hidden treasure

Last week I had lunch at the house of a woman I met through Tom's work. After we had eaten, she plonked a big plastic shopping bag on the table and said: 'would you be interested in this? If not, please just throw it away.'

Her mother had died a few years ago, aged ninety-something, and she was just starting to sort through some boxes of her belongings. Although her mother was an amazingly skilled and prolific crafter, my friend E had never been interested in needles and thread in the slightest. She said that she didn't know anyone who liked crafts except me, and would I be able to make use of anything in the bag?

Inside I found half-finished cardigans, double-point and circular needles, and two boxes of embroidery threads of all kinds- silk, cotton, wool, some still unused. There were little plastic bags with embroidery patterns and the threads needed to complete the designs, like the one above. And also, booklets filled with embroidery designs and transfers- some hand-drawn.

I love the old Norwegian wrappings on the threads and boxes. Amongst the threads are little crocheted pieces, half-completed. Some of the threads are attached to rusty needles. There were also many newspaper cuttings- recipes (with hand-written notes and ingredients circled), kniting patterns, advertisements and picture of models in stylish dresses, most from the war-time era. But some of the magazines and letters date from before then. It feels like I've had some special insight into this country's domestic history through looking at the cuttings.

Looking through the boxes of threads and the handwritten notes was the most amazing thing. It felt so personal and, in a way, invasive. My own embroidery thread box is a tangly jumble, but that's the way i like it, and i know exactly what i have in there and where each colour is. And I expect it was the same for this woman.

(check out that dress and that sofa!)

I think the most incredible thing I found in the bag was this half-finshed project. I think she was making a funeral veil (though I'm not completely sure- do you have any ideas?) Tiny cream seed-beads are sewn around the edge of some black netting fabric, and the box also contains grey silk thread and a few rusty needles.

Needless to say, I'm feeling quite honoured to have this stash, yet also slightly overwhelmed by it. This is, I think, the third time I've been given antique/vintage sewing equipment, (the rest is in NZ) so I'm wondering if perhaps it's my responsibility to keep these things safe until I'm settled somewhere long enough to make a small exhibition or donate them to a museum. I think I'll be able to use the embroidery threads though. Once I've untangled them.

One thing I know is that I want to pass on some of the good craft karma that I've been receiving, and who better to do that to than craft bloggers? I've made up a wee package of some of the old patterns, transfers and threads and I'll send it to someone who would like it (anywhere in the world). Just leave a comment and I'll draw a name on Friday.

Edited to add:

okay, i've just decided that i will send the package to Steph of lovestitches because not only is she a mad embroiderer, she's just moved house and her cats ran away too. Thanks to Anna Maria for the suggestion!

p.s. i've just decided that I'll update my etsy shop on Sunday, all going well. I forgot that we were moving house this weekend (we found a little place near A's kindergarten) so in my typical fashion i overcommitted myself...)

Comments

[The Shopping Sherpa]

Can I put in a comment on behalf of Lovestitches (http://lovestitches.wordpress.com/)?

She's just moved house, both her cats are missing and I think she'd like a package to cheer her up and this sounds like just the sort of thing she'd love...

[Claudia]

Freaky deeks - you must have just hit post! What an amazing gift for you, and how slightly odd that your reputation preceeds you, even in Norway! I will have to decline the draw - I'll send you an email to tell you why!

[Rachael]

What a gorgeous gift from your friend. As a cild I was given some old lace and fabric from my Great Aunt, whom was really like a Grandmother. I used most of it on childhood sewing projects but wish I would have kept it, as is, still in the little silver purse that she gave it to me in. Some things are for using now and some things should be left just as they are and perhaps never finished...

[alice]

How wonderful to be given such things. My mum recently gave me some knitting needles which had belonged to her grandmother, and it truly does feel different to use things with a history consisting of more than 'Yeah, i just bought these at the fabric shop'. :)

(I'm also passing on the draw: i'm supposed to be destashing, not acquiring new stuff! even new-old stuff.)

[Ruth]

Wow, what an amazing treasure to be gifted with. I'm going to decline the draw also, I was gifted with two vintage fabric stashes this month.

[Sarah Latham]

OMG! What a delight! That lot is beautiful. I wish Mum had kept the things from her mother. Thats lil peices of someones history there. Enjoy it, and hold some safe!

[lizzie]

Serendipity !!!! What a wonderful find and how thoughtful of you new friend to give the bag to you - so much better than it just ending up in a charity shop.
Lizzie

[Janet McKinney]

Wow - treasures in life. How precious. I understand about your need to preserve and share these precious goodies
Janet McKinney

[robiewankenobie]

who wouldn't want in on that? crazy awesome, that is. count me in.

[liz]

what a fantastic find - a hidden treasure indeed!
good luck on the move (again) and i can't wait to see the shop update!

[Quatrefoil]

How amazing. I too have been given and otherwise acquired stashes like this. I think it is a recognition that we are the custodians, and that is a responsibility as well as a privilege. I have on occasion finished projects in this progress that I've been given - it feels like a collaboration with an anonymous woman (if it was a woman). In that respect your lovely things made from embroidered linens are collaborations as well. I think it's a marvelous way of keeping the past alive and honouring someone else's work.

[Bluebirdbaby]

Lovely things! I would love to be entered in your drawing!!

[kirsten]

lovely!
what generous people you are meeting in norway!

[Kelly]

What a lovely package of goodies she gave you! Good luck with the move.

[sequinK]

Gorgeous. PLease count me in!

[A.L. Travis]

Hey! I recently made a shoulder bag using your tutorial (only I added a layer of felt to give it a little structure) and I love it! Could you do a tutorial on those little zip pouches you make? I should know how to do that, but zippers make me nervous...

[Barbara]

On a related note, we just got one of those forms from the insurance agency to update our household contents list ... and I told Niek we have to put my cross stitch stuff on there now. ;)

I'm glad you found such a worthy recipient for the bag of goodies you put together. That should put a smile on her face in spite of runaway kitties and moving day woes!

[susan]

I am so glad you are getting settled in. I always like to come by and check out what new things you've discovered.

[Brenda]

Melissa, that is an awesome collection. I know that I have had a couple of people give me some of their things and it can be a daunting task to know what to do with everything. My son has a friend whose mom is an interior decorator. She has given me actual bolts of unused fabric left over from some of her projects. I actually made a dress and a tablecloth from the same fabric. I just have to make sure that I don't have them together at the same time, ha, ha. At first I just organized it all and as time went on I actually decided what I would honestly use and what I wouldn't. She just needed more room, and also said to throw out what I didn't want. I ended up donating some to good will. For anyone out there, sometimes this can be an amazing source for free fabric. It is all expensive,yet they use newer ones in most projects and like anything, the older ones become out of date.
I think your idea of donating some to a museum is a good idea, especially if the sheer amount of it overwhelms you. I am enjoying reading about your adventures.

[Jessicah]

What amazing treasures. I like having supplies with history. Take care.

[kielz]

How cute are those rabbits:P That dress - made in different fabric is very similar to those in the stores today!

[caireen]

what an amazing gift, and it is so much better that it was 'inherited' by someone who can appreciate it... I love the sofa too, and of course all the old graphics from the packaging. Cx

[lissilulu]

((((((Melissa))))))
big hugs to on all the moving...can't wait to see pictures of your new house closer to school.
lori

[sew-funky]

I always love it when you get these kind of gifts - there are always little gems hidden away! :)

[lera]

Very nice. Aren't you so pleased she didn't throw them away?