English Spirits Pretty Things

In the winter evenings my mum and dad would sit and embroider. This is something my dad did way back then. T.V was not on very often and they would sit by the fire and do handwork of some sort. I remember learning these verses and I still remember them. I still see him sitting there busy hands always doing something.




This one my mum did. she much prefered knitting as it turns out but did a nice job of this.




In those days the embroidery floss was called "silks" it was made from silk not synthetics. My dad liked to know how to do everything so he would accept any challenge. I remember him making baskets at one time. He settled into doing tapestries and I have several of those that he made over the years. Mum ended up knitting. She knitted sweaters for me and matching ones for my husband and boys, also for my daughter. She once made a round knitted lace shawl and table covers she did lovely work. I remember having her knit long shawls with hoods on. I guess because of that, growing up with them sitting by the fire in the evenings working on their "crafts" I came to love to do things too. Idle hands as they used to say..............
Now I collect hand made items at garage sales and flea markets or antique shops. I love things that are made with love and I rescue as many as I can.
There is nothing like the old soft cotten or linen of old pillow cases with hand made lace or crochet or tatting along the edges,



Some of the hand done embroidery is so nice I dont know how people can just sell it for next to nothing. Someone put their heart into this and family just sold it.