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Friday, October 3, 2014

A Thing For String & White Linen






 I find endless appeal in a plain white spool of string. The orderliness in the winding rows. The lovely repetitions. 





I need the simple honesty that is found in the ordinary. 




But the most awesome of objects is fashioned from a length of string, a little imagination, and patience, as I was reminded by this small sample I found hidden within a ball of unassuming cotton thread at the thrift store. Who placed it there I can't help but wonder? 





Wrapped up together on a shelf for very little money I found an inexpensive lesson in the "way of string". . . .





As an impromptu still life. . . .




Or spun into something a bit more elaborate like this pile of lacy doilies.














Even this Battenburg lace is just a complex construction of tapes and threads.




As you see here. . . .





The unironed piece has a nice springy texture, but only shows its pattern after pressing. I have no patience for the care of large Batternburg pieces, and only buy if it is a small doily or runner as in this beautiful example. 














I'm using a lovely woven tape from LaurieAnnas in Canton, TX to tie up a set of large cushy damask dinner napkins that I found and decided to leave unironed. (I like a rumpled look too!)





I'm loving linen in bundles. . . .





And string hang tags. . . .





A simple folded vintage huck towel in new condition makes a sweet hostess gift with a bar of fine soap. And all we need now is the brown paper packages tied up with string! (Love those too!)

I hope the threads of the week have tied up nicely for you!

Have a wonderful October weekend ahead!
It'll probably great for a little bit of "junking"!

Jacqueline





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20 comments:

  1. Oh! I am with you on that one - love images of white on white, textured cottons and linens.

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  2. hello,
    I also love the simple ..
    Your crochet work is beautiful. Unfortunately I can not crochet.
    Very beautiful photos you have taken ..
    thank you
    Greetings from Germany
    Tanja

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  3. While sitting here at the computer, and listening to classical music, I was reading your post, and looking at your lovely images. I decided to look at your previous post as well.
    I must tell you, Jacqueline....your photography skills are amazing! I tend to find myself taking time with each photo, and savoring them. Your words are perfect for each image, as well. I, too, love linens. So coming here is always such a treat. I love your vignettes for Fall. They are all so lovely!!
    Debbie
    xo

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  4. Debbie captures my thoughts completely! You are a girl after my own heart! I delight in the perfectness of the string and crocheted pieces. I'm loving my napkins a bit rumpled as well, I take them out of the dryer and just smooth them as I fold. I'm trying to organize a cabinet where I keep all of my place mats, tablecloths, runners and napkins. Some sets of napkins are in 6, 8 or 12. Someone suggested I put each set in a plastic bag and write the number of them (for storing purposes). I'm having my doubts...everything will be slipping and sliding. But you can imagine, when you are pulling out a set, how everything goes askew? It's a tight fit, but I'm going to purge. How do you store your linens? Any recommendations for me?

    Jane xx

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  5. I love threads string ribbons and linens as well nice post.. with love Janice

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  6. So awfully pretty, Jacqueline. You are right -- the string and linen is a lovely combo -- and I love the tags on your bundles! Such beautiful crocheted pieces -- they remind me of my gran.

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  7. It's always lovely string, cotton, lace all natural textures and colours.
    Merle.......

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  8. Oh Jacqueline! Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!! Everything! Just so so beautiful!!
    Kay

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  9. This is a perfectly delightful... tied up neatly :-) Happy Weekend!
    Hugs,
    Bella

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  10. Jacqueline, isn't there a song in there someplace? "A brown paper package, tied up with a string, these are a few of my favorite things"? Isn't it funny how such simple things turn out to be a thing of beauty, and do you suppose someone tucked that pretty little bit of work inside and forgot about it and off it went to the thrift store. Something to contemplate.. Happy Weekend..Judy

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  11. Such a beautiful find within a ball of cotton thread. Gorgeous. I can't imagine the patience and time that went into the Batternburg pieces. Each and every piece so very lovely.
    Have a wonderful weekend, Jacqueline!
    xoxo,
    Lin

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  12. Simply beautiful and I just love your tags!

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  13. i love the idea of tying ribbons around linens and adding a sweet tag! such pretty lovelies today, jacqueline!

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  14. Your images are serene and delicate. Lovely collection of linens.

    Janet

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  15. As time passes, fewer and fewer people will have or understand or know their link to a doily, which might be simple or elaborate. Some doilies I have were made by my great grandmother and are special to me. It isn't that I remember her making them, but it was my mother who told me. My daughter will have a lesser connection, and her daughters, even less. I don't know if my great grandmother saved pennies for a skein of crochet cotton, or if they had more money than I thought or perceived they had when I was a very young child. I'll have to ask my mom that so I will have a little more information to pass on. I think my mother told me that she didn't read, so following a pattern is something she couldn't have done. I wonder how she learned. Maybe from her mother? or a friend? (My great grandmother was Italian and spoke very little English.)

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  16. I love the way you see the beauty in the string and cushy rumpled linens. I bought some linen sheets recently... they are tied up in this ochre satin ribbon and I can't even bare to untie it all it looks so pretty...

    Cindy

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  17. Jacqueline,
    Brown paper packages tied up in string are a few of my favorite things, too, dear friend!!!
    I use the same stamp for my booth merchandise. Great minds. . .
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  18. My Aunt tatted. It is beautiful isn't it. All those patterns just from string.
    SHerry

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