HUGE addition to my vintage collection!

I got up this morning expecting to spend yet another day lolling around the house trying to get up enough energy to do something...anything!  in the heat wave we've been having.  Even with a very efficient air conditioner and the new roof, the temperature of 44 deg.C outside was so severe, the house felt hot inside even though the air con. indicated it was 24 deg.  But the day turned out much better than I thought!

We had a phone call yesterday from an old friend whose wife was a very close friend of mine until she died 8 years ago.  Her husband has just sold their old house near us and is in the process of clearing out the house in order to move to a new home.  He said he remembered his wife and I discussing linens and lace, and he wanted to know if I'd like to have her collection before he sent it to the tip.  Of course I jumped at the offer, and so he arrived this morning with two baskets:

He stayed for a cuppa and we caught up with all his news, and he admired Ken's new t.v.   I started to look through the baskets, and asked him if he'd offered it to his kids (two sons and a daughter) and he said yes, but apart from two family heirloom table cloths that he gave his sons' wives, they weren't interested in the rest of it.   As soon as he left, I emptied the baskets on to the floor.

And soon realised that it was going to take me quite a while to sort it all out into categories of embroidered table cloths, doilies, crocheted work, other lace, etc.  Once I got that done, I pulled out the table cloths and put them in Napisan to soak for an hour.  Once on the line, it only took an hour for them to dry, and they are ready to be ironed tomorrow...or when the weather is a bit cooler!
Here is a sneak preview - you will have to wait until everything is washed and pressed before I post photos of individual pieces here!

 Two aprons.

 Beaded jug covers - these are VERY old.

  Smaller doilies.

Guest hand towels.

 Larger doilies, centrepieces and traycloths.

Serviettes.

Unsorted crochet, lace and tatting.

I took a couple of photos of the table cloths before washing them, and I can't wait to show you!

Watch this space....er, blog - for more linens!