Blissful Whites on the line

Time again for Blissful Whites Wednesday over at the gorgeous TIMEWASHED blog! 

Isn't this blissful? Laundry on the line in the garden, blown about by a (not so ) gentle breeze coming up from the valley -

I finally managed to find some lovely old French red striped towels at some brocantes I have been to recently. Boy, these towels are becoming so rare in our area, it is ridiculous. I should hoard these really, squirrel them away and just admire them every now and then. Hang them in the kitchen but don't use them. All these things go through my mind when I get so frustrated at brocantes because I can't find any towels.

And here they are, laundered and dried and looking oh so lovely in a pile -

Some are the softest cotton, like a tiny waffle weave or huckaback, some are pure linen, still with that gorgeous linen colour and the beautiful blobby threads, all are gorgeous.

I'll be linking this post to Becky's BLISSFUL WHITES WEDNESDAY party over at her TIMEWASHED blog.

Toodlepip xxx

Playing with the Mademoiselle

I mentioned in yesterday's post that it was a very windy day. Beautifully sunny  and warm but VERY windy. And of course that was the day I decided to take photos of the stunning antique garments I had found at the brocante a little while ago. I was going to wait until I had time to launder them but I I had other stuff to do, and decided, what the heck, I'll photograph them anyway. So there, lol.

DH had brought my Mademoiselle down from the bedroom so that I could dress her and take photos in the garden. The bedroom wasn't light enough. This is my sweet Mademoiselle -

She usually wears this sexy little antique hand stitched top -

And today, she got to wear this absolutely gorgeous antique 19th Century underskirt as well -

A sweet little monogram, on the front, just under the waistband -

The details are incredible. The whitework embroidery is amazingly fine -

If I was taller and slimmer, I would wear this in a heartbeat as a summer skirt, all summer long. And probably in the winter as well, with a snowy white jumper and boots. Alas, I am somewhat vertically challenged, lol, so after I have had plenty of time to adore, touch, fondle and ooh and aaahh over this piece, I might have to let it go.

I think I will save the other pieces for tomorrow. I'll just show you a teeny little taster bit -

I'll link this post to BLISSFUL WHITES WEDNESDAY over at Becky's TIMEWASHED blog once her post is up. Until then, toodlepip xxx

Aaaah, lace! PART 2

Did you enjoy looking at the laces I showed yesterday? If you thought they were fantastic, just wait until you see what I have for you today. Yesterday's lace was gorgeous, of course it was, especially those amazing oval lace motifs, but today's bits are SPECIAL. But I'll start of nice and gentle with some 'ordinary' lace -

And here is a hint of what is to come, see those bits at the sides? -

Three amazing pieces of 19th Century work. First, this heart achingly beautiful small baby bonnet -

Beautiful whitework embroidery, the finest lace insets, gauzy fabric and the most beautiful lace and silk ribbon ruffles.

I had to use a candle as a stand, lol! Isn't this just divine?

The next one came from the same seller, so perhaps it belonged to the same child when she was a little older, as this bonnet is bigger -

Stunningly beautiful delicate broderie anglaise work and of course more fine lace

I could drool and ooh and aaah over these darling little bonnets all day long.

But there is another piece, rather more grown up.

What?

Only the most stunning big lace collar I have ever owned. I was literally speechless for a few moments when I saw it and too afraid to ask the price. But there was no way I could leave this piece behind -

Jaw droppingly gorgeous, right?

Gotta go and fondle some lace now ;-).

Toodlepip xxx

Oh, I will link this post to Becky's BLISSFUL WHITES WEDNESDAY party as soon as it is up!

Aaah, lace!

As I told you in yesterday's post, I didn't buy much at Sunday's antiques fair. I came home with lace though. Really gorgeous lace. I was lucky to find two antique dealers who had some lace items. These pics are of the treasures I found on the first one -

One of the lace pieces was on this card, I adore the label -

These lace motifs are the most beautiful ones I have ever come across, such incredibly fine work, they take my breath away -

They have been sewn together to form one large trim, but can be easily taken apart so that they can be used singly on special projects.

This is also a really sweet little lace motif -

Finely embroidered lingerie trim -

A piece of lace fabric, not terribly old, but very pretty -

Notice the little splatters of sunshine? Yep, it was a gorgeously sunny day yesterday when I took the photographs.

I love this next piece of lace as well, made with such incredibly fine thread -

Small pieces of Battenburg lace, handmade with such tiny ribbons -

A few pieces of small vintage lace -

And last, but not least, this very wide and quite thick lace with the prettiest rose pattern -

The lace items from the second dealer will have to wait until tomorrow, but I hope that you have enjoyed looking at these bits.

Thank you for stopping by! Toodlepip xxx