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Monday, March 1, 2021

Embellish Ordinary Kitchen Linens with Lace ~ Romantic Homemaking Series


"Out of the way! We are in the throes of an exceptional emergency!
This is no occassion for sport- there is lace at stake!" (Ms. Pole)" 
~ Elizabeth Gaskell (Cranford)

There is something satisfying in completing an ordinary task in an extraordinary way. It becomes a rich and satisfying ritual. Take advantage of the last slow days of winter and cultivate beauty in your home. Sew sow seeds of loveliness in your homemaking routine. Forage for lace in your little nooks of homemaking treasures and embellish your flour sack towels, basic dish towels and even your cleaning rags! This is extravagant living the old fashioned way. Our ancestors used to embellish all their handmade linens with embroidery, crochet and trims. This is because the home was the heartbeat of their world, the center of their universe. And it is the center of mine... Won't you join me?


I’ve added some soft pink lace to plain white flour sack towels which will make wiping dishes delightful.
 

I’ve "fancified" plain terry towels which I will put aside for washing windows and glass for a gentle cleaning experience. 


You can sew basic lace onto plain dinner napkins to make them more attractive (not pictured). 


I've also cut up linens in our home that were not being used for various reasons and have repurposed them into dish towels and other useful items and have added lace (I'll post more on that topic soon!). The towel shared above was actually once a tablecloth. I’ve cut the poor dear into the appropriate sizes and added some of grandmother’s lace I had stashed away. I couldn’t be happier with the results. And yes, I will use them! 

“Creativity is taking a simple thing and bringing it to life.” 


I haven’t purchased anything for these projects as I seem to have collected enough lace here and there which makes it all the more lovelier. However, even an inexpensive roll of lace will transform the boring into beautiful! 


Adding beauty to your daily tasks is never a waste of time but an enhancement to the homemaker’s life and is a way to express your love of home. This is what I call "romantic homemaking".


“Let us believe that God is in all our simple deeds
and learn to find Him there.” 
~ A.W. Tozer


I have also included a PRINTABLE in this segment for your Inspired Home "Junk" Journal. It includes the beautiful verse from Mr. Tozer (shared above) and a few images that coordinate with this little homemaking project. (I hesitated to include these pictures as my printer ink is not working and the actual printable is more lovelier in color but I wanted to give you an idea of how I am fashioning it. And yes, I included a bit of leftover lace!)


There is also a list to give you ideas of what to embellish. Simply cut and paste into your journal as you would a scrapbook entry. One day when you are looking for inspiration, this list will guide you (free printable here). (Pardon the gloppy glue!)


I do hope you give this little project a try! Sewing on a bit of lace to already-made linens is fairly simple. Just a straight line! But within minutes, the basic becomes beautiful! My daughter loved the pink and white flour sack towels so I have placed them in her hope chest. Perhaps this can be something for your daughters (or grand-daughters) as well!  Happy homemaking!


Romantic Homemaking Series:


22 comments:

  1. While I doubt that I do this particular project (not a lace kind of gal), I ADORED the quote from Cranford. I watched the DVD of Cranford many years ago, and I recall the lace 'emergency'. Between that scene and the 'cow incident', Cranford is one of my favorite viewing experiences of all time. Lovely work on your linens.

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    1. No worries 😉 not every project is for everyone.. but this one definitely suits me ♥️ And I agree with you, Cranford is a delightful movie and one of my favorites! Have a lovely week!

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  2. Such a beautiful idea..we have some extra lace curtains so I'm ready to get started!

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    1. So glad you like it! It's such a quick and easy project but makes kitchen work so sweet! ♥️ It is nice hearing from you Vickie. Have a lovely week!

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  3. I used to do this years ago with my bath towels...Made them look so much prettier and fancy

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    1. That would be lovely too! ♥️ Thank you so much for sharing Tammy! I hope you have a lovely week!

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  4. Debby in Kansas USAMarch 1, 2021 at 10:37 AM

    Beautiful! I have an incredibly precious pile of dishtowels made for me by my aunt. She embroidered no less than 20 for a wedding gift. Then, in cleaning out an old barn, a relative of hers inquired as to whether she'd like the stash of old flour sacks they found! There were so many of those that she made 2 twin quilts for grandsons and the rest into towels for the ladies in the family! I don't think Christmas of 1993 cost her a penny as we were all blessed by that bounty! I got at least 2 dozen and am still using up that stash.
    Onto the lace topic, I love the idea and especially for napkins and for the unpaper towels. I call them wiper-uppers. I love that wide lace.

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    1. How precious! Thank you for sharing about your industrious aunt! And I absolutely love the name "wiper-uppers". It is perfect! Have a lovely week Debby ♥️♥️♥️

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  5. I love the idea of recycling old linens into new pieces. It's such a satisfying feeling to give new life to things you already own. I never thought to embellish with lace, though. Embroidery has long been my decorative touch of choice, with a little applique here and there. ;)

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    1. So true! Embroidery is a slow dedicated process (and one we love too!!!) but the lace is instant gratification... Both are lovely and will suit different needs and time restraints ♥️ Thank you so much for sharing ♥️♥️♥️

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  6. Beautiful! I’d love to do this as soon as I have time. I’m in a season of babysitting my 2 granddaughters so it’s a job for me just to keep up with them lol

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    1. Oh Absolutely! Raising children always come first! ♥️♥️♥️

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  7. I love this project, Jes, and have just pulled out a thrifted tablecloth to cut into table napkins! I shall be hunting through my ribbon and lace drawer see what I can find to embellish them.

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    1. Sounds like so much fun! I hope you find some goodies! I just did a batch of dinner napkins myself and will be sharing them soon ♥️♥️♥️

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  8. I really like the lace embellishments on varied linens. My mother would add crocheted edges to the linens in my childhood home. I have pillowcases still that my grandmother edged with tatting. She would have a ball of thread for frequent use in making tatting for pillowcases, sheets, towels, so much. A favorite memory is spending the night at her very old home, sleeping in her feather bed, and sitting with her in the daytime as she would make tatting. thanks for allowing me to capture that memory. (I'm 73, my grandmother died at 104 in the 1990's.

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    1. Thank you for sharing your precious memories with us ♥️ How special!

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  9. I am SO TICKLED that you started off with the quote from Miss Pole! And the embellishments are beautiful, too.

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    1. I've been wanting to use that quote for years! Finally happy to be able to! So glad you enjoyed it as well ♥️

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  10. Oh, dear JES... How inspiring! I love your idea to embellish tea towels with lovely lace! Soon I will have a little home of my own (I am getting married in April!), and I eagerly anticipate being able to create beautiful things to make our home delightful...
    I love the quote by Tozer...saving it!
    Blessings and love...always a delight visiting with you!

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    1. Dear Kelly-Anne, I am so excited for you! Congratulations! It was so nice to hear from you and I know you will make a lovely homemaker ♥️

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  11. Beautiful Jes, and I love your junk journal project!

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    1. Thank you Jenny! It is so much fun! ♥️♥️♥️

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