Monday, March 07, 2016

"Fine China" embroidered dish towels

Today I'm going to share some photos of embroidered dish towels which I made some time ago. These were a gift for my daughter Joanna. The transfers are from the "Fine China" designs by Aunt Martha.  These are some of the most fun designs I've ever stitched; a close second would be the coffee-themed ones which I made a couple of years ago for my daughter Carrie.

I'll just add in some pictures and captions.  I've shown some of these here and there on the blog before, back when I was working on them, but I believe this is the first time I've put them all into a post together.  Enjoy!
The Saturday towel in progress.  This features, as you can see, salt and pepper shakers.
Sunday and Wednesday towels; a little pitcher and a sugar bowl/creamer set.
Sunday again.  I think I'd like some real china like this!
Monday's towel -- guess it's the sugar bowl again.  I made this dishcloth to coordinate with these towels.
Saturday, Monday, Thursday -- and Friday is a teapot!
Tuesday's design features silverware
The creative way my daughter displayed her towels at the time.
I'm sharing this week with Sandi's No Place Like Home and Bernideen’s Tea Time, Cottage and Garden Blog Party, and also with Vintage CharmShare Your Cup Thursday,
and Stephanie's Roses of Inspiration.

41 comments:

  1. Dear Mrs. T.:
    Now aren't those great fun! I also love the way you have several different linens hanging on the coat hanger and wouldn't that even be really cute to hang in the laundry or kitchen! Great ideas. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Thanks, Bernideen! They were great fun to stitch. I've just linked them up at your party, in fact.

    Yes, my daughter worked out that display and used it in her apartment kitchen back when I first made the towels for her. She is very clever and does have a knack for decorating. Now, in a house, but with six young children, there's more space but perhaps less decorating!

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  3. Your dish towels are a work of beauty, my friend! I truly admire your embroidery skills :) I have embroidered only a few times, but I must confess that I don't have the "patience" for it {{smiles}}

    I just love the way your daughter displayed the linens - stunning!

    Have a wonderful week! Hugs!

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  4. Thank you, Stephanie!! They were such an enjoyable project to work on. I truly love counted cross stitch (and, Lord willing, will continue to do it), but it seems that with my less keen eyesight has come a God-given renewed love for embroidery. I eventually would like to make myself a set of these towels.

    Yes, I loved her linen display also -- so creative. You have a wonderful week too!

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  5. Those tea towels are gorgeous and I love how Joanna displayed them.( BTW, I love the name Joanna!!). After doing my pillowcases it has made me want to do more embroidery.

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    1. Thanks, Arlene! I love the name Joanna too and am so happy that not only is it a beautiful name, it's a Bible name!

      Yes, embroidery can be somewhat addicting, just like cross stitch. I need to make time to do more of it!

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  6. Those are wonderful and I really like the way your daughter displayed them, too.

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    1. Thank you, Vee! These were such fun designs to stitch.

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  7. Hello Mrs. T.,
    Your linens are just darling! What sweet little works of art they are. I love how they are displayed on the hanger. You have gifted fingers, my friend! Thanks so much for sharing with us and have a lovely day.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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    1. Oh, Sandi, thanks for your sweet words. It's just God-given creativity, I think. (You have it too, but you express it more in decorating, blogging, baking, and your exquisite photography.) It's interesting to me that although as a child I always loved making things and drawing things, I never did any real needlework to speak of until I was in my twenties. Once I got started, I never looked back!

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  8. Beautiful embroidery work!!! Love those old-fashioned patterns.

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    1. Thank you, KareBear! Yes, I am happy that the Aunt Martha people still produce these vintage-looking transfers along with more modern ones.

      Thanks for visiting and please stop by and visit my kitchen table anytime!

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  9. Love it! I may have to borrow your daughter's hanger display idea.

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    1. Thanks, Margie! I'm sure my daughter would be honored if you borrowed her hanger display idea!

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  10. Your embroidered towels are so pretty! I admire your talent. :)

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    1. Oh thank you, Pam! You are very sweet to say so. I just love doing needlework but I have so little time for it. I have to do projects in bits and pieces of time here and there, but I keep on keeping on.

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  11. I absolutely love hand embroidered linens...you did a fabulous job! Something to treasure indeed!
    Ruth

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    1. Thank you so much, Ruth! I hope they will be treasures. I like the idea of leaving something of myself behind for future generations to enjoy.

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  12. I love to look at embroidered linens. Your are so pretty! Thanks for sharing them.

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  13. You are welcome, Beth! I'm glad you enjoyed seeing them. Thanks for your kind words!

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  14. I love this! When I was a kid, my mom and all my aunts had kitchen towels like this.

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  15. Thanks so much, Judy! That is so nice that you have memories of your mom and aunts having kitchen towels like this. I need to make a set for myself as I just love them.

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  16. Your tea towels are just darling! Reminds me of my dear Grandma, she was always making those day of the week towels for all of us. I still have a cute little brown dog set.
    Thanks so much for your recent visit and have a great week!
    Gina

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    1. Thank you so much, Gina! I'm glad that you still have some of the day of the week towels your grandma made for you. They are so much fun to make. I enjoy picking out the colors to use, and I imagine that your grandma did, also.

      You have a great week too. Please come and visit again anytime!

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  17. Oh my, your embroidered pretties are gorgeous. What a lovely gift to have given your daughter. Each one is so lovely.

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    1. Kim, thank you for your kind words. They were a lot of fun to embroider. Thanks for stopping by and please come visit again anytime!

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  18. Beautiful towels and love the way they are displayed!

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    1. Thank you, Connie! I'm glad you enjoyed seeing them!

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  19. I love the embroidered kitchen towels. The ladies from our church just gave us some for Christmas. Lovely work you have done!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words, Angela. This was such an enjoyable project!

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  20. Attention everyone:

    I have lost a comment from Art and Sand; not sure what happened to it, but she was asking if the patterns are something that could be purchased.

    Indeed they can! I bought mine at Walmart, but you can go here Fine Chinaware transfers to buy them direct from the company and marvel at the many, many other designs available.

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  21. Wow! These look just like dish towels that were embroidered by a friend and given to me when I got married! Still have them.

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    1. Isn't that so nice that you still have the dish towels your friend embroidered for you!

      What a thoughtful wedding gift!

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  22. Dear Mrs. T.,
    This post is being featured at No Place Like Home this week. Have a lovely day.

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    1. Wow, Sandi! I am so honored to be featured at your lovely party. Thank you!! You have a wonderful day as well!

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  23. Gosh I just love vintage dishes and have many many drawers full.. Love you dishtowels!

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    1. Cathy, I am glad you enjoyed seeing my dishtowels. They were so much fun to make! I have yet to make a set for myself, but would love to do so.

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  24. Such lovely work, Mrs. T; your [daughter's] towels are just darling. What a wonderful, heirloom gift :) Thanks for linking them up at Vintage Charm!

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    1. Thank you, Diana, for the kind words. I do try to make some of my gifts of the heirloom variety. I do like them to be used (or displayed), of course. This daughter is on her second set of embroidered flour-sack towels. The first set was birds and birdhouses, and those were very cute as well.

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  25. Thanks for sharing your lovely artwork Mrs. T

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