As I roam the booths of an antique mall or enter a cluttered abode filled with antique treasures, I become enamored by the fact that I am collecting a linen connection to the past. Rummaging through the musty, time-tattered, food-stained textiles hearkens memories of leisurely dinner parties, lazy Sundays spent drinking coffee and reading the newspaper, and the luxuries of home.
Each stain denotes a life lived. A haphazard jelly stain of a child making a sandwich for her ill mother or a greasy fingerprint of a toddler enjoying his first slice of pizza. Another reminiscence envisions a mother lovingly dropping beet juice on the cloth as she prepares a scrumptious Thanksgiving meal for her family. Each memory tugs at the heartstrings and warms a soul to its core.
The feel of the thick, coarse fabric manufactured by American labor, the nubs, bumps, and imperfections which brilliantly portray a time when quality was handmade not machine made, and the energy and vibrancy of the designs cheered Americans through the perilous periods of history including the perky florals of WWII and the bold pop art designs of the turbulent 60's.
Every time I lay a tablecloth on my tables, I am filled with visions of the previous homemaker using this cloth for her family dinner.
I invite you to relish, discover and explore my passion for these hand-printed, stamped and stenciled beauties of times past through my postings and musings.
