Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Linens

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I went to an auction last night with Heidi. This particular one runs once a month and is way out in the country. Oh my gosh, was it cold last night – wind chills were way below zero and as Heidi and I packed the truck, we felt like our faces would fall off from the cold wind. There wasn’t much there I was interested in, but I did get a box of linens. The box is full to the brim with wonderful old napkins, some tea towels and doilies, neatly pressed and obviously taken good care of by someone.

I love these damask napkins – I am a sucker for anything damask.

These are wonderfully retro.

Delicate crochet and cutwork.

This is my favorite – I’m in love.
There are lots more. I have to sort through them. You know, we usually eat our dinner on trays in the den. It’s not as if I use linens at my table – but I can’t resist them. I have many of my Grandmother’s linens and I can’t bear to use them in anything craft or sewing related – but these? I just might.

Today is so, so cold and snowy. We’ve had to keep our roman blinds down in the kitchen to keep the heat in. But I miss the sunlight: I feel as if I’m in a cave. Maybe I need to read my book or work on the dollhouse….or watch an old movie. I’ll get to work on it.

Comments

  1. hi claudia!

    what wonderful linens. i’ve seen hankerchiefs (sp?) framed and displayed in groups. very cool. i also like them used in a group as a valance.

    my bedroom is feeling very cave-like, too. that’s where i am typing this right now. i am procrastinating taking ornaments off the tree. my big idea since the boys will be out for a few hours and i thought it would make the daunting task easier. hmmmm?

    first, more coffee and blogging!

    xo

  2. Such a wonderful find! I have a little linen addiction too, so I totally understand the whole linen thing!
    Hugs,
    Jill

  4. Oh my gosh, what a wonderful find! I would be thrilled! I love all the vintage linens, too. It was only 20 degrees here this morn! Kerrie

  6. SCORE!! Those are beautiful, I too am drawn to old linens, hankies, and doilies…love them!!!!
    Bless your heart girlie, snuggle up and stay warm….it’s 48 here, but I made DH make a fire and I’m snuggled in my blankie. ;)
    ♥ Teresa

  7. We’re cold in Texas as well..but for linens like that, you better believe I would brave the artic cold. I love vintage linens,hankies and crochet, and you did really,really well with your buy. I just love them..

  8. I love the middle one in the top picture! Just beautiful! I am a weenie when it comes to cold temps so no outside auctions for me right now!!

  9. How lovely…I especially love the cutwork and lace pieces. I have lots of those and stick them here and there. I think they look scrumptious juxtaposed with rustic antiques :)

  13. I only unloaded half of my buys from the truck today….toooo cold. Hope there will be less wind tomorrow or I will be riding around with a truck load for a while. thanks for joining me last night :). HHH

  14. Oh Claudia.. Now I KNOW you must live out my way, here somewhere! These temps and wind chills are a nightmare right now! Hang in there! Stay in as best you can, and just STAY WARM!.. Oh, and I LOVE your new linens and all the goodies you’ve found! Way to shop! ~tina

  15. Those are beautiful linens! I just adore the teapot retro ones. They are so awesome. You should definitely do some crafting with them. I am like you, it is much easier to craft with something that I don’t have a personal sentimental attachment to. That’s why I love thrift shopping so much – so much stuff and so little time – ha! Hope you enjoyed the rest of your Sunday. It has been bitterly cold here, too. We hunkered down inside and sewed yesterday. It was lots of fun. Hope you have a wonderful 2010. Oh and I loved the story about your “snow angel”.

    Blessings,
    Tricia

  16. Claudia,
    I would say that box of linens is a great find. Many lovely ones you have shown us. too bad you had to brave the cold to go get them. I am already sick of winter. I feel like I may never leave the house again til spring. Ha!
    Blessings!
    Gwen

  17. What a treasure trove! I love love love old linens. I sew with them all the time. I need to go to this auction with you sometime when I’m up in your area!

  18. I got cold just reading your description of how cold it was in the truck!

    I really do love linen. I love everything about it especially the wonderful feel it has to the touch.

    Have a nice day and stay warm.

  19. What fun to go through everything, just like Christmas all over again! I know what you mean about the weather, the early darkness and gloom is depressing, however I noticed a couple of days ago, the days are staying lighter out longer~every 15 minutes helps!

  20. Gorgeous! Those damask napkins are just divine. I picked up a big bag of vintage linens at a garage sales a couple of months back, and I haven’t been able to bring myself to sell ’em yet.

    Good score! :-)

    Anne

  21. Hello Claudia,

    Oh, I’m a damask junkie!! What a great find. I love the retro ones too.

    I have to agree on the COLD…oh my goodness, it’s cold here…this is my first winter in Tennessee in ten years so I’m having acclimate to it again. Last time I was in middle Tennessee..so this time is totally different being outside of Gatlinburg. It’s snowing now…lows in single digits and then the wind chill.

    I’ve got 34 feet of glass in my great room…and no window treatments due to the great view but I have turned the bedroom into a cave since the north wind hits that side of the house. We have a large DutchWest wood stove that being installed in the great room very soon! hehe Then I can stay out of hock to the power company..LOL

    I’d love to find some local auctions but so far don’t know of any…but there are tons of junk shops and consignment shops…just not the same as an auction.

    Do drop by to see my little collage..you may like to download it. :0)

    I wish your New Year to be bright and merry and more bliss than ever!

    Hugs,
    Stephanie

  23. Those are gorgeous linens, Claudia! I totally understand your hesitancy in using your grandmother’s in sewing projects, but I’m sure you could be wonderfully creative with these!

    I’m very late getting around to everyone but had to say (sorry, Don) that I cracked up at your snow angel post. That’s something I would do, be on the phone or doing something so I was oblivious to what was really going on! haha Poor Don, I hope he is feeling better. I took a tumble down a set of stairs about 5 years ago and sprained my ankle badly – and that HURTS, let me tell you! So I’m definitely sympathizing with him.

    Well, our tree is all that’s left up. Every day I say I’m going to take it down, but I just love the glow from the tree. Some day this week, for sure. My mom was much better at staying on schedule and traditions than I am. The tree always came down right after New Year’s when we were growing up.

    Oh, I also had to mention the photo of sweet Scout in the Snow Angel post – that should be in a calendar for one of the winter months – what a gorgeous photo!… Donna

  24. OMGosh! These are all so wonderful. My favorites are the crocheted and cutwork pieces. I would scan those into my computer and add them to my digital scrapbook kits. ♥

  26. This old post just popped up on your linkwithin and since I just posted today about embroidered napkins, I had to take a look. These are all so pretty!! What a wonderful find at the auction!

  27. This old post just popped up on your linkwithin and since I just posted today about embroidered napkins, I had to take a look. These are all so pretty!! What a wonderful find at the auction!

  28. This old post just popped up on your linkwithin and since I just posted today about embroidered napkins, I had to take a look. These are all so pretty!! What a wonderful find at the auction!

  29. This old post just popped up on your linkwithin and since I just posted today about embroidered napkins, I had to take a look. These are all so pretty!! What a wonderful find at the auction!

  30. This old post just popped up on your linkwithin and since I just posted today about embroidered napkins, I had to take a look. These are all so pretty!! What a wonderful find at the auction!

  31. This old post just popped up on your linkwithin and since I just posted today about embroidered napkins, I had to take a look. These are all so pretty!! What a wonderful find at the auction!

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