ECHOES OF A GENTLER AGE

Back in the days before two job, two car families when there was no television in the evenings, women turned to handwork when their house was tidied from supper and the kids put to bed. From time to time, too, during the busy day, things became quiet and women sat down to listen to the radio soap operas with some handwork to occupy them.

I'm drawing on my own memory here as I grew up during the 1940's, and was not in school until 1944.

During this period of time, many women subscribed to weekly women's magazines that specialized in dress patterns, and knit, crochet and embroidery patterns. Quite often an iron-on pattern or two were bound into the magazines as a free bonus - such patterns might be good only for a few transfers but after the colour was all gone, they could be copied using a pencil and thus were saved. (When I went through my mother's things upon her death 20 years ago, I found many of these patterns, carefully saved through all those years. Embroidery floss was cheap and plentiful and once I was in school I was often sent to the tiny yarn and embroidery shop to pick up floss for my mum. It was up an alleyway behind a radio and record sales and repair shop and the victorian counter's plate glass top had been so worn by coins that you could not see through it. Floss was three skeins for 10 cents at that time. Pure linen to work your pattern on could be had for very little and if you were too frugal to spring for the linen, Indian Head cotton (a firm, heavy, close-woven fabric) was to be had for around a dollar a yard and worked equally well.

So you see, cost was minimal and time was available because there were fewer distractions.

The attitude toward household linens was one of respect and care; and orderly and protected storage was regarded as necessary as well as just being a nice touch. Both the linens storage set of two cases and the nightgown case are shown on
 http://funkybabymine.blogspot.com/p/other-linens.html I think we might do well to revisit this sort of value today as we strive to make-do, recycle, repurpose and reduce our carbon footprint. Perhaps sometime in the future we again will have no plastic in which to wrap things and 'preserve' them..... ?
Be sure to contact me mailto:janet@novascotiaquilts.com if you wish to purchase any of the items listed, and also make sure to visit my GIVEAWAY post (http://funkybabymine.blogspot.com/2010/10/pre-christmas-giveaway.html)to enter the draw for your choice of a $25 or $50 gift certificate which will take place November 30 and be announced here on December 1.
                                 

TABLE LINENS SHOP IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

At the moment I am posting a few new items every day. I hope today to move to another category and get some items up there too. It's a good idea at the moment to check out my listings frequently. Most of the postings are carefully selected one-of-a-kind items and when they are snapped up I may not find another similar item.

I will be preparing a "how to launder and lighten spots in vintage and antique linens" and a copy will go out with each shipment so you may get your linens looking their best and keep them that way as you use them daily.

You may wonder at the many items described as unused or barely used. It was commonplace in middle class homes 60 years ago to have brand new items in reserve in the linen drawers of the china cabinet and on the shelves of the linen closet upstairs.
Home visits by family doctors were routine and housewives always wanted the sickroom to be fresh, crisp and tidy, since the state of the home reflected upon her status as a good housekeeper. Brand new linens were used to accomplish that. It helped too when the clergyman dropped by to visit the sick family member that everything was spotless..

And of course an important dinner or tea guest called for a brand new set of tablelinens too. So brand new items among the household linens were very common. When they had been used and laundered they were added to the rotating supplies and new items were acquired.

I recall in the 1940's going with my mother to the quality independent downtown Department Store where she bought her linens and watching her choose replacement items. Of course this was long before polyester, dacron and "easy care" was invented and you chose among 100% cotton, fine linen or silk.  As well, of course, she was an expert hand embroiderer and crocheted beautiful lace edgings onto her handmade linens. I have one of her plain ecru traycloths with hand crocheted edge hanging as a curtain on a small window in my home and seeing it each day is a fine memory from my childhood.

In order to publicize my new online shop, I've decided to have a giveaway running the entire month of June and give you several ways to gain more chances to win.
How to Win: each week make at least one comment on one of my posts. This can earn you one chance a week! If you want to earn 5 chances to win then become a follower if you are on blogspot. Another chance is earned if you put me on your sidebar.
Draw will be held: after supper on July2, 2010.

You can Win: first place: a luncheon or tea cloth,
                                          hand embroidered and lace edged!
                       runner up: a sweet retro apron for your kitchen!

Good Luck!!! I'll be keeping score for you!