Treasures Frozen In Time

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting the beautiful home of a family friend. And by home, I mean historic house in Springfield, TN. Incredibly high ceilings, two staircases, and rooms full of antique furniture. There were so many great old patterns and textiles, I would have moved there in a heartbeat. I didn’t get any exterior pictures, but I wanted to share a few of the little treasures I found throughout the house as I was exploring.

1. This amazing frontpage of the Nashville Banner from 1945

2. These lettuce shaped bowls are so precious! I like to imagine myself eating salad out of them, but I know that in reality it would probably be cereal. 3. I am in love with this bathroom wallpaper! One of the bathrooms even had a purple tub, so dreamy! 

4. How strange/whimsical/compelling are these hair portraits? When I found them I was simultaneously grossed out (by the fascination parents have with keeping their children’s hair) and delighted (by the illustrations). Side note: I am constantly jealous of any and everyone that knows calligraphy.

5. Can you imagine getting a pair of shoes this perfect for less than $4?! This old advertisement makes me so nostalgic! (Is it even possible to be nostalgic for a time you never lived in?)

6. After taking an embroidery workshop this summer, I appreciate this vintage embroidery even more than I normally would. Although this one is not particularly intricate, it makes me so sad this type of work was never really considered an art form (until recently) since a woman with a needle was seen as “lowly” compared to a man with a brush. 

7. I can’t even handle talking about this child’s portrait! Look at that kitty planning his escape! This picture is incredible. That is all.  8.  These very small, diamond shaped, pastel dishes literally took my breath away when I found them tucked away in a cupboard. I would love to use them for photographing my baked goods or serving miniature treats to guests.

9. I already posted an embroidered piece, but this needlepoint is just so dainty!

10. These porcelain brooch holders are so charming! You put the pin of the brooch in the holes on top for a pretty and functional way to store your jewelry. This is the first time I have ever heard of these and I can’t find anything similar online, so if anyone has more info about them I’d love to know =]And lastly, I found this silly comic in a closet somewhere. I am not sure if it’s recent, but it’s relevant:

 I am so enamored by old homes and all the treasures they house (and people, and memories!). I could literally spend hours at antique shops, thrift stores, and estate sales because of my love for all things old and with character. I am constantly inspired by the past. I can’t wait to have a place that I can settle into and make my own by filling it with so many of my pre-loved treasures from others. That’ll be the day!

Home Is Where Your Cat Is

The third workshop I took this summer was called Embroidery: An Exploration of the Stitch, and was definitely one of my favorites. I love to incorporate stitching into my books, but I never knew what I was doing. I would just freehand everything since I didn’t have any technical experience.

This class focused on stitching into surfaces other than fabric, such as wood / paper / plastic / whatever you can imagine. This is one of the pieces I made, I guess you could say I was getting a little homesick by the time July rolled around:

This is an example of an  8.5″ x 11″ embroidered photograph (this beautiful portrait was taken by my friend Ryan, who has the biggest sweet tooth the world has ever seen). I used a split stitch to embroider “Home is where your cat is” on it. This is something I discovered last summer while away from home for about a month and is possibly the truest thing I have ever said.

I didn’t actually make a lot in this class (embroidery takes a looooong time) but I did learn a lot (which is what counts, right?). Nick DeFord is not only a great instructor & person, but also a fantastic artist. I definitely recommend checking out his website and even catching a gallery show if possible.