"Take it - it's yours!"
We had spent part of the day clearing out her Grandmother's sewing room. Aunt B (my husband's Aunt) was a talented quilter. It felt wonderful to share her sewing notions, fabric, quilts and sewing machine with others that would be inspired to carry on her passion for the craft.
I had been collecting fabric to grow my stash once again. I was also on the lookout for hankies. The special quilt that I had designed, and was close to having the right amount of hankies to begin the project, was among the treasures lost to the 2020 wildfire. My plan was to stop by a couple of antique shops on our way home to search for some embroidered or tatted pieces to add to my slowly growing collection.
We moved into the bedroom where I was tasked with emptying the dressers and wardrobes. It was a daunting proposition since the house had been occupied by three generations since 1956. Before I began, I was shown a cabinet full of "handkerchief boxes that Grandma insisted she purchase whenever we were on vacation." All of the years I had been in the family, I had never seen any of these wooden boxes. I was handed the checkerboard and floral box (shown above) and was instructed to "use these handkerchiefs in a quilt." And, if any other boxes had hankies, I was to take them home as well.
These Pyrography Boxes were popular during the Victorian era with many created by workers in the factory of the Flemish Art Company (1880-1920), located in Brooklyn, New York. Pyrography, a wood burning technique included writing with a fired metal tip, was the method used to decorate the wooden boxes. A kit for the Victorian hobbyist (including children) was marketed and sold, instructing the use of benzine, added with a non-explosive absorbent, with the aid of a rubber bellows bulb to trace/burn the stamped pattern on the wooden box. "If difficulty should be experienced with the use of benzine, WOOD ALCOHOL may be used instead of benzine with certain success."
The boxes in Aunt B's collection had etching on all sides and on the tops. Several had the same design inside the box lid, some with color added. All had hinges intact and ornate locks.
What a treat to be able to add a bit of color to the hankie quilt that I plan to create. Several of the hankies are musty and will be aired out. Most, however, are in excellent condition and will be a beautiful addition to a keepsake quilt, honoring my husband's Aunt B.
"Take my handkerchief, Scarlett. Never at any crisis of your life, have I known you to have a handkerchief." ~Margaret Mitchell; Gone With The Wind
What have you added to a collection to create an artistic work of art?
Thank you for stopping by.
XOXOX
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