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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

I Was Antiqueing Again ..

Hello my dear friends,

I can't believe it again! .. I hit that publish button this morning by accident again before this post was completed ... (as she writes this rolling her eyes and pulling on her hair) ... but here it is now fully done with photos and all.


I try very hard not to head out too often these days and shop for treasures since I have boxes and shelves filled with many of them that have been used yet but yesterday I did with my two lovely daughters.

I wasn't looking for something in particular or needed anything special, I was just going to look and that is normally when I find something beautiful and that is what happened yesterday.

I was lucky to find some very nice treasures in the form of ...
 

... a piece of an old lace curtain, which looks so neat and I am so glad I found it.


Well, I am so glad I found all the items I bought yesterday of course and this one is another one of them ...
 

... a bag full of bits and pieces of old lace ... love it! A girl can not have enough old tatty lace in my book.

And my final find was something I just had to take home even though it doesn't work anymore but that doesn't bother me at all. I love it for what it is and that's why it is now mine ...


... this little sweet toy tin violin.

 
 I think it used to be a kind of wind up toy or music box a long time ago.


 Here you can see where the paint is worn down to the metal were the little crank used to be turned.

 
What I am going to do with it I am sure just yet ~ I will just have to wait and see.


I would like to share one more thing with you today.

When I opened the plastic bag with the old lace and very intense smell of must was something I was happy to find. I am always very hesitant when it come to vintage delicate items but this time a wash was the only thing that could be done and I thought I would share my little "how to" on this with you.

Always use lukewarm water only. I add a little wash detergent for delicate items and then submerge my lace in it. Carefully move your vintage pieces around and sort of gently kneed them in your hands, again not to rough. I let mine sit in the water for about 10 minutes, then rinse the pieces out under lukewarm water again and press the water out of them using my hands.

The best way to dry your lace is to lay them out on a t-towel, flattening them as you go and pulling them into shape at the same time. Now roll the t-towel up and let it sit for a while. The towel will soak up a lot of the water and almost 'iron' your lace without you having to use a hot piece of metal on a antique piece. After a while unroll your t-towel and check if you lace is dry. If it is still a little damp,  just let it lay flat on a different t-towel and leave it there until it is completely dry which shouldn't take too long.


And then your lace should hopefully look a little like this ...

 
 ... clean, neat and very nicely smelling!

I love to share some of my little 'how-to-does' with all of you lovely bloggers from time to time. Why? ... Because as simple as some of us might find it how to do things or to know them, others especially beginners might not and I love to help and teach just like I love to learn.

I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind.

Have a peaceful and creative day. 

8 comments:

  1. Hello Dear Karen
    Oh you really did bring some gorgeous lace treasures. That's always exciting but that dear little violin
    is quite special. I love the aged patina and how the paint has worn off. It is also a treasure just to display.
    Sending love and hugs,
    Suzy
    PS Thank you for your lace washing tips too! I do similarly!

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  2. I wondered what became of your post this morning! I saw it and when I went to read it, poof, it was gone. I was beginning to wonder if my problems with leaving comments was now carrying over to the blogs themselves. Very glad to know that isn't the case!!

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  3. I too didn't know what happened! Anyways, glad it wasn't a major blogger problem! When my husband got his great grandmothers sewing machine, I looked in the drawers and found a lot of vintage lace, some tatted by her. I did as you said and the same thing. It turned out beautiful and is now stored in my sewing room . A true treasure indeed.

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  4. Browsing antique stores is so much fun. Thanks for the tips on laundering.

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  5. The little violin is intriguing, can't wait to see what it will become.
    Have a great day, Pam

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  6. Beautiful lace and the violin is wonderful.

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  7. So beautiful things you fond and the violin would tell interesting stories, if she could.

    Hugs Ines♥


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