First auctions of 2012!

So it's back to the auctions for the first time this year - 2012!  As is the way, there hasn't been an auction for around three weeks due to the Xmas period and then this week there are six - some held on the same day so impossible to get to them all! So, I have had to decide which ones to attend, which to leave commission bids and which to avoid all together!

The first purchase this year was a box of Victorian baby clothes.

They don't look very inspiring in the box however now that they have been washed and pressed........

A great improvement!

At the bottom of the box was a lot of lace and Swiss embroidery trim. As the dresses all came from the same family (Alexander family)and were all hand stitched presumably the lace had been saved from other baby clothes and was awaiting use on more garments.

So now it's ready and available for you crafters out there to use to embellish and create something new.

Another auction tomorrow so I'll get the bidding paddle ready!

Christmas greetings from The Antique Linen Cupboard

I have been so busy over the last few weeks that I haven't had time to update the blog.  All those linen lovers and crafters out there have been buying like fury - I'm not complaining however!  This little robin redbreast provided a flurry of bidding and was very well received when he reached his new owner.

Victorian embroidered monograms have also proved very popular. I know that some buyers incorporated them into cushions or bags and others have simply been framed for a simple but personal gift.

I have also sold lots of small embroidered floral scraps and narrow lace for use in christmas cards. Like Victorian Xmas greetings cards - too pretty to put in the recycling box when Xmas is over!

So finally, I hope that you all have a festive and merry Christmas and wish you a happy New Year!

A lovely day out ..and lots of new stock.

I had a lovely day on Wednesday. OK, so I had to set off at 7.15am to the depths of the countryside, sit in a very cold, draughty cattle market shed and then concentrate very hard on the "machine-gun" delivery of a sale by a cattle market auctioneer (if you have seen sheep or cattle being sold you will know what I mean!). Some of the locals who attend bring their own cushion, blanket, flask of coffee and sandwiches and have a day out ( sitting in a cold, leaky wooden shed for hours?) ...they are made of stern stuff in the Northumberland countryside.  But I bought some great textiles....quilts, linen sheets and pillowcases, damask cloths, lace, tapestries, blankets and embroidered tablecloths. There will be more but I haven't unloaded all the car yet!

A bit like this one but fortunately (given the weather in the North East) it all fits inside!

This is a sample of some of the quilts - very typical of the Victorian period and now very sought-after roses and paisley designs.

And superb hand stitched quilted designs - the hours of work involved is incredible.

At this auction the lots are all tied up very tightly into bundles so it is impossible to really view any of the items before buying. It is really like buying blind  but it does make it interesting when you get your purchases. Have I bought a bundle worth twice or three times what I paid for it?....or do I just have a lot more cleaning cloths!  (Let me tell you I need more cleaning cloths like a I need a hole in the head). So now to explore some more lots - fingers crossed these ones have some treasures amongst them!

Scrap bag embroidery and lots of antique lace

I buy most of my linens at auction and as with all bulk purchases of antique and vintage linens it is inevitable that there will be tablecloths and other textiles with some damage. And I am incapable of throwing away damaged items if they are nicely embroidered or have pretty lace. For a number of years I have kept several embroidered "patches" in the hope that one day I will find time to do something with them! I had harboured the grand idea of a patchwork quilt with every other patch having an embroidered motif. However, I have decided to cull the stash........hence the new listings on eBay of "Scrap bag collections" of embroidered patches and lengths of lace.

Most of the embroidery squares are relatively small  but ideal to mount as a greeting card or in a lavender heart.  Lace and broderie anglais trim makes a pretty addition too.

This is a photo of a lavender heart sent to me by a buyer of some of the fabrics - if you make anything from my scrap bag collections send me a photo and let me show it on here to inspire everyone else!

Old trends and new - shabby chic to antique linen.

I have neglected this blog for sometime! Just too busy with sourcing and selling linens and family life.  There are new trends to keep up with too.  "Shabby chic" style is still popular and I have had many requests for colourful embroidered tablecloths and napkins for cupcake parties. Apparently, cupcake parties are the new Hen Night! Alcohol is out and sugar rush is in! Vintage crochet lace doilies are also in high demand for dressing the tables at weddings. And I have had at least three requests for linens that would complement the theme of a Mad Hatters Tea Party.  Crinoline Lady embroidered cloths are very popular at the moment!

At the other end of the (linen) scale there is also an increased interest in antique linen damask - particularly those with unusual and interesting designs. I have bought two very large tablecloths recently which originate from a country house in Wales -  Gregynog. It is now part of the University of Wales.

 

The cloths are 20ft and 24ft long - huge!! And have designs of different exotic birds.

 Peacocks to each corner and other birds including long legged cranes along the border.

They have been snapped up by another "linen lover" (you know who you are, Nan!) but I thought that they were worthy of a mention and some pics in the blog. 

Set the table for Spring

This week I have bought a quantity of linens from the estate of a large house in Northumberland. Not a big country house but a home that enjoyed entertaining and the lady of the house liked to present a well-dressed table for dinner or lunch. So I have acquired a number of sets of table napkins and mats.  The reticella lace napkins above are unused and an ideal size for lunch or supper.

 

These unused Irish linen damask napkins above are a more appropriate size for dinner.

These three pretty sets wopuld set off a spring lunch table very well.

This collection of linen did not include any dining table cloths but did have many place mats and table settings in a variety of styles. So perhaps the family had a beautiful table that they didn't want to hide under a cloth. In that case table mats are a great alternative to a cloth - and they are easier to launder, iron and store!

This Reticella needlelace place mat is one of six and matches the napkins.

                                                                  

These green linen place mats with hand embroidery also have a matching large centre mat and could be used with plain green  or white napkins.

The crochet lace mat above left is one from a setting for twelve and the Maltese lace mat to the right is from a setting for six.