A lazy day.......
I didn't have as much energy to work on the garage sale yesterday after I got home from church. I concentrated on two containers in the fruit cellar which is the storage closet in the basement. About half of one of them was filled with embroidery transfers and linens from the 1950s and 60s. The two on the right are flowers of the month quilt iron on transfers and state bird transfers.
Lee Wards used to be in Elgin which is about 30 miles from here and we made trips up there from time to time. Sometimes I would buy a surprise bundle and it had all kinds of things to embroider.
I can't imagine using hand embroidered linen napkins in this day and age.
Here is one where I ironed the transfer onto Indian Head cotton and even threaded 2 needles to start embroidering it, probably in the late 60s.
There are iron on transfers in both of these packages. The pink tint on the one on the right is from the red ink in the transfer.
One of the pillowcases in this set was sitting on top of the package above and has a slight pink tint in one area.
McCalls had a lot of transfer patterns available in 1960 too.
I think my aunt or great-aunt started doing the buttonhole stitch on this cutwork pattern.
All of this needs to find a home. I don't know whether to package it as one lot for the garage sale or let people paw through it.
We lost power for an hour and a quarter last night after a storm so I grabbed my battery operated reading light and had some guilt free reading time.
23 comments:
I would let people go through it. But I know you don't want to bring it back into the house. I made several trips to the craft store too. Chris
I remember the Lee Wards catalog. I'd say you found some real gems there... how fun!
I have a hard time getting rid of memorabilia like this. seems it should be preserved somehow. but how? for whom? and for how long? but it has to go, either now or later.
I bet someone will want to buy them - maybe even try ebay? a lot of people seem to have luck with it.
I remember going to Lee Wards, Elgin,too, Wanda....way back when !!
I was going to suggest Ebay also. It's really quite easy to do and you'd be more likely to find someone who's really interested in that sort of thing to find it there and buy it for a better price than at a garage sale.
When I worked for an auctioneer I use to pick up stamped pillow cases that were not embroidered. I planned on using the fabric to make an quilt using my vintage cottons that I had collected. I haven't gotten around to make that quilt yet, but someday ...
This is a walk down memory lane, I remember Lee Wards, also. Thanks for the memories. :^D
Nice to see the old patterns and linens. Love cutwork, You ever think of finishing that project?
I'd package things together, but keep the cutwork separate.
OMG Wanda I forgot all about Lee Wards. What a wonderful stash you have, those really are treasure's. Now lets hope some one else realizes how grand your collection is and buys it all.
JJM
We all need those lazy days, but you always do more than rest! I wish I could drop in to your garage sale....what wonderful finds. Thanks for the trip down some memory lane days of embroidery.
It might be hard to find a garage sale buyer who is interested. I too think ebay would be a good choice.
I think I'd package it together except for the cutwork and, if it doesn't sell, then try eBay. If I lived closer, I'd definitely be interested as I love embroidery but hate tracing and those iron-on transfers are the perfect answer!
www.colonialpatterns.com is now reproducing iron-on transfer designs. They are in Kansas City. I bought some here in England in my local quilt shop recently! I got pictures of herbs to put on linen teatowels for Xmas presents. Retro is very in here!!
Heather
www.withoutpins.blogspot.co.uk
Perhaps one or two bundles of items and the cutwork on its own for the garage sale and then you can re-assess after (goodwill or e-bay). Good thing if you decide to go with e-bay - these are EASY to ship!
What a lovely pattern on the cutwork piece - I have a table cloth worked this way started first off by my husbands' grandmother or great grandmother, my mother in law not interested so it was given to me and I completed it, a delight to work on.
That looks like some of the sand things I have that need homes!
I guess there are a whole bunch of us that used to go to Lee Wards. I would love to have one of there applique quilts to do. My Mom made a few of those, two with Iris and one with Roses. My daughter's have them and they still look great. My girlfriend and I talk about how great Lee Wards was and wish it was back. Thanks for the memories. You have some great stuff there especially the piece with the cutwork.
What a treasure trove! I hope some collector comes by who appreciates them fully. I remember some of those patterns.
I have some of the Designs like you show in the first photo. I used some that were ripped at the fold lines as wrapping paper on gifts for my sister who likes quilting too. I love looking at vintage patterns like this! sold as a lot would make one person really happy - and probably you too!
I wish I could go to your garage sale. I live in Texas so won't be able to. I know that my sisters and I would be picking up some of these treasures. We love to embroidery. Would you consider selling some via your blog?
GO STARS, you are a no reply blogger, no email link. You need to email me with the link in my profile page or the link on my right side bar.
Just sent you an email. my email is sckett at yahoo dot com if you don't receive it.
Sorry about that.
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