Jammy

Yes indeed - that's me!  

If you popped in yesterday, you will have read that a nice lady called me up because she had some bits and pieces that she wanted rid of (she is soon moving to Somerset), and she wondered if I might like them.

I waited till elevenish today before hot-footing it over to the nether regions of Farnham to collect said items from her.  We had a nice chat and she handed me over a Starbucks bag...

I would have liked to dive straight in and toss everything out to see what was there, but I restrained myself to a quick grope to the bottom of the bag as I walked up the extremely steep hill of the lovely lady's drive, before jumping in the car and heading for home, anticipating the delights that might lay within.

Well, you cannot imagine the squeals of delight when I gently emptied the bag onto the dining room table.  The deeper down in the bag I went, the more amazing were the finds!

On top was a Beading Loom, some brightly embroidered mats, a set of napkins embellished with colourful butterflies, a couple of rather sweet guest towels with appliqued swans and a couple of flannelette sheets...

(Hold onto your hats, ladies, you're about to go on a whirlwind tour!)

Next were some cutwork and Madeira pieces, plus the odd bit of Chinese applique...

Then a heavily embroidered rayon  tablecloth...

Next, crumpled bags and old envelopes...

...revealed some sweet ribbon roses (larger than the ones you can acquire nowadays)...

...a good length of vintage ribbon, some pretty braid and a considerable amount of cream lace...

...and a piece of Indonesian silk.

The next layers were mostly wrapped in blue tissue paper.  Little did I know the beauties that lay within!

A beautiful bag handle...

A card with numerous lengths of delicate cotton lace...

It had been attached to the card with sellotape.  I am hoping the stains will come out, but even if they don't there is lots that is useable.

So very delicate...

Love the dottiness of this one...

The top one here is very fine, but look at the one below!  This lace must have been very expensive!

Another oh-so-very-fine lace...

 Then there were some bits of nylon lace.  I remember this one from my childhood - it was on everything!

 These may be nylon, but the quality is very good.

Then I found an Egyptian themed bit of filet lace...

And a cute bit of braid.  I never tire of red and white, and there's quite a length of this.

A few bits of broderie anglais...

A long piece of very thick and shimmery gros-grain ribbon...

Next an amazing collar...

And then a second...

This lace is stitched onto the paper.  I assume it was for going round a handkerchief.

I'm not sure what this pretty strip would be for - any ideas out there?

Then several hankies - or are they mats?

The silk on this one is slightly damaged.

This one is so very delicate. The fabric in the centre is quite sheer.

The work on it is so beautiful! 

But then came the 

pièce de résistance ...

I am almost speechless!

I am so thankful to Ainsley for all this loveliness which I will treasure (and find ways to reuse) and hope that her generosity is rewarded in ways other than just the tulips I took her!