While in Gatlinburg, I will have time to revisit their exquisite Aquarium and the Smoky Mountain Spinnery Yarn Shop. Pigeon Forge is right next door with many offerings for entertainment; the only one I like is Dollywood, because Dolly not only offers regular theme park fun but has a special area to honor the Blue Ridge Mountain artisans and culture.
I spent my 60th birthday there by riding all the roller coasters and crazy rides and enjoyed every minute of it! So, I do have a soft spot for Dolly—she does a lot of great things for her community in the mountains. This trip gives me not only a great workshop, but also some special fun stuff to look forward to.
Restoring Family Heirlooms
My self-care-focused February was made more fun by the restorations of two very special tablecloths. Both are family heirlooms and come with interesting family histories; they were restored to be passed down to the next generation.
—
Embroidered Cutwork Linen Cloth (Piece 1)
This first tablecloth is a linen and embroidered cutwork banquet-sized beauty with numerous floral basket and butterfly inserts around the cloth. Many of the cutwork designs had broken connectors, which separate the design elements from each other and the cloth edges. The center design was unrecognizable when I started, but after puzzling the connectors and the small linen pieces together, three mystic creatures evolved; they look like little cherubs. I wish I knew more about the meaning and history of the design. It is of European heritage, probably Italian, and possibly given as a wedding or congratulatory gift. Let me know if you have any input on the designs or their origins.
Wide view of the embroidered cutwork linen cloth, featuring floral baskets and butterflies.
Detail close-up of the center panel, revealing three cherubs surrounded by floral and ribbon filigree.
—
Vintage Machine-Made Italian Tablecloth (Piece 2)
The second cloth was a vintage machine-made ecru tablecloth with mostly broken connectors between the filigree designs and the stabilizing ribbon that creates the main lines of the design structure. I believe this to be Italian as well and from around 1920–1940. Again, if you know more details about this piece or design after checking the images, please let me know.
Wide view of the vintage Italian machine-made tablecloth.
Detail close-up of the intricate filigree design.
—
Website & Event Updates
February brought some thoughts about refreshing my website and social media, and thanks to my webmaster Jeff, big improvements have been made! The new 2025 Events Page has been added.
Looking Ahead
The Blue Ridge Parkway will be closed north of us all this year due to continued repairs from Hurricane Helene. If you’re planning a visit, take a scenic detour through beautiful Asheville. Directions are available on the Events Page.
I am looking forward to my demo sessions and to seeing many happy visitors!
“I do what I love and I love what I do.”