Hanky Panky – Show off your vintage pretties!

Pretty to look at and so easy to do!

Did you ever think you’d spend money on a vintage handkerchief?

Something that people use to blow their nose. Really?

Neither did I.

Until one day in an antique store a sweet little handkerchief caught my eye. The colors were so pretty and the design was worthy of being framed.

What in the world? I just bought a handkerchief.

No, I reminded myself, you just bought a piece of history (that sure sounds better than saying I bought a snot rag).

Now what to do with all those little pieces of history?

I bought them because they made me smile. Either the color combo or the design spoke to me so I wanted to be able to see them.

But my sewing skills are limited as I’m still learning the basics and time is always an issue for any project.

So….I tied them to a piece of burlap twine and hung them over my existing window treatments. Quick and easy, just my speed. The great thing is that I can add more at anytime.

I’ve even untied a few to use for different occasions. The beauty of them being tied on versus sewn together is that I can remove the ones I want to use and then simply retie them to the twine.

Other ideas include making a pillow, framing each one for an instant wall grouping, sewing them together as a panel curtain and if you find yourself without a Kleenex….you can use it as a handkerchief. No. Really. You can.

I also love the Christmas ones and use that collection for some of my holiday decorating.

I’d love to see some of your ideas in action! What ways have you showcased these vintage pretties?

And just for fun….did you know?

*Handkerchiefs produced in the 1940’s, during WW II, featured beautiful floral designs, allowing women an escape from the anxieties created by the war. During this same time, hard-working waitresses dressed in standard white uniforms expressed their personalities through hankies.

*King Richard II of England, who reigned from 1377 to 1399, is credited with making the hanky’s official shape square based on surviving documents that describe his preference for square pieces of cloth to wipe his nose.

*During the second century A.D., performers used handkerchiefs as props for plays in ancient Roman theaters. They only used white.

*A 1912 Titanic memorial hanky sold for $399 on ebay and an early 19th Century printed cotton hanky fetched $1800!

Till the next time,

Julie