine usually ended up looking...like I colored them with crayons...

Lynne said...

Meant to add that she looks very flapper-ish. Does she have anything on under her lacey skirt? Uhm, I mean is there a flapper dress embroidered but covered up? Maybe the lace was added later?

Gaynell said...

You do find the most interesting things in thrift shops. I think the fact that you bring them out and separate them from the "chaff" lets the rest of us appreciate them.

Martha said...

Very cute -- what are you going to do with that little lady? I hate housekeeping, so when I do a load of laundry or clean the bathroom, I reward myself with some hand piecing or embroidery.

I sure hope some day a nice quilter or sewer or crafter runs across my unfinished quilt projects in a thrift shop or ebay and makes something with them.

Wunx~ said...

Love your embroidered lady vamp. I'm glad she found a good home.

And I agree with Iron, Books are a virtue, buying them is good for your soul and mind (if not the pocket book.)

Allie said...

I am with you on the books - I have stayed up all night to finish a good one, lol. Can't put them down! I LOVE your lady - she is really beautiful!!! And all that floss, wowzers - you hit the jackpot!

jan said...

Lynne, I hadn't heard about anyone famous living in Bishop, but there is good skiing there in winter, so it would make sense. The skirt is sewn down in tiers, so no way to tell if the original design was meant to be otherwise. I think she looks like a flapper, too!

True, IN, books are good. And good books are fabulous!

G - In elementary school, I usually forgot to take anything to school for 'show and tell'. I think I am regressing...

Martha, if someone come across your work in a thrift store, they will be thrilled, too!

Thanks for visiting Wunx! I agree that books are good for the soul! I read biographies, though, because I already 'know' the ending!

Allie, I don't think I have ever stayed up all night reading, but I have stayed up waaaaaay too late!

Lynne said...

Jan, Jill Kinmont was famous back in the 50s when she was an Olympic hopeful for the ski team. She had a terrible skiing accident and ended up paralyzed from the neck down at age 19. She did (I googled her) grow up in Bishop but I think she lives elsewhere now. She taught school there for awhile. If you've never seen the movie you should try and find it. I think it's from the 70's. Inspiring story.

carla said...

First time to visit here. I saw your comment on Stick Horse Cowgirls and am glad I did. I love vintage embroidery (and new embroidery that looks vintage).

I can hardly pass up a book sale. Come to think of it, there's one at Friends of the Library today....

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

I LOVE that embroidered piece with the woman's face! And, the butterfly. Wow!

jan said...

Hi Carla! Thanks for visiting and commenting! Hope you found some treasure at the sale!

Kate, I think the butterfly is beautiful, too. A simple design, but very effective!