Wednesday 21 October 2009

Granny Pilleys Treasure

Are you ready then?
Are you sitting comfortably?
Shall I begin?
Okeydokey then.
One rather beautiful needlepoint picture, destined for my wall.

Just look at all this scrummyness!

Oh the anticipation!


a beautiful crewel embroidery



Next a bag of old, mostly cotton lace.
Some of these still have the paper binding around them with a price written in pencil 2'/6

not sure about Granny Pilleys taste in clothes!
Home made though.

Some hand pieced patchwork. She's used lots of old envelopes for the templates.
From the address, she must have lived near Bath for a while.
The post mark is dated 1976 and there is some Laura Ashley fabric with the date 1975 on the selvedge.

Here's the right side. It's draped over my rocking chair here so you can see how big it is.
Obviously a work in progress.

Two more pieces of patchwork, I think these must have been destined to be a tea cosy from the shape. I'll finish it off.

Another bag with a tangle of threads and tapestry wools.

Two tiny homemade needle cases and a bead threader.

A selection of pretty pink embroidery threads in this lovely box.

Another lovely box full of pins where I found these old packets of needles.


This is the back of the Flora Macdonald packet, its soooo beautiful

This is what it says inside;
Ladies who are well pleased with the quality of these Needles should ask again for the same Packet.
This little packet of needles is teeny tiny.

More beautiful old lace. Truly, truly beautiful.

Yet more threads, Granny Pilley was a little on the untidy side.

and lastly MORE threads...
Gosh I feel a bit grubby now. Old things have a special kind of dirtyness to them don't they?
I'll just go and wash my hands before I show you a sneak preview of my latest project.
.
Hmmm can you smell it yet...
I'll show you more next time.
.
Hope you enjoyed that rummage through Granny Pilleys box.
I did.
I'm so glad this box found it's way to me, to someone who appreciates all the beautiful bits and bobs inside. I'll wash all the bits that need washing and finish all the bits that need finishing and create something new with the patchwork hexes.
I hope Granny Pilley approves... where-ever she is.


22 comments:

Thecraftytrundler said...

What a gorgeous stash of lovely old vintage items!! I loved looking through this with you, the lovely old, the charming vintage packaging, and that patchwork!!!

Sharon xx

Thecraftytrundler said...

Sorry, I meant the lovely old lace!!!

Sharon xx

Twiggy said...

What a really lovely bundle of treasure, enjoy it.
twiggy x

Sal said...

I really enjoyed rummaging through that lot!!
;-)

Lalabibaby @ Dreaming of The Simple Life said...

What a wonderful treasure box .... they don't make things like they used to ... the detail on those needle wrappers!

Diane said...

That is a real treasure chest.

KC'sCourt! said...

My idea of heaven especially the needle wrappers I collect those so I'm really envious.

Lululiz said...

Oh my goodness, I think I would have been shaking and drooling, unpacking those wonderful treasures.

Unknown said...

Lucky gal. What fun you are going to have with all this stuff. The quilts are wonderful to have and can't wait to see what you are going to do with them

Karen Peacock said...

What an ace box of goodies, the picture is lovely and the box of pink threads and the crewel piece...........its all yummy, early Christmas, glad you enjoyed it, Karen x

The Weaver of Grass said...

Lovely rummage through Fiona - how did you come by the box? There must be lots of treasures likes this that are just thrown away when houses are cleared, so sad.

French Knots said...

How wonderful that all her treasures have passed to someone who appreciates them. Amazing goodies!

Julia said...

Me thinks Granny Pilley meant for you to discover this box full of treasures. I can't wait to see what you make with all of the odds and ends. Have fun.

Aussie Maria said...

What a wonderful box of treasure. Glad it went to the right home to appreciate it. Lucky girl!!!

Anonymous said...

How wonderful! A real treasure trove :)

Shabby Chick said...

What a brilliant box of stuff! I bet Granny Pilley would be delighted to know that it's gone to someone who appreciates it so much :)

Mel xxx

cathleen said...

Wow, just wow!!!

silverpebble said...

That's some of the best treasure I've seen in such a long time. Goodness I bet your heart was beating when you first opened it. Gorgeous - especially the colours of those jumbly threads.

Anonymous said...

Wow. how lucky you was to come across such a box full of treasures...
If only we could go back and see to whom they belonged to and get the history of Granny.
Lucky girl, that's the sort of treasure's i could only dream of finding..
Tracey

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.........

Traceyxox

Marigold Jam said...

Lucky, lucky you - that looks like my kind of treasure. I have a couple of those old needle packets in my sewing box and one or two of the other bits but so much treasure - wow!

JAne

BT said...

Oh what a wonderful charity shop find that was. I adore those kinds of things but in Ireland they are almost impossible to come by. That patchwork is something else, isn't it? Beautiful, I hope you can find a way to finish the large one.

Inthesky said...

What a treasure indeed. It was lovely to see the old needle packets from Redditch. They are very collectible round these parts. Redditch houses the 'Needle Museum' which is a fascinating trip for stitchers and crafters if you are ever in the Midlands.