Vintage crochet, magic beans, water mines and other treasures from Portugal

That looks like a finished (hemmed) edge to me. If you can check the side(s) of a piece of fabric that isn't hemmed, look for an edge like the one in my pic. Its even but not perfect, and may have slight puckers or bumps. I'm a beginning weaver and I can only now appreciate the level of skill that it takes to produce a 'clean' selvage edge. I had the good fortune to 'inheret' some old linens when my partner sold his mother's home in Slovakia. We had no room in our suitcases (they weigh a ton - another clue that its linen and not cotton) so I convinced him to mail home 2 boxes of linen sheets and tablecloths. He REALLY thought I'd lost it. Now that we sleep in them, he thinks mailing them wasn't such a bad idea.  The pictures are of one hand loomed sheet that is amazing to my unskilled hands.
Your pics and story of visiting your friend's home with her beautiful embroidery is very touching. Her work is really wonderful! I hope the other pieces in the trunk are just as lovely.

Burra Maluca wrote:... I repeated the procedure for the other one, which appears to contain an old hat...

...

Everything you find there looks so interesting, even that old hat in the jar! Of course most of all I like the crochet work, because I do textile handcrafts too. Thank you for the photos of the crochet flowers. now I know how to make my own flowers.

I am very envious of all you have found there. I must be the only expat on the Peninsula who didn't find at least a few goodies. We are using the Rastro in Lugo for furniture though. Got a lovely castaña wardrobe for our new bedroom. Do you have any rastros near you?

Mandy Launchbury-Rainey wrote:I am very envious of all you have found there. I must be the only expat on the Peninsula who didn't find at least a few goodies. We are using the Rastro in Lugo for furniture though. Got a lovely castaña wardrobe for our new bedroom. Do you have any rastros near you?

Not really, and they tend to be called 'Feira da Ladra' here.  Not sure if that translates as 'flea market' or 'thieves market'...  There are more now than there used to be though as more expats move in.

There is also a place on the industrial estate in Castelo Branco called Good Stuff run by a Dutch man who brings in second hand furniture and assorted junk from Holland and sells it at rather good prices.  He sells a ton of kitchen stuff very cheaply, I think as a means to bribe skinflints like me into the shop to hunt for bargains in the hope that they'll eventually be tempted by some of the furniture.

I'm going to gather some photos together of some plates and bowls and the rest of the linens from that treasure chest. Back soon...

Here are some of the potentially usable plates and bowls that I've rescued. Some are ceramic, some enamel, and some melamine.

I was pleased to find that blue one with a horse on it, but I'd also love to know more about the design.  

Anyone recognise it?  Does it have a name?  And a story to tell?



I gathered up the rest of the linen from the treasure chest and put it in the car.  Then Austin triumphantly arrived clutching an old plastic bag of beans.  I think I'm training him!

These ones are in by far the best condition of any of the beans we've found so far, and seem to be all the same variety.  I'm guessing red beans, feijao vermelho.



Here's the heap of linens that need investigating.  I'm no expert, so please feel free to offer any ideas or opinions you may have.



First off the heap is an item of clothing.  A nightie, maybe?  Or a petticoat?



Closer-up view to show the embroidery.



And details of the edging and the buttons joining the front and back pieces of fabric at the top of the straps.



This sheet has a similar edging to the nightie.



A bit closer up.



I messed with the exposure a bit to try to bring the detail out.



Close up.



More to follow - this post is getting a bit unwieldy...

This seems to be a small, open ended pillowcase embroidered to match the sheet.



There is a matching pair, and also a long, plain bolster pillowcase.

I suspect, but I'm not sure, that the pair of open ended fancy pillowcases must have been slipped over the bolster cover?



Close up of the edging, the button and some of the seams.



The top edge of this sheet has been edged in pink lacey crochet.



Close up of the corner.



Another pair of pillowcases.  These have button fastenings on each end.



Another close up.



And I think this is my favourite.



Closer.



And closer still...



And finally, here's a photo I took for shot 21 of the 'make 30 photos' challenge, this one with the theme 'vintage.'

This is all stuff I rescued from the new place, including the old linen sheet being used as a backdrop. I can't quite bring myself to clean the iron up as it just oozes character with all those cobwebs and that dust, not to mention the old coals inside.

I think what really gets me is that the iron is almost certainly the one that was originally used to put the finishing touches on the linens in the photo.

I just love all the filet crochet, embroidery, & cutwork pieces you've found!! That shift looks like it was probably a nightie, but could just as easily have been a slip.

The pottery you're finding is so beautiful, varied and interesting, too! Thank you for keeping us posted!

And, Austin and his beans are a great find, lol.

The rastros here are run by the church for addicts who come and renovate where necessary and one doesn't buy, one donates an amount in return for a piece of furniture or whatever. They have a bathroom with washing and shaving facilities and a little kitchen and rest area for the workers. The people there are lovely.

I have visions of you floating around your garden in a lovely linen nightgown, picking roses and looking like the front of a box of chocolates. Aaawwwwww!

I was doing a site search for the word "melamine" and stumbled into this thread.  I've really enjoyed the tour, the kitchen!! and the textiles.  Greetings Burra, now that I'm in your space.  

I was just rummaging in my own cupboards yesterday, planning to pass crockery and linens on to grown daughters, since we don't gather at my house anymore.  Some of it is old family pieces, others are just pretty, lacy and embroidered bits I've picked up along the way.  Thanks for sharing your finds.

I'm really taken with those kitchen colors.  What a nice work environment.

Really good to see such effort and care when you're taking on another's old home. Respect for the small history within a home's walls is so important. Props to you!