Tools: Thimbles

I'm hoping to get a lot of hand quilting done this weekend, so I pulled out some thimbles!

Starting with my favorite, ending with the ones I never use!

Tools: Restoration for a Handmade Tablecloth

In honor of Halloween, I have a scary story to tell about a ghoulishly stained tablecloth.  Deep in a dark corner of the basement (where there was recently spotted a very large black snake and is a well-known haunt of the abhorrent jumping camel cricket, are you scared yet?) I found this once beautiful tablecloth.  Brought back from a long ago trip to Venice, it's cream colored linen and handmade lace was stained and mottled with black and green mold.

Creepy!

The horror!

Bone-chillingly horrendous stains!

But, I heard of a product called Restoration that claims to extract stains from vintage textiles.  It was a bit pricey for what I thought was merely a gentle laundry detergent.  What I found out is that this powder has supernatural powers. I followed the directions on the container and had to repeat the application of my precious powder twice, but, at the risk of sounding like an info-mercial, the results were astounding.

It's a miracle!

 There is still one tiny ghost of a stain left from the large patch of black mold, but it's so small that I can only see it when it's inches from my face.

 I can't wait to use this to revive more of my stained treasures.

Tools: Vintage Needle Cases

I love antique sewing accessories.  I found this sterling silver needle case in an antique store amongst a jumble of threads that was once someone's sewing kit.

It is sterling silver and embossed with a couple standing facing a castle and a Van Gogh sky.  It's so cool.  When you press the small button on the front, it pops open, like a make-up compact.  That's when all the needles fly out at you.

It's stamped with a patent from Jan. 12, 1904. 

This needle case is hand painted porcelain from Limoge.  It was a gift.  The needles tend to fly out of this one as well.  Flying needles, the price of beauty.