Life Lesson #23: People are important; everyone matters! Figural linens and laces are ones that have images of people, animals, birds, mythological creatures, urns of flowers, etc. incorporated into the design. I love them! Some of my favorites include people–like this Southern Belle from my personal collection... ...or these two collages of fun ones from Kerry. As I expected, you wonderful readers here at My Place have left some nice comments saying how glad you are to be introduced to Kerry. I hope you're checking out her blog and Etsy shop, too! Thanks again, Kerry, for letting me supplement my pics with some of yours! Some of you may ... Keep Reading...
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How to get in the last word…
Life Lesson #22: If you say it, own it! I own very few vintage linens with sayings on them, but I've certainly seen a lot through the years! Sometimes the sayings are gentle: "Sweet dreams". Other times they're very matter-of-fact: "Good night". And sometimes... sometimes I wonder why someone put *that* on something permanent–especially when it took so long to actually embroider or cross stitch it! But no matter whether I liked the phrase or not, it served as a reminder that if I say something, I need to "own it." The nice thing about saying something through handwork is that there's plenty of time to re-consider whether or not you really want to say it–unlike saying something with the mouth and then ... Keep Reading...
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Have you learned anything new lately?
Life Lesson #21: Never stop learning Daughter the Older lived in England for seven years, and twice, while visiting her, I managed to squeeze in time for a field trip to the textiles room at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Be still my heart... Virtually every textile technique of the past 5,000 years–from Predynastic Egypt to the present–are represented. There are cases and cases...drawers and drawers...files and files full of every sort of textile you can imagine–and then some. There are always students and conservationists studying the pieces. How I would have loved to sit with them all.day.long to learn more! The few pictures I took are nothing exceptional, but their subjects are! See ... Keep Reading...
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What Color is Life?
Life Lesson #20: Life is not all black and white I used to think Life was black and white. Actions were simply right or wrong. Period. (Some are.) People either "got it"–or they were doing something to stifle their intelligence because my the answer was sooooo obvious. I thought the young mother in the grocery store screaming at her children needed to be more patient–and teach those kids some manners. And the preacher who bribed his little girl with a new bike so she'd go to church–and everyone would think his was the "perfect Christian family"? Well, he needed to be a better father–and he really needed to get over himself. I thought the overweight, cigarette-smoking ... Keep Reading...
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There are vintage linens I DON’T like… *Gasp!*
Life Lesson #19: Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder Just as there are some dishes I don't like, there are linens that don't tickle my fancy, too. But some of you will love them... Today, instead of doing the "expected" and showing you some of my favorite linens, I'm going to show you a few that I personally would have no problem passing by. I once found these in an auction box lot–cleaned them up–and passed them along. I could pass on these, as well–but I hope you won't! Kerry has over 200 items in her shop. I'm sure you'll find something you love... I don't ever want to forget, though... Someone once either made or selected every one of these. Their taste in linens might ... Keep Reading...
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What to do with bad memories…
Life Lesson #18: Memories–good and bad–are worth holding on to Of course we want to hold on to our good memories...but before some of you go hitting the delete button or unsubscribing from the mail list, let me offer a caveat about the bad ones. I am NOT talking about holding on to bad memories in a way that wallows in self-pity–or represses anger to the point of unforgiveness–or buries a hurt so deep it never has a chance to heal, adversely affecting every future relationship. Those situations aren't healthy. Instead, I'm talking about taking the sad, tragic, disappointing, hurtful, petty, poorly-chosen events in our lives–and facing them head-on. Admitting they happened–like it or not. I'm talking ... Keep Reading...
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When’s the last time you showed someone your back(side) story?
Life Lesson #17: There's more to every person than meets the eye; slow down and look! We all have them: backstories. Behind-the-scenes parts of our life story. Things we'd rather keep to ourselves due to embarrassment, shame, fear, mistrust... Vintage linens have them, too–and, like people's stories, some are prettier than others. Some are downright messy. Don't judge a book by its cover. You never really know someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes. I've been looking at people differently ever since God did some creative caring and helped me open my stubborn, judgmental eyes. I keep being reminded–over and over. We all have them: backstories. ... Keep Reading...
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Now I know my ABCs …
Life Lesson #16: Never pass up a teachable moment Whether it's practicing letters and sounding out words...or reinforcing table manners...I try not to pass up a teachable moment when I'm around little ones. "Everyday" inspiration is all around if we just look for it. Are you a "teachable moment" teacher? By habit–or training? I'm linking these ABCs Around the House "notecards" to the Notecard Party at A Haven for Vee. If you like them, use the "share" buttons below this post to "Pin It" or pass them along to friends. This is part of a 31-day series. All Life Lessons are available HERE. ... Keep Reading...
