The Linen Drawer...

Happy Monday my lovelies! Have you had a good weekend? I do hope so! In our household it's been both productive and restful. I spent most of Saturday chained to the ironing board...NOT my favourite pastime! But, with the kidlets returning to school this week, and life settling back into it's normal rhythm, I needed to make sure that we all had clean pants to face the world in! As for Sunday, well, that was more like it. A wonderful morning spent at church, followed by a little meander round an Antique and Collectors Fair. Even the children enjoyed it! I went with the intention of scouring the stalls for all things linen and lace, and I did not come away disappointed or empty handed! With new projects brewing, I wanted to look for some older  pieces to add to my fabric stash. And the best part of it all...I landed some great bargains that were very kind to my purse...My thrifty soul sings!

And here is my loot...
Beautiful hand embroidered lovelies...

 My tip to you is to dig, dig, dig! Sometimes you'll find a pile of old linens literally just well,  in a pile. Rifle through the muddle, and you are bound to find some beauties that speak to your crafty soul! If pieces are beautifully displayed by the stall holder, don't be afraid to pull them out and have a good look. After all, they want to sell their goods, don't they? And keep an open mind! If you spot a little stain, don't be put off! Just because something isn't in perfect condition, doesn't mean it isn't perfect for a little project. There are people who think that vintage linens should be kept as they are...I don't. If they can be cut, used and re-cycled into something new, why not give them a new lease of life?

Buying lace can be a pricey affair. I always look out for pieces which are edged with lace. Many of my sewing projects require only small amounts of lace, so if a tray cloth is covered in tea stains, but the lace is in good condition, I won't pass it by. Chances are you can pick it up for pennies, and you'll end up with some beautiful, intricate lace that will cheer up many a sewing project.

 Vintage handkerchiefs are also a good edition to any recycling fabric stash. The are often still in their original packaging, so unused! I think these are lovely for patchwork projects, bunting and book covers. I also think they're charming when used instead of wrapping paper when giving small gifts.

I am so excited about using all these beauties! And, I purchased them all for just £9! And, I do think that mother earth quietly thanks me for re-cycling and re-using too! 

If you have a few minutes spare with a warm cup of tea, pop over to Pinterest for some beautiful inspiration. I love all the gorgeous images shared by others, and wish my linen drawer looked like THIS!

Have a thrifty, happy Monday!
Tania