Decorating for Valentine's Day with Vintage Hankies

Here are few more quick and easy Valentine's Day decorating ideas using vintage hankies! I don't know any handkerchief collector who doesn't adore Valentine hankies. I want to share with you a few ways that you can show off your collection.

Use your hankies as decorative shelf edging. As you can see, I also enjoy collecting jadite and dog figurines. My dogs are all interspersed amongst my favorite dishes. They stand silently and faithfully guarding my treasures. Cats would be just as sweet - if you are a cat person.

So much for the dining room. Now, let's move on into the bathroom. You've probably seen my hanky bouquets before, but you have never seen this! Yup, I've been holding out on you...

The Hanky Dress Lady even decorates her TP with vintage hankies!!!

Framed Vintage Christmas Santa Handkerchief

I wanted to create something special with this very special vintage Christmas handkerchief. When I found this wonderful frame I was on my way. The edging on the frame coordinated wonderfully with the edging design on the hanky and with the Damask piece I found for the background.

The vintage hanky dictated playfulness and fun. So I decided to paint some snowflakes on the inside of the glass. There was, of course, a lot of plotting and planning before I took paint brush to glass. The lovely shadow effect is created because there is a space between the glass and the framed hanky. Click on the photos for an enlarged view and a better look at the details.

I just knew this would look beautiful in someone's entryway and could be used instead of a Christmas wreath. And, what a joy, it would be to use it year after year!

I almost didn't give this one up. I really wanted to keep it for myself. But, I decided to leave it up to God and the universe to decide what was best. You can imagine my joy when Cynthia (the purchaser) told me she was also a Santa Collector. It always makes me feel good when I know one of my pieces is going to a good home! Thank you Cynthia...and, thank you for the photos.

Cynthia's beautiful Christmas Tree

Hanky Dress Featured on House of Hawthornes

I  was surprised to find one of my dresses featured on Pam's House of Hawthornes blog yesterday along with some other nice ideas for vintage handkerchiefs. 

Click to see full story.

House of Hawthornes on Facebook

Details about this Hanky Dress here.

A Little Bit of Green for St. Paddy's Day

Here is my little dress form all spruced up and ready for St. Paddy's Day. You may recall that I debuted this idea for Valentine's Day. If you missed it, just scroll down to see it. 

You'll need eight handkerchiefs all about the same size.

Pick up each handkerchief in the center 

and stuff each one into one of the 

eight squares below the waist.

What a pretty little Irish lass she is!

Display Idea for your Valentine Hankies

TURN THIS

I found this small wire dress form about six months ago at the thrift shop. I usually go for the vintage stuff. Although this is not old; it just spoke to me and I knew I would find a use for it. It had some fluffy fabric around the neck which I remove right away. Then I used it to hang some of my jewelry on for a while. Then a few weeks ago when I was going through my Valentine hankies, it hit me. Using just the smaller and more sparsely decorated Valentine hankies I created this display.  

INTO THIS VINTAGE HANKY DISPLAY

All I did was pick up each hanky in the center and stuff it into the spaces just below the waist line. One hanky for each square. Eight vintage hankies were used. Then I just cross-crossed a pretty ribbon across the bodice taking it to the back and bringing it back to the front to tie a big bow. So simple and so pretty! If you set this on a dressing table with a mirror to the back, you'll be able to view both sides.

Have fun - I'd love to see your valentine hanky creations.

New Item - Hanky Hearts

I've been hatching this idea for about six months now. These Hanky Hearts will be available in my Etsy shop next week ... just in time for Valentine's Day. While some of these were made especially for the holiday they are meant to be used year round.

Hanky Hearts are  one-of-a-kind items made from as many as six different vintage handkerchiefs. Many vintage hankies, though not quite perfect, still have plenty of beauty to share. 

I especially enjoy the challenge of coordinating the pretty bits and pieces crazy quilt fashion into a unique and usable item. They are decorated on both sides, machine quilted and stuffed.

I have already done a custom order for a lady that wanted her mother's hankies turned into loving keepsakes. She gave them as gifts to her family this past Christmas. 

A Hanky Heart can be used as a door hanger, a pin cushion, a dressing table ornament, or a bowl filler. You can use several as a garland, or string three together to create a vertical garland.

Here's a collection of red and white hearts  I made especially for Valentine's Day. Surely they will become a reminder of the giver's affection for a long time to come.

Easter 2013

Hanky Cottage

Here is my new creation - a Hanky Cottage.  I use bits and pieces of damaged hankies to create these. Because they are a three dimensional item that is decorated on all four sides they would decorate a shelf, window sill or fireplace so sweetly. I am currently working on a pattern that will be available soon. Please go to my contact page to leave your email if you would like to be notified when the patterns are available. As a spin-off of this I am also working on a pattern for a Hanky Cottage wall hanging for all you quilters out there.

Reader Submission - Baby Booties Using Upcycled Vintage Hankies

Sue, one of my readers, contacted me after finding my Hanky Dresses online to let me know how much she liked them and that she had pinned one on her Don’t Cry Pin Board - http://pinterest.com/greenbriarsue/don-t-cry/ We started comparing notes and I found out she was a hanky lover and crafter too.

Isn’t this a sweet idea! Sue makes these cute little baby booties from upcycled vintage hankies.

 

 

These little girl's booties incorporate white ladies hankies. The special white booties on the bottom were made from a vintage hanky that had tulle lace on the edge and tiny embroidered flowers.

Both sets of the of boy's booties incorporate men’s hankies.

 

 

Here is what else Sue had to say:

 I have been fascinated with hankies since I was given a box of them from a relative's estate sale. When I opened my Etsy shop, Greenbriar Creations, one and a half years ago, I began selling the bridal/heirloom quality hankies and upcycling the ones that weren't so perfect. I'm always looking for new ideas, so I was delighted to find your Hanky Dresses today.  

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 All these baby booties are available at Sue's shop, just click here:  www.greenbriarcreations.etsy.com   

Thanks for sharing Sue!

Reader Submission - Valentine Hanky Display

Roberta, one of my readers, sent this photo of a Valentine hanky display she created after seeing my hanky bouquets. Roberta has a shop on Etsy called Preserving Home where she sells vintage hankies and other lovely vintage items.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/preservinghome?ref=pr_shop_more

Thanks for sharing Roberta.

Winter White Hanky Bouquet

All those spectacular lace edges are just too beautiful to be hiding in a drawer. Make yourself a winter white hanky bouquet and display those lovely white hankies. This would also be a great for decorating a bride-to-be's dressing table or her powder room.

Fourth of July Hanky Bouquet

Here is a simple way to display your hankies and give a quiet corner of your home a little spark of color.

Did I mention…that I also collect vases! You are going to find out that I enjoy collecting way too many things.

Upcycling Hankies by Lesley's Girls

I belong to the Vintage Etsy Society, a group of vintage sellers on Etsy. This post comes to you from one of my fellow team members.

Lesley's Girls- Vintage Blog: Upcycling Vintage: Part 1 Hankerchiefs