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How to be Successful in the Real World: Practice & Patience
Life Lesson #15: Practice and Patience make a great team Have you ever tried to learn a new skill only to become impatient and want to quit? Of course you have. Me, too. Most new skills take both practice and patience–often a lot of both. I am so thankful there were generations before us of patiently practiced seamstresses...and I'm reeaaally glad some of the fruits of their labor are still around to be enjoyed! I can only imagine how much practice and patience it took to learn all of these stitches... I found this gorgeous piece a few years ago at a local estate auction–already framed and ready for its new home in my dining room. You may have noticed it sneaking into tablescapes like this ... Keep Reading...
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Are you a perfectionist … or perfectly imperfect?
Life Lesson #14: "Imperfect" is okay They were imperfect when I bought them several years ago... A pair of antique French tambour lace curtains (circa 1900)–every stitch meticulously embroidered on fine net. The repairs are on the bottom half of the panels. Every time I walk through the dining room into the kitchen, I'm reminded that sometimes "imperfect" is most definitely okay! This green silk scarf? Yep. Imperfect... but it's gorgeous in this tablescape. And the very old wool runner in this tablescape? It has a few moth holes–but who can tell? Perfectionism: It's how I'm wired. That's sometimes a curse. Working with vintage linens (and living in an old house) ... Keep Reading...
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Star light, Star bright… Don’t you wish?
Life Lesson #13: Wishing doesn't make it so If there's a single lesson that life teaches us, it's that wishing doesn't make it so. –Lev Grossman, The Magicians Could this tablecloth be expertly repaired? Technically–yes. Practically–no. Seems like a good time to focus on the 11 feet of gorgeous, tiny hand stitches ... and accept (and cover up) the "wish." It also brings this to mind... God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference. Do you find it "easy" to accept things you can't change...or do you have to learn–and re-learn–that ... Keep Reading...
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How do you know when it’s time to “call it quits”?
Life Lesson #12: Sometimes we give up too easily It's not always easy to know when enough is Enough. When it's time to give up on something–or someone. We live in a culture of "I want everything to be perfect YESTERDAY"...and expending the extra effort to make something pretty/healthy/functional again is not always the go-to response. It seems Contentment trumps Commitment more often than not. I wonder if vintage linens have anything to teach us... Once-faded napkins ... became eye-catchers for a Fall tablescape. See how HERE. A crocheted tablecloth full of holes used solely to "pretty up" pictures ... became a stunning dress. See it HERE. An "irreversibly" stained ... Keep Reading...
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Cultural Diversity: How Big Is Your World?
Life Lesson #11: We learn about Life when we look beyond ourselves Besides being familiar with the inevitable "bandana print," this Texas native's earliest exposure to now-vintage linens was in the form of embroidered pillowcases and (usually) pineapple-patterned crocheted doilies. Thank you, Grandmother. Occasionally, I was influenced by our neighbor to the south... Mexico ...or my next-door neighbor. I was only 4 years old when I moved away from Mr. and Mrs. Manny, but I still have vague memories of the tapestry-lined walls in their home. Belgian tapestry My first trip abroad was to England where I discovered a huge duffle bag charity shop after charity shop full of gorgeous ... Keep Reading...
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Do you give yourself permission to slow down and have fun?
Life Lesson #8: Remember to have fun! I'll admit. This is a life lesson I've had to learn (and re-learn) many times. I don't have a lot of patience with people who don't keep commitments because they had a chance "at the last minute" to go do "something fun." But what about that report you had due? The committee meeting you were supposed to attend; the one every other member showed up for–to hear your report. Ever think they might've liked a night off, too ... just for the fun of it? While keeping commitments is extremely important to me, I do have to make a conscious effort to "add in some downtime" when I'm in charge of meetings or events because, honestly, I thrive on accomplishment...and I don't mind staying ... Keep Reading...
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Time Management: Do You Have Your Act Together?
Life Lesson #9: Time spent organizing beats chaos What more can I say? When I don't take time to organize my linens, I have the hardest time finding "just the right one" when I want it. When I don't put things on my calendar–and try to go from memory–it's not always pretty. When papers don't get filed regularly, I always regret it. I'm regretting it a lot these days. Sadly, my linens need to be organized again, too...before the holidays. Are your holiday linens clean and "at the ready"? If not, grab some Restoration Linen Cleaner and get busy. They'll love you for it–and you'll avoid the last-minute chaos. Are you a highly-organized person–or are there some areas in which you ... Keep Reading...
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What’s your favorite season?
Life Lesson #8: Look for the beauty in every season of life... As I pull out linens for each of the year's seasons, I'm reminded that they all serve a different purpose. Perhaps that's why I have so many! It's a good reminder that each season of my life has a purpose, too. It's easier to know what it is in some seasons, but that's where faith comes in... Winter Layering the Warmth - Sharing the Warmth Spring The Tablescape Challenge: Pink Au Naturale Summer A Handful of Flowers: Late Summer Tablescape Fall Summer to Fall For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, ... Keep Reading...
