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Antique Linens

Yesterday I shared the little pitcher my grandma gave to me.  Thinking about things my grandma has given to me, reminded me of the linens she gave me when she moved into assisted living.
These linens remind me so much of her guest bedroom.  My grandparents always had two twin beds, with white bedspreads, in their guest bedroom. The pillows in the guest room were rarely used, which is probably why they were the fluffiest pillows I’ve ever seen.  Someday, when my kids are grown, maybe I’ll have two twin beds, with the same white bedspreads in my guest room. 
My grandma had stacks and stacks of hand stitched linens.  I can’t even begin to image the time it took to make pillowcases like these.

My favorite tablecloth almost didn’t make it home with me.  It’s a tan, linen cloth, with muted reds and yellows in the print.  At the time, it seemed a little drab to me, but I’m so glad I have it now.  As you can see, it matches well with the accessories in my kitchen.

Ooooh, here’s another favorite.  I absolutely LOVE this table runner.  Very few pieces, that came from my grandma, were done with reds.  I adore the red and black in this!  This runner spends most of the summer on my kitchen table.

So, what do you do if your grandma doesn’t have a collection like this to pass down?  The antique stores are filled with pieces like these!  They are usually very inexpensive too.
Happy shopping!

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The Comments

  • Lisa
    June 12, 2012

    I just love the linens you have and love even more the fact that they were passed down to you. I only wish that I had some lovely linens like these from my grandmother. They are so pretty and much nicer than the ones you get in stores today.

  • Gail @ Faithfulness Farm
    June 12, 2012

    Well, it looks like you have strolled thru my house and snatched up some stuff, lol. I have some Schilling tins that were my grandmas — including cream of tarter and cloves. My grandma also always had chinelle bedspreads on all her beds. Those always remind me of her. Last winter I made new stockings from an old cutter bedspread and am planning to use the rest of that one to make some covers for my vintage wicker porch furniture. I also have stacks of embroidery items — love them 🙂

    I also have some of my grandma's cast ironware — a skillet that I treasure and the rocking chair she bought when she became a grandma (when I was born) 🙂

    Blessings!
    Gail

  • Carla
    June 12, 2012

    Beautiful!
    My grandma gave me her buffet table. I love it. The drawers even smell of her. 🙂

  • Mystica
    June 13, 2012

    I did not inherit any linens but when I was in Finland they have church sales and I did buy the most exquisite hand embroidered small table clothes (tea cloths is I think the phrase). Embroidered so beautifully with hand made lace edgings. How could anyone give them away? They are with me now in Sri Lanka and will go one of these days to my daughter who lives in Australia. They have come a very long way!!!

  • The Tablescaper
    June 22, 2012

    I have a stack of these from my grandmother too. You inspire me to bring them out and put them use.

    – The Tablescaper