Hair Clips

Hello Sweetpeas,

They're finally here! Call Me Cordelia is proud to offer a new line of hair clips for our online boutique. They are created by Camellia Cottage. I love the larger satin flowers. So very cute....

The top photo shows The Sophia Collection and the bottom photo features The Demure Collection.

A Victorian Ladies Wardrobe

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How are Vintage Clothes Given a Modern Twist Today?

Vintage clothes are becoming increasingly popular today. Top celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Renee Zellweger and even models including Kate Moss, have been seen wearing this early 20th century style of clothing. It is a way to not only recycle the clothes – which benefits the environment – but it is an opportunity to relive this unique fashion with a modern twist. Below are just some of the popular vintage styles we see today, from shoes to dresses.
Vintage clothes, are considered those fashions which have come from the 1920s to 1990s; whereas prior to the 1920s is considered the antique era. Many people enjoy wearing vintage clothes because it is almost like wearing a piece of history because the clothing has character to it. We see some women wear a vintage slip for example but add modern Diamonds accessories or a fitted belt with it. Fashion today sometimes relies on vintage styles for inspiration and we often see clothes our parents might wear, suddenly coming back into fashion. There have been many vintage items which have made a comeback, such as leggings and periwinkle pointed shoes. These are two of the most popular fashions which are still common today. Girls however, wear black leggings under a short dress or a skirt, rather than wearing them as trousers. Pointed-toe shoes have remained popular for many years. The periwinkle shoes are more popular with women, who can now buy flat or heeled versions of this style.
Vintage clothes can be found in markets or one off shops. They are normally inexpensive because they are second hand. However, wedding dresses or fur coats remain pricey as it is a garment of high quality. A typical 1950s vintage wedding dress looks rather like a night gown. We see a long, silk, fitted dress, embroidered with pearls and edged with ruffles. These haven’t been particularly popular as many women choose designer or custom made dresses these days. 

Mayonnaise Bread

This recipe has been made in my family for years. It tastes like homemade bread; but without all the work.
Simply added one spoonful of mayonnaise (like a regular spoon you eat with) then add some flour. Add just enough milk to make it of a nice consistency. Then spoon it out onto a well greased pan, Bake until edges are golden brown.
My family has made this so long, that we gave up measuring and I can’t find the original recipe; but if you cook often it won’t be hard to eyeball the flour and milk.

Banana Bread

Banana Bread
2 large or 3 small bananas, mashed
2 cups flour
3/4 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup shortening, soft
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs, unbeaten
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
Mix all ingredients together, and pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Antique & Vintage Linen Care Tips

On the subject of caring for antique linens, it seems everyone I ask for advice has a different story. As a result I’ve tired most everything, and below you’ll find my thoughts on what works for me. I’m no linen care expert, so test anything first on a small piece to make sure it doesn’t react with the fabric. At Call Me Cordelia, linens are by far our biggest sellers. Most of the ones I buy are in good condition; but I feel the need to wash them first anyway. I enjoy washing mine by hand in an old tin tub, tucked away in a corner of the garden.
For your own linens, I’d suggest filling a tub with warm water and mild soap. Start out simply washing them by hand and seeing if the spots come out. If not, I like to leave my white linens soaking in the bathtub overnight with some Oxiclean. It really surprised me how easy it became to get the old yellow spots out. Only as a last resort would I use bleach. Never put it on a colored linen, and don’t use too much. The harshness will sometimes deteriorate the fabric, so I always dilute it with water and try to only apply it directly to the stain.
Next I’d rinse my linens several times and make sure all the soap was removed. Then wrap it in a towel to absorb the water and help it dry. Try not to wring them out as this is harmful to the antique threads. I always hang mine on the clothesline to dry. I’ve heard some ladies swear by bleaching them in the sun, and I’ve heard others say it is simply too harsh for linens. Personally, I’d never put them in the dryer, and hanging them in the sun has worked for me. I do try, however, not to place them in direct sun for any longer than is necessary.
I like to iron mine while they are still a little bit damp. If they are dry, then I mist the linens with water. Never use spray starch. This causes them to yellow, and starch also helps break down the fibers. In other words, it will cause them to rot faster. Spray starch also tends to attract bugs.
To store linens properly, use acid free tissue paper. Try to avoid cedar chests as they can stain fabrics. Never iron linens before storing, and never iron creases in linens. Those creases will weaken threads and cause them to deteriorate quickly along the crease. For the same reason, try to avoid folding linens in the same places. To avoid folds altogether, I’ve heard one lady say she rolls her tablecloths, and stores them in acid free tubes. I normally don’t store my linens. They sit out on display at all times, tucked on top of dressers, and under vases. I believe linens were meant to be enjoyed and loved.
I hope this has inspired you to drag out your own grandmother’s linens, and work them into your modern home. If I’ve left out anything, or you have comments on how you care for linens, I’m always open to new ideas. Feel free to leave a comment.

Fresh Ideas for Grandma’s Linens

1. Under a Glass

Use a lace doily under a glass top table. This way it’s always safe from spills! In the photo is my little nightstand with a white tablecloth, and a large pink doily under the glass.
2. Tea Towel Window Treatment

Hang a cafe curtain rod a little under halfway across a kitchen window. Take curtain rings with clips and attach them to two matching tea towels. I saw this done once with two elegant embroidered Victorian tea towels. Let me tell you it sure had ambiance!

3. Hankie Displays

Don’t hide hankies a dresser drawer, instead display them for guests to enjoy. Frame some in a floating frame, available in most frame departments. Use different style floral and polka dotted hankies. Hang them in hallways or above sofas. Also try draping them under perfume bottles on a bedroom vanity. This looks especially nice with the fancy lace edged hankies.
4. Hankie Lampshade

Take a plain white lampshade and add pizazz in just seconds! Drape a vintage hankie over the top. Sheer hankies look even more special when they have a faint floral design. You could also hot glue bead trim around the shade bottom.

Warning: This could pose a fire hazard if used too long with to hot a bulb. So I draped my hankie over a very seldom used lamp.

5. Drapery Tieback

Use a vintage lady’s scarf as a curtain tieback. Choose a floral print to complement the curtain or use a sheer dainty one. In the photo, my bathroom shower curtain is made of regular sheer panels and tied with with a vintage scarf.
6. Dressy Wardrobes

Help you wardrobe dress for the occasion, by draping a scarf over the top. You’ll need the large scarf, almost the size of a long, skinny shawl. Place it across the top and let it hang down the sides. Find one with a fringe for even more elegance. Then stack your hatboxes back on top, and enjoy.

7. Shelf Edging

Don’t have a plain shelf, instead add some ambiance to it! Place a long lace table runner across it. Be sure to let the fancy edging hang off the shelf. Then you have a shelf fit for your beloved treasures. Also try the same idea with crocheted doilies. Simply place them so part of the design hangs over the shelf edge.
8. Sugar Water

Use a simple sugar water recipe to harden doilies. Try draping them over jello molds with fancy shapes. Sugar water small snowflake shaped doilies a hang on a christmas tree. Try sugaring large round doilies and using them under dinning room table centerpieces. Or place the doily around a bowl, and let them harden in bowl shape.

9. Doily Pillows

Make a pillow out of a large doily. Sew two square pieces of cotton together, and stuff; or start with a pre-made pillow form and cover in fabric. Then sew a fancy doily on the front, or cut a pillow size square from a large doily and cover the entire front.
10. Hankie Pillow

Sew two large hankies together around a pre-made pillow form. You got an instant vintage treasure! You could always add beaded trim or fringe. These cute small pillows are wonderful for piling on daybed, or place one in a small vanity chair.