Welcome to my weekly blog post! I write a blog post every Wednesday and always like sharing things I've come across during the week that I found unique in some way. I hope you enjoy!
Since I deal in vintage and antique items, I'm ever cognizant of items that women used, made or cherished in times past. The quilts they made have now become art work, many bringing large sums of money at auction. The quilt top to the right, with its bright pieces and variety of shapes gives an overall design that is reminiscent of a flower garden or meadow. In fact, most women who quilted, embroidered or did other kinds of needlework took their inspiration from the natural world that surrounded them.
They found design patterns everywhere they looked and were true artists, who used whatever was available to them to create useful items to bring beauty and color to their lives and those of their families. The needlepoint pillow cover to the left was worked by a woman in the 1940s, who lived in what is now referred to as Old Louisville, one of the most well preserved areas in Louisville, KY. This woman lived in a second floor apartment and rarely ventured out, but she loved watching the flowers and birds outside her windows. Here, she created a gorgeous needlepoint pillow cover with pansies and hummingbirds in still vibrant shade of yellow, blue, pink, and red. The companion piece is shown to the right, with roses, rather than pansies. You can see the lovely and delicate detail and imagine the time and love she put into these additions to her home.
The effort women put forth to create beauty was not limited to home decor, of course. Many, if not most, were responsible for clothing themselves and members of their families. This delicately stitched, antique lace collar is a wonderful example of design, beauty, and utility combined. This treasure remains in excellent condition, but one could imagine when something of this quality had worn thin, the maker would salvage pieces of it to re purpose it in another creations.
Perhaps this sweet, antique pin cushion had once been parts of other items. The elegant handmade lace might have been made especially for this cushion, or it may have been a lace collar, glove, or other item. The silk ribbon and backing may have been salvaged pieces of a dress. What a marvelous find this beauty is!
I hope you have enjoy this small stroll through vintage and antique needlework and will return next Wednesday for my next blog post.
Have happy days!
Betty
