Thursday, 23 February 2012

Added Value; Things found in books - Happy Ever After


This pretty embroidery transfer and skein of ‘Peri-Lusta’ thread was found carefully preserved in tissue paper at the bottom of a box of books. It must have been in the box for a good number of years but still looks like new. The thread is a little flattened, but the colours are bright and the transfer unfaded.

I can imagine a young girl putting this away to use at her wedding, or perhaps the wedding of a future daughter or granddaughter. I wonder if, when the time came she was unable to find it or simply forgot all about it.

I suppose it would be considered old-fashioned now, but it would still make a pretty embroidered tablecloth for a wedding. Or maybe you can think of another use for it.

Do you know someone who is getting married? Would they be able to use this, maybe with a different coloured thread? Alternatively, would you like to make something with it? I think it’s been unused for too long! I am happy to send it free of charge (anywhere in the world) to the first person who leaves a comment saying they would like it. Please leave a note of your blog or email address so that I can contact you.

Congratulations to aobibliophile for being the first to comment! I've sent you an email and will send the transfer and thread when I have your details. 

26 comments:

  1. hi Barbara! that's priceless! i'd love to have it. thank you very much. aobibliophile(at)gmail(dot)com

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  2. barbaraannefisher23 February 2012 at 09:49

    That's fantastic, I'm really happy to send them. It would be lovely to see a photo of what you make with it. I will email and get your details. Barbara

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  3. That's wonderful of you to be willing to send it. I'm sure AO Bibliophile will enjoy it. :)

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  4. Barbara, you're indeed very generous to be willing to send it anywhere in the world! Congrats, AO Bibliophile. The colours are so lovely I think I'd put it in my small box of random collection of buttons, embroidered patches and so.

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  5. Hi Barbara - I was just thinking as I was reading this that you would be surprised at how many people are still interested in this sort of thing - and of course now it is considered very retro chic. Its so lovely that you had the thought to send it on and that it will finally be used - I hope you are able to do a follow up post of the finished results!

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  6. barbaraannefisher23 February 2012 at 19:24

    I don't mind at all, just glad that someone can make use of it. Thanks for calling in.

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  7. I just discovered your beautiful blog which was mentioned on http://thedesertrocks.blogspot.com.
    Since I'm new I don't know what you have previously discussed, so this may be redundant, but I've read that Mary Engelbreit collects children's books and uses them to decorate her houses. I just started a blog of short stories for grown-ups, although definitely G rated which is at http://amy-solittletime.blogspot.com so I am just learning about the wonderful blogs that are on the internet. Thanks.

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  8. barbaraannefisher23 February 2012 at 22:23

    Hello Claudine, what a lovely idea!

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  9. barbaraannefisher23 February 2012 at 22:35

    Hello Sharon, I hadn’t realised people were still interested in this kind of thing. I just felt they had been in the bottom of a box for long enough, and it would be great if someone could use them. I hope to be able to do a follow-up and will ask AO Bibliophile about it when she contacts me.

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  10. barbaraannefisher23 February 2012 at 22:58

    Hello Amy
    Thanks for your lovely comment and the info re Mary Engelbreit – something for me to find out about. I will be over to visit your blog tomorrow, time to get some beauty sleep now. I love thedesertrocks blog btw.

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  11. You always find the most interesting items. I love to see them posted on your blog! I loved to do crafts like this when I was younger (while my grandmother would knit or my mom would do embroidery). I have not done anything like it in ages. I think it is great that you are shipping it off to aobibiliophile. How fun!

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  12. barbaraannefisher24 February 2012 at 08:53

    Hello again Amy, I've just been over to your very interesting blog and am now following.

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  13. barbaraannefisher24 February 2012 at 08:56

    Hi Jess, I also used to knit and do embroidery. But like you, it's been years since I tried it, and I didn't want to mess this up as it is so pretty. It’s gratifying to know that you enjoy the things I blog about, it makes the effort worthwhile.

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  14. What a nice thing to do a giveaway for this sweet embroidery. I used to love doing that, but not anymore. My crafts repetoire consists of knitting a few doll sweaters once in a while for one of the kids.

    I hope your winner really enjoys this.

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  15. Dear Barbara, I got your nice comment on my blog this morning. Thank you. I try to write amusing stories, although some earlier ones are a little 'ironic'. I didn't realize you were in England which is a beautiful country. I was there with a friend in 1960 and with my husband years later in 2003. I have a granddaughter whose name is Charlotte Rose, so Rose must be coming popular. Good luck.

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  16. How lovely. My mom and I used to embroider things like this all the time. It brought back wonderful memories. How lucky for you to have found it and now to pass it on.

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  17. barbaraannefisher25 February 2012 at 16:37

    Hello Alex, I’m just pleased someone will love it! I used to do lots of craft things but about 16 years ago books completely took over my life, now I don’t even own a pair of knitting needles! Maybe I will take it up again when I retire.

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  18. barbaraannefisher25 February 2012 at 16:46

    Hello Amy, thanks for calling in. I enjoyed reading your blog and will be back for another visit soon. England is indeed a beautiful country, and I feel lucky to live in a very pretty part. Maybe you will come back for a visit some time.

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  19. barbaraannefisher25 February 2012 at 16:52

    My mum made some lovely things when I was a little girl, I’ve still got some of her embroidered tablecloths and napkins. I used to enjoy cross stitch and knitting but was never very good at embroidery.

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  20. Hi Barbara,

    You can't believe how popular embroidery still is. If we ever get either transferred material or just the threads donated into the charity shop where I volunteer, they are guaranteed to be snapped up instantly, and usually for a good price.

    I still embroider on occasion, although I am not very proficient and tend to stick to the basic stitches. I have a quite a little collection of threads and transferred cloth, just waiting for me to get the time to do something creative with them.

    What I would do with the finished articles goodness knows, as ther probably isn't anywhere I would want to display them in our home. I would probably donate them back to the charity shop, where they will sell to a lover of 'retro' paraphernalia!

    A great find and a lovely thought to pass them on to someone who would do something with them.

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  21. barbaraannefisher26 February 2012 at 21:00

    Hello Yvonne, thanks for calling in and leaving a comment. I had no idea so many people were still interested in things like this, but it’s lovely that they are. The thread and transfer were really pretty, but I didn't think anyone would want to use them now, but I can see how they could work for a wedding with a retro theme.

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  22. Hi Barbara,

    I am a speech-language pathologist who works in a public school. I'm always looking for new books, So glad I found this blog. I found you through Book Blogs and am now following you. Please stop by my blog, Kick Back Moments at http://pstrack.blogspot.com thanks. Peggy

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  23. Hope that beautiful wedding embroidery will be worked by someone with loving fingers! It's adorable!

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  24. barbaraannefisher28 February 2012 at 16:02

    I’m sure it will be. It’s so pretty it really deserves to be admired.

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  25. Oh, how sweet. I have many patterns my mother-in-law gave me that are quite old. It's a darling pattern.

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  26. barbaraannefisher19 August 2012 at 11:12

    Hi Peggy, While in the process of doing a follow up on this post I found your comment. I'm so sorry I didn't answer it before. I've visited your blog and followed with GFC. Looking forward to catching up with all your posts. Barbara.

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I really appreciate your comment. Thank you!
Barbara xx