I made this when ladies used handkerchiefs – delicately embroidered pieces of soft muslin and cotton, decorated with hand crocheted and tatted laces, one to match each saree!
Those lovely hankies – especially the `special’ ones taken out only for parties and celebrations – were carefully tucked away in equally painstakingly embroidered `hanky cases’ . If you did not own an imported perfume, or belonged to the more traditional families – into the hanky case pocket went jasmine and rose petals.
But all that belonged to a long lost, more leisurely age. Before `use and throw’ ugly paper hanky tissues took over. I started making a hanky case for my future daughter-in-law when my son was ten(!) just like my mother-in-law had made for me! But have not completed it – I dont think my son’s wife will know what to do with it when she does come into the family…
So here is my labour of love:-)
Fabric – Silk; Stitches – Long and short, stem stitch, chain stitch, satin stitch in single and double thread using Anchor embroidery silk skeins. Foam batting.
Here is a close-up:
May be, I shall finish it one day soon!
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Your Labour of love is beautiful and very special. I am sure you will finish it pretty soon
Thanks, Veena. I am taking it with me – that is how it emerged from my WIPs! Perhaps I’ll finish it there:)
Madhu, what a beautiful piece of work and what a lucky girl your daughter-in-law will be !
It is stunning!
Wow – you stitched a gorgeous rose. It’s so complex with beautiful definition to each of the petals. 🙂
Thanks Lynette. Just visited your blog. Loved your dear jane blocks:-) Am going on a mini block quilt trip myself soon, with a mish mash of dear Jane and nearly insane blocks, besides some crazy ones of my own. Shall keep going back. ( I am sorry I can’t comment on your blog because of some iPad issues! My laptop is back home in India.)