Saturday, May 3, 2014

Lady-like Stuff


 

From out of the blue came a desire to do some embroidery -- on pre-stamped pillow cases. It's like a coloring book for an embroiderer -- the lines are there and I need to stay with them but -- I get to choose the colors!

I found them  on E-bay -- 100% cotton unlike what my local fabric store had to offer. They were probably in some departed granny's sewing stash because they are slightly yellowed. No matter.


Embroidered pillow cases aren't exactly my style -- but it's a matter of nostalgia.  My mother -- who was not much of a needlewoman -- worked diligently to embroider a pair for me when I was probably around ten.  There was a lady in a hoopskirt, holding a parasol, and lots of flowers -- mostly pinks and greens, as best I can recall.   

The work was carefully done -- as was my mother's way -- and I marvelled that she had spent so much time to make something so lovely just for me. (She always liked my younger brother best but that's another story.)


The hoopskirt lady pillow cases eventually wore out, but ten years later, as my mother and I were putting together a 'hope chest' for my approaching marriage, I embroidered another set  -- blue and yellow flowers this time.   

Fast forward through the Marine Corps, teaching and building a house in Florida, children, moving to the mountains --- during this time I embroidered on jeans and on shirts and on quilts but it wasn't till we added on a guestroom and my childhood bed was installed in it that I felt the need for more embroidered pillow cases . . . that was almost twenty years ago.

 I made a pair and they lasted well. (I noticed that guests often set them aside rather than actually sleep on them.)


But nothing lasts forever and it was time for replacement. Hence my lady-like occupation the past several nights.

We've been re-watching  Foyle's War and working at this retro embroidery while I watch is a fine accompaniment to WWII Britain.

One down -- one to go.  But lots of Foyle left. Maybe I could take up crocheting doilies.

10 comments:

katy gilmore said...

Oh these are beautiful! Keep watching Foyle. Keep stitching. This floss madness will pass but think of the treasures you will have. We sleep often, this is lame, on pillowcases with embroidery lines stamped and no embroidery. Almost every night I think, oh I want to embroider these. Maybe we should watch Foyle's War. It amazes me how much I love those stitches, and I am glad you are doing it!

Brian Miller said...

beautiful....i cont do it well...not and make it look pretty...its an art that def carries a lot of nostalgia...

Jime said...

I would be afraid to sleep on such a wonderful artwork. I would pull a stitch or cause a run.

Loved Foyle's war.

Stella Jones said...

Now that's what I like to see. Lovely! Just my type of thing. I recently had a visit from a friend of mine whom I hadn't seen for a few months. She told me she was embroidering and had been for a few years. She buys kits from our local haberdashery shop and makes them up. However she has now done them all so will be turning to Ebay to find some more, just like you. I don't think they are so popular at the moment - counted thread pictures seem to be the thing nowadays. I can't do those because the stitches are just too small and the patterns too hard to follow with my old eyes. I didn't know my friend was embroidering. If I'd known I could have treated her to something.
Your work is lovely and will grace your bed soon.
You don't mention the edge, which is pretty. Did you get that with it or did you have to make the lace or buy to complete?

Vicki Lane said...

Star, the edging is store-bought. I wish I could say I'd crocheted it but I've forgotten the few basic crochet rules I ever knew.

Darla said...

Lovely work! I have many fond memories of time spent embroidering along with my grandma who taught me; and I recall creating a big fabulous purse in the mid-seventies that I embroidered all over! LOL Over time, I've forgotten how to embroider, but the wonderful memories remain. :-) Thanks for the reminder!

Thérèse said...

wow! How beautiful. It show all the patience you have. I was taught how to embroider but never went back to it as an adult, one day perhaps.

Juliet said...

What a pretty design. I used to do a lot of embroidery and still have my threads. Now I'm wondering about doing something again. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Love this post... I used to embroider, too, so this brought back so many memories.
Deana the queena

Lise said...

I bet those pillow cases make for a good nights sleep. You've inspired me!