Vintage alphabet

I've always admired beautiful old embroidery and would love to be able to afford a lovely old sampler but exquisitely embroidered monograms are still affordable. These monograms can be found on napkins, towels, sheets and clothing, often part of a bride's dowry and marking her possessions with her new married initials.
Even if the tablecloth or sheet is worn the mongram is usually salvagable and can be made into another functional item.

I love incorporating a mongram into a linen cushion cover, using antique linen for the surround, and these cushions can make lovely personalised gifts. In the run up to Christmas I try to have as many intials as possible as they are always popular. I've recently bought a large supply and am currently making sweet little cushions which sit happily on a chair or bed and can make the perfect christening or wedding gift or perhaps a special birthday can be marked with one.

I love the faded pink of this group, originally red but uniformly faded and very pretty.

I particularly like the cross stitch embellishments on these mongrams

Very stylish, white on white; very sweet as a christening gift

This is a T but must confess it looks quite like a C to me; often ask the french lady I buy from to "translate" the letter

The P and V are really lovely with a floral design incorporated into the letters

I used to make up the mongrams as they were, that is a double set of first and last name, but as it was difficult to find exactly the right pair for a customer I now separate the 2 letters and make smaller cushions. I've left this RL for now as it was on a linen cushion cover.

Similarly TS remains for now; a beautiful monogram on a very fine linen tablecloth

Would these 2 make a gift for a newly qualified doctor?
Each cushion is 30cm square and contains a feather pad; usually £22, readers of my blog can buy one for £20 or 2 for £36 until the end of April. (Postage is £3). Just leave a comment and I'll send images of any letters you're interested in.
Had a lovely time catching up with both buyers and sellers at last weekends Country Chic fair: this Saturday I'll be heading in the opposite direction to the Vintage Bazaar at Hartley Wintney. I've been on Liz's waiting list for ages so excited about my first fair with her..wish me luck and come and say hello if you can

Country Chic beckons

I've returned from planet wedding (aka Harrogate) where our daughter married her lovely long term partner but I've found it hard to get back to work; daily doses of wedding photo viewing are required at regular intervals.

However this weekend sees the first of the North Yorkshire Country Chic fairs this year and so has concentrated my mind somewhat. Before we left for the wedding I had bought an enormous and expensive quantity of fabulous vintage textiles so have set to turning them, hopefully, to profit.

Some simply require washing and pressing but in the case of this lovely fine French linen sheet I am leaving well alone. There is an original label from the draper's but should the purchaser wish to use the sheet, a couple of hot washes will soften and lighten the fibres

This softly faded cotton is perfect for a cottage style lampshade

I love the strong cherry red in this ticking; in fact the fabric is so strong it would have been great for an upholstery project had there been a bigger piece. These cushions would be equally at home inside or in a conservatory or garden; we may get a summer this year!
I've been sewing so much over the last week that the sewing machine finally begged for mercy yesterday grinding to a noisy halt. After clearing the feed dog and shuttle of an enormous amount of packed in lint I took the hint and decided to sand, paint and wax instead

This small cupboard would sit neatly in a bathroom or kitchen, painted in Farrow and Ball "Old White"

I really like this bigger version with its crazed mirror glass; perhaps not the best for applying make up but very decorative.

I chickened out of using this dull pink on my stairs but the matchpot came in useful for painting the inside of the cupboard
The Country Chic fair is this Saturday and Sunday from 9.30-4.30 in Whixley village Hall. Whixley is a very pretty village situated just off the main Harrogate to York road and only a couple of miles from the A1 so hopefully it will be easily accessible for lots of you. Come along for a tempting collection of painted furniture and mirrors, vintage textiles and furnishings and jugs, china all in the shabby chic style.

I'll be taking a couple of pretty French parosols, very decorative even if the sun doesn't shine

A delightful pair of French boots

Spot the bubble trapped in this handmade glass jarwhich contained a supplement for calves; young cows that is not legs!

Nice functional piece, these filing drawers make organising more interesting
Hope to show you these and more if you get chance to come along; now back to the rejuvenated sewing machine