Every Sunday we have a different topic and get to show and tell. This week our theme is Hankies.When I was little my Grandma Lena would take us shopping at thrift stores, she was ahead of her time and went even before it was popular. She would look for linens, pretty dishes and hankies. I remember her taking them home carefully washing them and starching and ironing them to perfection. These she kept in the tray of her cedar chest, neatly piled in little stacks. I was allowed to look but not touch....I would sneak and open the chest and peek at all the pretty embroidery and little flowers on the white snowy cloth dreaming.
Now that I am a grown up woman of forty something, I still feel like that little girl every time a find a new hankie to add to my own collection.....
Today, I asked my mom if I could take some pictures of my grandma's hankies and she said they were still in the cedar chest, but to hard to get to. She handed me this hat box, as I started to take them out, I noticed they were, all white on white and heavily embroidered with lots of monograms. I said mom you don't have any colored hankies? She said these are my favorites and the kind I like to collect....
My mom Mary aka Fairy Godmother loves to iron...her hankies are pristine....unlike her daughter's Pinkie
Beautiful and look at all that lovely tatting on the edge
More of Mom's hankies
Another pretty monogram, I wonder who's loving hands worked so hard to create this work of art?
This morning at a Yard sale I picked up this crochet book...These are Pinkie's favorite hankies. I do know how to crochet, but working with fine thread is very tedious and I believe a art form of itself...
Here is one of my hankie basket, when I buy my hankies, sometimes at thrift stores or yard sales they need to me laundered then pressed. Here is a basket wait to be iron and sorted.....I use my hankies to make dolls and doll clothing with...my very favorites I keep in a drawer of my china buffet....
I like the colorful hankies, but my favorites are the ones with fancy edging and tatting, I also like elaborate
embroidery and handwork....I guess there isn't a hankie I don't really like...
Here are some of the hankie Angels I have made , some have wings from old quilt scraps
I try and sort my hankies by color purples and violets....
more purples...
Blues and pinks and reds....
Soft shades of pale blue....
Pretty shades of cherry reds....
These are some of my favorite lacey white hankies, I love all the fancy edging.....
Well sorry about that I don't know what happen to picture? I use the hankies for my dolls skirts and aprons
Here are a couple of my favorite hankie envelopes....I try and pick these up when I can find them...I wonder if my grandma Lena new what she started when she took me to the stores with her? She taught me to appreciate beauty and fine things, she had an eye for beauty and wonderful taste...
OH MY WORD!!!I have never seen such a fabulous collection!!! I have always collected the bright printed floral hankies, but now I will start adding the all white lace ones too...your dolls are beautiful, and what a lovely lasting tribute to your grandmother! Thank you for sharing...xo suzanne
Posted by: Suzanne Duda | April 13, 2008 at 06:32 AM
Holy moly!
you have so many beautiful hankies.
love the hankie dolls.
oxooxx,
jessi
Posted by: jessi nagy | April 13, 2008 at 06:36 AM
Great collection. I get mine from yard sales and thrift shops too. Very calming to iron a basket of hankies to perfection. Thanx for sharing!
Posted by: Katherine | April 13, 2008 at 07:43 AM
What an amazing collection of hankies. I'm impressed! My vintage hanky apron show & tell is up. Do stop by. I'll even fix you a plate of my Just Peachy Cobbler. :D
For your daily dose of vintage goodness a bit of silliness, stop by Confessions of an Apron Queen, the home of Vintage Thingies Thursdays.
Posted by: The Apron Queen | April 13, 2008 at 08:06 AM
Now THAT is one serious collection! And every one so beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing it.
Posted by: Laura | April 13, 2008 at 08:19 AM
I am now wiping the drool from my chin... :o) ooh... you have the most wonderful collection of hankies! So beautiful I am still in aah. Your dolls are so sweet. Thanks so much for sharing.
-Karoline
Posted by: Karoline | April 13, 2008 at 08:35 AM
Doll clothes! I love that!! Blessings... Polly
Posted by: Polly | April 13, 2008 at 08:48 AM
I can't believe what I just saw! Such a spectacular collection. But I have to admit, I'm with Mary....the white on white is my favorite.
D.
Posted by: Donna O. | April 13, 2008 at 09:11 AM
Love the little angels made with hankies!
Posted by: jean | April 13, 2008 at 09:19 AM
Oh WOW!!! That was wonderful!
Alisa
Posted by: Alisa | April 13, 2008 at 09:35 AM
Wow Denise...What a fantastic collection and what you use them for is wonderful. I love the hankie dolls, the clothes and just everything.
thank you for sharing
Karen
Posted by: Karen Young | April 13, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Beautiful collection!! You have a ton of them!
I think I like the white ones the very best too!
Thanks so much for playing along!
~Cerri
Posted by: Littlepinkstudio | April 13, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Wow! You have a LOT of beautiful hankies!!! The dolls you make are darling!
Posted by: Lisa B. | April 13, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Wow!! That's an incredible collection! Thanks for sharing...Katie
Posted by: hazelsvintagepretties | April 13, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Wow!! That's an incredible collection! Thanks for sharing...Katie
Posted by: hazelsvintagepretties | April 13, 2008 at 11:42 AM
What a amazing collection, I love the pink ones. I never new there were so much different hankies.
Is it alright if I put your link on my blog.
Marja
Posted by: Marja | April 13, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Denise~
Your collection is awesome! I would love to just sit and look thru each one!
I spyed your sweet little hanky folders as well...my favorites!!
Have fun and thanks for sharing today!
xo
Analise
Posted by: Analise | April 13, 2008 at 02:07 PM
Wow! What a stash! And all the cute dolls, so cute!
Posted by: Clever Karen | April 13, 2008 at 02:07 PM
Wow, beautiful collection! You've definitely inspired me to hunt down more lovely hankies.
Posted by: Alli | April 13, 2008 at 03:37 PM
Hello! I love your huge collection and especially the story of your dear grandmother. Take care. Di
Posted by: Di | April 13, 2008 at 05:51 PM
What a wonderful stash! How do you choose which one to use?? That hankie with the little airplane is such fun. Your first photo with the chair by the window and the red and white wallpaper was just gorgeous.
Posted by: Carla | April 13, 2008 at 07:55 PM
what an avid hankie collector you are, Beautiful collection. I'm especially Loving your whites, they are so crisp and fresh!
Posted by: Adla | April 13, 2008 at 11:29 PM
I prefer the white on white hankies too but have all kinds - not nearly as many as you though! I plan to make a few quilts with mine - one of butterflies and one of ladies whose skirts will be from the hankies.
:-) Gina
Posted by: Gina | April 14, 2008 at 06:40 AM
Denise, Oh my goodness, you sre the hankie Queen!!!! You have The Best collection on the planet!!!! What fun!!! Lori
Posted by: Lori | April 14, 2008 at 08:21 AM
I'm amazed!! I didn't join in this show and tell because I only have about 5 hankies....you have enough in your collection for the whole of blogland!!
Love those sweet little angels that you make.
Niki
Posted by: niki | April 14, 2008 at 11:41 AM