Vintage weddings, gowns, linens and monograms.

 I know that Spring is a traditional time for weddings but at the moment most of my conversations with friends and family seem to involve a wedding....friends discussing and planning their daughter's weddings and my daughters discussing their friend's weddings! So when I came across some wedding dresses at auction, I snapped them up. The first two were from the same house and date to a similar era - the 20's - 30's. very Downton Abbey. Cut on the bias and very stylish.  Also very small!  The bride to be will need to be a size 6 or 8.  The others two that I have are from the 50's and again very much of their era - classically elegant in damask brocade satin.

 Gown above has sequins and metallic embroidery to the bodice with built in train

 This gown also has a built in train with a more simple ruched decoration to the bodice.

This is one of the 50's dresses - shawl collar

wth lots of button detailing and pointed sleeves so typical of the 50's.

I have also had a couple of requests about napkins with monograms for a wedding. I usually have at least one monogrammed item for sale but these requests were for single napkins with the initials of the bride and groom. One buyer wanted to use one at the cutting of cake and the other wanted one to make a ring cushion. Traditionally, of course, monograms represent the first and/or the last names of the owner but double monograms would work well to represent the first names of a couple. So I this week I have hunted out all my single and pairs of double monogram napkins and listed them on eBay.  

So if you are considering a special something for your wedding ceremony then check out the monograms to see if they are the initials you need. 

                                      Jessica and Gary, or maybe John and Georgina

 

Joe and Victoria,   Joanne and Vince  (this monogram can also be read upside down - see below it becomes "A.F")

                                           Abby and Frank,    Aiden and Fiona

                                                     Ben and Laura, or Beth and Lee

                                        Susie and Graham, or      Steve and Georgia

   This could be "B.F." or "R.F." so could be for   Rebecca and Fraser or  Ryan and Faith

                                          Sasha and David or Simon and Danielle

Bianca and James,  Brian and Julia

Michael and Debbie or Maddie and Dale

                                       Abigail and Michael, or Aaron and Mairead

Georgia and Chris,  or George and Caroline

All items currently (April 2016)  for sale on Ebay 

Lots of new gorgeous linens, embroidery ..and the ones that got away!

The end of January saw the first Antique and Vintage Textiles auction of 2016 at Tennants in Yorkshire. The usual fabulous array of quilts, costume, household linens and more luxurious accessories.  I go to buy the linens and embroidered items that I like to sell but always take a look at the costume and have the thought that if only I had somewhere to wear such stunning pieces I could be seriously tempted!  The evening stole and the lame evening coat below are perfect examples of this..

White ermine fur with black velvet trim.

Circa 1930's lame evening coat with fur collar

 Embroidered vintage shawl

The other interesting items included Chinese costume  (sold for £1000)

 And a very old unusual paisley wool shawl

This was estimated in the catalogue at £200-300 but eventually sold for £1300!

The Biba tapestry coat from the late 60's was also very stylish and sold for double it's estimate

I was very happy with the items that I did buy however.  Lots of superb quality Irish linen sheets and pillowcases with hand embroidery and monograms.  Some are shown below and are currently selling on eBay.  Lots more to come!

In one lot was an exquisitely embroidered white Irish linen tablecloth with Chinese figures, florals and motifs.  The embroidery work is superb - this one is attracting lots of bidders on eBay already.

2016 already! Scottish wool fabrics..tweeds, checks and tartans.

I have only attended one auction so far this year but it yielded an interesting hoard of  unused vintage Scottish wool fabrics - tartans, tweeds and checks.  All from the same household and from a number of different woollen mills all in Scotland and the Borders. Currently (January 2016) for sale on eBay at very reasonable prices but hurry as I don't expect that they will be there for long!

Wool fabrics are becoming increasingly more expensive and more fashionable for upholstery as well as clothing.  I have used some pieces to make cushions for myself and I am quite tempted by one of the fabrics to re-upholster a large footstool that I have - see the last photo for how it may look

Lovely muted heathery russet tones. 

The green based tartan is believed to be Farquharson Modern but  have been unable to identify the other tartans.  They too would give a great contemporary classic look as cushions or stools

 There is enough fabric in this bolt of grey and white pinstripe to upholster an armchair (or make a couple of suits!)

This is the fabric that I am contemplating using to upholster my large footstool (below)