Country Ways and Cottage Days: Linen

Saturday, 8 June 2019

Pretty Vintage Handkerchiefs

Hello Friends!

It is a heart wrenching task sorting through the possessions of my dearly loved and much missed mother. These are the days when you see everything in a new and different light, and all things become special treasures as you lovingly, carefully, and slowly sift through a lifetime of love and happy memories and come across some exceptionally pretty, lovely things. Who would have guessed that the ordinary, quite unremarkable box, long forgotten in the back of the wardrobe would contain over a hundred beautiful vintage handkerchiefs?

I have carefully washed, and lovingly pressed them all. and taken photographs of some of them. I have yet to decide what to do with so many! I use real handkerchiefs every day. I only use paper ones if I am suffering with a particularly contagious cold virus.

There are all sorts here, from beautifully hand embroidered vintage and antique ones; some with fine, drawn thread work; lace embellished ones; some of the sort we would receive at Christmas in the 1960's from an elderly aunt, three in a box. Some are plain; others printed. Why, there is even a commemorative royal handkerchief with the young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret on. They are all lovely. They are all old. They are all treasured. Some are already put to use for their intended purpose, while the more delicate ones will be carefully preserved, maybe used in shadow boxes with some of my vintage and antique buttons, ribbons and lace. All the while, I shall wonder, I shall ponder upon to whom they may have belonged and how such a collection came to my mother.

Here are a few of my favourites.

I have always enjoyed using a proper handkerchief, and I still choose real linen or cotton over paper ones daily. I keep a handkerchief in every pocket, for I love pulling out a special, prettily patterned or embroidered piece of fabric to daintily wipe away a tear or a sniffle, or even to remove that smidgeon of chocolate that escapes being eaten. There's something quite special, a nod to a more genteel, refined and less throwaway age. Oh, but I have some heartily man size handkerchiefs too, for colds and serious sniffles and hay fever season! Some of these vintage lovelies have already found their way into my personal selection for use. Do you still use real handkerchiefs?

Until next time
Deborah xo

Croeso ♥ Welcome

Over the years the concept of my blog has changed and it is now become a vehicle for therapy. For those of you who are following I beg your forgiveness for all spelling errors, punctuation errors and grammar errors that occur within my writing. As many of you know, I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. This limits my day to day activities in ways I could not have foreseen nor even begin to understand. One of these ways is that I can no longer type manually and rely on a Dictaphone which has its own mind, just like good old auto correct it decides where the punctuation should occur and how words should be spelled. It even decides what I am trying to say. I plan to keep on blogging for as long as I can. I might not get around to commenting and replying on all of your lovely comments, but they are all read, and greatly appreciated. Much love always.