A set of eight vintage napkins, and four lovely handkerchiefs (it seems wrong to call them hankies), that I may never bring myself to use - as you can see, I wasn't even brave enough to iron them. They are certainly not plain - but they were indeed cheap. The Op Shop lady initially asked for 50c for ALL of them - I talked her up to $2!
I decided to try another shop - and had a little more luck - 2 plain, green napkins (that were of course the most expensive of the lot!), and a set of six nice, plain linen napkins with just a simple little edging ... oh, alright then...
The good news is that a couple of these have little stains already, so seem a little more suited to wiping dirty faces after spaghetti.Now, a question for you - would you / do you use vintage linen in day to day life, or do you store / display / repurpose these items? And how do you care for them?
Oh, and I nearly forgot - here are the mini-blogger's purchases for this week - doesn't she have nice taste?Pop into Sophies for more finds if you like!
20 comments:
I collect them but I would never actually use them as napkins. I always have grand crafty plans of turning them into something.... it's just that nothing has actually eventuated yet!
i collect vintage linens too with the intention to use them or repurpose them alas they tend to get shelved with all my vintage tablecloths, sheets & aprons.
btw you might like to try soaking them in napisan.
your little blogger's got a keen eye for some lovely bargains too :)
as a prolific vintage linen collector I am of the 'use it or loose it' team. I haven't bought new linen for the family in years instead making quilt covers and fitted sheets out of vintage linen I collect. It's no good to anyone sitting on a shelf looking pretty, and always looks better all messed up on a bed!
Napkins make lovely quilt squares, but they make even better napkins :)
Kudos for not using paper towel!
I can't use them, I am afraid everything of mine looks pretty on the shelf!I tend to use the paper towelling, but that is because we are so messy at meal times.
it depends on what i find ... if it's too good to use i put it to one side as a keeper otherwise i repurpose or use. i think that's what they're there for.
PS the mini blogger has lovely taste in items and colour. green looks like a favourite
i use it all up, and i break things.... there's always more vintage to be found. there's a few itmes i would like to keep behind glass, but that sounds like a prison to the preasures....
and anyway, for memory, we make pictures, don't we? :)))
and i seem not to be ashamed either, to drop spelling mistakes like snow flakes. sorry!
The little one does have very good taste. Love the bird. I usually like to repurpose fabrics, I am a sucker for vintage fabrics.
I have to admit that I've some in storage for years but I like Estelle's idea of using them as quilting squares.
Can't get enough of the vintage napkins. Just gorgeous.
I store my vintage linens for a rainy day; some rainy day, maybe, in the future...maybe not. Lovely napkins, and your daughter picked some great items!
I definitely have a soft spot for vintage embroidered napkins. Just lovely! x
those lovely napkins will definitely make dinner time more fancy! elbows off the table if you please!!
your mini blogger does indeed have some very nice taste, cute spotty birdie :)
Some I use - some I keep and have grand plans for - My mum saw a quilt in a magazine that uses hankies and she is collecting them at the moment to make that:) Cute purchases from the mini blogger.
What lovely finds! I use some of my lovely embroidered things and repurpose others. The way I see it...I'm bound to find something just as lovely another time. Hope all is wonderful with you :)
Yep, I definitely use my vintage napkins even day to day. You're right, it's so much better than paper! And doesn't it make you feel fancy to have cloth napkins at the table? :)
Those are so pretty, both your finds and mini-bloggers!
I have some vintage linen and tend to use it for display - on side tables or backs of chairs. I'm too nervous to use them at the table in case they get stained.
We have a vintage linen tablecloth we use all the time- you only live once (or twice?) so I say enjoy!
such beautiful finds from both of you. love the colours of all the items. hope it was from the op shop i was at the other day the lady let me off .05c as all i had left was $2.20. very embarrassing : )
i am a storer of linens and beautifully embroidered handkerchiefs. and i agree they should be used as yes we do only live once! ; ) off to get 'em out of the cupboard.
What a great blog! I'm joining up. I'm not even sure how I got here ... possibly through Anna Bartlett. Hope you don't mind me tagging along. I love your op shop finds.
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