Ideas for Xmas gifts - part 1

Antique and vintage linens and textiles make lovely gifts and are not necessarily expensive either. I bought a number of Irish linen damask towels from auction last month and they are being snapped up by buyers just as soon as I can wash them!

They give a feminine look to a bathroom or guest room - even softening my quite minimilist bathroom!

Here I've used one on the bath and a couple on an old Lloyd Loom clothes basket

Or pop one on a towel airer or radiator.

I also like the old Irish linen huckaback towels in the kitchen. These two with coloured stripes look great with the range cooker ( and as they are thick they withstand the heat of the Aga too when it comes to getting hot dishes from the oven)

Country house style cushions

More cushions!  These ones have a definite country house look about them. They came from an auction in Yorkshire. They are all hand embroidered - the middle one with embroidery silks and the other four with tapestry wools.

Use to brighten up a chair or just to make an inviting place to sit.

They make a perfect Xmas gift!

Warm up the winter with a blanket or two.

I have recently acquired a collection of wool blankets - plain coloured and tartan check.
Blankets are great for a variety of uses - to cover an old stool, as a knee rug for the colder evenings, snuggle under on the sofa or use on the bed!

They can also be used to cover an old armchair or sofa as they are very hard wearing. They will also complement either a traditional or contemporary interior

If you are lucky enough you may be able to find a tartan rug for your "Clan".  The rug below is the MacDonald dress tartan

Suitcases of linen!

At a recent auction I bought some linen which came from a large house in Harrogate, Yorkshire. The linen, much of it unused, had been stored in the house in old suitcases and so the suitcases came with the tablecloths, sheets and napkins.

The almost square shape trunk is paticularly nice. In fact, there were two but I was approached by a couple who wanted to buy the other one before I had even paid for the lot at auction! 

The cases and trunks were quite dusty but after cleaning and waxing they have "brushed up" well! Old leather has a lovely patina and glow and old suitcases can be used in many ways... as coffee tables if they are tall enough, to store documents or clothes or simply as decorative items in a bedroom or study.

They are currently for sale on eBay - maybe the perfect Xmas present for someone?

  

 !