How To Clean Vintage Embrodiery

I love vintage textiles but in the past I was always very hesitant to purchase any with even a hint of a stain as I rarely was able to get the stain out properly and just ended up banishing them to the hopeless pile. Just recently I came across a product though at Big Lots called Sun Oxygen Cleaner (probably a knock off of OxyClean). It was $3 for a 30oz container so I decided to give it a try. I had a set of delicately crocheted doilies that I had given up on after trying to hand clean them a few times with no success. They had some very dark stains on them that did not want to budge but after a decent soak in this solution I was so impressed with the outcome!!!

So this week when I was at a local thrift store I found this darling little cross-stitch picture.

It had some stain spots and was very dingy but I was feeling confident after my doily experience and decided for a couple dollars I'd buy it.

After removing it from it's frame I laid it in the small side of my sink and sprinkled a thin coat of Sun over the top.

I promptly poured a very thin layer of boiling water over the top. Hot water seems to activate this stuff the best. And the less water you can use the better as the more you add the weaker the solution becomes.

Immediatley the water turned brown! yikes it was dirty! I then let it soak for over an hour. Half way through I agitated it a bit with the bottom of a glass cup. You should see some tiny oxygen bubbles when you do this.

I then rinsed in warm water. It was already looking better! One more soak for about an hour, air dry, a light iron and here it is! What a difference! Notice the clouds!? And the house is now pink, not mauve!

AFTER

BEFORE

Now to decide what to use it for...pillow, patch for a purse, wall hanging, book cover...I'll have to get back to you on that.

Happy Cleaning!

P.S. I found an interesting way of removing stains from linens suggested here at French Cupboard . Ever tried that before?

Favorite Find Friday

Some people are quick shoppers when it comes to bargain hunting. They browse quickly, grab the items they want and move on to the next location. I on the other hand am a little more methodical and take my time when examining pieces. I look beyond the surface and often have vision for things others don't.

On a recent thrift store trip with a friend, who seems to be a browser like me, we stumbled across a lovely piece of white english ironstone. It was tucked on the bottom shelf and I almost overlooked it but am so glad I didn't. Besides a tiny chip on the underside of the inside lip and a much needed cleaning it was in beautiful condition. It was marked Mason's Ironstone on the base and while I didn't recognize the name it did appear old. So for $13.99 I decided to take a chance.

I do love this piece but I knew it would be a perfect addition to my mom's pretty collection of vintage white ironstone/ceramic pieces. My mom was thrilled with this new piece and after a little research found out it was a late 1800's or early 1900's english ironstone tureen and definetly worth more then I had paid for it. So now I can only hope it becomes a hand me down when she finds a new trend!

So what kind of shopper are you? Do you hit a sale at a fast pace, grabbing every item that catches your eye and knowing immediatley that you are taking it home with you? Are you the type to touch and feel every item looking for the one that puts a smile on your face and a song in your heart? Or do you miss out on all the great finds because you just can't decide if a certain purchase is right for you?

Favorite Find "Friday"

I am late. I know it's a horrible habit to start but I totally forgot to post my Favorite Find on Friday! I must have been so caught up in my excitement for joining the Friday Flea Market. Well now that I've got my confession out of the way on to my Favorite "Friday" Find.

It all started a few weeks ago when I sold a lovely set of vintage bergere chairs that were just a little too formal for my space. I truly did love the form, texture and unique style of these chairs but in a home that is less then 900sf with limited seating comfort has to be a priority. After I found a new home for this pair my corner by the fire place was looking bare and I began dreaming of a large overstuffed chair and ottoman set with great form and style that you could curl up in. I challenged myself to a budget of $50 and kept my eyes peeled every place I went for that perfect bargain.

There is a Salvation Army in Auburn that has two locations, one of which is designated just for furniture and larger items, that I stop by when I am in the area. I normally browse fast through the furniture section to see if anything jumps out at me. When I did I passed by a chair with an ottoman sitting upside down on top of it and tucked rather tightly between a bunch of other pieces. It was hard to miss though due to it's bright color and bold pattern. "Hmmm...this is kind of cute and might just work" I thought to myself, but after a glance at the fair, yet over my budget, price tag of $80 I kept browsing.

One thing I like about this specific thrift store is they often have 50% off sales (especially on or around holidays) which can result in great deals on furniture. I'm not sure how I had missed the sign when I first walked in but on my way back to the front I spotted a sign that read 50% off yellow tags. Now of course I had to rethink every item in the store I had looked at and set off to browse again. But wait? Could it be? I rushed back over to the chair and lo and behold it had a yellow tag!!! It was a risky color for my space but for a mere $40 I had to try it. It was in such great shape too with only a couple very unnoticeable flaws. I quickly paid, packed it up and headed home where it is now nestled into the space right next to my fireplace.

At first I was a little unsure of the color and pattern in my space but it has really grown on me and definitely brightened up my living room. It is now my favorite space for morning devotions and the chair that guests don't seem to want to leave.

So what great items have you found lately? Leave a comment or link back to a great find on your blog...I would love to see what you've discovered!