So, so lovely to have you visit on this sunny, Sunday morning♡ I hope you've been able, among the to-ing and fro-ing of everyday life this week, to catch moments to enjoy a little sewing.
I have. There have been many moments this week spent in my cheery sewing room with beams of sunshine pouring in, breathing life into me, warming both body and soul; casting a happy glow and magical shadows all around. Sunshine beaming in with darting rays of sunshine on a chilly autumn morning is a thing of happiness to me. Yes indeed, a lovely week was enjoyed playing with EPP shapes......pentagons, hexies....and stitching them wherever they fell. Well...at least the pentagons are stitched. It's yet to be decided where the hexies will fall onto my vintage tablecloth. There are a few leftover pretties from other EPP quilts, too, which I save for a rainy day. As I've fashioned quite a few EPP quilts over the years there are always some prepared ready to go if indeed a new EPP should be imagined.
Over the years I have collected many an embroidered pretty from vintage shops, markets, op shops......many, many places. Probably a few too many embroideries if truth be told. A few quilts have been fashioned from these pretties, and it never ceases to amaze me the exquisite handwork in each one. Ladies of a bygone era took immense pride in whatever it was they were embroidering. Indeed, more often than not the back is as wonderful as the front. I often think of the countless hours that went in to creating these works of meticulous textile loveliness. Each time I stitch with these embroideries I marvel again and again at the workmanship, the time and love that has gone into each one. I wonder about the story of each embroidery and the person whose hands stitched such loveliness. I suppose these days these embroidered pretties are considered frivolous and old fashioned; too much work to wash and iron, but I for one, find comfort in appreciating these pretties that the makers in times past, lovingly stitched.
I use my embroidered treasures every day in my home. I love a table covered with a pretty embroidered tablecloth for a meal or an impromptu tea party. For, there is many an impromptu tea party enjoyed here at my home. We often use embroidered serviettes, too. Yikes!! I hear you gasp! The stains??!! It's amazing what Napisan in water....stain remover.....will do. There are windows in my home dressed in curtains fashioned entirely from my embroidered pretties, too. Chairs, lampshades.....cushions, as well, have been recovered and tarted up using vintage embroideries. So, so many ways to reuse and enjoy a vintage treasure from those nostalgic days gone by.
As beautiful as these linens are I have no qualms with cutting into some of these pretties. I think they look lovelier being used than being hidden away. Some would, I suppose, consider me sacrilegious for cutting into these, but really, what's the point of collecting these treasures if they are not going to be used and enjoyed; repurposed for another life. It's such a shame if these gorgeous embroideries are stored away never to see the light of day ever again. So much better to be enjoyed for a few more years.
But, to the quilt using a tablecloth as the central panel. I've stitched pentagons together in sets of eight forming a gentle curve and stitching each set between the embroideries, creating a frame, so to speak. Embroidered flowers and fabric pretties; a garland, holding hands, dancing a gentle waltz around the border. For Slow Sunday Stitching I will make some hexie flowers to add; and perhaps design a few flowers to add, scattered here and there.
Liberty fabrics and vintage embroideries were made to play together♡
Until the next time.......
