Collections: Vintage Embroidered Linens

I can't get enough of these embroidered linens that I've collected over the past five years. What makes them so special is that someone's granny put a great deal of time and love into each delicate piece. If you like the look of embroidered linens, I recommend you visit an estate sale. At every estate sale I attend, I peek through sewing rooms filled with embroidery floss, needles and fabric and see the pretty evidence firsthand. Once you find linens, how do you use them? When paired with hand painted dishes, vintage embroidered linens make a lovely addition to a table. They also look sweet on a bedside or dressing table. Embroidered pillow cases add personality to a guest bedroom, and hand towels liven up a boring hall bathroom.

If you find a stained linen with a lovely motif, you might consider using it for a sewing project of your own. Check out my "Granny Chic" Pinterest board for some ideas.

I'd love to see the lost art of embroidery make a comeback. The details are so charming and add personality and warmth to so many simple items.

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Gerald & Joan Shot By Amy Hutchison Photography

Amy Hutchison shot Chris and Lauren's wedding. If you read our Monday post about the feature on Rustic Wedding Chic, then you've seen her talent firsthand. In addition to being a fabulous photographer, she was also kind enough to share photos of our work to use on our future marketing materials. Aren't they amazing?

Gerald & Joan offers a variety of services and goods, including event planning and styling, vintage sourcing, handmade guest books and pretty paper goods. To learn more about our work, click here.

Click here to shop the collection.

Collections: Vintage lamps

Confession: I watch Mad Men for the clothes and furnishings. In the middle of a very intense scene, I stop focusing on the characters and start zeroing in on the lamps.

Does anyone else do that?

It's true -- lamps from the 1960s and 1970s were glorious creations with tons of character. Fortunately for those of us who love them, vintage lamps aren't any more expensive than their modern counterparts, and many times, they can be purchased from flea markets, estate sales and thrift shops for much less. Antique malls and vintage shops tend to mark up their prices when it comes to vintage lamps, and a pair is definitely more expensive than a single lamp.

I scored this yellow lamp from Hoot and Louise in Memphis. I loved the modern yellow color, and the original shade was in perfect condition. Jonathan inspected the wiring, and as the price was less than what I'd pay for a department store lamp, I brought it home. The amber glass and brass lamp is one of a pair that belonged to my grandma Joan. I believe they were purchased from Ethan Allen in the late '60s or early '70s. During their first life, they were at home in her rec room, surrounded by wood-paneled walls, dark green carpet, awesome '70s artwork and the coolest (and most uncomfortable) vintage floral couch you have ever seen. I loved that room and those lamps from the time I was old enough to appreciate the space (around age 5 or 6). When we sold her home, my mom passed the lamps along to me, and they now live in my living room. I love the brass and amber glass, and the shades that are trimmed in gold velvet and cord. Our living room's white walls allow them to be the stars of the show. The artwork on the wall behind them is also vintage and was snagged from Joan's rec room. She had good taste, and good taste never goes out of style.

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Collections: Sheet Music

My dad recently passed along his collection of vintage sheet music, which seemed perfect for a collections post during a week when we're gearing up to list our home. Many of our collections are temporarily in storage, so they might be absent from the blog for a while. We'll bring them back as soon as possible! Take a peek at the typography, the colors and the illustrations...aren't they amazing? If you look closely, you'll see several pieces have their original owner's name on them in the most perfect penmanship, as well as the date. When I look at them, I imagine a family gathered around a piano, all singing the songs together. So charming!

I have plans to hang these pieces together as a collection. The quality is amazing. It's incredible to think several of them are 100 years old -- they certainly don't look like it.

That thought also makes me wonder -- what will future generations be hanging on their walls 100 years from now? What will inspire them?

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