Renee from My Vintage Mending challenged me to show my collection of tea towels. I have a towel bar in my kitchen that is reserved for this collection. This towel bar is off limits for use. These are my DECORATIVE towels. My family knows these towels are hands off, but unfortunately guests don't always figure it out.
If you come to my house, please don't use these towels. The smaller towel was bought off Etsy and had a vintage image. The larger striped towel was estate sale found and had never been used.
If I find an interesting towel, I will pick it up with this towel bar in mind. Sugar and spice and everything nice (estate sale found).
I love the florals of course.
A gardening theme.
Silly embroidered towels with dancing forks, spoons and cups.
I am always attracted to those tea towels that are handmade as I love the details.
A simple red towel..add polka dot ruffles and it takes it to a new level!
An embroidered cup of tea with darling flowers floating up.
I am always a sucker for flowers. When they are crafted with vintage fabric, I have trouble passing them by. These are cutters.
Speaking of cutters, this butterfly is definitely a cutter. It is full of holes and beyond repair.
I was fortunate to find this butterfly with a whole stash of the same dishcloth. Each of the butterflies had been crafted with different fabrics.
I was happy that someone had saved them as they are all little works of art with a great assortment of fabrics. I need to figure out a project with them.
Two of my favorite tea towels have been gifted from friends.
Amy from Into Vintage created this using one of my spun head gals as inspiration.
I won this sweet towel from Jill of Little Nest Studio in a giveaway last year.
I do like my collection of tea towels, both old and new. If you were wondering what tea towel you should use if you come to my house...
Please use those that hang from the child size irons that are attached to my wall near the fridge.
If you have an idea for a future collection challenge, please leave me a comment and finish the sentence, "Show me your collection of _____." I will see what I can find as I near 100 challenges!
Laurie ~ I love looking at pictures of your adorable vintage home. I love everything. I can't believe you have a vintage stove and fridge. My parents still have their very first fridge from back in the 50's. They keep it in their garage and only use it for water and pop. It amazes me that it still works. I would love to come to your home and rest assured - I would not think of using the tea towels by the stove!
Amy needs to start making and selling the adorable towel inspired by your spun head gals. I would be all over one of those!
Posted by: Carol T. | January 24, 2012 at 06:47 AM
I do love a good tea towel. I keep mine on the upper door of my Hoosier where they are very inconvenient to use (and that's the point!)
Posted by: barbara | January 24, 2012 at 08:49 AM
Laurie...I love them all. They are amazing. The iron hangers and the towel bar places. I can't imagine not seeing those in your house. The towel from Amy is amazing. We have to get her sewing again. Thank you for helping me with my addiction....smiles...Renee
Posted by: Renee | January 24, 2012 at 08:56 AM
Amazing collection, Laurie! I have one of those metal towel holders with the three arms, and my family just instinctively knows not to touch the vintage ones that always hang from the lower arm!
Posted by: Carol @ Old Glory Cottage | January 24, 2012 at 09:05 AM
I do know what you are talking about when you say that some towels are for display only and not for use. I always have a cute vintage towel hanging off my vintage stove and once I caught someone wiping their hands on it and I think I may have gasped out loud. Don't they get it?? LOL.
Posted by: Danielle @ Blessed Serendipity | January 24, 2012 at 09:33 AM
A fun collection, one again! I loveg the little tea cup with flowers coming out but the one that Amy made is the winner. She really has talent and nailed your spun heads.
Posted by: Annette | January 24, 2012 at 10:01 AM
Hmmmm....think I might have to install a towel bar in my kitchen to display my vintage towels LOL.
I have tons of embroidered ones that are in a pile and I'm loving your idea of displaying them.
Love the spunhead gal one from your friend......too cute!
Thanks for another great idea :-)
and for sharing your pics of course.
Posted by: Doreen | January 24, 2012 at 10:04 AM
I love the one with the little pot of tomatoes! It is fun to see your vintage appliances, too. That refrigerator is very cool (no pun intended!). Maybe I should challenge you to show us your collection of vintage appliances so we can get a peek at the inside.
Posted by: Kathy | January 24, 2012 at 12:03 PM
Laurie at Christmas one of my little grand boys grabbed one of my vintage Christmas towels to wipe up his juice....arghhhhh
Thank goodness for Oxi clean. And I didn't even holler at him...I just told him as sweetly as I could...these are like Nana's pretties we don't bother them...he said..in his sweet 5 yr old voice...why did you put it out then?....lol
Love your collection
Hugs Cindy from Rick-Rack and Gingham
Posted by: Cindy Brewer | January 24, 2012 at 03:26 PM
Funny - we have the same understanding in my house about what's off limits ... the 'show' towels vs. the 'ok to use' towels. I think your little gingham teacup towel is my favorite as it looks like it was used & loved.
PS Thanks for the shout out. And the inspiration. :-)
Posted by: Into Vintage | January 24, 2012 at 07:07 PM
Love the vintage tea towels but my fav is the one your friend made with the spunhead girl:) I would love one of those!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Posted by: elma | January 24, 2012 at 07:22 PM
Smile. Smile. Smile. I love the dancing forks, spoon, and smiling cups/pitcher best! -And the toy irons as towel hangers- too stinkin' cute. Now where is the red one I hadn't figured out what to do with?
Posted by: Lynne | January 26, 2012 at 04:36 PM
Ahhhhhhh geez... thanks for showing off the tea towel that I made for you! It was fun to see it again and it reminded me that I want to stitch that pattern for myself too!
Okay, that towel that Amy made for you is just too cute-- I think I squeeled out loud when I saw it! I can't believe how she was able to capture that image of one of your cute creations so perfectly! So adorable!
Hugs,
Jill
Posted by: Jill | January 26, 2012 at 07:19 PM
I love your vintage towel collection!!! I collect vintage towels also. And I don't let anyone use them either. LOL.
Posted by: Lynn | January 27, 2012 at 06:05 PM