Antique Cross Stitch Embroidered Cushion Covers from Transylvania

We have just had delivery of a number of these exquisitely embroidered pillow cases. These  are around 80-120 years old, They would have been dowry pieces used to decorate the  bed in the "Best Room" for special occasions. The embroidered part is at the base of the sack shaped cover on both sides. When fillled the pillows would have been piled up on the bed with the embroidered part facing into the room

Writing stitch from Transylvania

Hand embroidered on hand woven vintage linen. These cushions originate from the Kalotaszeg region of Transylvania, Romania. These villages, inhabited in the main by ethnic Hungarians have a strong  folk culture.  These cushions are embroidered using "irasos"  which is translated as "writing", stitch. Traditionally, in each village there was a "writing woman"  who was an expert at drawing  these traditional patterns onto cloth to be embroidered. Girls learnt to embroider at an early age. Evenings would be spent embroidering by gas or candlelight. Embroidered pieces would be used to decorate the best room in the home or were destined for the dowry chest.

 Traditionally these pieces would be embroidered in either red or blue and  more rarely black or green. We work with woman in  Transylvania who beautifully hand embroider these cushions on home loomed vintage linen to make these heirloom pieces. Its truly beautiful work.

Upcoming fairs

We  will be at two lovely summer fairs next Saturday ( 7 July) . Susie will be at Village Vintage in Cuckfield, Sussex with an extensive range of stock including some very pretty vintage bolero jackets and skirts as well as grain sack cushions, embroidered cushions and more.

Sarah of The Vintage Caravan will  have a selection of our vintage cushions, grain sacks and vintage tea towels at The Godolphin Summer Fair in Helston, Cornwall.

More details on our Facebook page

Midsummer Fair May 25

Trading Boundaries Midsummer Fair will take place May 25.  Near Uckfield in Sussex.

Click here   for more details of how to get there

Firle Place Garden Show this weekend

 We will be the the Firle Place  Garden show tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. 

We will have some new and unusual stock including  some lovely antique clothing  and  a lovely range of vintage linen

A fine country estate  in the historic village of Firle stands in an area of outstanding natural beauty, at the foot of the South Downs National Park in Sussex, nr Lewes and   around 60 miles to the south of London.

There will be daily talks, guided walks, a rare chance to visit 'The Secret Gardens of Firle Place" as well as  a wonderful selection of exhibitors.   

Selvedge Spring Fair

Please come and join us at the Selvedge Spring Fair. The Sevledge team have hanpdicked 30 stallholders and as usual at the Selvedge Fair there wil be a wonderful selection of products in a beautifully decorated church Hall.

Susie will be runing the parna stall with a superb selection of our vintage linen and artisan made products.

We have a number of free tickets which will be for offer on our facebook page next week

Hungarian vintage linen and hemp

We have just sourced a number of long vintage linen rolls with blue stripes. All hand woven in the 1920s-1940s on narrow home looms. The second roll down is probably Slovakian and has very unsual silver grey and some brown threads making for an interesting and unusual overall effect. We have 30+ metres of this one and have been lucky to source such an unusual fabric in such a long roll, this one is heavy and close woven and would be super for upholstery.

Some of this blue striped linen has an antique French look about it , being very similar to antique French linen which is now very difficult to find in decent quantities. This blue striped vintage linen is always popular in Sweden and looks good with painted white and grey furniture.