Whether the fabric is found, with beautiful geometrics and color on a pillow….

…in a quilt, table runner, carpet, or upholstery fabric, I love the old world attention to detail, quality and craft.

 
This is a Kantha cloth.  I understand that “Kantha”, is an eastern Indian word that means “patch”.  Some quilts are vintage like this one…some new.  They are all hand stitched, by groups of women, just like American women did years ago, and probably still do.

Kantha cloths are easy to care for and can be hand or machine washed. Not all Kanthas are the same though.  I look for ones that are nicely finished on the edges.  They are never perfect, which is part of the charm, but I think it’s worth it to pay a bit more, for quality.

  
Hand made rugs are another treasured textile, for me.  So many of the rugs tell a story.  There are rugs made for kneeling at prayer, but the color, detail and hours of skill and patience amaze me.  

   
 Mr. Wonderful’s Uncle John, passed on some wonderful old rugs, that we have in our “city” home.  There’s one rug, that we’ve had in storage, while looking for a large enough room to put it in.  The Tahoe Fixer will fit that bill, for this 12 x 17′ rug.  They truly are pieces of the past, that can be handed down, through the generations.

I could go on and on, but my last favorite textile to tell you about, are European grain sacks.  You already know how I love them, if you’ve ever been in the shop!

   
 
They have been used by farmers, to hold their grain, after having it ground at the mill. The colors on the hemp bags are to help farmers identify their bags. Many bags have their monograms embroidered on the bags.  Most of the bags I see have been hand sewn on the edges and are meant to last!

   
 
I really love the bags that have been beautifully repaired!  

   
 
This upstairs balcony, in our home, serves as a final drying station after I’ve spotted, washed and ironed the bags.  Yes, many bags have a spot or two, while some are perfect.  Whether it’s vintage linens or grain sacks, the Europeans of the past, cared for their things so well.  It saddens me sometimes, that we are in such a fast-paced disposable era.

My stock is down to 6 or 7 grain sacks right now and I need to get my hands on another big stack! By the way, these sacks can also be made into beautiful 9-10′ table runners or upholstery fabric, by opening up the side seams.

  
Last, but not least, we have a fabric stenciling class, next Thursday evening, at 6:30 p.m.  We’ll be making these fun memo boards.  Sign up on-line. ($65.00 per person)

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!