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Saturday, 22 February 2025

FNSI February

 I have spent the week mainly working on my selvedge blocks and finished the last one on Thursday evening. Just in time for me to spend my Friday afternoon trimming them and machining them together.


These are the two sides of my large tote bag - the blocks are 8" square finished so 24" x 16" - and I managed to get the base strip attached and everything layered for quilting before it was time to clear up. Lots of quilting to do next time I get the sewing machine out, but happy with my Friday progress.

My stitch journal progress for this week.


Earlier in the week we had a sunny day promised so set out for Killerton House where there is a new 20's costume exhibition. Also it's a good time to see the spring flowers in the grounds. However, the weather worsened the closer we got and we decided to stop off at The Antique Village We had a lovely time wandering round looking at the antiques, vintage and retro items. And sampling the soup and cheese scones from the cafe.
I came home with these delightful little items for my collection.


This gorgeous little pin cushion is mosaic Tunbridge ware from around 1860. The collar around the middle is beeswax, a feature I have not seen before.


The acorn thimble holder is also Tunbridge ware from around 1820 and it came with the thimble although that is of a later date.


The thimble is an early Charles Horner steel lined thimble, something I had not heard of. In 1884 Charles Horner patented the steel lined silver thimble which later became known as the 'Dorcas' thimble. The early ones were marked with PAT which you can just see on the side of mine.


That's all my news for now - hoping to get some knitting done this week - I have cast on my second Trailblazer sock and would like to make some progress.

Wishing you all a good week.

15 comments:

  1. Your selvedge blocks look so good Lin - well done on such a wonderful achievement. I think sewing those tiny edges together would do my head in!! Love your new purchases, love anything old & sewing related like that. xx

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  2. Those antique pretties were a fabulous find, Lin. I've always thought Tunbridge ware fascinating with the lovely patterns. The thimble is my favourite. I love that it has beeswax around the middle so that a person can run the thread through it as they sew. Soup and cheese scones sounds like an excellent idea on a less than perfect day. Your journal is looking lovely and aren't those selvedges great? A very fun tote bag they will make.

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  3. Oh what treasures you found on your outing. Might have been cloudy outside but you found some sunny delights!

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  4. Good progress with your selvedge blocks. Lovely work on your stitch journal. Well done on adding items to your collection.

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  5. Your tote will be lovely made from the selvedge blocks, and I imagine it will also be a kind of memory bag, evidenced by all the fabrics/selvedges on display. :-)
    Love the thimble and its beautiful acorn holder, but what a tiny pin cushion - gorgeous!

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  6. Those are some interesting little treasures you found... you made good use of your weather spoilt day....
    Hugz

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  7. Those selvage blocks are lovely. You found some amazing treasures on your outing. The pin cushion is a quite a fin.

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  8. The selvedge blocks are looking good ... looking forward to seeing your tote bag.

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  9. Your selvedge blocks look great. They will make a good size bag. Loved the old pin cushions and thimbles.

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  10. Your salvage blocks are going to make a lovely bag....beautiful stitching page for your journal. I love your gorgeous thimbles and holder xx

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  11. Lovely additions to the collection, indeed!

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  12. The salvage blocks will make a lovely bag,
    Nice page you stitched for the journal.
    Great new treasures to add to your collection..

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  13. Your selvedge blocks look great ....maybe I need to think about colour coordination...
    Lovely little treasures for you.

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  14. Your selvedge blocks are really effective and a great use of the non colourful ones. I know the commandment says we are not to covet anything of your neighbour’s, but I am so jealous of your antique treasures. They are gorgeous and unusual. Well spotted and will be lovely additions to your collection.

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  15. I quit saving my selvedges years ago. Love what you are doing with yours.

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