It’s time for my monthly virtual shopping trip at Ruby Lane. Thank you for being a sponsor RUBY LANE.
If you know much about me, you know I adore vintage linens. I use vintage grainsacks to upholster furniture. I use vintage torchons to make pillows. Torchons are linen tea towels.
Below is a hand embroidered towel made into a pillow. The chair is upholstered in vitnage grainsack fabric.
Here’s another one with purple pink and green embroidery.
Here’s yet another one with a monogram and purple embroidery.
I use vintage fabrics, especially linen, as much as I can in my home, and that is why my focus today is on vintage linens.
So in case you didn’t know Ruby Lane is a great place to find vintage items online. They have a staggering selection of amazing items. Today I am focusing on vintage linens because they are so special to me. I love the way they feel and look. I love the way they move as you shake them out. Linen has a movement that no over fabric has. I can’t explain it, but I can tell if it is real linen by the way it moves.
The first item I’ve curated for you are a set of Italian hand embroidered towels from the 1920’s. Just look at the monogram! I love all of the elegant embroidery. The neutral colors look so classic and rich. I seek out the linen towels with the monograms since they are even more special. I don’t care if they are my initials or not. I love them all. JMR?
These are a pair of scrumptious pillow covers. I know it says cushion covers, but I’ve noticed that seems to be a European term for pillows. At 19 inches square these are a nice size. It says they were never used, and I see that a lot. People buy linens, put them away and never use them. Then they end up for sales 50 years later in pristine condition. I find myself wanting to preserve their condition, while at the same time I desperately want to use them.
I know now we are all used to fluffy cotton bath towels, but back in the day, towels were made much differently. They were more like tea towels. This one has hand done coronation cord. It too has never been used.
This is my favorite piece I am featuring today. This is a table runner from the early 1900’s. Look at the monogram! It’s all hand embroidered on homespun linen. *sigh* I love the lace on the edges.
These napkins are so beautiful and they look to be from the 30’s or 40’s and the embroidery work is so beautiful. I love linen napkins and they are so hard to find new. I prefer vintage ones though. This is a set of 12, which is very, very difficult to find.
I wish I could buy all of these! Don’t forget to check out the RUBY LANE BLOG.
That was so much fun to look at all the eye candy from Ruby Lanes.
Wow…there are some beautiful things on Ruby Lane.