fresh ideas for vintage linens

there are so many interesting vintage textiles for sale on eBay that i often find myself trying to come up with excuses to buy them. unfortunately there have been many times when i've bought something that i know full well i can never use . . . but it was just too pretty to let go . . . or too unusual . . . or too something that i just couldn't live without! what do you do with a coverlet that's too small for your bed, a gorgeous floral tablecloth with a hole in it or a vintage swimsuit that you can't pull higher than your knees?! with the help of my customers, my very creative sister, and the occasional dimly lit light bulb above my own head, i've compiled some interesting ideas for using vintage linens:

hankies: vintage hankies come in an incredible array of interesting designs and colors . . . i truly believe they can work in some way in almost any decor. i know that many of my customers applique them to pillow fronts, sew them together to make bed canopies and incorporate them into quilt designs, but my favorite idea (and one that i continue to use in my own home) is to frame them between two pieces of glass. framing them between the glass, rather than using a matte, means that they can easily be moved from room to room for a fresh look--no matter where you hang them, your wall color shows through the glass meaning they instantly match--and the frame style can be sleek and modern, cozy and country or elegant and traditional to suit your style.

tablecloths: vintage tablecloths have millions of uses--you can do just about anything with them that you can do with fabric . . . i've seen them made into bookbags, dresses, bibs, purses and totes, pillows, quilts, vanity skirts, chair pads--my sister even incorporates the designs into her paintings.  i really love them as kitchen curtains and have used them to make padded picture frames to give as gifts, but i think the most creative use is to re-cover old footstools with brightly printed vintage cloths--they look great, they're extremely durable and very easy to clean.

fabric:  obviously fabric is fabric, whether its old or new, it can always be used for sewing projects! on the other hand, if you are like me and don't have the patience (or skill!) to do more than hem, these ideas might be right up your alley. i love to frame old pieces of boldly printed fabric--after all, it is a work of art, and can look quite contemporary in the right frame, but one of the best tricks i've found is to take a ready made curtain or shower curtain and add a strip of vintage fabric along the bottom edge. suddenly your curtains look custom made for a fraction of the cost and very little time and effort on your part!

swimsuits:  although they can be difficult to find, vintage swimsuits are something that i can never pass up! i've purchased several over the years but really couldn't think of a great way to display them until i visited my sister this spring. she has neatly pinned this one directly onto the wall in her little girls bathroom (duh! the bathroom, of course--why couldn't i think of that?), but i think it would be equally charming in any room of the house. if you want them to look a little more finished, they can also be mounted in a lucite box frame which are becoming easier and easier to find at craft stores. it's a really inexpensive idea to add a lot of personality to a room.

doilies:  doilies, although gorgeous when in perfect condition and displayed beneath a beautiful lamp or vase of flowers, can sometimes be difficult to incorporate into a more casual room. one idea is to use them to decorate clothing and this looks especially cute on things for babies and little girls.

coverlets:  woven coverlets are one of the most useable and durable vintage textiles to collect. bates made a number of beautiful patterns, as did many other manufacturers and they are available in so many pretty textures, patterns and designs. i realize many collectors pair them with bedskirts to adapt them for use on a larger bed, but one of the best ideas i've ever seen is to use them as a bedskirt. i prefer the fringed matelasse, but i'm sure this would work well with other designs as well. i use one on my guest bed that i got for a song (actually, my singing would never get me anything!) because their is a large hole in the center that is discreetly hidden by the mattress above it!

whatever style of vintage textile it is that you simply can't pass up, i think the most important thing is to incorporate them into your home with a sense of humor--they are fantastic, often whimsical and kitchy, pieces of the past and should make you feel good however you choose to use them!

an eBay guide by bohobetty
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