Need a hanky?

When my girls pulled out my old suitcase of childhood dolls last weekend, I discovered several old handkerchiefs that used to belong to my grandmother.  Despite the fact that they were used as blankets for my Skipper doll and Breyer horses for many years, they're in fairly good shape. 

The floral one on top and the lavender silk on the bottom were my absolute favorites as a young girly-girl, but now I find myself more drawn to the unique patterns and colors of the others.  (Oh, I do like that light blue one with the geometric patterns!  And the one with bright red accents.)

When I first rediscovered the handkerchiefs, I wasn't really sure what to do with them.  If I were a lady with delicate sensibilities I might require a handkerchief to dab at my eyes when I'm feeling verklempt.  But aside from needing to stem my tears at the infrequent wedding or funeral, I'm not a handkerchief-carrying kind of girl.

But then I remembered a handmade item I won last year at a silent auction for my girls' preschool.  (excuse my dust in the photo). 

It's a clever way to showcase a beautiful and delicate piece of fabric.  The teacher who made it told me the handkerchief was once her mother's.

This might just work.  And it's my kind of project: vintage-y and crafty, all at once. 

Comments

[Cynthia]

I just wandered into your blog and I have to tell you I truly love it. I was particularly moved by your story of the wedding dress. It brought back many memories of my own grandmother and her trunks and boxes of baubles.
Keep posting!

[Skyblue Mom]

I know what to do with my grandmother's hankies that are too beautiful to blow my nose in now. Thank you! Grieving and allergies have convinced me that hankies need a comeback. I want more, I want to give them and have others appreciate them the way I have come to. Thanks for sharing this.