The Dreamstress

It’s been ages since I’ve done a fabulous things post.  So it’s definitely time to show off what I’ve gotten!

First off, a riding crop (because every historical costumer who aspires to riding habits needs a riding crop), two gorgeous pieces of china to add to my mix and match tea trios, and a cushion cover in the most fabulous print.

The cushion cover needs a better cushion, but I think it is going to become the inspiration for my winter bedroom scheme.  It goes beautifully with all the peridot green curtains, but adds new zest.  Now I just need some chocolate brown (I’m cursing the impulse that led me to de-stash my chocolate brown cotton velvet a few months ago!), and some turquoise fabric for my other bed cushions.

Want to see a close up of the china?

I also got another trio, but I think I’ll sell this one on.  I love the sophisticated colours, and how modern and non-cutesy it is, but somehow it’s too cool (Victorian cool, e.g. aloof, not modern cool) and perfect.

The yellow and grey trio is sitting on the most amazing pure white hand-done openwork tablecloth.

It’s all worked in a four-quartered symmetrical pattern, and it reminds me of Hawaiian quilts, and it’s white on white, so naturally, I love it.

The handwork is just staggering.  You’ll never believe what I paid for it though.

$3.  Yes. $3.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry that so much beauty and dedication and talent goes for so little in a secondhand shop.

On the further textile goodness front, I found this uber-sweet little embroidered table mat:

And these exquisitely delicate lace motifs, each about 3 inches across, and perfect for including in a 1910s frock.  And I have just the right lilac silk to pair them with!

And this beautiful linen hand towel, worked with a laurel motif and bows.  The handwork is so beautiful and precise that I almost passed it up because I thought it was machine done, but no, that is hand-appliqued silk for the bow, and hand-done  satin stitch for the laurel. A-maze-ing.

All three textile items above (or is it four because there are two lace motifs?) were photographed on the most sumptuous jewel toned cotton velvet.  Three metres for $8 at an op-shop, and just perfect for an 18th century jacket.  The photographs do nothing to capture how rich and delicious the fabric is.

The final textile fabulosity:  two vintage lace curtains, made of the most beautiful, fine, old fashioned lace.

You simply can’t find lace of this quality anymore, even if you pay hundreds of dollars a metre.  Suffice to say I didn’t pay nearly that!

I particularly love this lace because of the spider web motifs.  My wedding veil was metal lace from the 1910s with a spider web motif, so I have a soft spot for the pattern.

My final find was a vintage fob watch with a floral basket chain.  I don’t think the chain and pocket watch go together, but I love both pieces, and will make good use of them.

I didn’t realise how fabulous the watch was until I got it home.  I thought it just looked cool on the outside:

And then I realised it opened:

And then I realised that it came out of it’s case:

And then I had a minute of utter vintage steampunk beauty induced happiness looking at the back of the watch:

So now I’m just going to pet and hold and love it until I can let go enough to give it to Nini of Things Unseen and have her make me an amazing piece of bespoke jewellery.