Dear readers, I've been to heaven. I am back to tell you all about it. Last Wednesday I took another school day field trip. This time I went with some stitching friends. Our destination was a thrift shop just out of Metz, France in a commune called Peltre. The allure was a room called, the lace room - open only on Wednesdays and Saturdays until 12:00.
The lace room proved to be all we'd hoped, plus so much more. It was bursting with piles of vintage linens all hand embroidered. There were drawers of old buttons, piles of French needle work books, bins of lace, trim, yarn and needles. We spent a full hour in there, touching, pawing, oooing and ahhing. It wasn't until right before the shop closed that I found what I knew I could not live without. Behold ~
At the end of one of the tables of linens sat a large neat pile of these:
Did you figure out what they are? I couldn't. I asked the store clerk and she said they were for serviettes de table - napkins. Each family member must have had one to keep their dinner napkin in between uses. I'm guessing the napkins were only washed once a week. I loved that they were so personal. Many had names embroidered on them or initials. Many appeared to have been made by kids like they were a first embroidery project. Such a charming item of daily life. I carefully selected one for each member of my family, including my mom who will be visiting very soon. They will be a special addition to our Easter dinner table. Had to buy the one stitched with Lucie in honor of Bryce's grandma, Lucy. Perhaps it will entice her to visit!
Naturally, I'm now having fantasies about making some. 
