Showing posts with label souvenir handkerchief. Show all posts
Showing posts with label souvenir handkerchief. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Meet Bev Olson

I spent a few hours with my new quilt friend Bev Olson, touring her studio and poking into her wonderful collections.

Bev showing her heirloom and vintage linens
Her latest creation is a wood applique and embellished tree of life. She made the 'pennies' and embroidered them.




And then she embroidered and embellished the tree with animals and other details.

Bev is also an amazing crazy quilter. That is, she is not a crazy quilter (although that can be argued), but she is an amazing crazy quilt artist!



Bev uses all kinds of found objects, like this piece of shell



Bev's studio is the showcase for her many collectibles.
 




Knowing I love vintage linens she shared her family heirlooms featuring lots of embroidery and hand tatting.
 These cats are so cute!
 The smaller hens are egg warmers.
 I loved this 1950s handkerchief. I know I had Disney themed hankies as a girl.
Upstairs were more treasures. Including a quilt made with vintage heirloom blocks.


Bev had a set of three suitcases very like the set I received as a high school graduation gift!
 Then she opened the chest her father had made from apple crates.
 K-rations from WWII and lots of war mementos were inside.
Including flags that had been draped over family caskets. One had embroidered stars, the other appliqued stars.


There were Sweetheart pillowcases.

And a wonderful WWI souvenir silk handkerchief featuring President Wilson and vignettes with President Washington, General Lafayette, and the Statue of Liberty from 1919.
I'll end with another of Bev's sweet wool applique quilts featuring amazing vintage buttons.


I'll write another post about Bev's family photos including a set from the end of WWI.

Monday, June 13, 2016

Handkerchief Souvenirs From Home and Abroad

New York City Central Park Zoo by Tammis Keefe was part of her NYC landmarks series
Handkerchiefs were popular souvenirs, easily packed colorful reminders of happy travels. Cities, states, countries, landmarks, museums, and fairs were depicted. Here are some from my collection.

City Souvenirs

New York City landmarks
Chicago by Tammis Keefe
Milwaukee, MN
Wilmington, Delaware by Tammis Keefe
Windsor and Niagara Falls Canada silk hankys
Tammis Keefe did a series of Philadelphia landmark handkerchiefs.
Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Rittenhouse Square
John Wanamaker's, "Meet Me at the Eagle"
Including historical landmarks.
The Liberty Bell
Independence Hall
Landmarks, Museums, Historical Interest
Independence Hall
Pennsbury Manor, home of William Penn
House of the Seven Gables
Mt Rushmore
Governor's Palace, Wilmington DE, Tammis Keefe
Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI by Tammis Keefe
Greenfield Village, uncut material, Tammis Keefe 
Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, MI by Tammis Keefe
Museum of Costume, Bath, England
 State Handkerchiefs
Michigan
The Great Lakes States
Hawaii
Around the World
Chinese handkerchief
New Zealand
Crossing the Equator
Great Britain
Bern, Switzerland
The Taj Mahal
 The New York World's Fair souvenirs

A handkerchief bag New York World's Fair
Silk New York World's Fair showing world costumes 
Years ago I saw this state handkerchief quilt on eBay. I started collecting these state hankys to make my own. I still need a dozen more.